Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Order of Salvation
We will get David's illustration of the Order of Salvation up here shortly. In the interim here is a great video on the Order of Salvation.
AT 5-23
Greetings from the Dutch Haus Bed and Breakfast in Montebello, VA.
As you all know I left the AT on April 14 from near Erwin TN. Di and Logan drove up from Birmingham to retrieve me at a road crossing. We spent the night at the hostel in Erwin then back to Birmingham on Tues.
Friday I left for Guanajuanto, Mexico for the Advanced Medical Leadership Training. This is the third year I have been fortunate to be part of the faculty. We train folks that want to lead medical teams into third world countries for MTW the foreign mission arm of the PCA church. We teach concepts on food and water safety, immunizations, cross cultural issues, Tropical disease, team dynamics, stress management and many more. We spend 5 days in class and then do two days of real clinics, one in an urban area and one in a rural. The participants rotate roles twice a day.
The class went from Sat to a week the following Sunday. Participants were the majority medical but still lots of lay folk. 26 participants in total.
Back for a week at home and then to north of Pittsburg PA for Disaster relief training. Any one that wants to be able to respond to international disasters has to have completed this training. It runs from Tues through Sunday. We have one day of pure classroom and then move to the field. They hike to the field, dig latrines, set up tents for living and for clinics. We have a pavilion nearby that we can use for lectures and then move back and forth from field to lecture. We had 14 students, all energetic and interested.
Then back home a third time for mothers day evening. Mon and Tues got ready to go back to the trail. Wed. Dean Tanner drove me to Roanoke to regain the trail. I didn’t think that I would have enough time to get to the northern end before the mid October closure if I went back to Erwin so started at Troutdale, just north of Roanoke.
Wed. night we stayed with Dean’s sister in Roanoke, then Thurs morning the 14th, 30 days after leaving the trail, Dean dropped me off at the Railroad tracks in Troutdale and off I went. I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m nuts but he was diplomatic about it.
Hiked to Wilson Creek Shelter, about 9.7 miles. Guess what, taking 30 days off from hiking is not a good idea. Seems I am physically back to where I was at the beginning in Georgia on Feb. 28. Once again my muscles supporting my hips were killing me. Thankfully after a few days they got a little accommodated. Mainly hip flexors.
11 people at the shelter. One full time volunteer of the ATC. He works in the ATC office in Harpers Ferry. He was hiking southbound. Angry Beaver, Groundhog, One stick, No nails were some of the hikers that night.
May 15th on to Babbitt’s Gap Shelter. This was a miserable day. Hot, 100% humidity with heavy fog. Sweat like a pig, Hip flexors still hurting. Only did 7.3 miles because the humidity was so bad. Really sapped my strength.
May 16th on to Bryant Ridge Shelter 13.3 miles. Prettier day. Much dryer. Didn’t rain till night. Slept in the shelter so stayed fairly dry. This was a beautiful shelter, three level, Tongue and groove post and beam construction. Fanciest shelter I have ever seen. Walked with Red Leg and three girls with a springer spaniel named Georgia. Spent several nights with a three section hikers, a father, Gray Beard, and his 2 sons taking a 6 wk hike.
May 17th on the Thunder Hill Shelter, 10.3 miles. Big climb almost 3000 feet. It rained all morning and the sun broke through after lunch. It wore me out all the ups and downs. If I ever had trail legs they are long gone. Went over the “last” tall mountain, Apple Orchard Mt., till New Hampshire. There is a large radar dome installation there. Back in the cold war it was an installation staffed with 250 military folk. Now looks like an automated facility. Spring flowers are beautiful. Wild Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and many other flowers are going strong. I am learning how to use my macro feature on the camera. Still a little shaky however. Saw a number of rusty orange salamanders on the trail. Small somewhat lethargic creatures only about 2 inches long.
May 18 on to Matt’s Creek shelter, 13.2 miles. Took 10 hours to walk. Supposeably a big descent, but had lots of ascents in the process. Again I am really weary by the end of the day. Walked a mile past the shelter to a camping area on the banks of the James River. Unfortunately the camping area is close enough to the highway that the campground is being used for parties. Lots of trash, giant bonfire spots
May 19th walked to Big Island, VA to resupply. Crossed the James River on the world’s longest foot bridge. Was a box beam bridge built on railroad supports from a bridge that washed away in the 80s. The railroad built a new bridge adjacent that was higher, leaving the pylons empty. A hiker’s widow raised funds to build the bridge. Beautiful structure. Hitched a ride to town and went to H&H. A combo facility of restaurant, gas stations and groc. Store. Ate a big breakfast and then shopped for groceries. Bought 70$ worth of food, about enough for 6 days. Hitched back to the trail by noon and up to the first shelter to eat a lunch that I had bought at the restaurant. Was warm and sunny so got a bucket of water and took a sponge bath and washed my clothes. Put them in a large Zip Lock with soap and water and squish around for a while then rinse in the creek and hang out for a while. About 3 decided to climb up the hill. 2000 feet up out of the James River bottom. Camped on top of the ridge, dry camp no water, so did not cook supper or breakfast to conserve water.
Had a hard time getting cell phone coverage the last couple of days. Seldom works from a shelter so have been trying to use the phone when I am at a high point with good visibility. Here in Montebello, town of 200 people there is no cell coverage of anykind.
May 20th, walked on to Pedlar Lake, city reservoir for Lynchberg. Ate lunch at the punchbowl shelter. Met Ms. Muster and Katsup two female thru hikers. A thru hiker is one who plans to walk the whole AT in one 12 mo. period. All else are section hikers.
There are two kinds of thru hikers, Traditional, that walk from one end to the other straight thru, may take breaks be return where they left off. The great majority walk south to north. Nontraditional or Flip Thru hikers jump around on the trail but walk the whole thing in the 12 mos. I have till next Feb 28 to finish. I am a flip hiker as I have skipped the distance from Erwin to Roanoke and plan to come back and finish that section after reaching Mt. Katahdin, Maine.
Camped with 3 middle aged ladies with their own dogs. Members of the Danville, VA kennel club. One has hiked all of the AT in sections except a 3 mile section in NH. Sketch, BoPeep and SueBop. They were doing an overnight.
Ran into a trail maintainer that was not quite all there. Was big, had a giant knife and was talking a little off. Was glad to get past him.
May 21st was at Hog Camp Gap, A meadow with spring. 10.1 miles, but with a 4000 foot elevation gain. Really a big big climb for an old man like me. Again was worn out. I have delusions each day of doing 15 miles, but after 10-12 hours of walking my body says forget it. Stayed with Ancient Ruin from Australia, Lost Arcadian from New Brunswick and Black Kat from who knows where.
May 22 I walked 11.1 miles to Spy Rock Road and down to spend two nights at the Dutch Haus Bed and Breakfast, owned by Earl and Lois Arnold, in the town of Montebello.
Pretty place, nicely done yard and gardens. Spent Fri. nite in the bunk house and Sat. in the main house. Will get back on the trail Sun. Morning at 8. Still have 39 miles to Waynesboro and the start of the Shenandoah’s. Taking a Zero day (no miles walked) to get my legs back in shape after the 4000 foot climb. They were sore to the touch today.
A week from tomorrow my Grandson, Logan Rafferty from Biloxi, MS is joining me for a month on the trail. He and I have hiked on and off since he was five or six, but never for this distance. Should be in PA by the time he leaves in early July. I think his Dad Sean is driving him up.
Guess that is the update for now. Please continue to pray for health and safety. Those local to Pelham, please continue to take care of Diane. I appreciate all you have done.
Keep on hiking
Grandpa Hugh
Remember “Use it or lose it” especially trail legs.
As you all know I left the AT on April 14 from near Erwin TN. Di and Logan drove up from Birmingham to retrieve me at a road crossing. We spent the night at the hostel in Erwin then back to Birmingham on Tues.
Friday I left for Guanajuanto, Mexico for the Advanced Medical Leadership Training. This is the third year I have been fortunate to be part of the faculty. We train folks that want to lead medical teams into third world countries for MTW the foreign mission arm of the PCA church. We teach concepts on food and water safety, immunizations, cross cultural issues, Tropical disease, team dynamics, stress management and many more. We spend 5 days in class and then do two days of real clinics, one in an urban area and one in a rural. The participants rotate roles twice a day.
The class went from Sat to a week the following Sunday. Participants were the majority medical but still lots of lay folk. 26 participants in total.
Back for a week at home and then to north of Pittsburg PA for Disaster relief training. Any one that wants to be able to respond to international disasters has to have completed this training. It runs from Tues through Sunday. We have one day of pure classroom and then move to the field. They hike to the field, dig latrines, set up tents for living and for clinics. We have a pavilion nearby that we can use for lectures and then move back and forth from field to lecture. We had 14 students, all energetic and interested.
Then back home a third time for mothers day evening. Mon and Tues got ready to go back to the trail. Wed. Dean Tanner drove me to Roanoke to regain the trail. I didn’t think that I would have enough time to get to the northern end before the mid October closure if I went back to Erwin so started at Troutdale, just north of Roanoke.
Wed. night we stayed with Dean’s sister in Roanoke, then Thurs morning the 14th, 30 days after leaving the trail, Dean dropped me off at the Railroad tracks in Troutdale and off I went. I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m nuts but he was diplomatic about it.
Hiked to Wilson Creek Shelter, about 9.7 miles. Guess what, taking 30 days off from hiking is not a good idea. Seems I am physically back to where I was at the beginning in Georgia on Feb. 28. Once again my muscles supporting my hips were killing me. Thankfully after a few days they got a little accommodated. Mainly hip flexors.
11 people at the shelter. One full time volunteer of the ATC. He works in the ATC office in Harpers Ferry. He was hiking southbound. Angry Beaver, Groundhog, One stick, No nails were some of the hikers that night.
May 15th on to Babbitt’s Gap Shelter. This was a miserable day. Hot, 100% humidity with heavy fog. Sweat like a pig, Hip flexors still hurting. Only did 7.3 miles because the humidity was so bad. Really sapped my strength.
May 16th on to Bryant Ridge Shelter 13.3 miles. Prettier day. Much dryer. Didn’t rain till night. Slept in the shelter so stayed fairly dry. This was a beautiful shelter, three level, Tongue and groove post and beam construction. Fanciest shelter I have ever seen. Walked with Red Leg and three girls with a springer spaniel named Georgia. Spent several nights with a three section hikers, a father, Gray Beard, and his 2 sons taking a 6 wk hike.
May 17th on the Thunder Hill Shelter, 10.3 miles. Big climb almost 3000 feet. It rained all morning and the sun broke through after lunch. It wore me out all the ups and downs. If I ever had trail legs they are long gone. Went over the “last” tall mountain, Apple Orchard Mt., till New Hampshire. There is a large radar dome installation there. Back in the cold war it was an installation staffed with 250 military folk. Now looks like an automated facility. Spring flowers are beautiful. Wild Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and many other flowers are going strong. I am learning how to use my macro feature on the camera. Still a little shaky however. Saw a number of rusty orange salamanders on the trail. Small somewhat lethargic creatures only about 2 inches long.
May 18 on to Matt’s Creek shelter, 13.2 miles. Took 10 hours to walk. Supposeably a big descent, but had lots of ascents in the process. Again I am really weary by the end of the day. Walked a mile past the shelter to a camping area on the banks of the James River. Unfortunately the camping area is close enough to the highway that the campground is being used for parties. Lots of trash, giant bonfire spots
May 19th walked to Big Island, VA to resupply. Crossed the James River on the world’s longest foot bridge. Was a box beam bridge built on railroad supports from a bridge that washed away in the 80s. The railroad built a new bridge adjacent that was higher, leaving the pylons empty. A hiker’s widow raised funds to build the bridge. Beautiful structure. Hitched a ride to town and went to H&H. A combo facility of restaurant, gas stations and groc. Store. Ate a big breakfast and then shopped for groceries. Bought 70$ worth of food, about enough for 6 days. Hitched back to the trail by noon and up to the first shelter to eat a lunch that I had bought at the restaurant. Was warm and sunny so got a bucket of water and took a sponge bath and washed my clothes. Put them in a large Zip Lock with soap and water and squish around for a while then rinse in the creek and hang out for a while. About 3 decided to climb up the hill. 2000 feet up out of the James River bottom. Camped on top of the ridge, dry camp no water, so did not cook supper or breakfast to conserve water.
Had a hard time getting cell phone coverage the last couple of days. Seldom works from a shelter so have been trying to use the phone when I am at a high point with good visibility. Here in Montebello, town of 200 people there is no cell coverage of anykind.
May 20th, walked on to Pedlar Lake, city reservoir for Lynchberg. Ate lunch at the punchbowl shelter. Met Ms. Muster and Katsup two female thru hikers. A thru hiker is one who plans to walk the whole AT in one 12 mo. period. All else are section hikers.
There are two kinds of thru hikers, Traditional, that walk from one end to the other straight thru, may take breaks be return where they left off. The great majority walk south to north. Nontraditional or Flip Thru hikers jump around on the trail but walk the whole thing in the 12 mos. I have till next Feb 28 to finish. I am a flip hiker as I have skipped the distance from Erwin to Roanoke and plan to come back and finish that section after reaching Mt. Katahdin, Maine.
Camped with 3 middle aged ladies with their own dogs. Members of the Danville, VA kennel club. One has hiked all of the AT in sections except a 3 mile section in NH. Sketch, BoPeep and SueBop. They were doing an overnight.
Ran into a trail maintainer that was not quite all there. Was big, had a giant knife and was talking a little off. Was glad to get past him.
May 21st was at Hog Camp Gap, A meadow with spring. 10.1 miles, but with a 4000 foot elevation gain. Really a big big climb for an old man like me. Again was worn out. I have delusions each day of doing 15 miles, but after 10-12 hours of walking my body says forget it. Stayed with Ancient Ruin from Australia, Lost Arcadian from New Brunswick and Black Kat from who knows where.
May 22 I walked 11.1 miles to Spy Rock Road and down to spend two nights at the Dutch Haus Bed and Breakfast, owned by Earl and Lois Arnold, in the town of Montebello.
Pretty place, nicely done yard and gardens. Spent Fri. nite in the bunk house and Sat. in the main house. Will get back on the trail Sun. Morning at 8. Still have 39 miles to Waynesboro and the start of the Shenandoah’s. Taking a Zero day (no miles walked) to get my legs back in shape after the 4000 foot climb. They were sore to the touch today.
A week from tomorrow my Grandson, Logan Rafferty from Biloxi, MS is joining me for a month on the trail. He and I have hiked on and off since he was five or six, but never for this distance. Should be in PA by the time he leaves in early July. I think his Dad Sean is driving him up.
Guess that is the update for now. Please continue to pray for health and safety. Those local to Pelham, please continue to take care of Diane. I appreciate all you have done.
Keep on hiking
Grandpa Hugh
Remember “Use it or lose it” especially trail legs.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
AT Chronicles - April 16, 09
I did not put up Hugh's pictures here. If you want to see, email me or comment below.
I am back in Birmingham, Not finished with the Hike but have other obligations for a couple of weeks.
Friday I go to Guanajuato, Mexico for 10 days to be part of the Faculty for MTW’s Advanced Medical Team Leader Training. This training is for those that want to lead Medical teams into third world countries and keep the teams healthy and safe. This is the 3 year I have been part of the lectures. First was in Quito, Ecuador, then last year in Trinidad and now Mexico. Guanajuato is in the middle of upper Mexico about half way between Mexico City and the US, in the central mountains.
I am then home for a week and then go for 7 days to Pittsburg to participate in MTW’s Disaster Response Training. This training is for those that want to be on the roster to respond to international disasters. I have been doing this teaching for a number of years, first annually, then biannually.
Then home for a couple of days and then back on the trail. It will be almost a month off the trail.
I last reported from Hot Springs, NC. Arrived there on Apr. 5th Palm Sunday and had planned to have a zero day on Monday. A zero day is when you do not hike the trail at all. But it rained on Monday, and was forecast to snow on Tues so had two zero days. True enough they had 6-8 inches in the mountains with some drifts several feet deep. Glad to stay in town. Spent Mon. and Tues. dinking around, reading, getting cups of coffee, chatting, resting.
Sunnybank Inn where we stayed is a new age sort of place. Owned by an ex Methodist minister, chaplain at Duke. He is now in to alternative everything. Food was all vegetarian. Excellent, but would have been better with a little meat on the side. Tues. night had pumpkin soup, large tossed salad with sprouts, veg. lasagna, and pumpkin pie for dessert. They only normally allow thru hikers to stay two nights at the 20$ rate but due to the snow, extended our discounted rate one more night.
We wash our clothes when in towns. Wash all our clothes. Since we don’t carry spare clothes you have to be inventive.
Up early on Wed. To the café across the street for a big breakfast, back to the Inn to settle our account and then off. Climbed up to the top of Rich Mountain, 2300 feet up in 5 miles. Spent the night at Spring Mountain Shelter. 11 miles total. Was a beautiful day for walking, clear, sunny and cool. Lots of snow and mud from previous days, but otherwise fine.
Thurs. on to Little Laurel shelter, only 8.6 miles, fairly nice day, long walk down to the highway and then back up to the top of the mountain ridge. One family offered trail magic to the hikers, big brunch in their home about a ¼ mile off the trail. Belgian waffles, soup, desserts. I passed the opportunity but most imbibed.
Friday walked to Jerry Shelter but a big storm was forecast so stopped early.
Walked part of the day in the rain. Started raining about 5 and rained through the night. Took the alternate trail around one part of the trail due to rain and wind. The alternative trail ran parallel to the trail but just down the side of the hill about 20 yards. The regular route was on a very narrow ridge and wind gusts made it risky. Had a group of section hikers cook in the shelter while we watched, and then they set up a couple of tents for 3 of them, two girls stayed in the shelter, one on the ground and the other on the picnic table that had been moved under the shelter of the roof. There was a tarp across the mouth of the shelter to cut the breeze.
Had one thru hiker, “rocket” the day before had decided he was bored so turned around and went back to Hot Springs planning to go home. His walking partner had recently quit. After sleeping on it, he came back out on the trail the next day and caught up with us. Saw him for several more days and he was doing fine
Sat. the 11, I walked the longest hike so far. To Hogback Ridge shelter, 14.8 miles. Took for 8 am to 6 pm. Most of the day in the fog, clouds. Not too windy, but poor visibility. When we dropped down in to a gap could see under the clouds for a while, then back up into the mists with limited visibility. It can be bright and sunny down low and completely socked in at elevations as the clouds tend to stick just to the mt. tops only, with clear skies around them.
Had the same trail angel as last Sat. at the road crossing. A trail angel is someone who does something nice for a hiker with no expectation of anything in return, frequently they are folks that have a hiking background. “Yonder” minus his wife and friend the bag lady was there. Cold and windy so didn’t tarry long, just long enough for a handmade pepperoni pizza. Great guy.
Was cold again that night, Water froze in my bucket.
Bears are a constant in the mountains. This is a picture of a camper with the remains of his bear bag. Only a rope and a 6 inch piece of bear bag. Normally the bag is full of food. His bears showed up around sundown. He got out of his tent and made threatening noises toward the bear and its smaller companion. The bear made threatening noises back so he retreated to the safety of his nylon tent. Shades of sticking your head in the sand. He had his bear bag hanging over a tree branch. The bear climbed the tree, broke off the branch, climbed back down and proceeded to sort through his food. Did not like freeze dried food, but ate the rest. Especially liked candy bars. One section of the trail had especially skilled bears. They like solo campers better than groups camping. At many of the shelters there are cables for us to hang our food bags from. Food bags contain anything that has an odor, food, toothpaste, garbage, etc.
Easter the 12 I was in the middle of nowhere so sang hymns I had brought and read the Easter story from Luke. Something to think about the rest of the day.
Walked down to and under the interstate, and then back up to the top of Big Bald, 5500 feet, climb of 1750 feet. Mountains as far as you can see except to the west where the Tenn. Valley and the Tenn. Cumberland Plateau extends. This is the first place we have been where development really abuts the trail. There is the Wolf Laurel Ski Resort on the east side of the ridge and the trail on the west, only about 100 feet apart. I was surprised to look up and see a realtor driving by my on the top of the ridge showing property, about 50 feet away. The AT attempts to have at least a 500 foot buffer between the trail and any development. Funny to see a ½ million $ cabin next to the trail.
Walked through old snow drifts from Tues. of that week and on to the Bald Mt. Shelter, one of the highest on the trail at 5200 feet. Cool and clear. When it is cold we go to bed early as there is no other way to get warm. The night on Walnut Mt. we were all in bed by 4 pm.
For those who think I am crazy was passed by a trail runner on the way up to Big Bald. They run up and down the mountains without a backpack for the fun of it. Like those that run on the roads, but more vigorous.
Big coon dog was barking at the hikers as we went by. Friendly, wagging her tail, but barking most of the morning as various hikers went by.
For people like me that are slow I see the backs of other hikers. I start early and then over the course of the day am passed by all the hikers that start later than me from the same shelter, then later in the day am passed by those that started 2 shelters back and do 20 miles per day. In different parts of the trail there will be a number of south bounders out for a few days. I have only seen a couple of south bounders that are thru hiking, (doing the whole trail).
Monday the 13th, Once again very cold, Wind was blowing directly into the mouth of the shelter. Foggy, again in the clouds. To cold to cook breakfast so ate cold foods and headed out. Had a group of 5 section hikers, (doing less than the whole trail, usually a few days to a week) come into the shelter. One of the two girls must have been a last minute recruit as she was not equipped, did not have rain gear, or a warm enough sleeping bag. Both of her knees were stiff and sore. If you are trying to recruit some one to a new sport you better make sure their first effort is successful. Doubt she will hike again. I encouraged her to take Ibuprophin more frequently, but she wasn’t in a listening mood.
I told them about an alternate trail around Big Bald they could take. There was one at Albert Mt. in NC where we go up 650 feet in 500 feet. You use the alternates if it is too windy, icy, or rainy to be safe.
I did the short hike 5.7 miles to the highway where I hoped to hitch a ride into Erwin, TN. It is a US highway, but little traffic since thet put in the interstate. No one was willing to give me a ride.
Forest Service employees stopped to see if they could call someone for me but no ride. They told me about an experiment they are doing near Roan Mt. where they have imported Watusi African Cattle with 10 foot horns. The balds are open areas on top of the mountains. Originally cleared by Indians or early settlers to provide grassy areas for herbivores. Now that the land is publically owned and no stock is grazing there the trees and brush are gradually encroaching back on to the cleared space.
The Forest service is looking for less labor intensive ways to keep the balds grassy. These cattle are brush eaters, and browse eaters instead of grass eaters. They use their long horns to pull down branches to eat the tips of the limbs. Will be interesting to see if that works. They don’t burn the balds because of fear of setting the forest on fire. This Picture show were they have chopped down the encroaching brush and trees.
I got to the road about 11:30, again 40’s with stiff wind. Had all my clothes on, but still was getting chilled. Communicated with Di via cell phone texting since the signal was too poor for calls to go through. She and Logan, my grandson picked me up about 4 pm. Glad to see them.
We got a room at the local hiker hostel, actually a cabin with 2 rooms. Think it was a trailer covered with pine boards in and out.
April 14, Tues, headed for Birmingham. Took the back roads for the first 100 miles or so Di and Logan could see where I had been walking. Logan plans to walk with me the month of June.
April 15, Spent the day going through camping gear I have to set Logan up with all he needs when he joins me in June, Between Jeremiah, Di and I we were able to get all the gear and clothing he needed except for a few things. Went to the local outfitter and got hiking boots and a rain jacket.
In thinking back over these first 7 weeks a couple of things come to mind.
1. You would be amazed at how little you need to actually live. Food, water, clothing, tent, cooking gear and stove, bedding, entertainment can all be carried on your back and can weigh as little as 30#. Running hot and cold water, refrigeration, tempered air, indoor plumbing, computers are all nice but not essential to life.
2. Ramen Noodles can be fixed many ways.
3. Physically if you can do the first 30 miles you can probably do the next 2145 miles barring an illness or accident.
4. The tallest mountain can be climbed by the slowest hiker; it just takes a little longer.
5. If you get soaked in the rain, you will not melt and will eventually dry out, though you dry faster in a hostel or motel.
6. Having fun while hiking is a mind issue. Once you understand 3 and 4, then you can think about something else. Looking for the first wildflowers on the trail when it is foggy, blowing and in the 20s can be a delight. All are shades of black and brown and then there is a bright yellow or purple flower popping up.
7. Mt. top views are great but you can hike without them and enjoy the fuzzy whiteout of the clouds and shifting mists.
8. A warm dry sleeping bag at night makes it all better.
9. There is no way you can carry enough food to replace the calories you burn, Move over for the new Oprah Diet. 40# backpack and a month on the trail will make anyone thinner.
10. Things you wouldn’t think of eating at home are essential on the trial. One pkg of Little Debbie Nutty bars with 440 calories, 2 Pop tarts with 408 calories, Handfuls of nuts, are all popular when attempting to bridge the calorie deficit. Hikers also ck the nutritional labels at the grocery stores but are looking for the item with the most calories.
11. The image of the creator us everywhere. The Trillium flower with three leaves, three sepals and three petals reminds of the trinity with the number 3, the old testament sepals, a pale image of the intensity of the petals, and the petals of different colors, some royal red and purple representing the majesty of God, some yellow or white representing the purity of Christ.
12. The forest reminds of the continuity of life. Some trees hundreds of years old, flowers only a few days. We are here for a season; we are part of a grand creation, here for a purpose, to bring glory to God.
These thoughts and emails will cease for while till mid May when I go back on the trail.
Thanks to all of you for your interest and your prayers. Pray for the success of the training I will be involved in these next several weeks.
“Grandpa Hugh”
I am back in Birmingham, Not finished with the Hike but have other obligations for a couple of weeks.
Friday I go to Guanajuato, Mexico for 10 days to be part of the Faculty for MTW’s Advanced Medical Team Leader Training. This training is for those that want to lead Medical teams into third world countries and keep the teams healthy and safe. This is the 3 year I have been part of the lectures. First was in Quito, Ecuador, then last year in Trinidad and now Mexico. Guanajuato is in the middle of upper Mexico about half way between Mexico City and the US, in the central mountains.
I am then home for a week and then go for 7 days to Pittsburg to participate in MTW’s Disaster Response Training. This training is for those that want to be on the roster to respond to international disasters. I have been doing this teaching for a number of years, first annually, then biannually.
Then home for a couple of days and then back on the trail. It will be almost a month off the trail.
I last reported from Hot Springs, NC. Arrived there on Apr. 5th Palm Sunday and had planned to have a zero day on Monday. A zero day is when you do not hike the trail at all. But it rained on Monday, and was forecast to snow on Tues so had two zero days. True enough they had 6-8 inches in the mountains with some drifts several feet deep. Glad to stay in town. Spent Mon. and Tues. dinking around, reading, getting cups of coffee, chatting, resting.
Sunnybank Inn where we stayed is a new age sort of place. Owned by an ex Methodist minister, chaplain at Duke. He is now in to alternative everything. Food was all vegetarian. Excellent, but would have been better with a little meat on the side. Tues. night had pumpkin soup, large tossed salad with sprouts, veg. lasagna, and pumpkin pie for dessert. They only normally allow thru hikers to stay two nights at the 20$ rate but due to the snow, extended our discounted rate one more night.
We wash our clothes when in towns. Wash all our clothes. Since we don’t carry spare clothes you have to be inventive.
Up early on Wed. To the café across the street for a big breakfast, back to the Inn to settle our account and then off. Climbed up to the top of Rich Mountain, 2300 feet up in 5 miles. Spent the night at Spring Mountain Shelter. 11 miles total. Was a beautiful day for walking, clear, sunny and cool. Lots of snow and mud from previous days, but otherwise fine.
Thurs. on to Little Laurel shelter, only 8.6 miles, fairly nice day, long walk down to the highway and then back up to the top of the mountain ridge. One family offered trail magic to the hikers, big brunch in their home about a ¼ mile off the trail. Belgian waffles, soup, desserts. I passed the opportunity but most imbibed.
Friday walked to Jerry Shelter but a big storm was forecast so stopped early.
Walked part of the day in the rain. Started raining about 5 and rained through the night. Took the alternate trail around one part of the trail due to rain and wind. The alternative trail ran parallel to the trail but just down the side of the hill about 20 yards. The regular route was on a very narrow ridge and wind gusts made it risky. Had a group of section hikers cook in the shelter while we watched, and then they set up a couple of tents for 3 of them, two girls stayed in the shelter, one on the ground and the other on the picnic table that had been moved under the shelter of the roof. There was a tarp across the mouth of the shelter to cut the breeze.
Had one thru hiker, “rocket” the day before had decided he was bored so turned around and went back to Hot Springs planning to go home. His walking partner had recently quit. After sleeping on it, he came back out on the trail the next day and caught up with us. Saw him for several more days and he was doing fine
Sat. the 11, I walked the longest hike so far. To Hogback Ridge shelter, 14.8 miles. Took for 8 am to 6 pm. Most of the day in the fog, clouds. Not too windy, but poor visibility. When we dropped down in to a gap could see under the clouds for a while, then back up into the mists with limited visibility. It can be bright and sunny down low and completely socked in at elevations as the clouds tend to stick just to the mt. tops only, with clear skies around them.
Had the same trail angel as last Sat. at the road crossing. A trail angel is someone who does something nice for a hiker with no expectation of anything in return, frequently they are folks that have a hiking background. “Yonder” minus his wife and friend the bag lady was there. Cold and windy so didn’t tarry long, just long enough for a handmade pepperoni pizza. Great guy.
Was cold again that night, Water froze in my bucket.
Bears are a constant in the mountains. This is a picture of a camper with the remains of his bear bag. Only a rope and a 6 inch piece of bear bag. Normally the bag is full of food. His bears showed up around sundown. He got out of his tent and made threatening noises toward the bear and its smaller companion. The bear made threatening noises back so he retreated to the safety of his nylon tent. Shades of sticking your head in the sand. He had his bear bag hanging over a tree branch. The bear climbed the tree, broke off the branch, climbed back down and proceeded to sort through his food. Did not like freeze dried food, but ate the rest. Especially liked candy bars. One section of the trail had especially skilled bears. They like solo campers better than groups camping. At many of the shelters there are cables for us to hang our food bags from. Food bags contain anything that has an odor, food, toothpaste, garbage, etc.
Easter the 12 I was in the middle of nowhere so sang hymns I had brought and read the Easter story from Luke. Something to think about the rest of the day.
Walked down to and under the interstate, and then back up to the top of Big Bald, 5500 feet, climb of 1750 feet. Mountains as far as you can see except to the west where the Tenn. Valley and the Tenn. Cumberland Plateau extends. This is the first place we have been where development really abuts the trail. There is the Wolf Laurel Ski Resort on the east side of the ridge and the trail on the west, only about 100 feet apart. I was surprised to look up and see a realtor driving by my on the top of the ridge showing property, about 50 feet away. The AT attempts to have at least a 500 foot buffer between the trail and any development. Funny to see a ½ million $ cabin next to the trail.
Walked through old snow drifts from Tues. of that week and on to the Bald Mt. Shelter, one of the highest on the trail at 5200 feet. Cool and clear. When it is cold we go to bed early as there is no other way to get warm. The night on Walnut Mt. we were all in bed by 4 pm.
For those who think I am crazy was passed by a trail runner on the way up to Big Bald. They run up and down the mountains without a backpack for the fun of it. Like those that run on the roads, but more vigorous.
Big coon dog was barking at the hikers as we went by. Friendly, wagging her tail, but barking most of the morning as various hikers went by.
For people like me that are slow I see the backs of other hikers. I start early and then over the course of the day am passed by all the hikers that start later than me from the same shelter, then later in the day am passed by those that started 2 shelters back and do 20 miles per day. In different parts of the trail there will be a number of south bounders out for a few days. I have only seen a couple of south bounders that are thru hiking, (doing the whole trail).
Monday the 13th, Once again very cold, Wind was blowing directly into the mouth of the shelter. Foggy, again in the clouds. To cold to cook breakfast so ate cold foods and headed out. Had a group of 5 section hikers, (doing less than the whole trail, usually a few days to a week) come into the shelter. One of the two girls must have been a last minute recruit as she was not equipped, did not have rain gear, or a warm enough sleeping bag. Both of her knees were stiff and sore. If you are trying to recruit some one to a new sport you better make sure their first effort is successful. Doubt she will hike again. I encouraged her to take Ibuprophin more frequently, but she wasn’t in a listening mood.
I told them about an alternate trail around Big Bald they could take. There was one at Albert Mt. in NC where we go up 650 feet in 500 feet. You use the alternates if it is too windy, icy, or rainy to be safe.
I did the short hike 5.7 miles to the highway where I hoped to hitch a ride into Erwin, TN. It is a US highway, but little traffic since thet put in the interstate. No one was willing to give me a ride.
Forest Service employees stopped to see if they could call someone for me but no ride. They told me about an experiment they are doing near Roan Mt. where they have imported Watusi African Cattle with 10 foot horns. The balds are open areas on top of the mountains. Originally cleared by Indians or early settlers to provide grassy areas for herbivores. Now that the land is publically owned and no stock is grazing there the trees and brush are gradually encroaching back on to the cleared space.
The Forest service is looking for less labor intensive ways to keep the balds grassy. These cattle are brush eaters, and browse eaters instead of grass eaters. They use their long horns to pull down branches to eat the tips of the limbs. Will be interesting to see if that works. They don’t burn the balds because of fear of setting the forest on fire. This Picture show were they have chopped down the encroaching brush and trees.
I got to the road about 11:30, again 40’s with stiff wind. Had all my clothes on, but still was getting chilled. Communicated with Di via cell phone texting since the signal was too poor for calls to go through. She and Logan, my grandson picked me up about 4 pm. Glad to see them.
We got a room at the local hiker hostel, actually a cabin with 2 rooms. Think it was a trailer covered with pine boards in and out.
April 14, Tues, headed for Birmingham. Took the back roads for the first 100 miles or so Di and Logan could see where I had been walking. Logan plans to walk with me the month of June.
April 15, Spent the day going through camping gear I have to set Logan up with all he needs when he joins me in June, Between Jeremiah, Di and I we were able to get all the gear and clothing he needed except for a few things. Went to the local outfitter and got hiking boots and a rain jacket.
In thinking back over these first 7 weeks a couple of things come to mind.
1. You would be amazed at how little you need to actually live. Food, water, clothing, tent, cooking gear and stove, bedding, entertainment can all be carried on your back and can weigh as little as 30#. Running hot and cold water, refrigeration, tempered air, indoor plumbing, computers are all nice but not essential to life.
2. Ramen Noodles can be fixed many ways.
3. Physically if you can do the first 30 miles you can probably do the next 2145 miles barring an illness or accident.
4. The tallest mountain can be climbed by the slowest hiker; it just takes a little longer.
5. If you get soaked in the rain, you will not melt and will eventually dry out, though you dry faster in a hostel or motel.
6. Having fun while hiking is a mind issue. Once you understand 3 and 4, then you can think about something else. Looking for the first wildflowers on the trail when it is foggy, blowing and in the 20s can be a delight. All are shades of black and brown and then there is a bright yellow or purple flower popping up.
7. Mt. top views are great but you can hike without them and enjoy the fuzzy whiteout of the clouds and shifting mists.
8. A warm dry sleeping bag at night makes it all better.
9. There is no way you can carry enough food to replace the calories you burn, Move over for the new Oprah Diet. 40# backpack and a month on the trail will make anyone thinner.
10. Things you wouldn’t think of eating at home are essential on the trial. One pkg of Little Debbie Nutty bars with 440 calories, 2 Pop tarts with 408 calories, Handfuls of nuts, are all popular when attempting to bridge the calorie deficit. Hikers also ck the nutritional labels at the grocery stores but are looking for the item with the most calories.
11. The image of the creator us everywhere. The Trillium flower with three leaves, three sepals and three petals reminds of the trinity with the number 3, the old testament sepals, a pale image of the intensity of the petals, and the petals of different colors, some royal red and purple representing the majesty of God, some yellow or white representing the purity of Christ.
12. The forest reminds of the continuity of life. Some trees hundreds of years old, flowers only a few days. We are here for a season; we are part of a grand creation, here for a purpose, to bring glory to God.
These thoughts and emails will cease for while till mid May when I go back on the trail.
Thanks to all of you for your interest and your prayers. Pray for the success of the training I will be involved in these next several weeks.
“Grandpa Hugh”
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Susan Boyle on Britian's Got Talent
Here is what Bob, the pastor, said about this video:
Enjoy!!
If you do not know who Elaine Paige is, here is a video of her. (I didn't).
Also there is a newly discovered 1999 recording by Susan Boyle of Cry Me a River.
"When beautiful grace exposes the ugly Pharisee in us all. And once again, its Les Mis that does it." Susan Boyle
Enjoy!!
If you do not know who Elaine Paige is, here is a video of her. (I didn't).
Also there is a newly discovered 1999 recording by Susan Boyle of Cry Me a River.
Hugh Davis on the Appalachian Trail - April 5
Subject: AT- April 5
This is a week or so old, but did not get sent out, sorry.
A quick note. Have limited access to a computer.
I am in Hot Springs, NC. Old hot spring resort from the early 1800.
280 or so miles from Springer MT.
We left Gattlingburg on Monday the 30, back to New Found Gap. Di drove us up there. She had been driving us around the area as needed.
It had frozen that night and walked the first 6 hrs or so on Ice. All the rain had frozen so the footing was treacherous. Fell lightly a couple of times. Made it to the shelter 11 miles in about 7 hours. There were 3 short hikes, husband and two sons, plus a bunch of thru hikers. Cold and foggy.
Tues, made another 10 miles or so to the next shelter still rainy, cold, blowing, nasty. Minimal visibility. Lots of purported views but not that day.
Wed. last day in the park. walked down to the pigeon river, under the interstate and to a hikers hostel. Out in the middle of no where. Couple have bought a farm and converted it to a hostel. Bunk house that would hold about 14, a cabin that would hold 6 and space for tent camping. Had an outdoor kitchen, three burner propane stove. microwave, pizza oven, Washing machine was a tub with a hand wringer attached, but electric dryer.
Interesting combination. Put basically sopping clothes in the dryer and then had to run it for an hour or so to dry. Didn't really get things clean, but at least rinsed.
Kind of hippy in appearance. But pleasant to stay for a night.
Thurs. Walked up and up over Snow Bird Bald. Beautiful views, but wind that would blow you off. 10 miles to brown gap where Lefty and I camped.
Friday. Continues to walk over the balds. Max Patch is a 360 acre bald, but visibility was 20 feet and the wind so stiff you had to use you hiking poles from getting blown over. Ended up equally windy on Walnut Mt.
Shelter. 32 degrees, 30 mile winds in a shelter built in the 30s with logs, Needed chinking to reduce the flow of the breeze. Clouds kept visability again to zip.
Sat. Walked to Deer Mt. Shelter, 3 miles from Hot springs. Day continues cold and windy.
Sunday woke up to a beautiful mild day. Unlimited views. Temp in the 60.
Am staying at a hostel in Hot Springs. Been serving hikers since the 40s.
Vegetarian cuisine for supper tonight. Went to Dollar General and bought food for the next 7 days. Will need a sherpa to carry it for me.
Sean and Austin, my son in law and grandson are to meet me on thurs. and walk 4 days with me and then will take me back to Birmingham.
I will be off the trail for almost a month, teaching first in Mexico and then in Pittsburg. MTW has classes for those that want to lead medical teams into third world countries, and then classess for thoese that want to serve on a Disaster Team. with a week between the classes in birmingham and travel time, that will be almost a month off the trail.
Hiking is still physical, but am enjoying it more and more. Still huffing and puffing, occasionally make it over a hump with out stopping. A few spring flowers are sprouting at elevation.
Went to church this morning at the local baptist church for Palm Sunday.
Nice to be with a body of believers on this important day.
All for now.
Love to All
Grandpa Hugh
This is a week or so old, but did not get sent out, sorry.
A quick note. Have limited access to a computer.
I am in Hot Springs, NC. Old hot spring resort from the early 1800.
280 or so miles from Springer MT.
We left Gattlingburg on Monday the 30, back to New Found Gap. Di drove us up there. She had been driving us around the area as needed.
It had frozen that night and walked the first 6 hrs or so on Ice. All the rain had frozen so the footing was treacherous. Fell lightly a couple of times. Made it to the shelter 11 miles in about 7 hours. There were 3 short hikes, husband and two sons, plus a bunch of thru hikers. Cold and foggy.
Tues, made another 10 miles or so to the next shelter still rainy, cold, blowing, nasty. Minimal visibility. Lots of purported views but not that day.
Wed. last day in the park. walked down to the pigeon river, under the interstate and to a hikers hostel. Out in the middle of no where. Couple have bought a farm and converted it to a hostel. Bunk house that would hold about 14, a cabin that would hold 6 and space for tent camping. Had an outdoor kitchen, three burner propane stove. microwave, pizza oven, Washing machine was a tub with a hand wringer attached, but electric dryer.
Interesting combination. Put basically sopping clothes in the dryer and then had to run it for an hour or so to dry. Didn't really get things clean, but at least rinsed.
Kind of hippy in appearance. But pleasant to stay for a night.
Thurs. Walked up and up over Snow Bird Bald. Beautiful views, but wind that would blow you off. 10 miles to brown gap where Lefty and I camped.
Friday. Continues to walk over the balds. Max Patch is a 360 acre bald, but visibility was 20 feet and the wind so stiff you had to use you hiking poles from getting blown over. Ended up equally windy on Walnut Mt.
Shelter. 32 degrees, 30 mile winds in a shelter built in the 30s with logs, Needed chinking to reduce the flow of the breeze. Clouds kept visability again to zip.
Sat. Walked to Deer Mt. Shelter, 3 miles from Hot springs. Day continues cold and windy.
Sunday woke up to a beautiful mild day. Unlimited views. Temp in the 60.
Am staying at a hostel in Hot Springs. Been serving hikers since the 40s.
Vegetarian cuisine for supper tonight. Went to Dollar General and bought food for the next 7 days. Will need a sherpa to carry it for me.
Sean and Austin, my son in law and grandson are to meet me on thurs. and walk 4 days with me and then will take me back to Birmingham.
I will be off the trail for almost a month, teaching first in Mexico and then in Pittsburg. MTW has classes for those that want to lead medical teams into third world countries, and then classess for thoese that want to serve on a Disaster Team. with a week between the classes in birmingham and travel time, that will be almost a month off the trail.
Hiking is still physical, but am enjoying it more and more. Still huffing and puffing, occasionally make it over a hump with out stopping. A few spring flowers are sprouting at elevation.
Went to church this morning at the local baptist church for Palm Sunday.
Nice to be with a body of believers on this important day.
All for now.
Love to All
Grandpa Hugh
Monday, March 30, 2009
AT 6 -- Hugh Davis
Sat, March 28, 2009
Dear Friends:
I am sitting in a motel room in Gatlinburg, TN waiting for a storm to roll in. I last wrote from Franklin NC. At that point I had walked 107.7 miles on the AT. I came off the trail yesterday afternoon at New Found Gap in the Great Smoky National Park, 204.7 Miles on the trail. I am slowly making my way up the east coast. Only have 1975 miles to go.
I have had a mental improvement. The hills are still just as high, the days just a long, the muscles just a sore but I am beginning to enjoy the hike. When I see a tall mountain in front of me, I just start climbing while thinking about other things. In the past I was focusing only on the next step. I am also trying to teach myself how to go up hills more efficiently. Jeremiah said to pace myself, what does that mean? I was following two sisters, Katie and Laurie from Maine hiking ahead of me. They were moving very slowly, but still pulling away from me. My style is to walk quickly and then have to stop huff and puff and look at the scenery for a min. My many stops meant my overall speed was super slow. Now I am teaching myself how to count steps and count a cadence and walk for a long distance up the hills without stopping. As I get fatigued over the course of the day I find myself reverting back to old standard run and stop. Yesterday, as I walked up to the top of Klingman’s Dome, the tallest mountain on the AT, at 6643 feet, I was able to walk without stopping for the first 2 of the 3 miles and then lost my technique. Will have to continue to develop the technique to make it my natural stride.
I left Franklin NC on the 16th and walked 11 miles to the Wayah Shelter. Was a beautiful day for a hike in the woods. 17th walked 10.6 miles to the Wesser Bald Shelter. On the 18th, 5.8 Miles to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, NOC. I have been there several times in the past with the B'ham, Canoe Club. It’s primary function is to serve rafters and boaters on the Nantahala River. I took the rest of the day off. Ate 3 meals at the NOC restaurant, showered, and washed clothes. They have a Hostel there, 18$ for a bunk and use of the facilities. Off early the next morning. Extra tough climb out of the Nantahala Gorge. Nantahala means noonday sun. The gorge is so steep that the sun rises late and set early. Climbed from 1700 to 4300 in five miles. Steepest climb so far was a week ago when I climbed 650 feet in 1/10 (500 ft) of a mile, almost straight up at Albert MT. NC.
Two more days hiking to Fontana Dam Village. Very tough couple of days. They apparently forgot all they knew about making switch backs, all the trails go straight up. Many very steep mountains and ended up back down at 1700 feet at the Dam. High point of 5062 feet just to get back to where we started elevation wise.
Ran into 2 “Trail Angels.” First was a man from Texas that comes and pitches a two large tents at Burningtown Gap. One in a MSR 8 meter dome tent. He had hot coffee, hot chocolate, and on occasion hotdogs. He had a bunch of sling folding chairs to sit on. Nice break for a half hour or so. The second was a 69 year old lady at one of the Gaps who said she had section hiked the AT from GA to Bear Mt. NY. Had hoped to get to Katahdin by age 70, but said she probably wouldn’t make it. She was passing out spring water and taking our garbage.
I am still awaiting my “trail legs” Supposed to take 6 weeks, means I need to keep at this for 2 more weeks. A number of people we started with have dropped out. Many that started out to do a thru hike are now only going to go part of the way because of other commitments. It is a long distance. Many now know that they will not be able to finish before school starts in the fall. Many of the 20 year olds that were doing 20 miles a day are having foot and blister problems.
The past 3 days it has been 40s with strong winds and rain or clouds. I have been able to stay in the shelters after the first night of rain and have stayed fairly dry but am worried about being cold and wet and then not having a dry sleeping bag. My sleeping bag is down which is worthless in keeping warm if the bag is wet. Di and I went to a outfitter today and bought an inexpensive synthetic bag. Synthetic bags will work even if wet. Your bag is your lifeline in these really adverse circumstances. When I am walking along, wet on the outside from rain and inside from sweat I know that I am OK as long as I walk. I generate my own heat. But at night I depend on my sleeping bag. If it works, I am OK, but if it is wet it won’t keep me warm and I am then in danger of hypothermia. By switching to synthetic I should be OK even if my gear gets wet.
We are continually warned about bears, and faithfully are hanging our food and other stuff that smells on cables hung near the shelters. Most of the duels for food go on with the mice that infest the shelters. Some are so thick that they run over the sleeping hikers, chew holes in our packs, clothing looking for tasty morsels.
I met Cecil Essex, a man and his son in the shelter a couple of days ago. They do an annual spring break hike in the Smokies, They gave me and another thru hiker a ride into town to the motel.
I continue to use my SPOT locator daily so Di knows where I am and that I am OK. Most of the time I can get coverage for my cell phone, but not the last 3 days.
Thanks for all your interest and concern for me.
Please continue to pray for safety and strength as this hike continues.
“Grandpa Hugh”
Dear Friends:
I am sitting in a motel room in Gatlinburg, TN waiting for a storm to roll in. I last wrote from Franklin NC. At that point I had walked 107.7 miles on the AT. I came off the trail yesterday afternoon at New Found Gap in the Great Smoky National Park, 204.7 Miles on the trail. I am slowly making my way up the east coast. Only have 1975 miles to go.
I have had a mental improvement. The hills are still just as high, the days just a long, the muscles just a sore but I am beginning to enjoy the hike. When I see a tall mountain in front of me, I just start climbing while thinking about other things. In the past I was focusing only on the next step. I am also trying to teach myself how to go up hills more efficiently. Jeremiah said to pace myself, what does that mean? I was following two sisters, Katie and Laurie from Maine hiking ahead of me. They were moving very slowly, but still pulling away from me. My style is to walk quickly and then have to stop huff and puff and look at the scenery for a min. My many stops meant my overall speed was super slow. Now I am teaching myself how to count steps and count a cadence and walk for a long distance up the hills without stopping. As I get fatigued over the course of the day I find myself reverting back to old standard run and stop. Yesterday, as I walked up to the top of Klingman’s Dome, the tallest mountain on the AT, at 6643 feet, I was able to walk without stopping for the first 2 of the 3 miles and then lost my technique. Will have to continue to develop the technique to make it my natural stride.
I left Franklin NC on the 16th and walked 11 miles to the Wayah Shelter. Was a beautiful day for a hike in the woods. 17th walked 10.6 miles to the Wesser Bald Shelter. On the 18th, 5.8 Miles to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, NOC. I have been there several times in the past with the B'ham, Canoe Club. It’s primary function is to serve rafters and boaters on the Nantahala River. I took the rest of the day off. Ate 3 meals at the NOC restaurant, showered, and washed clothes. They have a Hostel there, 18$ for a bunk and use of the facilities. Off early the next morning. Extra tough climb out of the Nantahala Gorge. Nantahala means noonday sun. The gorge is so steep that the sun rises late and set early. Climbed from 1700 to 4300 in five miles. Steepest climb so far was a week ago when I climbed 650 feet in 1/10 (500 ft) of a mile, almost straight up at Albert MT. NC.
Two more days hiking to Fontana Dam Village. Very tough couple of days. They apparently forgot all they knew about making switch backs, all the trails go straight up. Many very steep mountains and ended up back down at 1700 feet at the Dam. High point of 5062 feet just to get back to where we started elevation wise.
Ran into 2 “Trail Angels.” First was a man from Texas that comes and pitches a two large tents at Burningtown Gap. One in a MSR 8 meter dome tent. He had hot coffee, hot chocolate, and on occasion hotdogs. He had a bunch of sling folding chairs to sit on. Nice break for a half hour or so. The second was a 69 year old lady at one of the Gaps who said she had section hiked the AT from GA to Bear Mt. NY. Had hoped to get to Katahdin by age 70, but said she probably wouldn’t make it. She was passing out spring water and taking our garbage.
I am still awaiting my “trail legs” Supposed to take 6 weeks, means I need to keep at this for 2 more weeks. A number of people we started with have dropped out. Many that started out to do a thru hike are now only going to go part of the way because of other commitments. It is a long distance. Many now know that they will not be able to finish before school starts in the fall. Many of the 20 year olds that were doing 20 miles a day are having foot and blister problems.
The past 3 days it has been 40s with strong winds and rain or clouds. I have been able to stay in the shelters after the first night of rain and have stayed fairly dry but am worried about being cold and wet and then not having a dry sleeping bag. My sleeping bag is down which is worthless in keeping warm if the bag is wet. Di and I went to a outfitter today and bought an inexpensive synthetic bag. Synthetic bags will work even if wet. Your bag is your lifeline in these really adverse circumstances. When I am walking along, wet on the outside from rain and inside from sweat I know that I am OK as long as I walk. I generate my own heat. But at night I depend on my sleeping bag. If it works, I am OK, but if it is wet it won’t keep me warm and I am then in danger of hypothermia. By switching to synthetic I should be OK even if my gear gets wet.
We are continually warned about bears, and faithfully are hanging our food and other stuff that smells on cables hung near the shelters. Most of the duels for food go on with the mice that infest the shelters. Some are so thick that they run over the sleeping hikers, chew holes in our packs, clothing looking for tasty morsels.
I met Cecil Essex, a man and his son in the shelter a couple of days ago. They do an annual spring break hike in the Smokies, They gave me and another thru hiker a ride into town to the motel.
I continue to use my SPOT locator daily so Di knows where I am and that I am OK. Most of the time I can get coverage for my cell phone, but not the last 3 days.
Thanks for all your interest and concern for me.
Please continue to pray for safety and strength as this hike continues.
“Grandpa Hugh”
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