Date: 2016-02-11
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 7.7

I ended up getting a late start today because I was finishing up my ¢Light Weight 2016 Thru-Hiker Winter Gear¢ video. It¢s almost, but not quite done : ) The hostel owner drove me down the icy roads and up to Indian Grave Gap to start my first day hiking in deep snow AND my first time going in SOBO direction. I¢ve done everything NOBO so far but getting rides today was much easier if I started close to the hostel and hiked SOBO into Erwin. By the time we get to the trail it¢s almost 10 am and you can see by looking at today¢s photo the 6 to 8 inches of snow that was waiting for me. I was hoping that another hiker had made tracks for me to follow because I¢ve heard stories about hikers who can¢t find the trail or worse, get lost off the trail in the winter snow. OK¢¦ no tracks.. I¢ll just make sure I take my time and double check to make sure I¢m seeing white blazes fairly often. I¢m trying out two different types of snow cleats today. - Kahtoola - has 10 carbide tips that look like they might work better on ice than on snow and..- Stabilicers - these look like a thin hiking boot sole with big plastic cleats AND ice screws. They attach with velcro straps. Slipknot turned me on to the Stabilicers - he swears by them and says they work best for deep uphill snow by keeping your foot from sliding back. It¢s cold so I start out with all of my various coats, hats, and gear on. As the morning warms up I take off a few things and notice there¢s a wonderful quietness hiking through the snow. It¢s a lack of sounds that must be somehow soaked up by all the snow. Nice.I started off with the Kahtoola¢s on my boots and they seem to be working ok. I slip and fall at one point but get up and brush off the snow without hurting myself. The deep snow is hard at times going up the slight hills I¢m climbing. I find that downhills are surprisingly EASIER (for me at least) than the dry trail. I don¢t have to worry quite as much about where I place my injured foot since each step is cushioned by the snowpack. I stop at Curly Maple Gap Shelter to eat a protein bar for lunch, borrow the Tennessee portable privy shovel, and while I¢m at it, I swap out my snow cleats to try the bigger, bulkier Stabilicers.Wow¢¦ ! These things really grip well. They are a bit clunky to wear but they work better than the Kahtoola¢s in the deep snow. The problem I¢ve having is that the snow is getting thinner as the elevation drops down towards Erwin. After just 45 minutes or so I¢m on 2 to 4 inches of snow instead of the 6 to 8 inches that was higher up on the mountain. Then the rocks and dirt of the trail start to show through. The Stabilicers at this point work TOO GOOD. In the deep snow I was stepping down, packing the snow down to stand on flat packed snow with rocks underneath. Now that that snow is much thinner, the Stabilizers grip the edges of partially covered rocks on one side while the other side clunks down suddenly without warning twisting my ankle from the unexpected movement. In all fairness, this is an issue only for me or any other hikers with a similar ¢wobbly foot¢ that is caused by something like my injury. I can move my foot - a little. I have a bit of strength in my foot - a little. I just can¢t react to sudden vectors without it triggering a minor sprain each time. So the Stabilizers come off, the Kahtoola¢s go back on. Then in another hour the trail is showing mostly through the snow and I go back to just my hiking boots. Moral for today(besides start earlier is almost always a good idea Depending on snow depth I¢m going to use both types of cleats. The Kahtoola¢s keep me from slipping on ice or light snow and the Stabilicers would be very helpful on steeper uphills and in snow that is 6 inches or deeper. A special thanks to Slipknot for suggesting the Stabilicers. I had REI send them overnight here once I knew the big storm was coming.Speaking of which, I got to hang out with Slipknot again. The hostel owner let me borrow her car to go have one last dinner with him. He¢s shuttling ahead past Roan Mountain tomorrow to bypass the deep snow - moving to a point on the trail that¢s all at 3,000 feet or lower in elevation. Then he¢ll return later to fill in the part he¢s bypassing. If you aren¢t following Slipknot¢s Journal you may want to check it out here. Just put the website name followed by /slipknot Or I think you can search for Slipknot.Wow¢¦ feels like it¢s been a long day. Tomorrow I¢m taking a bus home so I can be home for our anniversary. 21 amazing, wonderful years. Then it¢s another bus to take me back here to the trail on the 17th. I¢ll post some short updates while I¢m gone so that you know what¢s going on.Thanks so much for reading and encouraging me, even if it¢s just in your head. ¢That crazy Flash 52 is limping his way to Maine.. Go Flash!¢