Taking Stock with a Zero in Franklin

Sitting on the sidewalk with friends, outside the pharmacy killing time until the outfitter opens, I reflect on the past week and a half. I wasn’t sure how my body was going to hold up. I am pleased with how things have turned out so far. A hundred miles and just knee pain on the downhill. A lot of people are complaining of knee pain on the downhill.

Sweet Georgia

Georgia was difficult to say the least. The terrain is rugged and the temperatures were well below freezing. The wind could be heard rushing in the distance if you were lucky enough to be on the sheltered side of the mountain. Most of the shelters had bear cables and boxes, which made things a little easier. I was amazed by all the blowdown and the size of the trees that were lying on the ground. Blood Mountain was a place I will never forget.

Friends for More than a Day

Other hikers that you meet in the woods are usually not putting on airs. Hiking in the woods has a way of bringing your emotions to the front. Hikers are, for the most part, straightforward. When they ask how you are doing, they genuinely want to know. A lot of the people I meet are self-depreciating and laugh a lot. We greet each other with a fist bump so as not to spread germs by a handshake.

What’s in a Name?

On the surface, trail names sound silly. But what most people don’t understand is that they are a way of shedding the normal life. Trail names make everyone on the trail equal regardless of gender, race, nationality, wealth, age, etc. They are a way to embrace the hiker lifestyle and leave your old life behind. My trail name is Hipcat, which hints to my hip surgery and an open mind.

Squatch Graces Us with His Presence

I was spending the night in Carter Gap Shelter and had my bedroll out. The shelter was busy and I was cooking at the table. In walks this huge guy with a full brown beard, sleeveless T, loincloth, wooden hiking pole, and laced-up boots to his calves. His quadriceps were budging. He sat down on the wooden deck and started eating beef jerky out of a bag. Someone asked if he used the staff on bears. He responded by saying he doesn’t need it and this is what he uses for “wimpy NOBOs.” There’s a loud THUNK and I saw he has driven a giant knife into the deck. Everyone just stared at the huge, gleaming, double-sided kukri stuck in the deck. He put the knife away and finished eating. As he left, someone said, I wonder if he ever girds his loins? He heard this and turned, saying no, no one had ever tested him. I ask who that was, and someone says Squatch, as in Sasquatch.

Later, I go to get water and see him setting up a tent. This strikes me as odd because I half expected him to be sleeping on the ground with a blanket. Even more comical, when I returned from the stream he was sitting on a log by his personal fire, smoking a mini-cigar, reading a book. We had been visited by the Squatch!

So is life on the trail.

Affiliate Disclosure

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!

To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.

Comments 7

  • H.A.M. : Mar 25th

    Spent Squatch’s last night with him at Springer Mountain Shelter on 3/22/18. He heard about my harrowing night on the ground on the approach trail and gave me my Trail name on the second night. He’s one of a kind.

    Reply
  • Victor : Mar 26th

    No doubt

    Reply
  • Reg Billington : Mar 27th

    Great reading. Thankyou for the update. Love this 🙂

    Reply
    • Victor : Apr 19th

      Thank you for your kind words.

      Reply
  • hemry : Apr 5th

    Deb I love this piece. Downhill skiing is in my past, only because a torn rotator cuff scared me from venturing out again, but the thrill of sailing downhill in crisp, bright winter air will forever filll my dreams. The arguments against downhill skiing, which you succinctly summarize in this article, are indeed compelling, but the joy of moving down the mountain in the wind, the views from the top, the silvery side trails ahh!

    Reply
  • Glenn : Apr 8th

    For a second, I thought Squatch was gonna kill everyone in the shelter. LOL. 🙂

    Reply
    • Victor : Apr 19th

      Crazy!

      Reply

What Do You Think?