NOC to Locust Cove Gap

Four mile climb into Nantahala yesterday was a toe buster!! When I take my shoes off at night and my feet are kind of puffy and swollen, I wonder how im going to fit those big blobs in to shoes the next day. Then, miraculously, in the morning, my feet are semi-normal again and actually look like they have bones in them again.

Beautiful weather today, but for every down there is an up. It was about a six mile climb up out of there today. Killer! But after the last climb, came to Cheoah Bald and it was all worth it. Big, open bald overlooking the valley and the sun was shining and it was warm! Great place for some lunch. Tonight it was actually warm enough to sit outside and chat after dinner. Some new faces tonight and some old. 

Wayah Bald Shelter to NOC

That's what the trail looked like this morning. Beautiful but chilly. Better then the muddy slop from the day before! Hiked about four miles and came across some more trail magic! Amazing that people would go out on a cold, windy morning to do this! They had a huge fire going and were cooking hot dogs and hamburgers. Delicious!! 

The day warmed up and turned out to be great. Hiked my longest day because I wanted to get to the Nantahala Outdoor Center to do laundry since everything was wet and muddy. I stayed in the hostel and it wasn't crowded so I got lucky and got my own bunk room. Had dinner and a few beers at the restaurant there. I was wiped out and probably got my best nights sleep yet. 

Took this photo from yet another firetower. Those are the Smokies looming in the distance. Should be there in a few days.

Winding Stair Gap to Wayah Bald Shelter

So, I knew it was going to be rainy, but couldn't justify another zero day. Started hiking about 9:30 in a steady rain that continued throughout the day. Even with rain gear, you get pretty darn wet. I decided this would be my first night in a shelter because I didn't want to set my tent up in the pouring rain. Fortunately I got there early enough to get a spot because a lot didn't. 

Rain turned to snow overnight, so when I got up my shoes were frozen solid and I had to stomp on them to get them loosened up so I could get my feet in them. Fun, eh?! The thing about nights like that is that you quickly discover, that when there is no other option than to just keep going, you've got a lot more in the tank than you ever thought. 

Funny how different generations handle different situations. On those cold mornings, the older generation(yes, that would be me) get up and get hiking to warm up. The younger opt to stay in their sleeping bags until about noon and the pack up and head out.

Above is a picture of the Wayah Bald firetower in the rain. Creepy looking isn't it?

Right before I left home I decided I needed a pair of down mittens because my hands get super cold. Being the end of the season, it was hard to find any, but I found this giant pair if red mittens that look like oven mitts. Let me tell you, these were the envy of every hiker at the shelter that night! I slept with them on for fear of someone stealing them while I slept. Not really. I slept with them

On because it was cold !!

Rest day

Relaxing day today. Slept, ate, and loaded up on more groceries for the next few days. Sleeping in a bed was awesome. The ultra lite air mattresses that everyone uses are great and they get you up off the ground so it's warmer and softer, BUT every time you move, it sounds like the crinkling of a potato chip bag. So when you are camping amongst a bunch of tents, it's like sleeping around a bunch of people eating potato chips. Fun fact :) the quiet in my room last night was fabulous and I had the heat cranked up even though I really didn't need it.

Below is a pic of the first 'white blaze' I saw on Springer mountain. The AT is marked with white blazes so that's how you know you're on the right trail. 

Bedtime. Tomorrow it's time to get 'the monkey' back on my back and hit the trail. 109 miles down! 

Betty's Creek Gap to Winding Stair Gap

Good day. Got up early and hit the trail like a horse heading for the barn. Plans were to get to winding stair gap today and then go in to Franklin, NC  for a zero day on Friday. Beautiful day for hiking. We have been really lucky! A few good climbs. One on the way up Albert mountain was a rock scramble which was fun but tough. There's a fire tower up there where I took this photo and ate my pop tarts. (Brown sugar cinnamon of course)

As I came into Rock Gap, one of the last of the day, I saw a cardboard sign nailed on a tree that said, "Trail magic at rock gap on March 27th. Hot dogs, chips and salsa and beer and whiskey." Checked to be sure it was the 27th and practically ran down to the bottom of the gap. And sure enough, there they were. Sat in a real chair, ate a hot dog and drank a yeungling (seems to be the beer of choice here) a few good ol' boys on a day off decided to do some magic. We were happy campers. Opted out of the whiskey.

Finished out the last few miles and right as we came down into Winding Stair Gap, a big white van pulled in and honked. It was the much-heralded Miss Janet of Appalachian Trail lore. I'd read a lot about here before I came and was happy to get to meet her. She volunteers her time and van and takes care of people up and down the trail with shuttles, food and whatnot. We threw our packs in her van and she drove us into Franklin and dropped us at the (low) Budget Motel. 

Day off tomorrow, I'm in one of them fancy motels with a real bed, pillows and a TV.  Shucks. Life is good :)

Muskrat Creek Shelter to Betty's Creek Gap

Had a tough time dragging my rear out of my sleeping bag. It was 10 degrees but sunny. Once I was out , it's full speed ahead because the quicker I am packed up and on the trail, the quicker I'm warm. It was a great day for hiking!! Sun warmed up quickly and I decided to make it my longest hiking day yet, because then I knew with could get to town on Thursday and take a zero on Friday. Pretty easy terrain and lots of cool people. Basically, the terrain is mountains. Up and down in the woods all day long. Down into a Gap(between mountains) and then back up the side of another. Some are easier than others because they have switchbacks and some just go straight up. I've started making my biggest meal about mid afternoon. That way, if I get to my destination for the day, and I'm cold and tired, I can just eat whatever before I go to bed. The cuisine is fabulous. Ha. Ramen has never tasted so good! My fav right now is tortillas with tuna. Good protein. Fancy stuff. 

As for the folks on the trail, haven't met anyone else from Kansas. Lots of people from the east coast, especially NY. there are also lots of Germans. Apparently, a few years ago, someone from Germany did a documentary on the AT, and it sparked a lot interest, so here they are. 

One of the most amazing things out here, is the silence. I can be hiking along and when I stop and listen, there is absolutely no sound. It's really cool.

Usually when I climb in my tent for the night, it's still light out. I'm sure that will change as the weather warms up. Reminds me of when I was a little kid and I had to go to bed in the summer before it got dark and I could hear the older neighborhood kids still out playing .

Here's a pic of a little stream running across the trail. When you come to spots like these, where it's easy water, you fill up bottles and then purify them later.

Dick's Creek gap to Muskrat Creek shelter

Goodbye Georgia! So, the weather wasn't as bad as anticipated (in the morning anyway....more on that later) so I decided to go. I was sad to leave 'my gang' in Hiawassee, but they were going to take a zero (day off) there to switch out some gear, and I didn't feel ready to do that yet. I left with plans to possibly go for a short day, but when I got to the Plumorchard shelter it was early and I was only four miles from NC, so I kept going. Took the obligatory pic at the Georgia/ North Carolina sign and continued up Out of Bly Gap which was a butt-kicking climb!! Then, it started snowing and blowing and the temps started dropping. This was the biggest test so far and I'm sure here will be more to come. Got to Muskrat creek shelter at about 4:30 and it was COLD AND WINDY AND SNOWY. There were a lot of people there and they had a big fire going but it wasn't doing any good for warmth because of the wind. I briefly considered sleeping in the shelter just so I didn't have to set up my tent. The shelters are basically three sides and a roof and the wind was blowing directly in there. Quickly threw up my tent and dove in. It wasn't warm but it is a great wind block, so it was better. Put on everything I had pretty much ( feet- two wool socks, legs-wool baselayer and running tights, top- wool baselayer, fleece and down jacket, buff, hat and down mittens. ) climbed in to my sleeping bag and didn't come out until morning! And quite honestly , I didn't want to come out then!! Talked to some of the people that 'slept' in the shelter and they said it was miserably cold and all their  gear got wet from the blowing snow. 

Cold and snowy trail!!

I'm going to start throwing out some of the trail names that I encounter because I think they're pretty cool. Not sure how that all got started, but I'm guessing it's because everybody is out there for a different reason and you don't really know anyone so you can just be whatever. Anyway, here's a few I recall.... kernel, Bluberry, Achin, Rhode Island Red and his dog Rowdy, Bam bam, the Viking, QT, Soaring Eagle, Serpico..... 

Tray Mountain shelter to Dicks Creek Gap

Last night was a chilly, breezy night on the mountain.but my tent and sleeping bag are amazing. Several folks did not sleep well because of the cold, but I kicked my socks off in the middle of the night. The only problem was that after a few days of hiking with no shower.... For some reason it was a little stinky in my bag :)  Tonight we are staying at a brand new Top of Georgia Hostel. Weather is supposed to get really crummy tomorrow and everyone is debating whether to take a day off. I'm going to make the call in the morning. Fine line between being stupid and being a weenie. I have to say, that the people I've met, both the hikers and all those that offer support along the way have been amazing. Good mojo out here. So much positive energy! Got my first trail magic today. A guy coming up,the trail handing out snickers bars. We keep leapfrogging with a lot of the same people. For example, tonight at the hostel, the banjo and fiddle guys are here too. Haven't seen them since the first night. They just lit a fire in the fireplace and the music is starting . Not a bad end to a good day! Picture below is sunset this morning and the fiddlin'/banjo guys .

Poplar stamp gap to tray mountain shelter

Long day today! We got up before daylight because it was supposed to start raining about 7. It rained some, but not too bad. We ended up going about 6 miles further than planned because it was decent weather

. Lots of big climbs today. It will all be worth it because tomorrow we have a relatively short day and will spend the night in the new Top of Georgia hostel and shuttle into town for good food etc. It's 6:30 and we are staying on top of a mountain with winds gusting up to 1000 mph. (Possibly a slight exaggeration but it sounds like it from inside my tent) no plans to go outside again tonight! Pic attached is last nights camp. The three that I've been hiking with plus merman, stick-in-the-mud and unity. LOTS warmer then.

Neels Gap to low gap

Things are great. Still hiking with dragon lady, j5 and Captain Jake. Went into Blairsville last night for dinner and ate a lot of food and a few beers and one of the most delicious diet cokes I've ever had! The weather has been great but I think some cold and rain are forecast for tomorrow. There are a lot of North Carolinians out here so trying not to be TOO overjoyed at Dukes loss.(my apologies also to Charlene :)

The mountains here are beautiful. I have to stop every now and then to take it all in. (Because if I tried to take it in while walking, I would undoubtedly trip on a rock and face plant.  Lots of mountain climbing but it's not as difficult as the Rockies because the highest elevations are in the 5000 foot range. There's oxygen!! Big difference.

I'm thinking about naming my pack ' the monkey' because at the end of the day, I'm ready to get ' the monkey' off my back!! (That was for my kids . They LIVE my corny humor)

Photos below are of dinner last night with the gang and the tree where old hiking shoes are hung at Neels Gap

when they're over the hill.

Woody gap to Neel gap

Showered and happy! And just heard that Duke lost. It's a good day! Camped last night with dragon lady, J5 and Captain Jake. ( still getting used to this trail name gig)  hiked over Blood Mointain  today. Staying in the blood mountain cabins and got clean me and laundry and am sipping on a diet coke. Awwww. I think we are going to take the shuttle into town for some real food and beer tonight. Got SO lucky because our cabin has satellite tv and it's almost game time. Did I mention that it's a huge 5" screen? 

Pics are of our bear bags hanging with our food. After I climbed into my bag for the night, I remembered I had a half snickers in my pack. I was pretty sure I'd be eaten by a bear during the night but was too tired to do anything about it. Somehow I miraculously survived :)

The other pic is of the Blood Mountain Shelter. Pretty cool! It's the oldest shelter along the AT. Game time! Gotta go. Rock Chalk!!

Hawk mountain to woody gap

Great weather today!! Ended up going a few miles further than I had planned because I felt good and it was so nice. Tomorrow into Neel Gap where there are showers, beds, laundry and beer, diet coke and food that is not dehydrated or prepackaged in 1973.

My body is feeling pretty good surprisingly! Feeling lucky that my pack is comfortable. Comfortable being a relative term. Not comfy like a heavenly bed at the Westin, but comfy enough that I can get up tomorrow morning, put it on and hike some more 😜 and more.!

Sun just dropped behind a mountain so it's getting chilly. Up to the fire with some folks from New Jersey and West Virginia and then to bed at the geriatric hour of probably 7:30 or 8 if I'm feeling really crazy.

Springer Mountain to Hawk Mountain

And the walking begins!!! Stayed at the Hiker Hostel last night, ate a bunch of pancakes for breakfast and got to Springer Mountain at about 9:30. Can't believe I'm finally here! It was supposed to be sunny here today, but unless sunny means drizzly and foggy in Georgia, it wasn't. Great temp for hiking though and lots of cool people. Got to Hawk Mountain shelter at about 2:15. I'm opting for my tent. Set it up near the shelter, but got a little privacy(and distance from the snorers) and I think it will be warmer. More later!! 

GO TIME

Kansas. >  Georgia. >. Maine.    

Carly

So, tomorrow I leave for Atlanta to begin my big journey, but honestly, it isn't foremost on my mind right now. My heart and thoughts are with my cousin, Susie and her family, Randy, Elliot, Olivia and of course, Carly. Two years ago, Carly was diagnosed with cancer at the way-too-young age of 16. The last two years have been filled with surgeries and treatments and through it all, Carly continued to live the life she wanted to live. Surgery one week, back on the basketball court the next. This year, she went to KState, went through rush, made new friends and cheered on her beloved Wildcats. Beyond sadly, Carly passed away last Friday night peacefully, surrounded by her incredible family. We all wonder why these things happen. It just doesn't seem right. But if we could all live our lives the way Carly lived hers, the world would be a much better place. She had such a positive impact on so many people, just by living with strength and courage and faith. We should all strive to be a positive force in the lives that we touch and  not be afraid to live the life we want to live. Ok. Off the soapbox and on to the trail. 

           

Random thoughts...

I liked this quote that my Uncle Sam sent me upon hearing about my hike. He said, "that like Henry David Thoreau, 'you hear a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."  Pretty cool.

Another family member said, " Joanne is the hippie of the family." I took that as a compliment....after all....I live in Lawrence!  Adam Renfro.... Does that sound familiar?

Lucky Me

Got together with friends and family last night for a big farewell shindig. I am sad to be leaving all these people but happy that I will have them to come home to. So much fun and the conversation was off the charts hilarious as the drinks flowed.  Thanks to all my friends and family for being excited for me and supporting me. I knew I was going to do it either way, but it has made it much more fun to prepare with them behind me.  And not telling me I was crazy! (at least not to my face :)