Appalachian Trail spring memories on the North Carolina and Tennessee border

May 2, 2015

I think my please-be-spring-already trip down Appalachian Trail memory lane is working.

North Carolina or Tennessee mountains in spring

It appears to me, on this hovering-just-above-zero degrees Saturday morning, that more snow melted yesterday. And the weather report is what gives me real hope. A week of sunny days and daytime temperatures in the double digits is forecasted.

Sun and warmth is good, real good. I hope it will help usher in the blossoming of buds in our neighborhood. There's a large hedge of lilacs next to the house and an old apple orchard next to the field. I can't wait to see these in bloom in about a month.

And I am hoping soon the snow and ice will melt from the mountain trails so we can do some hiking again. I haven't hiked since I finished the trail with my family last September. My trail feet are getting itchy.

Day 31: April 30 - 15.4 miles Spring Mountain Shelter to Jerry Cabin Shelter

from my journal that day:

Started ok, terrain not so inspiring, felt pressure to make 15. One long climb and we felt the rest would be easy. It was not. The ridge trail was strenuous, strained my feet on the rocks. We came into Jerry Cabin in the rain and fog. It was 6, or shortly after, supper with apple cobbler and then straight to bed.

found this photo from another camera, maybe the video camera
me trudging up to Jerry Cabin Shelter

Not recorded in my journal, but remembered in the photos, is that we found a makeshift store at Allen Gap right on the North Carolina/Tennessee border.

At this point on the trail, I had a recent freak out about the amount of soda our kids had been drinking at trail magic and in town stops, and I kiboshed drinks with corn syrup. Alas, only corn syrup-laden drinks were stocked at "mom's" makeshift trail store. So no drinks that morning.

In due course, I relaxed my "no corn syrup drinks" rule. I'm a little embarrassed when I think about all the energy I spent agonizing over such things.

It drove me a bit crazy to think how far we fell from our nutritional high horse while hiking. Not in our supper meals so much, which were very high quality for trail food, but in our snacks, and trail magic food choices, etc. When you need 4,000 - 5,000 calories a day your standards change a little. This change was hard for me to swallow, literally.

Eventually, I just lightened-up. We haven't been to the dentist in two years so I'm not sure how much damage was really done. Until someone has a toothache, I'd rather not know.

Day 32: May 1 - 14.7 miles Jerry Cabin Shelter to Hogback Ridge Shelter

from my journal that day:

Hard day number two. Started in fog, which was beautiful... basically I don't remember much notable about this day except B & I did a far amount of complaining. We all felt pressed for time trying to make camp at a decent time, since we all look forward to that time of day for relaxing and doing our own thing.

Coming out of Rector Laurel Road crossing, an open meadow leading to woodlands with a cascade - that section was my favorite part of the day. Great supper, as always, sweet potatoes. Shelter with 3 old men and Bloodroot and Red Hawk camping. D. walked with me today and I walked slowish and careful due to feet.

end of the day at Hogback Ridge Shelter

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