• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • 🥾 Hiking >>
    • Hiking 101 >
      • Types of Hikes
      • Trail Etiquette
      • Hiking Terms & Jargon
    • Long Trails >
      • Appalachian Trail
      • Lone Star Hiking Trail
    • Hiking Texas >
      • Central Texas Hiking Trails
      • Chalk Ridge Falls
      • Dana Peak Park
      • Guadalupe Mountains National Park
      • Lone Star Hiking Trail
    • Hiking Articles
    • Gear Reviews
    • Ask Nutty Hiker
  • 🏕 Camping + RVing
  • 🗺 Destinations >>
    • Road-Trip Checklist
    • Texas
      • North Texas
      • Central Texas
      • East Texas
      • South Texas
      • West Texas
      • Texas State Parks
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Idaho
    • Kentucky
    • Nevada
    • New Mexico
    • North Dakota
    • Pennsylvania
    • South Dakota
    • Utah
    • Washington
  • 🚘 Road Trips >>
    • Road-Trip Checklist
    • Road Trip 2015
    • Road Trip 2016
    • Road Trip 2017
  • ⭐ Reviews >>
    • Hiking / Outdoor Gear
    • Photography Gear
  • 🗞️ News >>
    • Hiking News
    • Outdoor News
    • Interviews
  • 🎥 Video’s
  • 📷 Photography >>
    • Latest Work
    • How To & Tips
    • Photography Gear Reviews
    • Photography Classes
    • Photography Articles
    • Portrait Sessions >
      • Overview of services
      • Portrait Portfolio
      • The Cost
      • Portrait Session Tips
      • Referral Program
      • Our Policies
      • FAQ’s
      • Book A Session
  • ✎ Lifestyle >>
    • Recommendations
    • Home & Garden >
      • Home & Garden Articles
      • DIY & How To
      • Gardening/Patio
      • Recipe’s
      • Annual Christmas Light Show
    • $$$ Matters >
      • Finance & Money Blog
      • Making A Budget
      • Free Budget Worksheet
      • Military Family Budget Worksheet {FREE}
      • Money Saving Tips
      • 9 Things You Should Always Negotiate
      • How I saved $2400 a year by making 2 simple phone calls!
      • How I make $150 extra a month by reading emails!
    • Health & Wellness
    • ✪ Military Life >
      • Finance 101: The Frugal Military Spouse
      • Dear Military Spouse
      • Deployment
        • Deployment 101 >
        • Deployment Articles
        • Deployment Kit & Binder | Free Downloads
        • Deployment Preparation
        • Deployment Safety Tips
        • Deployment Survival
        • How to Keep Busy During Deployment
        • Emotional Phases of Deployment
        • Homecoming Ideas & Tips
        • Children & Deployment
        • Care Package Sign Up Sites
        • Care Package Do’s, Don’ts & Restricted Items
        • Care Package FAQ’s
        • Care Package Ideas & Tips >
          • Care Package Theme: Happy Birthday Care Package
      • PCS & Moving >
        • PCS Binder – How To & Downloads
        • General Info
        • PCS Allowances
        • PCS Checklist
        • Types of Moves
        • Standard TMO/PPO PCS Tips
        • DITY & Partial DITY Moving Tips
        • PCS Household Goods Weight Allowance
        • Items To Take With You
        • Unauthorized Items
        • Filing A Claim
        • Useful PCS Links
        • Blog Posts about PCS
        • PCS Blog
      • Base-Post Reviews
      • Military Discounts
      • Military Legal >
        • Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
        • SCRA: Companies That Go Above & Beyond
      • Military Living & Benefits
      • Military Weddings
    • Blogging Tips >
      • Make $$$ Blogging
      • How to Start a Blog
      • Set up a WordPress Blog in 5 Steps
      • How to Secure Your WordPress Site
      • 10 WordPress Plugins Every Blogger Needs!
      • Blogging Articles
    • My Daily Antics
    • Dear Nutty Hiker
    • Just For Fun
  • 🆓 Resources >>
    • Road-Trip Checklist
    • Deployment Binder
    • Military PCS Binder
    • Budget Worksheet
    • Military Family Budget Worksheet
    • Holiday List Printables
    • Free Tools >
      • Military Time Converter
      • Morse Code Converter
      • Message Encryption & Decryption
      • Message Transformer
    • Giveaways
  • 📛 Work With Me
  • 🛒 Shop
  • ☕ Support
  • ✉ Contact >>
    • Contact Me
    • Request Product Review
    • Work With Me
Nutty Hiker Adventures

Nutty Hiker Adventures

Hike Every Hike Like It Is Your Last

Cairn Banner
You are here: Home / Hiking / Appalachian Trail / Day 9 & 10: Appalachian Trail Thru Hike | Zero & Hogpen Gap to Unicoi Gap

Day 9 & 10: Appalachian Trail Thru Hike | Zero & Hogpen Gap to Unicoi Gap

Posted February 28, 2020 / Last Updated May 7, 2020

Day 9 was a zero-day for me as I try and get my head back in the game and dodge the frigid cold temperatures of the day (windchill made it feel like single digits).

I used this time to make a video reflecting on what I was feeling. I feel like so many YouTubers do not talk about what really happens on the trail and instead only shows the rainbows, unicorns and glitter farts.

Feel free to watch day 9 video below:

DAY 10: Hogpen Gap to Unicoi Gap

Day 10 was a much better day. I headed out to complete a 14-mile day from Hogpen Gap to Unicoi Gap. I checked the weather before heading out and it said possible snow flurries ending by 11am.

I chose to leave behind my microspikes and all food (except for the day’s snacks and lunch) back at the hotel since I would be returning. I took all of my other gear with me.

When we got to Hogpen gap it was mighty cold but beautiful.

Day 10 of my Appalachian Trail Thru Hike

These 14 miles were going to be easy (compared to the rest of the trail we had already completed) or so I thought.

Day 10 of my Appalachian Trail thu hike. Hogpen Gap to Unicoi Gap

The first 7 miles showed me that I’d have these 14 miles knocked out my 3pm, then the flurries started.

  • 2020 02 28 09.59.37
  • 2020 02 28 10.52.58
  • 2020 02 28 11.02.47
  • 2020 02 28 10.53.41

No problem, I’m still booking right along; then the flurries turn into full-blown out wet ice and snow. Before we know it the ground is quickly becoming covered and it is still coming down and coming down hard.

2020 02 28 11.47.56

You can no longer see the trail or what it is you may step on below the snow as it accumulated to 2-3 inches.

2020 02 28 12.15.44

My pace had come to a screeching halt. Every step your foot slides. The trail might of as well of been an ice skating rink. The last 7 miles took me 5.5 hours, the first 7 took 3.5 hours.

I said goodby to 2 Cents at Blue Mountain Shelter and found out that Search and Rescue were on their way up to rescue a lady who had gotten injured and was waiting at the shelter.

Shortly past the shelter, I ran into a guy with a chainsaw. It was the fire department clearing a path for their ATV. I talked to them for a minute, told them I had hurt my knee and ankle too, but I was going to try and hike myself out. He told me to follow their tracks and if I felt I couldn’t do it to sit and wait, they’d be back around and give me a lift down if I decided to change my mind.

Day 10 rescue from atop the mountain of an injured hiker

I continued my way to the top so I could start my descent down. I passed a 2019 SOBO and talked with her for a bit and then continued my trek.

Eventually, the Fire Department came back around with the injured and asked again if I wanted a ride down. I politely declined and he asked, “are you sure”? I’m fine, I’ll be good. Apparently I should have taken him up on his offer. As I started my descent down the mountain, I realized just how stupid this idea was.

Day 10 snowfall on the Appalachian Trail

The snow covered the big boulders of rocks, the roots, and even holes. I fell so many times that I lost count and at one point literally almost slid down the side of the mountain. My knee and ankle took an even bigger beating and by the time I made it to the parking lot where my shuttle driver was waiting, I could barely walk.

Once I was back in my hotel room in Hiawassee, I Facetimed my husband (an EMT) who gave me a quick assessment. ER was not needed, but I would need to RICE it for a couple of days. Tomorrow the pain would probably be worse but should start getting better on Day 2. If not, I needed to go to the ER. I guess I won’t be doing the 17 miles I planned to do on Sunday since finding out this morning that no one could get up to Tray Gap (according to my shuttle driver)!

2020 02 29 12.32.58

WATCH THE DAY 10 VIDEO

<< DAY 8 | DAY 11-13 >>

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Mix (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

cairn banner

Reader Interactions

Leave me a Comment =) Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Search

HOWDY Y’ALL

Nutty Hiker here – military wife, mom, photographer, writer, and an avid hiker. I love turquoise, long hikes, Cherry Dr. Pepper, & tornados. Read More…

“Hike Every Hike Like It Is Your Last” – Nutty Hiker
Facebook Icon Instagram Icon YouTube Icon

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up to receive my monthly newsletter & notifications of new posts by email.

Featured Posts

Appalachian Trail Class of 2020 Covid-19 Bloggers & Vloggers

Appalachian Trail 2020 (Class of Covid-19) Bloggers/Vloggers

Colorado Springs - Trails to Hike

Top Spots in Colorado Springs to get your Hike on

Backpacker

The Importance of a Good Hiking Backpack & What Opened My Eyes

Recycle Mountain House Pouches

Program Lets You Recycle Mountain House Meal Bags

Nutty Hiker's plans for 2021

My Plans for 2021 – Will I return to the Appalachian Trail?

Sponsors

BattleboxMountain Steals Bannercairn-sidebar

Footer

SUPPORT =)

This blog is my full-time job. I rely heavily on support from my readers. If you would like to help offset the cost of running this blog and my nutty adventures so I can continue to bring you travel & outdoor adventures, please feel free to donate =)Donate to Nutty Hiker

Disclosure

Per the FTC, This website contains affiliate links, advertisements, and sponsored posts. For reviews, I was provided with a complimentary copy of the item unless otherwise stated. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases using the amazon links located on my website. Read my full policy here.

Search

Awards

Best Outdoor Blogs

Copyright © 2021 — Nutty Hiker Advenures | Bridget Carlson • All rights reserved.
The links on this website are solely for the convenience of our visitors. Nutty Hiker does not endorse, operate, or control external websites.
Terms of Use • Privacy Policy• Disclosure• Contest Rules

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.