Georgia ... No Longer On My Mind

Ahhh, North Carolina. I finally left Cloud 9 (also known as The Vortex) on Wednesday morning and hit the North Carolina state line that day. I do not miss Georgia, as it is all up, down, up, down, up ... you get the idea. One state down, 13 more to go. My knee is better and I am happy to have lost my hiker's hobble for at least the time being.

While still at Cloud 9 on Tuesday I met my first southbounder. Skipper left from Maine in September and should be finishing his thru-hike at Springer about now. I hiked through a little rain this morning and have landed in Franklin, NC along with a bunch of other hikers. I think we all made our hikes to Rock Gap in record speed at the thought of real showers, coffee, and food (not dehydrated) cooked by someone else. My seemingly good tan washed off in the shower again and I think I lost at least a pound of dirt and grease in the process. Who knew I wasn't wearing black nail polish on my toes?

Life is wonderful and getting better every day. I still can't imagine being anywhere else right now. I'm off for now ... I've got to go and let the McDonald's, which I normally hate, but it was oh-so-good at the moment, digest and rest my stomach so I can fill it again soon. Picture: Me at the state line. Take care everyone and thanks for all the sweet notes and well-wishes!

Hiking Onward

It's Monday night and I'll be finally getting back on the trail tomorrow with a few new hiking partners. My foot is much better and the weather is improving as well - there was snow just up the mountian from us this morning, a little chilly for this Florida girl. In the mean time, I've been here at Cloud 9 the whole time meeting new characters and sitting in the hot tub. I know it's been rough, but it has been a little better than the cubicle. I've eaten my weight in junk food for 3 days so I'm all fueled up to start tomorrow. Wish us luck!

A Slow Down

I'm 65 miles into the trail and have developed what is well-known as a hiker's hobble. Earlier this week I noticed that the big muscle behind my right knee was tighter than usual. Despite my best efforts to take care of myself, my right leg crumpled on the descent into Tesnatee Gap. Involuntary tears ran down my face and I limped down to the bottom of the hill, sat down, sent my hiking friend on, and did what any other smart hiker would do at a low point, I called mom. Though I only use my cell phone for convenience when I'm in town, I was happy to find service and got a good talk and a lift from mom.

I drudged on for another 4 miles to camp, ate dinner and crashed. Without any swelling I slowly made my way another 26 miles over the next two days to reach another hot shower at the Cloud 9 hostel in Hiawassee, Georgia complete with hot tub for its medicinal properties, of course. I arrived on Friday, yesterday, and am still here. Now my right leg is fine, but a tendon in my right foot is swollen and hurting due to my limp from the previous couple of days. A former thru-hiker here has refused my leaving until I’m a little better. There are about 5 of us still here and limping around for one reason or another – blisters, swollen knees, etc. All of us are dutifully popping ibuprofen and alternating our cold and warm compresses as our bodies adjust to the harsh impact of hiking up and down mountains with 20+ pounds on our backs. The pains should become less as my hiking legs come in - hopefully sooner rather than later. I plan on leaving tomorrow, but I have been told that if my foot is not healed up enough, then I will be strapped to a chair with duct tape to prevent my leaving. We’ll see.

I continue to meet a myriad of characters who instantly become my new friends along the trail. Jack from New Hampshire is on the trail hiking to his sister’s August wedding at home in New Hampshire and will continue on to Maine after the festivities; Mave continues slowly on the ankle she broke just 8 weeks before she started that is still in a brace with the help of Sam; and I hear Streak is still stuck camping out at Neels Gap with a hip injury. He’s been there a week and hopefully will be back on the trail soon. I have also become acquainted with the sleeping (snoring) habits of another 14 of my companions. Additionally, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know a few mice and a couple of wild pigs in camps before arriving at Cloud 9.

If I get out of here tomorrow, then I may hit North Carolina by mid-week. It’ll be my first of thirteen state lines that I’ll cross on my way to Maine. Once in North Carolina I’ll hit the Great Smokey Mountains. Until then, I’ll eat my ibuprofen and baby my foot. Thank you again, mom.

A Few Pictures

Here are a couple of pictures of my short trip so far ... me at the summit of Springer Mountain - the beginning of the AT, me in the Georgia mountains

The First 40

Well, despite being swarmed night before last by Army Rangers as part of their mountain training, which is located in this area (sleeping hikers in camp are good guinea pigs for them to test their creeping up on the unsuspecting skills). Lucky us. Then the two bears in camp last night kept us on our toes a little, but no problems - just not much sleep. Like the post title says, I've made it the first 40 miles. I'm in Neels Gap, Georgia, 30 miles into the trail (the approach trail to start the AT was 8.8 miles). I'm staying here in a hostel tonight and have been given a washer and dryer, a scolding hot shower, unlimited hot coffee, and a local restaurant owner is bringing us a big pasta dinner with all the trimmings. All this for $15 - maybe heaven does exist. If not, I'm damned close right now.

So my first day was tough. The approach trail to get to the summit of Springer Mountain and the official start of the AT was just as unfun as they say. It was chilly and raining when I said "Adios" to mom and dad and hauled my ass and my pack up the 8.8 mile slip-n-slide Approach Trail. It was truly up, up and up some more. I've already met some great people and have been mainly hiking with another girl hiking solo that I met my first night on the trail. I've also been given a trail name - Cruise Control - Cruise for short. Apparently it is believed that I am one of the fastest girls on the trail in terms of speed. I'm sure I'll have plenty of slow days, but I guess Cruise it is. Better to be given a trail name for something believed positive rather than for one of your stupid moments no one will let you forget. Seeing as how I'm an admitted jackass, I'm sure I'll have plenty of "bright" moments along the way.

I'm sore, have a couple of blisters on my feet, just lost my tan in the shower, am always hungry, and I couldn't be happier. There are plenty of others already talking about walking off the trail. For me, I haven't thought about stopping at all because I've simplified my days ... I wake up freezing, warm up a bit, eat breakfast and start thinking about dinner, and then I walk to dinner, eat dinner, ahhh, and go to sleep, wake up and do it again. It's just that easy - I just get up and walk to dinner every day and enjoy the view and accomplishment along the way. It's something to remember when I return to the world from where I came.

Time To Go

If ever there was a situation that would make one stop and think "I really would like to leave civilization for a while and wander off into the woods for a few months," it would be a trip to Wal-Mart at 10:00 at night looking for a couple of last minute bungee cords. That was me this evening. I walked into the seemingly wide open garage of fluorescence with its aisles upon aisles of mostly useless "I've just got to have it" things. Some of the people looked like the walking dead under the overwhelming lighting that must have been created just to make us look like zombies (very popular in offices worldwide). Over the speakers, Jimmy Buffet was serenading all of us with a touching story about his love of cheeseburgers and his idea of paradise. All I could think was, "Thank God I'm walking off into the woods day after tomorrow." I did find the bungee cords I needed. Let's face it, when you need a bungee cord at 10:00 at night ... where else can you go? It also served the greater purpose of reaffirming the fact that I can't wait to start walking to Maine.

Mom and Dad are hanging in well. They've gotten a map of the trail and proudly hung it in the kitchen to keep track of me when I call them. They've got a box of resupply food, shoes, and a couple of shirts ready to go when I need it. I can only hope that everyone else is so fortunate to have family and friends like me. I'm 32, quit the job that no longer suited me, put all of my belongings in storage, and moved to my parents home to prepare for my trip and to use as a spring board back into the "civilized" world when I return. A lot of people might have family and friends who may not agree with such decisions, but not me. After concluding that I am not crazy, stupid or flighty, everyone has supported me.

I am aware of a few certainties: I will be cold; I will walk through rain - a lot of rain; I will be hungry; happiness, sadness, fear, and bewilderment will all be experienced; blisters; pain and soreness will be felt every day; and I'll learn even more about myself that I am already aware. I can't wait to get started. I hope to make it to Maine, but really I just want to enjoy my time on the trail. 5 days, 5 weeks, or 5 months - it will benefit me. For the first time in a while, I feel like I'm actually doing what I'm supposed to right now. One mile at a time, one day at a time. I'll make it as far as I'm supposed to.