6/16/26- Day 16- End of the trail for now…

As I write this, I’m sitting in the Asheville airport waiting to make my way home. I’m a little tired and a little sore, but glad to have gotten through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park without having to wrestle a bear for my food. Fact is, I didn’t even see a bear. When I started several of the shelters, or camping areas, were closed due to aggressive bear activity, but all were open by the time I arrived.  I hiked from mile 1800 to mile 2030 in 15 days. This section was tougher than I thought, but as a trail worker pointed out, this is the only section south of New Hampshire where you hike above 4000 feet and that was, every day, including 4 of the AT’s 5 highest peaks.

I’m not sure if I’ll be back to do the remaining 165 miles, as it’s become clear that while I love to hike and camp, there’s really nothing to see and no new experiences in those miles. All the most spectacular vistas are up north, and all the technical climbs are there as well.

Having said that, my hiking and my blog won’t end here. If we can figure out how, the blog name will change to “Mike Walks the AT and more”.  Sean and I already have two hikes planned this year and I hope to add many more.

So stay tuned as Whistler will be back.