one (August 5)

Notch = Gap

We've got Notches on the AT and Gaps on the AT. (Pinkham's Notch, Sugar Run Gap.) They're the same thing. But they're different. They're both that little break in the ridgeline, the up-high low of the mountains' jags, the saddle-y part of a saddle. But Notches are in the North and Gaps are in the South.

We're well into the Gaps now.

500,000 feet of vert

The AT is more than 500,000 feet of vertical climbing. That's approximately 100 miles. Up.

On average, every day is two miles of vert. Up.

Airplanes cruise at 30,000 feet. That's 5 1/2 miles. Up.

So relatively speaking, by the time they're done, Karl and the other AT thru-hikers are in space.

Perfect day. Perfect trail. Perfect weather.

The AT in Southwestern Virginia is rolling, buttery smooth, and canopied by rododendruns and oaks.  It was overcast and misty today, so the clean green smell of the forest was magnified. It was a perfect day for running.

Like I said earlier, Karl started off quiet today. But the trail changed that. Each time we saw him he was a little smilier and a little more animated. By the fourth stop of the day he was joking around and laughing. Now we can't get him to shut up. It's great.

8 miles left

Karl has 8 miles left today, is smiling and feeling great! That will put him at 44 miles for the day, will post more as soon as possible.

I just want a steak!

Billy ran up on the trail to meet Karl and run with him a while. As usually happens, the subject of dinner came up.

“What do you want for dinner, Karl?”

Round Beard Tally

160.

He looked pensive when I asked him. He was really thinking about it.

"I’m not seeing as many people now. I'm out there alone most of the time," he said. "The Northbounders are all up north and the few Southbounders I’ve seen seem all to be in shelters as I pass by. Saw one guy yesterday, it was 5:30 or 6 in the morning. He was awake, but in the shelter. As I went by, he called out: Hey, man! What are you doin? I waved and said: Gettin’ an early start!"
 

Three times today and on to the next

We woke up at 4:30 a.m. Sarah made breakfast, I made lunch and pit stop food. Billy taped up Karl's feet while he ate.

He set out at 5:50 a.m. It was Sarah's last morning on crew, so as is now the tradition, she walked him down to the trail head and saw him off. It was cool watching his headlight illuminate the leaves around him and then disappear into the darkness. Do you remember the bottom dwelling monster fish in "Finding Nemo?" with the light? It reminded me of that.

Working out some kinks- Karl is still charging.

Sorry for the map issues, we had to swap out the SPOT unit, and unfortunately our programmer is out, so when the unit pings it won't show up on the map until he does some crazy behind the scenes hocus pocus-  But for now, you can see Karl here.

Good morning Karl

Just a few more days in Virginia

 So sorry to leave ya’ll hanging for a day.  The AT is some rugged country.  Wild.  The Internet connection comes and goes… mostly goes, but it was another good day on the AT.  The daily routine of a sturdy breakfast of bacon and eggs heaped high and sporting a headlamp atop and on the wrist, Karl rolls out heading south, always south, Georgia bound.  A few locals met him while it was still dark,