Where We (They) Were

Paul here, Laura's older brother. From her previous posted image I found where they are on Google Maps using the coordinates. Here is a link to the map: http://maps.google.com...... The map should be centered on the coordinates with the trail marked. Zoom out using the vertical slider to the left of the map to get a feeling of where they were.

Pictures

We have some people yell at us for not putting up any of our own pictures yet (thank you Ron and Paul for taking and putting those two up for us), so I am just ganna load some good pics and perhaps update them in a longer entry another time. We are lucky to be doing this, in fact; a "trail angel" gave us hotdogs this afternoon and now a ride into town. Thanks Apple!!!

HIke Away!!!

Well folks, it has begun :-) Today is now our tenth day on the trail headed north. A week and a half ago on Thursday, March 8th, Laura's father Ron dropped Laura, Pete, Roxi and I off at the visitor's center at Amicalola Falls State Park, the starting point of the AT approach trail. Our boots were tied tight, our backpack's fully loaded, and minds and hearts pointed northward. After taking the ceremonious picture hiking through "the arch", we promptly... got back in the car and drove to the top of the falls; we had already done that part yesterday without packs, so whats the point of doing it again with 45 pounds on our backs??

It was then that we hit the trail north. The weather was unseasonably warm; 70 degrees. After 7.5 miles of cruising along mostly uphill trail, we reached the top of Springer Mt., the official Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail. After some hoots and hollers, a little food and water, we settled down for a nap, and got sunburned.

It has now been 10 days since hot sun and warms rocks on top of Springer. We have learned how to sleep with two dogs and two humans in one tent (not easy, especially if one or both of the dogs happens to have diarrhea all night long). Blisters have been formed, popped, cursed at, and eventually fixed. Dogs have barked with joy, delight, fear, and puzzlement. Rain has fallen and clothing has (and currently is) been dried in the sun and wind. We have found and shared in the first moments of trail magic, an indescribable experience that occurs when most needed but least expected.

After Springer we took four days to hike to Neel's Gap. Though our days were relatively short, only 7 to 10 miles, we still felt quite sore and needed the break that Neel's Gap would provide. After summitting Blood Mt. We descended for three miles to the Gap. Once there we promptly downed some cheese and sausage as well as some ice cream. We picked up the box of food we had dropped off on our drive down, fixed up a couple of blisters, and generally refreshed. After spending the night in the hostel we picked up our packs and trudged back into the woods.

The weather up to this point had been amazing; a couple of showered during the night, but almost all sun during the day with relatively warm temperatures. However, this past Tuesday afternoon, that all changed. Our first rain storm arrived fairly hesitantly; just a few sprinkles at the top of Trey Mtn. Clouds tentatively hung to the mountain side. And then Erl (the weather God) decided that was enough fooling around and dumped the bucket on us. For four miles we hiked in a downpour, slogging through growing streams slumping trees. Erl must have been looking after us, though, for as soon as we arrived at our campsite, the rain stopped. We set up camp and ate in peace. Erl however was grumbling after giving us some respite, and we took to bed as soon the rain began to fall again. The following morning we hiked out in clouds and mist and arrived at the Cloud9 Hostel yesterday evening.

We are now showered and warm, fed and fortified. We'll head back out into the woods this evening, and likely will be away for two weeks before another update. Please write us notes and tell other people about this site, we'd really like to share this we as many people as possible. Also remember to visit the Dessin Animal Shelter website at www.dessinshelter.com. And of course, please come hike with us!! We are now on our way to the Natahala Outdoor Center in N. Carolina; after that we'll be in the Great Smokey Mtns. Hoping all is well, and thanks for reading!!

Pooch, Roxi, Tom Dooley, and Pete

(PS those are our trail names, distinguish as you will ;-)

more than just walking...

Total miles covered today: 220. Distance from where we started this morning: 143 miles. Total cars used: 2. Trips made to Chrysler dealerships: 1. Cars killed (in a mechanical sense, no crashed involved): 1. Cars purchased: 1. Food drops made: 1. Circles made: depends on how you define a circle. Immediate destination tomorrow morning: back to the same dealership to try and fix the car we just bought.

Well, this is supposed to be an adventure, right?? :-) Still happy

Countdown

5 Days to Lift-off...

Roxi is ready. A marathon runner at heart, she has already packed her pack, triple checker her gear list, and loaded up on carbs for the big starting day. She is going to be the happiest dog ever going on the world's longest dog walk.

Me? I'm just glad we're finally going to be doing this trip. So much planning and waiting, I just want to go for a hike with my dog.

This white blaze painted on the trees is at the heart of the AT. Starting in Georgia, anyone can walk to Maine by following these blazes. No turning or navigating, just walking.

We'll see you in the South....

trail moms

Concerned Parent: "So how are you going to carry your cell phone, PDA, laptop, GPS, and emergency beacon??"
me: "Um, well, we're not..."
CP: "You're making the dogs carry them? That doesn't seem safe."
me: "No, we're not making the dogs carry them, we're simply not taking them."
CP: "Which aren't you taking? The laptop?"
me: "No, well yes, we're not taking the laptop, but I mean that we're not taking any of that stuff."
CP: "WHAT??? How will your mother know where you are??"
me: "Well, she wont, unless we call her."
CP: "How can you call her if you don't have a cell phone??? You haven't been thinking this through, have you."

;-)

Gear, pasta, and dog food

Tent, stove, sleeping bag, socks (thanks NE Sports), pack, pot, lighter, spoon, compass, journal, extra boot laces. Check.

Annie's Mac&Cheese, rice, beans, stuffing, couscous, apple rigs, hot cocoa, GORP, snickers, oatmeal, Ramen, dried peas, Instant Jello cheesecake. Check.

400 lbs of dogfood ordered from Pet Central (I'm not kidding, 400 pounds) ,60 pigs ears, 30 bullies, 30 pig snouts, 100 rawhides, 200 milkbones, 10 bags of dried tripe. Check.

Roxi's pack is up to 15 pounds and she carries it like gravity isn't working. At least one of us is in shape!