Author: admin

http://appalachiantrail.org/home/community/blog/ATFootpath/2020/03/17/updated-covid-19-guidance-for-a.t.-multi-day-and-thru-hikers

The ATC is asking everyone on the trail to go home.

Looks like we will follow the rules.

It is March 16, 2020. We are at Mountain Crossing at mile 31.1. It is at the first major pass on the Appalachian Trail.

There is a lot of debate from time to time about the name of this pass which is just a couple miles past the peak of blood mountain.

Forest Service=Neels Gap. Mountain Crossing Outfitters=Neel Gap. He who shall not be named=Gniel’s Gap.

Win and I are staying at Blood Mountain Cabins and Country Store, sharing a cabin with the Finns and Victoria, a pre-med through hiker. We got the through hiker rate.

Using the through hiker rate and sharing a cabin it comes out cheaper than the hostel at Mountain Crossing —and it includes laundry.

We are in the Raccoon Cabin. The rumor is that someone shot and stuffed the raccoons for trying to steal some through hiker’s food.

I figure that probably isn’t true.

So, rain or not, today we had a great hike and got here before noon. To start we packed up and left our campsite and got on the trail by 7:21.

That made for a little hiking in the dark, but not too much. First time using my new head lamp.

Having done Blood Mountain and checked in we are now clean, warm, showered and getting laundry done. A little resupply and we will head out tomorrow morning.

We probably will resupply in four more days.

No vista pictures from today since it was all mist, wind and a little rain.

But the weather is so much milder than it was a year or two ago. It is a great time to do a Nero (short day, resupply and laundry/showers).

Note. Somehow the software posted two different versions of the same post (I was editing and playing with it). Made me smile.

There is a lot of debate from time to time about the name of this pass, just a couple miles beyond the peak of blood mountain.

Forest Service=Neels Gap. Mountain Crossing Outfitters=Neel Gap. He who shall not be named=Gniel’s Gap.

Regardless. We arrived here. Day three, mile 31 on the trail.

We are at the cabins with the through hiker rate. Shared (with the Finnish couple) it comes out cheaper than the hostel at Mountain Crossing. With laundry included. Nice beds. A kitchen. Great innkeeper.

Win and I are in the Raccoon Cabin. Someone shot and stuffed a number of raccoons. I’m sure the critters were trying to steal hiker’s food.

We had a great hike and got here before noon. Left our campsite and got on the trail by 7:21. A little hiking in the dark, but not much.

We are clean, warm, showered and getting laundry done. A little resupply and out tomorrow morning.

No vista pictures from today since it was all mist, wind and a little rain.

That is today.

We are at Devil’s Kitchen. Had a good day, off and on rain but a great evening.

The Finns are uphill from us, the guys from Wisconsin downhill. There are some young women who are camped next to the stream.

The area next to the stream is the flattest, but aside from the rules, having camped near running water I know it results in pretty much soaked gear in the morning.

It has been a wonderful day.

We are at the last campground before the bear exclusion zone (where you can’t stop without a bear canister).

Yesterday was a long day. If we had hiked that far again we would have gotten to mike 31/Mountain Crossing but we decided to be reasonable.

Before this we encountered “trail magic” (people setting up to feed hikers for free) twice. Hot dogs, chili and tortillas along with sodas (and the breakfast place had lots of liquor from Mardi Gras—but no takers for that).

We also got a solid stint of rain. Someone had weather radar and it was orange on the map.

Did I mention how much I love our rain gear?

Or how great our tent is. 21 ounces, three person and I’m grateful my wife decided on this one

And we just got a picture from Springer of us with our shuttle driver.

Tomorrow we do Blood Mountain.

But we are warm and dry. Looking forward to tomorrow.

The Finns we met and an electrician (trail name: Adventure time) walking home to Maine.

Our shuttle.

At the beginning.

Hammock with Christmas lights.

Our tent.

We next have three days without cell service.

But it has been a glorious day, even if it started at 4:30 am. :).

One driving the shuttle, Hook we shared the shuttle with and Rain Dog was at the Airport in Atlanta.

Headed to Springer mountain. We decided to drive(a rental) instead of fly. Will still meet our shuttle driver and head to the mountain from Atlanta.

Here is one guy’s numbers for his through hike.

https://www.lengthytravel.com/analyzing-my-appalachian-trail-thru-hike-expenses-and-statistics/.

I liked it because his numbers through the south looked familiar.

Some times you buy cheap gear and replace it over and over again until you get gear that works.

But other times cheap gear works just fine.

In addition, there is a lot to be said for not spending a lot on gear until you know whether or not backpacking is something you enjoy.

My sister spent 27 years at scout camps as a climbing instructor. Turns out she has tolerance for an hour of backpacking before she is bored to tears with it.

Luckily she spent $0.00 before she discovers this.

On the other hand a few years ago I followed a guy who spent a lot of money on gear. He didn’t make it out of his driveway.

Even better, some cheap gear works well. BRS stoves for example. 15% of the price of the big names. They use fuel faster. So, over six months of use they can turn out more expensive. But for you to try out that type of stove, not a bad price.

If you aren’t sure that type of stove will work for you, or if you are even into cooking while backpacking or backpacking at all? A great product.

Home Depot sells fleece gloves that working men use. I’ve bought excellent ones for less than $10.

For tents? Until you decide you really want to pay $400-$800 for a tent you might look at Lanshan. Sturdy. About $100. The guy who didn’t make it out of his driveway would have been better off with one. The same for the 20% or so who drop off the trail in the first thirty miles.

Any way. Yes. Sometimes expensive gear is the way to go. We own some. But sometimes cheap gear is great.

Otherwise, getting ready. We have someone to house sit and cat sit. I got briefly hospitalized with pneumonia but rest and antibiotics are working.

Excited for March 14th.