WREN Agent Hiking Appalachian Trail
Good Start
by Thomas Larkin on 04/06/13Thursday, April 4, 2013:
Left NOC @ 8:00 am to a warm rain. Conditions changed rapidly and I was soon hiking in freezing rain. There were branches, limbs, and trees crashing down from the icy weight. At one point my toes and fingers were numb. Over the top of Cheoah Bald and out of the wind, things warmed a bit and became more manageable. Down to Stecoah Gap, I hitched to Robbinsville, NC where it took an hour long shower to warm up. Feel great now and will jump back out at 9:00 am to warmer weather. Probably camp out tomorrow and on to Fontana Saturday.
Another beautiful day in the Appalachians!
by Thomas Larkin on 04/04/13Wednesday, April 3, 2013:
Another beautiful day in the Appalachians! Left the very special Aquino Hostel this AM after a wonderful breakfast of coffee, waffles, cantaloupe and coffee. Strapped on 40 lbs of backpack and headed for Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). Helicopters Gap to NOC - 8 miles in 3.5 hrs- over 2 mph; not bad. Tomorrow starts out with a 3,300 ft. ascent of Cheoah Bald over a 7 mile distance. This may be tough in the rain. Anyway, I am pushing it and setting my sights on a 13 mile day- early start, late finish- in Stecoa Gap. I'm including a pis of what was a beautiful view from the Weser Bald tower. I hope it does justice to the real deal.
Great Day - 14 miles AND a Free AYCE Breakfast!
by Thomas Larkin on 04/02/13Monday, April 1, 2013:
Today started at 7:00 am w/ complimentary AYCE breakfast hosted by the Baptist church. Back on the trail at 9:30 and made 14 miles. Getting my trail legs at last. The weather was finally good and the trail frying. Checked into the Aquonne Hostel and had a nice dinner with some great hikers. Our hosts Maggie and Steve Bennett, expats from England, are terrific and run a 5 star operation- new, clean, and hospitable. I'll probably slack pack tomorrow and get Steve to bring me back. Will probably be a Nero day but my legs could use a little rest.
One Hundred Mile point!
by Thomas Larkin on 04/02/13Sunday, March 31, 2013:
Rained all night and broke enough at 8:00 am to pack and get going. Albert Mtn is the 100 mile point and the attached pic was snapped thru the fog from the tower there. The trail was muddy and slippery from last nights' rain but the temperature was ideal- around 40. We made 12 miles before the downpour and exited at Winding Stair Gap and a warm bed in Franklin, NC. Tomorrow the Baptist Church provides an AYCE breakfast at 7:00 am. Shuttle back to WS Gap and hopefully another 12 miles.
Restart - back on the AT!
by Thomas Larkin on 04/02/13Saturday, March 30, 2013
After 3 days in Atlanta, we're back on the AT and eager to eat up some miles. Mona Eaton dropped us off at Deep Gap, south of Franklin - just 2 miles from where we left the trail on the Chunky Gal trail. We'll have to make this up in the Fall after we reach Kathadin. We made 13 mi today and are camped at Betty Creek Gap. Supposed to rain tonight and tomorrow. Just have to see how it affects our progress.
No posts from Dave lately - Last heard he was enjoying RR in Atlanta...
by Thomas Larkin on 03/30/13Last we heard from Dave was that he was going to Atlanta with his hiking buddy OB to get their legs back and wait until Spring really sprung! He did send a pic of his and OB's tents in the snow - click on the Photo tab above to see it. As soon as we hear from Dave we'll get a new post up.
Tom
Harrowing day in the snow on a mountain...
by Thomas Larkin on 03/27/13Tuesday, March 26, 2013:
Last night the wind howled,the temps dropped to about 18 and amazingly I slept pretty well considering. Rebreathing is a technique whereby you completely engulf yourself within your sleeping bag with a tiny gap for fresh air and you use your breath to warm the bag. Works great, but you still have to get out into sub 0 temps and break camp in 5 inches of snow - bugger! We decided to avoid 2 more days of this mess and hiked out the 8 miles of alternate trail - Chunky Gal Trail to Hwy 64, where we hitched a ride to Franklin, NC. OB called his son to come take us to his home in Atlanta until the weather changes. We should be back on the trail in a couple of days with warmer temps forecasted. I should be able to post several pictures from my real camera and a real computer in the next 48 hrs. Later folks.
Nothin' Could Be Finer...
by Thomas Larkin on 03/26/13Monday, March 25, 2013:
After a wonderful breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits, blueberry pancakes, oj and hot coffee, we got a ride to Dicks Creek Gap with Ripper, an Ohio schoolteacher on break. As we left the Blueberry Patch a light snow began falling. OB (hiking buddy) and I reached Plumorchard Gap Shelter by noon, so we grabbed a quick bite and set out for Bly Gap campsite just into NC. Got there at 3:00 pm, despite the wind and snow, so we decided to push on to Muskrat Creek shelter - big mistake! All uphill, steady snow, and heavy winds, bad chill factor, gusts up to 40 MPH. Regardless, we made it by 5:00 pm, cold, tired, wet and struggled to set up our tents in the wind and falling temps. Successful, and now to get warm. I quickly blue up (not misspelled) my mattress pad and threw my pack inside. Pulled out my sleeping bag and warmed up in about 30 min. After warming I ate a quick dinner of beef jerkey. This warmed me more. Now ready to turn in. I have put on almost all of my clothes - several layers. Turning in now; expecting temps in the high 20's. See the photo of me in the snow!
PS from Tom - I just talked to Dave and he told me about his harrowing experiences today (Tuesday) in knee deep snow sliding around the mountain. He's headed to Atlanta for a few days with OB to rest and get their legs back while they wait out the weather. They hope to be back on the trail by Thursday. He'll send a post about today as well as his adventures in Atlanta...
No Post from Dave Today...
by Thomas Larkin on 03/26/13... so we had time to add Maps to follow his Trek! Check them out by clicking on the button above. We'll mark his progress along the 2,200 mile trail!
At Lexicon
by Thomas Larkin on 03/25/13Sunday, March 24, 2013:
Yesterday we flip flopped (hiked a segment in the opposite direction) we finished today at noon and took a Nero day (nearly 0). A full day off is a zero day and usually reserved for the worst weather or when you just hit the wall and need the rest. Today we hiked 7 miles in a cold drizzle after a long cool rainy and windy night. Broke camp about 9:00 am during a lull in the rain. Despite this the wet gear weighed an extra 4 or 5 lbs. Tomorrow we hike past the GA - NC border and make camp. Next stop Franklin, NC.
