In the midst of trying to keep up with my Appalachian Trail photos, I’ve thankfully continued to have a busy summer outside.

With hints of yellow starting to show in some trees, I cannot help but think about cool weather and fall backpacking!

Though I hinted at the end of this blog, I really got hammered by poison ivy finishing the Bartram Trail in May 2016.

The trail was really overgrown down along the Nantahala River and there was no way around.

I walked through it and did not properly wash/scrub. But then also got a “secondary contact dermatitis” (see above) from exposure to my gear which must have also had the oil on it.

Luckily, I was recommended this AMAZING VIDEO by other backpackers and am now confident I’ll never have a poison ivy problem again as long as I wash 3x and scrub.

Thinking of poison ivy “oil” as a substance similar to automotive GREASE was really a revelation and an analogy I use whenever I can.

Summer Fun

In June 2016, my poison ivy was healed and Jonathon and I backpacked the Standing Indian Loop on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina.

In July, my family and I were very fortunate to stay on beautiful St. Simons Island (Georgia, USA) with great friends and their son. Swimming, sun, running, and fun ensued.

Two weeks after St. Simons, our Prius was LOADED down for 5 nights of family camping in Grayson Highlands State Park (Virginia) and Great Smoky Mountain National Park (North Carolina/Tennessee). Then 2 more nights in a cabin at the base of Mt. Mitchell State Park (North Carolina)!

Woah…

Numerous factors (including, but not limited to: portable crib too big in tent and our tent a little small; Ryan’s sleeping pad too crinkly; Ryan staying up too late drinking beer; Ryan leaving the tent too often to pee during night) made it extremely convenient for me to sleep outside of the family tent. Which was just fine for me!

As anyone knows that camps with small children (Amber and I have a 4 year old and 2 year old, both girls), it’s REALLY nice having helping hands around camp. We were very lucky to have Amber’s parents and her younger brother, Dylan, join us for all nights camping.

It was a blast!

Grayson Highlands is very high evevation (5,000+ feet) and relatively cool throughout the year. The last time Amber I set foot in the park was in 2005 when we walked through on the Appalachian Trail.

This was Amber and I’s first time taking both girls hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

And that was special!

After 3 nights at Grayson, we moved on to Balsam Mountain Campground in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Because of its elevation (5,310 feet), Balsam always has cool weather. It has been my in-laws campground of choice for many years. Amber and I calculated that we’ve camped there now 4 different summers (usually for multiple nights/trip) together.

There’s a great little mile long nature trail between Balsam Mountain Campground and Heintooga Overlook that I run on every time we camp there. This time, I was fortunate enough to see a beautiful Black Bear on one of the runs!

Since there’s no showers at Balsam, anyone that wants to stay clean gets to shower like a hiker: with water bottles and biodegradable soap in the woods!

On our 5th and last night camping, we had our most intense rain.

The rain coincided perfectly with our planned cabin rental at the base of Mt. Mitchell, within Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. My in-laws left back to Florida, and we were joined by Amber’s cousin’s family from Washington DC!

The big attraction of Mt. Mitchell State Park is Mt. Mitchell (6,684 feet) itself, the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River. The drive to the top is amazing. The view is amazing. Even the state park restaurant on top of the mountain is amazing (seriously: at least get a scoop of ice cream…but maybe also a delicious veggie burger with fries with it).

It was my first time visiting Mt. Mitchell and it was amazing.

When I stood on the top of Mt. Mitchell, however, my eye was IMMEDIATELY drawn to the rest of the Black Mountain Crest heading north: a spiny ridge of other 6,000+ foot mountains that spans as far as the eye can see.

I had been planning to run up Mt. Michell from Black Mountain Campground (6 miles one way) for months, but the plan to summit Mount Craig (6,647 feet) and Big Tom (6,581 feet) was a last minute addition. The 2 mile (one way) run to their summits from Mt. Mitchell was the BEST part of the entire run.

And I’m certain I’ll be back to walk (or run!) the rest of that Black Mountain Crest Trail one day. Gosh, maybe even connect that trail to Linville Gorge by way of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail!!

Future Projects

In another blog post I’ve mentioned that I “got back into” backpacking after my brother-in-law (Dylan, AT thru-hiker 2011) and I thru-hiked the 40 mile Chattooga River Trail (on the NE Georgia/NW South Carolina border) in January 2015.

A portion of that hike coincided with the 77 mile Foothills Trail and a portion also passed the Bartram Trail.

Because the Foothills Trail is at relatively lower elevations than some other Appalachian Mountain trails, I always knew it would make a great winter hike. It’s supposed to be beautiful and have incredible waterfalls.

So, my plan is to thru-hike the Foothills Trail in January 2017.

I’ve also been dreaming of the Smoky Mountains in the Fall for a long time.

While I one day want to walk the Appalachian Trail through the GSMNP again, I really wanted to experience something a little different.

And I REALLY wanted to continue to hone my backcountry tarping skills. To camp in the woods is really such a gift! On the Appalachian Trail in GSMNP there is a mandatory policy for hikers to stay in wooden lean-to shelters.

So I’ve decided to walk the 90 mile section of the Benton MacKaye Trail in the Smokies (shown on the map below as the red line through the green park) this fall. Probably November 2016. Though I have to register my itinerary/campsites in advance of my hike, the Park allows hikers to tent/tarp camp on the Benton MacKaye.

I’ve always been in awe of the Smokies as soon as I’ve gotten off the beaten path, so I think the Benton MacKaye Trail will be something very special!

The entire Benton MacKaye Trail is about 300 miles long. I suppose I’m gonna have to walk the next 210 miles here real soon.

I’ve been busy planning logistics, making a tentative (and constantly changing) gear list, and getting my body in shape for some serious, long weekend walks! Snow…25-35 mile hiking days…black bear encounters….the possibilities are ENDLESS!

Thank ya’ll for reading and looking and I’ll report back soon with new adventures!

Until then, please continue to enjoy the 2005 Appalachian Trail thru-hike photos! Amber and I’s next blog will be published August 29, 2016 (8/29/16) so see ya’ll then!