Well, today it's raining hard again. Last night it must have rained 2" or better during the night. It rained all day very hard and the wind blew very hard (30-40 mph). All the spectacular views from Silas Bald and Clingman's Dome were once again fogged in like all the great views so far.
Last night after we had all settled in for bed, 3 more people in 2 groups came in out of the rain. Everyone slept well knowing we would be dry and warm at least during the night. There was Rick, myself, a father and 3 sons, Forest and 3 other people. Most of the shelters are designed to hold 12 people. Ten people is much better.
As we started out this morning, my feet didn't hurt too bad so I took off at a good pace. We had done 6 miles between 9 and 12. So we decided to go to the Mt. Collens Shelter to spend the night. When we got there, there were already 8 people there. It continued to rain very, very hard the whole evening right into dark. Do not expect it to change much tonight. Thank God for shelters on rainy nights. Clear nights I would rather be in my tent.
As darkness closes in around me, I think of my nice warm waterbed, my children and especially my wife, Bonnie--Happy Anniversary! Love ya always Babe. (whew, he remembered) Jim
Miles today: 14
Got up early thismorning for our 15-mile treck to the next shelter. "Puck" left a little before me while everyone else in the shelter decided to sleep in a bit. Rick was almost ready as I pulled out.
As I was walking down the path, I heard a little bird singing a beautiful little tune that had a familiar beat to it. Yes - I know that tune, it is the song for the coming of spring, but alas as I listen to it closer something seems dreadfully wrong. The little bird is just a young one and he is singing it backwards -- OH GOD, WINTER'S BACK!!!!
It's snowing quite hard. After 2 days and 2 nights of hard rain (4"+) it's snowing and the temp. is about 30 degrees and it's getting colder. The trail is nothing but water and mud and now there's snow on everything to make it more slippery.
We hiked to New Found Gap and stopped to look at the map. We had gone 4.7 miles and we looked at each other with our snow-covered packs and frozen clothes and said we could go into town. Didn't take much convincing on my behalf. So we walked up the parking lot to hitchhike to Gatlinburg, Tn. (about 15 miles.) We stood out in the freezing rain and snow and wind for about 15-20 minutes waiting for some friendly local person to pick us up when we realized that this is some sort of tourist attraction and everyone leaving was from out of state and had cars that were full. Finally we got a ride from a couple in a mini van from Pa. Very nice people who gave us a couple of Fig Newtons and took us right to a Microtel.
We spent the first hr. getting showers and unpacking our wet clothes. We asked the girl at the front desk if there was a laundry mat anywhere close. The only one in Gatlinburg was about 4 miles from the center of town. Mind you, this is a place smaller than Oneonta with 100 Hotels and 9 wedding chapels; go figure. We did our laundry in the bathroom sink and dried them on the AC-Heater.
Went to Callhoons Restaurant and had a nice prime rib dinner. Rick had catfish. We did a little shopping and got some more drugs and glasses (mine broke) and came back to the room. We went out to the font desk to ask if there was a Library nearby and she said yes. She called them to see when they closed and they said 8:00. It was 7:50 - No way.
Tomorrow morning we'll hike back to the top of the hill and hit the trail well fed and dry.
HAPPY #51 "SHOTGUN"!
Miles today: 4.7
What a a beautiful day! Sun is out, clear blue sky and 20 degrees.
We got up, packed our dry gear and headed out to Hardy's for breakfast. Got done and hit the road at about 7:50 AM. Got out on the road and started hitchhiking. We went about 200 yards and were picked up by a couple of pastors who get together once a year and go to Atlanta. They both had done a lot of hiking so they picked us up in a little pickup - we threw our gear in the back and they put down the little jump seat and away we went to the top of the world.... They dropped us off at the Newfound Gap and we were off by 8:45; not bad.
The views were great! The weather was quite cold until we got in the sun and then it was quite nice. The mud was all frozen and there was ice everywhere, but all and all it was just a good hiking day. My feet were pretty good today until the last mile or so but I just took it easy and everything worked out.
Got to the shelter and a group of college kids had taken it over so we decided to pitch our tents. There was a lone lady hiker reading a book over where we were going to pitch our tents. Her name was Cheryl from Ohio and she was spending her 50th birthday on the mountain by herself. Her husband was at home watching the kids. When Rick and I started to set up our tents she seemed a little more at ease and started asking questions. She decided to set up her tent around ours so she wouldn't have to go into the shelter with the college kids.
I made supper and released my tired feet. "Puck" just showed up. Seems he didn't like the rain and snow any more than we did. He spent the night in Gatlinburg also. He got picked up by a tour bus of 80 year old women from Iowa and while they were going to town he had to answer questions about the A.T. over the intercom.
Tomorrow will be another long day to Davenport Gap and Friday to pick up our mail drops and new boots. Hope they help!
Miles today: 15.6
Today was another beautiful day! It was cold last night, about 30 and windy. Packed up and said goodby to Cheryl and the boys in the shelter and "Puck", he left just before me. The morning was warm and had to shed clothes right away.
By 10AM the temp was around 70 degrees and hardly any wind. Stopped in at the Cosby shelter for lunch and "Puck" was there with Mark who is a Ridge Runner for the park. His job is to go from shelter to shelter and clean out all the garbage left by the weekenders and slobs. Quite a job considering the shape of some of the shelters along the way. Said goodby and headed on for the Davenport Gap shelter.
By 2:00 my feet started hurting pretty bad from going up this long mountain. That seems to be the worst time for my feet. Going down the other side for about 5 miles didn't seem to bother much and I was able to keep up with Rick pretty well. I guess I've made up my mind to go see a doctor while we are in picking up our mail packages. Hopefully, we can find a sports medicine place or a foot Dr. I still really don't want to do it because the first thing he will say is stay off it for a week or so. Rick and I talked it over and if this is the case then I will go to Erwin which is our next stop and find a place to hang out for a week and try to hike with him again next week. This means I will miss about a 100-mile section of the trail which I will have to make up at another time. But if the layoff actually helps, then at least I should be able to continue with Rick. If it doesn't help then I guess there are no options left.
Tomorrow morning we walk a mile to the road and hitch to town to get mail drops. Then we'll see after arriving at Davenport Gap shelter (a nice one). A young lady and her boyfriend came down and gave us an orange and a whole loaf of raisin bread. It was good! Her name was "Goat" and we didn't catch his name. [figures] Kinda looks like we'll be alone here tonight.
Miles today: 14.8
Today started out great! Rick and I had made a fire in the fireplace and sat and watched it until it went out. Anyway - the temp. last nite was 50 degrees and no wind at the shelter. One of the nicest shelters since Fontana Dam.
Got out to the road and for no real reason went to Mountain Mamma's Hostel. Got down there about a mile and 1/2 and "Puck" and a couple of other guys were leaving to go to the top of the hill back to the trail. As we were sitting there on the front steps the mail man showed up. We asked him if he could bring our mail from Newport to Mountain Mamma's and he said it's already here. Sure enough, it was there.
My new shoes felt pretty good. We got our food and such and packed it away in our packs. We took off for the mountain with our packs that felt like a ton. Of course the first thing we came to is a mountain which goes up 3200' in 5 miles. What a haul. Poor Rick got more food than he needed and we couldn't send anything back or ahead, so we both had to carry all the new food, a pair of boots each and stuff that we don't need. The temp was about 80 degrees and the weather was clear and dry. About 3/4 to the top, Rick was starting to struggle with all his weight. Mine was heavy, but my boots felt good and my feet didn't hurt too much.
We decided to stop at Groundhog shelter, which was about 10.5 miles. There were four people there, "Tut," "White Wolf," "Gray Jay" and one other guy "Dr. Tom". Rick set up his tent and I will be in the shelter with the others.
Miles today: 12.5
We didn't get the seven thunderstorms like they were predicting and the night was warm and clear, about 60 degrees. It started sprinkling so I packed up and put on my rain gear. We set off about 9:00 with my feet not feeling too bad.
About 1 hour into the trip, the temp dropped and it started to get cold. We had planned on stopping at mile 6 for a lunch break but we couldn't find the shelter. At the intersection, there was a white SUV with a couple in it. They asked if we were through hikers. We said yes and they said "come on over." They had beer, soda, brownies, bread, and rice krispies cakes. We got in their car and got warmed up, had a soda and brownie. They had through hiked in '89 and were just trying to be nice. His name was Tennesee Jed and hers, well, I don't remember. [now there's a switch] Nice people though.
We continued on up over Max Patch Bald. Now that was a trip! Up over this hill with the wind blowing 40 mph and ice pellets going sideways. Felt like someone shooting you with a BB gun. Froze our butts off! Decided to continue to the shelter without lunch.
At about 2:30 we showed up and "Tut" and his friend were there with another fella from Florida ("Shag Bark"). Every one put on dry clothes and we got into our sleeping bags to get warm. While resting, "Golden boy," Sundance" and "Pilot" showed up. We found a piece of Plastic under the bench and covered up the front of the Lean To and it helped a lot. Weather forecast for tonight is a winter weather advisory with wind and 1-3" of snow. We'll see.
Miles today: 11.3
Well, what do you know, all night the snow was blowing in under the roof and filtering down onto my face. No matter what position I stayed in the snow would hit me someplace. Upon getting out of my nice warm sleeping bag into the 18 degree shelter, lo and behold there was about 2" of snow on the ground.
"Tut" and "Ringo" left at about 7:00 and 7:30. Rick and I left at 8:30 as we climbed the hill. The snow continued to get deeper and by the time we got to the top, there were places where it was at least 6" deep. We kept up a very fast pace for the first 3 hrs. Almost 9 miles, but we never caught "Tut" and "Ringo."
My feet were quite sore today even though I was able to walk quite a distance. When we stopped for lunch I told Rick I was going all the way to Hot Springs and check into the Hostel so I could get a shower and clean my clothes so I would be presentable to see a doctor. He agreed and off we went for the next 6 1/2 miles. This afternoon it was sunny and 70 degrees and quite nice for hiking. It was mostly downhill so we made good time and were in Hot Springs by 3:30. Not bad for a cripple. 15.8 miles in 7 hrs.
We checked into the Hikers Hostel run by Randy and Gloria Joseph. It was a nice place with 4 bunk beds down stairs and 10 beds upstairs. For $10 you get a bunk, shower, kitchen facilities and heat. Tomorrow I will go to the clinic and see a Dr. who has walked the A.T., so he has probably seen about all the symptoms there are. If they don't have an x-ray here, then I will go to Erwin to the hospital to get a picture of my heels. In the meantime, Rick will continue to hike the section of trail between here and Erwin, which is about another 70 miles. I will meet him there and hopefully be able to continue on the trail with him. Maybe I'll find out something tomorrow.
Miles today: 15.1 miles
Just spoke with Jim. He sees an improvement in the pain in his heels in just one day. He's emptying his pack and sending STUFF home to lighten his load. He's getting a ride to Erwin tomorrow so he can hang out until Rick gets there. He couldn't get in to see the trail doc at Hot springs until Friday, so he decided he would see the doc at Erwin.
Just talked to Jim. Rick arrived at Erwin this afternoon. They will both hang there until Sunday. Jim saw a trail doc and had x-rays. He has a possible stress fracture. They both will start hiking on Sunday. If Jim's feet can't take it, he will have to take approx. 5 weeks off and join Rick down the line. Oh God, I hope that doesn't happen; I can hear the depression setting in his voice. He'll know after hiking 2 days whether it's a fracture or not. Let's hope not.
Hi Guys,
I'm holed up here in Damascus Va, having done 25 miles yesterday to get out
of the rain. Gone 435 miles so far thru 3 states and 3 miles of VA. I'm waiting
for some UPS packages and the local resturant has free internet connection so
here I am at 11:00 in the AM.
Lost my hiking partner Jim-Bob to a heel fracture 4 days ago in Hampton, TN.
He'd been fighting the pain for 4 weeks and as he said, "It just wasn't
fun anymore." He rented a car and headed for NY last Sat. I'm injury free
except for your garden variety salmonella I picked up at a Pizza joint last
week. Ok now, no pains or even sore muscles. I just wish it would warm the [heck]
up and stop raining. Had some great views, 2 snow storms in the Smokies and
met some good people. Lots of strange rangers too. Some of the dudes make a
living hiking the trail.
Well thanks for the emails, keep em coming.
Rick (a.k.a. Nick Danger/Shotgun)
Send any "hello's/condolences/get wells" to Jim in Delhi. His email is franky62@dmcom.net.
Jim reported that he has two stress fractures on one foot and three on the other (you da' man, Jim). Needless to say, he'll be off his feet for a number of weeks. But he is looking forward to rejoining Rick as soon as possible.
Jim plans on rejoining Rick on the trail around June 1st. Rick will be returning to the trail after taking a week off to attend his daughter, Carrie's, graduation from Oneonta State (New York) college. This will be just in time to start the hike through Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. Nice timing, Jim-Bob.