AT DECOUR

What to expect upon entering the home of a potential Appalachian Trail thru hiker  (who needs to sit at the dining room table to eat). 

PROTECT WHAT MOVES YOU

I will make this disclaimer right from the start:  I am by no means an expert on hiking gear....but I do know what I've tried that has worked well for me so I thought I'd do a few short reviews of the gear I own for those who might be newbies to the hiking world.

I doubt there would be anyone out there who does any type of distance hiking that will disagree with me on this point:  of all the gear you purchase, it will pay you back many times over to get some good hiking boots.  I've taken many a woodland (and desert) hikes only to return with my feet aching and sporting blisters to show for all my hard work.  I truly thought that my Timberland's were great...and they are...just not for what I was doing.  In February, based on the recommendations of the knowledgeable staff at the Mountain Crossings store located in the infamous Neel's Gap, I purchased my first pair of Keen Hybridlife boots and it has been a love affair since.

Have no fear...they looked much nicer when I first took them out of the box!  I've logged in about 40 miles on various pieces of the Georgia section of the AT, including my most recent hike of the 8.5 mile AT Approach Trail.









The model I chose is called the Shasta.  It feels like it weighs almost nothing and I can honestly say I've never worn a more comfortable pair of boots.  It was recommended that I go with one size larger than I would normally wear to accommodate any potential foot swelling that can be a common part of any distance hike.  My first thought was this:  wearing a shoe one size larger than I normally wear will equal one thing - sliding/blisters.  I am happy to say that I was wrong...I should never have doubted the expertise of the salesman at MC.  The day after I purchased my Keen's, I hiked to the soggy summit of Blood Mountain, providing me with my first opportunity to test the boot's waterproof claim.  Again, they passed the test and then some!  Not only was the trail basically a small creek, but it was also cold.  My feet stayed warm and dry!

I think this is the appropriate time to share a very valuable piece of mountain hiking knowledge:  when it rains in the mountains, it's a given that all the water WILL collect right in the middle of the trail.  (On the Georgia section of the AT, this equates with lots of slick clay and rocks so step carefully!)

My most recent 19 mile hike included the AT Approach Trail to the summit of Springer and then returning almost the same way we came with the exception of a detour at the Lenn Foote Hike Inn....which I highly recommend.  Once again, we were rained upon and spent about three hours sloshing down the trail, with the water covering the tops (not to the ankle however) of my lovely Keens.  I'm happy to report that when we set up camp for the night and I removed my boots, my feet were still high and dry.

The only issues I had during my last hike I don't contribute to my Keen's.  On day #3 of my most recent hike, I have to say that I could feel almost every rock under my foot if I stepped on it just right.  This can be remedied by simple inserts and pretty much just more time and distance on the trail.  During my hike back in February, right after purchasing the boots, I felt some pain in the ball of my feet.  Upon returning to Dahlonega and speaking with the wonderful lady at Woodland's Edge, I purchased a heavier weight wool sock and made certain that my laces were pulled as tightly across the top of my foot as I could get them.  I also stopped on the trail to tighten the laces if the need arose.  There was some debate initially on the importance of purchasing boots with ankle support, but after listening to the advice of the young man at Mountain Crossings, I opted to buy a boot that provided my ankles some support.  The last thing I wanted to do was roll my ankle when there might have been something small I could have done to help prevent me from doing so (I am not, after all, known for my grace and therefore require all the help I can get.)  I might also add that after tripping on many hidden roots and rocks, I now know the importance of having a shoe with superior toe protection! I have not spoken to anyone with the Keen company but understand they have a good replacement policy.  I intend to check that out in the near future, as I am considering a potential AT thru hike beginning March, 2013.  Regardless of whether or not I am able to do that, I can say with certainty that I am very glad I listened and purchased my Keen boots.  I believe it is money well-spent!

Happy Hiking!

MYAKKA RIVER STATE PARK....3/31/12-4/01/12

As part of our "training" for our upcoming 40 plus mile hike on the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail, my brother and I loaded up our packs in the back of my Highlander and headed south to Myakka River State Park.  He had made us a reservation for one of the primitive sites at the Oak Grove campsite.  We headed out with anticipation for what we were planning on being a 9.5 mile hike out to and then back from our home for the night.  Upon arriving at the park, we checked in with the ranger, who promptly told us "That's a long ways," to which my brother replied "Yep."  We were issued our tag and given our trail map and were ready to go at last, our packs fully loaded with mine weighing in close to 40 pounds and my brother's probably closer to 50lbs (he carried lots of extra water in case the pump at the site wasn't working).

Now, a note of humor must be inserted before I go any further.  At one time, I was a terrain analyst, working for V Corp in Germany.  My brother is a geography major.  He also had his hand-held GPS with him to map out our hike.  Keeping those factors in mind, we are still not sure how we managed to get off the trail pretty much right from the start.  Our excuse is that there were no signs....only a bright orange trail head marker with no other indications of which way to go.  So, we looked at the sign and chose to stay on the road.  This is what our route ended up being:

The green line indicates our hike out to Oak Grove.  Our return hike followed the same path until it broke off, indicated by the orange line (this was the actual trail).  We were told the distance from the trail head to the site was 9.5 miles, but we can't figure out what trail they used because our hike out measured 10.14 miles and back was 10.6 miles.

I must also add at this point that other than a time or two during basic training, I had never spent a single night sleeping outside.  I didn't let this put a damper on my excitement however.  Mother Nature took care of that one for me a little later in our hike.

I've never really thought of Florida as being a very pretty state.  It's predominately flat and unless you're a water buff, there isn't much else I'd ever found inviting about it in general.  I credit our hike with changing my mind a bit as the trail wandered across a prairie (and more prairie...followed by more prairie) with an occasional dip into an Oak hammock, where the temperatures were notably cooler.  Every now and then, we would just stop, stand and listen to the silence that surrounded us as we were reminded of what Florida was like hundreds of years ago:

Because of the amount of time spent crossing the open prairie, I would not recommend this hike for the summer months.  We were also told that during the rainy season, parts of the trail can stay flooded and become very difficult to navigate.  As it was, it hadn't rained here for at least 3 months (again, Mother Nature took care of that one for us), so we had dry conditions.  The only other warning I feel is needed is to watch your step because there is a tremendous amount of wild boar damage that can make for some treacherous trekking, especially through the wooded areas.  I don't feel that wild animals are of any big concern, but always be aware of your surroundings.  We did encounter a solitary female boar on our hike out but came upon a female boar with her piglets on the return hike and that is when animals have been known to be aggressive.  As always, watch for snakes!

On both our hike out and back, we chose this spot as a place to stop and take a much-needed break.  It's pretty much the half-way point (or so we thought) and it's under the canopy of an oak grove.  Our stop out was mainly just to take the packs off, use the "facilities" (aka: the woods), and sip some water.  On the way back, however, we not only unloaded our packs, but dug deep into them for our cans of ravioli which we consumed without heating because we were starving!  Of course, we packed out everything we walked in with...including a few extra trash items we saw along the way.  Remember the saying "Take only pictures.  Leave only footprints."

The chance of rain that day was only 40% so we were not particularly concerned but did have our pack covers just in case.  We had stopped for a break, at which time my brother (trail name: Weatherman) assessed the sky and decided that we had no cause for concern.  We'd walked a few minutes more, the sun bearing down on our heads, when I was certain I felt a rain drop.  Soon, a few others followed so we opted to prepare just in case.  When I'd purchased my pack cover, after reading the specifications on the package, I questioned why the salesperson was suggesting a smaller cover for me.  She happily explained that rarely did anyone pack their packs to the fullest and the medium was all she'd ever used on her pack, which was the same size as mine.  Satisfied, we bought what she suggested.  Well....it didn't come close to fitting over my loaded bag and sleeping roll....not even close.  I could see my brother was beginning to be concerned, so we quickly put his cover on (it fit beautifully) and then had to think fast to remedy my dilemma.  My only hope was to take my poncho and wrap my bag.  I did just that, but had to hold onto the edges of it to keep the wind from blowing it off.  Happy with our fast fixes, we continued our hike but every so often, we would turn around to check the sky.  If you've never lived in Florida, you might not be able to appreciate this, but we could see that wall of rain coming across the prairie, gaining on us quickly.  Finally, I told my brother just not to look cause it was going to catch us and there was nothing we could do about it.  Catch us, it did.....it blew in with a vengeance but luckily, there was no lightening.  We walked the last hour or so in the rain and in silence.  I can honestly say that I've never been so glad to see a place as I was when we finally arrived at our site...

Our site before we set up

 

Our home for the night

The pump was working.  The bottles sitting next to it were filled with water that was used to prime the system.  We did have our Katadyn Hiker filters with us but the water proved to be too rusty to actually drink without doing some other kind of treatment.  The filter worked great, however, at cleaning the water and I have all the confidence in the fact that when we are on the Appalachian Trail where the water is better, we will be using it for all of our needs.

Because it had rained, building a fire was rather difficult so we broke out the stove to heat the water for our dinner...and for our coffee the next morning!  This little stove rocks!  I am very please with the way it performed and will be taking it with me on the AT.

Gotta have that coffee!

We were awake before dawn, needless to say.  I was very please with all my equipment but I did learn some valuable lessons (which was the whole point of this trip).  My sleeping bag and pad kept me warm, but the first thing I did when I got home was upgrade my pad because that ground was HARD and I didn't sleep much.  A good sleeping pad will be well-worth the extra money.  I've also ordered a pack cover to fit my pack.  I am now a firm believe in the trekking poles as well!  Even on flat terrain, once I learned how to use them, they were a life-saver on my knees and other joints.  Oh...and having some kind of small hatchet would also help....we had to get very creative to break up the wood for our fire.  

Overall, I consider the trip to be a huge success.  I remember saying to my brother than night, as we sat by the fire, surrounded by lightening bugs, that I truly understood now why people go through all that physical hardship just to spend the night out in the wilderness.....it just really doesn't get much better than that...

Heading home....but I WILL be back!

GOTTA FIX WHAT AILS US...

 

THRU-HIKING LAB REPORT

     Hiking in the spring is glorious, but there is substantial risk that you will catch whatever seasonal virus it is that drives people to think they should hike all the way from Georgia to Maine.  This insidious disease has a long incubation....so long that you may think you have escaped.  However, here are some symptoms that may precede the onset:

*  The victims (you or a loved one) start collecting maps and guidebooks

*  They ask everyone they meet about tents, Gore-Tex, and water filters.

*  They start introducing themselves by a funny new name.

*  They insist on knowing the weight, to the nearest gram, of everything they buy.

*  They don't like their 100% cotton underwear and socks anymore.

*  They develop an obsessive interest in weather, day length, elevation gains and losses, and how far they can hike in a day.

     The most severe form of this syndrome was first described in 1948, but it was rare until the 1960's.  Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas succumbed in 1958.  By 1982, there were 1000 cases on record; that number doubled in only 7 years.  In the 1990's it became a major epidemic, with thousands coming down with it each year.

     The virus respects neither age, sex, physical handicap, nor nationality.  An 86-year-old got it in 1975, and a 6-year-old got it just 5 years later.  Some people get it several times, and many victims write books about their struggle.  Several dogs and at least one cat have also fallen pray to it.  More men than women suffer from the disease, but, as with many other conditions, the women are catching up.  The causative agent has not been identified; there is some evidence of a tiny parasite that burrows into brain tissue, causing major behavioral changes but minor permanent damage.

     No rememdy has been found; victims harbor their ailment for the rest of their lives and seem to be highly infectious.  However, many victims can lead lives that are surprisingly close to normal if they can acknowledge their affliction and get the hiking done, either all at once or in sections.  many self-help books are available, and support groups exist in some communities.

~Doris Grove, 'Exploring the Appalachian Trail, Hikes in the Southern Appalachians

Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee

I just had to share this!  :)

SPRING ON SPRINGER!

To all my fellow Appalachian Trail hikers, head to Dahlonega, GA for the second annual Spring on Springer celebration! 





www.dahlonegatrailfest.org


Dahlonega is an amazing little town boasting some of the nicest people I've ever met!  Head up next month if you can!  :)

WILL BE BACK SOON...

It's been a while since I've posted here.....to those few who follow this blog, please don't give up on me.  I'll be back soon!  Thanks for your patience!

AND SO IT BEGINS....

AND SO IT BEGINS…..

MY APPALACHIAN TRAIL LOVE AFFAIR….

“It just doesn’t get any better than this!”  (My sister’s words upon reaching the summit of Blood Mountain.)

      ….and so began my love affair with the Appalachian Trail! 

I’d never even heard of Dahlonega, Georgia until a little over a year and a half ago, when my youngest son decided his college of choice was North Georgia College and State University.  We arrived in town on the afternoon of November 9^th, 2010 so that he could attend an ROTC event that weekend.  Since we had time to kill, we ended up at Amicalola Falls, which is where most Appalachian Trail adventures begin.  The AT approach trail leads to the summit of Springer Mountain, a mere 8.5 miles from the gift shop where all thru-hikers are asked to check in.  All I had to do was set foot on the start of that approach trail and the longing to walk from Georgia all the way to Maine took control of my heart and has become my obsession. 

Our next trip to Dahlonega included plans to complete several day hikes, starting with the summit of Springer Mountain, where a meager plaque marks the southern terminus of the AT and the beginning of the almost 2200 miles journey for most.  I turned my Toyota Highlander off the main road onto GA service road 28 and proceeded to make the harrowing ascent to the parking lot that marked the trailhead to Springer.  After what seemed like hours, I finally put my car in park, grabbed my daypack and headed out, thrilled and filled with the anticipation of finally actually standing on the spot I’d only seen in videos or read about in books.  It didn’t take long for me to realize just how out of shape I was, something I chose to blame on having lived in Florida where there aren’t even any hills, let alone steep ascents to mountain tops.  Needless to say, I made it to the summit of Springer and the overwhelming sense of joy and accomplishment filled my heart.  I felt a closeness with so many I’d never even met as I made my own small entry into the journal that was safely tucked away in that metal box.  I felt like kindred spirits with those who had been there before me.  I finally felt as if I was exactly where I was meant to be….like I’d finally come home.

It’s been said that time on the Appalachian Trail “changes you” and it “fixes you,” and I have to say that for me, no truer words have been spoken.  That first 7 or 8 mile hike was all it took for me to know that one day I will walk the entire length of the AT.  It’s hard to describe how it makes me feel to simply “be” out there on the trail.  In order to prevent certain stumbling, I walked on with my eyes on the ground…but doing so opened up a whole new world for me as I discovered all kinds of new things:  mushrooms in colors I never knew existed; bugs I’d never seen (and hope to never have on me); tiny flowering plants, animal tracks….the list goes on and on.  Then there’s the smell of the woods.  There’s something about that smell that takes me back in time.  I love to take deep breaths of the crystal clean air…..it seems to fill my lungs with a new vigor and I find energy I never knew I had.  Often times, I’d simply stand in the silence of the deep woods, listening to the wind rustling through the tops of trees so tall they seemed to touch the heavens.  I can honestly say that my soul has never known such peace.

I can agree with what’s been said about how time on the AT “changes you” and “fixes you,” but I’d have to add one more attribute to that list.  My time on the Appalachian Trail is what saves me.  I’ve been through some extremely emotional times and whenever I feel that pain becoming more than I can bear, my spirit returns my heart to the AT….because when I’m there, my heart doesn’t hurt. All my troubles seem to fade away. The woods seem to wrap its arms around me and take me in, welcoming me back with total acceptance and no questions asked.  It doesn’t matter if I can only walk a few steep steps before I have to stop and catch my breath.  There’s no one out there to tell me I can’t.  In fact, there’s always something waiting ahead of me to reward me for a job well done…for not quitting or giving up, even when my body feels like it’s at the edge of exhaustion and I am certain I can’t haul my rear end up one more rock.  I can…and I do….and when I finally reach the top, no greater reward exists than the view! 

To date, I’ve only been blessed to have hiked short sections of the AT, to include some of the approach trail, Springer Mountain and the Benton McKay Trail, and up to the summit of Blood Mountain (which was by far the most challenging thing I’ve ever done), but the passion to complete a thru-hike has overcome me and become my life’s goal.  I may only be able to do so in sections, but my personal challenge has become to one day have my picture taken behind that sign posted on the summit of Katahdin.  I’m often quoted as saying that one of these days, I’m simply going to disappear into those woods and emerge some 2100 miles later a changed woman.  I can think of no better way to end my story that’s just beginning than to quote a piece of a song lyric:  “I walk this walk for me.”

Lori Domingo, Trail name “Dreamer”

(the piece above is the article I submitted to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's publication, 'AT Journeys' for consideration for their 'As I See It" column.