Sunday, March 31, 2013
Destination: Long branch shelter
Starting Location: Carter Gap Shelter
Today's Miles: 8.60 Trip Miles: 75.52

New shelter, really nice. Good crowd. Meet Don's Brother.

 8.6 is my best miles to date! Albert Mountain  was a fun climb, 300' elevation  gain nearly strait up, almost needed climbing gear. A little later rain made it tougher for others, I'm sure.  The tower, at the summit of Albert Mountain, marks the first 100 miles of the trail.  I need to recheck my mile counter.

I was interviewed by Eric at the start of the steep climb that lead to the tower at the summit of Albert Mountain.  It is currently on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md8jsE5TqpQ

 Eric is guy talking about the climb just after reaching the tower.

I really felt good after the climb and went a little faster, for a while! Everyone was heading for Rock Gap for trail magic, but I knew I couldn't make it so I stopped here.  I missed out on the omelets, darn it!



. "All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Saturday, March 30, 2013
Destination: Carter Gap Shelter
Starting Location: Muskrat Shelter
Today's Miles: 7.90 Trip Miles: 83.42


 Steep start not too bad, steep for last mile was a killer.

 "All that is gold does not glitter,
   Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Friday, March 29, 2013
Destination: Standing Indian Mtn Shelter
Starting Location: Muskrat shelter
Today's Miles: 3.90 Trip Miles: 66.92



"All that is gold does not glitter,
 Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Thursday, March 28, 2013
 Destination: Muskrat shelter
Starting Location: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
 Today's Miles: 7.30 Trip Miles: 63.02

 Better miles today. Feeling better too. Hiked through a lot of snow.  Most of it was starting to melt so there was a lot slush, but in the shadows it was still frozen hard in a lot of places.

I crossed into North Carolina today, so it is good bye Georgia.  The strange looking tree was at Bly Gap, just a little after entering NC where the wind was blowing pretty strong.  The snow covered trail goes through a Rodie Forest.

"All that is gold does not glitter,
 Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Wednesday, March 27, 2013
 Destination: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
Starting Location: US76/Dicks Crk Gap (Franklin)
Today's Miles: 4.50 Trip Miles: 55.72

Power at the shelter?  Not really!  Gweejo picked up some outlet covers in Hiawassee and  was going to put one in at least one shelter in each state.  He is a day or two ahead me.


Back on the trail after a good rest and nearly recovered from my cold. 4.5 miles was enough for the first day back. Still had to force feed dinner. Meet Chris and Bunny, two ladies not together, and a young guy with a dog. In bed way before dark!


"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Tuesday, March 26, 2013
 Destination: Franklin, NC
Starting Location: Franklin, NC
 Today's Miles: 0.00 Trip Miles: 51.22

 Decided on another zero after getting up to snow and blow. Doing town stuff today and little thing like sewing up my gloves and putting screen protector on my phone (packing tape). Left over tape to the hiker box. Shopped for food yesterday and will break it down today. Laundry is next on the list.

 "All that is gold does not glitter,
  Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Monday, March 25, 2013
Destination: US76/Dicks Crk Gap Franklin
Starting Location: Deep Gap Shelter
Today's Miles: 3.50 Trip Miles: 51.22

Up at seven and away by eight. 22*F and snow. Had to make it to the highway by 1100, and did, but the shuttle was late. Hiking was pretty easy on the frozen ground with an inch or so of snow. My name was not on the shuttle list but luckily the driver got had a cell signal and  a call soon cleared that up. I did not eat breakfast an I think that caused me to start chilling and the warm van felt really good.

 Settled into my room for two days (another zero) to finish my recovery from the cold. It was a good night to be inside with heat and a bed.


. "All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Sunday, March 24, 2013
Destination: Deep Gap Shelter
Starting Location: Tray Mtn Shelter
Today's Miles: 7.50 Trip Miles: 47.72


 Up late and not on the trail until 10:00. Hiked in the rain about half the day, getting to Deep gap shelter which is 3.5 mi. From US76 and shuttle pickup. Got to the shelter early and claimed my spot. Every thing is wet including my self. I got into the sleeping bag with my wet clothing and let my body heat dry things out. Except for my fleece vest. It would be wet tomorrow. Making a nature call in the night I saw that the rain had turned to snow, temp was low 20s and my fleece vest was frozen!


"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Saturday, March 23, 2013
Destination: Tray Mountain Shelter
Starting Location: Unicoi Gap
Today's Miles: 5.70 Trip Miles: 40.22

 Got a good night sleep and up early so decided to hit the trail. Still not in top form, but couldn't lay out too long.   Mailed my solar panel home just before catching the shuttle to Unicoi gap and hiked the first two hours up hill and in the rain.  I plan to hike to Dicks Fork Gap in two days and back to Hiawassee for more recovery time. Made it to Tray Mtn shelter. Cooked and got settled in with a nice fire. Heavy rain in the night, just glad I did not tent. Not completely over the cold, but feeling much better! (I decided not to go all the way back to Tesnatee gap, so I have about 15 miles of yellow blase (hitching)  to confess to. It is my hike after all.)  

Shelter was crowed and the storms s came right after dark. But I was back on the trail.


 "All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Rest another day.

Friday, March 22, 2013
 Destination: Hiawassee
 Starting Location: Hiawasaee
 Today's Miles: 0.00 Trip Miles: 34.52


 Walked around town today feeling better. Heard Icarus and Nema are in town but on the other end and that Nema is sick. Weather iffy for the next few days.

 "All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Hitch to another town

Thursday, March 21, 2013
 Destination: Hiawassee
 Starting Location: Helen, GA
 Today's Miles: 0.00 Trip Miles: 34.52

 Packed it up today and walked to the edge of town to hitch to Hiawassee in search of medical attention.  I have spotted blood in the gunk that I have been coughing up. I was picked up before too long and delivered to the Budget Inn in Hiawassee. Got a Subway sandwich for lunch then walked across the street to the ER. Got Rx for an antibiotic, cough syrup, and better OTC stuff.


 "All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Not over it yet!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013
 Destination: Helen, GA
Starting Location: Helen, GA
 Today's Miles: 0.00 Trip Miles: 34.52

 Signed in for another night then went to Dollar General for OTC drugs. Still feeling rough from the cold.  Stayed in bed for fourteen hours, resting mostly, very little sleep. 

Went over to a German restaurant and had a Ruben sandwich for lunch.  I was very different from any I have had before and was very good!

 "All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Tuesday, March 19, 2013
 Destination: Tesnatee Gap hwy 348
 Starting Location: Neels Gap
Today's Miles: 4.40 Trip Miles: 34.52

Icarus

I was feeling pretty good this morning so I headed out on the trail on a cold and frosty morning.  The rain had ended overnight.  After an hour or I started feeling rough and it got worse all day from my cold. I took a zero yesterday and so I wanted to get back on the trail and moving north.

This is the hardest 4 miles for me yet. Could not eat much and was very weak. Chris (Icuras) caught up with me as I reached the first summit. He knew I wasn't eating much and gave me some orange juice and a pastry that I could get down without much problem and gain a little energy.

He stuck with me until he knew I could make it to the next highway and get a ride into a town for a room, then he hiked on ahead.  When he reached the highway and met a couple of trail angles he told them I was on my way and in need of help and asked them to wait for me.  He waited for a while, then back tracked up the trail and met me, told me someone was waiting to help me, took my backpack and carried it down down the mountain to the highway.  He saved my butt for sure.

Very nice room in a resort town of Helen, GA for $35 with off season hiker discount, the nicest room for the price that I have ever stayed in. Walked across the street for a Wendy's burger and milk shake. Feeling really rough so am not moving around very much, just laying on the bed and resting.


"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Rain delay and sickness!

Monday, March 18, 2013
 Destination: Neels Gap
 Starting Location: Neels Gap
Today's Miles: 0.00 Trip Miles: 30.12

 Rain not helping cold symptoms so I'm staying another day.


 "All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Sunday, March 17, 2013 

Destination: Neels Gap

Starting Location: Lance Creek camping area 

Today's Miles: 8.00 Trip Miles: 30.12 

  

 


 Hiked to Neels Gap and stayed at Blood Mountian Cabins, sharing a cabin with Nema, Icarus and Steady State. The hike up Blood mountain was tough, but down was tougher. Got settled in and found out the store was closed. Nema and Icarus shared their pizza with me and never did Red Baron pizza taste so good. (I went up for bagels and cream cheese next day.). A rash and chafing is starting to bother me. Nema Offer me her Gold bond and it helps. My cold is getting worse and chills are sitting in. Miserable night for sleeping.


 "All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Saturday, March 16, 2013
Destination: Lance Creek camping area
Starting Location: Gooch Mtn. Shelter
Today's Miles: 8.00 Trip Miles: 22.12

 "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." - Henry Ford (1863-1947)

Trail Magic

 Hiking eight miles in seven hours to get to Lance Creek and set up the tent with our 'group'. Great place to camp. Woody gap was set for some great Trail Magic by Glenloch Baptist Church (west of ATL near state border). They were set with all kinds of food and snacks and a small pharmacy. I ate a couple of hot dogs and had a soft drink. My cold is gaining on me so I picked things for that. Also got a great foot rub and heels wrapped for my new blisters. They worked great and that was the end of my blister problems. Legs and feet feeling pretty good for now, the soreness is gone. Eating is not a high priority with my cold and I have to make myself eat enough.


"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Friday, March 15, 2013
Destination: Gooch Mtn. Shelter
 Starting Location: Hawk Mtn Shelter
 Today's Miles: 6.30
Trip Miles: 14.12


Up @ 0800 out @ 0930. 32*F. 8 miles in 6.25 hours.

 I got up yesterday with sore throat but it is a little better today. Fig bars an Gatorade for lunch. V-I (ibuprofen) got me through the day. Leg muscles and feet hurting and hard to move around after sitting for a while. Learned that I had left one of my small stuff sacks at last shelter, it had my trash in it!

Hiked in the mid 70's today, seeing my first signs of spring, so removed vest an a base layer. Used StesdyState's roller for my legs, helped with the soreness!


"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Thursday, March 14, 2013  Day 2
 Destination: Hawk Mtn Shelter
Starting Location: Approach trail
Today's Miles: 7.80 Trip Miles: 7.82

"I don't know why we are here, but I'm pretty sure that it is not in order to enjoy ourselves."    - Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951)

 

 Down to 19  degrees last night. Lots of  water bottles were frozen. Mostly same group today. GloBug' Nema' Icuras, The Hart family w/ 9yo girl, Taylor. I got the best answer as to why hike the Appalachian Trail from Taylor. - "Mostly to make my friends jealous!"

 Held my own with the 20/30 something's... so far!


 "All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Wednesday, March 13, 2013
 Destination: Springer Mountain Shelter
 Starting Location: Amicalola Falls - Georgia State Park
 Today's Miles: 0.02 Trip Miles: 0.02


"Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right."    - Henry Ford (1863-1947)






Did the approach trail after a night @ Hiker Hostel where a roommate was down with a cold so I picked it up. The eight mile approach trail including stairs with about 450 steps was hard, but very doable. The problem is that those eight miles do not count as part of the official trail!  I enjoyed the day while hiking with Globug, a 25 year old NOBO (North Bound) female hiker. Stopped @ Springer Shelter to show 0.2 official miles for the first day. Cooked and enjoyed the evening with a great crowd!


 "All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien

Trail Magic at 30,000 feet

3/12.
Boarded the plane and found a young family in my row and a child in my seat!  told the flight attendant so she could find me a new seat.  She was so happy that I was not upset that she comped me a free lunch. Got to the hostel and met a few fellow hikers.

3/13. Next morning a fellow hiker had a cold, and of course, I got it too.  The approach trail @ 8 miles was steep and tough but I made it in 6.5 hours.  Got to the top and hiked 0.2 miles on the AT just to get started.  Very cold that night.  21.3 nest morning.  My sleeping bag got maxed out with my cloth on.

Wheels up in 22 hours

At 0600 MST tomorrow morning.  Last week it would have been 0700... darn DST!

Spending the night in a motel near PHX.

Question!  Just how many little bitty item, less than an ounce, can you find at the last minute to cram into your pack.  I have the cinch straps stretched as far as I can without breaking them!

Anxious to meet the Lucky 13th crowed.  Do we just love to temp fate, or what?

My pack comes in just over 30 pounds without water.  I do have a few items that will come out while on the trail, and a few that will go in.  But hey, I have to carry them all anyway, right?  A hat weighs the same on my head or in my pack, right?

TwoStix

Why Walk

Why would anyone go out in the woods and walk 2,185 miles in the cold wind, freezing rain, blowing snow, and the heat and thirst of the summer when you are about to turn sixty six years old?  And don't forget sleeping on the hard floors of open shelters, or on the ground of a tent so small you have to decide which side you will sleep  on (I'm a side sleeper) before you crawl in!   Well, as they say, "You don't have to be crazy, but it helps!"

As mentioned earlier, I first saw the Appalachian Trail in the summer of 1970 on the way to climb  Clingmens  Dome  in  Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  I knew nothing about it except what I read on the interp board.  A 2,000+ mile trail starting in Northern Georgia and following the the backbone of the Appalachian Mountains all the way to Maine.  I remember saying to myself, and anyone standing nearby, "I going to hike this trail some day!"

So, why wait forty three years to do this?  I guess I could give a lot of excuses, but I don't really  have any.  Sure, things go on in life that dictate what you may or may not be able to do at different times in you life, but there were many times in the last seventeen years since my retirement that would have been a great time to do this.

I retired at the age of forty seven.  IBM made me an offer I just couldn't refuse!  They moved me from South Florida to North Carolina on June 01,1995 because they needed me so much.  By October of the same year...  not so much!  I spent three days in despair.  How could they do this to me after nearly thirty years?  Then I got over it and looked at the great opportunity it afforded me.  I told them if they let me stay on for three more months so I would have my full thirty years in and leave the building fully retired and not have to come back to do all the retirement stuff, and move me back to FL, that I would go quietly!  They offered me a 'lifetime achievement award'  of fifteen thousand dollars to cover my return to Florida and six months severance pay.  So, on January 31, 1996 I left the building with full benefits and my first pension check in the bank!  And I can honestly say, "I never looked back!"

I started seriously thinking about AT at this time.   In 1998 I started planning for a '99 Thru Hike.  I started packing food for mail drops and ordered a pair of hiking boots that must have weighted in near five pounds each.  I never would have made it with those heavy boots even though walking through the rain while breaking them in during my training walks made them fit like gloves and were comfortable on my feet,. They were just too heavy.  Those boots were $200, and was the only real money I had spent in prep for the hike, but I was walking seven miles every two or three days with a day pack filled with water bottles for weight.  I carried water for weight just in case I got too tired I could just pour the water out and lighten the load!  I used this same strategy last year for my initial training.

Early in 1999, my brother, J.T., said he was planning a trip to Alaska and offered my other brother, Jim, and I the used of his truck and fifth wheel trailer if we would like to join him.  He had just bought a forty foot motor home!  So much for walking 2,000 miles!  This was a no brainer! The AT was relegated to the back of my mine once more!

The '99 AK trip settled down the wanderlust in me for a while and I settled down to sedentary life style until late 2000, while surfing the net and looking at the National Parks web site, I discovered the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the possibility of a seasonal job there as a fee collection ranger!  I applied for one of the positions, sent in my resume,  and waited for the word.  All applicants that were hired for the positions scored 100 points for eligibility!  Turns out that because of my military veteran status, I was credited with five extra points, for a total of 105 and I was the first one hired.  I  was to be there  on April 22, 2001 for training.

I went to The Home Depot for a 'For Sale' sign and placed it in the front yard of my town house and had a contract on it in less than three weeks.  I had bought a small travel trailer the year before and would live in it while working at the park.  The next few weeks was spent moving every thing I owned into a storage unit.  

That summer was one of the greatest summers of my life!  I was out in the woods, being paid to walk the trails in the high mountains of AZ.  I loved it, and I lost fifty  pound doing so!  The day after I arrived at "The Rim" Margaret moved into the site next to me in the employee camp ground.  Over the summer we grew to be good friends.  She left the park a few days ahead of me headed east and I left with the intent of "catching" her.  She cheated!  She called and told me where she was each night!  We got together after a few days, and as they say,  the rest is history! 

We traded in my small trailer and her Class C motor home for a thirty three foot Class A and we lived on the road, traveling north to Alaska, and south for the full length of Baja!  What a life! 

We were constantly being drawn back to Arizona and in 2005 Margaret rented a small home in Clarkdale, AZ while I returned to the North Rim for another season.  In early 2006 we moved into current home, a double wide on four acres in Paulden, a small rural community located in north central Arizona.

Last year I was talking about the trail and Margaret gave me the encouragement I needed to start planning my adventure,  and so, the journey soon begins!

My first night on the trail should give a good view of Comet Pan-STARRS
The weather looks to be clear with a near new moon!

http://news.yahoo.com/comet-pan-starrs-dresses-night-skies-visible-naked-193717048.html
------
..."Northern Hemisphere sky-watchers will get their chance to see the comet beginning on Thursday, though the best views may come later in the month...

...The comet should be visible in the direction of the setting sun just after the sun slips below the horizon. Twilight and moonlight may make viewing the comet difficult. The best opportunity to see it may be on March 13 when the comet appears just beneath a thin crescent moon, astronomers said...."
-------
What a send off!

 For those who would like to keep up with me on a map, go here -

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/hiking/find-a-hike/interactive-map

Click on Shelters just below the map and all of the shelters will appear.  zoom in for details!

H

Ready to hike already!

Still in training. Pack weight just under 30# with no water and a few little things to add to it.
Wheels up one week from today. Looking at the weather for Northern GA and it looks like perfect hiking weather for a start of 13MAR13. High of 60 and low of 38-39 for the first three days. Couldn't get much better than that for a start! Looks like the last few day have been kinda rough for the now on the trail!

Looking at start dates of the journal keepers and I guess I won't be alone... for the first day any way. May lag behind after that. Maybe the ones that start after me wont pass me by too quickly!

Funny thing, last week I had my anxious moments dreams two night in a row. First one I was within 20 miles of the trail head and all the other hikers left without me, and for some reason I couldn't start! Figure that one out! The second one was airline related, missing flights and losing luggage and that kind of thing. Looks like at my age I would know better!!

H

Carrying the load!

02MAR13

I have been walking four miles each day with my pack.  I did two days with 18+ pounds, and two days with 23+ pounds.  Amazing the difference five pounds make!  Will add another five pounds in the next few days.  My aim it just to get my muscles used to the load and elevation gain so they will not get so sore when I start the trail.  I'm counting on getting my trail legs and building up my stamina in the first two to three weeks on the trail itself. 

  Not many days left until I head to PHX on the 11th then fly to ATL on the 12th, and start my hike on  the 13th.  I have twelve boxes of food that weight in at around ten pounds each ready for drop shipping and one box full in my pack.  Just have to get the kitchen and clothing in the pack and it's ready to go.

Been working getting things at home ready for my departure.  I sprayed Weed Impede today.  We get very little rain here and the only things that grow are the weeds.  We have gravel around the house, or what I like to call Arizona Sod.  Helps keep the dust under control, but the weeds come up very quickly because of the mulching effect and retaining what little moisture there is. 

Our domestic water tank is topped of and I will do that again just before leaving and leave a load on the trailer that M can transfer after two or three weeks.  If she need more water she can have a tank full hauled in and that should last until I get home.

Everything seems to be coming together for an on time departure.  Now if the government can just keep the shy from falling until after my flight to ATL everything should go as scheduled!

H