Hike Like a Hobbit

To answer the first question most people have:  Where are you?  I am currently in Gatlinburg, TN.  I have completed 206.8 miles of the trail so far.  I am enjoying my first zero day (day with no hiking) at a cabin in Gatlinburg, where my dad is watching Peppy while I hike the Smoky Mountains since dogs aren't allowed.  It has been a wonderful blessing to have him come down and help out.  He has gotten into the spirit of the trail, being a "Trail Angel" by offering rides and sodas to other hikers.

Sunset from the top of Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the AT, just outside of Gatlinburg. From left: Marshmallow, Cool Whip, Little Bird.

Hiking is a relatively simple activity; merely put one foot in front of another and repeat, thousands of times a day.  When your only task for the day is to get up and walk, your day is pretty straight forward.  However to keep going all those miles, you have to keep your body fueled.  Hence my new motto:  "hike like a hobbit."

To make it to views like this, you have to eat a lot!

I have begun a daily routine of hiking like a hobbit by eating like a hobbit.  I wake up and have first breakfast.  Then while hiking I stop and have second breakfast.  Then a mid-morning snack.  Then I stop for luncheon.  There is afternoon tea and dinner before stopping to camp and have supper.  In the last week I have gone from eating like a little bird to eating like a hungry bird.  Dad was shocked to see me eat an entire foot-long subway in one sitting!

And now, the pictorial version of my trip so far:

Dad helping pack my first mail drops of food.

My first trail magic! A colleague of my mom's offered his cabin to us for the night near Amicalola Falls, the start of the trail.

Signing the register at Springer Mountain.  The register's are a way for hikers to communicate and keep in touch with one another, as well as providing amusing reading.

My first campsite.

Peppy is a celebrity on the trail.  Pretty much everyone loves him.  Often the first thing I hear when I hike up to another person is "Pepppyyyy!!"

Low Gap shelter.  There was a small city of hikers here.  This was just one of many tent groups around the shelter.

 

Special K, G'ma, Little Bird, and Shaggy at Hiawasse.

 

Crossing from GA to NC! Shaggy, Little Bird, Special K and her father Hollister.

 

100 miles! Andy, Clinker, and Little Bird.

 

Cooking dinner at Silers Bald Shelter.

Lunch at Wayah Bald.  I accidentally dropped the last bite of my oreo over the edge and watched it plummet 30 ft down.  It was tragic.

Hostel at Nantahala Outdoor Center. Peppy decided my clean laundry made a good bed.

Trail magic lunch after slack-packing 8 miles.  Awesome day!

Clinker having a snack on a fire tower in the Smokies.  Dropped my lens cap from here; I'm surprised it lasted that long.

Spence Field Shelter in the Smokies.

Chinese take-out at the top of Clingman's Dome after a 16.5 mile day.  My dad is the best!!

Sunset from Clingman's Dome.

Mile 200!  Little Bird, Cool Whip, and Marshmallow.

Enjoying the cabin. Thanks to my awesome grandparents!

While writing this post at the cabin.

Yep, hiking is awesome!

 

Little Bird and The Inspector's First Week

Peppy and I have each acquired a trail name.  The second day around lunch Peppy went around sniffing everybody to make sure that they hadn't left any crumbs behind, so he was named The Inspector.  After seeing how little I eat a fellow hiker told me I eat no more than a little bird and thus my trail name is Little Bird.

We have had gorgeous sunny weather, with temps in the 80s!  We weathered our first thunderstorm warm and dry in a shelter last night (Thursday, 4/11).  Peppy kept the ubiquitous shelter mice away from us, but everyone else had an acorn in each boot this morning!

We took our first nero day (low mileage day, i.e. near zero day), hiking 3.5 miles before heading into town (Hiawassee, GA) for showers, laundry, and a bed.  Our total mileage is 70 miles.

The computer is not working here, so this message is being transcribed by my wonderful (of course!) parents and pictures will will have to come in a later post.

Happy trails!

Little Bird and The Inspector

Dutifully transcribed as written (with only a couple of editorial comments added) by Dad, the Assistant to the Assistant Blog Master's Assistant

Here are some pictures we took (Len and Linda) when we were with Patricia and Peppy as they started their trek.

Len, Peppy, and Patricia at Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia

This is the beginning of the approach trail to the Appalachian Trail.  The AT begins at the top of Springer Mountain, about 8 miles from here in Amicalola Falls State Park.  Note the distance to Mt. Katahdin.

Linda, Patricia, and Peppy are standing near the bottom of Amicalola Falls.  The sign says "178 steps; Difficult/Strenuous."  The steps are considered "pre-trail" and do not count in an AT hike.  Patricia chose not to start Peppy with 178 strenuous steps, so we got back in the car to drive to Springer Mountain.

Patricia and Peppy at the top of Springer Mountain near the first of many white blazes that mark the AT.  Peppy is standing on the plaque that marks the beginning of the trail.  Perhaps Peppy will be able to report how many white blazes are between here and Mt.Katahdin in Maine. 

The view from the top of Springer Mountain.

Peppy, Patricia, and Linda leave the summit of Springer Mountain and head north on the AT.  The first white blaze and plaque are near the left edge of this photo.

We are back at the parking lot after descending Springer Mountain on the AT.  One mile done, approximately 2199 to go! Patricia and Peppy are ready to be on their way.  The trail is directly beyond them, leading into the forest.

They're off, heading north.  Patricia is giving our "thank you for being here" wave from Princess Diaries. 

Then she disappears into the woods!

The Appalachian Trail

I'll start with the beginning, the place most stories start.  Or in this case, where the trail starts.  With one end anchored at Springer Mountain in Georgia, the trail stretches 2,185.9 miles through the Appalachian Mountains until it climbs the lofty heights of Mount Katahdin in Maine.

My trek along this trail will soar up remote mountain peaks, meander through meadow farmlands, walk down the streets of town, and even amble through a zoo.  My companion on this journey is none other than the noble Sir Ernesto Peppington III, aka Peppy.  One whose brave and loyal soul is surpassed only by the adorableness of his furry face!

I may be biased, but who can deny his charm?

Peppy and I will put one foot in front of the other, or in Peppy's case two in front of two, day in and day out for approximately the next six months as we make our way from Georgia to Maine.  We will camp in the woods and resupply in towns along the way.  We'll be two peas in a pod, sleeping high and dry in my hammock each night.

Peppy makes a wonderful furnace!

 Synchronize your hiking boots.  The clock is currently set at T-minus two days until hiking!