March 13 <--Friday....ooooo.....scary

I woke up an hour later than I had planned, but it's okay cause I guess my parents are running late anyway. It is 12:20 and they aren't here yet so I'm sitting on a grassy spot enjoying the view of the Dam...it is amazing what man can build.

I think it is starting to rain...shit. Oh one last thing. Whoever built the trails in North Carolina was an idiot because the lack of trail design is ridiculous.

C-Zur

March 12

18.8 miles today from the NOC to a place just 10 miles from Fontana that just so happens to have the name "Cody Gap." So I felt the need to spend the night. Other than that today really sucked it was long and there was a lot of elevation gained and lost. Climbing out of the Nantahala Gorge (1740 ft) to Cheoah Bald (5062 ft) in ~8 miles was the worst climb yet. I plan on getting up early tomorrow and meeting my parents at Fontana Dam so I'm going to bed.

C-Zur

March 11

I did not write yesterday because it was just a crappy day...got in late, ate, went to bed.

Today Sores, Hungry, and I came into the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). Just over 16 miles today. We got some burgers and beers at the "River's End" and then proceeded to find a campsite. We ended up posting up in some canvaas tents that I'm pretty sure we were supposed to pay for...but it was too late and the office was closed. Great campfire tonight and I got to meet some great guys Bushwacker, Deuce, and Long Island Ice Tea. I plan on getting to the Smokies by Sunday after some R+R at home for a day.

C-Zur

March 9

The group I'm with is awesome! We are having a hell of a good time. Made it to Franklin and got a motel for the night. Atlas is doing much better with strangers. I hope to be in Fontana by Sat. the 14th. I can't wait for some home cookin' and a day off. Though I am loving the trail and thus far it is loving me right back. We've got some good weather for the next 3 days so I hope to put in some big days. I miss all of you and thank you for your support.

March 8

I met up with some people at Bly Gap last night. (Rasta, Sores, Hungry, and Chili) They are a good crew. We put down 15 miles today and plan to do 12 tomorrow into Franklin, N.C.

We're at a shelter but I'm tarpin' it cause of Atlas. I think I may have found "The Perfect Tarp Setup." Tons of room with a relatively small door and room for Atlas. I'm gonna turn in for a good nights sleep.

C-Zur

March 7

Well I woke up early this morning thinking...screw my knee. I'm not gonna take anymore days off cause it hasn't helped. So I tried the opposite. I walked 19.9 miles today from Tray Mtn. Shelter to Bly Gap (N.C.) One state down! The great part is that my knee doesn't hurt any worse than it did after the 5 mile day. Well I'm beat good night.

C-Zur

March 6

Stayin' the night at Tray Mtn. Shelter after doing 5.5 miles out of Helen, GA. No trouble at all finding people to hitch rides with thus far. I did leave one of my H20 bottles in the guy's Jeep who brought us back from the trail (Quinn). I'm taking one more slow day and then I'm just gonna do whatever I can with my knee while I walk. It is really upsetting because it is stopping me from doing the miles that I know I can do. I got an ACE bandage which is helping alot, so hopefully it'll heal as I walk. Later for now!

C-Zur

March 5

Good day today. 9.2 miles and then a hitch into town with Josh and Erin for a motel stay. (A "motie" as Josh calls it.) Atlas is doing well and enjoying some short days. My right knee is giving me some trouble so I'm gonna try and take it easy for a few days. All of my gear is working great and I don't think there is a single thing that I brought that I don't use every single day.

I hope to be in Franklin, NC in about 5-6 days and then in Fontana by March 15-16. Right on schedule! I missed out on Cloud 9 Hostel cause it was closed. I was really looking forward to soaking my leg in the jacuzzi. Thanks for all the words of encouragement.

C-Zur

March 4

Wonderful day! Ate 2 plates of spagetti last night and had breakfast. Sweet. Easy hike today, I stopped early at 11 miles instead of 18. Which was a good idea because my knee is giving me some trouble. No swelling yet but a little pain. I found out that Cloud 9 Hostel is closed so I'm trying to plan a resupply in the next few days. Atlas is a good hiker but a terrible friend; everyone he meets he scares the shit out of. (Some people get this experience twice because he has a terrible memory.)

I hope to pass Hiwahsee (sp) in 2 days. If my knee starts feeling better I'm gonna make tracks to Fontana so I can start staying in the shelters. Tarp camping is getting old.

C-Zur

March 3

Today has been a good day other than it being bitterly cold this morning. I literally had everything I brought on except my sleeping bag and a t-shirt and could not get warm...so I started hiking.

Made it to Neels Gap and got a spot at the hostel that I quickly lost due to Atlas being an asshole. Luckily the man who runs the hostel (Pirate) let me stay in the pumphouse, which turned out to be as nice as the hostel but more private. The 1st shower of the trip was awesome and I'm gonna sleep like a baby tonight.

C-Zur

March 2

8.8 miles on March 1st. I did not write last night because of the catastrophe that it was. Not much sleep was had due to getting in late and hellasush (hellatious) winds making my tarp into a sail. At midnight I woke up without a tarp at al and had to gather all the pieces to put my shelter back together.

Today has been awesome. It was sunny but cold, my favorite weather, and there was very little wind. We made it 15 miles today and I found a very promising way to stake out my tarp (as long as there aren't 40 mile an hour gusts of wind). Atlas is doing great, though he refuses to sleep on his pad. I thought he would be miserable last night, but when I woke up spooning with him I realized why he wasn't. I'm right on schedule and hope to be into the Smokies in a couple weeks.

C-Zur

don Juan's note: I'll be posting these one-a-day-except-for-days-I-can't-or-forget to keep ya'll salivating. C-Zur is actually in the Smokies right now, so we're about two weeks behind. Maybe I'll post two-a-day for awhile; we'll see.