#76 Uncle Jonny’s Hostel In Erwin TN to Cherry Gap Shelter Day 32: ATMM 344.2 to ATMM 361.4
Slow and steady. Hot and sweaty. Grinding ever upwards through the dry and gnarled underbrush and dense spruce trees............
After yesterday’s *nearo and a luxury lifestyle of showers, shuttle rides, clean clothes, restaurant food ‘n drinks, and hours of relaxing, and sleeping in bunks, it’s time to get moving.
Beginning the day with rotisserie chicken in my breakfast rotation is not customary, but Mosey had bought a full chicken yesterday when we went to the store, far more than she could consume, and needed help. I am here to help. I helped a little last night, then I helped at breakfast and there’s enough to help at lunch. Dang I’m so helpful.
*nearo - A short distances hiked in a day/a play on the hiker term “*zero”
*zero - No miles hiked in a day
Mosey, Lody, and I start out hiking together. Medicine Man and Princess got a jump-start on us. Leaving Uncle Jonny’s Hostel we cross the Nolichucky River, cross a set of train tracks, then up our first mountain of the day. It doesn’t take long for the three of us to spread out. The climb start out gradual but after three miles the trail becomes very steep.
Antz and I arrive at Curley Maple Shelter together. We’ve been leapfrogging one another all morning. Medicine Man and Princess are putting their packs back on to continue up the mountain. We’ve only three miles and twelve hundred feet of elevation gain under our belts today with about thirteen miles and over two thousand feet of elevation ahead of us.