Because Pearwood isn’t Done Yet

Here we go again.

One week from today I will board the Amtrak at Rochester, New York for a Thursday morning arrival at Gainesville, Georgia, and a Saturday, April 1 start at the Springer Mountain parking lot for a long walk north to Harper’s Ferry.

When I bombed out of my start on the Appalachian Trail in 2020 I told folks, “I am not planning to try this again. On the other hand, neither am I planning not to try this again. Let’s see what happens.” I knew I wanted to hike the AT, but what if I was too old for this sort of nonsense? What if the all-healed-up surgeries had taken too much out of my stamina? (You can read the history on my author page, along with where “Pearwood” came from).

But why?

Back in 2020 when I was preparing for my first attempt, I read Zach’s most excellent “Appalachian Trials” and made the appropriate lists. All the reasons I listed back then are still valid, but for now, it all boils down to, “I’m not done yet.”

I picked up that mantra from Anubis (a_walk_with_winnie on Instagram). He finished his SOBO in January 2020. What kept him going through his Appalachian Trail trek, including an extended pause for an emergency, was, “I’m not done yet.”

So here I am again. Because at the tender age of 72, I’m not done yet.

Photographs from 2022.

I posted my cellphone photographs last year. The film photographs had to wait until I got home, developed the film and scanned the negative. It is about time to show them to you. My film camera last year was my 1947 Argus C3, the Brick. It is a fine little 35mm camera. I load it with Ilford HP5 Plus black and white film. This year I will switch to medium-format film in my Ondu 6×6 pinhole camera. Because I love it.

First attempt, February 1, 2022

My brother Chuck drove me to the Amicalola Falls visitor center and took the required picture of me at the Arch (after I set the focus and exposure and told him where to stand). He then drove my monster pack to the top of the falls while I slack-packed the stairs. It was a gorgeous February 1 in North Georgia.

The reflecting pond wasn’t doing much reflecting that day. Looking up was impressive.

It was a long way up. But it was beautiful. But it was a long way up. Part way up was this lovely little tree silhouetted by the plunging water.

Looking back down from the top was equally impressive.

I retrieved my pack from Chuck and started up the approach trail. It was a late start. After a couple hours I found a relatively sheltered spot and pitched my tent. It was dark by time I crawled in and got in the sack. Day two ended up being very long and wet, ending at the Black Gap shelter. It was not going well. You can read about it in my previous posts. I survived, thanks to a flight of trail angels.

Second attempt, March 2022

I decided to wait a bit and start again. Chuck was going to hike with me for the first part. It was another afternoon start because of the driving time. Brother Chuck (aka Bilbo) and I drove from Fayetteville to Above the Clouds Hostel on Monday, March 7. From there Lucky shuttled us to the Springer Mountain parking lot. We hit the trail about 2:00. Given the mid-afternoon start, we were only planning to go to the Stover Creek Shelter, less than two miles north.

We arrived at the shelter about 3:15, before the heavy rain moved in. There was still plenty of room. We set up in the loft and watched the deluge move through. After the rain, the stoves came out and dinner was served. The dedicated fire sitters got the fire going again.  We slept warm and dry in the shelter, though I did put my puffy on sometime during the night.

Between downpours at Stover Creek

As much as anything else, it is this one photograph that has been pulling me back to the trail. I thoroughly enjoyed this spot. We did make it to the Hawk Mountain shelter the next day, but it was already pouring. I didn’t even try to take pictures. The shelter was full and the surrounding area was already a tent city. It was a wet night. I knew it was time for me to bail, especially with severe weather due in a day or two. You can go back and read about it if you like.

Here I go again

I did learn a thing or two in the process. I was trying to hike other people’s hike, the hike I thought I was supposed to hike. This year I will take a much slower pace. When I need to stop and set up camp I will stop and set up camp. I’m hiking by myself so I can set my own pace. It isn’t like I haven’t hiked solo in the woods with a pack on my back. I know how to do this stuff. I’ve updated some gear, and I have a much better idea of what I am getting myself into it.

I am looking forward to taking another photograph of the Stover Creek Shelter with this camera.

I took this photograph last summer at Letchworth State Park with the Ondu 6×6 pocket pinhole camera. I love this camera. I am looking forward to taking it on the trail with me in a week.

Blessings,
Steve
Soli Deo gloria