Tore's Travels - Reports 4, 5 & 6

#4

Got to the parking lot at the base of Springer Mountain at 4:30pm.  I have to start at the beginning so I had to hike 1 mile up to the top and get a picture of me at the top of Springer.  Now I had to hike a mile back down to the parking lot.  Rick got his bag on and by 6:30 the adventure started.  The temperature was cold but the skies were clear.  The forcast was for rain/snow Friday evening and on into Saturday and Sunday.  So far so good! 

It was still light so off we went.  The trail was easy and we made good time until it started to get dark.  We got to the first shelter at 8:30pm and we still needed to cook and eat.  By going to a shelter we didn't need to put up the tent.  It was getting cold about 26 degrees.  My bag is rated for 35 degrees, not good.  The shelter was not full and had only 6 people in it but could hold 16.  The shelters are well built and have 2 levels for sleeping.

Now how to stay warm.  The silk liner gives me another 5 degrees and then I kept my long johns on, wore the down jacket, and finally I added a hot water bottle.  I lboiled water and poured it into a 20 ounce bottle and put it inside a sock and layed it inside the sleeping bag.  It gave up heat for most of the night and I was  comfortable even rhough the temperature dropped to 20.  The good part was that we had no rain or snow.  For those that have been saying prayers for me thank you for keeping the snow/rain away.

#5

Woke up and the temperature was 22 degree, very cold.  This is about 15 degrees below normal.  I stayed warm so all is good.  Breakfast was oatmeal with fruit bits added to it.  Delicious!

By 9:30 we were back on the trail.  It is overcast and chilly. We still have not seen the sun.  We had 2 uphill climbs.  The first was a gradual 500 foot rise while the other was 500 feet straight up and extrememy difficult.  Take one step and watch for roots and rocks, take another step and avoid the slippery wet leaves, another step and there are loose rocks, another step mud, and on and on and on.  You can't enjoy the scenery because your eyes are constantly on the ground analyzing to avoid the hazards.  It would be so easy to sprain an ankle or break a bone in a fall.

We spent the night at the Gooch Mountain shelter with a group of approximately 20 hikers, 12 in the shelter and the rest in tents.  We have now walked 15.8 miles.  Rick and I were the oldest.  The group varied from people changing jobs, just finished college, or got out of the military.  We passed one hiker who had just retired from the service, had on his working uniform and a pack that weighed almost 80 pounds.  He will never make it.  He did not have the fire in the eyes. 

Still no sun.  It is warmer but I wish we could have some sun. As a note the walking sticks are indispensable.  When I was young we never used them.  When going up a hill you can use the poles to help push you up.  When going down it helps brake so it is easier on the feet.  Whenever necessary it helps maintain your balance and can prevent accidents.

#6

Slept in a shelter again at Gooch Mountain.  Shelter was full with young people.  A brother and sister, a military returnee, and various who had just gotten out of college or were starting to work.  All wanted to challenge the trail.  Rick and I got in the shelter but many had to use their tent. 

The night was warmer but it rained from 4:30 - 7:30 am.  The gear and ourselves are dry but the trail is wet.  Rick left me at Woodys gap (21 mile) and at the same time I got resupplied by the man who picked Rick up.  I have 5 days of food which has added 5 pounds of weight to the pack.  Had one steep hill to climb.  Stopped at the last camping ground before climbing blood mountain.

First time setting up the tent.  The weather looks ominous and rain is expected.  I got an early dinner and was in bed by 7:30.  The rain started around 8:30 and continued until 7:30 the next morning.  I heard a large tree fall during the night.  The tent worked well and kept me dry!  I got up at 7:30 and was on the trail by 8:30.  Everything is wet.  The tent had to  be put away wet.  My hike today was  2000 feet up with the last 500 being straight up. I got to the top at 11:30 and was able to call the wife and kids.  By 1:30 I was at the Mountain Crossing at Neels gap.

I am staying at the hostel and was able to shower and wash clothes.  I had the same clothes on and it was my first shower.  They have a large store and sell something to everyone.  The hostell had pizza and coke for everyone.  There is going to be snow tonight and cold tomorrow.  When will we see the sun.  We have not seen the sun since we started the AT.