Postcards from Aaron

Spoke with Aaron earlier this week - he was in Erwin, TN at that point, still hikin'. He mailed me his camera card - photos will soon be available online!

In the meantime, above are some postcards he recently sent to me.

-Jennie

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