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!