Finishing AT Section Hike Makes For A Happy Birthday For A Wood Booger

It iwas my birthday, Saturday and how did I choose to spend it you might ask. Well, I decided to finish another AT (Appalachian Trail) section overnighting at Hogback Ridge Shelter. This section is Devil's Fork Gap to Sam's Gap. I did the part from Sam's Gap to Hogback Ridge Shelter on Super Bowl Sunday 2016. That left me with just over six miles of this 8.8 to do. So, I decided I didn't want to do this one as an out-and-back, so I decided I would stay overnight and there was no better day than on my birthday. Like my two recent AT Section hikes, I will be doing one on this entire section. It will be strange because the first six miles will be summer and the last 2.4 will be winter.

This first day was uphill, it seemed almost all of it. I got off to a bad start, because I had to go back to the car and that added a mile to the hike. The hard part was getting to Sugarloaf Gap (600 feet in a mile), but I did pass a cool waterfall (I am calling Sugarloaf Branch Falls). It seemed like I never would get to the shelter, so when I reached the junction to the shelter I was happy and relieved. I sat down drank some Gatorade and then hiked half-mile (that is what it seemed) to get water. Then I cooked my Good to Go - Kale and White Bean Soup and while I contemplated the Universe I signed the shelter log. Then Pete and I used the marker left with the shelter log. I was joined by a day hiker and his daughter's dog Olf. After they left I enjoyed my birthday donut and my campfire (you know I would have one).

2016 at the Hogback Shelter Junction...

...& 2019 (yes same place new sign).

Like my Hughes Gap blog, I will have several pictures headed back AT South to Devil's Fork Gap because the section blog will be AT North. It seemed like half of the way back was also uphill. I knew the last half-mile was uphill because of the mistake I mentioned, but it was way harder finishing up. But, I finally made it back to Devil's Fork Gap (had to avoid some mean looking cows). So, I was ready for my birthday dinner at Southern Craft BBQ in Johnson City. Overall a great birthday

Finishing Another AT Section...Hughes Gap To Cloudland Hotel Site (& Back)

Today, I went back to Hughes Gap to finish another AT Section from here to Carvers Gap. Soon I will be doing a blog over the entire section. But,  to finish it today I hiked up to the Cloudland Hotel site. I had already done from here to Carvers Gap. I thought this would be a 5.2-mile hike but by rerouting turned it into a nine miler. However it was not near as steep as it once was. So, I was happy when I got to the top to finish the section/ 

Finished 1st half in 2016...

& the rest in 2019.

I saw a bear going up Beartown Mountain (but didn't get a photo) and then heard one at the remains of a wall at the Cloudland Hotel site. I had stopped to have lunch and I was talking to some people and we heard him. The woman ask "what was that?" I said "probably a bear" and she was like "no way" I replied..."yes." Wasn't long I heard someone say they saw the bear.

Anyway, since I will be doing the section blog Northbound I will be finishing with some Southbound photos on my return trip to Hughes Gap.