3/29

3/29

 Being crammed into a shelter like sardines is not a bad thing considering I didn't have to set up a tent or get wet. I did however have to fight with my body to make sure I did not toss and turn and disturb my neighbors... I did however get comfortable at which point one of my neighbors would kick me or elbow me.. It did not make for the best sleeping arrangements. The morning started slow with the rain coming down harder than the day before not in thick sheets but shall we say, consistent. Once again I forwent my hot meal in place of a hefty granola bar and using it as a spoon, I ate it with peanut butter and washed it down with a lot of a water. A trend I have noticed about myself, is that I may not drink enough water during the day but I funnel it like game day once I have set up camp. After breakfast was consumed Lee, Rick( who turned up shortly after I the night before) , and I headed into the storm. The rain had managed to saturate the trails to a much further extent than the day before. Each section of trail brought a new challenge of things to slip on. If not for my trek poles I surely would have eaten the ground hard, but in fact I did fall. 40 minutes into the hike I trusted a foothold a little too much and my body went sweeping out from under me. Face first into a mud pit... Worst way I could have started the day.. 

The rest of the hike before lunch was uneventful. Rain fell as consistent as my boots alternated left to right. Just over 7 miles in is lunch at a shelter. Eating with someplace out of the rain is a commodity we never pass up. Lee, Rick, and I all hike at different speeds but I arrive first followed by my 2 soggy comrades. Lee and Rick say they are done for the day but I am not as convinced. Weather tomorrow should be better and a hostel sits 11+ miles away. I dream of having a shower and clean clothes to go with better weather. As I pack up after my quick lunch I say my goodbyes and hustle down the trail.. I know space in the he hostel will be limited and I have a good idea how many people are in front of me. Uphill climbing isn't that difficult in my eyes. Instead of looking up at the daunting amount of space you have yet to cover, just look down. Fixate on making sure each step is just as significant as the last to carry yourself wherever the trail is gonna lead.mi practice this over and over with breathing to match making sure i  waste aster no time. Downhills I allow myself to move quicker letting gravity carry my in a kind of glide as I open my stride to an almost jog at times. I move far too quickly and inless than 2 hours I have covered 6 miles. That sign was exactly what I needed to revamp me for the remainder of the trip. I fly down pathways then focus going up. In the last section of path before I even see the road I hear a car. When I finally saw the road and got to it I received my first bit of trail magic.. Trail magic, for those who don't know is a good deed of sorts that random people will do for thru hikers on the AT. Anything from giving rides, food, leaving sweatshirts at cold shelters are all prime examples of this.. I am walking through the parking lot to the road to try and figure out which way the hostel is(another half mile from my current position) when a woman offers me a Pepsi. I am not one for soda but I assure you I have never been more excited for it. I thanked her, she got in the passenger seat of a silver accord and was gone. For the second bit of magic. I am standing there for no more than 2 minutes trying to decipher from the information signs which way i will need to walk when a gentleman pulls up in a big truck and asks if I am going to the hostel. After I say yes he asks if I want a ride and a Gatorade... Yes and yes.. I have never been so excited for such little things. I will finish this post tomorrow. I started a little late. Part 2 to come in the am.

3/28 and they're off....

6:15am

Stirring in the hostel wakes me.. Third night in a row I have had a nightmare. I realize that everyone back home is safe and sound, yet my brain seems to think otherwise when I am asleep. 

I pull myself out of my bag and look around at the many bodies already getting packed up to start the day. It is early and right away I know everyone in that place had the some idea to leave early and try and get a slot at the shelter. I packed the majority of my things the night before so I jump up and begin to throw all my things in their set place. I set aside my breakfast the night before and after a quick pack I eat a banana, orange, and a bar. Once again I take no time to cook something warm. The sun is not up as I enjoy my simple breakfast. 6 more people are preparing bags to leave. The first hiker is out the door by 6:50, followed by 2 more at 7:10. I wait for Lee to get ready and have his coffee and we are out the door by 7:20ish....

It's raining... Nothing particularly terrible but it is making itself known. As we begin our hike our bodies begin to warm and after a short climb the weather is almost pleasant.. The rain is not as heavy as predicted and for the during of the day it is a mist or light. The fog is thick and visibility is 40 yrds or less at times. Hiking some spines where the hills disappears on either side, feels almost like a dream. The ground rises up to meet you on all sides as if it was being constructed just for your passing. While this kind of environment is very pretty for a time the views we would enjoy at each outcropping could be described as staring at a white wall. Only one speckle of natural and vibrant color on my path today. After climbing a very steep incline and gaining speed as it leveled out, I passed the first signs of spring. Wild flowers. A beautiful little patch of yellow flowers had sprouted and looked like there would be many more to follow. Had the fog not covered the backdrop I am sure this scene would have been incredible.  An hour into the hike we catch the 2 hikers that preceded us. The shelter everyone is racing for is something just over 11 miles. Lee and I manage to make it there by 11:30. Only a few slots have been claimed by people who camped in between the night before. Lee and I decide that while another half of a day is available we will not waste the daylight. The next campsite is 7+ miles away. Lee has a snickers and departs as I decide a warm lunch with some extras is in order to keep my body running. Oatmeal, peanut butter, fun size candy bar and I am off again. The trail to the next shelter is is most peaceful section I have seen thus far, a welcome change. This peaceful walk then drastically changes and the last few miles are spent clambering over jagged slippery stones. It I not cold and by this point the rain is all but remaining drops from the trees. The forest floor Has eerie silence towards the end of my day. Trees are far more spread out with fallen logs on every side of the trail. Bright green moss runs the length of each on and other than the sounds I make, the only other noise to break the silence is dripping from trees to the leafy floor. I arrive at the shelter none too soon. I am tired, damp, possible blister forming, and hungry. Everyone at the shelter is in high spirits and chatty. All of us are exhausted, though some have travelled double miles compared to others... 3pm is no time for dinner but we all eat.. I take a nap until 5 and then eat again.. By 6 we are all bedded down for the night. The shelter is supposed to sleep 7 but we packed in for an 8th that walked up 30 seconds after me. For one more that the recommended number we are comfortable. If anyone does any tossing and turning, his/her neighbors will know. Today was an interesting day, the fog made for a much different atmosphere that any I have seen as of yet. Sometimes a branch would fall or a whole limb would allow it's collected water droplets to vacate only to make a crash below. I know that the likely hood of actually running into a bear is very slim, but when it sounds like leaves are being violently moved, there is a split second where my brain thinks "wherever that bear is, it's coming for ya". Total miles for the day is 18.8. The blister I thought I had turned out to be nothing much. But further inspection of my heel shows that tomorrow may be my first. All of my gear held up in the rain and I arrived with nothing wet and not miserable. 

Tomorrow I have the opportunity to make it into town again, It will require another 18 mile day. I think it would behoove me to take a shorter trip to an in between shelter before then. My trip into town I will have to collect some new food rations, consume a bunch of fruit/vegetables, and purchase another pair of socks. It wasn't until this morning that I realized someone had made off with my other pair. Smart wool is not an every day sock so I hope I can find an outdoor store that carries them at a reasonable price. Thank you all for the name recommendations and yes Stevie Wander might be my favorite right now. I will look them over carefully when I am not so tired but for now  it is 7pm and I will read till I am out. 

Happy trails. 

3/25-3/27

3/25-3/27 

The drive up to my initial starting point felt like forever. Along the ay a few forgotten supplies were purchased and a goodbye meal of subway was consumed(I guess that's a meal?)? The few hour drive was not a rough drive until we reached the base of the mountain where I would start. The catnap I was enjoying was disturbed by a pothole on the gravel road. My short rest over I only had 5 miles remaining to my starting point. Pulling into a small gravel lot, I get out of the car and begin  the final touches and organization of my pack.  It's 35 degrees and snowing. At first the trail seems daunting because of my starting conditions. After shouldering my pack and having a few pictures snapped by dad. There is a warm embrace. a long breath of hesitation is expelled before I step lively onto the trail. The snow falling and me being alone creates a very tranquil and almost surreal feel. The snow falls in light plumes that land and immediately melt. I cruise down the trail at a brisk pace spotting no one along my way. The wind picks up and throws the snowflakes sideways across my vision as I hike. The first hour feels as though Mother Nature is purposely trying to get me to quit. As quickly as the wind and snow picked up it broke and the sky opened up for a little bit of sunlight. The remainder of my afternoon was spent hustling down the trail in hopes that I would not be setting  camp my first night in the dark. From my initial departure point of springer mountain I hike to hawk mountain shelter(8 miles). The shelter is overflowing with people when I arrive. Tents have been set up in every possible free space to accommodate all of its guests. I pick a small clearing in the middle of camp and cook my dinner. Of my choices I have rice, stuffing, and pasta.. I opt for rice and after which I am still hungry. After attempting the pasta i make a mental note to not buy it again. The taste is fine but it takes a significantly longer amount of time to cook and my fuel is finite.. Some of my other camp mates have a fire that I opt to stand around and indulge in the conversation. Everyone around the fire is warm and friendly. A father and son, section hikers, and thru hikers all share the warmth the small fire. The evening quickly turns colder as the wind begins to whip through the trees bringing a heavy set of flurries. The temperature drops below 20 and the snow begins to stick. I am ready to try and find some warmth in my sleeping bag. As cold as it becomes, I am glad for my sleep pad is a barrier against the frozen ground. The bag is warm but I toss and turn trying to find a comfortable way to sleep. Sleeping in the bag. I am confined to a smaller area. I am usually one to spread out so it is difficult to get to sleep and stay asleep..

3/26 8:15am

Waking up and getting up is hard. Harder in 19 degree weather. Luckily the crew who managed the fire the night before are at it again.. I trudge back and forth between my gear and the fire packing up to leave. It is so cold that people are having trouble cleaning pots because the water is freezing before it can be poured out. I grab a granola bar out of my pack, take one more warm by the fire and take to a walk or freeze mentality. I leave the shelter at 9am.

11:35am

Setting off at a brisk pace I manage to make it to gooch mountain shelter(7.7 miles). I am the first to arrive at the shelter. An assortment of supplies are scattered around the shelter. These items are things people leave because of weight or from mice getting into food. It's too early in the day to quit but after the cold night I had before, my hope had been to claim a spot in the shelter. The second person to the campsite is a gentleman named Lee. He and I talk for some time and then decide to head down the way to woody gap and tent camp there(5 miles). Lee (56) is a forester from Massachusetts  who is hiking the AT to study some infestation levels somewhat further north. Can I just say that he convinced his job to allow him to hike to these locations and they ate it up. You sir are a genius. Along the way we meet another gentleman, rick . He is resting after a significantly steep hill and is headed to the same place we are. We continue along the trail in parade fashion until woody gap 

3:30pm

Woody gap is a parking lot with a restroom, picnic tables, and a campground. There is no local water source. Lee and I decide rather than sit around we head to Lancer creek a campground another 3 miles down the way. Rick stays behind to take a shuttle into town to drop weight, repack his bag, and stay at the hostel. We say our goodbyes and part ways. The trail from woody gap is rolling and easy. lee and I see this as a nice cruising few miles before we get water and bed down... We have never been so wrong. The trail begins to climb steeper and steeper with rock steps seeming to be placed higher and farther apart. I make it up the hill out of breath and thirsty and wait for my fellow thru hiker. At the top I share conversation with a nice girl from UGA and after Lee's arrival and a photo of the beautiful overlook we are off again. The remainder of the trail to our destination is less drastic and by the time we reach it light is fading. Tents are thrown, up dinner is cooked, food is hung and we are out cold. I should mention that day 2 is significantly warmer that day 1. I only had to wear 2 layers most of the day. 

3/27 7:15am

The morning is once again not as brisk as day 1. Unpacking and organizing my back is fairly simple but requires I still double check that everything is in its place. By this point I have decided that hot food in the morning is a chore.. I will eat anything that requires no cooking in the morning just because I would rather walk than stand and freeze waiting for something to prepare. Lee and I roll out of camp at 8 picking up a new companion James. He is tall and younger with some kind of knee problem that he has been mulling over. Trying not to make it worse and or drop out. We three hike a few miles where James departs on a side trail for water. This crossroads of trails is called Jarrard's gap and marks the beginning of a 5 mile section where if you camp there, not only must food be hung but is required to be in a bear container. Camping where we d the night before ex avoided a fine none of us having a bear container. In my research this is the only section of the entire trail to have this stipulation. I am sure I am wrong. Our goal today from lancer creek is Neel's gap (7 miles). No small feat, one must cross over blood mountain easily the highest elevation so far.. Can I just say that putting "blood mountain" in the middle of a high population bear country is not very reassuring. Also the trail up blood mountain is called slaughter creek trail... I am not sure if this is more of just an unfortunate occurrence or the person who named these outposts is morbid. Nonetheless I did not encounter any bears, corpses, or bloody streams on my way to Neel's gap. What I found at the top of blood mountain was a beautiful panorama of blue mountains in every direction. Clear skies allowed for a marvelous look at the country  that I would be hiking for the next few months. The gawking was short lived. With no protection from the wind, the mountain face was buffeted by cold gusts that ripped through my clothes and tore precious heat away that I had accrued up on the strenuous climb.

The hike down to Neel's gap was all down hill. Steep at times so much that slow steps were needed. Lee and I arrive first to the outfitter/hostel at the gap. The AT actually passes right next to it and is a point where anyone carrying to much can drop it there or purchase more adequate equipment for the journey. A large portion of people will actually abandon the trail at this point. I want you all to know that by this point exactly in the journey, something like 20% of the persons that begin this hike have dropped out. 50% will make it halfway and something between 20%-10% will make it the full distance.. 30 miles is all that conquered those people. 

3/27 12pm

Rain is coming. Tomorrow will be an all day slog through 12 miles of saturated trail and mess.. Rather than try to pull down our tents and all in the the rain Lee and I pay for bunks at the hostel. It will be much easier to start dry in the morning. He and I set a vey brisk pace on the trail and we have no doubt that we will be first in the sprint for space at the shelter. We arrive ahead of the next hiker by something like an hour and a half.. We are already showered and have clothes in a washing machine by the masses begin rolling in. One by one the bunks fill with positive and outgoing faces. We are all overly glad when knowledge of a church group will be feeding us lasagna and salad.. No cooking, no tents to set up, no food to hang.. It is a space filled with lounging bodies and casual conversation. The church group's lasagna and salad was excellent. Fruit, Little Debbie's, and assorted drinks were provided as well. I went back for seconds. Just as good. After the church group left, the hostel was just a casual place for conversing about authors, backstory, trail names, and movies. TV shows were a big hit as we'll and one day I might actually watch an episode of Breaking Bad. I have been writing this in excruciating detail for a few hours now. I will try and hit highlights and more general topics in future. Everyone is asleep and I should be too. I am getting a space in that shelter if I have to run a few miles... This is a strange send off from the post because I am not smelly... I'll update y'all on the funk that emanates from me next time.. 

I would love trail name recommendations.. 

Pre hike thought

I think that before I jump into my tale of traversing the Appalachian trail, I am going to address a question that I have been prodded with for the last few months. "Are you afraid?" Everyone from friends, family, my parents, even strangers have asked me this and I have most always said no. Closer to my departure date I said yes, but I think I was just anxious to get on the trail and live the adventure, rather than hearing about a friend of a friend who had to drop out because (fill in the blank). I reminded myself that the trip overall would be one of the most rewarding and adventurous experiences I would ever undertake in this life and not a thing anyone could say was gonna deter me. 

"I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." 

-Galileo 

When I am asked whether I am afraid, I remember that I will love this adventure far too wildly to be afraid of anything that COULD happen. With that little insight into how I view my trip and the experiences it will bring I will now recount as best I can "Life as a Smelly Hiker."

Technology added

I have finally got my iPad portion of my trip taken care of. This update comes directly from the tablet i have lovingly named " hank's leaf." 

This Sunday I will have a test hike for 3 days and 2 nights to just double check the gear I have purchased and planned with. Dad and I will attack  about 30 miles in the great smokey mountains, staying in shelters and testing which camp stove I will be taking with my on the final voyage. Along with the gear and fuel test, I hope for this to be a final check that I am not missing anything that I would otherwise regret leaving behind. With that being said I also would like to cut weight anywhere I can. Don't need that extra sleeping pad? It's staying home.. Too big a canister of penut butter? note to self to buy smaller on the next trip into town.. I think it will be much easier to succeed if I have a fair understanding of my caloric needs before I ever hit the trail. That said, if someone wants to bring me a steak at any point while I am in Tennessee, I would be completely fine with that.. I would also settle for Hardee's.... Crispy creme... 

Those dreams already taste good... 

Happy trails

counting down.

I have been hesitant to write.. the lack of a final pack list, a substantial amount of nerves setting in, and the sheer lack of exciting news regarding the trip.. I have purchased most of the larger items from River sports outfitters in knoxville. upon reccomendation of the owner I spoke to Brian an employee who's knowledge has made this trip far easier to prepare for as far as getting the equipment I needed. A list of everything I bought is as follows

 Mountain Hardwear - lamina sleeping bag
 smartwool hiking socks x 2
The North Face - thermoball full zip jacket
 Black diamond spot headlight
 superfeet insoles
 exxoficio mens underwear x 2
 Columbia - silver ridge convertible pants
 Vasque - Breeze hiking boots
Marmot - minimalist

 The total bill is not worth going into.. I do however, feel that it was necessary to spend some money if I am to complete the challenge ahead of me. That being said, my room is a continuous mess of a completed pack or an explosion of said pack's contents all over my room.. I do this more for myself to practice having a rhythm of where everything will be. I had to buy a tent which will arrive in the mail in the next few days. the tent's arrival should spark a whole new wave of panic of packing/repacking.. In the last week since the purchase of my gear, a substantial amount of time has been put towards breaking in my new boots. Chunks of my days off have been set aside to hike a few miles. I have worn a backpack on all days with a 10lb plate in hopes to prepare my body for the upcoming load I will be carrying. I do not know what my final pack weight will be as of now. I know there are some equipment sleeves and things I can lose to cut down on my pack weight... For now I have some errands to run and a hike to complete so I will try and give a more finalized pack list this weekend or next week..

 happy trails,

p.s.   still looking for a trail name..