New Start Date

Okay, it looks like spring will never get here.  While some may like hiking in cold weather it is not for me.  I hope to get back on the trail the first weekend in April.  At that time I plan on meeting my son and his wife for a weekend camping trip, probably covering some of the trail I have already covered.  They will drop me off at Horse Gap on that Sunday so I can pick up with the section of the trail I skipped.  I now have a hardshell bear canister, so I will stop at either Jarrod Gap or Blood Mountain Shelter.  The canister is required for overnighters in that section of the trail.  Another reason for going with the canister is that I can now carry food items that would be squished or crumbled if stuffed in my pack.  There is additional weight of 2 lbs, but I have changed over to a new lighter, more compressible sleeping bag which should make up the difference.  My old sleeping bag was a synthetic zero degree bag that kept me warm at night, but it is really a heavy winter bag.  The new one is a three season down bag rated at 20 degrees.  Even though I loved the Solo Jet Boil stove, I have switched to a new lighter alcohol stove.  There is a big difference in the time it takes to boil water, with the Jet Boil boiling a cup of water in about 1 minute as opposed to the alcohol stove boiling 1 cup in about 6 minutes.  The difference in time should not matter on the trail.  I will be experimenting with cooking different foods next week so hopefully my menu of food items will improve.  Although the Mountain House dehydrated meals are edible, I will need to plan better meals.  Breakfast will still consist mainly of oatmeal and coffee, but I my try pre-mixing powered milk and cereal in plastic bags for something different.  I definitely need additional food items for suppers.  Lunches will continue to be fiber bars, candy bars and GORP (good old raisins and peanuts - i.e. trail mix).  Suppers will consist of Ramen noodles, pasta, tuna, salmon, peanut butter sandwiches, or other items I may experiment with between now and the end of the month.  Of course, I may be limited on choices since I will only carry food for about 5 days, and will have to depend on what is available when I resupply.  I will try to list exactly what foods I will be taking as soon as that decision is made.

Mountain Crossings

One of the most interesting places is the store and hostel located at Neel's Gap.  Winton Porter, the former owner, wrote a book, Just Passing Through, about the interesting people that passed through this location. Passing through is exactly what the trail does, and it is the only part of the trail that goes under a roof.

Note the white blaze which marks the Appalachian Trail on the side of the doorway.

The store may look small on the outside, but it is packed full on the inside.  It is the only outfitter located directly on the trail, and the first one you come to.  They have everything, and I mean everything, that would be needed for hiking the AT.  

One of the services they provide is a pack shakedown.  They have you lay everything in your pack out on the floor by categories, such as food, clothing, shelter, and other miscellaneous items.  Then make suggestions on things you can do without, thus eliminating weight from your pack.  The person in the picture above (sorry for the poor quality) is Logan, who did my shakedown.  He eliminated 11 lbs. from my pack.  The excess items are then boxed and shipped home.  I should have kept some of the things we sent home, but I was so tired that day that if he had said I did not need my boots, I would have shipped them home also.

Below is a picture of the current owner, George, posing with me.  I had just been given a demonstration of a lightweight alcohol stove that was on the counter out of view, and of course I purchased one.

The picture below is Baltimore Jack, one of the characters mentioned in the book Just Passing Through.

Mountain Crossings is a really unique place packed full of stuff and hikers restocking on food and accessories they need to continue hiking.

Day 10

Home!  I will start again when I know the polar vortex has ended and warmer weather arrives.  It will always be colder in the mountains, and the weather is unpredictable in the mountains.  I returned home to find sunshine and temperatures in the 60's.  What a difference a day makes.  There was snow and ice in the mountains, with as much as 6 inches in some places.  For those who thought I would last about a week, you were partly right.  For those who provided support on this blog, I thank you.  My journey is not done only postponed for 2 weeks or so until the drastic winter season has passed.  Overall the experience so far has been fantastic.  I have met people from all over the world.  One from Australia, two from Germany, one from Canada, and others from the following states:  Montana, Maine, Illinois, Vermont, Texas, Oregon, California, Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, and even two from Alabama, Chula Vista, and Mobile. Two people were homeless, one of which sold her home and had a friend drop her off at Springer Mountain. As I was hiking I was passed by many day hikers, some going up a mountain and some coming down from a mountain top.  On occasion some would pass me twice while I was resting.  There was always a large tree or rock that I know was put on the trail just for me to stop and sit for a while.  Some people that I met were so into the "hike" that they did not take the time to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings.  I am glad I started early because the trees had no foliage and did not block the view of the mountains.  Before I started several people had asked about the cold, and now I can certainly see the advantage of starting later in the year.  Before I started I was not sure what physical conditioning I needed to do.  Now I know, put 50 lbs. on your back and climb the steps to the tallest building you can find and then back down at least 100 times a day.  On one occasion I had just gone over a high mountain, down and up the next one, when I looked back and thought wow I really did go over a high mountain.  Of course I did a lot of looking back while I was resting.  I know this post is getting long so I will finish by adding a few of the 200 pictures I took.

Shelters:

Typical bear hang for food storage (sorry but I took it after I took down my food bag)

Typical water sources (water treated with AquaMira drops before drinking)

Typical trail pictures:

Day 9

Early this morning the weather changed. The shelter that was 2 miles off the trail was directly in the wind. Cold wind.  The temp must have been around 30 but the wind chill was unbelievably cold. I finally got out of my sleeping bag about 9:40.  Put everything up resupplied my water

And started the 2mile hike to get back on the trail. About a mile down the trail I reached hogpen gap. This is a point of no return.  There are no exit points from the trail from this point until Hiawassee ga ., which is the next town. It is here that I will temporarily end my hike.  The weather is expected to turn worse with 2" of snow or ice expected at lower elevations below 2600 feet.  My elevation is nearly 4000 feet.  With at least freezing rain coming I have opted to wait for spring to continue.  I will return to the trail  as soon as warmer weather comes and pick up where I left off. Hiking in these conditions zap the enjoyment right out of you.  I know there are some younger people that I have met who are continuing to hike on and I wish them safe travels.  As for me a I am taking a couple of weeks off the trail. 

Day 8

Today was a beautiful day. Temp about 50.  These are the steepest mountains I have ever seen. Traveled 6 miles from Neels gap to Whitley Gap Shelter over 4 or more mountains.  Some pictures below. When I got there the shelter was 2 miles off the trail.  So add that to the distance I covered.  Got there about dark. Ate supper. Went to bed.

Day 7

Today is a zero day. Going to sit back and enjoy a warm cabin. 

As you can see from this picture it is a great day to be inside. 

Day 6

Real eventfull day. Besides being totally exhausted and looking at one of the worst steep mountains ahead with only one liter of water, I decided to jump ahead to Neels Gap to Mountain Crossing a hostel and outfitters shop where they will give your pack a shakedown and ship home stuff that you don't need. The book Just Passing Thru is about this place. Result is now my pack is 10 pounds lighter. I decided also to stay in cabin for a couple of nights .  Temperature is in the mid 20's right now outside but toasty warm in this cabin. I am at Blood Mountain Cabins. Snow is in the forecast so the weather alone makes this stop worth it.  I should be able to get some much needed rest and dry out my tent. The tent shielded the rain so I was dry , but I had to pack it up in the rain and mud this morning so it is soaked. I am fixing to get a bath, the first since I started. My clothes smell so bad I almost can't sleep in the sleeping bag for the smell.  Laundry service is included with cabin rental.  Finally I just downed a whole pizza, 4 soft drinks and will drink a couple of liters of water before I go to bed. One of the keys to doing this hike is to not carry so much junk in your pack and to stay hydrated.  Those were the first 2 mistakes I made. I'm not sure how much farther I will get but not ready to quit.  I have met several hikers who have already given up including the man I hiked with yesterday. More to come later. 

Day 5

Up hills are brutal did not make but about 3 miles today   Met a 72 year old man who has written 24 books. His name is Richard Jacobs. Hiked with him today he likes to rest as much as I do. Hopefully I will be able to walk with him for a while. Camping tonight at horse gap   No water but I have about a liter left   Next water is the other side of sassafras mountain.  Will tackle it tomorrow. 

Day 4

Made it to hawk mountain shelter.  This is where the younger people makes it their first day out.

Day 3

Did nearly 3 miles. Stayed at stover creek shelter.  Uphills are rough mostly stair steps