2017 Appalachian Hike

The weather today was cooler, which actually made it pretty pleasant for hiking. I’m pretty sure it was in the 30s this morning because my fingers started getting cold.  I started out thinking I was going to take a short easy day. Boy did that backfire. I started later today and figured I would hike… Continue reading Deep Gap-Long Branch Shelter 102.3 done/2087.5 to go. March 22, 2017

Good bye Georgia, hello North Carolina.  If you look close you can see the food bags hanging in the trees. Because of bears we are required to hang all our food or put it in a bear canister. I haven’t seen any bears yet but we are told there are many. While I hike through… Continue reading Deep Gap Shelter Georgia- Deep Gap North Carolina 85.1 miles done/2104.7 to go March 21, 2017

Today was a good day. Keith and I started at 7:45 This morning. It was about 40 degrees. It feels like about 60 right now (4:00pm). The terrain was easier today. There was a little less steep climbing today, but the big thing that made it easier was the much less technical terrain. We had… Continue reading Unicoi Gap-Deep Gap Shelter 65.7 done/2124.1 to go March 20, 2017

Keith and I had a nice night at our camp sight. There were nine of us sharing the sight. I didn’t really get to speak to all of them, but among them were a Floridian, a Pennsylvanian, and a couple of Canadians that spoke mostly French.  The temperature was in the fifties. We didn’t sit… Continue reading Low Gap Shelter-Unicoi Gap 52.6 done/2137.2 to go. March 18, 2017

Today was great. Slept awesome in the cabin last night. They wash hikers clothes as part of the rental. Nice bonus. Pepperoni Pizza for supper last night. Left over pizza for breakfast this morning.  If you look close at the picture of the tree you’ll see hikers shoes and boots. It’s tradition that hikers who… Continue reading Neel Gap to Low Gap Shelter 42.9 done/2146.9 to go March 17, 2017

Last night was cold. I slept very little, off and on all night. I got up at 5:00 am, cooked some oatmeal, packed my frosty tent and hit the trail as soon as it was light.  I hiked most of the first five miles with a young lady that was between grad school and getting… Continue reading Gooch Mt to Neel Gap 31.4 done/2158.4 to go March 16, 2017

Got a little bit of a late start this morning. We had some snow that made the windy, narrow gravel road up the mountain a very long ride.  I’m Keith and I made the two mile round trip up to Springer. Keith decided with the sketchy roads and questionable directions to the next trailhead to… Continue reading Springer Mt-Gooch Mt 15.8 miles March 15, 2017

The view from our room is amazing. This picture doesn’t do it justice. Over three years ago I quietly and privately downloaded a day counter app on my iPhone. It started my countdown for my hike. Tomorrow is the day I’ve been waiting for.  As we drove the road to the lodge we are staying in… Continue reading Tomorrow 

I’m sitting in a motel room in Murfreesboro,Tennessee  one day closer to starting my AT hike. I’m driving with a Fellow Hy-Vee retiree and his wife. Keith and Netta Van Gent are friendly, generous Dutch people from Pella Iowa.  Keith and I are starting together at Springer Mountain and will stay together as long as… Continue reading Getting Closer 

The good news is I’m as excited as I’ve ever been. The bad news, my pack is to heavy. I can’t decide what to cut. Instead of cutting weight I added a pound. Now 47.4. I’m sure I have too much. I have been a student of long distance hiking for about three years and… Continue reading Bad News