Troll's 2010 AT Journal

18 April, Gatlinburg
I had some issues with sleeping last night. I could not sleep at all, I was only able to get 1/2 hour of sleep. To top that off I had stomach cramps this morning. I decided to take a zero day. Hopper was nice enough to take a zero day with me. Maybe she felt like she owed me because I took a zero day for her when she took one for her badly blistered feet. I am glad I was not in town alone.

We walked to all the outfitters and I was trying to find some ...

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17 April 2010, Gatlinburg
I came into Gatlinburg today for a few reasons, none of which I really needed to. The rain that was forecast was one reason, resupplies, laundry, real food, and a real bed. I could have done without all of these but our group all came in. Bismarck, Babalu and I went out for pizza after we showered and got out laundry done.

I stood on a scale today and I have lost eight pounds since I started this hike. I was a little shocked.

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16 April 2010, Mt Collins Shelter
Today was a great day. I was able to make it to Clingmans Dome without getting to out of breath.

We actually only did 14.0 miles today but only 13.5 miles today were trail miles because the shelter was 0.5 off the trail.

Someone made a comment while on Clingmans Dome today saying "since we are on the highest point of the AT that everything now will be all downhill". We all got a good laugh. The views from ...

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15 April, Derrick Knob Shelter
The night’s sleep in the shelter was pretty uneventful with the exception of something large gnawing on part of the shelter shortly after I went to bed. It was too large and loud to be a mouse. If I was not so comfortable and tired I would have gotten up to investigate.

Shacking saw a bear shortly after leaving the shelter this morning.

Saw a bunch of trout lily’s blossoming today, we are now with spring. I went across ...

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14 April 2010, Mollies Ridge Shelter
Today was a relatively easy day. I had a couple of views. The only issues I had today was some left knee pain and the damn nats. I would compare the nats to the black flies we have in Maine. They are very annoying and were not biting a few days ago, that all seemed to change today and they started biting. If they landed on you and you did now swat them off then they would bite.

I dropped off my back country permit at the Fontana ...

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