Nimblewill Nomad
Long Distance Hiker/Author
Journal 136-ODYSSEY 2021: Bama to Baxter-Hike On!
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Monday–July 5, 2021
Trail Day–136
Trail Mile–-13.2/1,536.7
Location–Whiskey Springs Road, then to Sleep Inn, Carlisle South, AT Mile 1,118.0
The Ironmasters Mansion (Hostel) in Pine Grove Furnace was built over 200 years ago. It’s a very large, spacious two-story building that has seen numerous renovations and has been extremely well maintained. I slept in the bunk room on the second floor with Lucky, Nimrod, and five other people. Celine stayed in a private room. We all had a fine time at Ironmasters!
I failed to thank the folks at the AT Museum who helped me yesterday. Thanks, Ron, for the tour of your library. And thank you, Dragonfly for introducing me to the folks who gathered for my presentation. Oh, incidentally, Dragonfly holds the thru-hiker age record for women. She thru-hiked the AT when she was 78.
I’m not hungry this morning, so a couple cups of hot coffee prepared by Nimrod is all I need to get me going.
The Mansion is right on the trail, so pack on, out the door, and I’m on my way. Celine hikes out with me. Lucky won’t be far behind.
The trail heads east out of Pine Grove Furnace on an old abandoned rail grade for better part of a mile before turning to climb the ridge past Pole Steeple. There are a few rocky sections, but the trail remains easy going for the most part.
Halfway for the day we take a blue blaze over to Green Mountain Merchandise for cold drinks and snacks. I hike in with Lucky & Three o’Hearts (Celine now has a trail name). Nimrod is here and joins us.
As often occurs on the trail, paths cross. And today my path once again crosses that of The Waz and his sister, The Rage. So good to see and spend time with them again!
Afternoon, the hike is a cruise until right near the end of the day when we hit the stack of cobbled-up boulders on Rocky Ridge. The photos tell that story.
Nimrod is waiting for us at Whiskey Springs Road. From there it’s a short drive to the Sleep Inn Hotel in Carlisle. Supper is at Chili’s.
In the evening, Lorax (my friend from Odyssey ’98 who lives nearby) stops in for a few minutes to firm-up plans for tomorrow evening. Three o’Hearts and I will be his guests–Lucky & Nimrod will be heading back to Georgia in the morning.
Life was meant for good friends
and great adventures.
(Unknown)
One Comment on “Journal 136-ODYSSEY 2021: Bama to Baxter-Hike On!”
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Nimblewill Nomad 
With all our local trails here in GA and lots are posting pics of snakes and other animals seen, What have you seen and where so far on your journey? Just curious. You continue to inspire me to get out there, thank you!! God Bless and keep you safe as you continue.
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