1.33% of the Appalachian Trail

If one were to make an opinion of the Appalachian Trail only by consulting the information box on the right-hand side of the corresponding Wikipedia article, it is unlikely you would ever consider stepping foot on it. Under the heading Sights it lists only Appalachian Mountains. And under Hazards it lists the following:

Severe weather American Black Bear Tick-borne diseases Mosquitos Biting flies Chiggers Steep grades Limited water Diarrhea from water Poison ivy Venomous snakes

(I realize this intro is extremely cliche and smacks in its resemblance to every essay I wrote in high school and probably my freshman year in college: "Webster defines Communism as...but...".)

But we all know a single source should not be relied on. Through first-hand observation and second-hand retelling of stories I submit the following as the finest Sight along the trail:

PEOPLE

For reasons that will soon be clear, these sights do not cater to photographers so I will recount them in word.

• A man who sleeps leaning against a tree grasping in one hand a stick with a dagger lashed to the end , a blow gun in the other hand, and a piece of raw meat tied to one end of a string and the other end noosed around his big toe. Like a Rube Goldberg design, you can probably follow the chain of events and figure out what is supposed to be accomplished.
  
• A young man whose necessities for the AT included nun chucks, throwing stars, and a Black and Decker Firestorm 14.4 Volt Battery-Powered Reciprocating Saw. At mile thirty he became a little rowdy after a few beers, started practicing his nun chucks and was subsequently hit in the face with a log by an old man and hauled off by the police, after he started threatening people.
• A comparatively sane man who killed five mice at a shelter in a single night using only a Croc.

The truth is I didn't get to meet any of these people in the meager 29 miles I walked on the trail. The above stories were all told to me. But I have faith in their authenticity. I did meet men who were equally insane though; numerous men (and a woman) who thought it would be a good idea to postpone their lives for 6 months, shoulder their belongings, and walk 2175 miles from Georgia to Maine.

One of the insane is my good friend Brandon Quinn with whom I played a lot of disc golf with while we were both unemployed for the months of January and February. Saad, Amy, and I joined him for miles 550 through 579 in southwest Virginia. We came bearing needed supplies and a much slower pace.

Saad, Matt, Brandon and Amy crossing slow-moving wetlands near the beginning of our hike.

The terrain and ecosystems along this short stretch of trail were amazing. We walked through dry prairies filled with thistle, hardwood forest, humid stand of rhododendron, and even cattle pasture.

Brandon displays superb technique on a fence crossing.

The most classic tradition on the trail might be that of the "Trail Name". For the rest of this post we will go by:

• Brandon= Snuggie
  
• awarded because he supplemented his 40 degree sleeping bag with the backwards robe they sell on TV.
• Matt= Blisters
• Me= Paul Newman's Organic Gingersnaps (or just Gingersnap for short)
• Amy= Tenderfoot
• Saad= Sandstorm, Soul-Ja, Snot-Rocket, Paul Newman's Organic Tomato Sauce
• Saad had qualms with every name he had so one never really settled in.

Since everyone through-hiking leaves Georgia at about the same time, we always ran into people Brandon and Matt had already met and hiked with. Trail names are how everyone is identified and I don't believe Brandon knew the real name of a single person. It seems really silly, but I kind of enjoyed it.

Rain plagued most of the trip. Snuggie and Tenderfoot skirt the muddy trail.

Crossing a submerged bridge. Matt, Brandon's hiking partner since the beginning, briefly picked up the name "Soggy Bottom" as his pack's rain cover looks like it needs a diaper change.

Group shot courtesy of Sandstorm.

Blisters and Tenderfoot stand in front of one of the shelters along the trail. Notice the improvised devices for hanging packs and food bags to keep mice out.

They were holding hands right before this.

Sandstorm prides himself in reverse-over-the-head shots.

Sandstorm takes in the best views we had all weekend. Burke's Garden in the background.

...and I roll my sleeves down on my matching plaid.

Definitely the coolest shelter we saw. The Chestnut Knob shelter is the old quarters of a fire lookout with 360 degree views from the bald. To the north lies Burke's Garden-- a round, fertile valley so green and beautiful it is known as God's Thumbprint.

Photo inspired by Brendan Leonard over at denverdirtbagger.blogspot.com.

Sandstorm and Snuggie on the 3rd evening and the first evening together. On the first two nights, rain drove us into our tents before the sun went down. We all decided that next time we will bring one of those giant 16-man Mondo Condos.

Snuggie and Blisters insisted on adding squeeze Parkay (foreground) to every meal Sandstorm and I planned.

Catching a ride into town to resupply before parting ways. That beard is even better in real life.


Burke's Garden

To make up for the guy who killed 5 mice with a Croc, I stopped to help this poor turtle across the road. Now I have never seen a turtle like this, but I have seen an Alligator Snapping Turtle (that looks a lot like this) bite through the end of an aluminum baseball bat at summer camp in Ocala when I was 11. A few years later I lost the tip of my middle finger to an Alligator Snapper (citation needed), so i decided to let this fella try and make it on his own. I believe this is a Common Snapper.

Amy had class at 8 am. We left for Tallahassee at 5:30 PM. I think we beat the ETA above by about 5 minutes.