Photos (3/30/2010)

Trailgate party hosted by Fishing Fred

View from atop Albert Mountain

Sign telling about the research that

is done on Albert Mountain

Photos (3/26/2010 - 3/27/2010)

Enjoying some boiled peanuts!

Leaving Georgia, entering N. Carolina

Odd looking oak tree at Blye Gap

Map of AT - Southern North Carolina

Trail is the red dotted line

Thoughts & Notes (3/25/10 - 3/30/10)

March 25 & March 26

• Back to cousin Tom and Nancy’s home for a couple of down days; I was feeling bad. Nancy knew how to make me feel better, however, she gave me fresh boiled peanuts. Loved them, but I don't think Richard cared much for them.

March 27

• Back on the trail at Dicks Creek (beautiful day). Made it to Blye Gap (40 to 50 ft into NC). One state down 13 to go.
• Hiked 8.9 miles

March 28

• Woke up to rain.
• Broke camp--naturally everything got wet.
• Hiked in driving rain all day to Standing Indian Shelter. Set up in rain--nothing dried out.  Rain turns to hail (on a thin walled tent).
• Hiked 7.8 miles

March 29

• Still overcast; hiked in rain gear all day.
• Came upon a beautiful view--camera battery dies, not about to dig through pack for new ones.
• Stopped at Betty Creek Gap.
• Met 2 father son teams, think it was the sons’ 1st long hike.
• Covered 11.2 miles

March 30

• Broke camp in beautiful weather.
• 1 hour later came upon a TrailGate party hosted by Fishing Eddy.  Some yummy pancakes, eggs, and soda.  (And I don't really care for pancakes, but they sure hit the spot)
• 1 mile later climbed an extremely steep mtn. Albert Mountain. Views were worth it.  (Probably good thing I had those pancake carbs)
• Passed the 100-mile mark.
• Made it to Rock Gap.  Shuttle picked us up and took us into Franklin NC where we are spending the night.
• Hiked 8.5 miles

Crossed into North Carolina

Jerry and Richard have left Georgia and crossed into North Carolina today.  The weather is clear, windy and cold.  They hiked about 8-9 miles today and all is well.  Ellen

Photos (3/16/2010 - 3/24/2010)

Jake, this made me think of you!

(l-r) Me, Ted, Tom and Richard at Springer Mtn.,

the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail

Building at the old cemetary where we spent our first night

Old wooden & stone headstones

Ted, Richard, me and some hot cocoa at Jarrard Gap

View from atop Blood Mountain

Richard and me at Neels Gap

Walasa-Yi store where we had great hamburgers

Very crowded shelter at Low Gap

Snow at Low Gap

Waterfall along the trail

Richard and me hiking in the snow

Tunnel of Mountain Laurel - a touch of spring!

First Eight Days

Due to my efforts with the blog I will be expermenting with the layout of the dialog and pictures. And for those of you that have read my writings you know about my spelling and grammer.

During the first eight days we have met lots of people most very friendly, experinced all sorts of weather (rain, snow and beautiful), witnessed beautiful vistas, experienced tormenting hikes and experienced trail angels.

An observation of mine that in addition to the other senses the ears get to be there on the hike. There is absolut silence which is hard to fanthom, then there is the winds which at times remind you of an Los Angeles freeway noisey and non stopping to gust that remind you of a race car doing qualifing runs, syou can hear it at a distance then it blows by you very noisy and is gone.

All in all this has been an experience.

March 16

1. Tom and Ted will be with Richard and me for the first 30 miles.
2. Woke very early 3:10. It felt like forever before the others were awake.
3. Hit road to side trail head about 9:30.
4. Passed a sign that made me think of Jake on the way up to the trail head.
5. Hit side trail about 10:30 and Springer Mountain (Trail Head for the Appalachian) at high noon.
6. A lot of hikers on the trail its spring break.
7. Start the hike and camp at Hickory Flats Cemetary (a very old mountain cemetary). Kinda of spooky and very cold and windy.
8. We covered approximately 9 miles.

March 17

1. Hit trail at 10:00
2. A hard climb today Sassafras Mountain.
3. Made it to Gooch Gap shelter too many people hiked on to Gooch Gap it self approximately 1.4 miles.
4. Hiked about 10 miles.

March 18

1. Today was a shorter and harder hike for me.
2. Climbed Big Ceadar Mountain and stopped at Jarrard Gap.
3. It was cold and windy, fortunately Richard had hot coco mix. We all had cup.
4. Hiked about 7 miles.

March 19

1. Hiked into Neels Gap over Blood Mountain.
2. Blood Mountain is the 2nd highest mountain in Georgia and recieved its name from an Indian battle.
3. At Neels Gap is a store Walasi-Yi a church group was giving hikers hamburgers (awsome).
4. Spring break friends that we made on the trail leave us to go back to school.
5. Tom invited Richard an me back to his house for real bed and food for the night. We took him up on him. THANK YOU TOM & NANCY!!!
6. Only covered 5 miles. At mile marker 30.7 of the 2178.

March 20

1. Back to Neels Gap. Experts go through my pack and remove maybe 2lbs.
2. Depart at 1:30 pm. Just Richard and me now.
3. Stop at Braggs Creek Gap for water and decide to spend the night. I feeling kinda puny.
4. Covered 4.2 miles.

March 21

1. Break capm about 9:00 it starts raining.
2. We hike in the rain to a Low Gap shelter even though it is early decide weather is to bad to go on. Stop at around 2:00 pm.
3. High winds and rain all night.
4. Others have same idea. Shelter was full, one hiker actually stayed under shelter.
5. Only 6.2 miles for the day.

March 22

1. Woke up to snow
2. Hike in snow all day to Unicor Gap.
3. Being the softies that we are we go into the town of Helen, GA, with other hikers and spend the night in town.
4. Hiked 9.2 miles today.

March 23

1. Hit trail at 9:30 two hard hills right out of the gate. Rocky Moutain and Tray Mountain back to back.
2. Stopped at SWAG of the Blue Ridge beutiful spot.
3. Gust winds, cayotes howling a couple of times during the night and a flock of geese flying over to keep one from sleeping soundly. Was neet.
4. We covered 9 miles today.

March 24

1. We meet Tom at Dicks Creek Gap for a zero day tomorrow.
2. Weather is perfect.
3. Hiked appoximately 7.5 miles.
4. We have covered 67.5 miles of the 2178. YEA.

Rain, Wind & Snow

Jerry called this a.m. He and Richard are about 42 miles into their near 2,178 mile hike. It rained all day yesterday with high winds. They hiked about 7 miles yesterday; and stopped at 1:30 p.m. at Low Gap Shelter. Good thing they stopped as the shelter quickly filled beyond capacity (holds about 6 people, there were 8). Around 10:30 last night, the rain turned to sleet/snow; and it was snowing this a.m. He figures they are about 1-1/2 days behind their planned pace. If you are comfortable clicking on the following link, this is one I found that shows Low Gap Shelter.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=621&c=586

Ellen

Update from Jerry

The hikers (Jerry, Richard, Tom and Ted) returned to Tom's house yesterday to rest overnight and get a much appreciated real meal! I talked with Jerry this a.m. He's doing well overall and enjoying the venture so far. He said the internet connection is very slow, so asked me to provide an update. He hopes connections will be stronger further along in his hike....stay tuned! Ellen

The Day Before

Tomorrow it all starts. Richard Watson and I will be starting at Springer Mountain in North Georgia. Joining us for the first week will be my cousin Tom Pinion and a friend Ted Carothers. They will be there to laugh at and with us, and to provide encouragement.



Today we will be doing shake downs of four gear and wondering what we are getting into.