5/14/99 Uncle Jonny's Nolichucky Hostel   Miles Today : 13.3 Miles from Springer : 337.7

Well, after bailing yesterday after only covering 2 miles with the bad ankle, I decided to do my first slack-packing. That means I only carry a day pack and try to cover a whole bunch of miles since I don't have 40-50 pounds on my back.

I talked with Stretch, who also skipped the section from Sams Gap to Uncle Jonny's and we decided to make a go of it together. The first 8 miles or so up to and over Big Bald went very well. I was moving quick and felt good. While you can see Virginia and the Smokies from the top on a good day, we had no such luck today. Instead we got some eerie views since the top of this bald was lined with and old fence and we were hiking in the clouds. Also, every once and a while the clouds would peel back a small section to show us what we were missing and then close it right back up again. Unfortunately since it was drizzling all day I didn't get any pictures of this.

Coming down the backside of Big Bald, I was in a rhythm and feeling good, until I rolled my ankle again. It wasn't bad foot placement just a tilted trail and a weak ankle. That pretty much ended my day, and I bailed at the next road crossing. I walked almost the 24 miles I had intended to since it was a good 6 miles on the road before I got a ride! The road provided good footing and ensured that I didn't do anymore damage.

The people who picked me up were an older couple from Durham, NC and were out in the area doing some genealogy work. Turns out that the gentleman had family in the area and spent summers in the mountains. Oh well, looks like I have done my first Yellow Blazing, which is skipping a section of the trail completely by hitching a ride ( or following the yellow blazes on the road ). I did not complete the 11.1 miles from Spivey Gap to Uncle Jonny's and I don't plan to finish it. Considering that I have a potentially trip ending injury, I figured its best to move ahead from here.

Drive-By showed up tonight after a 27 mile day! He is taking the day off tomorrow and I will hang out with him as well. I am officially no longer optimistic but I am not ready to give up yet either. Here's to another day off.

-Chomp

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