From this point on, I leave home behind me.

So, I’m back in Franklin as I’ve hiked my way back in from Hiawassee, via Dicks Creek Gap trail head.  I was dropped back off there on Monday around noon.  I only planned to do 5 miles into the first shelter.  It was a solid 5 miler with enough elevation change to get my heart pumping and see how the knee has come along.  All went well, pain free and I enjoyed the walk through fog and a light drizzle.

Met some new people and ran into a guy I met at the hostel the tornado night.  He was just getting started then……I’ve apparently forgotten his name (*note to self* maybe you should start writing names down since you are bad with them?).  Also met the boys from Jersey, Chester chip??, critter and Guac.  Cool guys and they set the pace for the rest of my walk.

Venturing out on a foggy morning with the promise of clear skies later on that afternoon, I anticipated crossing the GA-NC border within the first part of the morning.  It would be the first milestone of achievement to pass on this venture.  Finishing the first of 14 states and starting the second.

I must say, this “achievement” was met with a bitter-sweet feeling.  You ask why bitter??  Well, let me tell you.  NC welcomes you with a serious climb.  It’s not the longest, but it’s got some steepness to it, enough to put your pounding heart in the back of your throat.  The fact that the top was masked in fog made it feel never ending…..a grueling climb into the nothing.  This climb and one that comes right after it left me a bit drained for some time afterwards.

I eventually came upon Muskrat Creek shelter and popped in for lunch.  I had the pleasure of seeing Sipsey and Animal again as well as meeting “Tom for now”.  It was really cool to see Sipsey still on the trail and getting to talk to him again.  Animal was panning for gem stones, something I’ve always wanted to do!  I watched and got a brief tutorial on how it’s done.  Very interesting to watch, and even more interesting to see how many little rubies and amethysts he was plucking out.  I ended up spending about 2 hours chatting with Sipsey and Tom.  In truth, I needed the rest.  Tom, like me, was a talker and kept the conversation flowing.  He’s a very interesting guy from Massachusetts.

I moved on to Standing Indian shelter where I met back up with the Jersey boys and others.  The weather had cleared to sunshine during my lunch break and made for a beautiful 5miles to Standing Indian.  Ended up with 12.2 miles this day and fell asleep to the sound of coyotes and occasional owls hooting.

The next morning I felt a twinge in my knee while breaking down my tent.  I got a bit worried, and set off at an easy clip.  I was planning on 14.4 miles with the possibility of doing 16.2, all depending on how the knee faired.  I got to the next shelter (Carter) at 7.6 miles and realized one of my new teva sandals had fallen off where it was attached on the outside of my bag.  I was very displeased to say the least, but shit happens.  I was not about to go backwards to look for it, it could have fallen off anywhere along there. 

I moved on to the next destination and WOW what a day!  Some amazing views, a rock scramble to the top of Albert Mountain and a fire tower atop of it.  Such fantastic rewards for my longest day yet.

I popped into Big Spring shelter and saw Jay and his wife again.  It was early enough and the next shelter was only 2 miles downhill.  Why not, let’s make it 16.2.  WELL……apparently that shelter isn’t built yet and I ended up pushing on to Rock Gap shelter for a 20 mile day.  I was BEAT!  Also, during that stretch I neglected a hot spot on my foot and developed a nasty, large blister on the bottom of my left foot.  I’ve never had a blister on the bottom of my foot before.  The new shoes have done their damage, now time to heal.  I also reached another accomplishment during this day as I have now hiked over 100 miles. WOOHOO!

I ran into everyone else again at this shelter, all bitching about the non-existent one.  Also, we had a trail angel show up with freshly baked chocolate and Angel food cake.  So Delicious!   This push left us with only a 3 mile walk to the trail head of Winding Star Gap at US64.  It also, put me a day ahead of schedule.  My dad picked me up at the gap yesterday and we squeezed everyone in for a ride into town.

I’m taking a zero today to get new camp shoes to replace the tevas (probably getting some crocs) and nurse this gnarly blister on my foot.  I’ll be back on the trail tomorrow.

Tomorrow it is

I'll officially be back on the Trail tomorrow.  The knee has recuperated very well.  I went on a hike yesterday to test out the new shoes and my knee.  All was well, just a tiny bit irritation in the knee when I pushed it (jumping/stomping around).  So with that I decided to give it one more day of rest and the entire 5 days of recommended time.

I've dropped my base pack weight down to 24lbs (prefood/water).  I'm very pleased with this!  Should make for some better hiking and less stress on my knee's.

So tomorrow I get back on with fresh legs, a better knee, lighter/better fitting shoes and Much lighter pack.  All a recipe for success in finishing the trail. I'll be back here in Franklin in 3 days for a shower and resupply before I move on to NOC.

Cheers

WooHoo!

Great news today, I’ve awoken to what seems to be a pain-Free knee.  In my best zombie impression, I made my way to the bathroom first thing this morning and returned to bed.  As I lay there contemplating getting up or sleeping more, it suddenly hit me……I didn’t just hobble back-n-forth to the bathroom…..I walked………with a Normal gait!!!  WooHoo!

After that initial revelation in mobility my first thought was, I’m hiking today.  Then the cold hand of reality and this so-called “good sense” that seems to be instilling itself into my life during this decade of maturation, slapped me across the face.  A recollection of years of jumping the gun on injury recovery periods and how it usually doesn’t work out well for me flooded my brain.  I slowly pulled the covers over my head as I mentally conceded with this “good sense” and the idea that it would be best to wait another day or two. *sigh*

Stir crazy, always been that way.  Now the subtle hint of it that’s been dancing in my head will become loud blaring lights and sirens till I change scenes and reenter the woods.  This will be a LONG couple of days, I shall have to keep myself busy and occupied.  I should also abstain from trailjournals.com, it’s like salt in the wound as I read about everyone I’ve met so far reaching Franklin and moving ahead of me.  It’s ok though, with my new and MUCH lighter shoes, fitted with not one, but TWO good knees, I’ll do well to catch up or run into them along the way.  Falling behind will allow me to meet even more people that started after the Thru-Leaper group. It will also be nice to walk alone for a bit.  I'm a solo hiker by nature and although the company has been great, I'm ready for some one-on-one time with the flora and fauna.

I’ve already dropped numerous items from my pack to lose some weight.  I also bought a compression evac sac for my sleeping bag.  With the evac sac I had, it kept managing to expand a lot in the bottom of my bag and taking up WAY too much valuable room.  It’s now under half in volume of what it was before.  I’m very pleased with this.  

I have an itinerary loosely created in my guidebook.  Today I shall retool it in the sense that I’ll place dates to locations as well as a mail drop timeline for my folks.  Before I was gonna play it by ear and call/email the drop places and times.  Now, I feel the importance of having a date to reach.  It will also be easier for my parents to work with as well for their planning purposes.  

Along with that I’ll also be experimenting with organization in packing my bag.  Trying to find the most efficient way to do so and possibly dropping some more weight off of it.

These tasks (and some rented movies) should get me through the next couple of days.  I’m gonna shoot for Sunday to get back on the trail.

Cheers!

New shoes

Well, since last post some things have happened.  Don’t worry, no game enders, just a mild set back.  Isn’t that what this trip is all about?  Dealing with the setbacks and unforeseen or unavoidable….or the poor choices that lead to a setback….that we learn from??  ;-)

The night of the last post, I was woken up by tornado sirens and a push to the basement of the hostel.  All ended well for us.  The next morning we were dropped off at Neel Gap in a heavy fog, cold temps and lots of wind.  We got a very late start due to some shake downs by the guys at Mountain Crossing outfitters.  Azalon needed it; I couldn’t believe what that guy was carrying.  We left around 11:30 for Low gap.  We tented on the ridge by Poor Mountain, just above low gap.  Woke up to temps in the low 20’s, and strong winds.  We proceeded to Blue Mountain shelter.  Occasional snow flurries and lots of wind once again, I can deal with the cold, but the wind was something else.  It woke me up that night, thought I was gonna be swept away in the shelter. Azalon got up in the middle of the night and left, maybe due to the cold weather and some serious snoring that was going on.  The following weather was beautiful, cold and clear skies!  We moved on to Tray mountain shelter for the next night.  Tuesday we made the 11 mile walk to Dicks Creek Gap…..LONGEST downhill EVER!

Now, you may notice the short trips.  Well, my left knee started hurting right out of Neel gap.  Apparently, while I was slack packing down Blood mountain (I was literally jogging down it) I injured the infamous IT Band.  A dull ache on flat ground, no pain on ascents, but when on the descents…..oh man, acute sharp pains.  My trek poles got me through those 3 days and just taking my time.  The way down to Dicks Creek was painful.  

Birdman had plans to be picked up and driven to Asheville for a zero day.  He offered to drop me off in Franklin on the way.  I knew the knee was gonna require a couple days rest and some icing in order to continue so I took the ride home.  There are other variables to taking these days off as well.  I need to drop pack weight by discarding items (easily done at home with no shipping cost) and I NEED NEW SHOES!  The guys at mountain crossing reaffirmed my belief that blisters were forming due to my shoes being too small.  My feet have swollen and I require a larger size shoe.  So, today I’ll be going to REI to trade in my spare set of Asolo boost for a size 11.  I’ll also be switching out my current Vasques for trail shoes.  Many people were doing this in trail shoes.  I’ve never had blister problems with low shoes and think it’s the best bet for now.  Less heat to make my feet sweat and MUCH lighter!  I’ll save the Asolo’s for the rocky stuff up north when I’ll need them.

So, I’m hoping to be back on the trail by Friday or Saturday…Sunday at the latest if the knee needs the time.  IT band is a common injury and with some stretching and R.I.C.E. I should be good to go.  If anyone reading this has any experience with this and advice, please feel free comment away.  Any and all advice to quick recovery is welcome.

I’ve covered 78.4 miles in 7 days.  Once I get dropped off again later this week, I’ll break 100 miles and go from GA into NC, completing my first state and entering my second.

So here’s to new SHOES, a better knee and getting back on the trail ASAP! 

Awesome day!

10.5 miles up and down between 3100 and 4300 elevation.  Super foggy, which I love, kind of adds a mystique to the forest.  Ir was also a nice turn from the blaring sun yesterday.  We killed it in like 5 hours slack packing (not cheating rick).  Hung out at Neel gap and ran into many others staying at the hostel there.  Back at the hostel with asalon and birdman and the dude that wrote the guide im using and the book Awol on the Appalachian trail was here.  Pretty cool,  got him to sign my guide book.  Nasty storms and tornadoes in the forecast tonight.  Getting out early tomorrow for a 12 miler.  Shouldn't be too bad as the elevation profile shows minor ups and downs.  All for now, time for a cold one and some food.

Stoked

Bad weather today and a grueling climb over Blood mountain.  Solution???  Slack packing to neels gap.  Fyi, this means carrying minimal necessities while having heavy gear shuttled ahead.  This will make today soooo much better!

21.2 miles

Plus the 9 it took to get to the top of Springer mtn.  So far so good.  Yesterdays hike was tough for me, I was very sore and slow.  We did about 9 miles yesterday and 13 today.  I felt great today, planned on 8 and pushed the extra 5 to Woody gap.  A hiker hostel picked us and others up at he gap.  Im here, very well feed and a couple hienekens in :-)  tomorrow we set out for heels gap, an up and down 10 miles.  However, weather looks to be bad tomorrow so we'll see.  My heels are a bit punished from the past couple days and soggy shoes are not gonna help that situation.  Been hiking with two guys I met the first night.  Birdman and Asalon, cool guys and good company.
Im tired, that'd all for now.