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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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Erwin, TN 5/10

Ryan called from Erwin, TN this evening.  They had just got off the shuttle to Uncle Johnny's Hostel.  I overheard the welcome speech and laundry, showers and breakfast was mentioned. The hostel offers a bunk and transportation to and from the trail head.  Ryan said they had a long hot and humid 17 mile day trying to get into Erwin this evening. They decided to push on into Erwin because rain was in the forecast for the next few days and they all wanted to get rested up for the wet hike ahead. 

Ryan said he, Lemon, Fish, and Beer Burger are all doing well.  They have a new hiker with them, Habitat (Tabatha) from Ontario.  Ryan says her pace and personality fits the group well.  Bear Bait has moved on to Damascus for Trail Days.  He plans on getting a ride back to the trail and meet up with the group in a week or so.  Everyone else in the group has decided to avoid Trail Days over concern for too many hikers getting back on the trail at one time. 
Ryan reports 340 miles as of today.  He expects they will be crossing into Virginia in 10 to 11 days.  They are planning their next down day at Watauga Lake, Tennessee in 4-5 days.  He said the group has made an informal decision to get back to their previous practice of getting on the trail early, hiking until 4 or 5 in the afternoon and setting up camp early.  Everyone felt they were pushing too hard into the evening and really missing out on one of the more enjoyable parts of the trail - camp. He felt that even after 30 days they are still working out the details for such a long hike.  He’s finding that even out in the woods some sort of a schedule and discipline is important.
He said they have hiked in very dense wilderness over the past 3 days.  The views have been spectacular.  The Rhododendrons and wild Azaleas are just starting to bloom. I didn’t get much other info from him because of a very bad phone connection. He’s sending another picture card home tomorrow.  I’ll have these and the last posted by the weekend.  I’m currently out of town myself.   

1 comment:

  1. as lemon's mother i can't tell you how much i appreciate these deatails...thank you

    ReplyDelete