Info and updates on the 2013/2014/2015 Northbound Hike of the Appalachian Trail of a father and daughter from Maine.
Miles hiked 17.5
Total miles 434
We had a good hike today. There were some good climbs. I am looking forward to flatter terrain tomorrow. Kaboose
Today was fun. We hiked 17 miles. We hiked mostly uphill tomorrow is going to be flatter. The weather is going to better.
Sassafras
Miles hiked 6
Total miles 416
We took a nero at Bob Peoples Kincora hostel. It was an amazing day. Bob was the nices guy and they even open up the one grocery store in town for us even though it is closed on Sunday's. The other hikers are great. Kaboose
Today was fun. We hiked a nero into town. We are in a hostel. Damascus is two days away or three. It was relaxing to just relaxe today. Sassafras
Miles hiked 17.4
Total miles 410.5
We passed the 400 mile mark today. It was cold and rainy. We are dry in the shelter tonight. We did not seeca lot of other hikers today, but enjoyed the company of those we met at the shelter tonight. We hope for Nero at a hostel tomorrow. Kaboose
Today was fun. We hiked 17.4 miles. We hiked over 400 miles I total for the trip. 6 miles to hike tomorrow too the hostil. Sassafras
Miles hiked 18.3
Total miles 393.1
We had another great day. We did two big climbs over little and big hump and finally finished north Carolina. Two states down and we will be out of Tennessee a d in Virginia in just a few day.
We hiked about 16 miles to us 19 and hitched into the town of roan mountain for resupply and supper. A couple who are thru hiking but taking a few days off visiting family turned around and gave us a ride into town. We then got two days of food at the little grocery store in town. The peaple at the store were very nice. We then went across the street to bob's dairy land and barbeque. I had a barbeque pork sandwich with coleslaw on top and it was great. Sassafras had a cheeseburger, also very delicious. We then went out side to try to hitch a ride back to the trail and an older gentleman who was in the restaurant witg his wife came out and told us they would give us a ride to the trail az soon as they were done eating. Sassafras and I had some ice cream and we got a ride back to the trail. They were a very nice couple. The husband asked if we minded if he ran into the dollar general, we said of course not, but his wife made him drive us to the trail first. They even picked up two other thru hikers we knew and drove them back to town. I hope the gentleman makes it to the dollar general. Kaboose
Today was fun. We had town food today for dinner and disert. We hiked 18 miles today the weather is good. We mostly hiked downhill. Four more days to Damascus. Sassafras
Miles hiked 16.8
Total miles 375.3
We had a big climb today. It was up hill most of the day. The last part of the day was a 2212 foot climb to the top of roan mountain at 6212 feet. We are staying the night at roan high knob shelter, at 6194 feet it is the highest shelter on the AT. I have to thank buckeye kornelious for finding my fleece I dropped at the bottom of roan mountain and carrying it all the way up the mountain and to the shelter for my. That is real trail magic. Kaboose
Today was fun We hiked 17 miles. The trail was good. The last uphill was fun. We are at the highest shelter on the AT. Sassafras
4/24/13
Miles hiked 17.5
Total miles 359
We had our strongest day of hiking yet, 17.5 miles all most all up hill and even with breaks and lunch averaged 2.4 miles an hour. Sassafras is a hiking machine. The hike today was so challenging many people at the hostel slack packed the section south bound today. The best part is we made it to the shelter 20 minutes before the rain started. Kaboose
Today was fun. With hiked really fast we mostly went uphill too. The trail was good. We hiked in a part that looked like maine too. Sassafras
Miles hiked 5.8
Total miles 341.5
We took a nero in erwin at uncle jonnys hostel. We read and sat in the sun this afternoon and took the shuttle to town this evening for resupply and the KFC all you can eat buffet. We have to do laundry this evening and hike out early in the morning. We hope to be in Damascus va in about a week. Kaboose
Today was fun. We mostly relaxed today. We hiked 5.8 miles into town. I got new books for my kindle. It was mostly downhill when we hiked. Sassafras
Miles hiked 16.6
Total miles 335.7
Today was beautiful. We hiked over a bald that had the best 365 degree view. It was a long day and we are ready for a nero in erwin tn tomorrow. I did not mention yesterday that we met another father daughter thu hiking team. Their trail names are gee ansd floater. Gee is 19 and floatled is 57 and they are from new york. Kaboose
Today was 17 miles. The views were great today. We hiked along sides of mountains mostly today. I had fun hiking more in the afternoon. Sassafras
4/21/13
Miles hiked 17.1
Total miles 319.1
Today was a good day. The weather was nice, it was cool and sunny. The perfect hiking weather. We saw some history today. We passed the grave site off to Union soldiers who were killed by Confederate gorillas when they tried to go home to see their family. We also passed an old home site in the mountains of a couple who were born in the 1880s and died in the 1960s. They lived in a log cabin home and had log out buildings. They live by a beautiful waterfall. But it's hard to believe that their life was not very hard.
Today is also our one month trail anniversary. And I think we are hitting our stride. We are looking forward to taking a Nero Tuesday in Erwin TN. Kaboose
Today was fun. We hiked 17 miles today. The weather was perfect today for hiking. Today was mostly uphill but I still had fun. Sassafras
4/20/13
Miles hiked 17.1
Total miles 302
We passed the 300 mile mark today. It was very cold this morning and our wet clothes from yesterday were frozen. It warmed up and we had a good day of hiking. We spent last night with a woman from maine named scout. She is very nice to sassafras. I think we finally have our frail legs, we even hiked two more miles after we had supper. Kaboose
Today was fun. We hiked around 17 miles. The hiking today was steep at times going uphill. The weather was good. We hiked a rock scramble before we had lunch. Then we hiked 2 more more miles after that. Sassafras
4/19/13
Miles hiked 11
Total miles 284.9
We hiked out os hot springs this morning. It called for thunderstorms. It spinkled until our last hour and a half when it started raining hard and it got cold. We are now dry and warm in a packed shelter. We at a hot meal and I am listening to my radio and sassafras is reading book three of Harry potter on her kindle. Kaboose
Today was fun. We hiked small miles today to get away from the rain and hypothermia weather today. I read to keep busy today. Sassafras
4/18/13
Miles hiked zero
We had a nice day in hot springs. We had a nice breakfast, resupplied, did laundry and got some super feet insoles (I think thy will be a good addition to our gear). We spent the rest of the day relxing, sassafras read the whole first harry potter on her new kindle. The kindle was a good buy. We made spaghetti at the hostel, sassafras was happy. We hike out tomorrow. It looks like rain and chance of thunderstorms. But as the old saying goes, no rain no pain no Maine. Kaboose
Today was fun we took a zero today. I mostly read today though on my kindle. Ready to hike tomorrow having fun. More to come. Sassafras
Miles hiked 15.9
Total miles 273.9
We had a good hike into Hot Springs today. We are staying at the hostel at laughing heart lodge, we couldn't get into elmers sunnybank in were our mail drop and sassafras' s new kindle were, but we really like this hostel. The hostel is run by Chuck Norris and tigger so it has to be great. Kaboose
Today was fun I ran down the mountain. The trail was easy. Today was mostly uphill. More to come. Sassafras
4/16/13
Miles hiked 17.2
Total miles 258
We had a great day. Good. Climb up Snowbird Mountain and saw the FAA tower on the summit. We had great views from Max
Patch. We also had trail magic twice, hotdogs and soda then donuts on max patch. Kaboose
We had trail magic two times today. We had hotdogs, sodas, and doughnuts.the first part of today was mostly uphill, the second part was downhill. I had fun hiking today. The weather was mostly hot though. More to come. Sassafras
4/13/13
Miles hiked 20
Total miles 237.2
Sassafras decided we should celebrate my 50th birthday by doing our first 20 mile day of this thru hike. We had a great hike and a great day. I am very grateful for this day Sassafras and my wife who is supporting this trip. We plan a nero at stading bear hostel tomorrow. Kaboose
Today was fun. It was papas b-day today. We had fun hiking today for our first 20 miler of our trip. We had great trail today. The weather was great today and the trail was mostly up hill. - sassafras
Miles hiked 3.6
Total miles 240.8
We had a. Nice relaxing day at standing bear hostel. We washed our clothes in an old fashioned wash tub and hand ringer, Sassafras thought it was fun. The weather was hot, nice to relax in but I hope it cools off. We will be in Hot Springs Thursday morning. Kaboose
Today was relaxing I mostly read all day though. Standing Bear Hostel is very beautiful. Some of the trees are budding in three days we will go to Hot Springs can't wait.- Sassafras
4/13/13
Miles hiked 14.9
Total Miles 217.2
Today was a great day, the weather was beautiful. I think the northern part of the Smokies are my favorite, breathtaking views and lots of ridge walking. We have been hiking with some of the Vets doing the Warrior hike. They are very nice guys (and gals). Kaboose
Today was fun it seemed easy for a fifteen mile day. We saw tons of great views on the ridges. We got trail magic today we got soda. - Sassafras
4/12/13
Miles hiked 13.5
Total miles 202.3
We hit the 200 mile mark today, we also went over the tallest mountain on the at, Clingmans dome at 6655 feet in elevation. After thunder storms last night today was beautiful. I felt the strongest today of the whole trip. Kaboose
Today we hiked the biggest climb on the AT. I had fun hiking today. We saw two deer today. The trail was good. More to come.- Sassafras
4/11/13
Miles hiked 12
Total miles 188.8
We had an early day. There was thunder storms predicted and we are above 5000 ft. We did our 12 miles and spent the afternoon hanging out at the shelter. There was a nice group of hikers and a ridge runner. We had a nice fire in the fire place waiting for the storm to come. Kaboose
Today was fun for our second day in the smokies. The weather was great not too hot or cold. More to come - sassafras
Miles hiked 12.2
Total miles 176.8
Our first day in the smokies was memorable. Fontana dam was cool. We had a hard hike today it ws in the high 70's and we had s big climb with the heaviest packs of the trip with 5 1/2 days of food. It was the first day water was scarce and we had to carry 2 liters of water. Sassafras had a good time tonight talking with all the other thru hikers here tonight. Kaboose
Today was fun.It was a good hike going up the big hill. Wd hiked 11 miles today. Our pack was heavy today. Finally I got another sunburn on my arm so both of my arms have sun burns now but still having a good time overall. More to come. - sassafras
4/9/13
Miles hiked zero
We took a zero today. We still were a little under the weather. We will start the Smokies tomorrow.
I am sick of junk/fast food. I am craving fruit and home cooked pasta. Who would have guessed that. Kaboose
Today we mostly relaxed. Today was fun. We had a zero day Today. I met another young girl thru hiking. - sassafras
4/8/13
Miles hiked 5.4.
Total miles 164.6
We took a NERO at Fontana village. We will start the smokies tomorrow. We stayed at the Fontana Lodge. The lodge was very nice. Kaboose
The view of the smokies is beautiful from our room. Today was fun to hike it was mostly down hill. Most of our hkingike in the smokies will be good weather. - sassafras
4/7/13
Miles hiked 11.6
Total miles 159.2
We had good weather today it was sunny and not as hot. There was one big climb today "Jacobs ladder", it was steep but lot that long. There is some kind of bug or flu going up and down the trail, I think we have a touch of it. We both just don't feel 100 percent. Sassafras is still tearing up the trail. I hope we feel better in two days when we enter GSMNP. kaboose.
Today was easier than yesterday. It was fun just hiking hills today. We ended downhill today. It is relaxing hiking today. -sassafras
4/6/13
Miles hiked 10.3
Total miles 147.6
We were told the climb out of the NOC was going to be our toughest one so far and they were right. 8 miles up to over 5000 feet from a starting elevation of 1700. We are tired tonight resting in the tent. We prayed for warmer weather and we got it, sunny and in the high 60's. The temperatures combined with little foliage on the trees made for a hot day. Remember yesterday we started hiking and it was below freezing and the end of an ice storm. Tomorrow should be a little less challenging. We are still having fun. Kaboose
Today was a hard 10.3 miles because it was mostly all up hill. It was hot. We had a nice breakfast at the NOC before we started the days hike. More to come Sassafras
4/5/15
Miles hiked 11.7
Total miles hiked 137.3
What a difference a day makes. We started out this morning hiking in the aftermath of an ice storm. We had on all the dry cloths we had and our wet rain gear. The trail looked like an ice machine exploded. There were blow downs everywere. It was smart for us tto stop early yesterday. We talked with a lot of hikeres who got off the trail yesterday due to the weather. By the end of the day Sassafras was running down the trail in shorts and a t shirt.
Tonight we are in a two bunk cabin at the NOC. We also had a late lunch and supper at the restaurant here. The food was very good and reasonably priced. We plan on having breakfast there in the morning. Sometimes thru hiking can be tough. We have a big climb out of here in the morning, but the weather is going to be good and that makes a big difference. Kaboose
Today was mostly relaxing. We had a great lunch and dinner at the NOC restaurant. The weather is going to get better and that makes me very happy. I tried out a hammock today at the outfitter. I want to get one, is was very comfortable. More to come. Sassafras
4/4/13
Miles hiked 4.8
Today was a tough day. We woke up to freezing rain. It was hard work just packing up the tent. By the time we got to the first shelter I was concerned about hypothermia. We were wet the trail ahead was challenging. Sassafras was ready to hike on, but I decided to take a short day and be safe. There was room for us at this shelter and I was not prepared to hike on and have to set up and sleep in our wet tent in the freezing rain. I knew there were many hikers in front of us wanting to get to the next shelter.
My wife reserved a room at the NOC tomorrow. We will hike. The 12 miles and stay the night dry out and eat some good food. We have been going a little slower but we have a lot of time. Sassafras is ready to hike 18-20 miles a day. I need another week or two before we can pick it up. I fine on the flats, gradual uphills and the downs, but she is smoking me on the long steep climbs.
We are having a good time and I know we will make it home. Kaboose
We took a nero on the trail. It was cold but I still had fun. Sassafras
4/3/13
Miles hiked 11.0
We had a southern breakfast today in Franklin before being driven to the trail head by Ron Haven. He sure is a hard worker and can tell a story az well. The trail was mostly uphill, but not too steap, and thd weather was not bad, temperatures in the low 50's and overcast. This being said Sassafras and I both thought it was our toughest day at least mentally. We both felt a little under the weather and have not been sleeping well. Sassafras said she knew we would have hard days but we needed to hike on. I am so proud of her. We ended the day with beautiful veiws from the stone tower at Wayah bald. We got a look at Clingmans dome the highest peak on the AT. We will be there in several days. Kaboose
Today was funner when we got to the shelter. More to come. - Sassafras
4/2/13
Miles hiked 3.8
We took a nero (short mile hiking day and staying in town.
We were up at 630am and on the trail at 7am. We were witness to our first sun rise hike of the trip, it was gorgeous. We had the pleasure of being shuttled around by Ron Haven and stayed at one of his motels (he is very well known on the AT, and has a big presence in Franklin. We did our resupply at walmart and are eating pizza. Kaboose
Today was fun we mostly did relaxing today though. We went to walmart for the first time this trip so far. More to come. - sassafras
4/1/13
Miles hiked 12.1
Today was a great day of hiking. The weather was nice, temperatures in the low 50's and a few clouds. We had excellent views form Mount Albert and the fire tower. Tonight we are watching the first fire we have had this trip due to the weather. Kaboose
Today only had one big climb wich was albertv mountain. It was fun tohike today too. More to come. - sassafras
