Twig Adventures

Thursday and on into Friday, May 24th, 2024, 2130-1000Chimney Top Campsite to Foothills Trail Eastern Terminus at Table Rock State Park13.2 miles, Gain: 2530′, Loss: 3690′, elevation 1150′ Finding myself riding out a thunderstorm at midnight in a privy, after having been run out of my campsite by 4 bears, got me evaluating my life choices. On the one hand, I was glad to be away from the bears, dry and safe. But on the other, I was in a privy, dead tired, and debating whether the smell and gross-factor was tolerable enough to spend the night or if I’d be better off moving on. I’d already covered over 3 miles in the dark, what was another 10? Earlier, back[…]

Thursday, May 23rd, 2024, 0630-1700Hilliard Falls to Chimney Top Campsite, mm 63 27 miles, Gain: 5680′, Loss: 4920′, elevation 2300′ Something in all the waterfalls must have supercharged me, because I woke with a feeling of wanting to crush miles. My goal was to leave only half a day’s distance for the last day, and boy did I and then some! This day was actually just typical of ones on the BMT, and it was quite a bit easier…though the stairs really reared their ugly head in a few spots. Since I managed to get a pretty early start, I figured I’d shoot for my 10 by 10 standard. I passed the halfway mark of the FHT just after 7[…]

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024, 0650-1800Chattooga Rive camp to Hilliard Falls, NC, mm 36.322 miles, Gain: 3830′, Loss: 4300′, elevation 1520′ This day went down in the books as the best Waterfalls Day, ever. I enjoyed a waterfall for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a few smaller bites in between. I slept amazingly alongside the river and woke feeling so refreshed and excited for the day. I walked less than half a mile before coming to Burrells Ford Campground. I was so glad I stopped short the day before because there were many house-sized tents, barking dogs, and people about (probably some habituated bears, as well). I wanted none of that drama, but I sure appreciated being able to use the[…]

Tuesday, May 21st, 2024, 1010-1800Oconee State Park Tamassee Knob trailhead to Chattooga Rive camp, mm15.2 miles, Gain: 2560′, Loss: 2280′, elevation 2030′ After AT Trail Days came to an end, it was time to head home. On the way, I planned a stop to visit my friends Esther and Wayne in Tyron, NC. It was only a few hours drive from Damascus, breaking up what would have been a ridiculously long drive to Miami. Once there, I couldn’t help but notice that I was only 50 minutes from the eastern terminus of the Foothills Trail and that it was going to be sunny for several days. After the BMT, I was sick of the rain and feeling pretty tired, so[…]