Day 20: Every Climb Makes You Stronger

Starting Point: Spring Campsite (139.6)

Ending Point: Locust Cove Campsite (147.6)

Total Miles: 8 miles

Steps: 25,394

Achievements: Cheoah Bald

We didn't have much in the way of choices today.  Either we hiked 8 miles with 3000' of climb or 13.5 miles with 4500'.  We're not strong enough to do the latter quite yet.  It wasn't the climbs that were hard. It was the terrain.  It was difficult to move with any amount of cadence.

We reached camp by 3 p.m. and it was warm and nice, so we took a nap before dinner.  A group of hikers made a campfire, so we shared stories.

The wind blows though this camp in the most eerie of ways.  It rumbles in the distance and grows into a blast that pulls your tent stakes out of the ground.

Tomorrow is similar to today, but with a 100% chance of rain.  We can do another 8 or a stretch goal of 11.  The day after we'll reach Fontana Dam.  I have a resupply box waiting there and I get a shower and do some laundry.