Updates and an October Hike

A Fall Return to the Virginia Mountains.

Self Portrait coming down
Whitetop Mountain

So, it has been a while since I updated the blog.  Sorry about that but come on, I have been busy!  So to de-stress, a couple of friends and I decided to head down to Damascus, VA to do a little hiking in the mountains and then a day of enjoying the small town life in Damascus.

Gear Check!

So we arrived in Damascus last Thursday night, received the keys to our rooms in the hiker hostel, checked out our gear one last time and then headed out to the local eating establishment for a bit of pizza before heading to bed so we would be rested when our shuttle to the trail head arrived Friday morning.

Friday morning arrived cool and sunny as we waited for our shuttle to arrive.  The drive through the mountains to the trail head was beautiful and the van driver (Jeff from MRO Outfitters) was talkative and was narrating the drive with information and history of the area.  The drive was pleasant enough and after about 45 minutes we arrive at Elk Gardens trail head (elevation 4430')  for the Appalachian Trail.



Elk Gardens Trail Head looking North towards
Mt. Rogers.

 The morning was sunny and breezy with a slight chill in the air as well as a bit breezy with 15 mph winds as we entered the forest at Elk Garden.  As we enter the forest, the cares of the world slip away.  It is us and nature...no phones, no cars, not a single luxury...Oh crap....Gilligans's Island syndrome is kicking in.  Ok, so I brought a luxury or two, my Ipod and an extra fleece. 



Hikers hikinig towards Whitetop
Mountain



The morning was spent with a moderate climb up Whitetop Mountain to Buzzard Rock where we intended to stop and eat lunch.  The temperatures during the climb were perfect and a light base layer was all that was needed to keep warm.  However, as I stepped out of the forest and onto the mountain bald, the wind was forceful and the temperatures on the exposed mountain reflected that.  Due to the wind and the temperature we decided to stop for a short break, photos, and to take in the view and then push on back into the forest and find a place for lunch.



Buzzard Rock



Whitetop Mountain

  Whitetop Mountain (Elevation 5080')

  Buzzard Rock on Whitetop Mountain

As we descended on the other side of Whitetop, I moved ahead of my friends to experience the forest as a solo hiker.  The rustle of the wind in the treetops, the birds singing their sweet songs, and the ground animals busily gathering nuts for the winter are music to my soul.  There is something to be said for a solo hike in the woods to rejuvenate the body and soul.  Lunch was taken at a trail head while waiting for my friends to catch up. As I was finishing lunch, several section hikers appear with my friends from the forest no worse for wear....well, except for some severe blister problems developing which made one of my friends switch from hiking shoes to sandals....which she ended up doing over 20 miles in....talk about strong hiking...



Lost Mountain Shelter

 After the lunch break and a good rest, we proceeded to hike to Lost Mountain Shelter, our destination for the evening.  Arrival at the shelter was around 4 pm.  We busily went about our camp chores, refilling and treating water from the spring, hanging bear bags, setting up tents, gathering firewood for a fire, and getting dinner prepped.

While getting set up for the evening, the shelter was a busy place with hikers coming in for a rest and moving on as well as hikers stopping here for the evening.  By the end of the night I think there were 10-12 persons either sleeping in the shelter or in tents pitched close by. 



After dinner conversation at
Lost Mountain Shelter

 Dinner was a pesto noodle dinner, ham jerky and a cup of hot chocolate.  A fire was lit and conversations of hiking, equipment, and other typical hiker conversation ensued well past hiker midnight.  It was a great night at Lost Mountain Shelter but sleep beckoned and I was wanting to try the new tent so off to bed around 10 pm.



LightHeart Solo Tent

 If you have been following the blog you know that I have been experimenting with shelters and I was excited to be able to try out a LightHeart Solo shelter. I must say it was easy and quick to erect and even though there was no rain, it appears to be designed well and should be able to easily repel hard rain.  I guess the rain test will have to wait for another day though.  There was enough room in the tent for me and if needed due to conditions, I can move all my gear inside with me and still have room enough to sleep comfortably. 


All in all it was a most excellent day of hiking in the Virginia Mountains...and the best part, no blisters and no Tylenol was needed for sore muscles at the end of the day....at least for me.....Paws, that was another story as far as blisters.....all I can say is she is definitely a hiker. :)

Oh, total miles for the day, 8 miles, pack weight loaded with food and water was ~ 26 pounds.  The next post will detail our long unplanned 17 mile day.....stay tuned.

2014 IS THE YEAR!

Welcome To My Appalachian Trail Blog

Appalachian Trail Vista

There comes a time in a persons life when they yearn to take time to find the simple life, to leave many of life's modern conveniences and to head out to the wilder parts of our country.  Many of us yearn to simplify our lives for a while, to test ourselves both physically and mentally, to be able to contemplate and think about life. I have decided to simplify my life, to slow down for awhile, to enjoy the outdoors in a way many people have thought of doing, but few are able to attempt. It is time I push myself and grow.

So what will I do to push myself and grow?  I have decided to again hike the Appalachian Trail.  The lofty goal is to hike the entire length starting in late winter 2014. Why have I decided to do a long distance hike now?  Why not?  I am in good health, I still love hiking and I feel the draw of the trail.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or the AT extends between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine.  The trail is approximately 2,184 miles long and passes through the following the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The Majority of the trail is in wilderness, although some portions traverse towns, roads and cross rivers. A large portion of the trail consists of walking up and down mountains and walking ridges which make for strenuous hiking.
Approximately 2500 hikers try to thru hike the trail every year although only 15-25% of those that start this journey actually finish the whole trail in a single season.

Many of the unprepared hikers who set out  on a thru hike make it less than a week.  I suppose they romanticize hiking the trail and do not realize how difficult a task hiking the trail can be. These majority hikers that attempt to hike the trail and fail to complete it seem to have 2 common issues they did not prepare for properly.

First, they try to carry to much equipment and supplies. Their packs are loaded heavy.  The common denominator seems to be pack weights when loaded without food and water over 35 pounds.  Add 2-3 liters of water and 10 lbs of food and you have a pack weight over 50 pounds.  My goal is to have a fully loaded pack weight  with food and water of under 30 pounds and includes everything I need to survive while hiking.  When I am able to hike in warmer weather I will not have to carry as much gear and the pack weight should be under 25 lbs.  This will entail keeping gear to the minimum necessary and eschewing many "luxury" items most people think as must have to keep my pack light. This is even more critical to keep pack weight light for a section hiker so you can move at a respectable rate of speed.  Section hikers generally do not spend enough time on the trail at one time to really get into hiker shape.

Secondly, many of these persons are not in decent physical shape to begin a hike of this magnitude.  This does not mean that they cannot complete the hike, but they do not have the mental stamina to push through the pain, blisters, cold, rain, soreness etc. until their bodies and muscles adapt and strengthen over the first 3 weeks.  They do not take it slow and hike to their abilities while waiting for their bodies to adapt to the trail.

Most persons attempting to thru hike the Appalachian Trail will begin in the early spring in Georgia in order to finish before October when the weather will prevent a hiker from summiting Mount Katahdin in Maine due to poor weather and snow. The typical hiker will face freezing temperatures, snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain as he starts high in the Georgia Mountains in early spring, brave the high temperatures, rain and humidity of the summers in the Mid-Atlantic states and will end in the cool fall weather of the North East.  The hiker will do this while averaging 15-25 miles a day hiking with 30-35 pounds of gear on his back.  Why does someone do this?  Everyone who attempts a long distance trail either for weeks or months at a time has their reasons.  I cannot speak for others, but I will talk about my reasons in this blog from time to time.

I welcome you to my little blog.  Enjoy the history, watching me fret and discuss equipment and its benefits vs weight.  History of the trail, maps and links to other websites of people who have hiked the trail as well as follow my training hikes on and around the Appalachian Trail.  Again, enjoy and if you have any questions, please ask them in the comment sections and I will be sure to answer.