Tired Old Farts on the AT in May

“I was reading the thread about the guys doing Dick's Creek to Rainbow Springs...12 miles a day is just too much for tired old farts like me... How about this trip:

Day 1 20.0 Woody Gap Woods Hole 7.1
Day 2 26.7 Woods Hole Wolf Laurel 7.8
Day 3 34.1 Wolf Laurel Low Gap 7.2
Day 4 41.3 Low Gap Blue Mtn. 7.2
Day 5 48.5 Blue Mtn. Unicoi Gap 2.2

5 days...Woody Gap to Unicoi Gap.

Anybody up for it?”

“Imagine the first post looked more like this:

Day 1 Woody Gap -> Woods Hole 7.1
Day 2 Woods Hole -> Wolf Laurel 7.8
Day 3 Wolf Laurel -> Low Gap 7.2
Day 4 Low Gap -> Blue Mtn. 7.2
Day 5 Blue Mtn. -> Unicoi Gap 2.2

better?”

“Hey Bitpusher, I'm hiking through the Smokies later this year. 70m in 5/6 days. Come on man, get pumped up and join me! Us bitpushers need to get jiggy with it - we sit on our tails all day.”

“Finally, a thread with my name in the title.

;-)”

“LMAO! What about those of us who aren't a stale bodily emission? This looks like a good plan.”

“I like this plan A LOT, but I can't make it, girl scout camping that weekend. Sorry, this was just my speed, too.”

“LOL,.. you`re a mess Skully!”

“Thanks BF! I already know which one you are! Ahhhhhhhhhhahahahaha!”

“Oops,.. I meant that in the sweetest way Skully! You`re almost a perfect mess!

Me,.. well, I`m still a mess in the making!LOL”

“I can't imagine doing that many miles a day in the Smokies MDS. Maybe if I lost a lot of weight, trained really hard, cut my pack weight to nothing, then maybe I could do it...NAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

People who aren't stale bodily emissions are welcome too. If you hike faster than the TOF's though, you have to set up camp and get the fire going.”

“Actually, the hike you suggested would be a nice relaxing hike. I was on that section of trail last December and if I remember correctly, there were only a few steep hills. The rocky trail section before Blue Mtn was interesting though!”

“That's good to know MDS. The section between the Hickory Flatts Pavilion and Gooch Gap is the one that almost did me in. It was like a rollercoaster. Upppppp.....dooooowwwwwnnnn......upppppppp.....doooooowwwwnnnnnn.....”

“Yep, that's what I'm picturing. A pleasant, leisurely spring stroll through the Georgia hills. Now, are we talking Thursday; Friday; Saturday; Sunday; and Monday, or Friday; Saturday; Sunday; Monday; and Tuesday? Is that last 2.2 mile section uphill or downhill?”

“I suppose I was thinking of Thursday-Monday, but I'm easy. I have to take two days off in any event, so whatever is convenient for most people. Also, I believe that the last 2.2 miles is downhill, but without access to my topo maps, I can't say for sure. I'll check again when I get home tonight and let you know.

Isn't that the week before you and G00SE get hitched, skully? Last trip before you weld on the ol' ball and chain?”

“Nope, it's nearly an entire month before we get hitched. Besides we're most likely going to go on an extended backpacking trip for the honeymoon. It is my firm belief that there is no such thing as too much backpacking as long as you have the vacation days to support it!”

“OK, I thought you guys were getting married June 1.

I'm trying to convince my wife that your philosophy is a valid one for me, skully. She is mostly supportive, as long as she gets her time too.

I'm hoping that the weather will have warmed up enough that I'll be able to really cut my pack weight. Hoping to be very light for a late spring trip.”

“Oops! You are right. For some as yet unexplained reason, I was thinking Memorial day was at the beginning of May. I didn't look at a calendar until just now, sorry. We'll be loading up chit into a Uhaul that weekend. Dang! I'm going to go eat my heart out now. I hope you guys have a good time.”

“lol okay skully. I thought it would be strange for you to be backpacking that weekend.

I'm hoping that it will be more than just me on this trip...lol....”

“...in hopes someone will see it and be interested...

It's a sad life....”