March 26, 2011

When I woke up, I could hear a thunderstorm all around me. I packed up quickly, and got into my rain gear inside my tent. When I got out, everyone was hurrying to get things packed up and get hiking. We hiked in the the thunderstorm all day. I was actually looking forward to my first bad weather day on the trail, and I wanted to get it behind me. It was cold and even though we were in our rain gear we got soaked through. After twelve miles in severe thunderstorms, we reached Neels Gap. At the gap there is a hiking store that sells groceries. I quickly drank a soda and started chowing on a can of Pringles. I heard there was pizza available, so I cooked a Tony's pizza and stood there, soaked and stinking, in the middle of the outfitter. People were in there to buy expensive gear for weekend trips, but they had to stand next to a disgusting homeless guy shoving cheap pizza in his face. Strange experience. The hostel was full, but we were able to stay at the cabins next door. The cabins were excellent! For 50 dollars a night (split five ways) we could all sleep in a bed, have our own bathroom and enjoy satellite TV. The shower felt great, and I felt so lucky to finally be warm and dry as the thunder and lightning crashed around me. Mentally, I was feeling 100% better. I had called Courtney the night before from the woods, and just having a normal conversation with her began to erase the negativity. The thunderstorm washed away the rest. Walking over 4000 foot mountains in the thunder and lightning was dangerous and fun. I finally felt like I was doing something adventurous.

March 25, 2011

After a cold, semi-sleepless night I awoke when I heard zippers and stuff sacks being activated. I packed up, ate some poptarts and the three of us hit the trail. One guy was a teacher from upstate New York, and the other fellow was a roofer from the Boston area. It was another clear, gorgeous day. The terrain was challenging by the weather was cool and perfect. By the time we stopped for water at Justus Creek, two more were hiking with us. Our goal on that second day was not clear, we would just hike and see how far we could get. We reached Gooch Mtn. Shelter around 1:30pm and decided to press on to a place called Woody Gap. One can camp where ever they please along the trail, but when you aren't at a specific shelter you can just hope to find water and level ground. We found a great spot around 5. After about 12 miles for the day, my body was worn out but not injured in anyway, and our spot was on a high ridge with a great view. As the sun set, the negativity started to jump back into my head. The second night was difficult for me. I wasn't scared, but I felt lonely and very selfish. The worst part is, I knew it was all just BS, but to start the trail feeling this way, made me begin to doubt my ability to finish it. The days were filled with excitement, and the nights with strange things..

March 24 2011

After a delicious breakfast at the Hiker Hostel, the shuttle drove us right to the Springer Mountain trail head. I was equal parts nervous and excited. The weather was perfect and after getting dropped off in the parking lot, we began the quick hike to the top of the mountain. On the way up, I began chatting with two dudes who were hiking about the same pace. This was a relief, I didn't want to be hiking the first few days completely alone. We got to the summit and took some pictures, put our real names (none of us had trail names yet) in the trail log and officially began our hike. We wound up and down through pine, and oak trees and past streams and rodedendren thickets. Around 2:00pm we came to the Hawk Mountain Shelter. We decided to stay the night there, but it took some considering because it was such a beautiful day, and we felt good. The shelter was full, so I chose a spot and set up my tent. That first night was a little stressful. I worried something would happen to my gear, or that I had forgotten something. After the tent was set up, I mingled with the people at the shelter. It being the first shelter on the trail there were all kinds of people there and all different ages and hiking abilities. I considered myself of average hiking ability at this point, and my gear was good quality, but never tested on a long distance hike, so I introduced myself and listened. I eventually cooked dinner, I still wasn't very hungry, but it was dinner time. Two ramen later I was ready to hit the hay. That first night was very cold, 25degrees, the cold didn't bother me though. I was up for a number of hours worrying. Worrying I had chosen a foolish thing to do, thinking it was selfish and silly to do this. I knew my mind was playing tricks on me, but when you're 2000 miles from home in the woods with a bunch of strangers, strange things start to creep into your mind. I turned on my cellphone to see if I had reception. None. So I fell asleep.....

Tomorrow, It begins..

I am leaving tomorrow from South Station in Boston. After twenty eight exciting hours on the bus, I will arrive in Atlanta on March, 23. I weighed my pack today, it weighs about 37 pounds (including water and four days of food). I wish I had some nugget of inspiration about, following your dreams, or living one's life to the fullest, but right now my mind is in a strange place, thinking about poptarts, rattlesnakes, instant potatoes, bills, black bears, butane, and bed bug bedazzled bunk houses (sorry for the alliteration, I just couldn't resist!). More interesting posts to follow I hope. Until then...adios!