2010 AT Thruhike - Hyway

“Naked Ape, HPM, Laurel and I will be out there the first full week in April. Dunno which side of the park yet, though. Laurel wanted to spend her spring break up in the park, rather than go the Fl. and visit the grands. All of the paving projects going on in the park will make things interesting though.”

“Hey shoot me an e, and look clearly on my profile, it's under the webpage line. I've spent MONTHS trying to change my email, but the dorks running this gig must have me on ignore or sumthin. Let me know when your dates and loc are firmed up, I wanna meet yuns.”

“"Oh bury me not on the lone prairie, where the wild coyotes..."

Come and get me suckah.”

“Ahhh - Bryson City. Good times!”

“What gear is different between the AT and the PCT?�

the one thing that i have heard several times is footwear. go as lightweight as possible on the pct. if youre doing a thru, absolutely do not wear boots, as the trail is well-graded the entire way, and youre going to be doing day after day of 25-30+ miles. running shoes are recommended

trail runners up to medium duty hiking boots for the AT

I would imagine one would want more water storage capacity for the desert section of the PCT. one never need carry more than 2 liters at a time on the AT”

“Naked Ape - we don't plan to do a thru, though that could change. Right now the plan is to hike for 6-7 weeks. We had intended to head west in March, but a good friend is getting married in New York, so we decided to stay on the east coast until the wedding. Since our lease is up, we're hiking. If we can, we'll go out to the PCT after the wedding to continue the hike that was stopped by Jim's torn meniscus. It will depend on how we do on the AT and what trail conditions are like on the PCT. Right now there's a lot of closed trail in S. Cal. I don't like 45 mile road walks.

Roseymonster asked: What gear is different between the AT and the PCT?�

The PCT is mostly a hot dry trail. You need sun protection more than rain protection. Big hat, long sleeved shirt, light colors. It can rain and snow in S. Cal, but it doesn't happen every week. 90-100 degree days are more frequent. Cold and wet happens in Washington, so you need warm gear then. You will want to have light gear and lots of water carrying capacity. (And a pack that can carry 6 days food and/or 1 gallon of water.) For the snow covered Sierras you should carry an ice axe. Bear Canisters are also required in the National Parks.”

“Have a great time Hyway. Don't let your hike get in the way of your journey. See you in April, somewhere along the trail...”

“and I'll not let my journey get in the way of my travel.”

“wait......what?”

“About 10 days away. I hope you get some good weather to start with.”

“I hope to have some good weather too. But just in case the snow is still pretty deep in the Smokies when I get there (or any other area that refuses to let go of the white stuff) does anyone have a pair of snow shoes they could lend, lease or sell to me cheap if I get out there and finding the postholing unbearable?”

“I know it's totally based on the weather, but any idea when you'll hit the Smokies?”

“Probably be at fontana dam around march 22-24th”

““and I'll not let my journey get in the way of my travel.”
hyway


you're like John Locke going on your walkabout

”

“whoa!?! Are you suggesting that it rains on the AT?”

“Hyway - I've got some extra snowshoes. Not sure how I could get them to you in a timely manner, but if they would help and have an plan - they are yours for as long as you need 'em.”

“Any idea when you might hit the section of the trail near DC? As it stands now, I will be with family for a brief period in July for a wedding.”

“I hope the snow will be gone by July ;)

I'll be around Front Royal to Harpers Ferry around the 1st of June I guess.”

“For those of you who know SuperTroll only through his concealed-face photos, the guy above bares a close resemblance. Can I get a witness?”

“Hyway--If the white stuff is still deep in the Smokies when we get there, I'll let you pass me and break the trail. Seriously, though, if you want to borrow them, let me know. As I recall, they're 9x33's, can handle up to 220 pounds and have really good "teeth" (or whatever they're called) on the bottom to prevent both forward/backward and side slippage. Made by Atlas. Let me know and I'll get them out of storage. Best to contact me with direct e-mail.”

“Our hike last year had to end at Fontana Dam because of a snow storm. (We couldn't shuttle the cars because the road was closed.) Some hikers moved on, but some stayed at the Fontana Hilton for a couple of days until conditions improved.

There are nice hot showers there and there were plenty of trail angels around cooking up some dinner. If you have to wait to enter the Smokies due to poor weather, this is a good place to be.”

“This is definitely going to be an 'interesting' year to do a thruhike, at least at the beginning. One thing, you won't have to worry about dry springs for a while.”

“This is definitely going to be an 'interesting' year to do a thruhike, at least at the beginning. One thing, you won't have to worry about dry springs for a while.”

“I thought Locke was Supertroll! The bald head, all the little devices and knives that he carries, seemed like a perfect match.”

“I have some Atlas 1035's (I think). They are good for 300#. I could send em down if nothing else works out.”

“I appreciate the offer from you and Ped, if the weather doesn't change soon I'll take yall up on it. I'm just thinking the shipping cost on those things would be high”

“Hyway, probably better for you, for when you get there, is some crampons. More than likely you'll not be the first thru right after a snow, so you'll likely not be having to break trail. Ice tho, will be more of a concern. Finding mine, could be on the border of miracle tho, I'll go thru some boxes and see if I can locate'em. We still have lots of moving boxes, and some of my lesser-used gear is .... hidden (why I thought I could get away with that....).”

“Will we be able to follow you on trailjournals or whiteblaze or or via Spot or something?”

“I am on trailjournals http://www.trailjournals.com/hyway I am going to try to journal regularly using my Verizon Droid. If I can't get a signal I'll just have to wait to till I get one or to town to send them. I don't have a spot, but the Droid will allow me to take pics with it with teh coordinates and date/time geotagged to the pic. then when I send them to picasa they will show up on a google map at the location where I took them. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/albumMap?uname=115935429420799362605&aid=5441152830946831249#map Right now I only have a map of the AT and a pic of my gear that I was using to practice with.”

“I can't wait for you to call me for late night phone sex from the trail, just make sure you're real lonely first.”

“lol. Is that not what you wanted my cell number for?”

“I've been reading your prep notes - the journal is off to a good start.

Hopefully if there is fresh snow, you can get a late start and other folks will have packed it down enough that you won't be post holing.”

“the forecast looks good for the week I start. but that can change”

“nice Ice Helmet”

“Nice journal hyway, it's gonna be fun vicariously doing another thru-hike!”

“Ouch: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/productview.php?pil=RTPMRX”

“That made me giggle, dayhiker. Separates the MEN from the boys, eh hiway?”

“How do I set that journal to email me everytime you add an entry? It's been awhile since I've used trailjournals...”

“After reading dayhikers link I may actually take the Ice Helmet. naked ape, that hiking vicariously may cost you a hot shower, soft bed and good meal :).

I don't know dub. Trail Journals was head of teh class for a while, but postholer.com is eating its lunch when it comes to new tech. TJ still has it hand down over postholer when it comes to style though. Postholer looks like grandma's cluttered attic.”

“good luck and good Weather Hyway!”

“No prob hyway, I'll be awaitin' fer yur call.”

“Savannah looks like a chip off the ol' block.”

“Hey Hyway. I just read your entire trail journal thusfar. It is inspiring already. The pic of you and Jason "Me and Mini-me" at the sea wall is so fitting. It has been a long time since I had the pleasure of spending a few nights with you and your wonderful family. I'm impressed by their dedication to you, to enable you to make this journey. I didn't get to meet Trish but, she must be one special lady. There is no doubt how much they truly love you. I understand fully why and when you are doing this trip. It really isn't something you can wait for if you are going to do it. Now is that time for you Hyway. The love from your family will propel your every step. We are also behind you 100%. I now have first hand knowledge of what it takes to care for a special child. We fought Leukemia with Trevor for 18 months at Saint Jude's in Memphis. We are home now and he is back in school leading a much more normal life. It has been two years since that terrible day we had our eyes opened. We still have a long road ahead of us as well. As long as he remains cancer free we won't sweatthesmall#&%!$. Laying in that too small parent bed beside my son in the hospital, I thought of you and your family. I thought about how much you love Jason. It gave me strength to make it through Hyway. You helped me in a dire situation and you didn't even know it.

Good luck with your journey my friend. We will be following right behind you.”

“Thank you for those words. After I finish this hike we should plan another get together with the families. Whenever our conversations turn to camping the girls will always ask when will we hike with Trip and Fall again.

I can tell you right now that I have nothing as a parent that compares with what you went through. Yes, Jason has DS, but other than the first few days of his life he has never had any health issues. I never had to face the possible futures that you were seeing before you. I was so happy to see that article/video you posted about him defeating Leukemia. I don't know if you saw my photos on Trail Journals, but several of them were from that trip to Graveyard Fields.”

“Yall love to make me cry dont ya! hyway...i hope you have a great hike!”

“Great exchange you too.

what article is hyway referring too on the article/video?

bateux - how did the Pinhoti trip go?”

“It sure is nice to be next to such great people. I love you all.”

“Hey Dayhiker, the Pinhoti went pretty good it was cold as hell though. When we got to the Cheaha trailhead it was 3am, raining and 47 degrees. By 4 am it was 33 degrees and sleeting. By daylight it was 25 degrees and snowing. Mississippi Rob and I met up with CGapHiker at the trailhead. We went to the Cheaha store to buy maps then headed off to Porters Gap on Hyw 77. We spent 3 days and 2 night on the trail. It snowed and was below 20 degrees the first night. It never warmed up and the wind never quit the whole time. The rough and rocky trail had ice everywhere to add to the challenge. It was a great hike and we are talking about going back in May to do some more sections.
I'm headed to Branson, Mo with the family Easter week. I hope to do some dayhikes while we are there. I hope to get out with you guys soon.”

“I hope you're stretching Hyway.”

“No I'm not stretching hyway. He seem pretty pliable. Why?”