Day 11 Carter gap shelter 3/31/13 Easter Sunday

Miles hiked 12.5

We had an excellent Easter Sunday.  We had trail magic at the 22 annual Easter Sunday hiker feed. We had omelets and wonderful treats. It was a cool overcast day with drizzle off and on. We are staying with several hikers from the shelter last night. The weather is supposed to be better tomorrow.  Kaboose

Today was one of the esiest 12 mile days so far during the thru hike.  It was fun hiking today. More later. - sassafras

P.S. the Easter bunny made it to muskrat shelter

Day 10 muskrat creek shelter/ Georgia is done!

Miles hiked 11.8

We past our first state line today. Georgia is done and now we are in North Carolina.  The welcome in to North Carolina was tough. The first 3 Miles into North Carolina had the hardest climbs of our hike.

We hiked off and on with Blissful who thru hiked with her son in 2008 when he was 16. She will be ridge running in the Virginia,  we hope to see here there.

There are some very nice people at the shelter tonight.  Rain is predicted for tonight.

The hiking tomorrow should be less intense.  Kaboose

Today was the hardist day so far whrn we got into north carolina today. We hiked 11.8 miles today. It was fun hiking today in general. More to come. - sassafras

Day 9 zero hiawassee ga

We took a zero today at the budget inn/hiawassee ga. It does not look like much from the out side, but the room is clean, it has cable and wifi. We had a nice complimentary breakfast at the holiday inn express, dairy queen burgers for lunch and subway for supper. Before breakfast, we walked down to the  grocery store to do our resupply. We already have that task down pat. We also got some more alcohol for our stoves.  We will get a free shuttle ride 11.5 miles back to the trail from the motel in the morning. We will cross into north Carolina tomorrow, one state down, 13 to go.

We met Blissful today, who thru hiked the AT with her son in 2008. She wss very nice and supportive.  Kaboose

Today was relaxing. I had fun. We got all of our chores done today that we had to do. - sassafras

Day 8 Hiawassee Georgia

Miles hiked 9.8

Today was a great hiking day. It was cold getting out of camp, but it warmed up and we flew down the trail. The plan was to hike to the last camp spot before Hiawassee,  but the hiking was so nice because it was sunny and in the 40 's. After the last freezing days it felt great.  We hitched into Hiawassee and tried to get a room af the Budget inn were we have a reservation tomorrow,  but they were full. We ended up walking down to the holiday Inn express.  We soaked in the Jacuzzi, swam in the pool and are now eating pepperoni pizza. This is after having some great burgers at Hardees. This hiking can be tough.  Kaboose

Today was fun. We somehow missed the gap before the road so we went to town. We are having a zero tomorrow. More later. - sassafras

Day 7 steel gap stealth camping

Miles hiked 9.8

What a day.  We started the day at over 4000 ft, temperature of 15 degrees and winds over 40 miles and hour. Less than two hours later we were having trail magic of sausage biscuit sandwiches hot coffee a chocolate. We ended the stealth camping in a hollow that is getting the afternoon sun and it is just beautiful.  Kaboose

Today was fun. We got trail magic. The weather was warmer than the last few days. Having fun so far. -sassafras

Day 6 blue mountain shelter

Mile hiked 7.3

Today was our coldest day. The water in our bottles froze.  There was two inches of snow on the trail. We had a good hike, but there were wind gust of 45/50 miles an hour.

Tonight We are at blue mountain shelter at 4000ft. It is cold we have our tent set up in the shelter. This is usually bad manners,  but our tent takes up the same floor space as our two sleeping pads. No one at the shelter minded. We will really appreciate warmer weather.  Kaboose

Today was fun. We are taking small miles this week. Having fun! -sassafras

Day 4 neels gap/goose creek cabins

We took zero Today at goose creek cabins. We could only stay 1 night at mountain crossing. That was okay my me because this staff stayed up till 1 am play music and partying.

we are at goose creek cabins. We have electricity hot water and heat. We spend the day relaxing, eating, and listened to our music. We went through our gear and dried it out.

Our plan is to hike 4 days and get to just out side hiawassee ga and take a nero (a short hike in to town and spend the day there.

The weather has been cold and rainy,  but we know "no rain no pain no maine" kaboose.

Today was just all relaxing. I had fun for my first zero day. Two-thirds more days of cold and rainy weather. - Sassafras

Day 5 low gap shelter

Miles hiked 11.5

We had a good days hike. We hiked out of neals gap to low gap shelter.  There were a few good climbs. It was cold in the 20's with wind gusts of 45 miles an hour. We feel good and are going to keep the miles below10 for the next few days to make sure we really have our trail legs before pushing it. Kaboose

I had a good day.  We met a girl scout group from Miami Florida.  They had hiked for two days in very bad weather.  They were going home early. It was a good idea the weather was bad and some of them were sick. I told them I was a girl scout and about my hike for hunger.we gave them our blog info and I hope they follow our hike

Day 3 neals gap

Miles hiked 11.9

It was a long wet and cold day, but sassafras was still in a great mood.  We hiked over blood mountain.  The mountain was in a cloud with no view.

We are now at mountain crossings hostel, run by our friend pirate. We also met Baltimore jack, and he was very nice to sassafras. We also met lumpy who gave us a ride back to amacola last year.

We did our resupply for the next 4 days. They had a very nice selection,  and it was less expensive than mailing the same things here.

It is suppose to be very bad weather tomorrow,  so we will take a zero at a cabin tomorrow.

Today was a good day to hike in the fog. It was fun just to stay at the hostile today for little than half the day. - sassafras

Below are pictures of sassafras and Baltimore jack and sassafras and pirate. Both trail legends.

Day two woodys gap

We hiked 12.9 miles today. It was cool and cloudy. We had ice oin our water bottles this morning.  We feel good and sassafras talked all day. It is nice to hear what she is thinking.  We are in good spirits.  We are looking forward to getting to neals gap and have some town food, a bunk, take a shower and do some laundry.  We are in good spirits,  physical t we feel well, it looks like a stretch of cold rainy weather coming up.  This will be our first big test. Kaboose

Today was fun. The weather was greaf for this season. We hiked 12.9miles today longest day so far. We got trail magic middle of the hike today. - sassafras

Day one hawk mountain shelter.

Miles hiked: 8.1 mile (plus 0.9 up to spinger.

Today was great,  all is well. My legs felt good and sassafras did not kill me on the uphills.

We are hiking with z-man from Austin Texas and a group from white blaze (hikerboy and his crew.

It is cold even for us maniacs. It is windy and will be in the low 20's tonight and may snow tomorrow.  Our gear is working well. Kaboose

Today was great but it was cold today when the wind came. It was fun hiking this part of the section -sassafras

We are at the hiker hostel in Dahlonega Georgia

What we did today.
315am plow snow in maine
430am drive to Boston
1015am fly to Atlanta
130pm train ride
300pm van ride to walmart/subway/hostel.

We met hikers from Australia, texas, California and Minnesota.
We feel great and ready to get started.
Everyone at the hostel are great.  Kaboose

Today was great we did a lot of traveling but it was still fun to do. The plane was the most fun. -Sassafras

We fly out tomorrow.

We just got the call from Leigh from the hiker hostel to confirm our pick up at 3pm tomorrow.  We are packed and ready to get started.

Joyce is anxious, she knows that my leg that was crushed in a motorcycle accident has been bothering me. I think it will be ok with two days rest and some ibuprofen and Tylenol.

Sassafras is doing her part by resting on the couch.

We will. Post an update tomorrow.  - kaboose.

I can not wait to start the Appalachian Trail in i am so excited you will hear from us tomorrow when we go to Georgia. -Sassafras

Donate to Sassafra's Hike for Hunger

It's hard to believe we are leaving on our adventure in only 9 days. Several people have asked us what we would like them to do if they make a donation to their local food pantry in supports of Sassafras's Hike for Hunger.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO DONATE TO YOUR LOCAL FOOD PANTRY IN SUPPORT OF SASSAFRAS'S HIKE FOR HUNGER PLEASE POST HOW MANY POUNDS YOU DONATED ON THE SASSAFRAS AND KABOOSE A.T. ADVENTURE FACEBOOK PAGE:facebook- Sassafras and Kaboose A.T. Adventure

Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated!

Good bye party

They had a goodbye party for me at work today . I worked with some of these people for almost fourteenth years.  It was bitter sweet,  I enjoyed working with them, but the pressures of management were a lot. I received many generous gifts. Their generosity was humbleing. I will be looking forward to working with all of them as a staff nurse in six months or so.

I am using my fancy phone to type this, doing this daily will need some getting use to. I tried the voice recognition option, but I guess I mumble too much for it.