The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately 2,181 miles long. The path is maintained by 30 trail clubs and multiple partnerships,and managed by the National Park Service and the nonprofit Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The majority of the trail is in wilderness, although some portions do traverse towns and roads, and cross rivers. The Appalachian Trail is famous for its many hikers, some of whom, called thru-hikers, attempt to hike it in its entirety in a single season. Along the way, the trail passes through the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

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Thursday, April 28, 2011

Entering The Smokies - 4/28

Ryan called Wednesday evening.  When I asked how he was doing, his response was “sitting on the top of a mountain waiting for the hail to start again”.   They pulled up short of their planned destination to hunker down in a shelter.  They had been hiking most of the day in 50 mph winds and sleet.  The worse exposure was on the mountain top balds.  They are in a shelter for the night about 3 mile N.E. of Thunderhead Mountain.  His description of the past two days was “rough”.  Since leaving Fontana Lake they climbed to 5000+ ft and have been hiking at that elevation for the past two days.  This part of the trail follows along the Tennessee / North Carolina border.
   
In addition to the rough weather, Ryan said he sprained his ankle on Monday climbing out of the Fontana Valley.  He said he stepped wrong and bent it 90 degrees and heard it pop.  He was able to get back on it and has been able to walk.  The first night it went black and blue and had doubled in size.  He said it is getting better each day but is still black and blue.  He also mentioned that on the day he sprained it Fish and Lemon hiked ahead to the camp site and dropped their packs and back hiked to help carry Ryan’s pack.  He was very appreciative of that. He mentioned matter-of-factly that he was glad he got this first injury over with.  Injury is inevitable and he was glad it wasn’t worse. 
On the lighter side, he saw his first bear out in the open.  He said it was on the trail in front of him.  His reaction was to grab his camera and chase after it but half way up the trail, he realized it probably was not a good idea.   Even with the weather and a sprained ankle he is still in great spirits, his conviction seems solid. You can hear it in his voice and words.  They plan on being at Klingman’s Dome by Friday and will make a trip down to Gatlinburg to resupply and find an all-you-can-eat anything and everything.  He also reported that everything is good with Lemon, Fish and Bear Bait.  Data decided to push on several days ago and they’ve not seen him since.  It appears he may have left the group.  Ryan said he had a detailed and agressive agenda, hence the name Data.
Picture and journal entries will be sent from Gatlinburg.  His next food drop will be at Hot Springs. 
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