Wayah Gap

When I got up this morning, I repacked my and Forest's backpacks. I was able to send 2.2 pounds of my gear home, which helped to make up for the increased weight in Forest's food. By the time the shuttle got us back to the Trail near Winding Stair Gap, it was about noon. Although he doesn't really look it in the picture below, Forest was really excited to be back. So excited that we hiked 8 miles in 3.5 hours! His tail was wagging the entire time. I think getting him back on his regular food has energized him; plus, we were both better rested, and I think we are both getting our trail legs.

We completed about 8.5 miles and stopped for the day at Wayah Gap (my maps are in my bear bag, which is hanging in a tree, so I don't have the exact measurement). It's windy, but we are sheltered somewhat where we are camped. It's like a mini tent city here, as we are in what is called "the Bubble." The number of people on the Trail is essentially a traveling bell curve that gets smaller and smaller until it stabilizes at the 300-mile mark. The Bubble is the middle, most-populated part of the bell curve.

We should be in Wesser, NC, at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in about 3 days, but I've decided to push straight through to Fontana Dam before my next stop. I have supplies packed for 7 days. There's a chance of rain almost every day for the next week, but highs are supposed to be in the 40s and 50s at least through Tuesday. Rain is okay at those temperatures. The only times when it's a little chilly is when we pack up in the morning and when we stop and make camp at night.

Trail Philosophy

I don't know if any of you know that I hiked 1,200 miles of the Trail previously. I learned a lot during both that experience and other hikes completed over the years. I know to ignore my thoughts and feelings for the first 300 miles. People who don't, usually end up quitting.

You can't turn off the emotional/overthinking part of your brain completely, but you can put it in its place in the back of your mind. The Trail has to break you down, and then build you back up (remind anyone of boot camp?). Early on, you are not clear-headed yet. You have to just keep pushing through and stay focused on each individual task at hand and being in that moment. You fine-tune your hiking system for more efficient and effective workflow. You focus on staying warm and on staying dry.

At camp I see hikers with strained looks. I hear them talk about physical pains, seeming to hope that someone will give them permission to quit and save face. A lot of people are quitting. A lot. And a lot more are going to quit farther up the trail. Somewhere between 70% and 80% quit every year. Currently, there are about 1,000 people on the trail. That means that as many as 8 out of 10 at camp won't make it. Quitting is contagious, and those who think about quitting cling to the stronger hikers. Sometimes, they drag them down with them as they drain them with questions or keep them from setting their own pace. This is why I stay to myself now. For a while longer, I stay in a zone to myself and Forest.

I also hear lots of people talking about blogging or keeping a diary. Almost all of them say they want to and intended to, but they can't find the time or the energy. For 300 miles, they fall asleep on a blank page of their diary or journal, with a pen in their hand. They haven't learned the 300-mile rule.

You may have noticed that the blog up to this point is mainly factual. After I reach 300 miles, I'll have developed a rhythm. At that point I'll begin thinking things worthy of sharing with you. I'll get better at that and, hopefully, you'll have more and better material to read and more interesting photographs.

Back on the trail tomorrow to earn those 300 miles. 'Night all.

Good News, Bad News

Whew, today has been one of those days where you don't know whether to go back to bed and start over, or forge ahead. It started off well, with my friends and family wishing me a happy birthday. (Yeah, I still have those; thanks, everyone!) Forest and I went for our morning walk to get coffee, and then we settled in waiting for his food to arrive via overnight delivery. That's the good news; it arrived, and he absolutely gobbled it up. All that I thought was left to do was repack our gear to redistribute the weight, since his kibble weighs more than the dehydrated food he rejected. Thankfully, I began to get back in hiker mode.

At about noon, my wife called and told me that my stepdaughter had been in an accident and they were in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. This incredible woman wanted me to stay here and get back on the Trail. I could tell how upset she was and didn't really know how bad it was, so instead I called family and arranged for them to come get me tonight. I began packing everything in anticipation of the 4-hour drive home and about a 2-week stay, and began to get my head transitioned from hike to home.

Then, at about 3:30, I got a call saying that my stepdaughter was being released from the hospital to go home. She's banged up and has a concussion, but all in all she's going to be fine with time. Sadly, her car was totaled, but hey, we're just so lucky that she walked away from it. My marching orders from my wife were to stay put and get back on the Trail. So, I called my family, cancelled the ride and began getting my head back into hike mode.

With all of the craziness today, I didn't get everything done here that I need to do before I head back to the Trail. So, one more zero day here. On Thursday, barring any more emergencies, Forest and I will set off for the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) in Wesser, NC. It should be a 3-day hike. I'll trigger a SPOT alert when we get to the beginning of the trail Thursday.

Thanks for sticking with me through all of the ups and downs, everyone!

Just a Temporary Setback

All of you with pets know how awful it is when your dog or cat is just not acting right. Like babies, they can't tell you what's wrong, if something hurts, or if they are just tired. When you have a service dog, that's magnified even more. Forest is my dog, but he is so much more. He is my partner, my friend, my protector. I've got his six, and he's got mine in return.

When I began this journey, I promised that we would continue as long as Forest was happy and healthy. This morning when we got up he still didn't want to eat (third meal in a row). I was more than 4,000-feet up...in blizzard conditions...with no cell service. The service dog partner in me didn't have to fight long with the thru-hiker in me. I made the decision to, for now, leave the trail and make sure Forest is ok before I resume our hike. I had two choices: forge ahead knowing that Franklin, NC, was 30 miles out, or backtrack down to Dick's Creek Gap and get a ride. I decided backtracking was the safest option and began the 4-mile trek to the road. As soon as I had a cell signal, I contacted my wife to let her know what had happened and where and when I would get to the road, and she went to work making transportation arrangements.

Here's a huge shout-out to Ron Haven Hiker Services. Ron arranged a shuttle to pick up Forest and me at the bottom of the trail at Dick's Creek Gap and take us to the Budget Inn (which he owns) in Hiawassee. When I got there, Ron himself was waiting for me; he had driven down from his Baltimore Jack's Place hostel in Franklin just to pick us up and take us back with him.  His one goal was to get Forest to a safe, warm place where we could assess whether he needed to see a vet. Great guy...can't thank him enough.  http://www.baltimorejacksplace.com; http://ronhavenhikerservices.com; https://www.facebook.com/groups/654947537906052/

Forest is drinking water, peeing, pooping and behaving normally, other than not wanting to eat the dehydrated food I switched him to for the hike; it seems like it just isn't sitting right with him. I am getting a bag of his regular food. If he eats that (either mixed with the dehydrated food or by itself) and continues to pee and poop normally, case solved and I will just figure out how to handle the extra weight. If he won't eat it, we may be facing a trip to a local vet to get him checked out. Think good thoughts, everyone!

Zero Day at Plumorchard Gap

Posted by Admin:

The SPOT alert for today indicated the same location as yesterday (Plumorchard Gap), so Fisher and Forest passed a zero day waiting for the weather to improve. Topographical and satellite maps give us a good indication of their progress along the trail, but the elevation maps really drive home the challenges of this terrain. They won't get back in cell reception until they are able to get on the move again.

And WOW, the blog has had over 1,000 page views as of today! Thank you so much for following; it means the world to Fisher that folks are cheering him on!