Uphill's 2018 Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hike - Uphillhike
2966
paged,page-template,page-template-blog-masonry,page-template-blog-masonry-php,page,page-id-2966,page-child,parent-pageid-2964,paged-43,page-paged-43,qode-quick-links-1.0,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,qode-title-hidden,qode_grid_1300,qode-content-sidebar-responsive,qode-theme-ver-11.0,qode-theme-bridge,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-5.0.1,vc_responsive

Today I blasted through the 5000 ft elevation barrier having three long climbs along the way. The first big climb started at the Burger King in Spruce Pine. I was up early having camped on a steep slope near the Spruce Pine exit. I used the uphill side of a large oak tree to give myself about 3 feet of flat space under the tarp. I had camped in a rhododendron thicket. I sped down to the BK and had a couple of egg and cheese croissants and...

I woke up weak and hungry. Only a can of sardines for supper last night and now I was enjoying a couple of fig newtons and a dry granola bar for breakfast. With 12 miles to Blowing Rock and breakfast, I felt like a dead man on wheels. There were repeated short ascents with annoyingly tough grades. It seems like the hills are worse than the long mountain climbs. I finally reached town and ordered a veggie omelet with grits and biscuits. They put an entire coffee pot carafe...

I am out of oatmeal, but was still able to have fig newtons, banana, and coffee for breakfast. It had rained all night and was still raining when I woke up. With rain pattering on my tent, I tried to sleep some more and was able to doze a little longer. It looked like I would be riding in fog so set up my bike lights. The skies cleared quickly. The highlight of the day was going around the detour signs at Doughton Park. This gave me a private road...

Day 7 A pretty easy 50 miles from Rocky knob to Cumberland Knob, but my legs are shot. Sleeping late, I was up at 5:55 am. Had breakfast of 3 honey & maple oatmeals with raisins and almonds and coffee. Rode 9 miles to Mabry Mill where I had to try out the famous buckwheat pancakes. Had 2 large pancakes, grits, 3 scrambled egg whites, and coffee. Breakfast number 2. The route consisted of hill climbs and descents with no real long mountain climbs. Even the shorter climbs had steep...

By 7 am I had already left the Apple Motel, ridden the 5 miles back to mileposts 116 where I had attempted to camp and back up past Roanoke Mountain to my room at the Apple. I packed up and checked out of the room. I ate breakfast at the Wal-Mart Subway Sandwich shop across the street. Bet you didn't know that there was a Wal-Mart on the USA's crown jewel roadway. It was a very hot day and I was soon into a long tough climb. There were...

It was well past 9 pm and dark when two police cars with lights flashing pulled up in front on the Parkway. Another car pulled up behind my spot on the dirt road with headlights turned in my direction. I walked up to the dirt road while putting on my shirt and trying to look respectable. The guy on the road was a neighbor. Only the woods are visible and I don't see a neighborhood. The police join us and tell me that I am on Parkway land...