Still Going Strong

Posted on May 21, 2012 by

I’m tired this morning after my zero day and two nights in a real bed. My left knee is a bit sore and I’m hoping I don’t get yet another crazy and painful charlie horse in my left calf today as I head out of Pearisburg this morning. Backpacking is hard work; and ten to twelve-hour days are more the rule than the exception. It has rained more than 10 percent of the time on the trail and I really prefer dry boots to wet and soggy one.

Okay, so now that all of the painful facts are out there I have to admit I really am still going strong on the Appalachian Trail. I’ve completed 630 miles in two months and have 1554 more mile to hike before this dedicated thru-hiker reaches Mount Katahdin and is done with a dream of a life time.

It’s amazing how every day is both different and the same. Beautiful ups and downs. Multiple shades of green and flowers that reappear as I head north. Following the spring as I head north.

Some of my fellow hikers are starting back on the trail with me after having taken a few days off trail to enjoy the festivities of Trail Days in Damascus, Va. I decided to push through this year and return to enjoy it next year after I have completed my quest and reached Katahdin before the snow closes the mountain. I may be slow, but I am determined and have endurance beyond my own belief. More importantly I believe in the mission of the Denver Fisher House and my fellow veterans and their families who rely on the Fisher House when they come to Denver for medical care.

Alrighty now! I’m off for another 92 miles this week before my next zero day on Monday in Daleville, Va. Have a great week and please consider supporting my cause by making a donation to the Denver Fisher House.

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YouTube Videos and Fun in Damascus

Posted on May 6, 2012 by
DamascusWelcomeMural

DamascusWelcomeMural (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’m sitting on the very comfy bed at the Hikers Inn, 276-475-3788, in Damascus, Va enjoying a zero day. Whether you come to Damascus as a hiker or are biking the Virginia Creeper Trail the Hikers Inn is the place to stay. It is centrally located on Laurel Avenue and the innkeepers, Lee and Paul, are incredible. I have a limited tolerance for dirty hostels and their place is clean and beautiful. I look forward to returning next year for a visit when I attend Trail Days as a 2012 thru-hiker.

There are a few restaurant in Damascus and I must say a word or two about them. In the Country had good food, though it did seem a bit slow in the preparation. I was hungry and my meal filled this hungry hiker and cost under $10. The calzone at Quincy’s was fantastic and of course I ate the whole thing. I am returning there this evening, but not sure what I will eat with my 25 ounce cold beer. Mojoe’s has great coffee and the 800 calorie cinnamon roll was yummy. When I’m in town I eat whatever I want, BBQ chips included, and I have still lost weight and built muscle. I am hiking a minimum of ten hours a day, except when coming into a town so far. I may be slow, but I am persistent and have endurance.

I have made and posted a few videos on YouTube that you may be interested in viewing them. If you subscribe to my channel you can get notifications when I post them. I am sure they will get better as I go along. I am one fifth of the way up the Appalachian Trail and think there is still lots to see along the way. I will be doing some interviews too I think. Send me a request via the comment feature below the post if you would like to receive a one minute audio track of sounds in the woods on the AT. I will send when I get to Marion next Friday and whenever possible if your request is after that.

Posted in Appalachian Trail, Denver Fisher House Fundraising, Wellness | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rain Rain Go Away

Posted on May 5, 2012 by

On Friday, April 20th, my hiking partner’s girlfriend joined us on the trail for a couple of days hiking. Cindy drove up from South Carolina where she picked up Kokopelli’s dog Dee Dee and made her way to Devil’s Fork Gap and joined us on the trail near the end of a 14 mile hiking day. After crossing over a mountain we set up camp in TN just past Rector Laurel Road. On Saturday, we got up and proceeded to enjoy a 14 mile hike in pretty good weather though it did threaten rain. Cindy and I got to Sam’s Gap before Kokopelli and enjoyed some Trail Magic (yummy non-trail food and drink). We hiked on to yet another Low Gap campsite and were lucky to get inside out tents before it really started to rain.

On Sunday morning we woke up to a cold rain and heavy fog with the threat of snow. I got up and out of camp straight away before eating breakfast and hiked four mile in the rain to Bald Mountain Shelter where we decided to contact Uncle Johnny at the Nolichucky Hostel and arrange for a ride into Erwin, TN. Three hours later, at Spivey Gap, three wet and cold hikers and one wet and dirty dog were on our way down the mountain, on the twisty road, into Erwin and a dry place to sleep for the night.

Monday morning dawned wet and rainy with promises of more rain and snow in the mountains. Cindy and Dee Dee were on their way back home and my mother came to Erwin and picked us up for a couple of zero days in Green Mountain with her and my dad. It rained off and on for those two days, but the rest and yummy food were good. Wednesday we got back on the trail at Spivey Gap (40 minutes from my mom’s house) and were hit with rain a few more times before arriving in Damascus, VA ten days later. I hiked into Damascus today with just a few spatters of rain, but this afternoon it really came down hard.

So all I have to say is rain rain go away, come again some other day (when I am done with the trail or at least on a zero day).

Posted in Appalachian Trail, rain | Tagged | 1 Comment

Hot Springs, NC is Close to Heaven

Posted on April 17, 2012 by

We hiked into Hot Springs, NC yesterday morning just in time for breakfast at the Smoky Mountain Diner. It is amazing that when I am out on the trail I just don’t have much of an appetite, but when I get to town it turns on big time.

Right off the trail, to the left, is the Laughing Heart Hostel, which is managed by Chuck and Tigger Norris. I stopped in and enjoyed a brief conversation and a cup of good coffee before heading in to town. Though we planned on checking out Elmer’s Sunnybank Inn, we never even saw it. There isn’t a sign posted, but I just heard it is across the street from the diner. We ended up staying at the Iron Horse Inn (in the rooms across the street over the Spring Creek Tavern). The accommodations are nice, unfortunately there isn’t any AC yet and it is warm here in NC already.

This past week has been incredible. The trail on the mountains go up up up and then of course down down down. Coming out of the Standing Bear Farm Hostel was a very torturous long up and then several more ups and downs all the way to Max Patch (watch the video) and then I still had about a mile to complete the very difficult 14.8 mile day. Thankfully the next day was a beautiful 15.4 mile walk in the park. There were three good hills, but with the more mellow switchbacks it was more than an hour shorter than the day before.

My hike time is interspersed with many stops to take pictures of the flowers and distant mountains. I have seen so many different types of wildflowers and stop to take a picture when I see a new type and also when I see a spectacular blanket of blossoms. Pictures can be seen on my AT Jann 2012 page.

Our next stop in six days is in Erwin, TN where my mom will pick us up for a couple days off the trail. Then on to Damascus, VA though we are looking for a hostel or two to stay at for a night, resupply, (and shower) along the way.

On the trail I hike until I stop for the night and time seems to go by very quickly. And when in town for a zero day, time goes by so slowly. And I had the idea that my life would slow down on the trail, I guess I am just in the flow out on the trail – and boy don’t I love it.

I am fast approaching 300 miles on the 2,184 mile Appalachian Trail and would love to reach $3,000 for my fund raising by then. If you haven’t already made a donation please consider donating today. All donations are 100% tax-deductible and 100% goes to the construction fund for a new 20 guest-room Fisher House in Denver. To ensure your name and donation shows up under my Team Fisher House efforts please make your donation at the bottom of my page.

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Plan, Re-plan and Big Surprises

Posted on April 10, 2012 by

Yesterday was another red letter day for me on the Appalachian Trail. I hit the the 204 mile mark. I got to Newfound Gap, found trail magic and one of my partners, Kokopelli, and learned that Two-Timer had to leave the trail. Hiking through the Smokies has been a really new experience for me since I am not used to staying in the shelters with 13 other people (mostly men who snore all night).

At the NOC, after the A. Rufus Shelter, two-Timer and I had a great breakfast and I was recognized by a Facebook friend. Hopper and I got acquainted a bit over a big delicious breakfast. We enjoyed a shower and washed our clothes before hiking the seven miles, 3,000 ft elevation gain, trek to Sassafras Shelter where we found the two Boy Scout troops that were at the previous night’s shelter. We camped above the shelter area and skipped out as early as we could the next morning.

As we were making our way up Jacob’s Ladder I was praying for rain as it was really hot and sunny all day. There was thunder and lightening to the east of us and then to the west of us; and after I passed Brown Fork’s Shelter it started right in on top of me. Two-Timer had stopped at Brown Fork’s to get some water before it started to rain and while she was waiting out the rain, a woman who was with the Scouts came in wet, cold and pert near hypothermic. Two-Timer ended up staying at the shelter and helping with the woman’s hysterical and physical condition. I hiked on close to 3 miles in the rain and stopped at Cody Gap for the night. I was fortunate that it stopped raining long enough for me to get my tent up and my bear bags in the tree. Dinner was a half bag of peanut M&Ms. I survived the night alone and slept pretty well indeed. Luckily I had enough cell service so I could text my husband to let him know I was snug in for the night, but I didn’t tell him I was alone until morning because I didn’t want him to worry. I hiked in wet boots to Fontana Dam Marina, 10.2 miles by 1pm, called the resort shuttle and was able to have a marvelous Dam Hippie Burger, fries and 2 Nantahala Red beers before 2pm. Life is good!

When you are hiking on the AT it’s important to realize that all of the plans that you made may need to be revised daily. Before I left Denver I did all the planning I thought was necessary; and felt confident that I could complete the hike within my time frame. I used an Excel spreadsheet and planned my daily miles and where I was going to sleep nightly. I have since made several revisions to accommodate the terrain and my physical ability. Since starting the AT, my biggest mile day to date was 15.5 miles and the shortest mile day was 7.2. There have been some fantastic views, flora and fauna, and a trail that goes up and down and UP and DOWN!

I am posting pictures on Facebook as I can and having a ball every day.

 

Posted in Appalachian Trail, MassageTherapy | Leave a comment

Up and Down for 162 Miles on the AT

Posted on April 5, 2012 by

I know you have heard them say, “It’s all downhill from here.” If you’re on the Appalachian Trail don’t ever believe it, even if the map looks like it goes that way.  I am another 55 miles up and down the trail and stopped yesterday at the Fontana Village Resort for my third zero day. According to the the ATC Data Companion, the village was constructed in 1946, for TVA workers building Fontana Dam. Many of the original buildings are still in use by the resort. We are enjoying the comfort of the lodge and taking advantage of the massage therapist this afternoon.

About the ATC Data Companion: one must remember that the “gap” elevations are listed, but not the elevation of most of the mountains that lie between the gaps. I don’t know why that didn’t occur to me when I was doing my daily mileage planning. It hit me somewhere along the way up one of the 3,000 foot elevation gains this past week. Oh, I’m sure it occurred to me at some point, but the tiredness of the body depletes the oxygen level of the brain and I soon forget.

I have been the lucky recipient of beer trail magic twice since Saturday the 31st. The first beer was a real winner! Magic Hat #9 was the absolutely best beer and was shared by a friendly group enjoying the view, on my first day back on the trail, at the Wayah Bald Observatory. (click to see photo). The next time was at Tellico Gap. A couple of families were picnicing before thier climb up to see the 360 degree views at the Wesser Bald Observatory, which were gorgeous. I think they heard me mention cold beer, as in “I wish I had a cold beer,” and then asked if we wanted one. Oh yeah! It was cold and refreshing and helped me right up the 1.4 miles to the top. It’s the little things in life that top off a perfect day on the AT.

The Fontana Dam lies at the southern boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and we will enter the seventy mile stretch of the AT, within the park, in the morning. There are 11 shelters within the park and we hope to stay at three of them before getting off at Newfound Gap and hitting Gatlinburg for a resupply and rest break after climbing Clingman’s Dome, 6,643 ft elevation. We will be passing the 200 mile mark before heading in to Gatlinburg, which is a good excuse for a celebration.

Big excitement and a first for me on the trail. My partner and I got separated when it started raining and I ended up camping alone at Cody Gap. I was soaked to the skin from my 2.5 mile dash in the rain, but was fortunate that the rain slowed down to a dribble when I got to camp and was able to set up my tent, stow my gear and hang my bear bags before it started to rain again in earnest. My Big Agnes UL 2 was perfect and kept me warm and dry all night long.

Time has taken on a totally different dimension for me while hiking the AT. I will be hiking along, sometimes singing a silly song, and time passes quickly by. I may stop for a break or to take a picture and find that I have been hiking for four hours later and I am more than half way done with my hiking day. Hiking in the rain, like I did the day before yesterday, speeds time even faster. I have yet to experience any slowing down of time. I can hardly believe that I have been on the trail for close to 3 weeks already.

One last note, spring has been blooming before my very eyes. I know that when I return to the trail tomorrow it will be even greener and there will be more wild flowers blanketing the forest floor.

Posted in Appalachian Trail | 2 Comments

Georgia to North Carolina and 107 Miles of the Appalachian Trail

Posted on March 30, 2012 by

The first milestone this past week was walking from Georgia to North Carolina on the Appalachian Trail. There are two ways to tell you have made the leap from one state to the next: first there was a sign on the trail, nailed to a tree that read, ” NC/GA” and voila I was in North Carolina. I have the picture to prove it. The the second way was the steep uphill trails almost completely disappeared and the use of gradual up and down hill switch backs appeared.

Fast Back and I got back on the trail on Sunday morning and that was the last I saw of him. He left me a note at the Addis Campground saying he was going to the next camping area another two miles up the trail with the fellas and he would see me there. When I got there at 5:45pm he wasn’t there either and the best I can figure he met up with the partying band of the Paddy Tribe and hiked the full distance between Unicoi Gap to Dick’s Gap and went in to Hiawassee with the guys. Kokopelli and I spent 3 more nights on the trail and got off yesterday at noon at Winding Stair Gap and headed in to Franklin, NC.

Wednesday afternoon I passed the 100 mile mark and it was a glorious time up on Albert Mountain, what a view! I didn’t mention it earlier, but I have seen a nice variety of wild flowers along the way as well and will get a few of them posted on my Facebook trail page. All of the photographs on my camera will have to wait until I get home to be posted.

I was hiking an average of eight miles a day during the first week on the trail; and this past week the mileage was always between 12 and 14 miles per day. My feet got sore, but my pack got lighter so it was all good.

Yesterday I picked up my resupply box from home at the post office and today after replacing a few items at the Three Eagle Outfitters I got my backpack repacked and ready to go for another long week.

The third week is about to start tomorrow. My new hiking partner, Reggie, and I will be starting where we finished yesterday and are going on toward the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. It will take us about eight days to get to our next zero day in Gatlinburg, TN. I am expecting some big mountains, a couple hot showers along the way, and fun days of hiking. I am also most curious to see if I will run into any of the Paddy Tribe along the way.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

50 Miles Up the AT

Posted on March 30, 2012 by

Greetings from Georgia. I am spending my first zero day in beautiful White County, Georgia. We are staying in the home of a fellow alumni  of West Springfield High School Virginia. With the aid of Facebook and mutual friends we became acquainted, and when John read that I was hiking the Appalachian Trail this year, he invited me to come and take a respite with him and his wife if it was a convenient resting place for me. Let me tell you, it is absolutely perfect. John and his wife Cathy are such warm and generous hosts in welcoming my hiking partner, Grant (Fast Back) and me into their beautiful home and giving me the keys to the truck so we could run any errands we may have and see some of the surrounding area. We did more of the former than the latter, but as I said to Grant, “It gives me another reason to return to this part of the country.”

So let me tell you about my first week on the AT. Can you say Heaven?  I was expecting to meet my internet friend, Regina Reiter, at Springer Mountain on the afternoon of the 17th, St. Patrick’s Day. I was due to arrive at Amicalola Falls State Park at 11:30am (I forgot about the time change since I was coming from the Central time zone to EST). Regina was bringing Susan for a training hike and wasn’t sure about the timing and being able to meet me at the top, so I just drove up with them to the parking lot a mile from Springer Mountain and didn’t hike up the 8.8 mile approach trail like I had planned. And as it turned out, that was a good thing because everyone I met on the top, who hiked up the approach, said it was a bear.

I had just got my tent set up, my sleeping pad blown up, and stuff stowed when Grant showed up in the campground. Though we had never met in person I recognized him right off. He got set up and a group of us just kind of gravitated to a central area and got to talking and wishing each other a Happy St. Partick’s Day and the pints of whiskey came out and we all celebrated the event and the Paddy Tribe was born. We all hiked our own daily hike, and then met up at the next shelter, though none of us were sleeping inside the shelters. It was good to spend time with one another in the evening and discover more about our wandering band of happy hikers.

We all agreed that a slower pace to start was the way to go so we didn’t burn ourselves out and blister up our feet before we got to Neels Gap at mile 30.7 where eight of us opted for renting two cabins in lieu of camping or using the hiker’s hostel at Walasi-Yi. Four stayed in one cabin and were planning on staying two nights and planned on taking a zero day there and three others and I stayed in another cabin. Needless to say, the party was in the other cabin and the father of one of our tribe members brought us beer and pizza. Other fellow hikers joined us and I hear the party went well into the night.

I stepped out of the cabin to start my fourth hiking day and discovered it was drizzling so I went back  in and put my pack cover on. I then proceeded to hike 5.5 miles of a 12 mile day in and out of the rain and low lying clouds. As I came down into Tesnatee Gap, in the pouring rain, I saw the rumored Trail Magic from Damascus. I must admit I imbibed the first root beer in 20 years and it was good. (Tuesdays and Thursdays are good days to find the magic there). We hiked the rest of that day and all of the next in and out of the rain and drizzle.

When we reached 50.9 mile mark at the roadway at Unicoi Gap I was joyous as I stuck out my thumb and hitch hiked for the first time in 40 years. We got a ride from a gentleman who talked the entire time as he drove down to the post office in Helen, GA, and I picked up my first resupply box. Then I asked another older gentleman(someone in my age range) about a good place to eat. As he was thinking about it I asked if the food at the Huddle House was any good and it just so happened that he was heading that way to do a plumbing job and we got a ride to the door. Don’t you just love it when all the goodness comes your way? I know I do.

It has been just so divine with all the variations of weather. Here it is March 24th and we have already enjoyed sunny 81 degree days and of course the low clouds and windy rains of March. The first four days were warm and sunny as we traversed 30 miles; and the Wednesday and Thursday were of the rain, wind, and low cloud variety. I enjoyed them all.

So my first week on the trail was filled with all the fun and excitement of any new adventure. I discovered 5 pounds of miscellaneous stuff I brought along that I c0uld send home during the first week, which is a good thing because my full pack with food and water weighed 51 pounds at Amicalola Falls State Park.

You can see photographs of my hike and daily updates, where I have service, on my Facebook Hike Page. I will continue to try to get a post up weekly as I make it into a hotel with internet and computer access.

Posted in Amicalola Falls State Park, Appalachian Trail, Springer Mountain Georgia | 2 Comments

Happy Camper in Denver

Posted on March 6, 2012 by

I spent a little time in my backyard this morning putting up my Big Agnes 2 person tent this morning. I inflated my BA 2.5 inch mummy sleeping pad and rolled out my 15 degree bag. I am ready to sleep in my tent this evening. It is 70 degrees in Denver now with snow coming in tomorrow with 22 to 35 degrees in the forecast for Wednesday. Wouldn’t it be neat to wake up to snow and me in my tent?

I also tested out my Jetboil and it works great!

You can check out all the neat photos I posted and please LIKE my Facebook page.

Ten days and a wake-up and I will be on the AT. I can hardly wait.

Posted in Appalachian Trail | 1 Comment

Getting Ready for the AT

Posted on March 3, 2012 by

If all goes according to plan I will be at Springer Mountain Shelter this time 2 weeks from now. From Amicalola Falls State Park the shelter is 8.2 miles and 3,500 vertical feet elevation gain. Though my backpack weighs at least 40 pounds and may be 45 pounds at times, I hope that my training will allow me to make it to the AT southern terminus without too much difficulty and pain.

This week and next I am finishing up on all the loose ends, visiting with friends, and getting some primo care from my chiropractor, massage therapist, and acupuncturist. If you live in metro Denver, you will want to give these fine health care practitioners a call and you don’t have to be training for a six-month, 2200 mile backpacking adventure either.

For your convenience I am listing my providers and their contact information:

Chiropractor: Dr. David Rawlings has been my chiropractor since 1995, and I see him monthly for maintenance or in case of an accident or fall. 303 696-1800.

Massage Therapist: Nicholas Rostocil has offices in NW Denver and Arvada. He can be reached at 720 231-7560.

Acupuncturist: Michelle Kingsley is located at Lotus Studio and can be contacted directly at 303 408-2990.

On Wednesday I am getting my hair cut and I am happy to have Ashley Sterling at The Parlour cut it really short for my journey because I was very happy with the way she cuts it regularly. You can make an appointment with her by calling 303 733-0016.

I am fortunate to have such excellent health care providers helping to get me ready.

This week I am also finishing up getting my Spot Connect contact group ready to receive my regular posts with my AT location. If you would like to receive the email please post your name and email address as a comment (they will not be posted on line). After I verify your email address I will add it to my contact group. This is very time sensitive, so do it today!

 

Posted in Acupuncture, Appalachian Trail, Chiropractic, MassageTherapy, Wellness | 2 Comments