Repeat AT thru-hikers are Welcomed

One of the perks for me as a seasonal ATC Ridge Runner in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) is meeting and greeting AT thru-hikers who are ‘repeaters’ - those who hike the trail year after year.

Recently, I met Friz, a repeat thru-hiker and old ‘friend’, on the trail. Friz and I met at Spence Field years ago and since then, I have grown to appreciate him. His love of the Smokys and Leave No Trace practices are never verbalized but always ‘heard’ loud and clear as evidenced by his personal trail practices.

Barbara (trail name Wild Poodle)(center spot in photo) came up to Mollies with Calm and Cindy. The three ladies make a great group of hikers. I met Wild Poodle when she hiked through the Smoky section in 2006. She said she had to get off the trail that year, as many do; but, I believe the camaraderie of this trio, as they support each other, will carry them all the way to Katahdin this year.

Baltimore Jack passed me as I was coming down for the week. It was good to talk to him again. He has thru-hiked many times and is another friendly face one could encounter treading north during a thru-hiker season. Clearly, meeting up with repeat thru-hikers is one of the highlights of the annual AT Ridge Runner season.

Keep hiking,

Carl (aka KY Greybeard)

Bear Action on the AT

The bears are active in the Smokys this April, particularly causing problems at Tri-Corner Knob early spring. After many hiker reports of bears between Fontana and Mollies, Sunday, April 25th, those of us at Mollies Ridge Shelter got our first day time bear visitors. They remained on the perimeter of the shelter, in no hurry to leave, content to forge around. The bear provided many Kodak moments for Mollies Ridge campers.
My arrival at Birch Spring campground Sunday afternoon was no exception. I first saw a bear stretched out, napping 30 feet off the trail. It also foraged on the ridge above Campground 113, lazily taking its time moving around the slopes above. The bears are a delight to see, but must be left alone and enjoyed from a distance.

Keep hiking,

Carl (aka KY Greybeard)