New pack, still in Damascus.

Well I tried really hard to leave town last night.  My afternoon of swimming in the river, which flows through the town park, with another hiker, Scout dehydrated me and I decided to get a sweet tea at the pizza place.  Scout was really cool.  She is doing a section this summer for a few weeks, and is headed back to Pennsylvania today for a wedding, with a friend.  She lives three miles from the Appalachian Trail up in Pennsylvania, and will be a great trail angel when I'm in the neighborhood, around July fourth.

There was quite the hiker herd at the pizza place, about 20 showed up.  I decided to eat my leftover pizza from lunch, and have some beers.  Fortunate for me, I decided to lapse into having a drink.  I haven't been drinking in town, in order to save money, and increase my speed.  Not paying for beer means I can eat better food at restaurants along the trail, and still save money.  Tonight I lapsed, and found out the pizza place had wifi.  I used my iPod to check my email, and saw that Zpacks shipped a new backpack, to replace my damaged one, here to Damascus.   The arrival date was yesterday Friday.  Wow, I screwed around all day and I have a new pack at the post office. 

Luckily this small town has Post Office hours on Saturdays from 9-11 AM.  I decided to stay the night, and joined the huge hiker party.  We stayed at the pizza place till 11PM, then we all went to Fire Tower's room in a really nice inn close by.  I couldn't stay awake with all the kiddies so passed out early, not before taking off my shoes.  Someone was kind enough to remind me to remove them.  If you pass out with your shoes on, it is completely acceptable for people to write on you with sharpies.  I was planning on sleeping in the park, by the river, but Fire Tower is very generous and offered his floor to me. 

This morning a nice continental breakfast filled me up, and I hit the post office.  My beautiful new pack was in, and I switched my gear into it.  I decided to mail my long underwear home along with the pack, and my platypus bag.  I decided that gatorade bottles would be lighter and more durable.

Damascus, Va.

Since leaving the Greasey Creek Friendly, I have started to run into the tail end of the herd.  The herd is the largest concentration of thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail.  Most of the herd started around the middle of march.  The back of the pack, the cool kids.  These hikers are fun but will slow you down, that's why they're at the back of the pack, not the front, 400 miles ahead.

There were two large packs of hikers near Watauga Lake two nights ago.  Large social gatherings are a draw for me, but I needed to make miles, it was still light out, so I continued past.  I found a place to roost on top of the Watuanga Dam, 646 feet long and 318 feet high.  My site was perfect, great views of the stars and a constant cool breeze off the lake, that was stronger then the bugs could bear. 

Yesterday I ended up doing 28.9 miles, even though I had several long breaks.  From Kincora hostel in Hampton, Tn. to Damascus, Va. is 56 miles.  People try to do this in a day.  Many people were trying to get from those two hiker groups to Damascus in a 40 mile day.  Many succeeded, though they were the true losers.  Those who chose to do 32 miles, 28.9 for me since I hiked further the night before, were rewarded with a Hiker Trash party at the Abingdon Gap shelter. 

A mile from the shelter was a road crossing were a pickup truck proudly displayed a Hiker Trash sticker.  I knew we were in for a treat.  Upon arrival at the shelter we saw a large bonfire a hundred yards away.  Brent the owner of the truck handed Caver and I both a beer (Caver gave his away.)  They then came to the shelter and invited us all over for a free concert in the woods, courtesy of the three Hiker Trash, Bobby, Seldom Seen, and Brent.  All of us near the shelter obliged and were rewarded with awesome trail magic; hot dogs with buns, potato salad, macaroni salad, whiskey, and great music.  Not a bad free show in the middle of the forest.

Our first trail magic of the day though, was a cooler along the trail in a metal crate that had crosses burned out of it with an acetylene torch.  Courtesy of a baptist church that has an Appalachian Trail ministry.  The cooler had Pepsi and other soda, then there was a tool box of cookies and a bottle of honey that wasn't sticky.  Plus pamplets with butterfly and frog facts.  Butterflys taste with their feet.

The library is closing so got to go.  But want to say I rocked the swimming hole in the Damascus town park today.  No cell service either.  Adios/

Greasy Creek Friendly

I arrived this morning at Greasy Creek Friendly, an Appalachian Trail hostel.  I needed extra food to get to a town tomorrow morning 25 miles away, Roan, Tn.   The hostel is .6 off trail if the guide can be trusted.  It turns out it's more like a mile, and 500 vertical feet according to my altimeter.  Though I was able to eat a TV dinner and get some resupplies, while watching cooking shows, Maury, and The Price is Right.

Greasy Creek Freindly is at mile 364 point something from Mt. Springer Georgia, the start of the Appalachian Trail, and 1861 to Mt. Katadin in Maine, the northern Terminus.  I'm once again just shy of my 21.85 mile a day average, coming in at just 10 miles under last night.  A loss due to my zero day in Hot Springs, Nc.  I'm making up the miles though, and I did allow myself 6 zero days.

The trail has been a little more cruisy these last few days, though there were some really rocky sections.  Leaving Hot Springs, two days of heavy rain were made better using my ultra light umbrella.  The last two days were clear, hot and sunny.  Ninety degrees with ninety percent humidity is not necessarily the best weather to do two thousand foot climbs in, but they need to be done.  Today I get to climb to six thousand feet, hopefully getting across the high point before the potential thunderstorms this afternoon. 

Yesterday, I stopped at the Nolichucky Hostel to resupply for the 25 mile stretch to here at Greasy Creek Friendly.  The Nolichucky Hostel is across the street from the Appalachian Trail, where it crosses the Nolichucky river on a bridge, in Erwin, Tn.  They really tried to get me to stay, but I was in and out by 10:45 AM.  Tomorrow I hope to get to a Subway Sandwich shop and get some five dollar foot longs.  Subs should be helpful on the 50 mile stretch to Hampton, Tn, home of the Kincora Hostel.  Then it's just 50 more miles to Damascus, Va.  In Damascus there is a Methodist church run hiker hostel, that's supported by donations, and more importantly, a nearby public pool.  Guino is very good in the water.

Hot Springs, Nc.

Yesterday I rolled into Hot Springs, North Carolina, a very small hiker friendly town.  The Appalachian Trail goes right down the main street of this pre civil war town.  The Trail has been going great. I'm 14 days in, and besides the nero day (near zero miles) I took yesterday and the shorter day today as a result of hanging in town, I'm crusing at 22 miles a day.  That's slightly above the 21.85 average I need to complete this in 100 days.  Evertything is going great out here.  I spend most nights in trail side hiker shelter, though I have tented several times too.

There are no big views like the Pacific Crest Trail.  There were some through the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, but for the most part, the trail is a long green tunnel.  Trapped in dense forest. 

In the Smokey's at a shelter some tourists from Chicago and Michigan, gave me a bottle of Glen Fiddich Scotch, which made for a very tipsy day of hiking. 

No Blisters yet though, which is cool.  I need a smart phone to update daily from the trail, but for now the occasional internet will do.  I am maintaining a journal every night.  I  may decide to post this in the fall when I'm done hiking, but for now, it would be to consuming to try to write and post while in town at the library.

There is no cell service with AT&T in this town, which is a bummer, I would love to make some calls.  I just saw that I got a 4.0 GPA this semester taking 17 credit hours, and having a part time job. 

So far I have seen 1 bear, while on the shuttle to Mt. Springer, the start of the trail. Many salamanders, 1 four foot long black snake, tons of spiders, millipedes, centipedes, birds, 1 Turkey, deer, Chipmunks and squirrels.

Appalachian Trail class of 2011 Rocks!!!

Arizona Trail Hiker arrived!

Hearsay, hiker trash extraordinaire, Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and possibly though not sure Continental Divide Trail Hiker stopped by the Penguin Pad today.  Filthy stinking hiker trash got to love it!  He is on a possible speed record hike, neck-in-neck with Krudmeister, who also is in town today, passing through on the Arizona Trail.

Hearsay started on April 19th, and has gotten to Flagstaff already, 568.1 miles across Arizona from the Mexico border.  I believe Krudmeister started on April 20th though.  Yes, I find sport in long distance hiking speed records, how could you not?  These guys are serious athletes, busting out the miles day in day out.  In my opinion, they have earned the right to boast of their deeds.

Have fun on the rest of your hike and kill it out there!!!

My Zpacks 8.9 oz Hexamid tent, and my 4 oz Blast Pack arrived today.  I will set the Hexamid up tomorrow and post a pic.  Theres no time tonight, the sun already set here on the Colorado Plateau.

May the 4th be with you.

Ok, we all know that this is international Star Wars day.  The reasoning is just as valid as saying March 4th is the most progressive day of the year, it just sounds good.

I just got a mail drop in for some Arizona Trail hikers today.  I'm blessed by the occasional hiker that needs a place to crash and shower here in Flagstaff, Az.  Hopefully they get here soon though, I'm about to start the Appalachian Trail.

I'm leaving for the Appalachian Trail in just 8 days.  Got the plane ticket on Delta, which makes me sad.  Southwest doesn't fly into Atlanta, so I get to fly an airline that doesn't advertise how much they love you and makes you pay for baggage.   I still need to get to Springer Mountain, and will probably end up getting a ride from  Survivor Dave.

Well, now I'm trained in LNT principles, and certified by the Leave No Trace Institute to train others in the ethics of LNT also.  Hail Caesar!   The other day was fun I tried to poke out my eye with an internet cord.  Hurt like hell for hours.   Advice, never yank a cord out of a box when there is a ton of junk on top of it.

Last few weeks.

I haven't updated in a few weeks, but am still on track and training for the Appalachian Trail.  My weeks tend to be filled with school though, and am only hiking on weekends.  Unless the 3 or 4 miles I walk around campus every day with my school bag counts.

Two weekends ago I headed up to the Grand Canyon and did about 30 miles of hiking in it.  The first night, I started a night hike of the Kaibab, Tonto, Bright Angel Loop at 8 PM, Finishing about 2AM.

I planned on a second night in the canyon, but on the way up the Kaibab I was offered a ride back to Flagstaff, so I took the definite ride.  The next day I did a 12 mile hike up Mt. Elden by Flagstaff, then wrapped around the northwest side toward Buffalo Park.  Hiking in the dark I missed Buffalo park, but ended up in a neighborhood off 4th St, so I caught the last bus back to campus.

This weekend started off with a nice 12 mile hike from Campus to Fischer Point in Walnut Canyon National Monument.  Kristin and I hiked down Sinclair wash from campus, hooking up with the Arizona Trail at the impressive I-40 underpass.  Neither of us brought food, so we made a "run for the border" and did a one mile round trip to Taco Bell.  After a bunch of somewhat bad food, we headed back to the trail.  Near the I-40 underpass we met two other "hikers" heading into the woods with a large plastic container, that they were taking turns carrying that was big enough for a small body.  Kristin asked these two toothless guys who looked sketchy as heck what was in the box, and they said a tent and they were camping.  I said beautiful day for it, and have fun, then we passed.  My thoughts they were carrying their meth lab in to make some along the Arizona Trail.

After leaving these guys, we continued onto dirt again, splitting away from the road the AZT was using that led to a wastewater plant.  The trail led steeply up about 200 vertical feet before leveling out in the Ponderosa forests.  Soon though se were in fire damaged forest, and large bulldozers with chain saw type things on the front were working around us cutting down trees and caring 6 or 7 at a time to larger piles.

We hiked to Fischer Point then returned back to Flagstaff after dark.  The last two hours of hiking was under the nearly full moon, that was so bright out in the Ponderosa Pine forest, that we didn't use our headlamps.

The following day I left with NAU Outdoors, an outdoor school associated with the Univeristy for a trip to the Mazatzal Wilderness.  This 12 mile overnight trip was a course to receive a certification from the Leaven No Trace foundation, to educate others on LNT principles.   We parked at a Arizona Trail trailhead then headed into the Mazatzal Wilderness for the night.  Each of us had to previously have studied an aspect of Leave No Trace, and teach it to the other students.  I picked Dispose of Waste Properly.  Good times were had by all.

Next weekend I may go to the Grand Canyon Thursday night, or just possibly hike around Flagstaff for 60 miles or so.  I might even hike down to Sedona from here and back.  Sunday though I'm heading to the Flagstaff Eastereggstavaganza, an Easter Egg hunt sponsored by Flagstaff Parks and Rec.  My Parks and Rec instructor, Dr. Hammersley helps run the hunt, and will give extra credit for volunteering.  So it looks like I can still do a two nighter before the hunt.  Thus continuing on my training for the Appalachian Trail.