(from Ellie's Journal 5/6)
Uncle Johnny's Hostel is a very cool place. I could get used to staying here. In just one day I've started to feel as though the Trail is very far away. On the other hand, this morning I fired up my JetBoil to make coffee, later realizing I'd done it right besde the microwave. Oh, well...the JetBoil is faster anyway.
There are so many dogs here. LaMar is a samll, shaggy, black and white mutt who lives here. Rio is an affable pit bull mix. Mama Bear is a husky. Charlie and Holly are matching Great Pyranees. Holly was recently rescued from an abusive, negligent home and is now learning to be a real dog. Their owner ties them together on a 2-foot leash so Holly has to follow Charlie's lead. Cool!
Sunday, June 07, 2009
DALEVILLE, VA
Yesterday I passed 700 miles. Closing in on 1/3 (727 miles.)
My boots are worn out.
I look thin. Not nicely slim.... thin.
I've hiked the past week with Young Scott, an 18-yr-old man who has the wisdom of one much older. He's a Christian and we talk some about theology and much about other things. We're following his planned itinerary, hiking generally 16-18 miles a day. I hope I can keep on keeping up with him. He could go faster if I weren't with him but I am able to do his planned miles.... we just get to the shelter an hour or so later than he might have alone.
Yesterday I stood atop McAfee Knob, one of the most-photographed spots on the Trail. Do a Google Image search and you'll see it!
My boots are worn out.
I look thin. Not nicely slim.... thin.
I've hiked the past week with Young Scott, an 18-yr-old man who has the wisdom of one much older. He's a Christian and we talk some about theology and much about other things. We're following his planned itinerary, hiking generally 16-18 miles a day. I hope I can keep on keeping up with him. He could go faster if I weren't with him but I am able to do his planned miles.... we just get to the shelter an hour or so later than he might have alone.
Yesterday I stood atop McAfee Knob, one of the most-photographed spots on the Trail. Do a Google Image search and you'll see it!
Gotta go, folks waiting for computer (motel lobby.)
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Ellie update
Ellie called from Catawba, VA yesterday and everything's fine.
She hiked 73 miles in the last three days!
695 miles so far.
Avery has a bunch of journal entries she will be posting soon.
She hiked 73 miles in the last three days!
695 miles so far.
Avery has a bunch of journal entries she will be posting soon.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
GUESS WHO I MET ON THE AT?
I'm guessing some of my readers know who David Horton is :-)
In case you don't, he's a well-known ultra-marathon runner who's written books about ultra-running.
This was on the AT section in Grayson Highlands National Park, VA.
He signed my hiking pole, too: David Horton "The Runner" 5/20
Very cool!!
In case you don't, he's a well-known ultra-marathon runner who's written books about ultra-running.
This was on the AT section in Grayson Highlands National Park, VA.
He signed my hiking pole, too: David Horton "The Runner" 5/20
Very cool!!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Ellie Update
I talked to her today. She spent a long night in the pouring rain, luckely in a shelter. They're hiking 15-20 miles a day and doin fine. I've changed the map and will add some more pics soon.
Steve
Steve
A view from the top.
Ellie & Sally
Ellie
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
FINALLY SOME SUN
May 5
But only some. It cleared up for a while in the morning for a beautiful 6 mile hike into Erwin, TN. I'm staying at Uncle Johnny's Hostel drying out. Uncle Johnny's buddy, CD gave me a penny - he said it's penny #97. of the 500+ hikers to use the hostel this year, he has given these to the hikers he believes are going to make it to Maine. He says he watches attitudes and I've "got it".
More hiking tomorrow. AND more rain. There are flood watches for the area. Oh, goody.
But only some. It cleared up for a while in the morning for a beautiful 6 mile hike into Erwin, TN. I'm staying at Uncle Johnny's Hostel drying out. Uncle Johnny's buddy, CD gave me a penny - he said it's penny #97. of the 500+ hikers to use the hostel this year, he has given these to the hikers he believes are going to make it to Maine. He says he watches attitudes and I've "got it".
More hiking tomorrow. AND more rain. There are flood watches for the area. Oh, goody.
THEN SINGS MY SOUL
May 4
It rained for a while in the morning and then let up. I hiked slowly, savoring the smells, incredibly green greens, and flowers, flowers, flowers. I came to the Trail aware of 3 colors of trilliums: red, white, and painted. Well, I have seen every color but blue and orange. Yellow, pink, mauve, variegated, speckled, freckled. Awesome, thrilling. But then the rain started again, hard. BUT...Bird and I found ramps, gathered some, and sauteed them in olive oil for dinner. Yum!!
It rained for a while in the morning and then let up. I hiked slowly, savoring the smells, incredibly green greens, and flowers, flowers, flowers. I came to the Trail aware of 3 colors of trilliums: red, white, and painted. Well, I have seen every color but blue and orange. Yellow, pink, mauve, variegated, speckled, freckled. Awesome, thrilling. But then the rain started again, hard. BUT...Bird and I found ramps, gathered some, and sauteed them in olive oil for dinner. Yum!!
STILL MORE RAIN
May 3
Sheesh. I mean, it's POURING. My group of hiking pals set up at a campsite rather than struggle on to a shelter that would probably be full. I got seriously cold helping to build a makeshift shelter. Hands white, heavy shivering. Had to get out of wet clothes and into sleeping bag with a hot water bottle.
The "shelter" was cool - sort of a teepee of sticks covered with leafy branches. Just enough to crouch under while cooking.
Had a great time hiking/talking with Bird, who's 24 - like being with a daughter or young friend. But not really like hiking with a daughter...now THAT would be really great.
Sheesh. I mean, it's POURING. My group of hiking pals set up at a campsite rather than struggle on to a shelter that would probably be full. I got seriously cold helping to build a makeshift shelter. Hands white, heavy shivering. Had to get out of wet clothes and into sleeping bag with a hot water bottle.
The "shelter" was cool - sort of a teepee of sticks covered with leafy branches. Just enough to crouch under while cooking.
Had a great time hiking/talking with Bird, who's 24 - like being with a daughter or young friend. But not really like hiking with a daughter...now THAT would be really great.
RAIN AND MORE RAIN
May 2
But better than yesterday's burning sun, post-rain humidity, and endless climb. Today a lot of the walking was along an old dirt road. But at one point, in cold rain, wind, and fog, I chose a designated Bad Weather Route over the Exposed Ridgetop Trail. I saw smiling, tail-wagging tadpoles in two little puddle ponds. So cute!
Sleeping inside Flint Mountain Shelter tonight, the ground is wet, as is my tent. Shelter is full, 4 girls and 4 guys, more tenting outside.
Miles down: 304.1
Miles to go: 1874.2
But better than yesterday's burning sun, post-rain humidity, and endless climb. Today a lot of the walking was along an old dirt road. But at one point, in cold rain, wind, and fog, I chose a designated Bad Weather Route over the Exposed Ridgetop Trail. I saw smiling, tail-wagging tadpoles in two little puddle ponds. So cute!
Sleeping inside Flint Mountain Shelter tonight, the ground is wet, as is my tent. Shelter is full, 4 girls and 4 guys, more tenting outside.
Miles down: 304.1
Miles to go: 1874.2
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Ellie update
(Steve) Since May 1st she has hiked another 228 miles and is doing fine (499 miles so far). I'm sure she has sent Avery some more of her journal which she will post. She hiked into Virginia last week and spent the weekend in Damascus at an AT hikers get-together. Ellie is mailing me a camera card and when she does I will post some pictures. I talk to her daily, but with infrequent stops, and the mail system, her blog updates will be about 2 weeks behind.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
ONE MONTH DONE!
May 1
291.4 miles - 1886.9 to go.
Long, long, long, long climb today. Nearly 1400 ft elevation over 5 miles. Started out rainy but then sunny and sweaty-hot. When a hike-mate comes staggering and tripping into camp, flushed and glassy-eyed, mumbling "Where's water?" it's not a good sign. We all gave him some and he started looking better. I was whipped myself, felt exhausted, shaky and feverish, drank a lot of water and hit the sack at 8:00.
Little Laurel Shelter, water source a nearly dry spring.
291.4 miles - 1886.9 to go.
Long, long, long, long climb today. Nearly 1400 ft elevation over 5 miles. Started out rainy but then sunny and sweaty-hot. When a hike-mate comes staggering and tripping into camp, flushed and glassy-eyed, mumbling "Where's water?" it's not a good sign. We all gave him some and he started looking better. I was whipped myself, felt exhausted, shaky and feverish, drank a lot of water and hit the sack at 8:00.
Little Laurel Shelter, water source a nearly dry spring.
NIGHT SOUNDS
4/30/09
A campsite, not a shelter, 5 miles out of Hot Springs, NC. lots of my friends tenting here. The water source is a stagnant pond with a big dead turtle floating in it. Boil before using!!
But...a crackling campfire, good friends, spring peepers, barred owls, whipporwills, and a distant train. It doesn't get much better than this.
A campsite, not a shelter, 5 miles out of Hot Springs, NC. lots of my friends tenting here. The water source is a stagnant pond with a big dead turtle floating in it. Boil before using!!
But...a crackling campfire, good friends, spring peepers, barred owls, whipporwills, and a distant train. It doesn't get much better than this.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Update
(Steve) Avery added some of Ellie's journal. I spoke to her today (Monday) and she's fine. They hiked 18 miles today. Another supply pick-up tomorrow and back on the trail.
I added some pictures I received today and added them to the blog.
I added some pictures I received today and added them to the blog.
STEVE'S BIRTHDAY
April 27
And in the early evening I was able to get signal to call him. Otherwise, the day is too long for anything but a list of events.
miles traveled: 12.7
total so far: 240.7
miles to go: 1.937.6
Sally left early, and I was alone. Happy, though. Spring got greener and greener as I descended out of Great Smoky Mtn. Natn'l Park, which is now behind me. Hiked 10 miles to Standing Bear Hostel. Went with the shuttle bus to get beer and ice cream. Got a few supplies to last till Hot Springs, NC (3 days)
Sally stayed at Standing Bear. I'm short on money and hiked out. staying at a small campsite with Matt and Young Scott. My tent is about 3 feet from the brook and I'll hear it all night. a barred owl is hooting, the boys built a wonderful campfire.
And in the early evening I was able to get signal to call him. Otherwise, the day is too long for anything but a list of events.
miles traveled: 12.7
total so far: 240.7
miles to go: 1.937.6
Sally left early, and I was alone. Happy, though. Spring got greener and greener as I descended out of Great Smoky Mtn. Natn'l Park, which is now behind me. Hiked 10 miles to Standing Bear Hostel. Went with the shuttle bus to get beer and ice cream. Got a few supplies to last till Hot Springs, NC (3 days)
Sally stayed at Standing Bear. I'm short on money and hiked out. staying at a small campsite with Matt and Young Scott. My tent is about 3 feet from the brook and I'll hear it all night. a barred owl is hooting, the boys built a wonderful campfire.
COSBY KNOB SHELTER
Cosby Knob shelter & My spot inside.
April 26
Boy, is this beautiful. Green, green. White trillium blooming on the hill below; wild blackberry canes leafing out.
Hiking-wise, the day was sort of routine, if that's possible. Some up, some down, long but not extreme. Mountains, trees, flowers.
A spruce or fir tree had seeded itself in a hole in an oak tree and had grown to about 3 feet high.
In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, tent camping is not permitted unless the shel
ter is full, and then you must tent within the shelter-yard perimeter. This means your daily mileage is determined by how many shelters you're willing to pass before stopping. They're typically 7-12 miles apart, so hikers have to keep moving right along. This policy is partyl to minimize bear activity and offer protection to hikers, and partly to minimize environmental impact, restricting heavy use to specified areas.
Day/overnight hikers and section hikers must have reservations to use the shelters. three spots are reserved for the thru-hikers. Whether more than three thru-hikers can sleep in the shelter depends on how many campers with reservations there are. If the shelter is full and a "transient" hiker with a reservation shows up, a thru-hiker has to move out and set up a tent, no matter what the hour or weather.
Hasn't happened to me or any of my new friends yet, though.
Boy, is this beautiful. Green, green. White trillium blooming on the hill below; wild blackberry canes leafing out.
Hiking-wise, the day was sort of routine, if that's possible. Some up, some down, long but not extreme. Mountains, trees, flowers.
A spruce or fir tree had seeded itself in a hole in an oak tree and had grown to about 3 feet high.
In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, tent camping is not permitted unless the shel
ter is full, and then you must tent within the shelter-yard perimeter. This means your daily mileage is determined by how many shelters you're willing to pass before stopping. They're typically 7-12 miles apart, so hikers have to keep moving right along. This policy is partyl to minimize bear activity and offer protection to hikers, and partly to minimize environmental impact, restricting heavy use to specified areas.Day/overnight hikers and section hikers must have reservations to use the shelters. three spots are reserved for the thru-hikers. Whether more than three thru-hikers can sleep in the shelter depends on how many campers with reservations there are. If the shelter is full and a "transient" hiker with a reservation shows up, a thru-hiker has to move out and set up a tent, no matter what the hour or weather.
Hasn't happened to me or any of my new friends yet, though.
THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE
April 25
And how beautiful it has been. Warm, sunny. filled with birdsong and wildflowers. Gorgeous Smoky Mountain views for miles and miles. It looks like the ocean- but the waves are mountains. all around, an endless sea of mountains.
I met an 86 year old man, "Cimarron" hiking out after injuring his knee. He was attempting a thru-hike and got about 215 miles.
Hiked partly with friends and partly alone. Both were good. Calamity Kate liked my idea for my future photography business: Name it "My Father's World" and the categories "Rocks and Trees" "Skies and Seas" "The Morning Light" "The Lily White", all phrases from the hymn.
"Bird" a wildlife management grad, showed me how to distinguish firs from spruces from hemlocks.
And when I was alone, I gazed at the trees, alive and dead, and the flowers and rocks and the path and said "Lord, this is magnificent. It's no wonder you wanted me to see this.
Hokey as it sounds, I sang "The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Music". And I meant every word.
Mild thunderstorms rolled in just after I reached the shelter: Peck's Corner Shelter. Sally AKA "Arriba" is here, and Calamity Kate and her partner Jen AKA "Skipper" , N-Da-Wind, Bird, Young Scott, Sailor J, Scarecrow, Steve (a section hiker), Kismet, others whose names I don't know. The shelter is full. Three tents outside, and Scarecrow's hammock. Somebody started it with "Goodnight, Yard Sale..." I answered "Goodnight, Jim-Bob" and others joined in, "Goodnight, John-boy, goodnight Mary Ellen," And then we all started humming The waltons' theme music. Life is good.
miles done: 215.1
miles to go: 1,963.2
marathons done: 8.1
marathons to go: 75.2
And how beautiful it has been. Warm, sunny. filled with birdsong and wildflowers. Gorgeous Smoky Mountain views for miles and miles. It looks like the ocean- but the waves are mountains. all around, an endless sea of mountains.
I met an 86 year old man, "Cimarron" hiking out after injuring his knee. He was attempting a thru-hike and got about 215 miles.
Hiked partly with friends and partly alone. Both were good. Calamity Kate liked my idea for my future photography business: Name it "My Father's World" and the categories "Rocks and Trees" "Skies and Seas" "The Morning Light" "The Lily White", all phrases from the hymn.
"Bird" a wildlife management grad, showed me how to distinguish firs from spruces from hemlocks.
And when I was alone, I gazed at the trees, alive and dead, and the flowers and rocks and the path and said "Lord, this is magnificent. It's no wonder you wanted me to see this.
Hokey as it sounds, I sang "The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Music". And I meant every word.
Mild thunderstorms rolled in just after I reached the shelter: Peck's Corner Shelter. Sally AKA "Arriba" is here, and Calamity Kate and her partner Jen AKA "Skipper" , N-Da-Wind, Bird, Young Scott, Sailor J, Scarecrow, Steve (a section hiker), Kismet, others whose names I don't know. The shelter is full. Three tents outside, and Scarecrow's hammock. Somebody started it with "Goodnight, Yard Sale..." I answered "Goodnight, Jim-Bob" and others joined in, "Goodnight, John-boy, goodnight Mary Ellen," And then we all started humming The waltons' theme music. Life is good.
miles done: 215.1
miles to go: 1,963.2
marathons done: 8.1
marathons to go: 75.2
I TALK TOO MUCH
April 22-24
Three people now on the Trail have called to my attention that I talk all the time. I have always known I talk a lot. I just plain think out loud.
I have never been told it's annoying. I've never been told others can't get a word in.
Now I've been told. so I'm learning to keep quiet unless I have something to say. Fifty-seven years old and I never knew this. Looking back I can see clues I should have picked up on but I guess I was talking to fast to notice them.
So now I know. Every thought I have clutters up the space around me like a non-categorized yard sale.
Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, keep the door of my lips.
Three people now on the Trail have called to my attention that I talk all the time. I have always known I talk a lot. I just plain think out loud.
I have never been told it's annoying. I've never been told others can't get a word in.
Now I've been told. so I'm learning to keep quiet unless I have something to say. Fifty-seven years old and I never knew this. Looking back I can see clues I should have picked up on but I guess I was talking to fast to notice them.
So now I know. Every thought I have clutters up the space around me like a non-categorized yard sale.
Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, keep the door of my lips.
THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS
April 21
miles today: 11
miles so far: 175
miles to go: 2003.3
Tomorrow....tomorrow we get a new FIRST digit.
Yesterday Sally and I took a zero day - guess I told you that. I didn't sleep well in the motel. got up around midnight and took a chill pill even though I wasn't anxious. Still woke up a lot. Up for the day around 6:30. so not much sleep and none of it good.
Into the Smoky Mtns. finally! It's so beautiful. cold, though. 20's tonight. There were snow flurries today. I watched snowflakes fall and melt on the trillium and trout lilies.
I am so tired today. It's always hard the day after a resupply....full/heavy food bag. I got some stuff out of the "hiker box" at the motel, too...nice pair of pink Crocs. Anyway, today my pack was back up to 30#. But my own body weight is down SEVEN as of this morning. I ate more today.
I am very tired. I'm going to bed.
miles today: 11
miles so far: 175
miles to go: 2003.3
Tomorrow....tomorrow we get a new FIRST digit.
Yesterday Sally and I took a zero day - guess I told you that. I didn't sleep well in the motel. got up around midnight and took a chill pill even though I wasn't anxious. Still woke up a lot. Up for the day around 6:30. so not much sleep and none of it good.
Into the Smoky Mtns. finally! It's so beautiful. cold, though. 20's tonight. There were snow flurries today. I watched snowflakes fall and melt on the trillium and trout lilies.
I am so tired today. It's always hard the day after a resupply....full/heavy food bag. I got some stuff out of the "hiker box" at the motel, too...nice pair of pink Crocs. Anyway, today my pack was back up to 30#. But my own body weight is down SEVEN as of this morning. I ate more today.
I am very tired. I'm going to bed.
Some day I'll catch up on all the stories. Not tonight.
Sleeping at Mollie's Ridge Shelter. It has an indoor fireplace, and Firebug built a fire. It looks cozy and takes the chill off somewhat.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Still plugging along
(Steve) Ellie just left Erwin, TN and is doing great. Sally is two days behind nursing a sore toe. She's hiking with a group of through hikers who meet each night and plan the next days hike, mileage and where they will meet the next evening. They all hike their own pace, but have the same destination. Sounds like a good plan. All Katadin bound.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
(from Ellie's journal, April 20)
Resting at the Hike Inn in Fontana dam, NC. rest, recuperate, refuel, rehydrate, resupply, reorganize. We're groaning that with the new 4-day food supply our packs are up to 30#.
I need to eat more. I have lost 7 pounds in 20 days. Gack, that means carrying more food, more weight in my pack. Well, it's 7# less on my body to lug, so it evens out, I guess.
Resting at the Hike Inn in Fontana dam, NC. rest, recuperate, refuel, rehydrate, resupply, reorganize. We're groaning that with the new 4-day food supply our packs are up to 30#.
I need to eat more. I have lost 7 pounds in 20 days. Gack, that means carrying more food, more weight in my pack. Well, it's 7# less on my body to lug, so it evens out, I guess.
LONGEST DAY!!!
(from Ellie's journal, April 19)
miles traveled: 18.2!!!
total so far: 163.7
stayed at the "Fontana Hilton" - Shelter that sleeps 24, with water fountain, outdoor spigot, trash cans, nearby real toilets (self-flushing, startled me), shower. Zero day tomorrow.
miles traveled: 18.2!!!
total so far: 163.7
stayed at the "Fontana Hilton" - Shelter that sleeps 24, with water fountain, outdoor spigot, trash cans, nearby real toilets (self-flushing, startled me), shower. Zero day tomorrow.
HIKING AGAIN
(From Ellie's journal, April 18)
Yayyy! Sally got to NOC about lunchtime yesterday, all hale and hearty and bubbling over with trail and shelter adventures. when I saw her I sat down and burst into tears. I told her how worried I'd been: to my vision, she'd been missing. She enthused about her hike and I protested about my trauma, neither of us relating. Finally she told me to get over it so I did.
Too late to start hiking so we camped. The same beautiful unofficial campsite, which I'd shared each night with whatever group of people I'd told about it, and occasionally someone who saw our campfires and came on up. It was on such a steep hill that there was a rope to climb up.
Yayyy! Sally got to NOC about lunchtime yesterday, all hale and hearty and bubbling over with trail and shelter adventures. when I saw her I sat down and burst into tears. I told her how worried I'd been: to my vision, she'd been missing. She enthused about her hike and I protested about my trauma, neither of us relating. Finally she told me to get over it so I did.
Too late to start hiking so we camped. The same beautiful unofficial campsite, which I'd shared each night with whatever group of people I'd told about it, and occasionally someone who saw our campfires and came on up. It was on such a steep hill that there was a rope to climb up.
It had been some kind of estate - the whole hilltop was covered with English Ivy, underneath which were remains of a stone house, a mansion really. Big old climbing vines, big enough to swing on, turned out to be roses. climbing roses. I saw the leaves. That old, that huge. Wodden vines an inch in diameter. It must have been beautiful as an estate and I'd love to see those roses in bloom.
today we got underway once more. climbed up, up, up....3000ft elevation change over 8 miles. We were nervous for a while about what looked and smelled like a forest fire, watching the smoke, checking the wind, watching the reactions of birds and animals, who remained unconcerned. Turned out it was a controlled 200 acre burn in the Smokies, someone learned somehow.
So now we're camped after going down, down, down, six tents here, one hammock, 3 girls, 4 guys. Sally and I agree on a meeting point if we get ahead of each other, when one of us reaches that point, she does not proceed until the other has arrived. No more separation anxiety for me. I was ready to call out an App. Trail Comission search party for a missing hiker.
Miles today: 10.5, 6 hours including breaks.
Total miles so far: 163.7
Miles to go: 2032.8
Marathons down 5.5
Marathons to go:77.8
My pack weight at NOC, including 4 days of food and 36oz of water, was 26.5 pounds.
today we got underway once more. climbed up, up, up....3000ft elevation change over 8 miles. We were nervous for a while about what looked and smelled like a forest fire, watching the smoke, checking the wind, watching the reactions of birds and animals, who remained unconcerned. Turned out it was a controlled 200 acre burn in the Smokies, someone learned somehow.
So now we're camped after going down, down, down, six tents here, one hammock, 3 girls, 4 guys. Sally and I agree on a meeting point if we get ahead of each other, when one of us reaches that point, she does not proceed until the other has arrived. No more separation anxiety for me. I was ready to call out an App. Trail Comission search party for a missing hiker.
Miles today: 10.5, 6 hours including breaks.
Total miles so far: 163.7
Miles to go: 2032.8
Marathons down 5.5
Marathons to go:77.8
My pack weight at NOC, including 4 days of food and 36oz of water, was 26.5 pounds.
(From Ellie's journal, April 17)
Day 3 of living at the Nantahala Outdoor Center waiting for Sally. I feel like Novalee Nation living at the Wal-Mart. (Where the Heart Is). "Muscles"-a girl- came in this morning and says Sally's about 6 miles out, as are a bunch of other members of our original "gang" whom I assumed were far ahead. Things are looking up. I'm a veteran at living here...I show all the new-comers where the showers and washing machines are, and the hiker boxes, and the all-purpose common room, and the location of whatever they're looking for in the outfitter store here. I should be paid.
Day 3 of living at the Nantahala Outdoor Center waiting for Sally. I feel like Novalee Nation living at the Wal-Mart. (Where the Heart Is). "Muscles"-a girl- came in this morning and says Sally's about 6 miles out, as are a bunch of other members of our original "gang" whom I assumed were far ahead. Things are looking up. I'm a veteran at living here...I show all the new-comers where the showers and washing machines are, and the hiker boxes, and the all-purpose common room, and the location of whatever they're looking for in the outfitter store here. I should be paid.
WAITING FOR SALLY
From Ellie's journal, April 16)
It turns out that Sally is most likely behind me, not ahead. Found out last night via grapevine that she stayed in Franklin nursing a sore knee. I called our next mail drop place Fontana and she has not picked up her box. So I'm waiting for the outfitter here at NOC to open this morning; I never thought to ask yesterday if she'd picked up THIS drop because I assumed she was a couple days ahead. I'm kicking myself for not knowing by ESP that she was behind me. I'm worried. If she hasn't picked up her box here, I'll wait until she does, and start calling places back in Franklin if hikers coming in today haven't passed her.
"Fidget" (a guy) pulled in later and had been with Sally overnight a couple shelters back. She's on her way. Should get here tomorrow. We (Fidget, N-Da-Wind, Jessie's Girl, Jedi and Matt) found a wonderful unofficial campsite on a flat topped hill overlooking the rushing Nantahala River which sounded wonderful all night. We had a campfire, beer, and a great time. I'm SO relieved...I thought everyone was ahead of me and that I was all alone out here. I guess they all stayed an extra day in Franklin!
Jedi and Jessie's Girl
Baltimore Jack, a Trail legend, and his pal Sergeant Rock showed up yesterday. They had some serious hooch - Jack is packing 25oz of Jim Beam which he ships himself in his mail drops - and gave me some. Then someone gave me a beer. This is like, about noon and I haven't eaten much since I'm not hiking. Whoo. Spin City.
Sergeant Rock signing my hiking pole
I found a rain jacket discarded in a "hiker box" here (take what you want, leave what you don't). I cut the sleeves off to fit my water bottles and made carriers for them (dental floss for thread) to go on my pack straps for easy access. threw the jacket back in the box - maybe someone will want a short sleeved rain jacket.
My new water bottle carriers
It turns out that Sally is most likely behind me, not ahead. Found out last night via grapevine that she stayed in Franklin nursing a sore knee. I called our next mail drop place Fontana and she has not picked up her box. So I'm waiting for the outfitter here at NOC to open this morning; I never thought to ask yesterday if she'd picked up THIS drop because I assumed she was a couple days ahead. I'm kicking myself for not knowing by ESP that she was behind me. I'm worried. If she hasn't picked up her box here, I'll wait until she does, and start calling places back in Franklin if hikers coming in today haven't passed her.
EVENING
"Fidget" (a guy) pulled in later and had been with Sally overnight a couple shelters back. She's on her way. Should get here tomorrow. We (Fidget, N-Da-Wind, Jessie's Girl, Jedi and Matt) found a wonderful unofficial campsite on a flat topped hill overlooking the rushing Nantahala River which sounded wonderful all night. We had a campfire, beer, and a great time. I'm SO relieved...I thought everyone was ahead of me and that I was all alone out here. I guess they all stayed an extra day in Franklin!
N-Da-Wind, Jedi, Jessie's Girl, Matt, Fidget
Jedi and Jessie's Girl Baltimore Jack, a Trail legend, and his pal Sergeant Rock showed up yesterday. They had some serious hooch - Jack is packing 25oz of Jim Beam which he ships himself in his mail drops - and gave me some. Then someone gave me a beer. This is like, about noon and I haven't eaten much since I'm not hiking. Whoo. Spin City.
BaltimoreJack unpacking his mail drop box
Baltimore Jack, me, Sergeant Rock
Baltimore Jack signing my hiking pole
Sergeant Rock signing my hiking pole I found a rain jacket discarded in a "hiker box" here (take what you want, leave what you don't). I cut the sleeves off to fit my water bottles and made carriers for them (dental floss for thread) to go on my pack straps for easy access. threw the jacket back in the box - maybe someone will want a short sleeved rain jacket.
My new water bottle carriers
Then Sergeant Rock had a proposition: his car was parked at Fontana Dam, 30 miles away, and he needed a 2nd driver to go with him in a borrowed car to get it. So I did that, but told him I needed an hour to sober up before we could go, since he and Jack got me drunk. Hard to believe that 2 days ago I was so miserable I wanted to go home.
(From Ellie's journal, April 15)
We're stopped - Constant, Shaun and I - at the Nantahal Outdoor Center, Wesser, NC, to do laundry, get a shower, buy food, etc. I picked up a mail drop I'd sent myelf with ETA April 15th - Bingo!! Spot on!
Naturally it's a beautiful sunny day, since we're off the Trail. As soon as we head out it'll turn cold and rainy.
Cold and rainy reminds me of another thing I've learned: It's hard to open a Zip-Loc bag when you're wearing fleece mitts covered with dog poop baggies.
Total miles so far: 135.0
Total marathons:5.15; 78.15 left
Miles to go:2,036.4 = NEW SECOND DIGIT!! Actually hit that days ago.
We're stopped - Constant, Shaun and I - at the Nantahal Outdoor Center, Wesser, NC, to do laundry, get a shower, buy food, etc. I picked up a mail drop I'd sent myelf with ETA April 15th - Bingo!! Spot on!
Naturally it's a beautiful sunny day, since we're off the Trail. As soon as we head out it'll turn cold and rainy.
Cold and rainy reminds me of another thing I've learned: It's hard to open a Zip-Loc bag when you're wearing fleece mitts covered with dog poop baggies.
Total miles so far: 135.0
Total marathons:5.15; 78.15 left
Miles to go:2,036.4 = NEW SECOND DIGIT!! Actually hit that days ago.
(From Ellie's journal, April 14)
Miles today: 15.5 - Wayah Shelter to Rufus Morgan Shelter which is 0.8 miles from the Nantahala Outdoor Center, Wesser, NC. "Constant" Amy and I hiked together. Tomorrow is her 27th birthday. Weird...when Avery was 7 months old, I had no idea that a woman I'd be hiking the AT with was being born then.
It was so funny in the shelter last night, 4 women and Shaun. The women talked about what women talk about - periods, PMS, hot flashes, pregnancies - and shaun read a book. At one point he tossed out "Pretty soon you're all going to dive for the chocolate and eat it all and then not have any until your next resupply."
Miles today: 15.5 - Wayah Shelter to Rufus Morgan Shelter which is 0.8 miles from the Nantahala Outdoor Center, Wesser, NC. "Constant" Amy and I hiked together. Tomorrow is her 27th birthday. Weird...when Avery was 7 months old, I had no idea that a woman I'd be hiking the AT with was being born then.
It was so funny in the shelter last night, 4 women and Shaun. The women talked about what women talk about - periods, PMS, hot flashes, pregnancies - and shaun read a book. At one point he tossed out "Pretty soon you're all going to dive for the chocolate and eat it all and then not have any until your next resupply."
DOWN DAYS
(from Ellie's journal, April 13)
Partly because I'm encased in my down comforter in the middle of the day. Partly because I've been feeling down.
In Franklin my phone wouldn't work and I couldn't find sally. Yesterday I started the trail again assuming she was ahead of me, then learned via trail grapevine that she was "zeroing" (rest day, 0 miles) in franklin. So I was ahead of her. I could stop somewhere and wait for HER to catch up with ME. Yay!
Testerday was warm and sunny, a beautiful Easter hiking day. I'd found a church - Methodist - with an 8:30 service and great contemporary songs. During the sermon, I got feeling icky. Hot, faint. I'm no longer used to sitting still in a closed space. I had to go out for a while.
Got back on the trail about noon and hit 7 miles in 3 hours despite a newly-resupplied pack (heavy). Started down the path to the shelter and didn't like the looks - half a mile down a long hill and close enough to town that others might bypass it. I wasted probably a mile trying to decide and then headed for the next one, another 7. Met up with a high-school group whose teacher/counselor/fearless leader person told me it was a rough 7 miles and too late to be trying it. I kept on for about another half mile and decided he was right. turned around, knocked off anothe redundant mile till I found them again, and camped near them.
Today, doing the 7 I'd started yesterday, I'm glad I didn't try it. It was rough.
Figured if Sally starts from town today, this shelter here would give her 11 miles, I'll wait here for her. But she must have gone on to the next for a 16-miler...no sign of her, and I've been here almost 4 hours. Finally got a little spasm of residual life on my phone and had 3 voicemails from her, desperately trying to find me in Franklin. Now my phone is croaking again, hers is either turned off or no signal, and I'm trying to communicate with her via Trail grapevine.
It's cold, so foggy that 4 of us are looking through mist at each other in the shelter, sitting inside our sleeping bags for warmth. Now that I've decided Sally went on, it's too late to try the 5 miles to catch up with her.
I'm with "Itchy", a young woman who started south from Harper's Ferry, WV in late January after a personal crisis, Shaun, a young man who hasn't said much, and a woman with a sprained ankle and a bad cold who is carrying her mother's ashes to scatter on Clingman's Dome, NC, the highest point on the trail, after which she'll continue on to Maine. That's about the most heartrending story I've heard so far.
Yesterday I was alone all day hiking, and today I was alone because no one had stayed where I started from so I was alone again today. Last night and today were the first times I've seriously thought "Why am I out here? I want to go home."
Now that I've found other humans I feel better. Amy, newly named "Constant" just showed up and I may start hanging with her.
Partly because I'm encased in my down comforter in the middle of the day. Partly because I've been feeling down.
In Franklin my phone wouldn't work and I couldn't find sally. Yesterday I started the trail again assuming she was ahead of me, then learned via trail grapevine that she was "zeroing" (rest day, 0 miles) in franklin. So I was ahead of her. I could stop somewhere and wait for HER to catch up with ME. Yay!
Testerday was warm and sunny, a beautiful Easter hiking day. I'd found a church - Methodist - with an 8:30 service and great contemporary songs. During the sermon, I got feeling icky. Hot, faint. I'm no longer used to sitting still in a closed space. I had to go out for a while.
Got back on the trail about noon and hit 7 miles in 3 hours despite a newly-resupplied pack (heavy). Started down the path to the shelter and didn't like the looks - half a mile down a long hill and close enough to town that others might bypass it. I wasted probably a mile trying to decide and then headed for the next one, another 7. Met up with a high-school group whose teacher/counselor/fearless leader person told me it was a rough 7 miles and too late to be trying it. I kept on for about another half mile and decided he was right. turned around, knocked off anothe redundant mile till I found them again, and camped near them.
Today, doing the 7 I'd started yesterday, I'm glad I didn't try it. It was rough.
Figured if Sally starts from town today, this shelter here would give her 11 miles, I'll wait here for her. But she must have gone on to the next for a 16-miler...no sign of her, and I've been here almost 4 hours. Finally got a little spasm of residual life on my phone and had 3 voicemails from her, desperately trying to find me in Franklin. Now my phone is croaking again, hers is either turned off or no signal, and I'm trying to communicate with her via Trail grapevine.
It's cold, so foggy that 4 of us are looking through mist at each other in the shelter, sitting inside our sleeping bags for warmth. Now that I've decided Sally went on, it's too late to try the 5 miles to catch up with her.
I'm with "Itchy", a young woman who started south from Harper's Ferry, WV in late January after a personal crisis, Shaun, a young man who hasn't said much, and a woman with a sprained ankle and a bad cold who is carrying her mother's ashes to scatter on Clingman's Dome, NC, the highest point on the trail, after which she'll continue on to Maine. That's about the most heartrending story I've heard so far.
Yesterday I was alone all day hiking, and today I was alone because no one had stayed where I started from so I was alone again today. Last night and today were the first times I've seriously thought "Why am I out here? I want to go home."
Now that I've found other humans I feel better. Amy, newly named "Constant" just showed up and I may start hanging with her.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
LIVE FROM GATLINBURG
Spent last night with Sally in a motel in Gatlinburg. I'm waiting for the outfitter to open, then will be heading back to the trail and meeting up with her tonight.
There's a gang that's formed, mostly women, and last night we all got shirts made up: AT logo with "Hiker Trash" and our trail name, surrounded by color bursts. My shirt is light pink, made with the sleeves and collar "ripped off" (looks like trash, $2.99 on the clearance rack), the color swirls are light blue and lavender, and the print is black. Goes perfectly with my black running/hiking mini skirt. I'll get a picture and see if Steve can coordinate it with this post!
My name isn't MacGyver anymore. I'm Yard Sale. When I'm setting up or breaking down camp, I can't get myself organize unless I lay all my stuff out on the ground. They say it looks like I'm having a yard sale. N-Da-Wind named me. She said it's also a skiing term: when a downhill skier wipes out and gear flies everywhere, they call it a yard sale.
So I'm Yard Sale. I like its metaphorical lilt, too: a yard sale is where you get rid of stuff that doesn't serve you anymore and is just cluttering up your life.
Friday, April 24, 2009
LIVE FROM ASHEVILLE, NC
Which is not on the Trail!! A member of my Women Hikers List met Sally and me at a crossing, took Sally to a motel in Gatlinburg, TN, and brought me home with her to Asheville (1.5 hr drive.) I got a wonderful dinner long bath and got my clothes washed and she made me a silnylon stuff sack and helped me weed out unnecessary and redundant stuff from my pack. Later today she'll take me back to Gatlinburg where I'll share the room with Sally tonight, and then S. and I will get back on the Trail tomorrow.
205 miles down. Another 13 (one day's hike or less) and I'll have 1/10 of the distance done. Just have to do it 9 more times. That makes it sound totally doable.
We did one 17 mile day and an 18; usually, lately, it's 12-15. Up, down, up, down, up, down.
No tendon trouble. The skin is coming off my heels, though, despite blister bandages, tape, abrasion covers, everything I can think of. Judy (who brought me to her home) says it'll pass.
Going through Great Smoky Mountains National Park now. Gorgeous.
I hope Judy's scale is wrong. It's showing a 10-pound loss. Last time I checked (motel in Fontana Dam, NC, 4 days ago) I'd lost 7.... over 2 pounds a week. So another 3 in 4 days is alarming. I mean, I'm not too skinny or anything.... I'm just losing so fast it appears I need to eat more. But that means I have to carry it.... Maybe 10 pounds off my body means I can carry 10 pounds more in my pack. Ew. Not.
Gorgeous scenery and wildflowers; funny stories, like the night in a shelter where a mouse gave birth to babies in someone's backpack. I wasn't there for that but Sally was (when she was in one place and I was in another) and the story is all over the Trail.
Have seen no bears, snakes, wild hogs, or even many birds. Couple of white-tailed deer. But the wildflowers are gorgeous. White trillium, trout lilies, YELLOW trillium, and Spring Beauties, gorgeous star-shaped little white flowers with delicate pink brushstrokes.
I miss my family. I miss my husband. I've had some miserable days but mostly I am loving every inch of this Trail.
205 miles down. Another 13 (one day's hike or less) and I'll have 1/10 of the distance done. Just have to do it 9 more times. That makes it sound totally doable.
We did one 17 mile day and an 18; usually, lately, it's 12-15. Up, down, up, down, up, down.
No tendon trouble. The skin is coming off my heels, though, despite blister bandages, tape, abrasion covers, everything I can think of. Judy (who brought me to her home) says it'll pass.
Going through Great Smoky Mountains National Park now. Gorgeous.
I hope Judy's scale is wrong. It's showing a 10-pound loss. Last time I checked (motel in Fontana Dam, NC, 4 days ago) I'd lost 7.... over 2 pounds a week. So another 3 in 4 days is alarming. I mean, I'm not too skinny or anything.... I'm just losing so fast it appears I need to eat more. But that means I have to carry it.... Maybe 10 pounds off my body means I can carry 10 pounds more in my pack. Ew. Not.
Gorgeous scenery and wildflowers; funny stories, like the night in a shelter where a mouse gave birth to babies in someone's backpack. I wasn't there for that but Sally was (when she was in one place and I was in another) and the story is all over the Trail.
Have seen no bears, snakes, wild hogs, or even many birds. Couple of white-tailed deer. But the wildflowers are gorgeous. White trillium, trout lilies, YELLOW trillium, and Spring Beauties, gorgeous star-shaped little white flowers with delicate pink brushstrokes.I miss my family. I miss my husband. I've had some miserable days but mostly I am loving every inch of this Trail.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
April 21st update
(Steve) I talked to Ellie last night.
She was spending the night near Fontana Dam, NC. Everythings OK except her carpel tunnel is acting up again.
Today she & the group will be hiking UP! into Great Smokey Mountain National Park.
She was spending the night near Fontana Dam, NC. Everythings OK except her carpel tunnel is acting up again.
Today she & the group will be hiking UP! into Great Smokey Mountain National Park.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
April 19th update
I talked to Ellie on Saturday. She was heading out after a two day rest in town. She waited for Sally who had developed a sore knee, and others to catch up. She was planning on making about 11 miles that day, Then 8-11 on Sunday and arriving in the next town Monday morning to re-supply and pick up her new phone and camera card. When she sends me the old one, I will post some pictures. I'm sure she would appreciate cards & letters along the way. Call or e-mail me and I can give you an address where she will be in the near future.
Steve.
Steve.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
(from Ellie's journal, April 10)
Ten miles farther, yet. Coyotes during the night raised a ruckus, awesome. I thought the first whoops were some kind of owl, until they all got in on it. I loved it.
Rain started just as we were breaking camp. Poured ALL DAY LONG. Cold rain. 11 miles to Carter Gap shelter, which was not in a gap but on a mountain. Glad I stopped when I did because we got horrendous thunderstorms and hail. Stayed under the shelter roof until it let up then hit my tent at 6:30pm and stayed there. Glad I at least was under the rhododendrons and not in the open.
Ten miles farther, yet. Coyotes during the night raised a ruckus, awesome. I thought the first whoops were some kind of owl, until they all got in on it. I loved it.
Rain started just as we were breaking camp. Poured ALL DAY LONG. Cold rain. 11 miles to Carter Gap shelter, which was not in a gap but on a mountain. Glad I stopped when I did because we got horrendous thunderstorms and hail. Stayed under the shelter roof until it let up then hit my tent at 6:30pm and stayed there. Glad I at least was under the rhododendrons and not in the open.
Left Behind
(From Ellie's journal, April 8)
There was a reason i didn't go on. When I went to the spring for water I found 2 young men, one with a Bible and the other with a guitar, which he was playing barehanded in the freezing cold. They were out there (WAY out there) seeking Answers. I told them I was, too, and we talked theology until they were near hypothermic. I brought them to the shelter and made them hot tea, they signed my hiking poles, and said they'd found some of their answers in the words we'd exchanged. I told them i had, too.
Last night in the shelter we had 7 people (I was the only woman). Inside we pitched 3 tents and the other 4 slept in between and behind them, so they also had protection from the tents. Envy not, girls....
There was a reason i didn't go on. When I went to the spring for water I found 2 young men, one with a Bible and the other with a guitar, which he was playing barehanded in the freezing cold. They were out there (WAY out there) seeking Answers. I told them I was, too, and we talked theology until they were near hypothermic. I brought them to the shelter and made them hot tea, they signed my hiking poles, and said they'd found some of their answers in the words we'd exchanged. I told them i had, too.
Last night in the shelter we had 7 people (I was the only woman). Inside we pitched 3 tents and the other 4 slept in between and behind them, so they also had protection from the tents. Envy not, girls....
Feeling Better!
(from Ellie's journal, April 7)
Plan was to go to shelter 5 miles out, I got there and set up my camp, my friends came along and said they were going 5 more miles to the next one.
I stayed Moved my tent into the shelter. Only girl among about 8 guys of various ages. 2 more have their tents in the shelter, 2 in between tents in sleeping bags, several outside in tents. One has a tarp pitched over a hammock. It's windy and snowy. Rhododendron leaves are curled = temps below freezing. Prediction tonight is 21 degrees. sunny tomorrow, 60's, I'm going to try for 11 miles to Hiawasee, where Steve will meet me.
Plan was to go to shelter 5 miles out, I got there and set up my camp, my friends came along and said they were going 5 more miles to the next one.
I stayed Moved my tent into the shelter. Only girl among about 8 guys of various ages. 2 more have their tents in the shelter, 2 in between tents in sleeping bags, several outside in tents. One has a tarp pitched over a hammock. It's windy and snowy. Rhododendron leaves are curled = temps below freezing. Prediction tonight is 21 degrees. sunny tomorrow, 60's, I'm going to try for 11 miles to Hiawasee, where Steve will meet me.
Day of Rest
(from Ellie's journal, April 6)
I woke up feeling like crap. All shaky and sickish and jittery, like after a really hard marathon. N-Da-wind was rarin' to go until she heard the weather forecast, wind advisory and 3-6 inches of snow. So we stayed in Helen, GA for the day. funny "rest" - we walked and walked. We were told there was an outfitter at the other end of town, so we walked maybe a mile there, found out they only sold fishing supplies, and walked back. Then i made a couple more mile round trips to the Dollar Store, drug store, etc.
I have just realized that if I write out all this long prose I'll never keep up. Already I'm backtracking writing entries a day or two late.
R&R = rest and relaxation (or is it recreation?)
RRRR = refuel, rehydrate, rest, relax.
I woke up feeling like crap. All shaky and sickish and jittery, like after a really hard marathon. N-Da-wind was rarin' to go until she heard the weather forecast, wind advisory and 3-6 inches of snow. So we stayed in Helen, GA for the day. funny "rest" - we walked and walked. We were told there was an outfitter at the other end of town, so we walked maybe a mile there, found out they only sold fishing supplies, and walked back. Then i made a couple more mile round trips to the Dollar Store, drug store, etc.
I have just realized that if I write out all this long prose I'll never keep up. Already I'm backtracking writing entries a day or two late.
R&R = rest and relaxation (or is it recreation?)
RRRR = refuel, rehydrate, rest, relax.
No Water, no Go!
(from Ellie's journal, April 5)
New hiking pal N-Da-Wind and I were together today. We started as a trio including sally, who quickly left us in the dust. We plodded along. N-Da-Wind hikes more slowly than I do, taking more time to stop and smell the roses. But I was slow today; picked up new food and too much of it trying to eat enough. I had more weight than I should have. I also had new boots. I was getting tired very fast. We came to a road after 5 miles. N-Da-Wind was out of water. The only prospect for some shelter was a shelter 2 miles away, 1.2 of that down a steep hill that would have to be re climbed. It's being recommended to avoid actually staying at that shelter due to bear and possible human interlopers. Next one was 5 miles. a lady hiker offered us a ride to town for water, and said she could then return us to the trail afterwards, so we went with her. During the 10 mile ride, I looked at my guidebook and said "N-Da-Wind, there's a million motels there...what do you say about staying in town and getting back on the trail tomorrow?" "Hey, I'm all over that idea," she said. so we did. We'll start tomorrow where we left off.
New hiking pal N-Da-Wind and I were together today. We started as a trio including sally, who quickly left us in the dust. We plodded along. N-Da-Wind hikes more slowly than I do, taking more time to stop and smell the roses. But I was slow today; picked up new food and too much of it trying to eat enough. I had more weight than I should have. I also had new boots. I was getting tired very fast. We came to a road after 5 miles. N-Da-Wind was out of water. The only prospect for some shelter was a shelter 2 miles away, 1.2 of that down a steep hill that would have to be re climbed. It's being recommended to avoid actually staying at that shelter due to bear and possible human interlopers. Next one was 5 miles. a lady hiker offered us a ride to town for water, and said she could then return us to the trail afterwards, so we went with her. During the 10 mile ride, I looked at my guidebook and said "N-Da-Wind, there's a million motels there...what do you say about staying in town and getting back on the trail tomorrow?" "Hey, I'm all over that idea," she said. so we did. We'll start tomorrow where we left off.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Update
Ellie called today. She's doin fine, hiking with Amy. She's doing about 12 miles a day in rain, snow, and what ever else the postal service says they deliver in. By Sunday she should be entering Smoky Mountains National Park. 134 miles down, 2040 to go.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Update.
April 11th
(Steve) I met Ellie in Franklin, NC with her next weeks supplies. We went out to dinner at Shonny's all you can eat seafood buffet. She was staying in a motel with plans on attending Easter services the next morning. When I talked to her on Monday the 13th her phone battery was dying but she had made 5 miles after church on Sunday and planning on 10-12 that day. I'm mailing her a new phone.
(Steve) I met Ellie in Franklin, NC with her next weeks supplies. We went out to dinner at Shonny's all you can eat seafood buffet. She was staying in a motel with plans on attending Easter services the next morning. When I talked to her on Monday the 13th her phone battery was dying but she had made 5 miles after church on Sunday and planning on 10-12 that day. I'm mailing her a new phone.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Someone disagreed with the official distance.
The trail on 4/7
One of the "water stops", a road culvert.
Ellie with a few of her usual partners getting ready to hit the trail. 2nd from right is N-DA-wind
A group of hikers food bags hung up on a cable to keep them away from bears.
An old natural shelter along the trailNeel's Gap!
(From Ellie's journal, April 4 - Saturday)
The first real milestone! The trail passes right through a historic stone building that houses an outfitter, 18-bunk hostel ($15 a night) showers, TOWELS (you don't have to dry yourself with a bandana), washer and dryer. Everyone's been saying for three days "When I get to Neel's Gap I'm going to..." It's all you hear, like some kind of Mecca. and it really is. I got food - Trail Dames, a hiking group, were hosting a huge barbecue, like the most awesome post-marathon food station including hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, sauerkraut, chips, cookies, Krispy Kremes, just awesome. A couple of them "knew" me already from the Women Hikers List yahoo group. We were so excited to meet!
n the outfitter a woman the age of my daughter Avery helped me go through my pack, toss unnecessary stuff, and re-organize it. She helped me shed 2.5 pounds. That's significant but nowhere near the average 12.5. So I'd done a pretty good lightweight job from the start. My weight is 27-30 pounds depending on how much food I have.
Best of all - Steve met me here with love, kisses, and a food box. I'm afraid that with the pack shakedown and flitting about with my new friends I didn't spend as much time with him as I could have. He brought me a 4-pack of little Sutter Home Merlot to share with my hostel mates tonight.
And I finally caught up with sally. This is her second night here. She beat me by a whole day. Well, now that I'm toughening up, maybe I can keep up with her. Or not. We're going to start together, anyhow!
Tomorrow is a 10-mile day. There's a closer shelter but there's a Bear Warning and hikers are advised to skip that one and move on.
It's 5:30 am. I've been awake since 3:30. Went to sleep about 10:30. I thought insomnia wouldn't be a problem on the trail but it is. Anxiety goes with it. I feel "attacks" starting as soon as I settle down in my tent. We are so out in the middle of nowhere. Instead of kicking my anxiety and sleep meds, I'm taking the max of both. Had I not had that humdinger panic attack in October, been hospitalized overnight, tested out the wazoo, and pronounced healthy other than a panic disorder, I'd probably have had one on the trail and quit by now. Instead, I recognize it, breathe deeply, remember there's nothing wrong, and get over it.
Maybe God arranged that big one for me to get it over and done so I could hike armed with that it's "only" anxiety. And quite possibly as we continue, I'll get over it.
Sally walks ahead of me, N-Da-Wind behind me (although we are together a lot) but the lord always walks with me. In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.
The first real milestone! The trail passes right through a historic stone building that houses an outfitter, 18-bunk hostel ($15 a night) showers, TOWELS (you don't have to dry yourself with a bandana), washer and dryer. Everyone's been saying for three days "When I get to Neel's Gap I'm going to..." It's all you hear, like some kind of Mecca. and it really is. I got food - Trail Dames, a hiking group, were hosting a huge barbecue, like the most awesome post-marathon food station including hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, sauerkraut, chips, cookies, Krispy Kremes, just awesome. A couple of them "knew" me already from the Women Hikers List yahoo group. We were so excited to meet!
n the outfitter a woman the age of my daughter Avery helped me go through my pack, toss unnecessary stuff, and re-organize it. She helped me shed 2.5 pounds. That's significant but nowhere near the average 12.5. So I'd done a pretty good lightweight job from the start. My weight is 27-30 pounds depending on how much food I have.
Best of all - Steve met me here with love, kisses, and a food box. I'm afraid that with the pack shakedown and flitting about with my new friends I didn't spend as much time with him as I could have. He brought me a 4-pack of little Sutter Home Merlot to share with my hostel mates tonight.
And I finally caught up with sally. This is her second night here. She beat me by a whole day. Well, now that I'm toughening up, maybe I can keep up with her. Or not. We're going to start together, anyhow!
Tomorrow is a 10-mile day. There's a closer shelter but there's a Bear Warning and hikers are advised to skip that one and move on.
It's 5:30 am. I've been awake since 3:30. Went to sleep about 10:30. I thought insomnia wouldn't be a problem on the trail but it is. Anxiety goes with it. I feel "attacks" starting as soon as I settle down in my tent. We are so out in the middle of nowhere. Instead of kicking my anxiety and sleep meds, I'm taking the max of both. Had I not had that humdinger panic attack in October, been hospitalized overnight, tested out the wazoo, and pronounced healthy other than a panic disorder, I'd probably have had one on the trail and quit by now. Instead, I recognize it, breathe deeply, remember there's nothing wrong, and get over it.
Maybe God arranged that big one for me to get it over and done so I could hike armed with that it's "only" anxiety. And quite possibly as we continue, I'll get over it.
Sally walks ahead of me, N-Da-Wind behind me (although we are together a lot) but the lord always walks with me. In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
FRANKLIN, NC
Whew! I did a half-marathon in 5.5 hours today! Yay!
Last night at Carter Gap Shelter, we had torrential rain, high wind, thunder, lightning, and hail that sounded like a dump truck unloading gravel. Learned today that there were tornadoes in the area; Murfreesboro, TN had a touchdown with fatalities.
My tent held firm.
Tendons are holding out. Legs are holding out. Spirits are holding out.
Last night at Carter Gap Shelter, we had torrential rain, high wind, thunder, lightning, and hail that sounded like a dump truck unloading gravel. Learned today that there were tornadoes in the area; Murfreesboro, TN had a touchdown with fatalities.
My tent held firm.
Tendons are holding out. Legs are holding out. Spirits are holding out.
At a motel waiting for Steve, he just pulled up.... later!!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Judge Not
(From Ellie's journal, April 3 - Friday)
I've been noticing with some astonishment the amount of trash there is on the trail. Lots of top strips torn from foil tuna packets (Like power gel top strips at a marathon or triathlon) And plastic baggies. Bits of candy-bar wrappers. And dog doo. People are supposed to "go" 200 feet away from the path and bury it 6 inches deep, but they're letting their dogs do it right on the path and just leaving it.
Like most hikers, I keep my trash in a Zip Loc bag. Except then I can't remember which pocket its in so I start a new one, and then I can't find THAT one, so by the end of the day I've got several going.
So last night I pulled out a Wal-mart bag I'd been carrying in case I needed a Wal-mart bag, and found all my trash bags and consolidated them into that. I picked up some trash around the shelter (Gooch mountain). In the morning when I packed up, I hung it by its handles onto my pack belt where it couldn't get lost andI could easily add to it from my own wrappers or anyone elses.
At least that was the plan. At a break I ate a Pay Day bar and picked up someone elses tuna packet and...where's my Wal-mart bag? Definitely not on my belt. I looked around. Maybe it fell of when I undid my belt buckle. Nope. Gone. Non-existent. So I started a new Zip Loc and the losing-it pattern started again.
Now, I'd done a lot of griping and criticizing and beefing to hike-mates about "I can't believe how much trash people leave on this trail. What happened to Leave No Trace? Are they just careless or really don't care or what? It's inexcusable." And now I'd dropped a whole BAG of trash somewhere without knowing it.
My hike-mate of the day, "N-Da-wind" laughed and laughed. I thought she'd break a rib. I laughed too, but I started thinking.
I criticize people a lot behind their backs. This person does this, that person does that, people do xyz. The implication being "Of course, I don't behave like that, I'm better." Yup. Uh-huh. Right. I'd never be two-faced, or talk too much, or annoy anyone, or complain, for that matter. Because I don't do things like that.
My Hero said "Don't try to take the speck out of your brother's eye until you take the plank out of your own. Then you'll be able to see to help him with his speck."
N-Da-Wind, a hardcore biker chick and heavy duty construction worker, when she was finally able to stop laughing, said "Maybe God brought you out here where it's quiet so he can talk to you. There's things he wants you to learn."
So I'm making a special effort to say something nice or say nothing at all.
It rained off and on the whole windy day. There were views bu we couldn't see them. I took pictures of fungi.
The shelter was drafty and cold, and I thought my tent would be warmer. More people showed up and it started crowding up because the weather was so nasty. One guy said if there was no room inside, he'd take the picnic table under the overhang.
I moved out. I might get a little damper in the tent but I'd be warmer, and could get up in the night to pee without stepping on people and/or falling out of the loft. So I moved out. A singing, dancing Irish guy about my age thanked meand quipped "Aye, it's yer Chrrristian dyuty, Mum." I laughed back "Now THAT'S a little below the belt!!" He's walking from Florida to Canada, road-and-trail combo, raising money for Parkinson's disease.
N-Da-Wind and I hiked ELEVEN miles, crashed a mile short of Woods Hole Shelter, and found a great campsite. A gale was blowing and we hung our tents and sleeping bags up to dry. One the lea side of the hill, there was an old logging road, flat, unused, out of all wind. Three men about our age (50's) had built a campsite. Oh, warmth!!
As I cooked my awesome lentil stuff, I realized I hadn't eaten much all day. Some Granola and milk at the shelter, a Pay Day, and 2 six-packs of cheese crackers. Over 11 miles of strenuous up-and-down hiking. I was tired, having given up a mile short of the shelter. No wonder. I can't hike if I'm going to eat like that. I get on a roll and just don't bother. That's gotta stop.
Tendons are doing well, praise the Lord. The last couple hours or miles today they ached about a 1.5 on a scale of 10. I have gone 27 miles in 3 days - a marathon with a warm down. 2156 miles to go. another heartening drop in that third digit. One marathon down, 82.3 to go.
Thank you, Lord.
I've been noticing with some astonishment the amount of trash there is on the trail. Lots of top strips torn from foil tuna packets (Like power gel top strips at a marathon or triathlon) And plastic baggies. Bits of candy-bar wrappers. And dog doo. People are supposed to "go" 200 feet away from the path and bury it 6 inches deep, but they're letting their dogs do it right on the path and just leaving it.
Like most hikers, I keep my trash in a Zip Loc bag. Except then I can't remember which pocket its in so I start a new one, and then I can't find THAT one, so by the end of the day I've got several going.
So last night I pulled out a Wal-mart bag I'd been carrying in case I needed a Wal-mart bag, and found all my trash bags and consolidated them into that. I picked up some trash around the shelter (Gooch mountain). In the morning when I packed up, I hung it by its handles onto my pack belt where it couldn't get lost andI could easily add to it from my own wrappers or anyone elses.
At least that was the plan. At a break I ate a Pay Day bar and picked up someone elses tuna packet and...where's my Wal-mart bag? Definitely not on my belt. I looked around. Maybe it fell of when I undid my belt buckle. Nope. Gone. Non-existent. So I started a new Zip Loc and the losing-it pattern started again.
Now, I'd done a lot of griping and criticizing and beefing to hike-mates about "I can't believe how much trash people leave on this trail. What happened to Leave No Trace? Are they just careless or really don't care or what? It's inexcusable." And now I'd dropped a whole BAG of trash somewhere without knowing it.
My hike-mate of the day, "N-Da-wind" laughed and laughed. I thought she'd break a rib. I laughed too, but I started thinking.
I criticize people a lot behind their backs. This person does this, that person does that, people do xyz. The implication being "Of course, I don't behave like that, I'm better." Yup. Uh-huh. Right. I'd never be two-faced, or talk too much, or annoy anyone, or complain, for that matter. Because I don't do things like that.
My Hero said "Don't try to take the speck out of your brother's eye until you take the plank out of your own. Then you'll be able to see to help him with his speck."
N-Da-Wind, a hardcore biker chick and heavy duty construction worker, when she was finally able to stop laughing, said "Maybe God brought you out here where it's quiet so he can talk to you. There's things he wants you to learn."
So I'm making a special effort to say something nice or say nothing at all.
It rained off and on the whole windy day. There were views bu we couldn't see them. I took pictures of fungi.
The shelter was drafty and cold, and I thought my tent would be warmer. More people showed up and it started crowding up because the weather was so nasty. One guy said if there was no room inside, he'd take the picnic table under the overhang.
I moved out. I might get a little damper in the tent but I'd be warmer, and could get up in the night to pee without stepping on people and/or falling out of the loft. So I moved out. A singing, dancing Irish guy about my age thanked meand quipped "Aye, it's yer Chrrristian dyuty, Mum." I laughed back "Now THAT'S a little below the belt!!" He's walking from Florida to Canada, road-and-trail combo, raising money for Parkinson's disease.
N-Da-Wind and I hiked ELEVEN miles, crashed a mile short of Woods Hole Shelter, and found a great campsite. A gale was blowing and we hung our tents and sleeping bags up to dry. One the lea side of the hill, there was an old logging road, flat, unused, out of all wind. Three men about our age (50's) had built a campsite. Oh, warmth!!
As I cooked my awesome lentil stuff, I realized I hadn't eaten much all day. Some Granola and milk at the shelter, a Pay Day, and 2 six-packs of cheese crackers. Over 11 miles of strenuous up-and-down hiking. I was tired, having given up a mile short of the shelter. No wonder. I can't hike if I'm going to eat like that. I get on a roll and just don't bother. That's gotta stop.
Tendons are doing well, praise the Lord. The last couple hours or miles today they ached about a 1.5 on a scale of 10. I have gone 27 miles in 3 days - a marathon with a warm down. 2156 miles to go. another heartening drop in that third digit. One marathon down, 82.3 to go.
Thank you, Lord.
Remember The Important Things
(From Ellie's journal April 1 -Wednesday)
Like the toilet paper. I can't find my pit bag. Honest. I've only been on the trail one day and already I'm classifying plants by how well they work as toilet paper.
8 miles down, 2, 175 to go. It's nice to have a new third digit already. Actually, I walked NINE miles - Steve and I parked in the parking lot and walked the mile up Springer Mt. to the trailhead, where my miles started to "count". We kissed goodbye, I gave him my gaiters which I already didn't like, and I was on my own.
Beautiful, misty day, saturating the color of the moss and lichens and tree trunks. Rhododendron is just starting to show buds.
After I stopped at Hawk Mt. Shelter, bugs were a problem. Gnats or something. I have a head net and the guys in the camp were jealous. I said I'd barter: 15 minutes with the headnet for a foot of toilet paper. One of the guys (trail name Bluegrass) said "That's the true mountain currency - toilet paper!"
Later, someone had a craving for dessert- she gave me TP in exchange for instant pudding.
I'm still scatterbrained. I couldn't find my knife - someone lent me theirs. I lost my lighter - someone gave me a few matches. I'm glad I already have a Trail Name (MacGyver) - I'm sure if I were waiting to be "christened" I'd already be "TP". Or "Losing It". Or "Moocher".
Like the toilet paper. I can't find my pit bag. Honest. I've only been on the trail one day and already I'm classifying plants by how well they work as toilet paper.
8 miles down, 2, 175 to go. It's nice to have a new third digit already. Actually, I walked NINE miles - Steve and I parked in the parking lot and walked the mile up Springer Mt. to the trailhead, where my miles started to "count". We kissed goodbye, I gave him my gaiters which I already didn't like, and I was on my own.
Beautiful, misty day, saturating the color of the moss and lichens and tree trunks. Rhododendron is just starting to show buds.
After I stopped at Hawk Mt. Shelter, bugs were a problem. Gnats or something. I have a head net and the guys in the camp were jealous. I said I'd barter: 15 minutes with the headnet for a foot of toilet paper. One of the guys (trail name Bluegrass) said "That's the true mountain currency - toilet paper!"
Later, someone had a craving for dessert- she gave me TP in exchange for instant pudding.
I'm still scatterbrained. I couldn't find my knife - someone lent me theirs. I lost my lighter - someone gave me a few matches. I'm glad I already have a Trail Name (MacGyver) - I'm sure if I were waiting to be "christened" I'd already be "TP". Or "Losing It". Or "Moocher".
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Well, I got to spend the night at home with my husband last night :-) He met me at a road crossing near Hiawassee, GA and brought me home, cooked me a lovely steak dinner, did my laundry, showed me around his new digs (very pretty State Park campground on a lake), took me to Wal-Mart (I keep needing "stuff.") Hard to go back to the Trail this morning after the nice warm bed w/ him in it :-)
67 miles down, 2016 to go. Eighty-one marathons left of the 83.3. Four pounds down. I better eat more fat. Most days I get to my destination 1-2 hours ahead of my estimate. Tendons are fine, ache a little sometimes but no real trouble. I bought full-length Spenco arch-support orthotics and pitched my prescription ones and my feet feel so much better. I hated those orthotics. They were stupid. I have a toe blister that's bothersome; I'm taking care of it. I got new boots at Neels Gap and love them to death, way better than my worn-out trail runners. Pair of microfiber dress tights I picked up for $6 in New Orleans have held up so far w/o a single hole. They're my lightweight bottom layer and I've worn them every day.
Night before last it was 21*F at Tray Mountain Shelter where I stayed, blowing snow into the shelter, wind sounded like Niagara Falls. I was with about 10 guys, no other girls!! Three of us pitched tents inside the shelter, 4 more slept in between the tents (actually very efficient use of both shelter and tents, everyone got the benefit of both) and the other die-hards camped, one in a hammock w/ tarp over it. My 20* down bag kept me nice and warm.
I have a new Trail Name:Yard Sale. My stuff gets disorganized inside my tent, and in the morning I lay it all out on my ground cloth to make sure I can find everything and get it reorganized. They say it looks like I'm having a yard sale; before I get it laid out it looks like when a skier wipes out and his gear flies everywhere and they call it a yard sale. Reminds me again of that phrase I want on my gravestone...."Did I Miss Anything?"Speaking of missing, I'm missing about a 13-mile section already. Getting a ride into town (Helen, GA) and back to the trail didn't work out to the same stop-start place. It could have but I wanted to stay with my friends. Ironically, we all started in different groups with different rides (most had stayed overnighit in Helen due to weather forecast), moved at different paces,and I'm not with them currently anyway. I'll catch up today, waiting for a parcel at the post office. I will no doubt go back and do that section within the year. But I'm wondering if part of the purpose of this trip is to teach me not to be so compulsive about getting everything exactly right, going back, doing over, editing, re-editing..... but you can't call it an authenticthru-hike if you miss a section and don't make it up.
Characters on the Trail:Me (MacGyver aka Yard Sale), N-Da-Wind, hardcore biker-chick construction worker. Patience, a deaf fellow, Impatience, his service dog, Muscles, who has become his girlfriend, to all appearances, Ten-Sticks Arriba (that's my starting partner Sally, "The Fastest Mouse in the World-- she BOOKS, which is why we're not together at the moment, I'm not as trained as she is and I'm still coming back from injury), Fleet and Gaia, both women, traveling together, Wishbone, Bluegrass.
Today or tomorrow I should move into NC, depending on when the mail is available at the P.O.
Well, it was supposed to be a quickie... :-)Ellie/MacGyver aka Yard Sale
(Steve), the new tent came in the mail, so Ellie unpacked everything next to the post office and repacked with the new tent.
I dropped her off at the trail and she headed north. I talked to her on the phone and she had caught up with Sally, etal and had made the NC bourder.
67 miles down, 2016 to go. Eighty-one marathons left of the 83.3. Four pounds down. I better eat more fat. Most days I get to my destination 1-2 hours ahead of my estimate. Tendons are fine, ache a little sometimes but no real trouble. I bought full-length Spenco arch-support orthotics and pitched my prescription ones and my feet feel so much better. I hated those orthotics. They were stupid. I have a toe blister that's bothersome; I'm taking care of it. I got new boots at Neels Gap and love them to death, way better than my worn-out trail runners. Pair of microfiber dress tights I picked up for $6 in New Orleans have held up so far w/o a single hole. They're my lightweight bottom layer and I've worn them every day.
Night before last it was 21*F at Tray Mountain Shelter where I stayed, blowing snow into the shelter, wind sounded like Niagara Falls. I was with about 10 guys, no other girls!! Three of us pitched tents inside the shelter, 4 more slept in between the tents (actually very efficient use of both shelter and tents, everyone got the benefit of both) and the other die-hards camped, one in a hammock w/ tarp over it. My 20* down bag kept me nice and warm.
I have a new Trail Name:Yard Sale. My stuff gets disorganized inside my tent, and in the morning I lay it all out on my ground cloth to make sure I can find everything and get it reorganized. They say it looks like I'm having a yard sale; before I get it laid out it looks like when a skier wipes out and his gear flies everywhere and they call it a yard sale. Reminds me again of that phrase I want on my gravestone...."Did I Miss Anything?"Speaking of missing, I'm missing about a 13-mile section already. Getting a ride into town (Helen, GA) and back to the trail didn't work out to the same stop-start place. It could have but I wanted to stay with my friends. Ironically, we all started in different groups with different rides (most had stayed overnighit in Helen due to weather forecast), moved at different paces,and I'm not with them currently anyway. I'll catch up today, waiting for a parcel at the post office. I will no doubt go back and do that section within the year. But I'm wondering if part of the purpose of this trip is to teach me not to be so compulsive about getting everything exactly right, going back, doing over, editing, re-editing..... but you can't call it an authenticthru-hike if you miss a section and don't make it up.
Characters on the Trail:Me (MacGyver aka Yard Sale), N-Da-Wind, hardcore biker-chick construction worker. Patience, a deaf fellow, Impatience, his service dog, Muscles, who has become his girlfriend, to all appearances, Ten-Sticks Arriba (that's my starting partner Sally, "The Fastest Mouse in the World-- she BOOKS, which is why we're not together at the moment, I'm not as trained as she is and I'm still coming back from injury), Fleet and Gaia, both women, traveling together, Wishbone, Bluegrass.
Today or tomorrow I should move into NC, depending on when the mail is available at the P.O.
Well, it was supposed to be a quickie... :-)Ellie/MacGyver aka Yard Sale
(Steve), the new tent came in the mail, so Ellie unpacked everything next to the post office and repacked with the new tent.
I dropped her off at the trail and she headed north. I talked to her on the phone and she had caught up with Sally, etal and had made the NC bourder.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Blood Mountain shelter
(Steve) Lest anyone thinks AT hiking is a lonely trek, check out the picture of the Hawk Mountain shelter. Note the mean dog in front!
Updae from Ellie
Hi, everyone! Getting ready to start Day 7 of my journey, Day 6 of hiking. Yesterday, Day 5, was a rest day. I shared a motel room in Helen, GA near Unicoi Gap, with another gal. She's fun, hard-core biker-chick construction worker. A dozen or so hikers have sort of formed a loose group; we run into each other here and there, get a day ahead or a day behind, then run into each other again. Yesterday just about the whole gang stayed in Helen. Bad weather (snowstorm) was predicted but missed us. It's cold out, maybe 30*F, snow flurries, wind advisory.
I got new hiking boots, and a new backpack via "Trail Magic" -- someone thought I needed a different one and pre-paid the outfitter at Neels Gap (Blairsville) and asked them to notify me to come in and be fitted. It's a ULA Catalyst, very awesome.
Hiked 7.8 miles the first day (rained), 7.3 the next(rained, then a monsoon all night) 11 the third (windy but dry,) then 5 (warm and beautiful,) then another 5, then crashed and burned and took a rest day. That's just about what I figured, rest about every 5 days till I get my "trail legs."
Wildflowers are coming up everywhere and it awesome to watch them in different stages of bud and bloom as the elevation changes and we move into early spring from late winter and back again. Red trillium, white trillium, some starry little white flowers that look like tulips when budding and turn into daisies (Star of Bethlehem?) Rhododendron is budding. Light blue, dark purple, and yellow violets. Awesome fungi with patterns like striated rock (think Sideling Hill if you know the Cumberland, MD area; google a picture of it if you're not). Amazing views -- couldn't see much the first 2 days b/c of rain and fog, but the next two it was gorgeous, and the trees aren't leafed out yet so they don't hide it.
On top of Blood Mt., someone had cut off and left an entire headful of light-brown dreadlocks 2 feet long. I heard from someone else that he'd had some kind of moment of truth and cut his hair as a symbolic expression.
One blister on my toe, not too bad.
I'm so glad I'm doing this. Steve met me at Neels Gap and is going to meet me again in Hiawassee. I called him yesterday to tell him I'd taken a rest day in Helen and he said he'd driven right through there on his way to his new campground job. Neither of us knew the other was there. Made me feel sad.
OK, time limit on hotel computer is up, ride back to Trail is coming soon, life is good!
Ellie/MacGyver
I got new hiking boots, and a new backpack via "Trail Magic" -- someone thought I needed a different one and pre-paid the outfitter at Neels Gap (Blairsville) and asked them to notify me to come in and be fitted. It's a ULA Catalyst, very awesome.
Hiked 7.8 miles the first day (rained), 7.3 the next(rained, then a monsoon all night) 11 the third (windy but dry,) then 5 (warm and beautiful,) then another 5, then crashed and burned and took a rest day. That's just about what I figured, rest about every 5 days till I get my "trail legs."
Wildflowers are coming up everywhere and it awesome to watch them in different stages of bud and bloom as the elevation changes and we move into early spring from late winter and back again. Red trillium, white trillium, some starry little white flowers that look like tulips when budding and turn into daisies (Star of Bethlehem?) Rhododendron is budding. Light blue, dark purple, and yellow violets. Awesome fungi with patterns like striated rock (think Sideling Hill if you know the Cumberland, MD area; google a picture of it if you're not). Amazing views -- couldn't see much the first 2 days b/c of rain and fog, but the next two it was gorgeous, and the trees aren't leafed out yet so they don't hide it.
On top of Blood Mt., someone had cut off and left an entire headful of light-brown dreadlocks 2 feet long. I heard from someone else that he'd had some kind of moment of truth and cut his hair as a symbolic expression.
One blister on my toe, not too bad.
I'm so glad I'm doing this. Steve met me at Neels Gap and is going to meet me again in Hiawassee. I called him yesterday to tell him I'd taken a rest day in Helen and he said he'd driven right through there on his way to his new campground job. Neither of us knew the other was there. Made me feel sad.
OK, time limit on hotel computer is up, ride back to Trail is coming soon, life is good!
Ellie/MacGyver
Saturday, April 04, 2009
(Steve) Met up with Ellie today. She's feeling fine and having a ball! She & Sally are spending the night in a hostel & heading out in the morning after she buys some new boots. The picture is of Ellie & a woman at the outfitter that checks all the stuff in your pack & recommends what to leave out. She lightened Ellie's pack by 2 1/2 pounds!
Friday, April 03, 2009
A rainy night in Georgia
It rained pretty much steadily all day Thursday & last night. I talked to her this morning and she was wet, but in good spirits. She plans on hiking 10 miles today...
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Headed north
We hiked back down the mountain to the parking lot & said our goodbyes. Since we were late getting to the top, Sally S. & her son had hiked on ahead due to bad weather. They were going to wait for Ellie at the next shelter.
Springer Mountain, Georgia!
Taken at the southern terminus on a grey, rainy day in Georgia. We drove the 6 mile gravel road to within 0.9 miles of the top of Springer. We hiked up the hill to take a picture of the "official" start.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
WELL, IT "WAS" MY LAST POST....
Steve had me take a picture of him and his reduced family... Journey (the dog) and Annie (the cat, age 15.) It made Annie mad. (if you look closely, you can see that even the dog & cat want to leave) steve
Our Internet connection is so slow here, I can't possibly reply to everyone as I'd planned. I'm sorry.... I meant to.
So.... thank you all. Walk with me. Think with me. Pray with me.
I'm calm but at the same time going nutz. I can't find things. Where are my ankle wraps? The neoprene/Velcro ones that protect my ankles from twisting and my Achilles tendons from rubbing by my shoes??? I can't find them anywhere. Walk with faith, maybe I don't need them.
At the Visitors' Center here at Amicalola Falls State Park, there's a scale for weighing your pack... mine weighed in this morning at 27 pounds, including 20oz of water and food for 4.5 days. WooHOOO!!! Lightweight here!! Tomorrow I won't need more water than that at a time; creeks etc. are half to a mile apart. The next day, though, I need to start w/ enough water for 6 miles.
It was hard this morning seeing Sally off on her ascent of the Approach Trail. But I'm not trying it. Eight miles straight up with a backpack on tendons that have been recovering.... I don't think so. We're meeting up tomorrow morning at the shelter where she and her son are spending the night.
Steve and I had a nice steak dinner together. Guess who cooked it :-) Guess who's making the strawberry shortcake? But he bought the wine :-)
Guess who forgot to buy the whipped cream for the shortcake? Guess who forgot to buy the friggin' STEAK??? Luckily we had one in the freezer but it wasn't the really nice one I would have liked for our last night.
Our last night.
Journey is aware I'm making preparations for a trip and looks anxious. Every time I open the front door, her ears and tail go up and her eyes brighten with hopeful pleading.
She's going with us on our "first mile" hike.
Steve is showing occult nuances of proud, enthusiastic, and sad. I suspect he is going to miss me. I sure wish we were doing the next 2,184 miles together after that first one.
Starting a mile into the Trail and backtracking to the trailhead will give me 9 miles instead of 8 the first day. There are no horrendous grades up or down. Tendons, be strong.
I had promised a list of my gear. See Ellie's Lists.
In case I've never mentioned this before..... my first determination to do this before I die, came at age 15. Forty-two years, college, 37 years of marriage, 3 kids, college again, nursing school, 4 grandkids, nursing career, and 5 years of traveling with my husband later..... here I go.
Come walk with me.
Monday, March 30, 2009
COMMENCEMENT
The end and the beginning!
This will be my last blog post before starting the Appalachian Trail. That way I'll still have a day to read and respond to comments :-)
I'm not scared, but I'm going nutz. I thought I was all set but then I unpacked everything and planned more stuff for Steve to send me and organized that and... now my stuff if all over the camper again, with one more day to go.
I went into the Amicalola Falls State Park office today, where the hiker registration book is. There's a hanging spring-scale outside, and when you register, you give your real name, hometown (what'll I put? I don't live anywhere...) and your pack weight. I browsed the last several days of starters, and most packs were 35-45 pounds. Mine is about 30. One guy listed his as 100 pounds. Could that be real? What's he carrying, firewood? Maybe he just wrote something dumb. The guy before him had listed his pack as 10 pounds. That could be possible; 3 days of food, no tent (sleep in shelters), hi-tech lightweight clothing, no stove (eat cold food)... it could be done but I wouldn't try it myself as a relatively new hiker. I want gear!!
Tomorrow I'll go down and register myself. I can't do it before starting on Wednesday, b/c I plan to start about 7a.m. and the office doesn't open till 8:30.
While I was there I saw a young fellow starting up the approach trail. It was 2p.m. The approach trail is steep, rugged, and 8 miles long. He was going to have to book it to get to the first shelter by dark. Or.... he could just find a flat spot and pitch his tent.
I am not doing the approach trail. Steve is going to drive me to a place where a Forest Service road crosses the trail about a mile into it. We're going to walk back to the trailhead together, then turn around and walk the first mile together. I love that. The fact that my husband is so much in favor of my hike and has done so much to help me get ready and support me, is one more sign to me that God likes this idea.
In addition to wanting to walk the first mile with Steve, I don't want to do the approach trail because I think it's an extremely strenuous first day, 8 miles straight uphill carrying a 30-pound pack. Maybe if I hadn't been fighting tendonitis for so long, but as it is, I'm not going to try it. The Lord has helped me heal and given me all kinds of affirmations, so I'm not going to go stupid on Him and tackle that climb my first day. There have been lots of people who've quit their hiking plans partway up that trail. "If it's going to be like this, I can't make it." I want to give my tendons a fighting chance!
You find all kinds of stuff discarded on the approach trail as people toss stuff trying to lighten their packs. (Maybe the 100# guy's firewood or whatever will be there!) One of the things often found on the ground is Bibles. People get inspired and take a whole full-size Bible with them. It's one of the first "unnecessary" things to go.
I tore the Book of Psalms out of a pocket Bible and am taking that. I'm also taking 50 pages at a time of a Dean Koontz book. Steve will bring me the next 50 pages at each of the 3 places he's meeting me, and mail them to me after that. Except.... darn, I've already mailed myself 3 boxes, and guess what I forgot: my book. I'll have to wait till after the Smokey Mountains to find out what happens next, I guess!
Anyway, I'm off. Wednesday. But I'll try to respond to any comments to this post. Our connections is hopelessly slow here, takes minutes to load anything or change screens or send anything. But I'll try.
Wish me luck. Wish me well. Wish me Godspeed.
As I wish it all to all of you. Old friends and new.
This will be my last blog post before starting the Appalachian Trail. That way I'll still have a day to read and respond to comments :-)
I'm not scared, but I'm going nutz. I thought I was all set but then I unpacked everything and planned more stuff for Steve to send me and organized that and... now my stuff if all over the camper again, with one more day to go.
I went into the Amicalola Falls State Park office today, where the hiker registration book is. There's a hanging spring-scale outside, and when you register, you give your real name, hometown (what'll I put? I don't live anywhere...) and your pack weight. I browsed the last several days of starters, and most packs were 35-45 pounds. Mine is about 30. One guy listed his as 100 pounds. Could that be real? What's he carrying, firewood? Maybe he just wrote something dumb. The guy before him had listed his pack as 10 pounds. That could be possible; 3 days of food, no tent (sleep in shelters), hi-tech lightweight clothing, no stove (eat cold food)... it could be done but I wouldn't try it myself as a relatively new hiker. I want gear!!
Tomorrow I'll go down and register myself. I can't do it before starting on Wednesday, b/c I plan to start about 7a.m. and the office doesn't open till 8:30.
While I was there I saw a young fellow starting up the approach trail. It was 2p.m. The approach trail is steep, rugged, and 8 miles long. He was going to have to book it to get to the first shelter by dark. Or.... he could just find a flat spot and pitch his tent.
I am not doing the approach trail. Steve is going to drive me to a place where a Forest Service road crosses the trail about a mile into it. We're going to walk back to the trailhead together, then turn around and walk the first mile together. I love that. The fact that my husband is so much in favor of my hike and has done so much to help me get ready and support me, is one more sign to me that God likes this idea.
In addition to wanting to walk the first mile with Steve, I don't want to do the approach trail because I think it's an extremely strenuous first day, 8 miles straight uphill carrying a 30-pound pack. Maybe if I hadn't been fighting tendonitis for so long, but as it is, I'm not going to try it. The Lord has helped me heal and given me all kinds of affirmations, so I'm not going to go stupid on Him and tackle that climb my first day. There have been lots of people who've quit their hiking plans partway up that trail. "If it's going to be like this, I can't make it." I want to give my tendons a fighting chance!
You find all kinds of stuff discarded on the approach trail as people toss stuff trying to lighten their packs. (Maybe the 100# guy's firewood or whatever will be there!) One of the things often found on the ground is Bibles. People get inspired and take a whole full-size Bible with them. It's one of the first "unnecessary" things to go.
I tore the Book of Psalms out of a pocket Bible and am taking that. I'm also taking 50 pages at a time of a Dean Koontz book. Steve will bring me the next 50 pages at each of the 3 places he's meeting me, and mail them to me after that. Except.... darn, I've already mailed myself 3 boxes, and guess what I forgot: my book. I'll have to wait till after the Smokey Mountains to find out what happens next, I guess!
Anyway, I'm off. Wednesday. But I'll try to respond to any comments to this post. Our connections is hopelessly slow here, takes minutes to load anything or change screens or send anything. But I'll try.
Wish me luck. Wish me well. Wish me Godspeed.
As I wish it all to all of you. Old friends and new.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
ALL DRESSED UP AND NOWHERE TO GO
Today we arrived at Amicalola Falls State Park, GA. From here you can hike up a steep, rugged 8-mile approach trail to the Appalachian Trail trailhead on Springer Mountain. There are other ways to get there, and we are doing one of those. "We" -- Steve is driving me up to a Forest Service road that crosses the Trail about a mile into it; together we'll hike back to the trailhead, and together we'll walk my first mile. Together. Together.... my husband and me.
It's not like this is goodbye for six months. He's going to meet me and bring me food in 4 days, again 3 days later, and one more time before I get out of Georgia. THEN I'm on my own. Till Maryland, when he'll be able to meet me a few more times.
We're here. I'm ready. But I can't go yet.
I've got business to take care of tomorrow: paying the last of my stupid medical bills incurred during the summer: my physical therapy, the oral surgeon, the dentist, the emergency room (that humdinger panic attack.) Running into town for a few last-minute items.
I need to write out the list of post offices where I'll be stopping, and send it to my mother.
I need to wait for my friend Sally, who's doing half this venture with me. She and her son left Winchester, VA today. She's starting her hike with him via the approach trail, which she really wants to do, on Tuesday, spending the night somewhere at the top. And I'm starting from the top on Wednesday. Somewhere Wednesday, we'll catch up to each other.
It often happens that people who've planned to start and stay together, find they develop different goals as their hikes evolve. It's kind of like in a marathon: you start with a friend, then one gets tired and lags behind, or the other feels full of pep and wants to go faster, or one stops in a porta-pot and doesn't want the other to blow her race by waiting for her, and they end up each running their own race. That's the code of the road: Run your own race.
It often happens this way on the Trail. You hike your own hike. So we may stay together, and we may not. Time will tell. It's like the headlights.... you can only see so far ahead.
I LOVED that sermon. It, like many other experiences in that Southern Gospel Lutheran church, changed me life.
Anyway, so I'm hanging around waiting for the next two days to pass. I sewed a new buckle on my tent. I fixed a broken drawstring in my rain pants. I got inspired and made a pair of fleece mittens from scraps I had lying around... traced around my hands, cut them out, and sewed them together. I examined my sleeping bag to see if it might be better for me a foot shorter. Decided against that. Debated sleeping in my tent tonight to assure myself one more time I can hack it below freezing (it's cold here.) Steve talked me out of it. I think he wants me to sleep with him :-)
I'm as buzzed as a bee. I feel like I've had too much caffeine. I took a pill: I don't want one of those cursed panic attacks, like the one that felt like a heart attack and landed me in the hospital. They're not born of anxiety exactly.... they're adrenaline surges gone awry. And I've got plenty of adrenaline going. I do *not* want a friggin' panic attack. So I took a pill.
Many thanks to Fiberjoy for her beautiful story about me on her blog. What a lovely friend. Thank you, Friend Fiberjoy!
It's not like this is goodbye for six months. He's going to meet me and bring me food in 4 days, again 3 days later, and one more time before I get out of Georgia. THEN I'm on my own. Till Maryland, when he'll be able to meet me a few more times.
We're here. I'm ready. But I can't go yet.
I've got business to take care of tomorrow: paying the last of my stupid medical bills incurred during the summer: my physical therapy, the oral surgeon, the dentist, the emergency room (that humdinger panic attack.) Running into town for a few last-minute items.
I need to write out the list of post offices where I'll be stopping, and send it to my mother.
I need to wait for my friend Sally, who's doing half this venture with me. She and her son left Winchester, VA today. She's starting her hike with him via the approach trail, which she really wants to do, on Tuesday, spending the night somewhere at the top. And I'm starting from the top on Wednesday. Somewhere Wednesday, we'll catch up to each other.
It often happens that people who've planned to start and stay together, find they develop different goals as their hikes evolve. It's kind of like in a marathon: you start with a friend, then one gets tired and lags behind, or the other feels full of pep and wants to go faster, or one stops in a porta-pot and doesn't want the other to blow her race by waiting for her, and they end up each running their own race. That's the code of the road: Run your own race.
It often happens this way on the Trail. You hike your own hike. So we may stay together, and we may not. Time will tell. It's like the headlights.... you can only see so far ahead.
I LOVED that sermon. It, like many other experiences in that Southern Gospel Lutheran church, changed me life.
Anyway, so I'm hanging around waiting for the next two days to pass. I sewed a new buckle on my tent. I fixed a broken drawstring in my rain pants. I got inspired and made a pair of fleece mittens from scraps I had lying around... traced around my hands, cut them out, and sewed them together. I examined my sleeping bag to see if it might be better for me a foot shorter. Decided against that. Debated sleeping in my tent tonight to assure myself one more time I can hack it below freezing (it's cold here.) Steve talked me out of it. I think he wants me to sleep with him :-)
I'm as buzzed as a bee. I feel like I've had too much caffeine. I took a pill: I don't want one of those cursed panic attacks, like the one that felt like a heart attack and landed me in the hospital. They're not born of anxiety exactly.... they're adrenaline surges gone awry. And I've got plenty of adrenaline going. I do *not* want a friggin' panic attack. So I took a pill.
Many thanks to Fiberjoy for her beautiful story about me on her blog. What a lovely friend. Thank you, Friend Fiberjoy!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
AUBURN, AL
We're on our way. New Orleans is behind us. Georgia is ahead of us.
Tonight we're at Chewacla State Park near Auburn. It's forested and quiet. Weather tonight is quiet and cool. I've been sitting out at the picnic table playing my (well, Steve's, really) Irish whistle.
Washer and dryer in the bath house are each only a dollar, so I did a load... not sure what our prospects will be between here and Amicalola. It's funny, such a big endeavor ahead of me, and I'm thinking about the laundry and a good price for the machines. They're about 10 times as close to us tonight as they were at the N.O. campground!
I've been going through the last month's worth of email, making sure I have addresses and phone numbers of all the people who have offered to be available if I should need anything coming through their area as I hike. The world is full of beautiful people. It's one of the ways God shows Himself.
Three more days. No more "Eeks!" No more "Yikes!" Just, "Thank you, Lord.... let's get started!"
Tonight we're at Chewacla State Park near Auburn. It's forested and quiet. Weather tonight is quiet and cool. I've been sitting out at the picnic table playing my (well, Steve's, really) Irish whistle.
Washer and dryer in the bath house are each only a dollar, so I did a load... not sure what our prospects will be between here and Amicalola. It's funny, such a big endeavor ahead of me, and I'm thinking about the laundry and a good price for the machines. They're about 10 times as close to us tonight as they were at the N.O. campground!
I've been going through the last month's worth of email, making sure I have addresses and phone numbers of all the people who have offered to be available if I should need anything coming through their area as I hike. The world is full of beautiful people. It's one of the ways God shows Himself.
Three more days. No more "Eeks!" No more "Yikes!" Just, "Thank you, Lord.... let's get started!"
Friday, March 27, 2009
MY PACK IS PACKED
Photo by Peter Krogh for Avanti Press, Inc. Gratefully used by permission. I bought this card about a year ago, when just starting to plan my Appalachian Trail hike. I just phoned Mr. Krogh asking if I might use it for this blog post, and he agreed. So I thank him very much!I've gone through my backpack yet again, with my list, and I think I've got everything. Most of the mess is finally gone from the sofa, table, and bedroom floor. I had to accomplish this before I could start getting the camper ready to go on the road tomorrow.
For those who may not know, we live in an RV, have for the last 5 years, sold our house to our son, waved goodbye and hit the road.
So I'm used to living in a 300sq. ft. space, but I'm NOT used to living out of a 3800cu. in. backpack! This has been far more complex than packing my transition and special-needs bags for the Ironman.It's amazing what I've decided I don't need. And there are those who are amazed at what I've decided I DO need.
Three sets of clothes:
- Basic hiking outfit: running skirt w/ the undershorts cut out (I didn't like them, they rode up my thighs), bright yellow longsleeved tech shirt from Gasparilla Marathon 2005; microfiber underwear (black to match the skirt), SmartWool socks. The skirt, ass opposed to shorts, makes it easier to add and subtract the following:
- Slightly warmer layer: microfiber stirrup tights; short-sleeved blue tech shirt from Vermont City Marathon 2007. (I think it will be more versatile to layer short tee over the long one, whose sleeves I can push up to make it short.)
- Warm layer: Midweight running tights, fleeze half-zip ls top.
Rain jacket and rain pants over some or all of this if needed. Two additional pairs of socks. Knit hat, knit gloves, the 2pr/$1.49 in Wal-Mart kind.
And that's it. No clean changes of anything but sox, which get changed every couple hours in rotation with others that have been airing out pinned to the backpack. You wash your underwear and dry it overnight. You wear your rain clothes in the laundromat while your travel clothes are in the washer.
I do have sleep clothes: cotton yoga pants (not good for hiking, cotton is cold and heavy if it gets wet) and a ls silk shirt from the Salvation Army. You're not supposed to wear your grungy hiking clothes for sleep because they yuck up your sleeping bag.
My full backpack without food or water weighs in at 22.5 pounds. Four days' worth of food, with one extra supper in case of a delay, plus a quart of water, bring it to 30 pounds. Some think this is too heavy. Others are astonished it's that light.
The weight will start decreasing within hours as the food and water get used up. Water -- I probably won't need a quart at a time while hiking; creeks are plentiful on the southern AT, and running full this time of year.
Here's how I really look!
I'll be posting a complete list of what's in the pack. Right now, though, I gotta get back to getting this camper ready to make the trip from New Orleans to Dawsonville, GA.
Five more days!!!!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Irish Whistle
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Photo from Brady InstrumentOne of the oddball things I'm taking on the Appalachian Trail is an Irish whistle. It belongs to my husband -- he has a whole set of them in different sizes and keys. I could, if all goes well, be gone 5-6 months, and I have never gone that long in my life without a musical instrument.
It's small, light, tucks between all my gear and the side of my backpack, and is easy to play. Having played music all my life, I've figured it out pretty easily. I'm not saying every tone comes true yet, but I can play it.
I'm not going to regale my campmates with concerts. What I want is to be able to play a soothing melody, usually a hymn, in my tent before settling down to sleep.
The ones I'm doing, which I've worked out as relevant to hikers (especially me):
- This is My Father's World
- Simple Gifts
- Just As I am
- For the Beauty of the Earth
- Oh, Master, Let Me Walk With Thee
- Amazing Grace
- Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart
- Shenandoah
- Aura Lee (Love Me Tender)
- Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
- All Creatures of Our God and King
The last two, I plan to play just about every evening, one or the other, as a scale warm-up. Then two rounds of just one of the others. Nothing involved or annoying... just a, "Goodnight everyone, goodnight, moon.... goodnight stars, goodnight air, goodnight noises everywhere."
Sunday, March 22, 2009
My "YES"
I have loved the church I've attended here in New Orleans. It's Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, but it's also Southern Gospel. I've been a Lutheran for 30 years and I'll tell you what, this is nothing like it is up north. It's the Lutheran Liturgy combined with hand-clapping and dancing and raising hands to heaven and shouting "Amen!" Jubilant. I have loved it.
So I'm sorry to leave. Today was my last Sunday there.
For a couple of weeks I've been singing a song I haven't heard for awhile, "Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart." I was going to sing/play (guitar) it on that recording my mother and I made at Christmas, but I had no voice for 10 days. I really like that song. I've been singing it around the campground for awhile. I started thinking, I could sing that in church... I could ask the pastor if I can do a musical offering, I could find out if the organist knows it.... naw, that would be too pushy. They don't know me from nobody. I'm that white lady that's been going to church all winter. (I've often been the only white person there.) Should I sing? Should I ask? No.... sure, why not.... no.... But alone I've sung it over and over and just felt so happy, thinking how thankful I have been for this church all winter.
I ended up not asking.
But in the middle of the service.... guess what the sermon hymn was. You don't have to guess, do you??? I kid you not. And it's not in the hymn book. The words were printed in the bulletin.
They sang my song, without my having mentioned it.
People ask all the time whether God ("if there is a God") hears and answers prayer. If you ask me, this was a direct hit.
I was thunderstruck. I got to sing it after all, along with all the people around me. Way better than a show-off solo.
Other songs today that felt like affirmations of my hiking hopes:
The choir did a song with the refrain, "We've come too far by faith to turn back now."
Then the communion hymn was, "Just As I Am."
"Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without...
...... I come."
After church, when I shook hands with the pastor, he told me to go wait for him in the office. Uh-oh, what'd I do? Turns out they had parting gifts for me. A Bible with "Holy Cross Lutheran Church" embossed on the front; on the inside cover, the pastor and each of the elders had written a blessing note, including, "Let His word be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path." "Walk with God.". I had told the pastor a few weeks ago about my plan to hike the Trail, the day I got the ditty bag with the earplugs. Also in the package was a little glass paperweight etched with the words: "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" And a little lapel pin shaped like a nail spike with the word "Forgiven" on it. I'll take that on my hike. There was also a beautiful cross to hang on the wall.
I can't describe how much this church has meant to me. They have been so full of joy and thanksgiving and faith in spite of having had their homes destroyed, their church destroyed, their neighborhoods destroyed.... they have changed my life.
I don't know for sure that I'll finish my hike in Maine. I don't know what's ahead. But that's OK. One of the sermons at this church was about the Light of the World, and the pastor talked about headlights. He said, you can't see everything with your headlights, but you can see what's just ahead, enough to keep on going. It's like that with the Lord, he said. Trust and your way will be lit just far enough for you to take your next step.
So I don't know what's ahead in the next 6 months but I'm pretty darn confident that I'm intended to start hiking.
God gave me a "Yes."
So I'm sorry to leave. Today was my last Sunday there.
For a couple of weeks I've been singing a song I haven't heard for awhile, "Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart." I was going to sing/play (guitar) it on that recording my mother and I made at Christmas, but I had no voice for 10 days. I really like that song. I've been singing it around the campground for awhile. I started thinking, I could sing that in church... I could ask the pastor if I can do a musical offering, I could find out if the organist knows it.... naw, that would be too pushy. They don't know me from nobody. I'm that white lady that's been going to church all winter. (I've often been the only white person there.) Should I sing? Should I ask? No.... sure, why not.... no.... But alone I've sung it over and over and just felt so happy, thinking how thankful I have been for this church all winter.
I ended up not asking.
But in the middle of the service.... guess what the sermon hymn was. You don't have to guess, do you??? I kid you not. And it's not in the hymn book. The words were printed in the bulletin.
They sang my song, without my having mentioned it.
People ask all the time whether God ("if there is a God") hears and answers prayer. If you ask me, this was a direct hit.
I was thunderstruck. I got to sing it after all, along with all the people around me. Way better than a show-off solo.
Other songs today that felt like affirmations of my hiking hopes:
The choir did a song with the refrain, "We've come too far by faith to turn back now."
Then the communion hymn was, "Just As I Am."
"Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without...
...... I come."
After church, when I shook hands with the pastor, he told me to go wait for him in the office. Uh-oh, what'd I do? Turns out they had parting gifts for me. A Bible with "Holy Cross Lutheran Church" embossed on the front; on the inside cover, the pastor and each of the elders had written a blessing note, including, "Let His word be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path." "Walk with God.". I had told the pastor a few weeks ago about my plan to hike the Trail, the day I got the ditty bag with the earplugs. Also in the package was a little glass paperweight etched with the words: "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" And a little lapel pin shaped like a nail spike with the word "Forgiven" on it. I'll take that on my hike. There was also a beautiful cross to hang on the wall.
I can't describe how much this church has meant to me. They have been so full of joy and thanksgiving and faith in spite of having had their homes destroyed, their church destroyed, their neighborhoods destroyed.... they have changed my life.
I don't know for sure that I'll finish my hike in Maine. I don't know what's ahead. But that's OK. One of the sermons at this church was about the Light of the World, and the pastor talked about headlights. He said, you can't see everything with your headlights, but you can see what's just ahead, enough to keep on going. It's like that with the Lord, he said. Trust and your way will be lit just far enough for you to take your next step.
So I don't know what's ahead in the next 6 months but I'm pretty darn confident that I'm intended to start hiking.
God gave me a "Yes."
Saturday, March 21, 2009
RESCUE ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL
EMT's and ATV's to the rescue.
Especially interesting to me in that he's a "neighbor" from the New Orleans area. I don't know him, but there are no strangers, only friends we haven't met yet. Like most of mine :-)
It's good to know they take the ATV's up there. The day last spring when I did my tendons, I never thought of that -- only that I was inaccessible by both ambulance and helicopter and would have to hoof it or be carried on a litter by rescuers also on foot. I never thought of ATV's.... Granny MacGyver here still can't get used to these newfangled ideas.
I'm glad "Sarge" is OK and reassured to hear how smoothly his rescue went!
Especially interesting to me in that he's a "neighbor" from the New Orleans area. I don't know him, but there are no strangers, only friends we haven't met yet. Like most of mine :-)
It's good to know they take the ATV's up there. The day last spring when I did my tendons, I never thought of that -- only that I was inaccessible by both ambulance and helicopter and would have to hoof it or be carried on a litter by rescuers also on foot. I never thought of ATV's.... Granny MacGyver here still can't get used to these newfangled ideas.
I'm glad "Sarge" is OK and reassured to hear how smoothly his rescue went!
Friday, March 20, 2009
ELEVEN DAYS
Gosh.... I remember when it was eleven WEEKS.
I'm in a scramble getting things done and ready, that I've procrastinated on for too long.
Last week when we had 2-3 days of rain predicted, I put my tent out. It leaked. Panic! I want walking in the rain wearing my rain gear. It leaked. Panic!
Buy a new tent. Buy new rain gear.
Both pretty much out of the question.
I discovered what was wrong with the tent. Last summer when I put in a new window, I put it away intending to seal the new seams eventually, but I forgot. So I moved the tent under the roof of the campground pavilion till it dried, sealed the new window seams, and put it back out in the rain. It stayed dry! Score one!
I ordered some Granger's 2-In-1 Waterproofing, which came today, and which I will launder into my rain gear tomorrow. Today I just washed everything really well to prepare them. Stay tuned for the results.
My tendons are still tender. But I've been walking, with a little over 20# in my backpack. I'm currently breaking up 5 or so miles into 2-3 separate walks: one in the morning before I start working, one on my lunch break, maybe one in the evening. BunnyGirl's Kinesio Tape is helping amazingly.
Still waffling about what clothing layers to take. I keep logging onto The Weather Channel page for the forecasts in the first few towns on the Trail. Steve, however, will be work-camping in northern Georgia till the middle of May, so for my first 3 weeks or so he'll be able to bring me what I need if my needs change. How very lucky I am..... he is 200% behind me in this. He really wants to see me make it.
I'm in a scramble getting things done and ready, that I've procrastinated on for too long.
Last week when we had 2-3 days of rain predicted, I put my tent out. It leaked. Panic! I want walking in the rain wearing my rain gear. It leaked. Panic!
Buy a new tent. Buy new rain gear.
Both pretty much out of the question.
I discovered what was wrong with the tent. Last summer when I put in a new window, I put it away intending to seal the new seams eventually, but I forgot. So I moved the tent under the roof of the campground pavilion till it dried, sealed the new window seams, and put it back out in the rain. It stayed dry! Score one!
I ordered some Granger's 2-In-1 Waterproofing, which came today, and which I will launder into my rain gear tomorrow. Today I just washed everything really well to prepare them. Stay tuned for the results.
My tendons are still tender. But I've been walking, with a little over 20# in my backpack. I'm currently breaking up 5 or so miles into 2-3 separate walks: one in the morning before I start working, one on my lunch break, maybe one in the evening. BunnyGirl's Kinesio Tape is helping amazingly.
Still waffling about what clothing layers to take. I keep logging onto The Weather Channel page for the forecasts in the first few towns on the Trail. Steve, however, will be work-camping in northern Georgia till the middle of May, so for my first 3 weeks or so he'll be able to bring me what I need if my needs change. How very lucky I am..... he is 200% behind me in this. He really wants to see me make it.
Monday, March 16, 2009
MMMmmmm, THIS LENTIL STUFF!!
I had some extra Trail food after packing it all up last night and decided to cook some for practice.
I'd made this lentil stuff... lentils, dried carrots, dried onions, granulated garlic, tomato-sauce "leather" with basil. I took a chance and put together a lot of it and bagged it up w/o having tried it first.
So tonight I tried it, hoping it wasn't awful, which would require opening a lot of bags and taking it out.
No worries. It's YUMMY!!! I have it in about half my bags; the other half have split-pea soup (with carrots, instant potatoes, powdered milk, and my ever-present garlic and onions.) I'll tell you, after I ate the WHOLE hiker-appetite-size portion, I wished I had it to look forward to every single week.
The split-pea soup will be good, too, but, oh, my, I don't know if it could be as good as this lentil stuff.
I found that it takes more water and more simmering time than I'd anticipating. That's good to know. I'm glad my JetBoil stove simmers! Also, I'm taking a plastic peanut butter jar for the purpose of pre-soaking my suppers -- put them in the jar with water at lunch time and then cook up the pre-soaked stuff in camp. That will shorten simmering time and save fuel. I didn't completely cook the vegetables I dried; just blanched them enough to stop enzyme action to prevent whatever minimal deterioration might occur in dehydrated food over 6 months. So even when they're rehydrated, they'll need to cook a little.
I LOVE that lentil stuff. I'll make more for here at home before I hike.
I'd made this lentil stuff... lentils, dried carrots, dried onions, granulated garlic, tomato-sauce "leather" with basil. I took a chance and put together a lot of it and bagged it up w/o having tried it first.
So tonight I tried it, hoping it wasn't awful, which would require opening a lot of bags and taking it out.
No worries. It's YUMMY!!! I have it in about half my bags; the other half have split-pea soup (with carrots, instant potatoes, powdered milk, and my ever-present garlic and onions.) I'll tell you, after I ate the WHOLE hiker-appetite-size portion, I wished I had it to look forward to every single week.
The split-pea soup will be good, too, but, oh, my, I don't know if it could be as good as this lentil stuff.
I found that it takes more water and more simmering time than I'd anticipating. That's good to know. I'm glad my JetBoil stove simmers! Also, I'm taking a plastic peanut butter jar for the purpose of pre-soaking my suppers -- put them in the jar with water at lunch time and then cook up the pre-soaked stuff in camp. That will shorten simmering time and save fuel. I didn't completely cook the vegetables I dried; just blanched them enough to stop enzyme action to prevent whatever minimal deterioration might occur in dehydrated food over 6 months. So even when they're rehydrated, they'll need to cook a little.
I LOVE that lentil stuff. I'll make more for here at home before I hike.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
ACCOMPLISHMENT!
This is 25 gallon bags of food, one per week (I'm giving myself an extra week!) each containing 6 suppers, plus instant coffee, tea bags, Crystal Light or regular lemonade mix (for my tea), dried fruit, powdered milk, popcorn, and a little packet of extra dried tomatoes or sauce in case something needs some oomph. I'll take a small salt shaker, and a little bottle of garlic powder, or maybe some other kind of general-purpose seasoning, since just about everything I made has garlic in it already.
Along with one of these bags per week, I'll be relying on Steve to buy and include with it a bag of walnuts, jar of natural peanut butter (I don't want any trans-fats, and doubt I'll be able to find natural PB in every little town), beef jerky, instant pudding (I could put that in the bags but I didn't buy any and I don't want to open up every bag again), and small bottle of olive oil -- or I might get a bigger one and put it in my bounce box, taking out a week's worth at each mail stop before sending it to myself at the next one. In that box will also be shampoo and conditioner, Clorox for my water (I've researched this and believe it disinfects water adequately, and it's cheap and easy), hand/foot lotion, and hand sanitizer, all to be transferred to small bottles with the rest shipped on.
Things I'll buy for myself on the way include breakfast cereal or bars, snacks, a little fresh fruit (it's heavy), hot chocolate mix, candy to mix with my walnuts into trail mix, cheese (hard cheese like cheddar keeps a week unrefrigerated.)
Sixteen more days. Sixteen more days. Sixteen more days.
Friday, March 13, 2009
GRATEFUL
I'm having the most extraordinary outpouring of support from my friends.
Fiberjoy dehydrated 5 pounds of broccoli and sent it to me, along with a bag of beef jerky, and dried cranberries, and PayDay bars. PayDay's.... she remembered they're my favorite for hiking/biking etc.!
BunnyGirl sent me Kinesio tape for my tendons. They improved immediately as soon as I put it on. I'd been struggling with athletic tape that ripped my skin off and didn't allow stretching. What a difference.
Carlene in Canada sent me a JetBoil cookset. Super-compact and super-efficient and a total surprise, last summer when I was going through a bad time.
Clyde, a member of an Appalachian Trail hikers' email group, sent me a beautiful Feathered Friends down sleeping bag that he doesn't use anymore. I'll need this warm bag until June/Virginia and then again by August/New England. I have a lighter summer bag for warmer conditions.
ShirleyPerly has offered to transcribe my journals to my blog.
Carlene has been my dear friend for a long time. I met Shirley at IMFL, and got to see her again, and meet her sister JadeLady, in Austin. The others..... we've never even met. And yet all these people have done these astonishing things for me.
Thanks to my friends, I'm not so "MacGyver'ed" anymore. Maybe I should change my Trail Name to "Grateful."
With friends like this, how can I fail?
Fiberjoy dehydrated 5 pounds of broccoli and sent it to me, along with a bag of beef jerky, and dried cranberries, and PayDay bars. PayDay's.... she remembered they're my favorite for hiking/biking etc.!
BunnyGirl sent me Kinesio tape for my tendons. They improved immediately as soon as I put it on. I'd been struggling with athletic tape that ripped my skin off and didn't allow stretching. What a difference.
Carlene in Canada sent me a JetBoil cookset. Super-compact and super-efficient and a total surprise, last summer when I was going through a bad time.
Clyde, a member of an Appalachian Trail hikers' email group, sent me a beautiful Feathered Friends down sleeping bag that he doesn't use anymore. I'll need this warm bag until June/Virginia and then again by August/New England. I have a lighter summer bag for warmer conditions.
ShirleyPerly has offered to transcribe my journals to my blog.
Carlene has been my dear friend for a long time. I met Shirley at IMFL, and got to see her again, and meet her sister JadeLady, in Austin. The others..... we've never even met. And yet all these people have done these astonishing things for me.
Thanks to my friends, I'm not so "MacGyver'ed" anymore. Maybe I should change my Trail Name to "Grateful."
With friends like this, how can I fail?
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