Its cold in them 'are hills

The last contact was from Hot Springs where I was unable to find a phone... odd. I stayed there to participate in 'trail days' a local AT event. Some very good music by local musicians and many vendors. I did manage to come in 4th of 15 in a hiker game based on flexibility. The game is that you have to pick up an open paper bag that's resting on the ground. You have to do this on one foot with your mouth (so leaning over). After each round the host cuts off some of the paper bag (1-2 inches). I couldn't get the 3'' bag but the yoga master and 2 5 foot tall contestants could. Bummer...but Ill get them next year. The good news is that with so many people playing that game and so many mouths its like I had15 kisses at once (I went last and some people insisted on using a little tongue on the bag...gross)

I helped in the last event of the party and had to help fish ducks out of a freezing stream, yes it was over waist deep. I then headed out at 4:45pm after a sketchy local tried to sell me moonshine & mary-jane. A little night hiking and large animal scares later I pushed 11 miles to catch up with the people I had been walking with.

It started raining 2 days ago and the temps went into the 50's. I stopped at a shelter very cold and everything wet and don't remember much of the 1.5hrs I was there. I think survival instinct much have kicked in because after stopping my brain started recalling things as I was running full boar across the nearby mountain with all my warm weather gear on. I spoke with "red" later and she said I seemed out of it and just put on all my warmest clothes and started running. I'm thinking my survival instincts kicked in over hypothermia but don't really know. The next shelter I dried everything out, which was smart because soon it would be in the 20's with 20mph winds at 5000+ft. Coldest night yet that froze the ground solid. I was fine (not comfortable, just warm enough to survive) and made it to Ervin, TN yesterday.

I've been doing a little trail magic of my own and doled out much of my food/sweets to get people to town and brighten spirits. I need to decide if I take a day to try to fix the strained ankle or keep on going as I'm only 120 miles from the first major town in VA! Lots to do in town today and need to check the weather. 4 seasons hiking is hard with 3 seasons gear.

In terms of new gear I refitted my backpack and shoes in hotsprings to something lighter and it is helping make those bigger miles. Currently 8 days ahead of schedule. Talk to you all as soon as I'm able.

German Pyromancers

Hot springs NC now. There is a fire north of town across the river they have been dropping water on all day, but its still smoking. When I left the standing bear I managed to get a sprain about 2 miles out and continued for 6 miles until I ran into Rhino again. He said he had something and proceeded to put on some cream. Whatever its trail medicine right? He then said he used it when he was in the German army... red flag #1. After rubbing it in all he told me it would take the pain away and I might not like him very much for awhile. After I finished eating the poptart lunch I took out the marshmallows and roasted them on my ankle. I wonder how the Germans managed to distill lava and put it in a cream but it was on my leg. The stuff burned for about 4 hours. My leg felt like it was on fire and he was right the pain went away and was replaced by the butane torch in my boot. I then made the accident of mixing up my socks at midday and the other foot got a dose of the pain...oops. I also washed the socks out last night but they still had the burn today, never again shall I accept medicine from a German.

The bears tried to get the food last night with no success. The sprain still hurts a little but I think Im going to see about lightening up and moving on tomorrow at a slightly slowed pace. Ill talk to you all later when I get a chance. Pictures are on the way back to Jennie so hopefully she can pick a few to put up and prove I'm actually out here in the middle of the woods.

AT High

Im at the "standing bear hostel" tonight and glad to be out of the great smoky mountains. The views were spectacular but I suspect the mountains are made entirely of horse duky. The flies were gross and everywhere for all 70 miles where the horse trails cross the AT. I have also had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting 4 prior thru hikers so far and only one of them I can stand the company of. I have come to the belief that they just hike around now in search of the party on the mountain. Most of them are arrogant, braggarts, or trying to pimp themselves out to anyone that will have them. I like the people that are doing this for the first time and are out here for a good time. Well I should be in hot springs by Friday and will probably take a day to rest there because I rolled my ankle no less than 10 times in the smokies and there is a little tendon swelling on my left ankle.

On another note yesterday I woke up at 5am and did 2 hrs of night hiking to get to "clingmans dome" the highest point on the AT. When arriving it looked like I was on endor and expected little teddy bears to jump out and eat me. Youll understand when the pictures get posted but it was built in the 60's and looks like something in a george lucas film. The sunrise was great and a bit cold. After which I managed to finish the day with 27 miles hiked in some of the roughest terrain this side of the country. We shall see how the body holds up for the next little bit. Well Its getting dark and I need to get some sleep. Talk to you all soon. Hope you are doing well.

Fontana Dam, NC

'Ello
Its that crazy mountain man who has been at Fontana Dam, NC all day today. I pushed things a little yesterday to make sure I could make the post office today by 10am....what 30 miles in 27 hrs is normal right? Well perhaps not but I did make a big push of 22 miles yesterday and the remaining this morning. I had a shelter all to myself yesterday (well except for the mice) and was the only one not to fall down the mountain today when it was raining out. All in all really good. I offered up my room to two other hikers today and even though they paid me $20 for their share I'm going to be sneaking their money back in their packs with a little note (sneaky is fun.) Hanging out here today to rest the knee and then into the mountains. The food drop did not show so going on food bought stuff and will call to the have the PO forward the mail. I have lots of good stories in the journal about mountain like nomad things. Hopefully when I get more time on a non shared computer I can post them. In short, I'm still alive and doing well. OH and the hunger hit today... Ive eaten so much food...at least 5000 calories in 2 meals its great fun. Talk to you all later.

the crazy mountain man has been spotted!

we see you, and your beard!

woods, woods, and more woods

I received a postcard from Aaron...of WOODS. I imagine this is what about 12-16 hours of each of his days looks like. *riviting*

It was mailed from Blood Mountain Cabins, Blairsville, Georgia, on April 11, 2008.

-Jennie

To North Carolina and beyond!

I realize I have been quite the bad blogger... I hear from Aaron often, but haven't, until now, posted anything he's said.

I received a phone call from Aaron around 3 pm on Sunday, April 13, saying he had just entered North Carolina and had a few more miles to walk before he could camp. I'm not sure if he's planning to continue beyond the state....

We shall wait and see!

-Jennie

The limbs work again

Yesterday I went out again and managed to walk the entire 16.6 miles back to this location in 9 hrs. Just as I arrived back the thunder and lightening started and I managed to find a ride back to the hostel quickly. The knees were a little punky this morning so I decided to take another day of rest. Tomorrow will probably be the day I head out for Franklin NC and be able to say I completed the state.

Moonwalking (dancing not actual)

I'll be walking again today! It feels like I'm going backwards even if my body is moving forwards (hence the title.) I need to backtrack the 16 mile section I missed and hike back to this location in the next 1.5days.

I'm hope for the best, as my short term goal is to finish at least one state, regardless of what my body tells, and I'm about 50/80 done so far.

Another day...

I took another zero day in Cloud9 today on some expert advice from the resident hiker who does about 1200 miles of walking a year. I need to go outside and take a 3/4 mile hike up and down a hill to see how my left knee feels. It seems like its almost fixed. The right knee is fully recovered. A little hip strain is mostly healed to. If I'm able to do this hike up the hill then I may do what is called a "slack pack" from the place I departed the AT 16 miles back and walk back to this location to get my gear and remaining food, and then walk on after that. Its gonna be a thunderstorms and cold spell coming up so I went to the outfitters today and bought a closed cell foam pad to sleep on in the hammock and a pair of crocks. I hate adding weight but these two items seemed necessary. Well to go do a little test walk. Think positive thoughts.

Here and there

I started at 10am on 4/5/08 in the rain. I was on the approach trail about 1.5 miles from the top of the mountain. After saying goodbye to my mother & step-fater I started walking and took some photos at the top. Then I marched on until I came to a creek about 14.6 miles into the trail and met a guy named "whip" (he makes bullwhips in MA). The rain stopped sometime that night and I didn't sleep much. I woke up at 5am and was walking by 7am. Having pain in my knee I continued to wear the brace. After about 10 miles or so I was more or less dragging my left leg as the foot had gone numb and the pain was intense. I did make it to a place in Neels gap by 5:45pm and stayed at the hikers hostel. The owner, a guy named "pirate", was quite funny. We also had a college group come in and give us a spaghetti dinner ("aka trail magic"). Pictures were had and as always someone in the bunkhouse snores like a grizzly.

The next day I woke early but couldn't buy food until 9:30am. I mailed everything I had that I had not used or though I could do without back to Jennie and the total pack weight was 28lbs counting food and water (18lbs without). I started walking and notice the weight difference. I walked 11 miles and was dying at low gap shelter. So I tented and after an hour so many hikers had placed their tent on the hillside with mine. It was like a little "tent shelter for the homeless." I wore everything to bed and was still really cold as the fog/clouds had rolled in and it was windy. Ill be in trouble at higher elevations with the gear I currently have. The next day I walked 10 miles to Unicoi gap where I called the hostel to come pick me up. I stayed here last night and will give myself a day to see if I can get my knees at 100%. Then I'm going back the 16 miles to hike here again.

Considering the level of pain Ive been in (knees only) I'm not sure If this can be done with my body. I have the right gear, the right mind, just the wrong body. Aside from my knees I'm kinda getting used to my feet feeling like they are under the effects of novacane. I think of them as little hotdogs and my feet are the nasty meat. No cramps, swelling nothing. So we shall just have to see how it goes. I'm spending the day here at cloud 9 and see if I can get to 100%. I then will go try a nice slow, light hike back here in 2 days. If I make it with little knee problem Ill think about going on. Since I've had these problems for many years I'm pretty sure they will be causing me to limp and nearly fall off the mountains several more times between here and there. But only time can tell. Cross your toes for me. Hopefully it works out but I cant say for sure yet.

So much more has happened but its a shared computer so I need to let others use it. Talk to you all soon.

Study the diagram there will be a test later!

In my library of AT books is one by Allen O'Bannon called "Really Cool Backpackin' Book" published by Falcon Press. I've read this book from front to back a few times. Since most, no make that all, of you will be walking with me in spirit only I think its time to educate you a little on one of the finer points of hiking. Now, I have learned to avoid getting struck by lightening, hang your food to avoid critters, or even how to survive a bear mauling. Now while I may use these skills, to most of you they are of little use (except perhaps proofing Gayle's desk against mice. ) The most applicable skill however was presented in illustrated form by Mr. O'Bannon. Study it, learn it, know it! It will never save your life but it should not be overlooked! Enjoy.

Anticipate away

I hope the wait is far worse than the event. Don't get me wrong, being an unemployed homeless nomad is quite relaxing when you have great friends. I think hiking right now would be great as the weather is GORGEOUS out. I've been reading some numerous "tips" from past hikers and if I get to the point where I buy unpainted #2 pencils to save the paint weight on 1/3 of a pencil, please someone step in with a little "your going nuts" intervention. I consider myself a minimalist but perhaps there is such a thing as going too far.

The popular opinion appears to be that mental conditioning is #1 and then physical may or may not take you the rest of the way. Without an exercise machine for a few weeks now I feel the slow degradation in my VO2 capacity, but I'm sure it will come back quick enough. I feel ready, I guess.

Based on this last winter, we all know how unreliable forecasts can be. That aside the first week of hiking looks very nice according to weather.com. Daytime temps will be mid 60 & 70's with partly cloudy most days. The colder nights will be in low 40's (at 3000 ft). Thunderstorms are anticipated to roll through...Friday. Its nice my first day will not be spent hiding from lightening!