Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a 2185.9 mile long footpath stretching from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine. Every Spring, hikers from all over head to Georgia and start walking north, attempting to hike the whole trail in one season. This is called a thru-hike. Only about 25% make it all of the way.

This blog follows our progress as we hike north.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Zeros

5/25 - 5/27 Memorial Day Weekend

We were picked up at our nasty motel in Buena Vista by Wander's brother Jerry, who lives in Virginia. He sped us down the highway
to Staunton, where we checked in at another (better) motel. Wander's mother, daughter, and granddaughter were on their way from Indiana to visit for the weekend. Jerry's daughter and boyfriend were also on their way from Virginia, so we had a big crew. We spent the weekend mostly eating, although we did manage to check out downtown Staunton and find a pair of new shoes for Wander at Rockfish Gap Outfitters.
On Memorial Day itself we visited a local safari park, where you drive through in your own car and feed greedy, hairy animals (such as deer, llama, elk, zebra, camel, ostrich, emu, etc.) through the car windows. Brilliant idea. The more crafty ones have figured out how to block traffic to get fed more. If the object was to get animal feed all over the inside of your car and animal slobber all over the outside, it was a success. But everyone had fun. There was a walking zoo at the end if you wanted to pet more hairy beasts.
All in all, it was a nice three days off from walking. Our first zero days since Hot Springs, way back at mile 270, and we were ready for a break.

James River and Glascow VA

5/22 Wednesday 19.8 mi
We had an easy ridgeline walk for the first part of the day, and made it to Jennings Creek in the afternoon where we went for a swim. We pushed on over Fork Mountain to Bryant Ridge Shelter. Once there we found no place to setup our hammocks because all of the trees were huge, and we had to push on for another 1/2 mile.

5/23 Thursday 16.6
The day started with a 2000' climb up to Floyd Mountain. Then Apple Orchard Mountain, along Thunder Ridge, and over High Cock Knob (seriously!) to Marble Spring Campsite. A long hard day with many climbs. A thunderstorm came in the evening and rain and wind lasted most of the night.

5/24 Friday 7.7 mi
It was very windy in the morning and we were glad to get out of camp. We had 8 miles to go mostly downhill to the James River Bridge and US 501. We made good time. We were at the highway by noon and were able to hitch a ride to Buena Vista where we found a motel room. Plans were made to get picked up by Wander's brother the following morning.

I forgot to mention the rhododendrons are finally starting to bloom in the mountains, and we went through several long thickets in bloom these last couple of days.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

How Many More Times

5/11 Saturday 16.4 mi
We walked in the rain again for the last hour of the day. My feet were sore from too many days of wet shoes. We had relatively easy walking for the day. Stopped at Trent's Grocery 1/2 mi off trail for a double cheeseburger and fries, plus a little resupply. We made it about 2 miles down the trail before setting up camp. Today we also passed 600 miles, which was 100 miles in one week. An average of 15 miles per day.

5/12 Sunday 17.7 mi
A cold morning made it hard to start the day. We had mostly ridgetop walking today, and passed Woods Hole Hostel so we could camp closer to Pearisburg and therefore get there earlier the next day.

5/13 Monday 5.5 mi
A short day into Pearisburg. Went to the Plaza Motel where we had a resupply box of food. Here we also sent ourselves summer sleeping bags and summer clothes. We ate at the Chinese buffet and did our usual town routine of laundry and grocery before crashing for the night.

5/14 Tuesday 14.5 mi
Escaping Pearisburg. Had one climb then mostly ridgetop walking. Carried extra water the last 5 mi of the day to a dry camp. Sunny and a few good views.

5/15 Wednesday 17.5 mi
A long day. One down and up for the day and then back to ridgetop walking (which is not level, by the way). Missed last planned water source so kept going to shelter at the bottom of the mountain. Found a campsite down from War Spur Shelter for the night.

5/16 Thursday 12.7 mi
A series of two steep climbs today and then back on the ridgeline where we camped. Passed a group of 15-20 boy scouts. Ran away.

5/17 Friday 15.7 mi
We had a long downhill in the morning, then up and over Brush Mtn and past the Audie Murphy Memorial (he was the most decorated WWII vet). Water sources are more scarce in this part and we have had to pay more attention. Set up camp in a nice Tulip Poplar grove, perfect for hammocks. There was some firewood there and it was dry enough, and so we had a campfire. It was the first campfire that I had started in 700 miles. It was a cool pleasant evening with few bugs and we eventually watched the campfire from the comfort of our hammocks.

5/18 Saturday 14.5 mi
Made it to Cawtaba Mtn Shelter for the night. We had Cove Mtn and the Dragons Tooth to go over, and then halfway through the day we found another place to get a cheeseburger close to the trail. We saw our first rhododendron bloom today. This was our third 100-mile week ending on a Saturday, as we passed 700 mi today.

5/19 Sunday 14.3 mi
We had the famous McAfee Knob along with Tinker Cliffs to go over today, which is an awsome hiking day. The weather didn't cooperate, however, and all of the views were clouded in. Stopped just outside Daleville to get to town early tomorrow.

5/20 Monday 3.5 mi
Got up early and had short hike into Daleville. Got a room and went to breakfast. Did laundry, shower, and early dinner at the nearby Mexican restaurant. All of our gear is damp or wet, and we try to dry out everything in the room. I get my shoes dry for the first time in what seems like forever. We have picked up the pace since Damascus in an effort to get as close as possible to Waynesboro by Memorial Day weekend (where my schedule said we would be, ha). There, two groups of family members from two different directions would like to come and visit us on the trail. Now the choice has come down to stopping at Buchanan, which is only 20 miles away, or Glasgow, at 57 miles away. Thoughts of a zero day in Daleville vanished, and we made plans to meet Wander's brother in Glasgow on Saturday morning. That gave us four days to do 57 miles, or 14 mi per day. Nothing we can't handle at this point, but a zero day would have been nice. Actually, we have not taken a zero day, or a day off, since Hot Springs NC, way back at mile 270, and we are both looking forward to a break. Just not quite yet.

5/21 Tuesday 12.7 mi / mile 736.2
We got up and realized we had said Glasgow last night, so that means we have to walk today. In a hurry we went to the grocery for 4 days worth of food, and reluctantly left town at 11am. After leaving town we had an 1100' climb over 3 miles, which is rather gradual. The day was warm and summer has come to the mountains. We no longer try to stay warm, but now try to cool off. It has changed as quick as that, or so it seems. We found a camp on the ridgeline about two miles past Wilson Creek Shelter and called it a day.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Chestnut Ridge

Happen to have cell reception at camp tonight, so here is a brief summary of Virginia so far:

5/3 Friday - 15.6 mi - left Damascus about Noon and made it to Lost Mtn Shelter.
5/4 Saturday - 17.3 mi - went over Whitetop Mtn, very windy. Then went over Mt Rogers, highest point in VA. Grayson Highlands was after that, which has wild ponies running around. Windy, rainy day. Made it to Wise Shelter and mile 500.
5/5 Sunday - 17.6 mi - Walked in rain all day. No hard or long climbs today, but got soaking wet and cold. Camped off blue-blazed trail. Too cold and tired to cook dinner, just wanted to get warm in our sleeping bags.
5/6 Monday - 13.0 mi - Didn't leave camp until Noon, but were able to dry out a little from last night. Had easy walk to Partnership shelter, which is special because you can order pizza from it. Which is exactly what we did and ate a large pizza savagely.
5/7 Tuesday - 11.6 mi - We had a shorter day into Atkins where we had a resupply box waiting for us at the Relax Inn. We had a few people warn us about the Relax Inn, but their standards were obviously higher than ours. Compared to another muddy night in the woods, it was paradise. We found 1 lb hiker burgers and I found some beer, so we were ok. The only downside was that we had to complete our resupply only at a gas station. Snickers for breakfast it is!
5/8 Wednesday - 15.1 mi - Ate breakfast at the Barn, the one and only restaurant, and had a slow, wet, muddy climb out of Atkins. It came with some nice views and easy climbs, but later in the day we had stream crossings swollen from the rain. At one point we finally had to give up any hope of dry feet and just walked through the streams, they were too many and too wide. Made camp at Lynn Camp Creek next to the roaring stream.
5/9 Thursday - 17.9 mi - We were rewarded a nice sunny day to go over Chestnut Knob, a long ridge with scarce water. The climb to the top was not bad, as it contained some open fields and views, but the climb back down was very rocky and painful. We made it to Jenkins Shelter for camp. We have been traveling along long ridgelines and water sources have been scarce in this section.
5/10 Friday - 16.0 mi - We had an easy day today as far as elevation change goes and were glad to be past the rocks of yesterday. Had nice weather most of the day until the last hour. A thunderstorm came, preceded by 3/8" hail that covered the trail in ice until it was melted by the rain. Continued to walk hoping for the rain to stop before setting up camp. Almost worked. We had a break in the rain for us to setup and eat dinner (spaghetti-again), but after dark it is trying to rain.

Currently at mile 591.2

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Hello Virginia

We have made it into Virginia, and are spending the night in a motel in Atkins. Here we pick up a resupply box. We have made it past Grayson Highlands with the ponies, and Mt. Rogers, the highest point in VA, and in 6 more days at Pearisburg we will be changing to lighter summer gear. Looks like rainy weather will continue into the week.
Mile 542.2

Tennessee Pics Last Call

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Goodbye Tennessee

Campsite at unamed gap, mile 460.7

Goodbye Tennessee,
Tomorrow, in another 2.5 miles, we will be leaving you for another state. We still love you and think that you are beautiful. When we first met you in the Smokies you were proud and majestic, with your soaring ridgelines boasting the highest point on the trail. The stretch from Hot Springs to Erwin was deceptively challenging, and we give you credit for that. But now, it is as if you don't even care, allowing us to gain your ridgeline and summit without much of a struggle. Don't you remember what a gap is? We have put up with your switchbacks and false summits for nearly 300 miles now, and certainly have had our share of ups and downs. Pond Mountain was a good last minute effort, and we enjoyed the tour of Wautuga Lake, but enough is enough. We feel that it is time to move on and must say goodbye. It is us, not you.
Love, Clark and Wander