WREN Agent Hiking Appalachian Trail
Good Day!
by Thomas Larkin on 04/21/13Sunday, April 21, 2013:
Today was a good day. I hiked north to south for over 18 miles. I left my pack at the hostel, took water and lunch, and arranged for a shuttle to deliver me up the trail so that I could return to Hostel for dinner and a nice bed and shower. This process caught me up on my mileage goal disrupted by the bad weather. Tomorrow I'll probably do 10-12 miles after being Shuttled back to today's starting point and resuming the northbound course. I'll probably camp in the woods as the weather will be great again tomorrow.
Stormy Weather!
by Thomas Larkin on 04/21/13Friday, April 19, 2013:
The wind blew like Banshees last night. Today is supposed to be rainy all day with thunderstorms and dropping temps. Broke camp dry but light rain began shortly after. We decided to take a Nero day and dodge the misery. Unsure where to exit for Hemlock Hollow Hostel, we walked past the cabin road about 1/4 mi before intuition dictated a turnaround. Sparkey wouldn't go back so we'll meet up again in a couple of days. I'm currently snugged in at the bunkhouse with the wind and rain howling outside. Tomorrow I will slack pack and flip flop 18 miles back to Hemlock Hollow, then pick back up at Devil Fork Gap on Sunday.
Leaving Hot Springs, NC
by Thomas Larkin on 04/21/13Thursday, April 18, 2013:
Got up at 6:30 am, packed, walked to diner for a hearty breakfast and hit the trail at 7:45 am. Reached Lovers Leap by 9:00, but no jumpers today. Beautiful view of town. Mostly uphill today with a total elevation gain from the French Broad River to Deep Gap (just past Spring Mountain) of about 2000 ft. We're camping after a 12 mile day. May be thunder storms tonight and tomorrow, so we are eying the Hemlock Hollow Inn as our quick exit strategy. It's 5 miles away so we could be there in about 3.5 hours if need be, but it would leave us 3.5 miles shy of our goal for Fri. Not a problem since we are shooting for Erwin by noon on the 24th. Tomorrow should be interesting.
Hot Springs, NC
by Thomas Larkin on 04/19/13Wednesday, April 17, 2013:
Tonight we are in Hot Springs, NC. I found my dream room, a two bedroom apartment above the Spring Creek Tavern for $35. Per person! The food and beer downstairs is outstanding.
We'll leave early Thursday morning for our 6 1/2 day journey to Erwin, TN. The town of Hot Springs got its name from the soothing waters on the end of town. Several of the hikers got a group rate of $10 for an hour of soaking.
Early this morning we were awakened by lightening and thunder with light and sound some 20 sec apart. So we decided to break camp in the dark while dry at 6:00 am. Made Hot springs by 7:30 am and finished a huge cafe breakfast by 8:30. Rest, laundry, showers, resupply, and restaurant food is great for the body and hiker's soul. Tomorrow we'll leave around 8:30 am and do about 10 mi before pitching tents. No more shelters because of the mysterious virus affecting hikers for the next 40 miles on the trail.
Eating Up the Trail
by Thomas Larkin on 04/17/13Tuesday, April 16, 2013:
Broke camp at 8:00 am with Sparkey, an old dude from Arkansas. We're about the same age and hike about the same speed. Sparkey hiked The AT in 2010, but got injured in VA and had to quit. We pushed out another 15 miles today and look forward to breakfast in Hot Springs on Wednesday morning. Tenting tonight near Deer Park Shelter with 3 miles to Hot Springs. Possible rain tonight - I hope not. With nearly a full day in Hot Springs, I am hopeful that I can fill in some gaps in this Trail Journal and explain some of the technical difficulties I have had with phone service and the broadcast email. More tomorrow.
Great Day!
by Thomas Larkin on 04/17/13Monday, April 15, 2013:
Got up at 6:30 am - cooked hot oatmeal with berries, 3 cups of coffee and left Big Bear Hostel for the trail at 7:30 am. Steep climb up 2500 ft then back down 1000 ft then up 1500 ft and 15 miles later Roaring Fork Shelter. Hiked over Max Patch Mtn, a bald, for some spectacular views. Some tough hiking, long miles, but my body held up really well. Only 20 miles to Hot Springs. Should be there easily before noon on Wednesday. Will probably do 12 or 13 miles tomorrow.
More about the Great Smokies from Linda
by Thomas Larkin on 04/17/13From Linda on Monday, April 15, 2013:
Big Bare Hostel? Had to look that one up. Didn't know if it meant that it's just four walls a floor and roof - or if a nudist camp! What I found in my A.T. guide book is the "Standing Bear Hostel."
Not sure if he stayed at Mollie's Ridge Shelter last week, but he would have past by it. Legend says the area was named for a Cherokee maiden who froze to death looking for a lost hunter and that her ghost still haunts the
ridge.
Yesterday, he hiked through Charlie's Bunion. It got its name on a hike in 1929, when Charlie Connor and Horace Kephart, an A.T. pioneer and famed writer/conservationist of the period, discovered the feature, created by a landslide after a disastrous rain that year. The two decided that the rocky outcropping stuck out like a bunion on Charlies' foot.
The next section, between Davenport Gap and Roan Mountain (where we meet up on April 24) has lots of 360 degree panoramic views, coves, forests and balds. So, David - more pictures, please!
Crossed the Great Smokie Mtn National Park
by Thomas Larkin on 04/17/13From Dave on Sunday, April 14, 2013:
After having no cell phone coverage and email technical difficulties, I am happy to report that I am alive and well, having just crossed The Great Smokie Mountain National Park. I'll catch you up on the goings on for the past week, but for now, I'm tucked warmly into the bunk room at the Big Bare Hostel just off I40. The weather has been good for the past 3 days and we have averaged about 12 miles per day. The scenery has been fabulous! Hopefully the pics on this cellphone provide a small indication of the beauty.
Update from Linda
by Thomas Larkin on 04/12/13Friday, April 12, 2013: Dave ran into some software issues on his cell phone and his last 3 posts have been lost in cyber space. His wife sent us the following update:
Like many of you - I was getting just a little bit worried when I hadn't heard from David - so on Monday, April 8th, I called "Doll Baby," the name we gave to the proprietor of the "Hike-Inn" - motel just outside of Fontana, NC which (unlike said proprietor) hasn't seen a renovation since the 50's. We'd dropped off a box of supplies with her in March on our way to Springer Mtn. David was supposed to stay Saturday night, but, blessing in disguise, place was sold out due to biker convention. She reassured me that all was well - he had been there - got his next stash of supplies and was on his way. She also said that there is no cell phone service in the Great Smoky Mtns. National Park - so not to expect to hear from him for about a week.
David's plan (and you know what they say about best laid plans) was to hike straight through the Park. This, he knew, was going to be one of the most difficult and longest stretches of camping out. This section of the trail is approximately 75 miles- and includes a hike to the top of Clingman's Dome - 6,643 ft and the highest point on the whole trail. With more than enough food to last a week (and a pack weighing in at 50 pounds) the first day in
the park, he said, about killed him. So, that night at the shelter, he shed about 15 pounds by sharing his food with fellow hikers in the shelter. (A great way to make new friends!)
The weather was gorgeous last weekend - sunny and warm -but, as you may recall, it had snowed more than a foot the week before. And, while the snow had mostly melted, the trail was mostly ice. The hike from Clingman's Dome
to Newfound Gap is a drop of more than 1500 feet - and treacherous. David called me Tuesday afternoon from Gatlinburg, TN. He'd hitchhiked the 15 miles from the gap into town. He said, after 3 falls and nearly breaking his neck more than once - he was going to take a few days and crash. A fellow hiker, 23 years old, fell and broke his arm. Another woman hiking in his group fell and broke 5 ribs! As of yesterday, he'd heard six hikers fell and broke something that day.
There are times, he says, when he says to himself that he must be insane - this is crazy - never felt so cold and miserable. Then, he'll get to a campsite, share a meal and stories of the day with his fellow hikers, and he says it's all worth it - the best time he's ever had. So, after 3 nights and 2 days of rest and all you can eat buffets in
Dollywood Land, he is back on the trail this morning - heading for Hot Springs, NC. He should be there by Wednesday. Then, I will meet him in Erwin, TN the following Wednesday. I've rented a cabin in the woods in Roan Mountain State Park for 3 nights.
In the meantime, due to cell phone issues - his group emails to everyone have not been going out. So, as I hear from him, I will send you the news.
Linda
Call from Dave
by Thomas Larkin on 04/09/13Hadn't heard from Dave since last Thursday so sent him a text to be sure he was alright. Got a call later today from Gatlinburg, TN where he's checked into a motel for the night. His phone's been dead for 3 days since he couldn't find a place to recharge it - any hostels along the way were full so he slept in shelters or his tent for the past 3 nights. He's going to send me more details about his trek. He mentioned he climbed Clingman's Dome, the highest mountain in Tennessee and the highest point on the Appalachian Trail. His descent down the north side was harrowing - all ice covered, he took three hard falls before making it down. Glad he didn't break anything! As soon as he sends us a new post, we'll get it up on our BLOG.
Have a great day!
Tom
