I knew we had 9.4 miles ahead of us (half on the AT) so I wanted to get an early start. After I was done packing, I helped Shemia and SHOE pack up camp. SHOE had brought bagels and cream cheese to share with us for breakfast, so I had one and a banana. We then loaded up into the cars, drove up to the ranger station at the campground, filled out our backcountry permit, dropped off my car at the trailhead, piled into SHOE's car, and headed up to Newfound Gap to start our trip. (Along the way, we stopped like total tourists and took a photo at an overl
ook. It was actually an awesome view of the Smoky's with clouds looming in the gaps.) When we peaked to the top of Newfound Gap, we noticed the fog had rolled in, the visability was about 20 feet, and it was pretty chilly out. After quick last minute trips to the bathroom, at 9:30am we hit the trail. We said good bye to 5048 elevation at Newfound and began our climb on the Appalachian Trail up to Charlies Bunion. The first 2 miles were all up hill. SHOE checked her book and said we would be climbing up around 6100 feet and I believed her. The climb wasn't so bad, but it was still a climb. On the way up we were passed by a couple of rangers looking for a lost hiker that's been missing since Wednesday. I really hope they found him. 
The shelter is one of the nicest I've seen on the AT. It's got sky lights, a deck with a long bench, and bar for you to sit up at. (It reminded me of the bar at App State (ASU) called the Klondike. Where you could sit outside on stools and lean on a huge long wooden table while you sipped on your microbrew. Good times.) Anyways, we took a nice lunch break and I ate my PB&J, a boiled egg, and drank some water. Afterwards, we pushed on, climbing some more. The sun finally started to peek through the fog just as we reached the Charlie Bun
ions sign. The walk along the VERY narrow trail with a shear cliff on one side, had amazing views! I could see the rock protruding out at the tip and it really did look like some guy named Charlie's bunion hahhaa! It was trully an amazing experience. One of my favorite hikes to date. I was afraid after years of hyping this section of the AT up that Charlies Bunion would not live up to my expections. Well, it blew me away. The view was breathe taking. Picture yourself jetted out on a rock with a panoramic view of the great smoky mountains laid out in front of you. What was even better was that
we had the rock all to ourselves!! Just the three of us and I, in true childlike fashion, I stuck my arms out and began yelling just to hear my echo (several times hahaha!) SHOE got some good pic's of me climbing out to the rock. We probably stayed there for a good 30 minutes, before another set of backpackers showed up. Three guys, on their way to Fontana Dam (40 miles away). I heard one of them comment that we (the girls) had hiked in with our backpacks on. I guess they were surprised that we could traverse the narrow trail. They had taken off their packs at the sign and just hiked in once they saw how dangerous the trail was. Well, thats cause we are BAD ASS! We talked to them a bit, then let the have the Charlies Bunion all to themselves. We came, we climbed, we conquered. Now on to camp.
ions sign. The walk along the VERY narrow trail with a shear cliff on one side, had amazing views! I could see the rock protruding out at the tip and it really did look like some guy named Charlie's bunion hahhaa! It was trully an amazing experience. One of my favorite hikes to date. I was afraid after years of hyping this section of the AT up that Charlies Bunion would not live up to my expections. Well, it blew me away. The view was breathe taking. Picture yourself jetted out on a rock with a panoramic view of the great smoky mountains laid out in front of you. What was even better was that
we had the rock all to ourselves!! Just the three of us and I, in true childlike fashion, I stuck my arms out and began yelling just to hear my echo (several times hahaha!) SHOE got some good pic's of me climbing out to the rock. We probably stayed there for a good 30 minutes, before another set of backpackers showed up. Three guys, on their way to Fontana Dam (40 miles away). I heard one of them comment that we (the girls) had hiked in with our backpacks on. I guess they were surprised that we could traverse the narrow trail. They had taken off their packs at the sign and just hiked in once they saw how dangerous the trail was. Well, thats cause we are BAD ASS! We talked to them a bit, then let the have the Charlies Bunion all to themselves. We came, we climbed, we conquered. Now on to camp.We finished up the last bit of the AT before hopping on to Dry Sluice Trail. I have to say, I felt a twinge of sadness when leaving the AT. I love that trail so much. I dream of that trail all the time and just to be on it for a bit makes my day. I don't know what it is about the Appalachian Trail, it's an obession. Maybe it's cause I read trailjournals and whiteblaze, which are websites dedicated to the Appalachian trail and those who hike it. But I never seem to get it out of my system. Anyways, I 
had to leave those beautiful white blazes behind and start the downhill section of our hike to get to campsite #49. You could tell that Dry Sluice trail was RARELY used. If I wasn't webbing, I was bushwhacking. (SHOE, where was your machette man when we needed him?) At one point I literally stopped, looked around and thought "WTF, did I walk into a bush by accident?" THATS how overgrown the trail was. We all got separated on this section of the trail. Shemia whizzed down the trail, I was in the middle fighting off the overgrown weeds that were chest high, while trying not to trip on the loose rocks, and SHOE rounded up the rear taking it safe and slow. We all met up at a trail intersection, with only about 2 to 5 minutes behind one another. We regrouped and with 3.5 miles left til camp, Shemia and I kicked into high gear and FLEW down the trail. I only rolled my ankles 4 times, and slipped on wet roots like 6 times. OUCH! It was probably the fastest I hiked down hill. I was trying to keep pace with Shemia. Boy is she a fast hiker. We made it to the trail juction that tells us only .6 miles on Cabin Flats trail to our #49 campsite. We 
wait 10 minutes, then I tell Shemia that I'll wait for SHOE and she can head up to the campsite to scope out a good place for us. She takes off and I sit on a rock and take a small nap. YUP, I fell asleep! I must of been really tired. hahaha! The next thing I know, I was awakened by the same rangers that were looking for the missing hiker. I laughed, embarrassed that I've been caught sleeping (and probably snoring) and tell them I'm waiting on one of our hiking partners. I looked at my watch and notice it's been 20 minutes. I snacked on some gorp and waited another 15 minutes. I decided to roll into camp. I figured SHOE is taking it safe and slow and she'll get to camp when she's good and ready. I started the .6 mile gradual climb up and find #49 at 4:36pm. Seems as if it's sprinkled with good campsites all along a river. I meandered through and say hello to all the people already relaxing at their camps. I finally get to the end, and see Shemia. I found two good trees and start putting up my tarp and hammock. I'm almost done when SHOE slinks in. If I would of waited another few minutues we could 
of hiked to camp together. HA! Oh well.
had to leave those beautiful white blazes behind and start the downhill section of our hike to get to campsite #49. You could tell that Dry Sluice trail was RARELY used. If I wasn't webbing, I was bushwhacking. (SHOE, where was your machette man when we needed him?) At one point I literally stopped, looked around and thought "WTF, did I walk into a bush by accident?" THATS how overgrown the trail was. We all got separated on this section of the trail. Shemia whizzed down the trail, I was in the middle fighting off the overgrown weeds that were chest high, while trying not to trip on the loose rocks, and SHOE rounded up the rear taking it safe and slow. We all met up at a trail intersection, with only about 2 to 5 minutes behind one another. We regrouped and with 3.5 miles left til camp, Shemia and I kicked into high gear and FLEW down the trail. I only rolled my ankles 4 times, and slipped on wet roots like 6 times. OUCH! It was probably the fastest I hiked down hill. I was trying to keep pace with Shemia. Boy is she a fast hiker. We made it to the trail juction that tells us only .6 miles on Cabin Flats trail to our #49 campsite. We 
wait 10 minutes, then I tell Shemia that I'll wait for SHOE and she can head up to the campsite to scope out a good place for us. She takes off and I sit on a rock and take a small nap. YUP, I fell asleep! I must of been really tired. hahaha! The next thing I know, I was awakened by the same rangers that were looking for the missing hiker. I laughed, embarrassed that I've been caught sleeping (and probably snoring) and tell them I'm waiting on one of our hiking partners. I looked at my watch and notice it's been 20 minutes. I snacked on some gorp and waited another 15 minutes. I decided to roll into camp. I figured SHOE is taking it safe and slow and she'll get to camp when she's good and ready. I started the .6 mile gradual climb up and find #49 at 4:36pm. Seems as if it's sprinkled with good campsites all along a river. I meandered through and say hello to all the people already relaxing at their camps. I finally get to the end, and see Shemia. I found two good trees and start putting up my tarp and hammock. I'm almost done when SHOE slinks in. If I would of waited another few minutues we could 
of hiked to camp together. HA! Oh well. Shemia did some exploring,firewood gathering, and discovered another, more private campsite. Her and SHOE made camp there. Since I already had all my stuff strung up, I decided to stay where I was.
When I went to change into my comfy camp clothes, I saw another hiker that we passed earlier. He was climbing up the ridge BUCK NAKED. He probably thought he no one could see him. It looked like he was washing his clothes and bathing. OMG! I hurried up, changed my clothes, and warned the others. HA! He probably had no idea I saw him. Ooops. (What happens in the woods, stays in the woods.) We all finished unpacking, put on camp shoes, and slid into the river to cool our feet, and filter water for dinner. ahhhhh... one of the best things about camping next to a river, you can soak your sore feet in the cold icy water. Afterwards, SHOE and I hunted for s
ome firewood. Considering it's a pretty well used campsite, there were no logs, sticks, limbs, even twigs to be found. Plus, the stuff we did find was all wet. We brought our sorry looking soggy branches to Shemia and hoped she can do something with it. She's magical. Shemia got a fire going with the scraps we found. SHOE and I boiled water for our dinners. I had a Knorrs parmasean garlic noodles with a gouda babybel cheese that SHOE gave me, and some pizza flavored combos. Shemia just ate nuts. NO joke, the girl ate just ate nuts. 3 kinds of nuts to be exact. Walnuts, peanuts, and almonds. I offered her some combos, but she said kept to her healthy diet and said no. Good for her! SHOE tried her own invention, minute rice with mac-n-cheese powder. It seemed to work out well. After dinner, SHOE had a surprise for all of us. JIFFY POP! WHOO HOO! I can't remember the last time I had some jiffy pop. She turned on her pocket rocket canister stove and Shemia and I took turns shaking the jiffy pop pan. We were like little kids, cheering every POP we heard, watching the foil bubble up. SHOE got some good video footage of it. HAha!
ome firewood. Considering it's a pretty well used campsite, there were no logs, sticks, limbs, even twigs to be found. Plus, the stuff we did find was all wet. We brought our sorry looking soggy branches to Shemia and hoped she can do something with it. She's magical. Shemia got a fire going with the scraps we found. SHOE and I boiled water for our dinners. I had a Knorrs parmasean garlic noodles with a gouda babybel cheese that SHOE gave me, and some pizza flavored combos. Shemia just ate nuts. NO joke, the girl ate just ate nuts. 3 kinds of nuts to be exact. Walnuts, peanuts, and almonds. I offered her some combos, but she said kept to her healthy diet and said no. Good for her! SHOE tried her own invention, minute rice with mac-n-cheese powder. It seemed to work out well. After dinner, SHOE had a surprise for all of us. JIFFY POP! WHOO HOO! I can't remember the last time I had some jiffy pop. She turned on her pocket rocket canister stove and Shemia and I took turns shaking the jiffy pop pan. We were like little kids, cheering every POP we heard, watching the foil bubble up. SHOE got some good video footage of it. HAha!After munching on popcorn, some great conversations about religion and race, and hilarious stories about SHOE's Mexican-wanna-be sister-in-law (which were trully funny, I was teary up from laughing so hard, no offense SHOE, you just tell a funny story) the sun went down, we got quiet, and Shemia hit the hay. I was left in charge of the fire. I got it going again, then it just died down. SHOE and I stayed up til after 10pm catching up. We finally call it a night. She goes off to her tent and I walk back to my campsite. Even though I'm about 75 feet away, I still got creeped out at spending a night alone, so I took my whistle off my pack and clipped it onto my shirt, incase I had to use it that night. As I slinked into my hammock, my imagination just went wild and I started scaring myself with images of some psycho coming to get me in the woods. I decided to just pray to keep my over active mind occupied and to help me fall asleep. The next thing I knew, it was 7:44am. I had made it through my first solo (sort of) night in the woods!
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