Date: 2016-12-08
To: Appalachian Trail
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

March 26, 2017. This is the date I've been preparing for the last 17 months; the start of hiking the Appalachian Trail. After months of research, reading equipment reviews, comparison shopping, purchasing of items needed, and finally experimenting with various boots, backpacks and trail foods, I feel like a hiking expert without having stepped foot on the AT. I've day hiked for many years, and motorcycle camped for just as long, so this is not a new experience for me. What will be new is the day to day challenge of hiking the rocky terrain, maneuvering different elevations, varying and extreme weather conditions and 2,190 miles to final destination. This is an adventure of a life time and worth all the effort in its preparation.In October of 2015, my best friend Cheryl Cowan and I were drinking some wine contemplating what we'd like to do once we both were retired. Since we both liked to hike, and drink wine, the dream of hiking the AT was born. LOL. We have spent many hours planning this trip via phone calls, visits, texting and emails with Cheryl in VA and I in Ohio. Camping and equipment shakedowns have taken place to see what needs tweaking, along with daily hiking miles calculated, food stops and available water sources. Our backpacks are at a weight we can handle with full supplies, and know with each meal it will lighten the load some. It hasn't been easy deciding if you really need that extra pair of pants or shirt versus extra food or water. It will all work out. We need some surprises along the trail. The time thru-hiking the trail is between 6-7 months. We will start at Springer Mountain, GA, and end on the mountain top of Katadin in Maine. We will travel thru 14 states. The trails are marked with white blazes on trees, rocks or posts to keep us on the right path. Some trails are marked with blue blazes, little bit easier trail or these trails leading to the AT from roadways. In the New England states, cairns are used as markers instead of blazes. We plan leaving the trail to go into towns for food re-supply about every 4-5 days. We will carry 5 dinners, 5 lunches, 5 breakfasts along with snacks, and 4-6 lbs of water. This is half of our backpack weight filled. Our water sources where we will have to filter our water should be available almost daily around the shelter areas. At least that is what the AT Guide Book is telling us. With the wildfires in GA, 71.2 miles of the AT were burned; the eastern end of the Smoky Mountains. That area is closed at this time. Maybe by the time we reach this area, trail maintenance will make it passable to hike on thru. We plan on getting a room in a hostel or motel every three weeks for a shower and laundry. All other times we will be tenting. Some people think the most danger on the AT would be the black bears. Although they can be provoked, which I don't plan on doing, the tick is more of a threat. Cheryl found this nifty tick remover, which I'm sure we will get some use out of. LOL. We also will be spraying our clothing and equipment to help prevent the ticks from attaching. I covered a lot of information some of you may have wondered about. Please feel free to email me if you have questions. I'll be sending updates and photos as often as I can, but for now, I don't know how "often" really is. If you're in any of the areas that we will be hiking, please come hike with us.