Here I Go Again - A.T. Thru-Hike #3

What in the world am I doing? I love this trail and everything it has done for me, but who do I think I am heading out in February no less, to thru-hike the A.T. again? Crazy, that's who I am. I will be upfront. I am struggling. I don't recommend doing this overweight and out of shape. Bah-hum-bug. But, I am out here and doing it, one step at a time.

First lessons on the first day - it doesn't matter how experienced you are at anything - you must always prepare properly. Other than the muffin tops so clearly visible buggling from my mid-section, I thought I was all set mentally and gear-wise. Halfway up the 600 stairs following Amicalola Falls in the begining, I noticed something on my sneaker. I thought it was a stick and asked Bruce to pull it off. It wasn't debris, rather, my sole was falling apart. The stairs where so greuling it may have well been my soul also. I had a gear malfunction before even entering the woods on my own.

I prepped and packed and repacked my gear so many times, but never noticed my sneakers. They weren't that old, I thought for sure I could get a couple weeks out of them. Thank goodness, Batman was still with me, he hiked back to the truck - which he was going to do anyways - and I switched out the old ones for a new pair. Which meant, I needed to hike a five day stint with out-of-the-box footwear that was also a new style. My new Altra Olympus 275s proved to be worth every penny - oops, there are no more pennies - I spent on them.

I made it to the first shelter, Black Gap Shelter on the Approach Trail the first day, 7.3 miles. Which means, I am not even on the Appalachian Trail yet. I set my tent up then went to make supper.

Hmm, it's hard to make a hot meal without a lighter. While Bruce fetched the truck after my shoe incident, I did a quick shake down and eliminated a few small items from my pack. One of them was my backup kit with miscellaneous items I didn't think I needed. One being an extra lighter. I "always" keep one in my cookset. But when I went to light my stove, there was no lighter to be found. So there I was needing to grovel and eat humble pie while I begged to use one from another hiker I had spoken with moments ago about completing two previous thru-hikes. Good thing I was hungry because I had more than enough room to eat some crow.

The next morning as I packed up, I puppy-dog-eyed a new victim to beg a lighter from for my oatmeal. A family of four who was at registration with us the day before also camped at Black Gap Shelter. Their tent was close to mine so it made mooching really easy and less embarrassing. I succumbed to the fact I was going to have to do this each evening and morning till reaching the next town - or go hungry. Which, obviously I don't like to do. Right before I left, Doug, the dad, came over and handed me a lighter to keep - their extra one. I love this family.

Mandy, Julia (10), James (4), Doug

The morning hike to Springer Mountain was short at 1.5 miles. Now the journey begins. I stumbled to the top and wondered by did I hike the approach trail again. I also wondered I why I had eaten so many chips, and second-helpings the past several years. The approach trail is beautiful but long and one must climb and descend a couple lesser peaks before getting to the top of Springer, Mt. the southern terminus for the Appalachian Trail.

Springer Mt. Georgia The southern most white blaze

Day 3 and 4 where drizzly with mild temps and cool evenings. I used a new piece of gear I did not have on either one of my other thru-hikes - an umbrella. It was quite combersome for me to rig up, but I figured it out and loved that little device. It was nice not being rained on. It was difficult to see from under it. I could only look down and had to periodically stop, crank my head back to confirm the terrain ahead. It would also snag on low branches or trees close to the trail but I will gladly carry this device. Mine is by Hyperlite Mountain Gear.

By day 4 I was truly wondering why I am out here again. I am struggling hiking the inclines. My extra weight and the weight of my pack is litterally holding me down. I hike 50 feet and stop and rest. This goes on for any type of uphill. The straight sections and declines are fine. Patch, my son reached out to check in on me and I admitted I was having a hard time. He asked my location and reminded me there was a hostel coming up. That was it, I was getting off trail for the rest of the day. The wet mess the night before and the wet hike all morning had my spirits in the pits. When I reached Woody Gap I texted Above the Clouds hostel and Lucky arrived to whisk me away to a shower and a super comfy bunk.

While there I did some logistics and figured I could slack pack the next section. Slacking is when you don't have to carry all your gear. You only pack what you need to hike from one trailhead to the other for the day. It was a 17.7 mile stretch, which is long, but I went for it. I left my gear tiddied up and ready for Bruce to retreive at the end of the day. I more or less breezed through those miles up and over Blood Mountain and passed Neel Gap - a popular quitting point for A.T. northbound thru-hikers. The ups where not as hard with an empty pack. I felt Iike I was flying. Knowing I would see Bruce by day's end and the inside of a hotel room for two nights was quite the motivator.

The hotel stay with Batman was just what I needed. I started to beat myself up like I used to do and let doubt creep in. I am so out of shape and it seems really hard this time around. But my new way of thinking since my trek through depression is keeping me strong. I can't be bothered with what I think other's might think. Right before getting on trail we happened to be looking at some of my Amazon and Good Reads reviews. If you are an author, don't do that. There was one not so nice one that said something like, she didn't like that there was too much religion, I was too critical of other hikers, and since my hubby helped me so much it wasn't like a typical thru-hike.

There is no typical thru-hike. A hiker's hike is theirs and only theirs and they must do what helps them be successful for thier goals. And that is what I am doing. If I want to be successful, I need to take care of my body. I know I am unfit, so I need to go slow. The trial will whip me into shape. I just need to listen to my body. I don't want an injury. So, if I need a break or need to slackpack already, then that's exactly what I am going to do.

In fact, I am off trail for a few days resting up and waiting out bad weather and low temps. After my zero day in the hotel, Bruce dropped me off for a 14.5 mile slackpack hike. He drove around to the end point to hike south meeting me. It was a dreadfully cold and windy day, but thankfully the easiest section in Georgia. I took a video you can see at my Youtube channel. Brrr - it was really cold. The temps started at 28 degrees when I was dropped off and I never saw about 31 degrees. The photo of the family above was taken this day. I wals returned their lighter.

Happy Hiking - Here I Go Again,

Emily - AKA - Black Bear