Ten Ten

The mountains shall bring peace to the people... Psalm 72:3

To check our training progress, Becky and I decided to spend a weekend backpacking.  Although we had hiked two consecutive days on a previous trip, the mileage was rather small.  We wanted to up the ante to ten miles each day.  Remember, we are planning on a 100-mile section hike next summer and will have to cover 15-20 miles per day.

On a normal backpacking trip all I would have is my loaded backpack.  This was what I call a hybrid trip; it was a combination of backpacking and car camping.  We had reservations to stay at Hungry Mother State Park, but would be carrying full packs while hiking.  This allowed us a few more creature comforts like a bath-house, my full-size pillow from home, and an extra sleeping bag.  I loaded my pack and some firewood into the car then headed to Becky's.  She added her gear and two camp chairs.

Upon arriving at our destination, we hiked a four-mile loop immediately followed by a six-mile loop.   After finishing ten miles in four hours, we thought we had earned ourselves a cup of coffee.  I had placed my mittens and hiking poles on and against the bumper of my car.  After I put my pack in the vehicle, I got into the driver's seat, buckled up and headed to town for a coffee I had been craving all...day...long.  Driving back toward our "home for the night" I saw my mittens in the road and instantly knew what I had done.  I said, "Becky, there are my mittens."  I pulled into a parking area so she could jump out to retrieve my mits.  They are hand knitted and felted by yours truly, so, I wanted to keep them.  We then crossed the highway to retrieve my poles.  Thankfully, I had not ruined them.  That was my "brain fart" moment of the trip.

Molly's Knob as seen from Clyburn Ridge

We pitched our tent, rolled out sleeping pads and bags, then turned our attention to a camp-fire.

home for the night

Because we were unsuccessful with starting a fire on our first overnight trip, we were determined to have one this night.  I brought proper kindling and dry wood.  Becky brought "Meacham Matches", otherwise known as a blow torch.  My sweet husband and son brought extra wood and coffee to us shortly after we set up camp.

we conquered fire

In the morning, I started the fire again.  We prepared and ate breakfast, read our Bibles, attended to hygiene, then tore down camp.  The scripture quoted at the beginning of this post was in my daily reading.  I thought it was timely, appropriate, and very much describes what hiking does for me.

I suggested we hike the upper half of the Lake Trail, cross the highway to  Clyburn Ridge, then finish the remainder of the Lake Trail back to where we would leave the car.  After Becky agreed, we drove to Molly's Knob parking area.  As usual for me, I had to stop within the first hour to eat.  Over the last few years, I have learned to listen to my body when it tells me to refuel.  I ate two handfuls of dates, prunes, cranberries, and almonds.  Not done yet.  I then ate a peanut butter and nutella sandwich round.

Around mile four, my right abductor started to really tighten up.  This progressed throughout the remainder of the day, but as long as I remained in motion the pain was minimal.  Conversely, after stopping for a minute, the first few steps were more painful.  Becky's foot started giving her trouble, too.  We persevered and finished all ten miles in four and a half hours.  While we were a tad slower on the second day, we did hike twenty miles in two days.  I'll take that. 

I had a couple of giggle moments on this trip.  When I unzipped my second sleeping bag, a pair of socks fell out.  I have a habit of taking my socks off in my sleep.  Apparently I had done that when I camped a few weeks ago and didn't realize or remember the socks were still there.

Another time I laughed out loud at myself was just before we started out for the second-day hike.  I had put my pack on and wanted to pocket some tissues for the hike.  With cooler temps and winds, I have to wipe my nose more often. (Gross, I know.  Sorry.)  After opening the car door, I reached in for the box of tissues only to be stopped just short of reaching them.  My pack had caught on the upper door frame and I was stuck.  I thought, "This must be a sight."  

a section of  Lake Trail

It was another great trip.  These prep hikes are serving their purposes.  I'm getting stronger and more fit, as well as learning what needs to be tweaked.

What do you like about hiking?

"I'm formed for the wilderness, if ye love me, let me go where my soul craves to be agin"  ~Natty Bumppo, The Pioneers by James Fenimore Cooper


I have been asked by one of my sisters and my son, at different times, the title question.  Much like Gretchen Wilson trying to answer the question put before her, "What is a redneck?", I find that the answer cannot be reduced to one sentence.  Gretchen's response took an entire book.  Not to worry, I intend for my attempt at an explanation to be shorter.

I'm not even sure I can put my reason(s) into words.  Everything about the woods, all nature, really, brings me peace.  The senses are heightened.  I can smell leaves, fresh air, bear musk, and flowers.  I can hear owls hooting to one another, chipmunks chattering, woodpeckers drumming, brooks (or creeks, depending on where you live) babbling.  I get to see, with appreciation, odd fungus formations, birds I've never seen before, and animal tracks like a bear track-- as big as my size 8 boot-- deeply impressed in fresh mud from the previous day's rain.  I usually don't get to see these things from home, either because they are not there or my responsibilities don't allow me the time.

this is the first hooded warbler I had ever seen

Daily tasks can become stressful.  When I'm hiking, I don't have to think about next week's menu, completing chores, planning or studying for a Bible lesson or paying bills and balancing the check-book.  I simply have to think about putting one foot in front of the other until I reach my destination.  I get to enjoy for as many moments or minutes as I want the blessings God puts before me.  A purple mushroom can be appreciated for five minutes, rather than five seconds.

There is something to be said for tackling a tough goal.  Carrying 35 extra pounds while gaining 500 feet in elevation over a one mile stretch can be exhausting.   However, once the day is over, I'm filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Of course, there are also the memories.  Reaching the summit of Mt. Katahdin with my then eleven year old son is one of my all time favorite experiences.  Reading through old journal entries and looking through pictures of my trips allow me to relive the experience.  An elderly man once told me to turn around from time to time to see where you have been.  For me, hiking and backpacking have been great tools for building character.  I am much more confident now.  Walking through the woods is like charging my "happiness battery."  

Dicky Gap to South Fork

I have hiked this section of the Appalachian Trail three times now.  There are some "ups and downs" but they are fairly gentle which provided for a good intermediate level workout.  Becky and I left Dicky Gap and started hiking north.  As seen below, the parking area has a rustic fence bordering a swarth.

Parking area at Dicky Gap near Troutdale

Along the trail, we saw several of these flowers (see picture below.)  Occasionally, one of the four pods would be yellow instead of purple.  We also saw several chipmunks.  

narrow-leaved gentian (Gentiana linearis)

After approximately two miles, we reached a trail-head leading to Raccoon Branch to the east.  As a side note, in most literature about the Appalachian Trail, east means to the right, if you are hiking north; not necessarily east by compass.  Less than a mile later we were hiking along a ridge known as High Point.  This is where I heard a squeak and saw it belonged to one of two chipmunks running along a fallen tree.  They reminded me of the cartoon chipmunks Chip and Dale.

really pretty slope with lots of visibility

From a previous trip.  Just as we started off High Point

Two miles later, we arrived at four-way intersection, if you will allow the term.  The AT makes a right angle turn to the left, continuing straight ahead leads to Slabtown, and a blue-blaze trail to the right leads to Trimpi Shelter.  Since Becky had never been to Trimpi, I wanted to show it to her.  This shelter is made of stone and has a fireplace.  We made the five minute walk down a sloping trail.  As I approached the shelter, I first noticed a backpack on the picnic table and then the hiker to whom it belonged.  Directly after exchanging greetings, he asked, "Are you staying the night?"  I halfheartedly stifled a giggle as I answered, "No."  He confessed that he found the place "spooky."

Trimpi Shelter

I went to the privy (a.k.a. outhouse, long-drop) while Becky chatted with our fellow hiker.  Another hiker came in seconds behind us.  He had taken a bus to Marion and was shuttled to Partnership Shelter where he started his hike south.

I was slightly concerned with our time because we got on the trail a little later than I thought we would.  I wondered if we would still be in the woods when darkness fell.  This last section of our hike flew by and we did, in fact, find our ride home in daylight hours.

a stile north of Trimpi Shelter

In the two point seven miles between Trimpi and our final destination, we crossed a stile, walked through a pasture (with cows, this time),  found a really nice set up of trail magic, crossed a gravel road, and arrived at our pick up point.

bridge over South Fork of Holston River

Because it is now hunting season, Becky and I decided to wear orange vests, just to be safe.  She lit up like a Christmas tree in the above photo.

We finished our seven mile hike in three hours and fifteen minutes; I am very pleased with our progress and feel confident we will be ready for our hundred mile trek next summer.

duration: 3 hours 15 minutes
mileage: 7
elevation changes: 3300 to 4040 to 2450

Dismal Falls

Today I went on one of the best hiking trips I have ever been on.  The trail-head was easy to find, the trail itself was easy, and there were great rewards: the beauty of the falls and its rock formations,  experiencing my first suspension bridge, and being in the woods on a perfect fall day.

Dismal Falls

 Although it was a short trip (about five miles), I got to see two things I had never seen before (Dismal Falls and this suspension bridge), which is one of the reasons I hike.  The tread was smooth with only a couple of rocky spots.  The corridor of this section of the AT led through a forest of hardwood trees.  Since they were mature, visibility was great--my favorite hiking environment.  The blue-blaze trail to Dismal Falls was quite thick with rhododendron--my least favorite hiking environment.

thick with rhododendron

Dale and I met only one other hiker on the trail today, a very pleasant man going by the trail name "More To Do."  He is hiking from Bland to Harper's Ferry and reported poor water supply thus far.  However, it's early in his trip, so maybe he'll have better sources the further north he goes.

God was merciful, once again, in that we had no encounters with snakes, bears, or crazy people.  We did see two white-tail deer and a caterpillar.

view of Kimberling Creek from suspension bridge