Date: 2013-03-29
From: Hog Back Ridge Shelter

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

It was another mid 20's night, but I awoke comfortable in my tent after a good night's sleep. A whole chorus of owls was serenading me. This site has a three-sided privy perched on the edge of a cliff. As I sat on the throne, I had the perfect view of the sunrise over the ridge. I then hiked down a 0.3 mile side trail to a mountain stream and had all the cold water I could want. It was a good start to a day in the mountains.The mental challenges on the A.T. are every bit as hard as the physical challenges. I found that to be true today. What I didn't say earlier is that this morning I put on cold boots and wet socks. My feet were cold, but the sky was clear and a weather report I had heard earlier in the week had me anticipating that it would be a warm up, thus giving me a chance to dry out a pair of socks. I even talked about the great views we would have later in the day on Big Bald (5,516 feet) and how we would enjoy a snack break, basking in the sunshine on the grass-covered summit. But what actually happened was that it got cloudier and colder as the day went on. My cold feet just got colder. By the time we got to Big Bald, there were no views, just a strong cold wind, and it was snowing. I needed to adjust my expectations and accept that my feet would remain cold all day. I began to make a plan in my mind as to what I would do to get warm when we camped at night. But then things changed suddenly. Hoosier's friends who were going to pick us up in Erwin, TN, tomorrow offered to pick us up tonight at Spivey Gap if we could hike another 6 miles to get to that point. It seemed like it would be no problem for Hoosier and I to get to the rendezvous site, since we expected that the trail would be downhill. And it was a relief to think that I could have dry feet, dry socks, dry boots, and a warm place to sleep. But the anticipated "easy" 6 miles had some major short but quite steep uphills that surprised us. The hard climbs were not just a physical challenge. They were a big mental challenge as well. It was not what we expected and we weren't mentally prepared for the effort. So we needed to switch gears, toughen up and remain positive even though we were fatigued. I thought of the last journal entry of a would-be thru-hiker who quit after only 67 miles on the trail. He said the hardest thing for him on the A.T. were the false summits. By that he meant that when he came to what he thought was the end of the climb, and it proved not to be, the let-down was too much for him to overcome.In saying that he revealed that he couldn't handle the mental challenge of hiking the AT. Things often do not turn out the way we anticipate or expect that they will. That's pretty common out here on the AT where things are constantly changing. The challenge is to remain mentally strong, so that, with a positive attitude, you can adapt to the new circumstances.We were picked up by the Polsgroves. Judy fixed us a wonderful spaghetti dinner; and there was lots of it. I just kept filling up my plate over and over, and Hoosier was doing the same. I became aware that Gordon and Judy were amazed at how much we were both eating, but that didn't embarrass me or stop me. I don't think I have ever been so famished. For desert a full plate of chocolate chip cookies was brought to the table, and with Hoosier's help it was promptly emptied. P.S. I think Judy liked feeding such big eaters