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Journal

Date Description
6/8/99-6/10/99 Prelude
6/11/99-7/4/99 Maine
7/4/99-7/21/99 New Hampshire
7/22/99-7/28/99 Vermont
7/29/99-8/3/99 Massachusetts
8/4/99-8/6/99 Connecticut
8/7/99-8/11/99 New York
8/12/99-8/15/99 New Jersey
8/16/99-8/28/99 Pennsylvania
8/29/99-8/31/99 Maryland
9/1/99-9/1/99 West Virginia
9/2/99-10/4/99 Virginia
10/5/99-10/14/99 Tennessee
10/15/99-10/27/99 North Carolina
10/15/99 Doc Alley and I did 11 miles into Hot Springs NC.  We saw a sign for a music festival called HOTober fest.  Doc had to meet a friend , so he left town after lunch.  I stayed in town at Elmer's.  It's really a bed and breakfast in a historical house under the name of Sunny Days Inn. During the peak season they usually charge $50-$70 a night.  This happened to be in the peak season.  All the leaf watchers come out on the weekends.  And you guessed it.  I rolled into town on a Friday, wanting to stay 2 nights so I could go to the music festival.  Elmer was very hospitable and made a room available for me.  Since I am a thru-hiker, the going rate is a mere $12 a night.  Then $8 for dinner and $4.50 for breakfast.  All meals are vegetarian.  They were good.  I had only1 diner and 1 breakfast.  I need meat in my diet so I hit some local diners for my other meals.  I felt a little bad about cutting my day so short when there is a hurricane coming.
10/16/99 I did 2 hrs of work today to help pay off some of my stay at Elmer's.  I spread out the compost pile over the garden and chopped some wood.  It was an honest 2 hrs of work.  The rest of the day I sat on the large balcony and read the newspaper.  It was another fantastic day.  Clear blue skies and not too warm.  It made me feel guilty again about not hiking, but at least the hurricane is turning east.  Sorry NC coast.  Man are they taking a beating this year.  I went to the festival and the music was ok.  Only 1 out of the 5 bands was really any good.  The last 2 stunk, but I met some friendly people and we sat and talked while we criticized the bands.  They had noticed my distinctive thru-hiker appearance and they invited me over for some beer and conversation. The further south I go, the more of a celebrity I become.  I can see why some people might get caught up in it all. I will do my best not to, for that is one of the things that bothers me the most, is when thru-hikers expect special treatment because they're thru-hikers.  I say we are bums with a purpose.
10/17/99 I rolled out of Hot Springs early.  I had already spent more money in that town than I liked.  I grabbed a moon pie from the convenience store and hit the trail.  It was a clear blue sky day.  Great for hiking.  I covered the 14.9 miles that I had planned early and debated about moving on and camping another 5 out.  I decided not to, I'll just keep to my schedule for now.  I have 20 to do for tomorrow and into the Smokey's I go.  I am really looking forward to it.
10/18/99 I had decided against camping on Max Patch Last Night because the wind had picked up a bit.  It was a good thing at about 4 am it rained.  It rained until about 8 and drizzled on and off  I didn't get out until 9 and it was going to be a big day.  I had 21 miles to do and the beginning of the great Smokey's.  Its tough to get out in the rain, but once you get hiking you enjoy it all.  About 2, the clouds started to break up and I could see patches of blue sky.  I saw 3 black bears high tail it down the mountainside .  Enough leaves had fallen that I could see them for a while.  I later saw 2 hen turkeys.  I made it into the Smokey's and the sky was clear blue.  It was another great day.  I am sharing the shelter with a section hiker, High Tech.  We sat up and talked awhile and he offered some of his whisky to help keep me warm tonight.  It shouldn't be that cold tonight but a couple of shots didn't hurt.  Especially after a 21.8 mile day.  The Lord has blessed me in so many different ways on this trip and he continues to with good company and weather.
10/19/99 I left with High Tech and we talked down the trail about .25 miles when he had to slow down.  We said our good byes and I moved on up the hill.  The whole day was a climb.  It made it nice since there weren't very many steep parts.  I completed the 15.2 miles by 3 and watched the clouds roll in.  Welcome to the Smokey's! Cold, Wet, and Beautiful.  I shared the shelter with 5 section hikers and it was good to be out of the rain and wind.
10/20/99 I only did 12.6 today.  The front closed in today and it got really cold.  The overnight low was about 28.  It was all worth it though..  That night the clouds settled into the valley and the sky was clear.  I could see the stars and the tops of the clouds.  The distant mountains looked like islands poking through the cloud cover.  The Smoky Mountains, Wow!
10/21/99 I descended into Newfound gap.  It is a huge tourist spot and I got caught by about 20 people asking questions about thru-hiking.  After I finally got through and was making my way to the trail an older gentleman stopped me and thanked me for being so courteous to the people and asked me if I wanted some apples.  I said of course.  I then made it to Clingmans Dome. It is the highest point on the AT.  It has an observation tower, which too was crowded with tourists.  I did my civic hiker duty and answered some questions and was on my way.  I went to the shelter where I was going to stay  I saw that Doc and his friend should be at the next shelter.  I went the next shelter and we had a full shelter.  12 of us in a 14 person shelter.  Doc and his friend were there and I finished a great crisp clear 21 mile day.
10/22/99 Doc, his friend Jonathan and I hiked 16.5 miles today.  We are almost out of the Smokey's.  It is hard to believe.   Another cold front is supposed to move through.  We had a warm gorgeous fall day.  We made it to the shelter and a couple had a great fire going to warm us.  The 5 of us sat around telling tails of other parks and adventures.  I only have about 2 weeks left of the trail.  Its hard to believe.
10/23/99 Doc, Jon and I did the 5 miles out of the Smokey's and made it to Fontana dam about 10:00.  They asked me to stay around for a picnic with their parents.  I did and it was a great time.  There was so much laughing and joy, it made me miss my family that much more.  It was a warm environment to be in on the cool day.  They welcomed me in and made me feel right at home.  I said my good-byes and they left.  Doc Alley was going to take a 0-day tomorrow with his parents.  I moved on to Fontana Village, where a hostel is set up.  I did laundry and caught the weather on their cable TV.  The Hostel is extremely nice and I have it to my self because it is off season.  It is great to be a southbounder.  Only 6 miles today.  2000 miles down! and 160 to go!
10/24/99 It was a great stay at the Fontana Village Hostel.  I vegged out in front of the TV.  It had the basic cable stations so I was able to pick up the weather channel and CNN.  I caught up on the weather and the news and then surfed the stations using "Toe Remote",  a trick I learned when I was young, before TV's had remotes.  Anyway, I left quite late in the morning and the cool morning air kept me moving to stay warm.  I did the 20.7 miles, that I didn't plan on doing, in plenty of time.  I thought I would slow down after the Smokey's, but its tough.  You get going and you get a beautiful hiking day and you don't want to stop.  I stopped for the night at Sassafras Gap Shelter.  It's a bit old and beat up, but it blocks the wind.Only 141 miles left.
10/25/99 I got a late start today as well.  I didn't have far to go to meet my planned stop, especially since I covered extra miles yesterday.  The real reason for the late start was that it was really cold last night.  Locals tell me it was unusually cold for the area, but it didn't set any records.  I was awake to see the brilliant red sun rise.  Once I started hiking, I was warm and comfortable.  I made it into the Nantahala Outdoor Center about 12 and met a section hiker I had passed earlier.  He was back here retrieving his car.  He had some extra dehydrated dinners, the expensive kind, which he gave me and a large bag of Doritos.  Those Doritos will piss me off later.  I then went into the outfitter and tried to re-supply, in their extremely limited and over priced food section, when a young man came up and asked if I was a thru-hiker.  I said yes and he said he just finished a northbound on the 10th.  He drove me a couple of miles to a small shopping center where I re-supplied with a bigger selection and cheaper prices.  When he dropped me back off at the trail head, I grabbed my pack and had my hands full with the groceries and the Doritos, which mad me completely forget about my hiking sticks.  It isn't ordinarily a big deal, mind you they are just sticks I picked up out in the woods, but one of them I had since Maine!  I chalked it up to human error in a rush and kept the primary principle in my head,  The most important thing is: 1 God, 2 Family, 3 Friends  You keep that focus and the material things just fade away.  You can't take them with you at the end.  I have also had a new outlook about my gear for the last couple of weeks.  It's not my gear, it's the gear God has bestowed on me.  It's my job to use it wisely.  Enough of the deep contemplation for now.  I did more miles than I planned again today.  128.4 to go.
10/26/99 I had a sudden change in plans for the day.  I was going to push on past the shelter I had planned on staying at, in order to try and hitch into town and hit a real grocery store instead of the camp store I had planned on.  The camp store that I had planned on is scheduled to close for the season on Nov 1st.  I don't know how much they would have for a re-supply and that was a concern as well.  Any way it was a beautiful day, clear skies and I got a good view from the tower on top of Wayah Bald. However when it came time to hitch a ride, I was having the worst luck.  I sat out there for awhile and watched the sun ebb closer to the horizon.  I finally gave up in frustration and walked on to the camp store.  I wasn't supposed to hit the camp store until tomorrow, but it was only 3.1 away and I was full of frustration I needed to release.  I made it by twilight.  It was a golden sunset that caught the autumn leaves and made them glow like Christmas lights.  I came up to the store after dark and it was closed.  I rang the bell and a gentleman from the 2nd floor stepped out onto the balcony, he gave me the directions to their bunkhouse and I will re-supply in the morning.  I still don't know how good or bad their selection is, but I'll have to make do.  Today's trail mileage 24.7  103.7 miles left
10/27/99 I took a long hot shower this morning at the campground.  I then resuplied.  He had a decent selection for a camp store.  I was making phone calls until about 11, then I finally got under way.  I only need to average 10 miles a day to get to the end by the rendvouse time.  If I can't slowdown my hiking maybe I can slow down by starting late.  It seemed to work.  I only did 12.8 today.  I had some great views off of Albert MT.  There was a fire tower there to get you over the tree tops.  I am staying at the new Carter Gap shelter.  A retired lady is here and she came from springer.  It's good to get a heads up about water supplies and things.  I saw a brilliant golden sunset again today.  The time is flying and I can't belive the end is near.  90.9 miles to go.
10/28/99- Georgia
10/28/99 I didn't need to but I really wanted to get out of NC today..  I did 19.8 miles and stayed at Plumorchard shelter in GA.  That's right I am in the last of the 14 states.  It's hard to belive.  I am also only 71.1 miles from the end.  I will resuply tomorrow and carry extra food.  I am planning on taking things real slow from here on out.  I will also buy a new book in town.  The Lord has blessed me with gordious days right after each other and from the weather I caught on the radio it will last through the weeked. 
10/29/99 I stolled the 4 or so miles to the road crossing.  There was a nice picknic area at the trail head, which should of made hitching easy.  People would know that I'm a a hiker rather than a, a what, a drifter?   Anyway, it sat out there for about 45 minutes with no real sign of it improving .  I had no other real choice but to sit and wait.  It was only 11 now when a hiker came out of the woods from the south.  He asked if I was headed west with my afermation he said that was his truck parked in the parking area and he would drive me to town.  I was dropped off at the grocery store where I loaded up with food.  I could make it to Springer with the food I loaded up with if I had to, but I am taking it easy and I am going to enjoy the woods and eat.  I grabbed a pint of ice cream for good measure.  I then walked over to the outfitter in town.  They are usually the AT gurus in town.  I talked with them for a while and made my way to a AYCE buffet.  It was pretty good, but the food as awfully bland like a cafeteria style.  I looked around the restuarant's lunch crowd and realized that I was the only customer under 70.  I enjoyed the food though, but craved the spice.  I went back over to the outfitter and touched base with them on the trail from here to Springer and left by hitching a ride from outside there store.  A woman who's son is a southbounder this year was going out to meet him and her husband, they are slack-paking the son because he messed up his knee, but wants to finish.  She was going to the trail head to pick them up and she gave me a ride out there.  Once there she asked if I wanted a drink or something.  I had to refuse because I was still full from the buffet.  I barely made it across the street when a couple sittng on the other side of the road struck up a conversation.  They were waiting for their daughter and her boyfriend to finish a section hike.  Their daughter thru-hiked 2 years ago.  They too offered me something to drink, but I refused again.  I did a bout 3.5 mile to the shelter and found the register and some magazines to read.  I also baought a book in town  This should allow some people behind me to catch up.  It should be interesting.  Trail milge today 7.8 63.3 to go
10/30/99 I left the shelter at a resonable time.  It hadn't been getting light until 8, that will all change with daylight dsavings tonight.  The section of trail I did today was inadated with day hikers.  They were all out to see the leaves change.  I hnad to go through the thru-hiker speal about a dozen times.  It paid  off in the long run though.  I got some bagels, an apple and a power bar.  I really don't need any of it, I am carrying enough food, but I could and did eat it all.  Doc Alley caught up to me today.  He had been about a day behind for awhile since Fontana and the picknic.  I did 14.8 today.  I am sitting 48.5 from the end.  I will do a couple of big days here and hang with Doc and then cut it back again.
10/31/99 Well once again I said I was going to slow it down and didn't.  Doc caught up to me and offered a purposal.  He said that we could go in together on a room at Neels gap.  So he and I hauled into Neels Gap doing 17.8 miles by :30 and it felt good.  We met up with a flip-floper, Bi-polar and his girlfriend and his dad.  He They gave us a ride into towntown where we got diner at Burger King and and nice room at Holiday Inn.  We are celebrating the fact that we have 30.7 miles left.  it is suppose to rain some time this wek too.  Tomorrow Doc and I have a whole 4 mile day planned.  I bought another book to make sure I have enough to rerad this next week.  It looks like I will shelter hoping.
11/1/99 It's Nov. now and it's hard to believe another month is gone.  It's still trying to sink in that I now have a 26.6 miles to the end.  Yes, today Doc and I did a whopping 4.1 miles today.  We came out of town early with Bi-polar and his girl friend and then sat around the trail head at the outfter 'til 11.  Doc and I summited Blood Mt and it was socked in with clouds.  As the saying goes, it just gives me a reason to come back.  We then dropped down the other side to the shelter.  Tomrrow we will resupply in Suches.  It will be our last night hiking together.  He will push on and meet his parents and I will hold back and shelter hop to the end.  A front is suppose to push through soon and I hope it does it tonight and gets it all out of it's system.   W're in a good selter tonight and I also would rather have it rain now than when I'm hiking.  I sat around and read most of the day and listened to the wind in the fall leaves. I am going to miss the trail that's for sure.
11/2/99 Doc and I left early.  He had to get to a phone by 2 pm in order to make arrangements to be picked up.  We cover the 6 miles to woody gap where the road to Suches, Ga was.  It was a cold day and geting colder.  The clouds came through the mountain leaving a fog bank and a misty rain.  We started walking the 2 miles to town.  We got abou a 1/4 mile down the road when we got picked up by a man in a pick-up.  He drove us the rest of the way to town.  We stoped off at the post office for Doc's packages.  We then went next door to the general store and I resupplied and we snacked for lunch.  It was about time to hit the trail again and it was getting colder.  The same guy who brought us into town drove by and took us back to the trail head.  Once we got into the woods it was warmer, because the trees and hills helped to block the wind.  We got to Gooch Gap shelter about 2.  It was an old shelter and small.  We made do and started to read to try and keep our minds off the cold and food.  At about 5 4x4 shows up and pops his head around the corner of the shelter.  This was Doc's last night on the trail and he was really hopping that 4x4 would show.  We had no idea how far behind he was or if he was still on the trail..  We light up a couple cigars and celebrated Doc's last night and the fact he was finishing up tomorrow.  4x4 Will finish up on the 5th and I will finish on the 6th.  We both will shelter hop to the end and then I have a 0-day in the shelter and he will head on out.  It's going to be a cold  night tonight.  The clouds blew away to leave clear skies at 5 pm.  Today's milage a whopping 10.5 and only 16.1 to the end.
11/3/99 It did get cold last night.  Down into the teens..  Our water bottles had ice in them and my platty bottle leaked and the water froze beneath it.  We said our finally farewells to Doc Alley and 4x4 and we sat in our sleeping bags and talked till the sun was well above the horizon.  We packed up to go to the next shelter 9.5 miles away.  My toes were cold and numb inside my frozen boots as I tried to pack my stuff.  We finally got under way and it didn't take long for the circulation and friction to warm my feet.  It was a clear blue day with small gusts of wind that helped to steal the heat away from you.  The high was probably only in the 40's.  It's going to be another cold night tonight.  It shouldn't be as cold as las t night since the sun has had all day to warm things.  We also gathered enough wood to keep a fire going for some time.Only 7.6 miles to the end.
11/4/99 4x4 and I tried to sleep in, but it's difficult when you go to bed at 9.  The sun sets at 6 and you are burning your batteries and fire wood to see.  So you end up lieing in bed for awhile.  We got up and built a morning fire to warm ourselves up.  It was already warmer than yesterday.  The sky was clear and there was only a slight breeze.  We only had 5.1 miles to do and we were in no hurry to get it done.  We finally rolled out of camp at 10:30 and the hiking was very easy  It was a pleasant walk on well graded trail. I stopped to take a picture of some falls and moved on.  We got to the next shelter at 12:30, only 2 hours.  So we sat there while the people that were camping there were trying to pack up to go.  It was actually quite humors.  Once thay left we established camp and sat by the fire and talked and read books all day.  Only 2.5 miles from the end and tomorrow I am taking a 0-day at this shelter.
11/5/99 It was another cool mokrning and 4x4 and I started a fire to take the morning chill of of us.  We later said our good-byes and he left to meet his father and summit Springer.  He will end the trail today and I will take a 0-day today and finish tomorrow.  I spent the day reading a couple of books.  I finished one and burned it and started a 2nd.  I am actually glad to spend the last night alone.  It gives me time to reflect and besides I spent the first night alone.  It's only fitting to spend the last the same way.  I had a bofire most the night and didn't go to bed 'til 11.  Which is a little unusual for out here, but then again I didn't hike anywhere and I still only have 2.5 to finish the trail tomorrow.
11/6/99 I stayed up late last night and watched the stars slowly come out above me.  It was another crisp clear night.  I had enough firewood to keep a warm blaze going until I got tired.  I went to bed pretty late for being on the trail and awoke early.  I had a little anxiety and eagerness, like a child before christmas.  This was the last day on the trail.  I packed my pack and headed out .  I was meeting my parents in 1.6 miles and we were going to hike the last 0.9 miles toether.  I just got going and the 1.6 miles disappeared behind me before I could even build a sweeat.  I was floating above the trail.  I don't remember much about that 1.6 miles  I waited at the trailhead. The reality was still not quite there about the end being so close.  My parents pulled up in the car.  I could see my mothers's joy and excitment through the windshield before the car stopped. The reality finally set in,  I'm going home!  This chapter is about to be over.  After welcoming hugs and talk with my parents we set out to summit Springer.  It was a very slight pleasant climb.  We hit the summit and the plaques stood there symbolizing the end.  We took picturesand celebrated with homeade chocolat chip cookies and milk.  Then we sat and viewed the scenery off of Springer.  Until the top got too crowded with day hikers.  We then made our slow  decent back to the car.  Today's milage 2.5  and Total Traail Milage 2,160.2
Epilogue This chapter of life might be drawn to an end, but there are many more chapter of life to come.  who knows what other trails and mountain ops wll be hiked and climbed.  There are so many goals and asperations.  The key is to focus and prioritze on one and take it one step at a time and then one day at a time, until your goal is at hand.  2,160 miles are behind you.  Keep the adventure Alive!