Springer Mountain or Bust

After years of consideration and planning I am days away from starting my first through hike. It may seem like tempting fate to call it a “through hike” rather than an attempted through hike. After all, during my years in the Air Force, I never said I was flying until wheels were in the well.  However, I figure my north bound (NOBO) Appalachian Trail journey starts on Springer Mountain, not at Mt. Katahdin. If something unforeseen forces me off the trail before I finish all 2197.4 miles, so be it. Life on life’s terms.

I know in some ways it will be harder at my age, as compared to the cohort of young adults on the trail, but experience is also a great teacher.  The rain will stop. My feet won’t always hurt. I get great joy out of knowing Grandma Gatewood was my age the first time she finished the AT, and then she went on to hike it 2 more times!  Mary “Medicare” E. Davison did not do through hikes, but she completed the Triple Crown at age 76, perhaps still the oldest person to do so.

What I Have Learned from Others

In my preparation for this quest, I have read a dozen or more books by others who have completed or attempted to complete the AT. I have learned SO MUCH from them and cannot overstate my appreciation for the effort it took to carefully document their adventures and “lessons learned.”  Some key points:

No Rain No Maine

I have heard this over and over.  People ask me what I will do when it rains. “Hike” I say.  It seems many many years have been the “rainiest in the history of the AT.” My goal is acceptance.  I know I can’t stay dry, but I do have a plan to get dry at the end of the day.  I don’t look forward to putting wet clothes back on in the morning, but I am thankful I know it is coming so I can be mentally prepared.

The Trail Goes Up and Down

The trail seems to take the most difficult path, even when the trail developers had to work extra hard to make that happen. Are they sadists?  I don’t know, but I am glad I know about it.  Hopefully, you will NOT hear me whine about it.

People Everywhere are Helpful and Friendly

Trail angels, trail magic and just plain old kindness abound on the trail.  I hope to tell you all about that!

Shoes WILL Wear Out

Time and again I read of hikers who literally waited until their shoes were falling off before they looked for new ones, only to find they ones they were used to were not readily available.  My plan is to replace my shoes every 300-400 miles or if my feet start to hurt more than usual.  I would rather have time to order the ones I need than try something new in the middle of my hike.

Of Rocks and Rashes

All the rocks aren’t in Pennsylvania and all the poison ivy isn’t in New Jersey. I worry more about the poison ivy (highly allergic) so I am packing prednisone! And then there are the mice…

What About Equipment?

About 18 months ago, I did a 4-day hike into the AT starting with the Approach Trail.  My feet killed me, my shoulders killed me, and I was generally miserable.  My previous backcountry experiences were too brief to prepare me for what it would be like to carry everything I thought I needed for a through hike.  Since then, I think I have switched out every bit of my equipment for lighter models.  Who knew they made such good lightweight packs?  Who knew how light a tent could be.

Sleep System

I was also cold.  I needed to learn about R-values and sleeping bag ratings.  To be honest, if I have made one significant equipment error, it is probably my sleeping bag.  In reaction to many camping trips where I was unable to sleep due to being cold, I am taking a “zero bag.”  I expect to be sending it back by summer, but right now, it is my one luxury item.  It isn’t that heavy, but space turns out to be a bigger issue for me than weight at this point.

Food Storage

Probably the most controversial thing I am doing is taking a bear canister.  This shouldn’t be controversial, since the ATC and others recommend doing so, and some areas require them, but based on what I hear from the staff at REI and what I read, they have not been widely accepted.  The biggest problem with them, besides the extra weight, is the real estate they take up in one’s pack.  However, I am excited to to have a built-in stool and not to have to worry about hanging a bear bag!

The Pack

I really wanted to hike with the Osprey Eja 58, but once I put in the bear canister, all that was left was space in the “brain” and a few nooks and crannies.  I would have had to carry my tent on the outside for sure, and I could not get my clothes together in one place.  A trash compactor bag or other single method to keep things dry was impossible.  After working with my local REI expert (a shout out to Laura), we concluded I would have to move up in size.  I will be hiking with the Gregory Mavin 65, which turns out to be more comfortable in spite of weighing a whole pound more. In fact, it actually feels lighter!

Rain Protection

Yes, I understand getting wet is a reality, and that the goal is to be “warm and wet” rather than “cold and wet.”  I was trying to decide whether to go with a rain jacket, which would lose water resistance where the pack rubbed, or get a poncho, which would be better ventilated and would also cover the pack. While reading about poncho’s I read one hiker opine he would never get a poncho because he loved his Packa.  What in the world is a Packa?

It turns out this is a unique cross/combination of a jacket and a pack cover.  It covers that pack, and the attached jacket portion fits over the straps rather than under them.  If the rain stops, you simply slide out of the arms.  I might be in love with this piece of equipment.  It is made by Edward Hinnant at Cedar Tree Industry in Ellijay GA.  I will keep you posted with how it works in the real world!

Trekking Poles

In one book I read, the hiker said that trekking poles were great, if for no other purpose than to break up spider webs.  During my approach hike, I found spider webs to be a huge issue. It was September and there weren’t many people on the trail.  My trekking poles might have helped some for this, but not enough.  My plan is to avoid being the first person on the trail in the morning!

That said, I have found trekking poles to be a game changer for two reasons.  First is stability. I admit I trip a lot on roots and other obstacles.  With my poles, it is no longer a cause for concern.  I also find them to be a game-changer when fording streams, whether rock-hoping or wading on unstable stream beds.  I used to fall every time I hiked. Now I can’t remember the last time it happened.

The second, and just as important of an advantage to using trekking poles is to take the load off my knees on the down hill.  The expression, “Up hill makes you and down hill breaks you” is so true. I may be huffing and puffing going up, but I know it is making me stronger.  Downhill just beats up on the joints.  The AT has a LOT of downhill.

When hiking, I notice a lot of people with a single walking stick or one trekking pole.  I honestly feel sorry for them.  It could be so much better! A single pole not only fails to provide the same level of support to balance and knees, it creates a bit of a twist and a weak side, if you will.  I wonder if it makes the hiker safer or less safe.

Navigation

People (non through hikers) often ask me about my equipment and are surprised at how little I am taking (“What if something breaks?”).  While I am fine with knowing I could be eating cold food if my stove fails, I am not that cavalier about navigation.  I am not carrying a full set if AT maps, although I do have pocket maps of the GA portion.  I have a rudimentary compass, and there is a compass on my phone.  I have FarOut and the AT Guide on  my phone.  I even have All Trails.  I have 2 battery packs to charge my phone just in case but I still worry about having “all my ducks in my phone” if you will.

I finally broke down and bought a Garmen InReach, mainly to make my family members more comfortable.  I’m kind of happy about the “bread crumbs” function although I hope I don’t need to use it too often.  Its also nice to know I have the SOS function.  I know there are a lot of people on the AT, but there are times when minutes matter, and there are times when getting to civilization for help can take hours of hiking.  I like knowing if I come upon an emergency on the trail, I can summon help if needed.

Why Blog

I have to admit, I have never blogged before.  I have never even followed a blog before.  I have a Facebook account but have not posted to it in years, although I do read postings by others.  So why take on a technological challenge during a foray into nature?

Keeping in Touch

I have lots of friends who have asked me how they can keep up with where I am and what I am doing along the way.  After all, 6-7 months is a long time to be gone.  By blogging, I can keep them all in the loop, and they may also find they enjoy following some of the other hikers who are writing.

Paying Forward

I have also come to appreciate the record that so many before me have kept of their trips.  Their narratives have encouraged me and educated me.  Maybe I will write something that will motivate a future through hiker!