Date: 2015-04-25
From: Off Trail Sick Leave

To: More Reflections
Miles today: 0.0

Since I'm taking a couple of days off to nurse myself through this cold and respiratory affliction, I thought I might take a moment to share some tidbits of info that might prove helpful to others planning a hike of their own. THE WEATHERFor the most part those of us who waited until the final days of March to begin have had fairly good weather. This year we've had no major winter blasts to drive us out of the hills. But there have been plenty of cold to chilly days to test your resolve. You just have to accept what comes and adjust. My initial plan for the hike -- the chart of daily mileage and where I had hoped to camp and take Zeros -- all went out the window in the first couple of weeks. You just can't know what to expect or how your body will react to the new demands. I'm learning to just go with the flow. But as to the weather, rainy nights don't bother me. I actually like to listen to the rain hitting my tent while sleeping. But rainy hiking is another thing. It wears on you to walk along for mile after mile with your head down, your vision restricted to a very small part of the trail under your feet while water drips from the bill of your cap. But it's part of the hike. Warm, sunny days will come. Just keep reminding yourself of that. CAMPSITESPeople ask me, "where do you camp?" My answer is, "Almost anywhere I care to. ". In fact, along the trail there are any number of great places to pitch your tent. Once you have your legs, you can just hike your pace throughout the day and then begin to look for a good spot late in the afternoon -- and in the next mile or so you will find some suitable location. Icefire and I decided to make it a short day coming out of Hot Springs, for instance. So we stopped and made camp just past Tanyard Gap. But the next morning, in the next couple of miles, we past by many other very nice sites. So don't fret it. FOODI'm learning that my taste is changing rapidly out on the trail. What I started out liking I've now come to dislike. I now find I have almost no desire for sweet things -- candy bars and such. I much prefer something salty. I can't imagine how all those hikers cope with this taste transition who have prepared six months of food in drop boxes even before leaving home. It does explain why in nearly every hostel or hiker motel along the way, even in the early going, you will find a hiker box loaded down with discarded food which some hiker had gotten tired of eating. The solution? Just adjust to what your body is craving. There is no need to carry a heavy food bag filled with items you aren't going to eat. PEOPLEThere is no question that out here on the trail you are going to meet some of the finest people you'd ever want to find anywhere. Enjoy them. They're great and some will become life long friends. But then there are the others -- those with the foul mouths whose every other word is vulgar, or those who hike with dogs and care nothing about how their beloved pet might impact the life and space of other hikers. Then there are the smokers and potheads and those hikers that seem always to be toting six packs of beer. Many of these are downright obnoxious in their behavior. Their language often is insulting and the best thing to do is try and avoid them. They have no respect for the trail, for other people, or for that matter, themselves. Try not to let these few ruin your hike. LEARN AS YOU HIKEIt's a simple thing -- but I keep trying to learn out there. I watch how others walk. Some seem to glide over the path. I watch behavior in camps, especially around shelters. It's a great way to glean from the experience of others. I've noticed how some folk seem to make no wasted efforts and know how to get the most out of a few moments of rest. I also ask questions when I discover a hiker has hiked sections with which I'm unfamiliar. Their advice and suggestions may prove to be very useful. I once followed Icefire around a grocery store just to get ideas of what I might stuff into my own food bag. Anyway, the key word here is Humility. There is always more to learn. HOSTELSI can't say enough of the fine hostels we've encountered thus far along the trail. The Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega, of course sets the bar quite high with their friendliness and cleanliness. But the Top of Georgia ranks right up there too. I mean, you walk in there filthy, get assigned a bunk, are ushered to your room and given scrubs to wear after your shower along with a laundry hamper in which you can toss all your filthy clothes -- I mean, what's not to like? They even have folk on staff who will give you a tub to soak your feet and then a foot massage. Then you here are the more rustic ones such as the Standing Bear. I loved it but can see how it might not be everyone's cup of tea. Other hostels, such as the one in Neels Gap, are great because they have knoweagable staff members who can help you with equipment concerns. Anyway, I have a great appreciation for the folk who own and operate these hostels and desire to assist hikers and don't nickle and dime them for every little thing. Well, I've rambled enough. Still nursing myself today, thinking of my buddy, Icefire, who quite probably is having a wet day up on the ridgecrest between Laurel and Flint Mtn shelters. I'm optimistic I'll be ready to rejoin him in Erwin on Monday.