2002 GSMNP - 2. Introduction

“Danger: this is a long, possibly boring report, which is divided into sections(See below.). A summary will be provided. The index and links will be posted after all the other segments. However, to better understand me, my limitations and my objectives, please read this section.

Objectives

1. To lose weight.

2. To strengthen my leg muscles.


Limitations


My views, prospectives, and objectives, when backpacking, are likely considerably different from yours. To understand the differences and, then, perhaps to
understand the report more fully, please be aware of the following:

1. I am 70 years old. I will probably need to recognize my age sometime in the future. I feel that I am in better physical shape now then while I was in my fifties. (If you have not visited my pictures on Phil's Photo Page, please click here.) In fact, I had a cardiac arrest at 58 (died) and had to be brought back by a jump start. I am active physically with working, workouts, swimming, bicycling, aikijutsu(defensive combat) and raising a teenage daughter alone.

2. My heart has five bypasses. It pumps about 85% of what it should. This limits my capabilities somewhat.

3. I take medication for hypertension(high blood pressure). This keeps my blood pressure quite low. This results in circulation and energy limitations and problems.

4. Both of my knees need replacements. When I started this trip, I had no lifting power in my left knee and only a little in the right knee. I had to climb stairs one at a time, using a railing and going up one stair with the right foot first and then the left. This would be repeated for each stair. The reverse would get me down the stairs. I would position my left foot below the current stair and then bring my right foot down to join it.

5. In the past I have had a tremendous weight problem. I would lose weight by backpacking on a 700 calorie per day diet, but then return to Florida and gain weight. However, for two years I have been able to maintain my weight. I contribute this change to a very active lifestyle. I hope that this will be my last, major weight-losing trip.

And so on. This section is for your enlightenment. I am not seeking any sympathy, just your understanding of my viewpoints and prospective in backpacking.


Plan

To achieve my goals my plan is to:

1. Start with some easy dayhikes and backpacking trips. Build up my strengths over about six weeks by increasing the difficulties of each succeeding trip. This usually gets me to where I can do strenuous and very strenuous trails up to 8 miles per day.

2. In October I plan to hike on the AT across the park and return. I will stop overnight at each shelter(12) and tent site(1) along the trail and at the Fontana Hilton Shelter near the Fontana Dam. I will carry everything needed for 28 days and will not be resupplied in any way. The round trip will be about 140 miles.

The segments of this report are:

2002 GSMNP - 1. Index & Links
2002 GSMNP - 2. Introduction
2002 GSMNP - 3. Pre-GSMNP
2002 GSMNP - 4. Pre-AT Hike
2002 GSMNP - 5. Backpack Contents
2002 GSMNP - 6. Food
2002 GSMNP - 7. AT Hike
2002 GSMNP - 8. Post-AT Hike
2002 GSMNP - 9. Back in Florida
2002 GSMNP - 10. Summary
2002 GSMNP - 11. Photographs

Note: To enhance this trip report, I have provided some links. They are for informative purposes for anyone interested. A few links, referring to Thomas Merton and the Abbey of Gethsemane, could be construed as being religious material by some people. You can skip them, and any others, if you prefer.”

“Waiting for the next Chapter!”

“me too.”

“Kickin' a$$ at 70, now that's livin' nowslimmer!”

“it only takes a few good pages to hook me to a new book...continue please.”

“I hope I am going as strong as you when I am 70.

I hiked with a 75 year old guy twice this year. Thew first time we covered 19 miles on the AT over Unaka Mountain (read my Unaka Mountain poem on the hiking poems thread). We covered the toughest 12 miles of it all in one day and this guy just steadily plodded on. Not the fastest nor the slowest, just steady. I was very impressed.

A couple months ago we partnered up to do 25 miles on the Foothills Trail in SC.

He also hiked the 100 mile sea-to-sea trail (or coast-to-coast) in England last year.

I am really impressed by you guys who are still out there getting it done in your Golden Years.”

“I had the honor of meeting NowSlimmer this past year. I truly hope we get to meet and hike together this next year.”

“TownDawg -We will.
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The plan is to try to post one segment per day. I'm still writing.”

“700 calories a day is not very much fuel for intense activity such as backpacking. You may be burning muscle too. I'm curious as to what you eat on a backpacking trip?”

“Katibug - My cardiologist ordered me to go do some more backpacking during a visit 20 months ago. This was prompted by examination of my physical reports before and after trips. My food pack for the AT Hike will be posted soon. If you are interested, I should be able to provide you with the list of food that sustained me for 19 days a few years ago. And I might be able to provide you with information to show you that what I'm doing and how I implement my program is not dangerous for my health.”

“sooooooo, are you gonna tell us the final weight or keep us waiting. come on dude, i gave mine up on the endorphines thread.”

“Yes, I want to know what you ate on your trip. I might want to implement some of your techniques.”

“It was posted previously: Nowslimmer's Trip Report

The food list for 26 days will be posted in 2 or 3 days.

Have you read 2002 GSMNP - 3. Pre-GSMNP yet?”

“a”

“Awesome. What an inspiration.”

“Dude you are truely very pimp in my book!

Rock on Nowslimmer!!!!

8)”