Hiking the Blue Wall, A Thru-Hike: Day 4

On June 22, 2019, I set out on a weeklong, 76.2 mile thru-hike of the Foothills Trail in the mountains of North and South Carolina. This trail, lovingly maintained by the Foothills Trail Conservancy, is a spectacular trek up and down the Blue Ridge Escarpment of the Carolinas, where the rolling hills of the Piedmont suddenly lift thousands of feet up into a wall of mountains. Scenic rivers, stunning vistas, and miles of secluded woodland trails typify the trail. I love hiking and backpacking, but life gets in the way too often. Consequently, I began the hike eager but out of shape, unsure if I’d be able to finish but thrilled to try. I worried about various things: would my sometimes-plantar fasciitis flare up? Would I suffer an injury? Would I be able to get a cell phone signal if something did happen? A personal locator beacon is something on my need-to-get list, but for this hike I was relying on myself and and a cell phone-until the cell phone died and I realized I’d forgotten to bring a charging cable. Consequently, I knew on the morning of Day 2 that I would truly be on my own, unable to contact anyone, while hiking the Blue Wall. Would I make it?

[@NickandRachel]

Looks like a fun trip! Thanks for sharing

[@BentbrooksRambles]

My pleasure! It was fun. Thanks for watching!

[@foothillstrailhiker2426]

Awesome video 👍 I appreciate you filming and posting it!

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

Awesome video and channel. Subscribed ✌️

[@LiboltAdventures]

Looks like an excellent trip. You put in some work.

[@DaD-zl2hr]

Just checking Your Okay 😀 Daz from Australia

[@BentbrooksRambles]

I am indeed. I hope you are as well. Getting used to the new normal.

[@foothillstrailhiker2426]

I wish you had checked out Hilliard Falls. The trail to the falls is actually only ONE TENTH! That hateful sign has the wrong mileage. I have GPSed it and paced it out to 600 feet.

[@BentbrooksRambles]

I wondered! I will definitely be back on the trail, though, and that means I'll have new discoveries to make.

[@DaD-zl2hr]

😀

[@foothillstrailhiker2426]

Here is the video from when we upgraded the Bearcamp Creek campsite. Hoping to do Bear Gap in 2020! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWXGeZeie56Uq9k

[@foothillstrailhiker2426]

You must have missed the true halfway point, there is a sign on a tree. It would have been on your right about 9 feet up. It is located about 3/4 mile from Bearcamp headed towards Horsepasture. Give me your email and I will send you a photo.

[@BentbrooksRambles]

I'd love to see it! I got mixed up mathematically as I'm sure you could tell. My email is listed in my "About" tab. Thanks!

[@foothillstrailhiker2426]

Just sent you a pic...

[@BentbrooksRambles]

Foothills Trail Hiker thank you!