Tired Old Farts on the AT in October

“Let's try again here....I'd like to try the following trip in October. Originally wanted to do it Memorial Day weekend, but couldn't get enough interest, plus it turned out I wouldn't have been able to hike then anyway. Damn allergies.

The plan...

October AT Trip

Day	Start	End	Mileage
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

Anyone interested?”

“what state?”

“Bliss......”

“I don't think I can make it in October bp, unless it was during the first week, maybe.”

“Georgia...sorry...”

“what, you think i have the time to look stuff like that up? sheesh.

and what would i have to do in order to become a tired old fart before Oct.?”

“Yah I know lyra, I'm sorry...When you're really obsessed with something (like the AT) you forget that not everyone is as well-versed on the subject as you are.

If you did decide to come, you could be made an Honorary Tired Old Fart, so you could join on the trip.”

“you should be ashamed! i mean, what with all the TTing i have to do, where would i find the 2 seconds it would take to look that up?
;-) ;-) ;-)”

“<hangs head in shame>

I know, I'm so bad...”

“Keep me informed. I'm not retired, but have the grey beard that might suggest I'm an "old fart." The October sounds interesting.”

“October should be a good time to go. Heat's pretty much gone, the colors are coming out. I don't know about crowds then, but it's not full thru-hiker season, so it shouldn't be too bad. I'll keep everyone apprised.

Oh yeah, the "tired" part doesn't refer to re-tired, just to the fact that the mileage is pretty short in comparison to what the young whippersnappers would usually do. Short days going up and down the N. GA mountains are better than long ones.”

“Sure, long mileage is for grey hounds.”

“i did 20 miles in 2 days once, and my legs wouldn't do what i told them to at the end of it! 7-mile days are definitely more my bag...”

“Bitpusher, that is a nice section of trail. The only difficult climb (from memory) being Blood Mtn, which I didn't think was all that bad. NOW, going down Blood Mtn on the Neels Gap side is another story...


It starts gettin' tough at Unicoi Gap.”

“I'll be on a Tired Old Farts Hike on the Dolly Sods then. We'll be with you in spirit whenever we get our strength up. Either that or we'll drown in spirits.”

“I've heard many, many times that the descent of Blood Mountain is what will get you. I wear an Ace bandage/brace thingie on my right knee when I'm hiking, and last year when I was on the AT, someone looked at it and said "You got that from going down Blood, right?"”

“bitpusher?.. if you dont do that trip?.. come hike with me man..

I never got to hike with ya.. *pouts*

Some of us are wanting to go do Roan Mt (again)about that time.”

“I'll be down there in the spring, the pace will be a bit more aggressive however.”

“bitpusher - I would love to join you, but I already have plans for Oct. I'll be on the AT from Davonport Gap to the Fontana Hilton and return. Will stop at each site each way. 27 nights, no resupply, completely self-sustained except for a shower at the Fontana Dam.

I'll be pushing my limit hard after leaving Davonport Gap Shelter with 5 of the next 6 days around 8-mile days. After that, the rest of the trip should be a breeze.

Although I'll be 70, I don't feel qualified as a Tired Old Fart, yet. My 5-bypasses work great. What makes me slow is my two knees that need replacements.

I wish your trip success, but if your trip should not take place, you and others are welcome to join during any segment of my hike.”

“Paul. Please email me your itinerary. Would luv to make sure I cross paths with you if i can.”

“I have been looking for a Fall Foilage hike and this might be it.

Last year we did Shining Rocks in late October and missed all the colors..would love to do this.

Please add me to the "secret email list" and keep me informed..thanks!

Tex”

“lol, I gotta make a "secret email list" first! But ok....”

“Sounds like a trip I might want to join. When in October? The mileage is similar to what I enjoy.”

“Haven't decided on dates yet, but it would be centered around some weekend in October. Preferable closer to the beginning of the month, I would think.”

“I got your email last night, thanks”

“OK good Ewker. I have a more complete description here at work, that I'll send to you.”

“sounds nice to me also, i might be able to squeeze out 3 days...by taking off a friday or monday.”

“OPIE, you could pick up with us at Hogpen Gap on Day 3. It's only about 4 miles from there to Low Gap, which is where we'll be staying that night.”

“BTW, the stop points for each night are shelters, except for Wolf Laurel. We'd be tenting (or tarping) that night.”

“I have a high level of interest. Been lookin' for a "AT orientation" hike and this sounds like just the ticket. I will keep an eye on the thread as details develop.”

“blood mtn is a breeze. there are a couple of spots between hogpen and unicoi that get a little tiring, but the middle part of hogpen/unicoi is an old mining road. cruisin' easy!”

“any ideas on how you will be doing the shuttles”

“Depends on how many people we get. If that turns out to be a problem, I have a friend in the area who has a shuttling business with her husband. I'm pretty sure we can get her to shuttle us. It wouldn't be free, but she might give us a break. I'll have to contact her and see how much she charges for that shuttle.”

“I'm interested in a Sept., early Oct. hike. That kind of mileage in the GA mts is my kind of hike.

I have a old 7-8 passenger mini-van with roof rack that would be a big help for shuttling.”

“OK, stovestomper, sounds good!
You're welcome along, just don't step on my esbit!”

“Bitpusher et all,

I just got out my AT topo maps because I did Unicoi to Hogpen last Spring Southbound. Met a lot of thru's at that time and that ascent out of Unicoi either way is a huffer and puffer, but especially southbound.
We'll be approaching it from Ssouth to North, so that's not too bad - lesser of two evils you might say.

As for Blood, going up or coming down, either way it hurts. The way we are going it's almost a 3 mile descent and you lose about 1500 feet, so it's gradual coming down the north side slope.

Sounds like a good trip. Please keep us posted!

Tex”

“I'm interested in this trip. I've never been on the AT.”

“OK, here are the names I've gleaned from the thread of people who are interested in this hike:

stumprider
TxWoodswoman
katibug
Ewker
OPIE (possible weekender)
Big Coop
StoveStomper
luise

Right now, I'm looking at Oct. 24-28, but that could be changed probably. I don't want to step on TownDawg's Roan Mtn. trip the weekend of Oct. 19, and my wife is making noises about the first or second weekend in October. But dates are otherwise flexible! lol...

If you're interested, send me some email at the address in my profile, and I'll add you to the "secret email list".

Let's get together and see some color on the AT this October!”

“So is Oct. 24-28 good dates for all? I know luise can't go the first part of the month.

We could adjust the dates such that we are hiking during the week, that is, the 21st through through the 25th. If we do that, I will probably show up a day early and knock out the section between Gooch Gap and Woody Gap. I don't want to lose anybody though, so let me know what dates are acceptable!”

“I might be tired and an old fart but I'm flexible. ;)
I can take off from work just about anytime in Oct. I like the idea of a mid-week hike, shelters less full, but will do whatever dates the group wishes.
I'll be driving up from the MS Gulf Coast so I'm be using about the same number of vacation days for a weekend hike or mid week.
Let me know if I can help with logistics.
Do you know if the Walasi-Yi Center will be open during the hike?”

“I'll check...Walasi-Yi probably will be, but the cabins will probably be closed...I think they're only open during thru-hiker season.”

“You know we will HAVE to have that all important BEN & JERRY'S resupply!”

“My plans for October are already posted. However, materialization of my plan and my exact start date depend upon my obtaining reservations. It is possible that I may have to start my 27 night trek earlier than Oct. 1 in which case I might be able to join your group. Otherwise, I might be able to greet you folks at the completion of your hike.

I planned to arrive in GSMNP on Aug. 6, but may be delayed up to a week. Except for taking my daughter to her college in Iowa, my bp-ing plans from then until Nov. 5th are all in GSMNP, currently.”

“I'm doing the Davenport to Newfound Gap section in a couple of weeks. I'll check out the shelters for you and do a trip report.
You can call the backcountry reservations office (865-436-1231, 9-4 Eastern time) and reserve the shelters inside the park up to 30 days before the trip. Ice Water Springs and Double Spring Gap shelters (both "new style" shelters with skylights and without fence) fill up very fast.”

“Silers Bald is the "new style", not Double Springs.”

“NS, I don't think we're gonna be making it that far north. We're stopping at Unicoi. Are you coming down that far?”

“Siler's Bald still has a fence in front of it as of this past memorial day.”

“NS, I don't think we're gonna be making it that far north. We're stopping at Unicoi. Are you coming down that far?"
bitpusher

If our hiking schedules' overlap should change, I would like to join your hike. Otherwise, there is a possibility that I can drive down after my 27 nighter and meet your group at the finish.”

“StoveStomper - Thanks, I'll look for your report. (Will probably have to learn how to use a library computer in Waynesville, Bryson City or elsewhere.)

Peck's Corner Shelter is the new style, too. Davenport Gap Shelter has been improved.

You might want to check
information on road conditions. 'Tunnel and road repairs with some traffic delays will begin again on August 19.'”

“NS - either way would be cool, I would love to meet you, since I plan on hiking for a living when I'm your age. It would be better to hike with you, but either option would be great.”