Erwin, TN

We got back on the trail again at Marion, VA. (We have hiked Marion, VA to Mount Katahdin, ME as NoBos. Now we're hiking from Marion, VA to Springer Mtn, GA as SoBos. Actually, we're considered flip-flop thru-hikers.) The ground down here is very hard. It's been dry and we feel it on the trail and on our feet. It's like when we first started the trail! Our feet haven't hurt this much in a long time. The ground up north was much softer-maybe because of all the mud, wet and rain? Also there has been a concern about getting water. When we first got back on the trail we were hearing that the streams and water sources were dry and to carry as much water as we can. We did that a couple times (carry lots of water) that's about 6-8 lbs extra weight. That's probably another reason our feet hurt-extra weight. But we've been asking ahead to see where we need to carry extra and where there is water. It did rain for about 3 days and we had hoped that would help soften the ground and help with the water sources but it didn't. The water sources at some of the shelters were dry or were just dripping-took about 45 minutes to get enough water. Hoping it'll get better but probably not.

Since getting back on the trail in Marion, VA we've been hiking with another hiker, Lucky. He is a flip-flop thru-hiker as well but he started in Bland, VA about 50 miles north of where we started. We met in ME and he summited Katahdin the day before us and then got back on the trail in Bland 4-5 days before us and was waiting for us at the shelter where we got back on. He's actually one of the hikers that was with us when I got swept down the river by the current in ME and he almost got swept down in another river.

Scenes from our journey so far in VA and TN. When we left ME some of the trees were already changing to their fall colors-saw some reds and oranges. Think the fall foliage will be early this year because of the cooler weather and rains! There are fall colors already here in the south, too. Leaves on the ground and trail! I love the fall colors and am glad to be seeing some already!

We heard about a little boy getting attacked by a bear on the trail. Don't know all the details but he got a lot of stitches and otherwise okay but they did end up killing the bear. When we got back on the trail we were told that there has been bear activity and to be careful. The bears in the Smoky Mountains we're told are very smart and aren't afraid of people like the bears in the other parts of the trail. We'll definitely have to hang our food which is something we've always done on the trail but we'll be extra sure to get the food bags high enough and between the trees enough to deter those smart bears and pray all goes well through those 70 some miles of the Smoky Mtns. We were also told about the poisonous snakes being sighted on the trail when we got back on, too. So I had many concerns about getting back on the trail down here-water, bears, and snakes but on we go.

Lots of mushrooms growing everywhere! Very interesting shapes and colors-all colors of the rainbow! I didn't know there were purple mushrooms, too! They're really pretty ones, too!

There were fields of blackberry bushes! Enjoyed and ate a lot of these! There have also been blueberry bushes and trees here! Up north the blueberries were harder to pick since they were growing as mostly ground cover-hard to pick while you've got your pack on! Enjoying these wild free berries mucho much!

Near the fields of blackberry bushes were feral ponies! We saw 8! These 3 came across the trail as we were approaching to greet us! Guess there are about 30 some feral ponies that wander the Grayson Highlands in VA.


Some of the flowers we've seen down here in the south!

Our next stops:

Dan and Debbie McMonigle

c/o Standing Bear Farm Hostel

4255 Green Corner Rd.

Hartford, TN 37753

Please hold for AT Thru-hiker

Est. date arrival: Sept. 8

Dan and Debbie McMonigle

c/o General Delivery

Fontana Dam, NC 28733

Please hold for AT Thru-hiker

Est. date arrival: Sept. 15

We're almost done! We've hiked 1835 miles and 339 miles more to hike! I still don't understand how the miles to get off Mount Katahdin and the miles to get to Springer Mtn. aren't included in the total miles for the AT. That would add another 13 miles to the total, but then again there have been so many more miles that could be added when we consider the miles we go to towns to resupply and the other miles we have to go on a side trail to get to shelters or camping sites. So we'll actually have hiked a lot more miles than the 2175 that is the AT on this journey. But again it's all for a great cause, right? Thanks to all of you who have donated to Children's Hunger Fund for our Hike for Hunger Relief efforts! You all are a blessing to us and the children we are helping! We appreciate you all! God Bless you all and thank you for your support and prayers.