Pearwood is done, at least for now

For now, at least, Pearwood is done. But by time I made it home, I realized I was already assuming that I would be back again next year.

My entry in the Above the Clouds Hostel log.

Friday, April 7.

Pearwood here, or PearwoodOnTheTrail @ Instagram. I’m done. Last year I failed; this year I am simply done. These 72-year-old bones are not tough enough for this. Back on the Amtrak at 12:24 tomorrow morning for NYC and on to Rochester.

I realize I have accomplished what I most wanted to accomplish. I have a framed print on the wall at home of a photograph (Argus C3 ‘Brick’) of Stover Creek shelter I took last year. I wanted to get back there and past Hawk Mountain, where I bailed out last year. I did that. I got to Horse Gap then over Sassafras Mountain – all four hours of it – and to Cooper Gap, where I bummed a ride back to Above the Clouds. I knew if I pushed on to Gooch Gap shelter I would arrive dead on my feet well after dark, assuming I didn’t fall and need a medevac or undertaker. I was too tired to be agile and careful.

But I did it by myself, at my own pace, and met some beautiful people. I am satisfied. Thank you all.

Getting to Georgia.

Michelle of White Blazes Shuttle Service picked me up at the Gainesville Amtrak station and drove me to Above the Clouds Hostel. I knew from the day I quit the trail last year that Above the Clouds was going to be my base station this year. Thanks to Lucky and the crew!

Michelle of White Blazes Shuttle Service drove me to Above the Clouds Hostel

The brag beer from my two favorite Rochester-area breweries did in fact make it to Above the Clouds

Sunshine on the trail.

I started out at the Springer Mountain parking lot on Palm Sunday morning and backtracked to the top. It was a gorgeous day. I had to include the Ondu 6×6 Pocket Pinhole Camera in the photograph for the Ondu folks on Instagram.

Pearwood on Springer Mountain

I loved the gnarly trees

From Springer Mountain it was on to Stover Creek. I slept in the same spot up in the loft I had last year. The weather was beautiful. We had fun.

Stover Creek Shelter

Sunshine in place of last year’s rain

The next day I made it to Hawk Mountain shelter. We hiked that stretch last year in the cold rain. What a delightful change to hike it in the lovely Spring weather. Most of the Stover Creek cohort was already there. They cheered me in. I slept in the loft.

Hawk Mountain Shelter

The plan for day three was to get to Gooch Gap. I quickly realized that wasn’t going to happen. I pitched my tent at Horse Gap along with a few other hikers. There wasn’t any water to be had so we ate energy bars and Belvita to conserve what we had. I decided it is easier to get oneself organized in a tent than in a shelter.

Horse Gap is at the base of Sassafras Mountain. Up we went on day four. I was last and slowest. The climb isn’t terribly steep, but it is relentless. I was well and truly tired by time I started back down the north side. I decided I had done what I needed to do. Cooper Gap would be my 2023 terminus.

Pearwood and the water buffalo at Cooper Gap

Thinking it over.

I usually enjoy hiking the trails with my pack. But the pack is usually at 30 pounds or less rather than 38 or a bit more. Once upon a time forty pounds was my weight not to exceed. It’s closer to thirty now, at least if I am planning to enjoy the hike. That’s the first thing I need to figure out for next year. The other is that I need to be out in the woods more often and for longer distances. 2022 turned out to be a challenging year for me. I did well through June, but then real life got in the way. I was not nearly as well-conditioned as I had planned.

Plant hooks are just right for airing out the sleeping bag

Photographs!

I shot four rolls of twelve with the Ondu 6×6 pinhole camera. I have developed and scanned the first roll and started working up the photographs. Here is the first one from a very early morning at the Rochester Amtrak station. I’ll show the rest to you in another post. Today’s color photographs are from the phone, with editing limited to what I could do with the Instagram app.

Way too early in the morning at the Rochester Amtrak station. Ondu 6×6 pinhole camera.

Blessings,
Steve / Pearwood
Soli Deo gloria