Stats for the quantitatively-minded

We've been thinking lately about numbers. We think the following stats are a pretty good representation of our journey (quest?) so far....

Together, we have completed, had, finished, accomplished, done, made, etc etc:

6 jars of peanut butter 

10 days of rain

2 days of snow 

2 pairs of shoes for Giggles

3 food drops

5 care packages (shout out to Chuckles' wonderful parents, Grace Kelley, and the Broken Rocks crew courtesy of Sarah Stoner!!!)

12 days of trail magic 

1+ month on trail, or 39 days!!!!

5 or so face-plants

4 states

1 national park

42 lbs & 47 lbs in our packs coming out of Erwin, TN (too too too heavy...we've changed our ways since)

2 goodbyes to members of our family (but only temporary ones)

2 dozen Snickers bars (each)

5 towns

2.5 zero days 

22.7 miles (longest day)

1 shelter to ourselves 

1 lost Nalgene

2 Lost and Found's 

6 flavors of instant pudding

countless incidents of teasing for being petite "girls"

9 interviews for Giggles' SIP 

1 urban legend 

2 states with the Noro Virus

2 crossings of major interstate underpasses

1500 loud snores in shelters

3 dozen+ catholes

22 blisters (20 for Giggles, 2 for me)

15,000 Frozen references 

2 viewings of Frozen

288 photos taken 

1 funky footbath each

9 listens to "Ignition Remix"

16 listens to "Let It Go"

a couple sunburns

30 people in one barn

2 viewings of "A Bug's Life" previews 

15 chains broken on hostel bikes

3 heads of garlic

....aaaaaaaand (drum roll)

468 miles completed, 168 miles past Michael Hammersley's expectation of how far we would make it. Thanks for believing in us! 

Xoxo,

Chuckles and Giggles

Friends

We've met a lot of really wonderful folks while we have been out here...

This is the group just before the Smokies (LAF, Giggles, Rhoderunner Breakfast Special, Slim, Captain, Chops, Hearsay, and Chuckles). We had made a big dinner in our cabin to celebrate our first zero day (rest day, zero miles).

LAF knew we weren't far behind on trail in the Smokies so he sat here and waited for us in his hobbit hole. 

Sometimes he sneaks around in his ninja gear before bed... But it makes us Chuckle and Giggle.

The Captain often enjoys gnawing on a block of cheese. It's pretty impressive. 

This is us with Slim. We've really enjoyed getting to know you, and we're going to miss you SO much!

Rhoderunner Breakfast Special was enjoying a break from trail clothes in these super trendy and functional scrubs. 

This is Bones. We met him somewhere around the Smokies and have been hiking with him ever since--can't get rid of him (but we don't mind)!

Other than these folks, we have met a lot of other wonderful people. Some of these  folks have been trail angels. Along the trail different people stop at intersections of the trail and a roadway and deliver trail magic; an incredibly generous treat. Trail magic has been anything from a pair of q-tips to freshly grilled burgers. These are a few examples  of trail magic:

On one of our longest days, we were lucky enough to have a quick energy boost from this trail magic left on the trail. 

On another occasion, a man named Penguin, who vacations in a cabin near the trail, hiked up to a shelter with a backpack full of treats and cold drinks. 

Our friends and the trail magic have made this trip so much fun thus far!

Quick update

Nothing all too notable happened since as last updated you all... But we have hiked over 300 miles so far, and in a few days we will have been out here for a whole month. We're not ready to quit!! 

We did a beautiful ridge walk a few days ago and here are some photos: 

-we've had a few technical difficulties trying to upload posts... We'll upload a few today!

Some more smokies!

We're almost out of the park! It's been a fun few days. This park is beautiful, but well traveled. We've met some really great people here too! Here are a few pictures from the past few days. 

The park thought that it would be fun to remind us how far we had to go.... But no worries- our new favorite joke is "Katadin today!". 

The shelters here hold 12+ people and you have to sleep in them unless they are full. Most nights the shelters were full. Yikes. Chuckles sandwich! Noisy nights have meant being up early enough for the sunrise.

Friends! 

Views!! 

Iron Chef, Chuckles, and Hearsay all have matching jackets. 

Not sure if this is from anyone we know, but the shelter graffiti is showing some Kzoo love.

... And Chuckles is climbing on the roof.

We'll write more when we make it out of here!!

-the laughing girls 

Smokies so far...

We're currently sitting in a tourist 

-filled parking lot. So we decided to give you all a quick update: 

Chuckles is very much confused by all the people. 

Earlier today Giggles posed in front of a concrete tower. We thought it felt touristy. Also it's an American duty, right (that was a Margaux SIP reference for all our Kzoo fans/ANSO majors out there)?  

Although the Smokies have been full of things like this they have also been beautiful. 

More soon. Keep laughing! We definitely will.

Spring is here for now....until the Smokies

Daffodils! 70 degree weather! Mountains upon mountains! We are getting stronger, and with a new pair of bright green kicks for Emily (well, they're mud-stained now....), things seem to be on the upswing! We're taking a moment of relaxing, and thought we'd throw some pictures up for all you folks not living our simple life to enjoy. 

Margaux's favorite Jack Kerouac quote: "When you reach the top of a mountain, keep climbing." We don't have much of a choice but to keep climbing out here, but we're strong women! We got this! Also, how lucky are we to have this view on the daily???

EmSklar is cute even when we're in a creepy shelter (don't worry, Mom(s), they're usually not as creepy). 

Life isn't always peachy out here. Good thing we're WFR's (Don't worry, Mom(s) round two)!

Mostly, life is about giggling, largely just the two of us in our tinytent, but now sometimes also with friends. And yes, our trail names have stuck. Giggles and Chuckles at your service.

Wait... There is more.

Although updating the blog from the woods may not be our strength, we'll try to do better.... A few other things happened since we last stopped: 

We said goodbye to Georgia. This view was a short walk from our first campsite in North Carolina 

... And this was the sign that marked our first campsite. We still haven't made up our minds about staying in shelters. Pros:  you don't need to carry around a water soaked tent fly. Cons: the company and loud snoring. On one occasion we met this man named Chopper. His snoring was louder than humanly imaginable; it shook the entire shelter the whole night. 

This shelter graffiti sums up another one of our experiences well. 

We've been hiking amongst mountain laurel and it is sooo pretty! 

On round one we weren't too prepared with snacks, but round two we resupplied with plenty of sweets. 

We stopped for a while at this stream cause we thought it was pretty....

We made it 100 miles! This is on the fire tower on Albert mountain- 100 miles into our hike!! 

Chuckles was having fun..

Our friends were down below... 

These are a few of our friends: The Captain, Grandpa Chops, Roadrunner, and Slim (trail names are working, but they've been fun). We let them go ahead for a few nights, but we caught back up to them last night in time to take a break with these folks and two others named Hearsay and LAF. 

The captain used to be a fire fighter, but we're not so sure that his skills translate too well to a fire builder. Either way it is entertaining. 

We're having a great time, and we're going to enjoy a day resting before we ascent to the smokies!