Date: 2010-04-02
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Standing Indian Mountain
Miles today: 39.5

Happy Easter Sunday everyone. Since I couldn¢t schlep a big honking¢ ham up for dinner tonight to honor the big day, I opted for a black forest ham sandwich. Hey, we do what we can.In the days since we last spoke (or wrote, as the case may be) I¢ve eaten¢ myself silly in Hiawassee, Georgia. You think I¢m kidding? When I got in the other day I went to Subway and got a foot-long sandwich with two chips and two Diet Cokes. Walked down for laundry (the Hiawassee Inn is under new management and they¢ve got catching up to do, but I like the location and they provide shuttles back to the trail in the morning, but no laundry currently even though the books claim it.) So, back to walking to do laundry and then picked up a Hardee¢s bacon cheeseburger and fries. When everything was clean and tidy, I went back to Subway for another foot-long sandwich and ate half, after I stopped in Dairy Queen for a sundae. Then I finish the other half. At six, it was dinnertime, so off for fried chicken and the fixing¢s and salad, I was happy.Hikers heading for Maine are quickly getting their trailnames ¢ Bruce became Sticks, Tom became Hedgehog, Eric is now Hollywoood (he gets an extra ¢o¢ in woood since he hikes in these Elvis-like sunglasses.) While shooting it over beers in the parking lot of the Hiawassee Inn, I noticed this enormous wrap around bubble of sorts around this young lads big toe ¢ yep, biggest, most unusual shaped blister I¢ve ever witnessed, it actually occupied its own space, so he became Six Toes.Meeting many nice hikers hoping to make it the whole way, some of those others are Big Foot, Frito, Peach and Doug (no name yet, I mean Doug is a name, just not his trailname). Other than that one-day hike with Skippy, all my days and nights are solo; I¢ve really enjoyed my quiet time out in the woods at great places out of mileage reach for most. Feels like I¢m out camping and hiking since I¢m not thru-hiking. Doesn¢t even feel like section hiking which most do enroute to obtaining their goal of a 2000-Miler patch.The majority, which is normal, are still struggling with their trail fitness, endurance, most of which is a result of Georgia being tough, and North Carolina being even tougher and of course carrying pack weights heavier than mine (two thru-hikes does tend to teach you a thing or two.) But all are struggling together with big smiles and all share that wonderful vision of discovery and hope of what may be. That¢s a great time in a thru-hike, each day brings something new to see and experience, it¢s a good source of motivation (if they¢re looking for one other than earning the heralded moniker ¢Thru-hiker.¢) This motivation of the daily new discovery is a far cry from my passage, where it's really one of camping, hiking, exercise and meeting new faces. Especially since I¢ve already hiked some of these stretches four times.For me personally, It would be nice to have that sense of awe again, that¢s just not in the cards for the Appalachian Trail and me. I do like knowing my knowledge on this particular hike has made things go quicker, easier. Certainly my last fall marathon training is paying dividends in handling the climbs.Here at the summit of Standing Indian Mountain, I¢m tenting again solo, only this time at 5430 feet, this is a rather large mountain. Most are back at the Shelter at about half way up, me though, I've got the summit.Shame on me for not mentioning the glorious weather again ¢ since I left last Monday afternoon, now here in North Carolina, all of Georgia done, it has been sunshine and will continue possibly another five days. At my pace from Hiawassee, I¢ll be at the N.O.C. after just three nights. Today I did 18.2 over an almost continuous upward trail, tomorrow even a bit longer. I sort of walk faster than most, whether there¢s a pack on my back or not, the miles just come. But since I¢m missing that daily discovery component to my hike, and since I¢m not working on a third 2000-Miler certification, I won¢t make this hike as long as once planned ¢ I¢m realizing I need to hike a trail I¢m less familiar with. This is the stuff you never know about when repeating the same territory, but that¢s cool. I got out and have been making good miles, losing a few pounds (maybe not in Hiawassee) and I¢m getting beautiful scenery and long exercise. All of which makes me smile, particularly the chance meetings and new faces. But for me, those new faces last about one day and they're gone as they teach themselves how to do it.Three years ago, I started the Pacific Crest Trail with the intention to thru-hike it, was really enjoying the idea of seeing the High Sierra and all those famous locations Ansel Adams made legendary with his superb black & white photography. But as life does, it interrupted my plans in the worst way with news that both my father and sister were diagnosed with cancer. Naturally hiking went to the bottom of the To Do List. Being there with Dad and the family, helping out till his last day this past July was exactly the right place at the right time for me to be. This is the first hiking I¢ve done since then.On a more positive note, my sister, although still battling, continues to respond well to treatment ¢ and hence no thru-hike but go out, see what can be seen, shake the cobwebs out of the climbing muscle and get back. In essence, go out camping for a bit only do so really far apart each night in a location that logistically lends itself to easy on easy off.So, to all you hiker enthusiast out there, a very happy Easter Sunday to you and good night from atop Standing Indian Mountain in the 3rd toughest State (North Carolina) on the AT (my opinion).It¢s time for me to put on some Sinatra and George Winston (and others) and drift off in this fresh mountain air. Nighty night all.