Napping in the Sun

Day 30: Hot Springs to Little Paint Creek Trail (13.1 miles)

Today was a day where most of my attention was focused inward, and primarily on my feet. Some days are all about the views and the scenes and the miles. I did take the time to visit a fire tower and enjoy the views, but for the most part this was not one of those days. The insoles on my shoes were getting old and tired, and when I pulled them out they were like pieces of cardboard completely pounded flat. While in town I had gotten a new set of insoles. They felt great while walking around town, but now on the trail with a load and steep climb, they were giving me problems, and I was feeling tightness of my toes on my shoes or they didn’t seem set right in the shoe. I made adjustments, but my feet were also working out muscles they hadn’t yet because of different pressure points in the insoles. By thirteen miles I’d had enough. After yoga and dinner, it was time for good sleep.

Day 31: Little Paint Creek Trail to Shelton Graves (17.8 miles)

I absolutely loved the hiking today. There were a few intense climbs, but also lots of beautiful ridge walks and some really fun rock scrambles. Best of all, I finally got the insoles set right with the tightness of my laces and my feet felt pretty good again. After a really fun rock scramble to the top of a pretty spectacular ridgeline,I found Howard’s Rock, a large rock with a view and a plaque placed in 2015 acknowledging him as a master trail builder. Just on the other side of the rock was a perfect place to sit and lunch with a glorious view. The weather was perfect, and a brief after lunch nap followed. Brief only because I still had a little over six miles left in my day, which included climbing over Big Butt.

The campsite for the evening is Shelton Graves, a lovely grassy field as well as the Graves of a pair of Union Soldiers who were killed on this spot while visiting family in the confederacy during the civil war. Upon arrival Carrier Pigeon and Pinky had already arrived and built a fire. The evening was perfect.

Day 32: Shelton Graves to Piped Spring After Street Gap (17.8 miles)

This was a pleasant hike with numerous views. There was a small hostel about 6 miles into the hike, which made a nice stop for a soda and microwavable burrito. I had primarily stopped to get wraps, which they didn’t have, but another hiker happily passed some off to me to lighten his own load. As they say, the trail provides. The random pipe spring with a couple campsites around it turned out to be wildly popular, and finding space was a little tricky. Chris showed up late after hiking 21 miles and suggested we all do the same the next day to get into Irwin. I haven’t done that kind of distance yet, but rain and cold weather is coming, and it seemed like an idea worth trying.

Day 33: Piped Spring After Street Gap to Erwin, TN (20.8 miles)

Today was a very long day. Everyone said it was mostly downhill into town, except I checked the I far out app, and it said we had over 4,000′ of climb and over 6,000′ of descent over 20 miles. This does not sound like all downhill to me. And it wasn’t. We started by going over big bald at 5516′ and then rolled of hill after hill. By the time I descended into Irwin my feet were screaming, and my belly was churning for food. Pigeon and I split a room at the super 8, washed the skank off of ourselves (which was considerable), and joined up with the others for pizza and beer.

Day 34: Erwin, TN (zero)

Just a typical day in town. Did my laundry, shopped for a 3-day resupply, and a plenty of food to make up for my severe calorie deficit. But as I write this it’s getting late, and I’m hiking again early tomorrow.

Affiliate Disclosure

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!

To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.

What Do You Think?