Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Destination: Erwin TN Super 8
Starting Location: Erwin TN Super 8
Today's Miles: 0.00
Trip Miles: 281.42
Another zero while I'm taking all the drugs and waiting to get better. Still coughing a lot and a lot of stuff is coming up so I guess I need that extra day after all.
As I was walking a mile up the street to the China Kitchen for lunch, I ran into Nema again from way back. She highly recommended the CK and it was good.
Took the time to sort through my stuff and have some to send home. I have got to get my pack weight down! I have too much food now but not enough for a bounce box*. At least it will go down as I travel.
125 miles to Damascus, VA. Trail days there in a couple of weeks. Looking forward to that, just hope I don't catch something there. If that happens, I might have to give up this living in the woods thing!
Here's to feeling better!
*Bounce Box - Sending or mailing things up the trail ahead of yourself so you don't have to carry them!
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
More drugs.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Destination: Erwin TN Super 8
Starting Location: Erwin TN Super 8
Today's Miles: 0.00 Trip Miles: 281.42
Another day, another zero! Feeling a little better but the cough is getting worse. I'm here for one more night regardless. By mid afternoon I decided to go to the Urgent Care center that I think is related to the hospital here. It was a good two mile walk one way, but, the weather was good and I did not carry my backpack! Got in pretty quick and confirmed that I had a bad cough and bronchial congestion resulting from the cold. Rx's include an inhaler, codeine based cough syrup, and a about the strongest antibiotic you can get to clear up my lungs. I ask how long to stay off the trail and he said at least 48 hours, so add another zero! Scales there say that so far I have lost 15 pounds on the trail, so on the way back I stopped at "Hawg 'n Dawg" for a pulled pork barbeque lunch.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Destination: Erwin TN Super 8
Starting Location: Erwin TN Super 8
Today's Miles: 0.00 Trip Miles: 281.42
Another day, another zero! Feeling a little better but the cough is getting worse. I'm here for one more night regardless. By mid afternoon I decided to go to the Urgent Care center that I think is related to the hospital here. It was a good two mile walk one way, but, the weather was good and I did not carry my backpack! Got in pretty quick and confirmed that I had a bad cough and bronchial congestion resulting from the cold. Rx's include an inhaler, codeine based cough syrup, and a about the strongest antibiotic you can get to clear up my lungs. I ask how long to stay off the trail and he said at least 48 hours, so add another zero! Scales there say that so far I have lost 15 pounds on the trail, so on the way back I stopped at "Hawg 'n Dawg" for a pulled pork barbeque lunch.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Medicinal purposes only!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Destination: Erwin TN Super 8
Starting Location: Erwin TN Holiday Inn Express
Today's Miles: 0.00 Trip Miles: 281.42
Another zero, I'll never get there this way. Called Miss Janet (a trail angel that helps hikers as much as she can) for a ride over to Super 8, about 4 four miles away in the rain! I got a room to myself to recover. AK and Ducky smoke, not much and it didn't bother me, but no smoke is better!
Rain lasted all day as I walked down to Walgreen's for some OTC aids, and some ice cream. I informed the clerk that it was for medicinal purposes, after all, I was buying it in a drug store!
Weather appears to be clearing up for the next few days and I would like to get back on the trail. Will decide tomorrow on medical attention.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Trail Math
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Destination: Erwin TN, Holiday Inn Starting
Location: Stealth camp on Rich Mountain
Today's Miles: 2.00 Trip Miles: 281.42
When does "eight = two"? When counting miles on the AT! Woke up early after a rough night sleep. Had lite rain/sprinkles last night, off and on. I was warm and dry but the weather and hiking has had an effect on my cold. I discovered that I had lost my voice when I started talking to myself!
I had 50 miles to go to get to Erwin so I started. Two mile on, I stopped, made a command decision, turned 180 degrees, and started hiking south back down the mountain. There was no way I was going to make it fifty miles the way I was feeling. Five miles down the mountain that I had just climbed to the hostel that I had missed yesterday to get a shuttle to Erwin in case I need medical attention again.
I had to wait several hours for the shuttle driver to get back but that gave me time to get a sandwich for lunch and get some rest. I the mean time three other hikers arrived, two of them I knew, looking to shuttle to Erwin and now I only had to pay $22 instead of the full cost of $66 for the run. Nema, who I have not seen since Neel Gap, came in a little later. She had been delayed in Hiawassee with a cold that she most likely caught from me.
We made it Uncle Johnny's Hostel but there was only tent space available and I was not interested in tenting in the rain with this reoccurring cold. So Alaska, Ducky, and I walked a mile down the road to Holiday Inn Express and share a suite with one bed, a sofa sleeper, and a roll in. I got the roll in, sat on it and thought I was going to hit the floor, but, it was warm an dry.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Destination: Erwin TN, Holiday Inn Starting
Location: Stealth camp on Rich Mountain
Today's Miles: 2.00 Trip Miles: 281.42
When does "eight = two"? When counting miles on the AT! Woke up early after a rough night sleep. Had lite rain/sprinkles last night, off and on. I was warm and dry but the weather and hiking has had an effect on my cold. I discovered that I had lost my voice when I started talking to myself!
I had 50 miles to go to get to Erwin so I started. Two mile on, I stopped, made a command decision, turned 180 degrees, and started hiking south back down the mountain. There was no way I was going to make it fifty miles the way I was feeling. Five miles down the mountain that I had just climbed to the hostel that I had missed yesterday to get a shuttle to Erwin in case I need medical attention again.
I had to wait several hours for the shuttle driver to get back but that gave me time to get a sandwich for lunch and get some rest. I the mean time three other hikers arrived, two of them I knew, looking to shuttle to Erwin and now I only had to pay $22 instead of the full cost of $66 for the run. Nema, who I have not seen since Neel Gap, came in a little later. She had been delayed in Hiawassee with a cold that she most likely caught from me.
We made it Uncle Johnny's Hostel but there was only tent space available and I was not interested in tenting in the rain with this reoccurring cold. So Alaska, Ducky, and I walked a mile down the road to Holiday Inn Express and share a suite with one bed, a sofa sleeper, and a roll in. I got the roll in, sat on it and thought I was going to hit the floor, but, it was warm an dry.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Friday, April 26, 2013
Guns alllow for man hunts only?
Friday, April 26, 2013
Destination: Stealth camp
Starting Location: Stealth camp on Rich Mountain
Today's Miles: 11.20 Trip Miles: 279.42
Some times I think trees have a very mischievous mind of their own. Before, one leans across the trail so I would run into it, and today I see this one eating a Posted sign.
Did 11.2 miles today. I was going to stop at the Hemlock Hostel but was not convinced that I was at the right place to turn so just continued on another mile or so. (it was the right road)!
My stealth skills need work. Last night there was a full moon and some hikers like to hike by the light of the moon. At true midnight some some of those night hikers walked by. A light lighted up my tent for a second and I heard a voice saying, "There is someone camping over there." I was awake already because of a hiker w/dog that had passed just 10 minutes earlier. Meet the night hikers up the trail this morning. They said they hiked without head lamps for most of the night.
I did not plan to hike as far as I but was running low on water and the next source listed was at the next shelter. I finally came across a little spring a few feet below the trail, on a very steep slope! I collected and treated 2.5 liters and continued on up the mountain with five more pounds on my back! Now to find another good tent site! Good tent sits are hard to find when you are climbing a mountain as there are not many level areas on mountain sides. As the terrain started to level of I found a site that would work that was about two miles shy of the shelter. Set up, cooked and was in my tent by 1900! Within five minutes it started to sprinkle a few rain drops, my timing was pretty good. Hope to get a good night sleep!
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Destination: Stealth camp
Starting Location: Stealth camp on Rich Mountain
Today's Miles: 11.20 Trip Miles: 279.42
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| Sign eating tree. No guns except for man hunts? |
Did 11.2 miles today. I was going to stop at the Hemlock Hostel but was not convinced that I was at the right place to turn so just continued on another mile or so. (it was the right road)!
My stealth skills need work. Last night there was a full moon and some hikers like to hike by the light of the moon. At true midnight some some of those night hikers walked by. A light lighted up my tent for a second and I heard a voice saying, "There is someone camping over there." I was awake already because of a hiker w/dog that had passed just 10 minutes earlier. Meet the night hikers up the trail this morning. They said they hiked without head lamps for most of the night.
I did not plan to hike as far as I but was running low on water and the next source listed was at the next shelter. I finally came across a little spring a few feet below the trail, on a very steep slope! I collected and treated 2.5 liters and continued on up the mountain with five more pounds on my back! Now to find another good tent site! Good tent sits are hard to find when you are climbing a mountain as there are not many level areas on mountain sides. As the terrain started to level of I found a site that would work that was about two miles shy of the shelter. Set up, cooked and was in my tent by 1900! Within five minutes it started to sprinkle a few rain drops, my timing was pretty good. Hope to get a good night sleep!
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Leaving Hot Springs
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Destination: Stealth camp on Rich Mountain
Starting Location: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Today's Miles: 6.00 Trip Miles: 268.22
Decided to leave today even though I am not fully recovered. Started with big breakfast at the diner and did six miles in six hours. It was a steep climb so I took it easy. Made 1,250 gain to 2,500 ft elevation and set up camp in a nice spot just off the trail. The weather has been great today and I had plenty of time to rest and set up. I will be using my tent a lot for the next week as there is a noro virus problem in the shelters in the 70 miles between Hot Springs and Erwin. From reports, it's a twenty-four stomach virus.
Saw my first snakes today. Water moccasins in dammed pond where I got water! I stopped at 1530 so
1830 and time for me to get some sleep.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Destination: Stealth camp on Rich Mountain
Starting Location: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Today's Miles: 6.00 Trip Miles: 268.22
Decided to leave today even though I am not fully recovered. Started with big breakfast at the diner and did six miles in six hours. It was a steep climb so I took it easy. Made 1,250 gain to 2,500 ft elevation and set up camp in a nice spot just off the trail. The weather has been great today and I had plenty of time to rest and set up. I will be using my tent a lot for the next week as there is a noro virus problem in the shelters in the 70 miles between Hot Springs and Erwin. From reports, it's a twenty-four stomach virus.
Saw my first snakes today. Water moccasins in dammed pond where I got water! I stopped at 1530 so
1830 and time for me to get some sleep.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Happy Birthday to Me!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Destination: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Starting Location: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Today's Miles: 0.00 Trip Miles: 262.22
Happy birthday to me, number 66 and counting! And feeling every day of it today! Feeling bad all day and had a terrible night last night. Coughing and hacking and awake most of the night. Glad I have a private room! Started chilling mid afternoon and took a few vitamin I and felt lots better!
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Destination: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Starting Location: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Today's Miles: 0.00 Trip Miles: 262.22
Happy birthday to me, number 66 and counting! And feeling every day of it today! Feeling bad all day and had a terrible night last night. Coughing and hacking and awake most of the night. Glad I have a private room! Started chilling mid afternoon and took a few vitamin I and felt lots better!
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Zero in Hot Springs!
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Destination: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Starting Location: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Today's Miles: 0.00 Trip Miles: 262.22
Zero in Hot Springs! More regular town stuff. Had a great breakfast at the Smoky Mountain Diner! Bought a bag pump for my sleeping pad after Yukon loaned his to me a few days ago at one of the shelters. It works great and will be much better for inflating the pad! It will also help keep the moisture content lower and less chance for mildew.
Weighted myself on two different scales today an I have lost somewhere between 10 and 40 pounds! Both scale varied widely each time I stepped on it!
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Destination: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Starting Location: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Today's Miles: 0.00 Trip Miles: 262.22
Zero in Hot Springs! More regular town stuff. Had a great breakfast at the Smoky Mountain Diner! Bought a bag pump for my sleeping pad after Yukon loaned his to me a few days ago at one of the shelters. It works great and will be much better for inflating the pad! It will also help keep the moisture content lower and less chance for mildew.
Weighted myself on two different scales today an I have lost somewhere between 10 and 40 pounds! Both scale varied widely each time I stepped on it!
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Monday, April 22, 2013
The Laughing Heart Hostel
Monday, April 22, 2013
Destination: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Starting Location: Bluff Mountain tent site
Today's Miles: 10.90 Trip Miles: 262.22
Up and out by 0745 after a cold breakfast. No other tents were in site this morning and I think only one hiker past by after I set up last night. I met Prayerwalker less than a quarter mile up the trail as she had just broken camp and was coming onto the trail and we hiked together for a while but she soon got ahead of me. I caught up with her when she stopped for lunch. I joined her and had my lunch as this was a great spot.
I showed her a US Army wrist band that I found on trail a day or so back. She said it was hers, that she had lost a couple of days ago. She said she used it to remember which way to turn when leaving a shelter, by putting it on her left or right wrist to indicate the direction after spending the night at a shelter. She was glad to have it back! Maybe if I had such a system I would not have done Jacobs Ladder the second time!
I got to Laughing Heart Hostel, about one hundred feet from the trail and at the very edge of Hot Springs, but it was nearly full. I wanted a private room because of my cold. Prayerwalker had just gotten the last single and they only had doubles left but 'Chuck Norris' gave me a deal for being alone and doing two nights. When I arrived a hiker told me to see Chuck Norris, the operator of the hostel, and when I stepped inside I knew him as soon as I saw him. He could have passed for the real Chuck Norris' brother!
The rest of the consisted of town stuff and I picked up my food drop. I now have 17 pounds of food. Will have to bounce some of it to Erwin, the next trail trow. I met Glo Bug, Tin Man, and Yukon, the remains of the group I started with. 'Spider' was tire of going so slow and moved on and Gweejo had been picked up by his wife and and rested in Hot Springs for a while before skipping ahead to Erwin to avoid the noro virus that hikers were picking up at the shelters between the two towns.
Laughing Heart is the best hostel on the trail so far and Chuck is a great host! Very informal and there is a full kitchen, dining area, and a TV room with lots of DVDs.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Destination: Laughing Heart Hostel, Hot Springs
Starting Location: Bluff Mountain tent site
Today's Miles: 10.90 Trip Miles: 262.22
Up and out by 0745 after a cold breakfast. No other tents were in site this morning and I think only one hiker past by after I set up last night. I met Prayerwalker less than a quarter mile up the trail as she had just broken camp and was coming onto the trail and we hiked together for a while but she soon got ahead of me. I caught up with her when she stopped for lunch. I joined her and had my lunch as this was a great spot.
I showed her a US Army wrist band that I found on trail a day or so back. She said it was hers, that she had lost a couple of days ago. She said she used it to remember which way to turn when leaving a shelter, by putting it on her left or right wrist to indicate the direction after spending the night at a shelter. She was glad to have it back! Maybe if I had such a system I would not have done Jacobs Ladder the second time!
I got to Laughing Heart Hostel, about one hundred feet from the trail and at the very edge of Hot Springs, but it was nearly full. I wanted a private room because of my cold. Prayerwalker had just gotten the last single and they only had doubles left but 'Chuck Norris' gave me a deal for being alone and doing two nights. When I arrived a hiker told me to see Chuck Norris, the operator of the hostel, and when I stepped inside I knew him as soon as I saw him. He could have passed for the real Chuck Norris' brother!
The rest of the consisted of town stuff and I picked up my food drop. I now have 17 pounds of food. Will have to bounce some of it to Erwin, the next trail trow. I met Glo Bug, Tin Man, and Yukon, the remains of the group I started with. 'Spider' was tire of going so slow and moved on and Gweejo had been picked up by his wife and and rested in Hot Springs for a while before skipping ahead to Erwin to avoid the noro virus that hikers were picking up at the shelters between the two towns.
Laughing Heart is the best hostel on the trail so far and Chuck is a great host! Very informal and there is a full kitchen, dining area, and a TV room with lots of DVDs.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Not another cold?
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Destination: Bluff Mountain tent site
Starting Location: Brown Gap
Today's Miles: 12.40 Trip Miles: 251.32
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Had plans to meet up Prawerwalker at Kale Gap and saw in a the shelter log just before there that she was over an hour ahead of me. I stopper for a rest and did a 0.2 mile side trail for water refill. When I got to Kale Gap and did not find her I knew she was having a good day and hiked on.
I hiked on myself and made it half way up Bluff Mountain before stopping to set up camp. This would put me within eleven miles of Hot Springs, which should be an easy hike since I have already done a lot of the elevation gain for Bluff Mountain and once I reach the summit it would be an easy down hill as that part would not be too steep.
At the base of the mountain, just after Lemon Gap, I spotted some wild onions and thought they would go good with my Red Beans and Rice for tonight's dinner so I started gathering a few. As it turned out, I ate a no-cook dinner as I was too tired to cook. Didn't think the onions would go well with peanut butter and Pop Tarts, so they ended up being tossed!
During the night last night I felt scratching in my throat and I knew that I had picked up another cold, from Standing Bear Hostel this time, and it is slowly beginning to effect my speed a little as the day wears on. I figure that I still have at least one more good day of hiking, before the cold has very much effect on my speed and stamina, and that will get me to Hot Springs.. I will have to zero there to deal with the cold and hopefully get it under control early.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
Destination: Bluff Mountain tent site
Starting Location: Brown Gap
Today's Miles: 12.40 Trip Miles: 251.32
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Had plans to meet up Prawerwalker at Kale Gap and saw in a the shelter log just before there that she was over an hour ahead of me. I stopper for a rest and did a 0.2 mile side trail for water refill. When I got to Kale Gap and did not find her I knew she was having a good day and hiked on.
I hiked on myself and made it half way up Bluff Mountain before stopping to set up camp. This would put me within eleven miles of Hot Springs, which should be an easy hike since I have already done a lot of the elevation gain for Bluff Mountain and once I reach the summit it would be an easy down hill as that part would not be too steep.
At the base of the mountain, just after Lemon Gap, I spotted some wild onions and thought they would go good with my Red Beans and Rice for tonight's dinner so I started gathering a few. As it turned out, I ate a no-cook dinner as I was too tired to cook. Didn't think the onions would go well with peanut butter and Pop Tarts, so they ended up being tossed!
During the night last night I felt scratching in my throat and I knew that I had picked up another cold, from Standing Bear Hostel this time, and it is slowly beginning to effect my speed a little as the day wears on. I figure that I still have at least one more good day of hiking, before the cold has very much effect on my speed and stamina, and that will get me to Hot Springs.. I will have to zero there to deal with the cold and hopefully get it under control early.
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R. Tolkien
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