They dig this slack-packing stuff..

They must be getting into the swing - either that, or they've lost my number, or the phone fell into a lake, or the battery is completely dead or something (Just teasing).

While I don't have exact milage stats, Ruth did post some comments¹ today² so we at least know where they are³.

In her comments, Ruth mentioned that they'd be slack-packing over the next 3 days to reach Damascus.

References

¹ [April 30] Slackpacking ahead (ruth)

² [April 19] Newfound Gap (milo & ruth)

³ Ruth said they were at Laurel Fork Campground; I take that to mean Laurel Creek/Fork Lodge (the domain says creek, the website says fork, and it happens to be in the right place and offer tent sites). The Lodge is 1/2 mile east from the trailhead where it crosses USFS50/Dennis Cove Road, TN. 409.2 miles.

That means they've hiked 51.2 miles over the last 3 days (May 3, 4, 5, since today was a rest day). Extrapolating a little based on shelter locations, I will guess the following:

• They spent the night of May 3 somewhere near the Stan Murray Shelter (374.1 miles) for a hike of around 16.2 miles.
• They spent the night of May 4 somewhere between the Apple House Shelter (384.9 miles) and the Moreland Gap Shelter (398.3 miles). We'll split the difference and say they hiked 17.5 miles on Tuesday, the 4th, and 17.6 miles on Wednesday, the 5th.