Our Thru-Hike of the Appalachian Trail

Reflections

2009-09-30T23:36:00.002-04:00

Soul-searching is hard. It is also unavoidable when you are out in the wilderness for over four months. Something about the peacefulness and enduring strength of a fragile ecosystem brings out the ponderer in all of us. I second Pat's comments on feeling a renewed relationship with yourself and not running on autopilot after such an experience as this hike. Here are a few more of my own reflections….

One of the most important things that I learned about myself is that my capacity is much greater than I imagined. I have a capacity for physical feats I had never considered. I have the capacity to climb mountains, ford rivers, and remain silent and still while the fog swirls around. I have a capacity for friendship that exceeds what I had known. I have the capacity to endure and thrive under that unusual strain that I had chosen for myself. And I have the capacity to keep going on a project that was so big and daunting that I couldn't understand the enormity of it before beginning it. I had to just start hiking without figuring out all the details.

Focus was a hot topic of discussion for Pat and me while on the trail. We are both the kind of people who meet deadlines and do it without asking for an extension. We like having defined goals and achieving them. There are some characteristics that you just can't leave behind and this turned out to be one of them. We met many hikers who were just out for a walk and would see how far they got. Some of them didn't even plan their resupply stops, but just hoped a town would come along about when they ran out of food. But, we had a goal and we kept going until we reached it. Now I have to make this trait an advantage.

On the other hand, I am much more comfortable with having unknowns. The trail is unpredictable. There are so many things that you cannot plan for and have to trust yourself to figure out as you move along. I am okay with not having all the answers beforehand. I am not sure how this fits together with the reflection above, but I have faith in myself and in the balance of the universe.

I also have faith in people. I often had to depend on the kindness of strangers to keep my hike going forward and they came through with everything I needed from the beginning to the end of the hike. The support from family, friends, and a few fans that I had never met was heart-warming. I had to leave a community to realize how much I was a part of it. Our networks and influence are larger than we think. Strange that going into the wilderness for several months, which seems like it would be isolating, actually gave me an amazing view of humanity and common cause.

One thing that is different about me: I am on-time all the time!

This will probably be the last message posted. We are both starting new chapters of our lives in new towns. Nothing will ever be the same for either of us. How could it possibly? We have changed and grown ourselves. Our worlds are different because we are different. The Appalachian Trail will forever be in our hearts and souls.

Many thanks to all of you for your encouragement, praise, and love. Your support was felt everyday.

Namaste,
Jess

More Pictures!!

2009-09-28T00:58:00.002-04:00

Here are the two additional slideshows I promised - a peek at what our daily life was like. I also added a few photos to the three slideshows posted earlier. More funky mushrooms, cool snakes, and hitches!

Our campsites:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jessrunnels/ATCampsites?authkey=Gv1sRgCKq8oPKMtNCwRg&feat=directlink

What the AT actually looks like (in no particular order):
http://picasaweb.google.com/jessrunnels/ATFindTheTrail?feat=directlink

That white rectangle is called a "blaze" and is a trail marker. When it went up a pile of rocks or across a river, then that's where we went too.

Pictures!

2009-09-24T18:22:00.001-04:00

I had over 2,500 pictures from the four and half months on the trail! That does not include the thousands of pictures that Pat has. So, here are three slide shows about the hike. There are two more slide shows to come and I will post links to those here as well. Captions also may be coming in the next few days, but I wanted to get some pictures out there now.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!!

Highlights from the hike:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jessrunnels/ATThruHike?feat=directlink

Wildlife along the AT:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jessrunnels/ATWildlife?feat=directlink

Flowers along the AT:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jessrunnels/ATFlowers?feat=directlink

Final Thoughts

2009-09-22T00:32:00.002-04:00

It has been five weeks since I threw my hiking boots in the hotel trash can and caught a flight home to Chattanooga, TN. For the most part I have settled back into my life fairly well. The few residual effects of the hike... all seem positive. For one I finally understand what it means when people speak of living in the moment. Before the hike I believed I understood and practiced it daily. Wrong! It is as if life slows down and can be viewed with childlike curiosity. It is the ability to bear witness to your own life without preconceived ideas or expectations. I do wonder how long this will last. I would hate to have to walk another 2,000 miles to replenish this if it fades. I want to forever live fully awakened.

I have also overcome almost all inhibitions of approaching strangers or asking for what I want/need. On the trail we learned that we would never get anywhere if we didn't ask for help...so now I can simply ask literally anyone for what I need or want.

I still don't recognize the person staring back from the mirror. Not looking in the mirror for 4 1/2 months provides an interesting opportunity to get in touch with how your body feels instead of how it looks. I now hear the voice of my soul not the voice of the image in the mirror.

I have a renewed faith in humanity. It took a combined effort of so many people beyond Jess and I to complete our journey. From the trail magic left by anonymous sources to the individuals that leant us their water filters and gave us rides, they all contributed in their own way and without asking us for anything in return. Their hearts were pure in their intent.

I have a renewed spirituality and belief in what exists beyond our basic senses.

I learned to be more in tune with where my body needs attention or how it needs it instead of running on autopilot. Suffering, striving, enduring heat/cold/hunger/thirst/insect bites/sore muscles/strained tendons/exhaustion/sleepiness.
The culmination of all this...a renewed relationship with myself. I am more powerful woman. Oh yes! My parents are now the wind and the trail. I hear another trip calling me...

Finally, a genuine THANK YOU goes to all of you that followed our journey and and were with us in spirit and thought!

Peace,
Doubleshot

No Longer Bald!

2009-08-31T22:44:00.001-04:00

Here is a picture of us on the very last day of the hike and you can see how much our hair has grown since April 4. We have both gotten haircuts since then so things are styled better and don't look quite as wild anymore.

I loved taking the clippers to my head and I loved the feel of my hair super short, but I seriously doubt that I will ever shave my head again (I looked completely bald!). Glad to be able to say that I did it once, but that will be enough for me. Pat is keeping her hair a little longer for now, but time will tell if she reverts back to her old habits.

Oh! That's the summit of Mt. Katahdin in the background. We were so close!

Police escort

2009-08-29T14:43:00.002-04:00

From the back seat of the police car...

2009-08-29T14:38:00.002-04:00

I am going to bail Jess out on this one (pun intended)! Contrary to common sense the wildest parts of hiking the AT were usually times of leaving the trail and hitching rides into town for food or other practical things like laundry. Every town visit was different, crazy and often unpredictable. Our most notorious hitch began at Franconia Notch in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We had hiked all day (over South Kinsman Mtn, which we agreed neither of us would ever climb again and would not recommend to friends) and arrived in late afternoon at a major Interstate. Well, we thought, we are out of food and have to make this work. So we stuck our thumbs out and sure enough a nice middle aged man on his way from Vermont picked us up and delivered us directly to the front doorstep of a grocery store 7.4 miles away in Franconia, NH. There we bought groceries and ate dinner and headed back to the interstate. On the way I took a picture of the sign that said "Pedestrians Prohibited" then we walked right past it and up the entrance ramp. Sometimes life's guiding signs are hidden but sometimes they are right in front of us!

It was nearly 8 pm on a Saturday with hardly any traffic. Jess & I were discussing options for camping in a wooded area near the freeway and trying again in the morning if we couldn't catch a ride that night (because 6 am on a Sunday would be sooooo much better!) Just then an SUV slowed down and stopped on the side of the road just before reaching us. We were excited to have a vehicle stop but cautious because he stopped so slowly and deliberately. We both had to swallow hard when the blue emergency light came on and a local police officer got out of the vehicle. Uh Oh! (What I was really thinking was officer, "it was Jess' idea!" Ha!

He approached us in a stern fashion and said hitchhiking is not permitted on the freeway, only in town and on the entrance ramp...blah, blah, blah and we were in dark clothes and it was dangerous for us to be there. Yes we knew that... we had the pictures of the sign on our camera. Ooooh this is not good! We had literally said nothing so far and stood motionless on the side of the road with our packs on and hiking poles in our hands wondering where this was all going. And I really can't recall everything he said after that but he asked us what we were doing? "Hiking the Appalachian Trail." "Did you get lost?" he asked "The trail is several miles from here." "No" we replied "We resupplied and ate dinner in town and are just needing to get back to the trail."

What I do distinctly remember him saying was "It is getting late in the evening and I am going to give you a courtesy ride back to the trail." My ears perked up, did I hear correctly. We were catching a hitched ride from a police officer. All the fear and trepidation faded as we loaded into the back of his patrol vehicle. Maybe we should have been nervous or something but we were just glad to have a ride back to the trail!! Anything to keep us moving northward on the AT!!

The officer (we didn't even get his name) was unbelievably understanding and spent the entire 7.4 mile drive talking about the wildlife in the White Mtns, his growing up in the area, why he moved back there from Montana and lots of other hiking-related things. He never even asked us our names. After dropping us off on the side of the interstate where we had left the trail earlier that afternoon and wished us luck and humored my request to take a picture of the police vehicle.

We chuckled to ourselves as we set our tent up that night. Could have been our first night in a bed since our hike began - I thought to myself. It was the only time we had to set up the tent in the dark using headlamps but at least it was our tent. The whole evening was quite an adrenaline rush, but after a long day of hiking we still fell asleep quickly.

Unanswered Questions

2009-08-27T23:41:00.001-04:00

We looked back over your comments on the blog and there were several questions we had not yet answered. Here you go:

Start time: We woke up at 4:30 am and started hiking by 6 am each day. We had such an early start time for 3 reasons. 1) It was cooler in the morning and we could avoid hiking in the hottest part of the day if we started earlier. Some days we would set up camp around 3 pm and be asleep by 7 pm even though the sun was still shining. 2) A number of times we choose a target for the end of the day that turned out to be a farmer's pasture or a mile-long boardwalk or some other place that we couldn't camp. Since it would still be light out, we had time to hike on until we found something that worked. 3) Pat is a VERY EARLY riser. She would sit right up and start eating oatmeal when the alarm went off at 4:30. I just wasn't strong enough to fight her on it.

Internet access: Spotty. We sent posts to the blog from our phones, so if we had cell phone service then we probably had Internet service as well, but not always. Alltel had great coverage for me, but Sprint was terrible for Pat. There are public libraries and some other places that provided computers. Generally, though, I liked being disconnected.

Would we make it: Never doubted that we would make it all the way, even when it rained for a week straight and days weren't fun. There were plenty of times when I just wanted to go to sleep midday and start over in the morning, but always wanted to keep hiking and had hope that the next day would be better. It could be sunny tomorrow, all the gear would dry eventually, feet would heal and un-prune. It was difficult to hear stories about thru-hikers we had met who had later left the trail. After every story of someone quitting, we would check in with each other frequently over the next few days to make sure we were both still having fun. But we always wanted more.

Other people on the trail: Oh yes, a lot of other people. Lots of other thru-hikers, many of them single hikers that we would leap frog with over several states. We would check the trail registers at shelters to find out the progress of other hikers we had met. There were also many section hikers, day hikers, and people that walked 20 yards onto the trail and back out again. You could tell when it was the weekend because there were a lot more people out hiking.

Health update: Everything is healing fairly quickly. We were very lucky that we had no injuries that might have slowed or ended our hike. Plenty of scrapes but we never needed anything more than a band-aid. We fell down a lot (I probably fell 200 times, seriously) but also learned to fall on top of our packs and shrug it off. Feet are no longer swollen, but still partially numb. Here's hoping full feeling comes back! I lost 33 pounds and Pat lost 10 pounds.

Mileage: We averaged 17 miles per day right up until the White Mtns in NH. We slowed down a lot in NH and southern Maine due to the rain and terrain, which was rock faces, boulders, and bogs. Picked up the pace again further north in Maine in the 100 Mile Wilderness. Final average of 16.6 miles per day. Our longest day was 22 miles somewhere in Virginia. It was probably a dry, sunny day with gentle slopes.

Summit of Katahdin

2009-08-16T20:34:00.001-04:00

What an amazing day to summit...blue skies with a gentle breeze. Temperature in the mid 80s. It was absolutely perfect. Mt. Katahdin is a majestic towering mountain about one mile high that befits the the end of a very long difficult trail. The picture was taken moments after Jess slammed her palms on the summit plackard declaring YEAH to a group of 30 or so startled day hikers!!!
We will both be posting more photos when we gain computer access.

You Might Be A Thru-Hiker If....

2009-08-14T14:12:00.001-04:00

- You scrub things with leaves or grass to clean them.
- The smoke from the campfire makes you smell better.
- You have difficulty recalling your real name and phone number, but your trail name, start date, and average number of miles hiked roll off your tongue.
- You customize your gear and clothing with your pocket knife.
- The most used items in your first aid kit are a safety pin and duct tape.
- The trail diverges before you and your path always goes up.
- You don't know the real names of any of the friends you have made in the last month.
- You know the calorie count of all major candy and trail bars.
- You eagerly take food from strangers without question.
- You don't blow your nose with a tissue, you just blow your nose.
- You have purchased 4 pairs of hiking boots in the last 3 months.
- You have developed an instinct to flip midair and land on top of your pack when you fall.
- You take a wrong turn when you follow the creek instead of the trail because you can't tell the difference between the two.
- You start addressing your feet as separate entities from your body.
- You find something dark and squishy in your sleeping bag and test it to see if it is edible.
- You have been picked up by the police and escorted back to the trail.

Compiled by Doubleshot and Yogi as a result of true trail experiences.

(We wrote these over the last 4 months as we hiked the AT. It helped us laugh about the rain and pain and to stay sane.)

WE DID IT!!

2009-08-12T22:36:00.002-04:00

We summited Mt Katahdin at 1145 am today! WOO HOO!! WE ARE DONE!! It took us 131 days to complete the 2178.3 miles of the trail. We slept in a tent every night. Hiked at least 10 miles every day without days off. Carried our packs on foot from the southern terminus on Springer Mtn in GA to the northern terminus on Mt Katahdin in ME. And passed every white blaze in order. We ate cheese and crackers and Coke at the top because celebrating with a drink of water just didn't seem like enough. Then we took a different trail down the mtn that was a very difficult boulder scramble and turned out to be harder than the climb up. Hitched a ride out of the park and are now safe and clean with full bellies in a hotel in Millinocket. Sorry to have missed hiking with the Nooga gals and hope they have a great hike. ..........Hard to believe this whole thing is done......

Fording Rivers

2009-08-05T12:47:00.002-04:00

Wow! We thought we were already in the wilderness but now we are entering what is coined the 100 Mile Wilderness section of the AT. This is considered the most remote segment with only intermittant forest service roads providing limited access. We have only 115 miles remaining with apparently 5 more river crossings. Getting close now! Yesterday we forded 3 large rivers and 2 of them were waist deep with strong currents. One little slip on some rocks gave me a good scare but I recovered without getting any equipment wet. No more moose sightings but still lookin'. In Monson today for 6 day resupply. We plan to recap some things once we finish the trail, so stay tuned.

Only 188 Miles To Go!!

2009-07-31T17:31:00.002-04:00

We have appreciated the support and encouragement we have received from all of you. It has meant a lot to us to bring our families and friends and fans along with us on the hike. With under 2 weeks to go, we are both being more cautious on the water, roots, and rocks that are all over the trail so we don't mess things up for ourselves so close to the end. We are resupplying in Stratton ME today in the rain (sure is nice to catch a ride to town even when we are dripping wet) and folks say it should be sunny the next few days. Our wet gear could use some sun, especially our boots. We both feel exhausted each day and are planning to sleep the entire day after we are done, but counting down miles gives us energy boosts that get us down the trail. Looking forward to climbing more mtns and fording more rivers and getting closer to the summit of Mt Katadhin.

Happy Birthday Pat!!

2009-07-31T17:04:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow is Pat's birthday and she gets to celebrate it by climbing over a 4000 foot mtn. We are taking chocolate cake on the trail with us and we have candles. Hope it will be a memorable one for her.

MAINE!!!

2009-07-29T16:42:00.001-04:00

We walked into MAINE four days ago and have been eager to tell you but have not had any cell phone service. Since we send these msgs is from our cell phones, no cell service means no msg. I think this will be a problem for the rest of the hike (only 2 more weeks!) since the MAINE section is very rural. This has been the muddiest section of the AT so far but at least there are fewer rocks. Broke off the tip of one of my hiking poles and Pat has a bent pole but no outfitter is nearby for repairs. The poles can make it the 220 miles to the end though. Had blueberry mousse pie a la mode in Rangeley ME today. Heading back to the trail for more.

Great visit

2009-07-24T12:51:00.001-04:00

Two days ago we were met at a trail head by two of my high school teachers (now retired). Arch and Candy treated us to a great breakfast in Gorham, NH and surprised us each with hiker goody bags complete with travel sized toothbrushes, baby powder, laundry detergent and all sorts of hiker food! It was incredibly thoughtful and appreciated...Comical part was that while Jess and I were climbing MT Washington on foot they were driving to the top via the auto road. We missed seeing them at the summit by only two hours. It was great seeing you guys...thanks so much for everything and as I suspected the brownies are already gone.

Still Hikin'

2009-07-24T12:21:00.002-04:00

We have made it through most of the White Mtns and are resupplying in Gorham NH today. The Whites are as beautiful as we heard they were and we had nice weather for the first few days and could enjoy the views. However the White have also lived up to and surpassed their reputation as the most challenging section of the trail. Many times there was not a trail per say but a rock scramble from one carin to another (carins are rock piles that serve as trail markers when the white painted blazes would be hard to see in the area). Sometimes we have to climb a boulder pile 2000 feet uphill just to then climb down 2000 feet over rocks again. Hiked across the Presidential Range 3 days ago, which was all alpine terrain and includes Mt Washington, famed for it high winds. We did that all in the rain of course. Exhilerating and treacheous and feels like a great accomplishment! Interstingly, not all of the peaks of the Presidential Range are named after former presidents. Webster, Clay, Franklin? Anyone?

Here moosey

2009-07-18T20:06:00.001-04:00

WE SAW A MOOOOOOSE!!! Awesome! We were coming over a high ridge this morning and noted fresh moose tracks right on the trail. After about a quarter mile we/I heard a ruckus in the woods ahead of us... all I could say to Jess was that it was bigger than a deer and running. So we thought safety first...then hurried down the trail after the noise. I kept hearing the noise in front of us but it would run off when we approached. The moose stayed out of sight all the way down the mountain and finally left the trail at a clearing. We arrived at the field in time to see a gorgeous beast walking back into the forest. It was ginormous! IT WAS THE BIGGEST MOOSE EITHER OF US HAD EVER SEEN! Actually it is the only moose either of us had ever seen so it was an exciting moment. No antler rack so does that make it a she-moose? it was much darker in color than I anticipated. Almost charcoal. Oh and the white mtns are nice too!

White Mountains in NH

2009-07-17T18:30:00.002-04:00

We finally reached the White Mtns in NH, which is known as one of the most challenging sections of the AT. And they have been tough, but then so are we. Just before entering this mtn range we resupplied in Warren NH and had two exciting rides. To get into town we rode on the back of an ATV that was on a trailer being towed by a truck. Wild ride! Our ride back to the trail was in the bed of a pickup, which is very common. The unusual part was that once we got to the trail the driver got out of the truck with his guitar and serenaded us. Seriously! You can't make this stuff up! Only 389 more miles to go. Less that 4 weeks!

By the Numbers

2009-07-12T21:04:00.002-04:00

We are averaging 17 miles a day. Today was Day 100 and we crossed the mark for 1700 miles! We hike a minimum of 10 miles a day even on resupply days when we have to hitch into town. And we have hiked over 20 miles in a day 14 times. Those were tough days! We are on track to complete the trail around Aug 10 or 11. We are certainly stronger so the pace is generally faster but there are so many factors that make things vary a lot each day. Terrain, weather, feet, mood..... Physically we are feeling very good although our feet would probably disagree. We talk about our feet as though they are separate entities from our bodies. I know our emotional health and attitude are doing so well because we are hiking together. I understand why single hikers go to shelters and hostels in town. They need to talk to people! We have each other and havent felt the need to stay in town but we do try to chat with other hikers on the trail. My point is hike with a friend. You need someone to whine too and sing with.

Our Typical Day and How It Has Changed

2009-07-11T17:52:00.002-04:00

We have gotten a lot of questions from folks over the past 14 weeks (!) about our typical day and Patricks comment was the spur we needed to respond. Our day has changed the most in 2 ways: getting started earlier and not stopping for lunch anymore. At the beginning we woke around 6 am and now we get up at 430 am. We have gotten up as early as 4 am but moved it back due to sunlight. We start hiking by 6 am every day. We stop and eat a trail or candy bar about every 1.5 hrs. We used to stop for an hour for lunch but have been going straight thru the hiking day since early PA. We get to camp earlier and have longer to rest. It is also easier to keep moving on really rainy days and it was during a rainy stretch that we stopped the lunch breaks. We have also increased our food intake a lot. There was a bump up about 2 weeks in and then again about 3 weeks ago. Sometimes I get tired of eating. Our camp routine is focused on getting to sleep as soon as possible. Some sewing too. I patched the hole in my shirt.

Unwelcomed Guests

2009-07-07T18:25:00.002-04:00

Written 7-7-09/ The two nights we have spent in VT brought with them some interesting events. The first night we pitched our tent about 30 yards off the trail in a random clearing in the forest. It was not a designated campsite so there were no trails or other indicators of use. In VT this is permissable tenting. All was great until about 2 AM when Jess noted that a hiker on the trail had stopped and was shining their head lamp on our tent. After a few moments the person approached our campsite. They made no effort to conceal themselves and were actually quite direct and loud in their approach. At this point Jess roused me in time to notice the person was standing right next to our tent...still shining their head lamp on us. Jess and I each had our own thoughts of possible explanation; at this point most of mine centered around forest service personel. But when the person remained outside our tent and didn't announce themselves or inquire within that idea was dismissed. Through a small clear film in our tent we watched the person kneel down on a sleeping pad literally 6 feet from our tent. They remained there for about 15 minutes while rummaging though their backpack.

Now I ask...what would you do in this situation. Think now...two women alone in the middle of nowhere at 2 AM with a complete stranger 6 feet away!!! Hmmm. Well, we did something totally out of character for either of us. We said nothing and went back to sleep! Seriously! Who does that? We did. I guess we were tired. Ha! Not our proudest decision making moment. Anyway, in the morning I poked my head out of the tent to take a picture of the situation. Yes, for real. The hiker looked up when the flash went off and I was able to see that it was a woman. She had no sleeping bag or tent. When I asked what she was doing there she said she couldn't find the shelter and didn't want to camp alone. She had apparently seen coyotes on the trail and was a bit scared. So fortunately all ended well. We can put all the thoughts of maniacal lunatics to rest.

Then last night for the first time we encountered mice (or at least one mouse). The little critter chewed a hole through the bottom of our tent and pilfered a Milkyway bar while we slept.
Aside from the uninvited guests the Green Mountains are wonderful. The elevation keeps increasing slowly but we can handle it. Today we walked through what looked like an enchanted forest...Could have sworn some of the bugs looked like Tinkerbell!

We went into Bennington yesterday for supplies and actually participated in Moosefest - sort of. We saw all these life sized moose statues decorated by local artist around town.They were realy cool! Some of them were licking ice cream cones others sported pirate outfits. This weekend all the statues get sold at auction. Still waiting to see my first real moose! Here moosey moosey moosey!!

VERMONT!!

2009-07-05T18:02:00.002-04:00

We crossed into Vermont today! I know...we failed to mention that we were even in MA and now we are through it already. MA had some nice mtns in the Berkshires. It also featured a day in which we were rained on harder than any day on the trail, which is saying a lot! June 2009 was the rainest June in 106 years for MA and we can attest to that. We were hoping to see the annual fireworks atop Mt Greylock, which is where we camped last night, but they did not set any off this year since the lodge is under new mgt. We saw moose tracks in MA too so now Pat looks around every tree for a moose. Hopefully VT will give us a moose siting. We have a few more days in the Green Mtns here and will resupply in Bennington VT tomorrow. We have set up our tent for the night and have cooked our pasta dinner. PJs are already on and our snacks are ready for another day of hiking. All that is left it to write in our journals and laugh about the silly parts of the day. What a great way of life!

If you can't beat 'em...DEET 'em!

2009-06-29T19:20:00.003-04:00

So the theme of this week's hike is bugs. Mostly mosquitos. It seems that all the rain has provided just the right environment to breed them by the buzzz-illion! I would be lying if I said that either one of us has received any less than 200 bites. The situation grew progressively more stressful until this morning when our patience and possibly blood ran out. Within 15 minutes we both stopped dead in our tracks and announced a need for toxic chemicals. We whipped off our packs and fumbled for the mosquito repellant. Ahhhhhh! The little varmits still buzzed around and occasionally bit through our clothing but at least we could maintain our sanity.

We arrived at a road crossing today to find a professionally made sign instructing us of a detour due to construction. The bridge we were to cross was not open to pedestrian traffic and the AT had been re-routed. It was so funny to see the bright orange construction signs bearing our little white blazes. They were just like the car detour signs but these were made and installed just for us! I suppose the car drivers had no idea what the signs meant since the signs had no wording but they made perfect sense to us. For the next 3 miles we followed the "orange blazed" trail down country roads!

We have our tent set up on our first platform. It is a true tent site with a large wood deck. Makes the job of finding a level, firm, dry campsite so much easier. Looking forward to more.

Hiked into Salisbury, CT today for groceries and fine dining! Ha! They sat us in the far corner of the back room. Maybe it was the hole in Jess's shirt or the mud on our legs that bothered them. Hmmm...We still don't think we smell bad but maybe...

Sometimes you are lucky and sometimes you make stupid decisions

2009-06-28T18:22:00.002-04:00

We have been out on the trail for 12 weeks and have apparently learned nothing! Two nights ago, a big rain cloud moved overhead near the end of the day and turned out the lights. We should have stopped and set up the tent before the rain actually came but we were intent on getting to CT, which was only a half mile away. Of course it rained on us. We found a terrible campsite and did a poor job of setting up the tent in the rain so there were puddles inside. The campsite became a mud hole as we sat in the tent with our boots still on but under the rain fly, with packs still packed, for the next hour, just kicking ourselves and trying to figure out how to fix it. We ended up picking up the entire tent and moving to higher and firmer ground. Took an hour to change into dry clothes. We managed to salvage the night but felt pretty stupid about the whole thing. Life lessons: Leave your ego at the trailhead. Follow your instincts. Hike with a friend, preferably one who laughs easily about stupid decisions. 2/3 done!

In case you forgot what we were doing

2009-06-23T18:28:00.001-04:00

Sign at the Bear Mountain Bridge.

Saw a rattlesnake today!

2009-06-23T18:23:00.002-04:00

Ha! It was behind the glass at the bear mountain trailside zoo! Believe it or not the AT actually goes through the middle of the zoo. When the zoo closes at night there is an alternate trail around the area that becomes the official after hours trail. It is a small community zoo with a park and lake - very quaint. It is designed to showcase local plant and wildlife, particularly those found on Bear Mountain - the peak towering over it. Of course we climbed Bear Mountain first. At the top is a tower built in 1934 (Perkins Tower) with a view all the way to the New York City skyline 34 miles away.

After the zoo tour we walked over the Hudson River via the Bear Mountain Bridge. See photo attached. Very cool! The sun was shining brightly for the first time in days and I think it fried Jess's brain just a bit. She was so excited about the bridge or maybe it was the caffiene and ice cream we had at the zoo!

Otherwise New York has been very challenging. Lots of steep ups and steeper downs. My new rule here is that if I can't see a blaze anywhere I just need to look staight up the mountain - there it will be.

I would highly recommend Harriman State Park to anyone looking for a few days of hiking/backpacking. It is well maintained, spacious and gorgeous! My ideal forest if I had to pick one. Our end of day campsite in Harriman Park last night left us with exactly 800 miles to go! Woohoo! To celebrate we pitched the tent on top of a huge rock slab. Wound up being very nice with a great view.

Since entering New York we have heard very loud booming sounds and have conjured up all sorts of plausible and not so plausible explanations for the sounds. Today we found out the artillary practices at West Point are responsible for the noise. It is one drawback to Southern New York backcountry living.

Greenwood Lake, New York

2009-06-21T20:30:00.002-04:00

New Jersey went by in a flash.. yeh actually more like a flash flood! We were in and out in only four days and are now meandering through New York. NJ was however a pleasant surprise. For all of its 72 miles it offered up tremedous diversity including rocky mountain climbs like Wawayanda Mountain and some open farm land. We would have loved to have been there in the dry season but it seems like a wet state anyway. The trail took us to one of the seven natural wonders of NJ (I haven't a clue what the other 6 are) called Sunfish Pond. Apparently the pond is so acidic only two species of fish can tolerate it: the pumpkinseed sunfish and the yellow perch - in case you were wondering. The pond was serene in its own right but was completely bordered by blooming mountain laurels. Spectacular!!

NJ trails also took us near high point monument and wound its way around a huge protected wetlands area where we saw otters swimming and beautiful swans. One of the highlights of NJ was a mile long boardwalk through a marsh. We managed to be there very early in the morning and heard the froggie serenade and see too many species of colorful birds to mention. Overall I was very impressed with NJ.

One unwelcomed souvenir I did take from there was a terrible case of poison ivy. I managed to get it all over my lower legs ankles and feet. It is sure to be from walking around a tentsite with just my crocs on. We did have had to go off trail so frequently due to the rain water on the trail that I could have contracted it anywhere. Argh!!! Could be worse. Could have been in more sensitive places! The fun way I have of dealing with it is to smear cool mud all over it!! Really!! The mud dries and acts a bit like calomine lotion. Kinda soothing. Does make for a messy tent though. Jess would prefer I find an alternative treatment. Ha!

Still having fun but missing the climate controlled bedroom at night. Jess and I are getting accustomed to preparing for plummeting temperatures by early morning. We go to sleep nice and warm but find it gets really cold around 2 AM. So we each set out our extra layers of clothing before retiring - to be applied quickly and in a sleepy stupor in the middle of the night. I will welcome a thermostat!!

Does when anyone know when we can expect to start seeing moose??? I really want to see a moose!!!

Breakfast of Champions!

2009-06-19T19:14:00.003-04:00

We started our day with a feast of lasagna and chocolate frosting covered strawberries. Snacks during the day included caprese salad and brownies with more lasagna and strawberries for dinner. We also filled my water bottle with sweet tea and finished that off midday. All of this delicious food was courtesy of my parents who met us near Branchville NJ yesterday evening. Of course they are as fun and entertaining as ever but the visit was even sweeter since we had hiked 20 miles in all day rain to get to the meeting point. We sent the Starbucks Doubleshots home with them though since Pat is fast enough without them! Other than the great food, the highlight of today was the hot air dryer in the bathroom of the state park hdqtrs. Great for drying wet clothing and a definite perk if you find one. The sun peeked out today for the first time in 3 days and we got to see views of NJ. More rain on the way but at least I needed sunscreen today. Today marks 11 weeks on the trail. Spirits are high and clothes are dry!

BLUEBERRIES!!

2009-06-16T18:21:00.002-04:00

I think Pat might dress up as a blueberry for Halloween. We have come across a lot of freshly ripe blueberries in the past two days and she is a little nutty about them. Well it is contagious and she had to drag me away from a few blueberry patches more than once. Wild blueberries are much sweeter than what you find in a grocery store. Mtn tops have the best ones since they get more sun. Or maybe they taste so good because you have to climb all the way to the top of the mtn first. Speaking of climbs....we forgot to bring our climbing gear and could have used a harness and belay on the rock wall we scrambled up and over yesterday. Wowza! Some smart aleck had even painted a smiley face at the top. Of course this was after a resupply in Palmerton PA so packs were heavy and after a thunderstom so rocks were slippery. Footpath, people! This is supposed to be a footpath!! Only 12 miles to go in PA so we will cross the Delaware River and enter NJ tomorrow! It always feels great to step across another state line!

944.40 bottles of beer on the wall

2009-06-14T18:48:00.003-04:00

We started a new activity to keep us entertained and keep track of our miles while hiking. It is a version of 99 bottles of beer on the wall but we have to count out to the one hundreth of a mile for the timing to work out. The lyrics start at whatever mileage marker we are at and go:

944.41 miles to Katahdin, 944.41 miles, Take one step - fall on your ass, 944.40 miles to Katahdin!

We sang this aloud for 45 minutes today and we were only off by about a minute on our mileage.

Jess got to meet one of my aunts and her husband in PA today. Mary and Henry drove from their home near Allentown, PA and met us at the Blue Mountain Summit Restaurant. We made little pigs of ourselves with appetizers and extras but they tolerated it well. We had a good time...thanks guys...See you both in September.

I finally got NEW BOOTS!!!!! Yeah!! Okay well they are killing my feet but the old ones weren't protecting them any better. Hard to break in new boots in the PA rocks. Thank goodness we will be in NJ in just 2 days. I am sooooo looking forward to seeing more of the New England area!

Some of you have asked about it...We have tented out every night on the trail with the exception of a single night in the Great Smoky Mountains NP when we both slept in a three sided shelter. Our chosen camp sites don't always follow the rules governing the local recreation area but we do try to adhere to the INTENT of the rules! Some parks ask that we only camp near the trail others require us to go at least 200 yards away from the trail. There are other rules regarding staying away from water and roads...we just don't know sometimes. Besides it is not always easy to find a flat smooth area to set up a tent - like in PA where rocks abound. So there are the nights like last night when we blatantly set up on private property. Lush green mowed grass...Oh yeah!!! We have also pitched our tent in the middle of a dirt road and right on the trail during a severe storm. Pastures on or off the trail have been a fine choice throughout the trip. Jess is a personal fan of exposed windy mountain tops. My preference is in the middle of a safe protected pine grove.

We had the thought of using only a tarp instead of a tent but the bugs keep us hiding behind the tent mesh and the cold nights haven't made it any more appealing. Maybe in August!

Love all your comments! Thanks again!

The Countdown Begins!

2009-06-11T18:01:00.001-04:00

It is Pats turn to post a message but since she doesnt have Internet service in this part of the wildeness I am sending this one in. We had ageed that we would start counting down the miles when there were less than 1000 left. We passed that mark this afternoon! Only 996.7 miles to go!! It sounds a little funny to cheer about only having 9 more weeks of hiking left but it feels good anyway. That also means we have been living out of our backpacks for 10 weeks now. Pat had a victory today with a great idea of using garbage bags over our boots to step across a gushing creek that did not have a bridge or rocks for crossing and we refused to take off our boots. Worked beautifully! More rain and more rocks and more raspberry prickers all day. Glad to be warm and dry in the tent finally.

Our health behind the scenes.....Part 1

2009-06-08T20:30:00.001-04:00

We have been keeping somethings from you all. Sure I said my feet were tired but there is so much more. FEET: We have both had blisters which get worse with wet socks due to rain or sweat. We drain the blisters by poking them with a safety pin and sometimes cut out a chunk of skin with a pocket knife. We pare calluses with a knife too. Pat lost a toenail. Otherwise just aching at the end of the day. NON ISSUES: No problems or pain with our backs or shoulders or necks or knees or ankles or arms or heads. However mental clarity seems to have declined or perhaps it is just a reflection of our decision to do this hike in the first place. HYGIENE: We have not showered yet but cleanup in restrooms or creeks. Also using wet wipes. Neither of us thinks the other smells too bad. Our 4th laundry stop is scheduled for tomorrow. More in Part 2 below.

Our health behind the scenes.....Part 2

2009-06-08T20:13:00.001-04:00

LEGS: Many bug bites from gnats, biting flies, deer flies, ticks, no see ums, mosquitos, bees, and insects we cant identify. This will be a constant state until the hike is complete. Stronger calves and thinner thighs. HIPS: I got an inflatable camp pillow for btw my knees when I sleep due to hip soreness. HAIR: Slow to grow but coming back. REAR ENDS: We both developed heat rash on our lower backs where our packs rest and on our backsides under sweaty shorts. Doesnt matter whether you wear undies or not. So we use a lot of baby powder daily to fight flare ups. Desitin has been used too. GI ISSUES: We both had stomach bugs with severe side effects. We have both chugged a bottle of Pepto Bismal. All is resolved on that now since it was weeks ago. Had low energy during the bug but hiked on. MENSTRATION: I am taking a birth control pill straight through but have had breakthrough regularly. Still better than no pill at all. Any other questions we havent
answered?

Half Way!!

2009-06-07T14:52:00.001-04:00

At 12:49 yesterday afternoon we reached the half way point of our thru hike of the AT!! Turns out there are actually 2178.3 miles total. We reached 1089.15 miles on our 64th day of hiking. It was just a bit into PA. There is a half gallon challenge at a cafe just 3 miles later in which hikers try to eat an entire half gallon of ice cream. We tried to split a mint chip half gallon but fell well short. It may have been due to the cheesesteak sandwiches and hot dogs and chips and soda we ate just before. Anyway we are feeling great and keep hiking because that is just what hikers do. It helps that it is warm and sunny now. At long last.

Rain rain rain...

2009-06-07T14:03:00.002-04:00

Written 6-5-09, Hey all! We are camping tonight in Caledonia State Park in Fayetteville, PA. We haven't a clue if we are allowed to set a tent up here or not but the mountain in front of us and the fact that it has rained for the last 48 hours made the soft pine grove hard to resist. Our hands and feet are all pruney. The trail today could have been stocked with trout and fished out of. We had not a prayer of being able to keep our boots/feet dry. Jess's boots had to be poured out mid-day. Mine are just beyond hope. My point is that it was WET!

Our watch alarm goes off at 4:30AM. That gives us about an hour to get packed up and hit the trail before sunrise. We mostly do this so we don't wind up walking in the heat of the afternoon sun. Although it really isn't necessary when it rains. Up until today the only exception to this wakeup call has been early morning thunderstorms. Twice we gave ourselves the luxury of sleeping in for an hour or so due to lightning. This morning however, Jess heard the alarm and I didn't... She went back to sleep! Just when I thought I had her trained. (she claims it was pouring rain really really hard). So we both got a little extra sleep this morning.

We finished the 40 miles of Maryland yesterday and crossed the Mason Dixon line. Maryland was fun because the trail took us to several war memorials including a monument to Washington. Marian Marbury and Karen Klinedinst walked with us for a few miles and turned back at the monument.

We are just now getting a sense of the rocks in PA. They aint gonna slow us down!!!! I have been joking with Jess that this is exactly the same weather as the section hike I did here a year and a half ago. So if that holds true we should see snow in 3 to 5 days. I would hope that June is a touch too warm for snow but you never know.

It is safe to say that we have both grown tired of instant mashed potatoes and may never be able to eat them again. Cheese however, has increased in popularity. Personally, I have discovered that I like cold oatmeal much better than hot oatmeal. Jess is in a mango phase right now. Hmmm. And she has fallen off the wagon and started drinking soda again. I just crave rootbeer (thanks George).

Practice?

2009-06-05T18:28:00.002-04:00

About a week ago I had a dream that that Pat and I were actually on a practice thru-hike and just training for the real thing! It was a very vivid dream. I remember that we were sitting in the tent and I had the end-of-day tired feeling. I said "But why are we doing the whole thing if it is only practice? When you train for a marathon you don't run all 26 miles." So it has become a joke between us when a mtn is really steep and slippery that this is only practice and we will get it right next time. I like the practice of eating whatever I want but I am not very fond of the practice of hiking in the rain. While I love being out here and love pushing out the limits of my comfort zone, this hike is not practice!

Quick Visit

2009-06-03T11:49:00.004-04:00

Met up with Marian Marbury with Adventures in Good Company and Karen Klinedinst today for a chat and lunch. They were kind enough to bring us some drinks and hike a bit. First time for me to meet either of these ladies, but I had a wonderful time and was privileged to be a part of the visit and share the time with them.

Harpers Ferry

2009-06-02T22:14:00.002-04:00

Harpers Ferry is just about the cutest little historic town you have ever seen. It is also the home of the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. While the AT is a National Scenic Trail, it is maintained entirely by volunteers and local hiking clubs. The whole thing is coordinated by the ATC. We went to the office to sign in and have our pictures taken for the annual thru-hiker book. We tried to upload a bunch of pics to share with all of you but there were technical troubles. We'll keep trying and get it right eventually. Especially since we have pics of bears! Nine bears so far! We spent last night in VA, walked through WV this afternoon, and are sleeping in MD tonight. Three states in one day! I can also report that we have seen poison ivy but not had any trouble with it. Also that ticks are something we have found and check for daily. They are really darn small! Mosquitoes are much easier to find! Things continue to go swimmingly and, as ever, we just want more!

West Virginia!

2009-06-02T16:18:00.002-04:00

We passed through the petting zoo of the Shenandoahs in just a few days. It was so unique as we approached - for miles we could judge a difference in the wildlife. Rabbits would just sit on the trail as if to say they knew we were not going to flatten them with a tire and we both could live in harmony. Deer actually walked towards us instead of away investigating as they went what treats we may be offering. Jess nearly reached out and touched a few of them. And yes, the bears walked towards us as well! We saw 4 more bears in the Shenandoah National Park.

We were leaving our tent site one morning just at sunrise and stopped to get some great photos from an overlook...(that's just bragging...back to the story). We had only gone about half a mile when we heard a wierd mixture of what sounded like a braying donkey/squealing pig/and grunting hog. The day before we had passed a riding stable so we reasoned that there may be a donkey around the bend. We hadn't gone much further when we realized there was a large bear in the bushes about 30 feet away with its full attention directed at the ground. All the ruckus was coming from its direction. I was watching thinking the bear was killing some other animal but I had never heard such a noise from anything. The noise continued and we anxiously stared at the bushes for about 2 or 3 minutes trying to see what animal it might be. Suddenly a tiny, tiny, tiny little bear cub popped up into sight. Oooh and then there were two. All the commotion was the cubs wanting their momma!! Just like human kids I guess. I will never forget that sound! What a treat to hear and see them.

We reached the 1000 mile mark yesterday! Although we are extremely excited to have survived this long we are really looking forward to hitting the half way point in a few days...just after entering Pennsylvania.

We just met up with Regenia Carder in Harpers Ferry, WV. She and I met in Bulgaria on one of the Adventures in Good Company Trips. She was kind enough to help shuttle us around for resupplying and going to the outfitters here. Thanks Regenia!!

I was supposed to buy new boots today. Hmmm...That didn't quite work out. Hopefully, the boots I have now will keep going through the rocks of Pa until I get to another outfitter! Wish me luck!

And to all the Chattanooga ladies...I think about you guys on your section hikes. I am so glad you get out on the trail and have fun. Also, I wish I could share in the fun with you. Keep on hiking! Thanks for the picture, emory board (ha), lotion (haha) and good wishes. Miss you! Gave the lotion to Jess for her feet!

Trail Names

2009-05-24T19:45:00.001-04:00

No one goes by their real name out here. Folks have either chosen or been given a trail name and it often makes no sense at all. Pat goes by Doubleshot, meaning she hikes so fast it is like she had a doubleshot of expresso. I was dubbed Yogi, as in someone who practices yoga, not like the bear. We try to remember to use these names for each other when others around. It`s like our real names are a secret. So if you are asking for us on the trail, use our trail names. No one knows who Pat and Jess are. Heck - we barely remember our real names now! Some of our favorites are: Pink Blaze Nazi, Phantom Cupcake, Mad Chatter, Ancient Ruin, Bunion, Pink Lady Slipper, Linus Cloudbuster, Pringles, Grits, Laughing Owl, and Government Mule.

Ma and Pa Yogi Drop In

2009-05-24T19:25:00.001-04:00

No matter how experienced a hiker you are, no matter how resourceful, no one can do this thru hike on their own. As Pat wrote earlier, our water filter died tragically. It would be 4 days until my parents could deliver another one so we mooched off other hikers at shelters and campsites each night or drank unfiltered water directly from mtn springs. I am sure we will be returning the favor to a stranded hiker later. My parents made a detour on their vacation and delivered a new filter to one of the smallest towns we have come across on the trail. They also brought burgers and chicken and fresh fruit and lots of Snickers and Twix for us. It was a lovely afternoon and now we can go back to setting up our tent anywhere along the trail since we don`t have to depend on other hikers for clean water. Thanks Mom and Dad for coming to our rescue. Loving all the chocolate bars!

Spy Rock at Sunset

2009-05-22T20:21:00.001-04:00

Gated dirt roads

2009-05-22T20:07:00.002-04:00

We saw our fifth bear of the trip this morning. Woohoo! He was sitting a good distance off the trail and turned and hauled a** up the mountain when he saw us...good sized bear though! Bears are sooooo cute to see run- as long as they are not running at you! Almost like a horse in slow motion. Very cute! I just wanted to give him a big hug!! Haha!

Jess and I have lots of helpful tips for anyone going on a short or extended backpacking trip. For instance...even if you buy a water proof item directly from a store IT PAYS TO BUY A WATER SEALANT SPRAY AND PROTECT IT ANYWAY! This applies to gators, rain gear, pack covers and even the pack itself. Once you are out in the rain a surprise leak can ruin your day/trip. Hmmm...How do you think we learned that one??

The tip of the day - gotta love this one. Always research your way points and stops thoroughly! Our data book indicated we would cross a road at mile 813. If we went left on the road X miles then made another left blah blah blah we would arrive in Montebello, VA where we could buy groceries etc. So at the stop prior we bought enough food to get us to mile 813. Then last night when we were looking at the details for this resupply point we noted the little blurb in our data book that stated "Fish Hatchery Rd - is a gated one-lane dirt road with no traffic". Not the hustling byway we were expecting to catch a ride to town on. As punishment and self torture we hiked the 2.2 miles off the mountain down the gated dirt road then the .3 miles into town. All we need to do now is hike back up the mountian...

Good news is that Jess's parents are meeting us here today. Coincidence that they happened to be in the area when our water filtration system breathed its last breath. Hmmm. So while we wait for them I am sitting with my boots off on the porch of the Montebello Coutry Store - polishing off my third rootbeer. Life is good!!!

Blue Ridge Pkwy

2009-05-20T13:44:00.002-04:00

Awesome!!! We are finally blessed with a full canopy of foliage over our heads...it arrived with Spring in VA. Up until now we have been bouncing in and out of Winter dormancy and attempts to leaf out. Along with Spring came mile after mile of blooming rhododendron, moutain laurels and azaleas. Literally valleys covered with them. I am not a huge flower buff but even I can't help but stand in awe of a view from the blue ridge parkway starting with a valley of pink rhododendrons or a trail lined with 30 foot tall bushes.

We will continue to criss cross the BRP for quite a few more miles - don't care for the road so much but the views are worth the sacrifice of leaving the wilderness.

Jess and I have both learned how to fall gracefully from stiles. Wish I could send pictures of each of us flat on our backs. For those of you not familiar...a stile is a barrier constructed to keep cattle in a pasture but supposedly allow hikers to pass over or around a fence line. As we have travelled North the stiles have gotten more and more creative. Typically they would have 3 to 4 rungs to climb up and over like a big step ladder. Remember now this is after hiking 15 miles with full packs. The trick is to be able to turn around at the top and come down the other side.

Recently we went over a stile with 8 rungs. Now for fun they occasionally add to the challenge by putting the rungs on an angle/slant, skip a rung all together, construct it too narrowly to turn around or my personal favorite - electrify the fence!!!!! Love it!!! Gotta watch where those hiking poles go! Ouch!!

This is by far the greatest way you could ever see the countryside!! Certainly no way to see this many things from a car window.

Love all your comments!! Thank you Adventures In Good Company!!!!! You guys are very supportive and encouraging!! We wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for you! Wish everyone had an opportunity like this in their lifetime!!

tent pics

2009-05-17T06:31:00.001-04:00

found the perfect tent spot

2009-05-17T06:30:00.001-04:00

Kelly knob on John's Creek Mountain. No neighbors and a view from every room. We couldn't resist setting the tent up here for the photo op. There is a steep cliff on the other side of the tent. The picture doesn't do it justice.

Photo update

2009-05-17T06:21:00.002-04:00

Thought everyone might be a bit curious about the progress of our hair. Mine is growing in a bit too fast and poor Jess can't seem to get hers to grow.

The photo is from a lunch spot in a meadow about 5 days ago.

Fresh as a Minty Donkey!

2009-05-16T23:06:00.002-04:00

Three days ago we came down down a mountain to a pasture. It looked very much like other pastures we had walked through, except once we scrambled over the stile into the field, we realized there were donkeys all around us! They were friendly and curious donkeys that came trotting over to check out the new kids in town. A few pets were given, which probably lead to them following us for a bit. There was a pretty little creek with a cute little bridge that we crossed. Fresh mint was growing there, so there was a strong mint and donkey odor as we filtered water. Not a prize water source but we were thirsty and you make do with what is available when in the backcounty. Resupplied in Daleville VA and swapped out our heavy sleeping bags for things that are ridiculously thin. Hope that turns out well! I also moved onto my third pair of boots so far. Pat is almost done with her second pair too. The trail in VA has lots of challenges. Dragons Tooth was an amazing rock scramble and McAfee Knob lived up to the hype.

Pearisburg

2009-05-11T20:42:00.002-04:00

For the second time on this trip a total stranger gave us the keys to their car! Try walking anywhere in your hometown after not showering for 5 weeks and see if you can borrow a stranger's vehicle?? Dare you!! It really does pay to be nice. We helped out a motel clerk today with some hiker information and in return she offered to let us borrow her car for the afternoon. The transportation enabled us to go to a diner at the other end of town and get groceries very conveniently. As a gesture of goodwill we even chauffered two other hikers with us. It is remarkable the courtesies that are extended to hikers on the trail.

We spent a little too much time in town and wound up having to tent very close by. If you could hear this message you would hear the trucks going by and the train practically underneath us! The industrial plant across the street has its own special contributions. We will have to plan a bit better next time! This is not exactly backcountry tenting! But we are commited to the purist approach. Tenting every night. So we walked away from the hotel and are sleeping on a slant on the side of the hill above town! (technically in town).

Lightning fast

2009-05-11T18:34:00.001-04:00

So Yogi updated you on the rain situation. Everyday we try to time our tenting affairs with a respite from the rain. We had one episode of setting up the entire tent up in a downpour and are trying to avoid a repeat event. Two days ago we were drawing close to the end of the day but admiring the view from a wide open pasture. The view was spectacular. We were high above other mountain ranges and the sun was starting to set. Amazing!! What made it even more fantastic was the intensity of the weather system moving in and the cloud cover. As Yogi and I discussed our tenting options a few drops of rain fell...we went into action...no more options...we were not getting cought in the rain again. It took about 45 seconds to set up the tent right where we stood. We threw our gear in the vestibules as the rain began to pour down around us. We sat in the tent laughing at what a close call that was and how efficient we had become at setting up the tent. Ha! The moment was short lived. Just then the lightning started. OH MY GOD!!!!! We set our tent up in an open field - on a mountain top - in a lightning storm. Seriously...

So for the next ten minutes I thoroughly discussed my cremation arrangements upon my electrocution. Should any remains of my charred body be found I would like them sprinkled on wild cat mountain in Georgia!! (Under a small young tree that looks Southbound.) Well, we survived. Another lesson learned and logged.

The next two lightning storms have been experienced from inside the tent under brushy cover in valleys. Yes we are being that specific!!!

Still love the trip and all it's surprises!

Thanks again for all your support. We love reading the comments you make.

25 Percent!!

2009-05-09T10:47:00.001-04:00

Three days ago we hit 25 percent in two different ways: 25 percent of miles completed and 25 percent of time completed! The train is running on time! We are on track to finish by August 14. Resupplying in Bland VA today and then back to the trail. Rain for 9 days straight now. Everything is damp all the time. All of my socks are wet and I seem to fall into a creek everyday. Pat just laughed as I read this to her because it is so true. My feet are angry at me and starting to rebel. I will try to hold off the mutiny.

Troutdale, VA

2009-05-05T13:11:00.001-04:00

We are at a tiny little restaurant/store in Troutdale, VA. We will be living on candy bars for the next few days, but we need the calories anyway, I suppose. We did laundry again in Damascus, VA a few days ago. Long over due, I am sure. Since Pat and I are mostly hiking together during the day, the hour that I took off to check out the town was the first time we had been separated for a while. Even though we are getting along wonderfully, a little separation was probably a good thing.

One of the cool things about seeing the little towns where we are resuppying is meeting the locals and experiencing the local diner. Some are good, some are not so good. In Damascus, we had breakfast at a diner called Dairy King that the bike shop owner recommended. We were skeptical about the place right up until plates of beautiful pancakes were delivered to our table. Delicious! And we went back later for lunch of tasty burgers and ice cream!

We are both getting stronger and faster hiking. It has been raining for at least the past 3 days. Everything is wet and dirty. And we still comment that it is great temperature for hiking. Craziness! Looking forward to when we can build a campfire again.

What is even more outrageous is the amount food we are eating. Can't get enough, it seems. When we started the hike, it was 2 packets of instant oatmeal for each of us for breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch of a bagel and something else, an afternoon snack, and then dinner. All of that wouldn't get us halfway through the day now. Four packets of oatmeal each for breakfast with a snack 90 minutes later. We are stopping to eat every hour or so until dinner at the campsite. We had originally thought we would resupply every 7 days, but it is turning out to be every 3 or 4 days. We need so much food each day that it just weighs so much. We couldn't even carry 7 days worth of the amount of food we need now.

I have developed a reputation for slipping and sliding and getting very messy. My pig pen rain pants are the least of it. I seem to gather the forest in my hair every day (well, the hair that I have anyway) and everything is a mess from the knee down. I have a number of scratches and bug bites. I look like I have been out in the woods for a while. Ah well.

I also have a reputation for being the slowpoke. We are off to the trail again and guess who hasn't put her food in her pack yet?

Day 32, Virginia

2009-05-05T11:47:00.003-04:00

Every single day on the trail is different and exciting in itself. But there are still certain milestones that we look forward to and celebrate. Crossing a state line is one such mark...we crossed into Virginia a few days ago. Crossing large increments of miles is another such target...we walked over 500 miles on the AT as of yesterday. Yeah!!! We were suprised by the number of people that had apparently celebrated the same milestone before us. There were little piles of rocks spelling (counting) out the numbers 500 in several places along the trail near the 500 mile mark. There were similar 500 signs stamped or written in the mud and others made with twigs. So much fun to know we are not alone in this venture.

We have had the pleasure of meeting many other hikers attempting to do just what we are. It still startling that we can hike for an entire day without seeing anyone else. We seem to see more day hikers than tru-hikers. Even then the numbers stay within a handful a day. And on a rainy day we will be hard pressd to see anyone.

We had great fun this morning when our bear bag decided to get stuck in the tree. We released the rope to lower it but nothing happened. Yogi (Jess) suggested we summon a bear - as he would surely be able to get it down in a jiffy. We threw sticks and rocks at the bag but nothing happened. Yogi even hoisted me up at one point but I wasn't able to reach it (yes I used a stick). We kept going back into the woods to get bigger and bigger LOGS to reach the bag. In the end we retrieved it but have learned not to let the rope get too close to the crux of a branch. By the way it is also important not to use a small rock to throw the rope over since the rope will slide off and knot up instead of unwinding. Lastly never ever use a stick. It will get stuck up in the tree and not come back down. (Life lesson # 7323)

The 10th Mile

2009-04-30T20:32:00.001-04:00

A funny thing about long distance hiking is that as the day goes on you actually hike faster. The 10th mile is faster than the first one. Sort of seems like it should be the other way around since you would be fresh in the morning but it takes a few miles to warm up your muscles and then you really get rolling. In most cases if you went for a 10 mile walk at home then the first mile would be fast and bouncy and everything would slow down from there. Not on the trail. A lot of things are different on the trail. Although this theory does not hold up past the 15th mile. No AGC sitings so far but we did get to the falls later in the day. Hope they like it as much as we did.

Laurel Falls and BIG mountain

2009-04-29T21:24:00.003-04:00

Today was a mix of highs and lows. A high point that was actually at a low elevation was the beautiful Laurel Falls. We spent some time just lounging on the rocks and appreciating the look and feel and sound of the water cascading over the rocks. This was the third falls and the biggest in just the last 24 hours. The trail turned promptly upward and we climbed straight up out of the gorge and into the sky for 3 miles. Very steep and very long. We agreed that this was the toughest climb yet. We were very happy to reach the campsite just over the top of the mtn that has no name. Although we came up with a few unkind names for it ourselves. Oh - and it started to rain as we neared the top. Just really tough all around. Tonight we are collecting rainwater in pots and bowls since our filter in not working well. We will get a new one in 3 days in Damascus VA. So the learning curve and the trail remain steep. We don't know what the salamander means but we added it to the stories of characters long the trail.

Shout out to C.L.

2009-04-28T10:29:00.001-04:00

Craig - Good luck in the Peace Corps!! I hope it is everything you dreamed it would be and more. Adventure cannot wait. Do it now. You will always come up with more great ideas later. Best wishes for the experience of a lifetime!!

Big Hump Mountian

2009-04-28T10:24:00.001-04:00

All's Well!!!

2009-04-28T10:22:00.002-04:00

Been a while since we last posted... guess we are just having too much fun. I can't even begin to describe how amazing the scenery and the adventure have become. North Carolina has bigger balds (treeless mountain tops) that afford seemingly endless views of the mountains. They are a bit unprotected from the wind which as we have decided makes a hike more exciting. I am trying to make Jess understand that exciting usually means dangerous but if I don't believe it myself I doubt she will. We almost got blown off the mountain top last night by the exciting wind. I had to restake the tent around midnight when the gusts kicked up but in the morning our tent was in one piece. We tried to arrange it so that Jess slept on the NC side and I slept in TN last night. As near as we could tell that was the case. We never did see a sign when we crossed into TN. And the longhorn cows we shared the field with weren't talking. Last night instead of the bear bag we hung the cow bag! It was much more important to watch where we stepped in camp than when on the trail.

We are resupplying in Roan Mountain, TN this morning. Back on the trail this afternoon. I had three packages of instant oatmeal at 6:30 then ate two chicken bicuits and a stack of pancakes at Bob's Dairyland...I will be hungry in about an hour! Haha!! Love you all. Thanks for the support. I may never come home!!!

Erica meets us on the AT

2009-04-24T21:26:00.003-04:00

As you may have read in comments, my little sister Erica met Pat and me on the trail the day after we hit Hot Springs. She brought us a fantastic picnic lunch and the weather was beautiful so we sat out on the grass to eat. We left there with donuts and a ziploc full of extra pulled pork. The pork sure tasted good for dinner the next two nights and the donuts went fast too! It is great to have family and friends meet us on the trail and be a part of the adventure. We have hiked for 2 more days since the picnic and resupply again tomorrow. The days just fly by. Today marks 3 weeks of hiking and we have completed over 300 miles! A lot more to go but if it all goes by this fast then August will be here in no time. A new reality is starting to set in. I guess climbing to the top of dozens of mountain tops will have that effect.

Hot Springs NC

2009-04-24T21:15:00.002-04:00

After 17 days and the last one being rainy and muddy, we were finally pushed over the edge and decided we needed to do laundry. Fortunately Hot Springs NC was coming up the next day. The AT goes right through this little town with AT diamond shapes in the sidewalks as trail markers. The saddest little laundromat ever, but we got it done and our clothes were smelling fresh and clean! What do you wear when you wash your only set of clothes? Just your rain pants and rain jacket! We resupplied food and had a great meal at a local diner and got some ice cream then back on the trail within a few hours. I mean, we are hikers and we are supposed to be hiking!

Out of the Smokies

2009-04-19T21:38:00.002-04:00

We walked out of the Smokies today. It was so bittersweet. For 71 miles they provided abundant views and vistas but challenging mountains to climb. We met lots of interesting characters along the way like the hiker walking and playing his guitar at the same time ...the ukelele playing folk singer...and the ELF who claims he is not human. We also took note of the abundant use of alternative substances on the trail. By the way who knows what "did you see a salamander" is code for? Still having the time of my life. Feasted on instant mashed potatos, tuna and little donuts tonight! Wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now!

By the way the previous message was written the first day but didn't come through until today.Sorry for any confusion.

The morning after...

2009-04-19T20:14:00.001-04:00

date April 5th...I think I need a cigarette and beer and I don't even smoke! Whew, made it to Justus creek for camping after our first day on the trail. We decided that hiking over 14 miles and 4 large mountains was an ambitious task... that's all I have to say about that! On to a new day...beautiful weather. FEELING CHECK - Joy, positive, very sore feet.

Bears!

2009-04-17T21:46:00.002-04:00

Four bears in the first four hours in the Great Smokey Mountians National Park! We hiked to the top of Clingmans Dome today which is the highest point on the AT at 6643 feet. Three different sets of park tourists took our pics today. It seems as though thru-hikers are a park attraction. However after 14 days on the trail without showers or laudry none of them got very close to us. We crossed the 200 mile mark today! Forgot to buy more fuel at our resupply stop in Fontana Dam. But we have been heating water over campfires. How am I doing? Physically I am tired a lot of the time but all the parts keep working and no pain. The initial blisters are healing quickly. I had to get a new pair of boots a few days ago and that was a big improvement. I am getting stonger and faster everyday in spite of the tiredness. Mentally and emotionally I am doing well too. The scenery is great and the company is wonderful. Pat and I are very compatible hiking and traveling. Many things have gone right for us everyday too. Lucky

What would you do for a ride?

2009-04-11T21:12:00.002-04:00

Today we came upon our first real need for a trip into town to resupply. Funny predicament when you come up to a road knowing there is food around the corner but don't wish to walk four extra feet in either direction to get it. As luck would have it a boy scout troop needed a hand today...and we needed food! Good old barter system begins- well sort of. Jess was handed some keys to a car and asked to drive it to an undisclosed location...following some other car of a person we had just met (believed to be the father of a boy scout) at the side of the road. After a 25 minute drive into the Nantahala forest we dropped off the car and received a ride to town. Long story short, they needed a driver to help shuttle the car to the pick up location...so we were glad to help in exchange for a ride to town. But the story did play out as told.

Oh and we only really had to hitch hike twice to get back to the trail! The first time was in the grocery store parking lot. We jumped into the bed of a truck owned by a sweet old couple. The second time we were picked up along the highway by an off duty postal worker willing to drive us the ten miles back to the trail! You just can't make this stuff up I tell you!!!! It was nice to be in town briefly but nicer to get back on the trail. Amazing how quickly the trail life pulls you in and becomes a genuine lifestyle. Can we ever return to society the same way after this experience?? It has only been 8 days....oooh!

Day 7 - Even more exciting!

2009-04-10T20:00:00.001-04:00

Continuous and torrential rain. Large and pelting hail. Strong winds. Was there a tornado somewhere in the area? The trail was a muddy and mucky mess. Much which ended up on my rain pants. We now call them my Pig Pen pants. Set up our tent right next to the trail just before the wind and rain picked up again. Tough day overall but we crossed the 100 mile mark so feeling pretty darn great about ourselves. Only 2075 to go! Finally who is Nasus?

Farewell Georgia

2009-04-09T12:59:00.001-04:00

We just found a sunny spot over looking North Carolina to eat lunch. Crossed over the first of 13 state lines...WooHoo!!! What an emotional boost. Officially 76.4 miles behind us. Our bodies are getting stronger with each day. Our feet on the other hand tell the whole story...nothing a safety pin and duck tape can't take care of! We'll explain that some other time. Having a blast!!!

Steep learning curve

2009-04-08T20:16:00.002-04:00

We are huddled in our tent on top of a mtn. Day 1 was sun. Day 2 was rain. Day 3 was sleet. Day 4 was snow. And today was day 5 and sun again. We have conquered at least 4 mtns each day. That steep learning curve describes the trail perfectly. We ate snow and sucked on icicles for water. Also had winter and summer camping in just 4 nights. Our bodies are learning the hills but still coming through for us. Pat is looking over my shoulder and we wrote this together. We appreciate all of the support and comments we recived from you. Keep 'em comin'! We love you.

On your mark! Get set! GO!

2009-04-04T10:43:00.001-04:00

We are at the top of Springer Mountain!! Took the standard pic by the southern terminus plaque. Signed the registry - we are the 5th and 6th thru-hikers today. Numbers 646 and 647 for this year. The thru-hike starts right now!!

The dare...

2009-04-03T11:36:00.008-04:00

For my supportive friends out there - each one of you only recognizes me with a shaved head. A sparse few of my relatives can even recollect when I had a full head of hair (going back over 20 years.) So naturally when I contemplated the trail I wrestled with how I was going to pull off bringing electric clippers and keeping my tidy cut. My solution, don't cut it! The thought blossomed into a metaphor of sorts in that as I my hair grows I shall grow spiritually. Funny enough for me...but now we get to Jess!! haha...

For those of you familiar with Jess you are aware that she has NEVER shaved her head! It seemed the obvious and fair thing thing to have her shave her hair at the start of the hike and let it grow back out as we hiked. So now the dare is upon us. Last night we took out the clippers and Jess shaved her own head... these are classic blackmail pictures...

Theme Song?

2009-04-02T11:55:00.001-04:00

Every big undertaking needs an inspirational theme song. So here are the lyrics. I am sure you know the tune....

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
By The Proclaimers

When I wake up, yeah I know I'm gonna be,
I'm gonna be the girl who wakes up next to you
When I go out yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the girl who goes along with you
If I get drunk, yes I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the girl who gets drunk next to you
And if I haver yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the girl who's havering to you

But I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the girl who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

When I'm working yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the girl who's working hard for you
And when the money, comes in for the work I do
I'll pass almost every penny on to you
When I come home yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the girl who comes back home to you
And if I grow old well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the girl who's growing old with you

And I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
To be the girl who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

When I'm lonely yes I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the girl who's lonely without you
When I'm dreaming yes I know I'm gonna dream
I gonna Dream about the time when I'm with you

And I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
To be the girl who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door

It's all coming together.

2009-04-02T09:28:00.003-04:00

I am sitting in my spare bedroom staring at a disastrous mess strewn about and virtually covering the floor realizing of course that it is our hiking gear. Thoughts fluctuate randomly from how are we ever going to carry all that junk for over 2,000 miles to thinking can this small pile of stuff actually sustain us for 19 weeks. I have had a few moments of temporary anxiety over the last few days culminating in trips to local outfitters to make sure there is not a better way. (Yes there were last minute EXPENSIVE purchases involved.) And although I have acquired more gear the ultimate challenge is to carry as little as possible. Leading up to the question of what can we get rid of or what can we afford to leave behind. We are searching for the fine line between shaving off pack weight to lighten our loads without creating undue suffering and wants. It sounds ridiculous but Jess has made/convinced me to remove an extra pair of lightweight long underwear and an extra bandanna from my pack and exchange a heavy rain jacket for a lighter weight less durable option. I do hope that was good advice. But in return she has had to part with an neck warmer and a comfort type packing towel. Today we finalize our packing and accept all decisions as final. Our estimated pack weight should fall between 35 and 43 pounds depending on how much food and water is carried at the time. Wish us luck!

Road Report

2009-04-01T16:58:00.004-04:00

I got to LA late last night. I thought the drive would take about 36 hours, but it was quite a few more than that. Things went pretty slowly through the Colorado and Utah mountains Over the course of the 3-day drive I experienced spring twice, summer 3 times, and winter 3 times.

Michigan: Wow - I know these freeways very well! Clearly I have lived here a long time!

Indiana: Blissfully brief at only 40 miles.

Illinois: Rainy. Traffic around Chicago was fairly light.

Iowa: Snow in the east and overnight.

Nebraska: Clear, sunny, and warm. I know it is cliche, but in western Nebraska I could find only 3 country radio stations, 1 bible station, and 1 hard rock station. There also seemed to be significant overlap between the country and bible stations.

Colorado: Eastern CO had 1 country station, 1 oldies station, and lots of tumbleweed. Some of the tumbleweeds were as big as tires and they all looked like animals when they rolled across the freeway. That is alarming at night. Past Denver, I headed into the mountains. Severe winter weather, in the dark, in a truck, towing a trailer carrying my car. Thrilling!

Utah: Loved eastern Utah! Really looking forward to future hiking and camping trips here. At one point I turned a corner and it was suddenly snowing. Crazy stuff!

Arizona: Only 30 miles, but 30 of the most beautiful miles I have ever seen, especially the 15 miles just south of Utah. It was probably the closest you could get to driving through the Grand Canyon. There were two small towns later, but you barely notice them. If you appreciate red rock, green brush, and large untouched, undeveloped land, then check out this corner of the world sometime.

Nevada: Eh. Drove close enough to the Las Vegas Strip to see the cars on the roller coaster at New York New York.

California: My new home state has a lot of construction. The most nerve-racking part of the entire drive was the last hour in LA in the dark. Arrived precisely at 12 midnight, because I like to be on time. Ha!

Many thanks to all of the people who called, texted, or contacted me in some way during the drive. It was really nice to have human contact and know that folks were thinking about me.

I start back to school at the end of August for a Master of Accounting at the University of Southern California. I suppose I won't be California resident officially until I get a CA driver's license after the hike. In the meantime, all of my stuff is here in LA. I heard that my gear arrived in Tennessee today and I arrive there tomorrow. Only four more days until we start hiking, but, the adventure has already begun!

2200

2009-03-31T13:02:00.002-04:00

The magic number, give or take a few miles.

Before starting on this hike, I drove all of my belongings in a moving truck, while towing my car, from East Lansing, MI to Los Angeles, CA. And dumped it all off in my sister and brother-in-law's garage. Kathryn's comment got me thinking and I realized that the drive out to LA is about 2200 miles and the length of the AT is about 2200 miles. Not sure if there is any meaning behind this coincidence or what long treks so close together says about me.

How do we begin?

2009-03-28T00:24:00.001-04:00

Before we can start our hike Jess and I will need to physically get ourselves and all our gear to the start of the trail at the top of Springer Mountain in Amicalola Falls State Park (high in the wooded mountains of Northwestern Georgia.) Some people find this to be very challenging in itself. They are likely to suffer odd gazes with their overstuffed backpacks on public transportation or hitch rides from benevolent neighbors. If they are really lucky a family member can arrange transportation and walk the grueling approach trail. Jess and I are incredibly fortunate to have a very supportive group of nine Chattanooga ladies providing a personal escort to Georgia. Our own private harem of women or the best friends anyone can ask for??? I can personally attest to the fact that these women are fabulous!!! They are encouraging, inspirational, and instrumental in starting our journey. They have gathered together to be our cheering section and send off committee. As such, they will be driving us/with us to the quaint little Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega, Georgia on Friday April 3rd. If you haven't been it is really a treat. The hostel takes in all sorts of strays from hikers to bikers and random travelers. They can be contacted at Hikerhostel.com or if you need a more personal touch call (770) 312-7342. Joshua and Leigh Saint, the owners will be more than happy to hear from you.

That evening in Dahlonega a virtual feast of eating to our hearts content will take place at a local restaurant called Our House. No shame in ordering large portions here. We will be burning up to 6,000 calories a day starting in the morning. Mmmmm...extra dessert...please and thank you! Then it is back to the hostel for a peaceful nights slumber on a soft mattress with clean sheets and visions of shelter mice far far away. Our last night with four solid walls and bed linens for a long time

We will awaken the next morning to biscuits, eggs and an old fashioned breakfast spread provided at the hostel. Jess and I will say farewell to our loyal friends. Hugs and waves will abound and fade as we get shuttled to the Amicalola Falls parking lot 0.9 miles North of the trail head. Since no roads physically connect to the Southernmost terminus of the trail we will literally be hiking for 0.9 miles in a Southern direction on the AT before we can turn around and actually consider ourselves North bounders. It is at the turn around, at that precise moment...marked only by a metal plaque embedded in a rock atop Springer Mountain that we will undeniably, unquestionably, unequivocally be thru-hikers*. The date will be carried with us for four and a half months like hummus and peanut butter... April 4, 2009!

Oh and in case you were worried that our nine supportive friends will be bored after Jess and I leave for the trail - they are planning their own overnight backpacking trip further North on the AT. They will have to start their own blog if they want to tell you about that trip!!!

*To those new to the terminology a thru-hiker is the coined term used for those hikers foolish enough to attempt the entire 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail in one season.

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Food, Water, Shelter....

2009-03-26T16:04:00.003-04:00

We are going to pick berries and scavenge for mushrooms. Pat is going to show me how to skin a squirrel so we can roast it over the fire. I'd really like to catch a racoon so I can make a hat like Daniel Boone. We will collect rainwater in our tin cups and store it in a canteen. We will build lean-to's from fallen branches and throw our rain jackets over them for protection. If we are lucky, we might find a cave for the night. Yeah, right.

Food - every few days we will come to another little town and resupply, even if we have to hike a few miles off the trail to reach it. Sometimes it could be a full-blown grocery store, other times it might be a small general store. We'll just make do with what is available. We will eat more than we ever thought we could bear of: granola bars, GORP (good old raisins and peanuts), chocolate in various forms, dried fruits, oatmeal and hot cereal, bagels and crackers and pepperoni and salami and cheese, noodles, mashed potato flakes, rice, soup. Powdered sauces to make it tasty. Anything for which the instructions are "Just add water". Pat will eat lots of peanut butter and I will eat lots of hummus (I found it in a powdered version). Nonetheless, all of this stuff will get really boring, really fast.

To heat the water, we have a small, lightweight pot that sits atop a small, lightweight backpacking stove. (Are you sensing a theme here?). So, along with resupplying our food, we also will have to resupply fuel for the stove.

Water - We will filter water when it is not available at water pumps near established shelters and campsites, with iodine tablets for a backup. Filtering water that is moving, such as a stream, is preferred to still water, like a pond or puddle, etc. The filter doesn't have to work quite so hard, or something like that. We each have a water bladder with a hose to drink water during the day without taking off our pack and a separate water bottle for using around the campsite in the evening. A total of 4L capacity each. A little Gatorade, Tang, or hot tea is handy too.

Shelter - A groovy, little 2-person tent. Lightweight, of course. Vestibules on either side so we don't have to wake each other when getting up during the night. Hopefully enough room to pull our packs inside at night.

We won't spend every night in the tent though. There are a lot of shelters along the trails for backpackers to use. These are little one-room buildings that are often open on one side. Some people won't even be carrying a tent, but will try to find a place in a shelter every night. I have heard there are a lot of mice around the shelters. I can handle snakes and insects, but rodents.... well, I might be in a tent on some of these nights if the mice are too friendly.

Another time when we might not be staying in the tent would be when a resupply stop runs late and we can't get back to the trail before it gets dark. We might have to stay in a hostel or motel or such. We would prefer to be on the trail as much as possible though. I mean, that's the point of this whole thing - to be out on the AT.

Welcome to the blog about our thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail!

2009-03-23T17:36:00.006-04:00

"Our" blog? Yep. Two. Pat and Jess are going to spend four and half months backpacking together. Should be hilarious (or something)! We are both going to be posting here so you will get to hear both sides of the story. No guarantees about the quality or quantity of posts, just our best intentions.

Thru-hike? From one end to the other without skipping any sections. We are going to hike past every white blaze and trail marker. No cheating!

Appalachian Trail? There are eight National Scenic Trails in the United States, although not all of them are completed and certified. The Appalachian Trail (AT) is probably the most well-traveled of them and it is one of the completed trails. The AT extends for 2,175 miles from northern Georgia to the middle of Maine and crosses through 14 states. (See the map to the right). Hundreds of people thru-hike the AT every year and thousands more hike it for a few days, weeks, or months. The Trail winds through numerous National and State parks and forests, along roads and farms, and even cuts through the middle of some towns.

The southernmost point is on Springer Mountain in Georgia and the northernmost point is Katahdin in Maine. We are going to start in Georgia on Sat. April 4, 2009 and hopefully reach Katahdin by mid-August. We will have to hike an average of about 16.5 miles per day. Some days will be more and some days will be less. It is a fairly ambitious pace, but I am sure no one is surprised to hear that about either one of us.