The Sprout Day 14 (Sunday, April 10th)

The Three Amigos starting the Roller Coaster

We wanted to get up at 5:00 today and get moving but it was too cold and too early.  We ended up getting up at 7:15 and we were on the trail at 8:15.  We got our things packed, made a couple cups of coffee, and had breakfast.  As soon as we started hiking we warmed up.  Until you get going it's really cold.  

The trail must have been close to a little town because I heard church bells ringing off in the distance.  It reminded me that today is Sunday.  It's easy to lose track of days out here.  Right around the same time as I heard the bells I also heard a rooster off in the distance and a bunch of dogs barking.  It must of been time to feed the farm dogs (or at least that’s the image I was getting.)

I was thinking about it earlier and I am really enjoying hiking the Appalachian Trail.  It's been challenging but it's a rewarding challenge.  For me it feels like each day is a new hike, each day is a new day.  Each morning I am excited to get the hike started and see what the day has for me.  No matter what, I know I'm going to see something I've never seen before, a new trail. There has been so many little streams or springs the past couple days, water is everywhere!  We went over a few cool wooden bridges but most of the streams are shallow enough to walk through or there's stepping stones to walk over.  

I saw a bunch of animals on the trail today: three squirrels, a mouse ran out in front of me, a butterfly, and a woodpecker. The little woodpecker was right in front of us looking for bugs.  

I also saw a trail maintenance guy hiking today.  I think most of the trail maintenance people volunteer their time to go out and do their part for the AT. He had a backpack on loaded with tools. I could see a big hand saw on the back and a big pair of snips. It's nice people go out and do this... Thank you! Every little bit helps!

HIKER WARNING * YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER THE ROLLER COASTER @ BUILT AND
MAINTAINED BY THE TRAILBOSS AND HIS CREW OF VOLUNTEERS * HAVE A GREAT RIDE and WE WILL SEE YOU AT THE BLACKBURN TRAIL CENTER

White Blaze on a rock

Heading North

These brooks are all along the trail

Thank you trail maintenance volunteers for keeping the trail clean and free of obstructions

Wooden bridge

When the leaves are on the trees we will not be able to see much sky on some parts of the trail

Bubbles and Sprout on the trail

Awesome Rock Formation

Bubbles on the trial

Rock Scramble

Sprout on the trail

Sprout on the trail

Maintenance worker on the trail.  That's his saw and other tools on his pack!

Sam Moore Shelter

Smudgy Cheeks getting wood ready for a fire

We don't have to look far for firewood

Later in the season you have to search far from the shelters to find wood

Bear Bags in the air

That's Smudgy Cheeks under our bear bags

Day:  14

Miles hiked:  6.9

Total Miles hiked on the trail:  138.3

Butterfly:  2

Chipmunk:  1

Crawfish:  1

Real Bears:   0

Really Big Dog:  1

Deer:  18

Mouse:  1

Squirrels:  11

Snail:  1

Turkeys:  3

Woodpecker:  1