Fri 31 Dec - Final Thoughts

Hard to believe that it has been a month and a half since we completed the trail. We are mostly moved back into our house although not all the boxes from Hong Kong are unpacked. We were both very happy to be done, it has been difficult returning to the real world. The reality of getting a job is weighing heavily on me.

We did not make our top goal of thru-hiking the AT this year but we did make it back to where we had already hiked. We were too slow in the beginning and had too many delays. But we both feel good about hiking 1884 miles and finishing the AT. Speaking of the earlier hikes, I am adding pages for for the 2007 hike from Rockfish Gap to Harpers Ferry and the 2008 hikes from Daleville to Rockfish Gap.

We heard that POW is planning a thru-hike for 2011. I am very happy to be able to sleep in a bed each night and not have to carry 30 lbs. around every where I go, but part of me wants to go with him. That is hard to believe since for six months all we wanted was to be done. Hiking is very goal driven - you literally climb a mountain each day. There are very clear goals and it is rewarding to see your accomplishments. And you have very limited responsibilities. Many of our bills were eliminated and the rest were set up on automatic payment. You just think about where to stop for the night, where you next resupply will be, and how many days to the resupply after that so you know how much food to buy.

If I reduce the experience to just 2 words, they would be deprivation and perseverance. You obviously miss all the comforts of home. You have all the comforts you can carry with you and you certainly are carrying too much. But you learn what is important and what you really need. New, more subtle pleasures replace what you left behind and you learn to appreciate smaller things. A nice three sided shelter in a beautiful spot and freeze dried Beef Stroganoff for dinner can seem like heaven after a long day.

The physical challenge is great, especially for us being older and for me being overweight and out of shape. It is not easy to have the will to pack up and go again each day. Some days it is very challenging but other days are rewarding. One of the axioms on the trail is to never make the decision to quit on a rainy day. But for me, the greatest reward was when I could see my capabilities grow - walk/climb farther, longer, faster - as I got stronger and lost weight.

Was it worth it? YES! Certainly the world is not a better place because we hiked the AT but maybe I am a better person? I am certainly a healthier person. Healthier by many measures including weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and endurance (at least for hiking and climbing). While I can't maintain this level of fitness (unless I continue hiking 15 - 20 miles a day), I should be much more active and remain much more fit than I was and keep much of the weight off. I will benefit from that the rest of my life and that is priceless.

Thank you to all those that followed our journal and posted here, especially Becky (and Bobby), Mary, and Gene but also Beth (who let us stay at her beach house while be prepared for the hike), Greg (who also let stay at his house), Lynn, Cullen (The Inner Marker), the Drive Thru-hikers, Joe from Iowa, Boxman, Drifter, Suzanne, Chris, Jean, Steve, and of course Aunt Esther who came to meet us at Mt. Katahdin.

Sun 14 Nov - VA 621 Craig Creek to Rt. 311 Catawba, VA

Our last day was a beautiful one for hiking. Mostly sunny and high 60s.

It was only 13.8 miles, up Cove Mountain and over Dragons Tooth. Dragons Tooth was very tough however - reminded us a little of Maine and New Hampshire. So in spite of the shorter distance, it was still dark by the time we reached the road. The days are short this time of year.

The hike was nice overall though. Some hand over hand climbing, knife edge, good vistas, and farm and pasture land. All on the last day. It was a good way to end.

I will do a final summary posting to wrap this up. After that, this journal is complete (although I am considering how to add information about our previous hikes in 2007 and 2008). Time to go back to the real world. It has been fun.

We made it!

We are back home and our AT hike is completed.

I will send an update tomorrow.

More pictures from McAfee Knob

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Sat 13 Nov - 630 Sinking Creek to 621 Craig Creek Valley

Cold mornings and evenings but warm during the day. Well below freezing this morning, mid 20s, but near 70 this afternoon.

We hiked 18 miles today including two 1500 foot climbs. My knee did OK - I wore the brace Boxman loaned me back in April. My legs and hips were not good but I made it. Hiked out in the dark again. Last time!

During todays hike, we crossed the Eastern Continental Divide (water goes to the Mississippi on the west side, to the Atlantic on the east), passed the Keffer Oak (second largest on AT), and the Audie Murphy monument. He was a WWII hero (single handed capture of a "large number" of German soldiers) followed by a career in Hollywood. Unfortunately he died in a plane crash near the monument.

We saw a young black bear at the end of our hike today.

Since April 02, we have hiked 1870 miles. Previously we had hiked 295 miles in Virginia. Tomorrow we will hike 13.8 miles completing the 2179 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

Fri 12 Nov - Va 613 Mtn. Lake to Va 630 Sinking Creek

Beautiful hiking today and hopefully it will continue through the weekend.  Clear, high in upper 60s, no breeze.

It is hunting season so we are now wearing blaze orange.

Hiked 14 miles today starting along a ridge top then a 2000+ foot decent to Johns Creek Valley.  Then another climb followed by a 1500 foot decent.  The decents were really bothering my left knee.  Tomorrow is supposed to be an 18 mile day - can't be slow. 

Met one SOBO today.  Nice guy.  He started June 22.  Probably won't finish until after Christmas.

Also met a group of three guys and one girl.  Supposedly they biked across US, are now hiking south to Springer, then will turn around and hike north to Katahdin.  Then they wiil bike back across US in the north.  So far, they are going very slow and carrying too much weight. 

Might be Monday before I can send another update.

Pictures from Tinker Cliffs (last Fri 05 Nov) .

Story is that Tinker Cliffs was named for Revolutionary War deserters who hid in the area and who repaired pots and pans (tinkers).

Fri 05 Nov - I81 Daleville to 311 Catawba

Cold and windy all day with sleet mixed with a little light rain andf snow flurries in the afternoon. High in the 40s but mostly in the 30s.

Spent the night at the HoJo in Daleville. This is where we ended our hike in June 2008 because of heat and draught. Ironic that if we had been able to continue then, our hike this year would have been completed in Pearisburg.

The HoJo is just off the trail so we hiked from our room up into the mountains and onto the ridge that took us by Hay rocks, over Tinker Cliffs, and finally, over McAfee Knob to 311 near Catawba. McAfee Knob is said to have the best views in Virginia from the AT. A picture of yourself on McAfee Knob is one of the iconic symbols of an AT thru-hike.

We hiked just over 20 miles - that will be the last time. The days are getting too short. It was dark by the time we got to the car and we had hiked almost 45 minutes using our headlamps.

The weather was tough too. It was cold most of the day and the wind chill made it worse. In the late afternoon, as we climbed toward McAfee Knob, it began to sleet. It lasted for 30+ minutes. At times it changed to snow or worse, cold rain. Fortunately it cleared for part of our time on top and we were able to get some nice pictures.

The hike itself was terrific. Hay Rocks has some interesting rock formations and Tinker Cliffs does as well but with some dramatic views. And McAfee Knob has a great view as you can see in the picture.

Next weekend we will go out for three or four days and we will be done (as in through hiking).

Mon 01 Nov - Home

Cool but pretty day.

Nice to be home.  I can sit on my sofa and see the mountains.  Starting to unpack (from Hong Kong) and set up house. 

We have about 65+/- miles to go.  Andi comes home this Saturday.  Our plan is to hike 20 miles this Friday from Daleville to Catawba.  The following weekend we will go out for 3 days and hike from 613 Mountain Lake to 311 at Catawba.   We will probably reclimb McAfee Knob as our final summit and take a few pictures.  And we will be done.