Date: 2003-04-11
From: It was a dark and stormy day........

To: It was a dark and stormy day......
Miles today: 8.3

It was a dark and stormy day when the Van from Miss Janet's house began to shuttle us to our destination for 9 miles of slackpacking. Our first ever. Excitement was in the air as the group of 8 of us loaded up on the van with nothing more than lunch, water (and a first aid kit I insisted on carrying) in our day packs. As we drove up the mountain reports of school closings and snow in the mountains poured in and as we drove over 2,000 feet the snow began to fall. This did not change the course of our day for we had hiked a few snow days before. Miss Janet took a "before" picture (or perhaps one to identify our frozen carcasses) and the 8 of us set off. The snow was wet and coming down in very large flakes. The trees began to bend under the weight of the snow so we had to do a lot of limbos and walking hunched over to clear them. We thought nothing of it. The path remained good, only a few inches on the ground and ours were the first footprints there.About halfway in our 9 mile trek, we encountered our first shelter and ate lunch there. We were all a twitter at how nice it was to hike without 35 pounds or more of stuff on our backs and how we were enjoying our slackpacking. Lunch finished, four people set off and then the other four of us were behind them. Still dodging bent over trees all was well until at the lower elevation the Appalachian Trail turned into the Appalachian River. The melting snow mixed with rain was causing flooding. So we slogged along the trail. I was bragging at how well my waterproof boots were holding up. At times we couldn't tell if we were in a river or on the trail. In fact we were walking through rushing white water on the trail. But the trail blazes confirmed that we really were on the waterlogged trail. At points there was no place of solid ground to walk, so one had to walk through the ankle high water. I had told Guana (Carol) to go on ahead since she hikes faster than me. I found her waiting at the first of three trail trials. A log about 20 feet long was placed over what had become a torrent of whitewater. Not only that, but the log had ice on it. Believe me, FEAR FACTOR had nothing on us!! So I concentrated on keeping my balance and made it across the long log with relative ease. All the while I was thinking this was adventurous....not knowing what still lie ahead. Guana again went ahead and again I found not only her but the rest of the hikers awaiting our arrival to tell us how to navigate this next whitewater. The hikers ahead had thrown logs and rocks to create a bridge where there was none. No, under normal circumstances, there was no reason for a bridge. It was evident to me that we were in flood conditions. Again we all crossed and helped each other. Again others hiked ahead until I found them once again waiting for us at our third and final challenge - rushing whitewater that was knee deep. I figured out quickly that not even my waterproof boots were going to keep me dry on this one. The hikers ahead advised us on how and where to cross. I was one of three hikers left to cross, so I decided to go first. The current threatened to sweep me off my feet so I leaned hard into it and made it across. Then the other two crossed with us cheering them on. All of us were soaking wet and concerned about hypothermia on this cold day. So we hiked like mad to the payphone we knew was nearby, called for a ride and hiked the last mile to the pick-up point. I looked at my experienced slackpacking friends and said to them. "Okay, this was my first time slackpacking....was this a typical day???" They all shook their heads "no" laughing. With all that drama, do you know what made it a great day? The way us hikers hung together and helped each other get through it all. That's what is great about the Appalachian Trail. We are a community - a mobile community - with our own telephone (otherwise known as the grapevine), with our own support system. There are times when I help hikers and times when I have been helped by other hikers. It could be anything from finding a stray sock on the trail, carrying it with you until you find the owner, or letting someone use your stove because theirs is broken. There is a great sense of community and belonging on the trail for when you discover the true rhythm of the trail, coincidences abound. Which are, of course, no coincidences - only magic.