Sure, John’s having an easy time of it! We’d wondered about the camp chair ourselves. When we caught a shuttle a little while later into town, one of the gals said, “that chair’s been here for weeks, and we’ve seen it all over the hillside!”
Endurance Athletics
As a former triathlete, John had the background to understand athletic training. I’m new to the game, having done little since high school. Seeing our hike as a study in athletic training is a new perspective for me, but it fits. Working our muscles for 8-10 hours a day means a lot of wearing down. …
Loose Wrapping
Our second day of rain, we stopped for a snack. I looked at John and said, “your Dad is right, maybe we aren’t wrapped too tight!” Just then a couple of German girls came along and took this photo for us. As they handed the camera back, the sky opened up. We slogged across Blood …
Max Patch in Snow
Not a sight you’d expect to see in late April, but as we came to Max Patch, it was covered in snow. We did not climb it this day, opting for warm and dry and a return at a sunnier time.
On Blood Mountain
The very name felt ominous – Blood Mountain, standing tall above Slaughter Creek. None of the simple trail materials with us provided a backstory, so I imagined it a dark place along the Trail of Tears. For a thru-hiker, it’s the first massive mountain on the profile chart, scary to imagine crossing. But beyond lay …
Sage Advice
“Your pack weight,” said Dan, “is directly proportional to your happiness on the trail.” Returning to Franklin after sore knees plagued us both, we sat with Dan “Sheltowee” and Nina “Waterfall” Rogers, friends and experienced long distance hikers who could coach us out of our weight conundrum. John and I are steadily losing weight so …
The Corona Effect
Having never camped on mountaintops before, it was a delight to discover what spring in the North Georgia mountains means after the rains depart and the skies are bright. We pushed hard after our first zero day, feeling refreshed and fleet of foot climbing up from Neels Gap and over the mountains to our first …
The Enchanted Forest
Less than a week in the woods, and we are soaked, bedraggled. The morning fog never lifted, so a walk in the clouds turned to a fine mist of rain and then a downpour as we edged along slick rock ledges on the way to Woody Gap. The rain pounded heavy and cold, drenching my …
The Memory of Feet
“I’ve never done a rock scramble!” said John, looking dazed and worn atop Albert Mountain. “Three times my pack pulled me backwards and I had to hang on for dear life.” It wasn’t an easy day by any means. A lot of up, a lot of down, more up, and then the cliffs – the …
The Right Gear
A week into our hike, it was obvious my old backpack and rain jacket had seen better days. The aches and pains and chills that I didn’t need to have came from a source that could be replaced. And so it was that we spent my birthday gear shopping. I knew a new pack was …
Tough Choices
Hiking the AT isn’t easy. Having section hiked parts of it years ago, I thought I was up to the challenge, but even with years of hiking experience, it’s like starting from scratch for both of us. Georgia whipped us hard. John turned an ankle coming down Springer. Pushing a long day after Neels Gap, …
Walking with Spring
In the low elevations of North Carolina, spring is in full leaf. As we’ve walked north from Georgia we’ve watched the understory transform from a smattering of wildflowers to a symphony of colors and textures. In one day, in one sweeping glance, trillium nods in white, pink, yellow, and scarlet. Explosions of troutlily fill damp …
