Date: 2011-02-15
To: Witch Hazel, Adapatation, and 
Miles today: 0.0

"The footpath is a living, breathing entity through a corridor of land that's continuously being improved." "It's a common theme that hiking the entire trail is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical." "It's a daunting challenge, but doable with discipline and desire." - Laurie Potteiger, information services manager with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy   I have the desire, the discipline will be hard earned!   Congratulations to all those who have started this week. Beautiful weather forecasted all week! I pray that their jounrney will be safe. I don't believe I would have started this early without snow shoes, at least bounced up the trail. We are still in the depths of winter, and I fear she will not go quietly. If needed in early April, when I should pass through the Smokies, I will make them. I have watched a few videos on the web on how to do this with saplings. I have a length of web strapping for emergencies, and can use that to lash them on. No postholing if I can avoid it.   Now, about the title. First, I have been using witch hazel, in the place of rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide lately. I am finding this to be quite similar to them, in relation to their purpose, which is to clean and soothe abrasions, cuts, and insect bites. It also treats inflamation (exterior)like bruises. The reason for mentioning witch hazel, is that I am considering taking a small tincture of it with me on the trail. I will have the triple-antibiotic ointment, as well as some rubbing alcohol infused wipes(to at least wipe down feet at the end of the day). Too bad witch hazel's multi-use doesn't include brushing teeth. Then I could replace a one-for-one item.    Adaptation, for NoBo's, will come quickly in the North Georgia Mtns. After studying guide book, companion, and previous journaler's entries, I have come to the conclusion that I must adapt quickly. I will not fall into the catagory of 'too fast, too far, too soon' bunch, that leads to misery and ultimately, failure. I wanted to plan on the 8-10 mile a day average, which I have tested and am comfortable and confident with. After a week, I had planned on increasing slightly, and each week, and so on. Well, after studying the guide books and mileage, there are days very early where I will not be 'shelter hopping'. The spacing is just not conductive to what I need. (disclaimer: this is in absolutely no way intended to slight the wonderful work done by the Ga. trail club. They do great work, and I plan on volunteering with them). There is no way to have shelters evenly spaced for everyone's individual needs. So, I will set up at previously used campsites along the way when necessary. Fellow 2011's, please don't think of me as anti-social. I simply need to do what is necessary to complete this journey, and enjoy it. I love the comraderie around shelters after a day on the trail! I will be partaking in that aspect. I find even the water sources are not spaced ideally (not complaining, Mother Nature). I may have to carry water a little further than I would like. Simply said, one word...Adaptation.   And, I have to include the newest member of our family, as a contributing editor (no...that should be non-contributing editor). Little "Emmie Blue Who", stepped on my computer earlier and deleted what entry I had typed. Don't ask me how. Is she trying to tell me something? She is a 12 week old Blue colored Boston Terrier, and absolutely a doll. I look at her, and it makes me sad that I will miss 6 months of her puppydom (is that a word? if not, jump on it wikipedia!). Emmie looks, in her face, like one of the Who children of Whoville, in 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas". She will be a young woman (gip, in dog lingo, as my Pawpaw used to say) when I return. I will miss them terribly, but knowing dogs, I also know they will 'pine' for me. Will they think I've run off, never to return? They go everywhere with me, now that I'm retired. I will talk to them on speaker phone. I am curious as to how other thru-hikers have handled this?   On other prep notes, I 'invented' a useful training tool. I took the pan of an old wheelbarrow, that wouldn't hold air in it's tire (never had one that would for that matter). I added two eye-bolts to the front, and attached a rope. Then piled in some old brick I had laying around, and now have what remotely resembles what we used to pull around during football summer practice (not much of a weight room back then). Let me say first-hand that you will feel the 'burn', and it does work!   I received the last order for equipment, which was a pair of gaiters, a collaspable 4L water bag, and a titanium cup.    Time marches on...only 25 days till I travel to North Georgia!