April 20 - "PUDS"

Post date: Apr 21, 2012 3:19:12 PM

A 19 mile day lies ahead of the hikers so an early start occurs as they head out from Flint Mountain. The hike today featured a 1,500 foot ascent to the top of Hogback Ridge down again followed up by 1,700 foot ascent which was highlighted by a 500 foot ascent over the last half a mile to the 5,500 foot summit of Bald Mountain. The Bald Mountain Shelter was one mile after the hikers reached the summit with an elevation of 5,100 feet so it was cool last night at camp.

“Five Pair” indicated that the hikers encountered some “PUDS” today. “PUDS” are “pointless up and downs” with a series of “PUDS” being referred to as “MUDS”, “mindless up and downs.”

At camp, the hikers met “Zig Zag” and “Wingling”, husband and wife from the White Mountains area of New Hampshire who live very close to the AT. While “Wingling” indicated she was not likely to thru-hike, “Zig Zag” was less definitive but did not commit to a thru-hike. That said, “Zig Zag” and “Wingling” offered the hikers a warm meal when they arrive in the area of their home.

With the day done, the hikers called it a day at the shelter 17 miles from Erwin, Tennessee, and their next stopping point, Uncle Johnny’s Nolichucky Hostel.

325.1 miles complete\1859.3 miles to go