Most people who hike the trail try to be very prepared and bring as much as they want to carry. I for one will bring what I need and hope that I didn't forget anything. The pleasurables for this trip will be at a minimum. I took care of some final gear and clothing issues this week... hoping that I'll stay warm and dry.
I recently took off for NJ to see the folks and drop of some of the gear Mom wants to send me because she's itching to do her part. Of course I had to go over all the gear with her and tag everything since I don't expect her to know the difference between a sleeping bag liner and a bivy. Anyway, she'll be ready when I need something. Support system #1 - CHECK
When I get back from the north preparing my survey announcements, I'll be going over more detailed information on the mail drops with Mary. These drops will provide food that I will not be able to get in towns on the trail. They will even supplement some consumable items such as ziplock bags, handy wipes and anything else I may need along the way. Support system #2 - CHECK
Preparations for the study:
After leaving NJ I headed up to Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont to enlist the help of local businesses in announcing my survey to hikers that come through their doors. It was a nice couple days... in the freezing cold! (Hey I live in Florida now... 26 is REALLY cold.) All the people I spoke to seemed really interested in what I'm doing and all decided to lend a hand somehow. Great!
Even better... I was contacted by Mike, the owner of Travel Country in Altamonte Springs, FL and he is one board with sponsoring my study. I'm very excited over this.
Off to the Mid-Atlantic states... Met with a couple business owners today, including The Doyle in Duncannon, PA. They host over a 1200 hikers in a season. They were so helpful that I could probably never thank them enough. Vickey there even gave me some tips to look out for on the trail. What a great place! I'll be seeing them again in a couple months.
Tomorrow off the meet some more businesses and try to stir up more support, then back to Florida for final preparations. The very last thing will be my website for the survey, which is already under construction. http://hikersurvey.com
Itinerary:
Once in a while I get asked what my itinerary looks like. So it's now posted here. Anyone who wants to join me for a few days is more than welcome. :)
| Date | AT Mile | Stop and Notes | State and Section |
| 1-Mar | 8.1 | Hawk Mtn Shelter | Georgia |
| 2-Mar | 21.1 | Suches - Woody Gap | |
| 3-Mar | 31.7 | Neels Gap | |
| 4-Mar | 43.2 | Low Gap | |
| 5-Mar | 58.6 | Tray Mtn | |
| 6-Mar | 69.6 | Hiawassee | |
| 7-Mar | ZERO DAY | ||
| 8-Mar | 81.4 | Muskrat Creek | North Carolina |
| 9-Mar | 93.9 | Carter Gap | |
| 10-Mar | 109.8 | Franklin, NC | |
| 11-Mar | 125.6 | Cold Spring | |
| 12-Mar | 137.1 | Nantahala O. C. | |
| 13-Mar | 153.1 | Brown Fork Gap | |
| 14-Mar | 165.8 | Fontana Dam - Get Permit GSM | Smoky Mtns |
| 15-Mar | 179.6 | Russell Field | |
| 16-Mar | 194.3 | Silers Bald | |
| 17-Mar | 206.8 | Gatlinburg, TN | |
| 18-Mar | ZERO DAY | ||
| 19-Mar | 222.4 | Tri Corner Knob | |
| 20-Mar | 237.2 | Davenport Gap | |
| 21-Mar | 247.7 | Painted Branch or Groundhog Creek Sh | NC-TN Border |
| 22-Mar | 255.9 | Roaring Forks | |
| 23-Mar | 273.9 | Hot Springs, NC | |
| 24-Mar | ZERO DAY | ||
| 25-Mar | 293.5 | Little Laurel | |
| 26-Mar | 306.2 | Flint Mtn | |
| 27-Mar | 325.1 | Bald Mtn | |
| 28-Mar | 342.0 | Erwin, TN | |
| 29-Mar | 354.1 | Deep Gap | |
| 30-Mar | 368.2 | Clyde Smith - Grassy Ridge | |
| 31-Mar | 382.7 | Overmountain Shelter | |
| 1-Apr | 391.9 | Roan Mtn, NC | |
| 2-Apr | 410.3 | Moreland Gap | Tenn |
| 3-Apr | 425.0 | Hampton, TN | |
| 4-Apr | 448.4 | Double Springs | |
| 5-Apr | 466.9 | Damascus, VA | VA - Southwest |
| 6-Apr | ZERO DAY | ||
| 7-Apr | 482.7 | Lost Mtn | |
| 8-Apr | 494.9 | Thomas Knob | Grayson Highlands |
| 9-Apr | 514.0 | Grayson Highlands, Hurricane Mtn Campground | |
| 10-Apr | 530.6 | Partnership | |
| 11-Apr | 542.2 | Atkins, VA | |
| 12-Apr | 565.2 | Chestnut Knob | |
| 13-Apr | 589.2 | Helveys Mill | |
| 14-Apr | 613.2 | Wapiti | |
| 15-Apr | 629.8 | Pearisburg, VA | VA - Central |
| 16-Apr | ZERO DAY | ||
| 17-Apr | 653.0 | Bailey Gap | |
| 18-Apr | 680.0 | Niday | |
| 19-Apr | 703.7 | Johns Spring | |
| 20-Apr | 722.5 | Daleville, VA - Roanoke | |
| 21-Apr | 741.0 | Bobblets Gap | |
| 22-Apr | 754.5 | Bryant Ridge | |
| 23-Apr | 764.7 | Thunder Hill | |
| 24-Apr | 777.1 | Matts Creek | |
| 25-Apr | 799.3 | Brown Mtn Creek | |
| 26-Apr | 817.4 | Montebello, VA | |
| 27-Apr | 835.5 | Maupin Field | |
| 28-Apr | 856.3 | Waynesboro, VA - YMCA camping | VA - Shenandoah |
| 29-Apr | 863.3 | Calf Mtn | |
| 30-Apr | 883.7 | Loft Mtn - EAT | |
| 1-May | 897.7 | Hightop Hut | |
| 2-May | 918.1 | Big Meadows | |
| 3-May | 932.5 | Byrd's Nest Hut #3 - Stop Skyland EAT | |
| 4-May | 950.0 | Gravel Springs Hut / Matthews Arm Campground | |
| 5-May | 963.4 | Front Royal, VA - Jim & Molly Denton Sh | |
| 6-May | 987.0 | Rod Hollow | VA - N / WV / MD |
| 7-May | 1004.8 | BlackBurn Trail Center / David Lesser - donation | |
| 8-May | 1016.6 | Harper's Ferry | |
| 9-May | ZERO DAY | ||
| 10-May | 1027.7 | Gathland SP/Gapland Rd/Crampton Gap | |
| 11-May | 1048.4 | Ensign Cowall | |
| 12-May | 1065.3 | Antietam | Penn |
| 13-May | 1078.7 | Quary Gap | |
| 14-May | 1096.0 | Pine Grove Furnace SP / Iron Masters Mansion | |
| 15-May | 1115.2 | Boiling Springs | |
| 16-May | 1140.9 | Duncannon,PA | |
| 17-May | ZERO DAY | ||
| 18-May | 1152.1 | Peters Mtn | |
| 19-May | 1170.1 | Rausch Gap | |
| 20-May | 1187.6 | The 501 | |
| 21-May | 1211.3 | Port Clinton | |
| 22-May | 1233.9 | Allentown Hiking Club | |
| 23-May | 1251.6 | Palmerton, PA | |
| 24-May | 1267.4 | Leroy A Smith | |
| 25-May | 1287.6 | Delaware Water Gap - Donation | |
| 26-May | 1298.1 | Mohican Outdoor Center | NJ/NY/CT |
| 27-May | ZERO DAY | ||
| 28-May | 1319.0 | Gren Anderson | |
| 29-May | 1337.3 | Jim Murray Property / Pochunk Mtn - Donation? | |
| 30-May | 1350.9 | Vernon, NJ | |
| 31-May | 1368.0 | Wildcat | |
| 1-Jun | 1387.6 | William Brien Mem / DETOUR LP to Lichen Tr ADD 6 MILES | |
| 2-Jun | 1394.0 | Bear Mtn | |
| 3-Jun | ZERO DAY | ||
| 4-Jun | ZERO DAY | ||
| 5-Jun | 1422.9 | RPH | |
| 6-Jun | 1439.7 | Telephone Pioneers / AT RR Station - Trip to NY? | |
| 7-Jun | 1460.9 | Mt Algo / Bulls Bridge or Kent, CT | |
| 8-Jun | 1480.6 | Sharon Mtn Campsite | |
| 9-Jun | 1493.9 | Salisbury, CT | |
| 10-Jun | 1508.0 | Hemlock | Mass |
| 11-Jun | 1524.4 | Montery, MA | |
| 12-Jun | 1543.5 | Upper Goose Pond - Donation or WFS | |
| 13-Jun | ZERO DAY | ||
| 14-Jun | 1561.1 | Kay Wood | |
| 15-Jun | 1581.3 | Mt Graylock | |
| 16-Jun | 1594.5 | Seth Warner - North Adams Resupply | VT |
| 17-Jun | 1616.1 | Goddard Sh | |
| 18-Jun | 1635.4 | Stratton Pond - Fee? | |
| 19-Jun | 1646.1 | Bromley - Manchester | |
| 20-Jun | 1662.6 | Big Branch | |
| 21-Jun | 1685.3 | Gov Clement | |
| 22-Jun | 1705.9 | Stony Brook | |
| 23-Jun | 1727.4 | Thistle Hill | |
| 24-Jun | 1743.5 | Velvet Rocks / Hanover | NH |
| 25-Jun | 1758.7 | Trapper John | |
| 26-Jun | 1765.4 | Fire Warden Cabin & Tower / Hexacuba | |
| 27-Jun | 1785.3 | Glencliff, NH | |
| 28-Jun | ZERO DAY | ||
| 29-Jun | 1793.3 | Beaver Brook | |
| 30-Jun | 1802.3 | Eliza Brook sh | White Mountains |
| 1-Jul | 1813.7 | Liberty Springs camp - N. Woodstock Resupply | |
| 2-Jul | 1821.4 | Garfield | |
| 3-Jul | 1835.9 | Ethan Pond / Bartlett, NH | |
| 4-Jul | 1849.9 | Lake of the Clouds / Bartlett, NH - Work for Stay or pay | |
| 5-Jul | 1864.8 | Osgood - Resupply Pinkham Notch | |
| 6-Jul | 1877.9 | Imp | |
| 7-Jul | 1885.9 | Gorham, NH - Hiker's Paradise | |
| 8-Jul | ZERO DAY | ||
| 9-Jul | 1897.7 | Gentian Pond | |
| 10-Jul | 1907.3 | Full Goose Sh | Maine |
| 11-Jul | 1919.3 | Baldpate Lean-to | |
| 12-Jul | 1937.4 | Andover, ME | |
| 13-Jul | 1954.4 | Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to / Little Swift River | |
| 14-Jul | 1963.8 | Rangeley, ME | |
| 15-Jul | 1974.5 | Poplar Ridge Lean-to | |
| 16-Jul | 1988.7 | Crocker Cirque - Detour Sugarloaf MT / Stratton | |
| 17-Jul | 2001.1 | Horns Pond Lean-to | |
| 18-Jul | 2019.0 | West Carry Pond Lean-to | |
| 19-Jul | 2038.7 | Pleasant Pond Lean-to / Caratunk, ME | |
| 20-Jul | 2051.8 | Moxie Bald Lean-to | |
| 21-Jul | 2069.7 | Monson, ME - Lake Shore House | |
| 22-Jul | ZERO DAY | ||
| 23-Jul | ZERO DAY | ||
| 24-Jul | 2088.8 | Cloud Pond Lean-to | 100 Mile |
| 25-Jul | 2105.6 | Carl A Newhall Lean-to | Wilderness |
| 26-Jul | 2124.5 | Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to | |
| 27-Jul | 2146.0 | Wadleigh Stream Lean-to | |
| 28-Jul | 2169.1 | Abol Bridge | |
| 29-Jul | 2179.0 | The Birches - Sign up at Abol Bridge | |
| 30-Jul | 2184.2 | Katahdin Mtn |
I live in Florida also by Cocoa. Anything less then 40 degress- Channel 13 will say we are having an artic blast. I went to Travel Coutry for the first time a few days ago. They are so great there. They looked at my list for the thru hike I want to do on March 1st, 2014 after my kids graduate. I wish I could go next year but they dont graduate until May and thet would be too late to go Northbound. So Ill have to wait. It is cool you are completing your research paper and everyone is going to help you collect data while living out a dream. I am so excited for everyone in the Class of 2012! I hope you have a great week :) Wild Trout
ReplyDeleteStinks that you want to go and you have to wait. However, you could go in May with an alternate itinerary. If you start your hike from Damascus, VA around the middle of May (Trail Days) you would be with all the hikers headed north to Maine. Once you get to the terminus you then could come back around to Damascus and head south to Springer with all the South-bounders. Either way, I hope you get to give it a shot.
ReplyDeleteAfter this season I can give you all the tips I learn from doing this.