Hitting the Trail

When I was a younger man, I did a lot of hiking and backpacking. As a Boy Scout, we went often on the Appalachian Trail, something I loved and have talked of the rest of my life (so Far). When Patrick and Caroline were both young, we still got out and did a lot of hiking, but mostly day or afternoon hikes.

I once ached to hike the entire trail. I would still like to do that, but now think more of doing it in small sections and not all at once. Of course, Granny Gatewood first did a through hike of the trail when she was 67 years old. She then through hiked it two more times. Who knows what the future may hold.

For years, I have talked of getting back to my backpacking days. Patrick and I talked of it often when he was a teenager and planned to go together. The thing is when you want to reach a goal, you need to make that goal real and you need to write it down. We did not do that. Recently, I have been talking to Vincent about getting out and hiking and backpacking. Last year, we planned to do more. We did less. This year I have talked to both Vincent and Patrick. Time to write it down and make it real. I have written it in my notebook, I have told, Vincent, Patrick, and Shelley. Now I will put it here for anyone to see. Then I must start planning dates to hike and get them on my calendar. Maybe I will even get Buck (David) to go on some of these. He has gone on a few hikes with me over the years, and others on his own.

I have hiked all of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia except the section between Coopers Gap in Suches and Springer Mountain, the southern Terminus of the trail. I have also hiked about 30 miles in North Carolina. Our goal is to hike all of the AT in Georgia between now and June. We will start with shorter hikes and day hikes, then move to the overnighters. It has been a while and I know I need a new sleeping pad, as I am not as good on hard ground as I once was.

Shelley hiked a lot in the Rockies and has said she would like to hike with us as well. However, I know that she will only make the day hikes in the winter, then only if it is warm enough for her (which is pretty warm). Same thing with Caroline.

Since my stroke this summer, there have been small changes in my ways of doing things. Shelley says that I get something on my mind and forget everything else. I have always tended to do that, but maybe I have gotten a little worse. It is hard for me to tell. Right now, I am thinking of hiking, in case you haven't noticed.

The last 2 weeks, I have increasingly kept up my walking each day. At home, I hike to the top of the subdivision, or past that on toward the top of the mountain behind it. It isn't far, but it is a tough hike. The first part is a gradual uphill climb. About 1/4 mile up, the grade goes to about 30 or 35% and the hard part hits. Near the top it gets back to a more gradual uphill. By the time I make the round trip, I have had a good workout. Lately I have started to wear my daypack to increase my workout. Soon, I will change to my backpack. And I will likely wear my backpack, loaded, when I go on day hikes to prepare for my overnights. The days I work, I have a morning and afternoon break. At those times I take a walk of about 1 to 1.25 miles and do it in approximately 15 minutes. Those are speed days, the others are work days.

This afternoon's walk reminded me of something I don't always think about. Each season in the woods has its own special feel about it. There are certain sounds and smells that come with each time of year. I don't always think of them, but I certainly remember them when I get out in the woods during that time of year. It is a very familiar thing.

The easiest to tell about is the winter. There is a real quietness to the woods when there is a blanket of snow on the ground. and even when it is just snowing. The smell is fresh usually. If it is a warm winter day, there will be smell of mildew and decayed leaves. Early and mid fall has a real dry leaf crunch and swoosh when you walk through. Plus a smell of dust from the falling leaves. Late fall, has a quieter swoosh and the smell of decaying leaves, along with some hint of mildew from leaves that have been wet. Spring and summer has similar sounds, but with different smells depending on what is budding and blooming at the time. The other thing you might pick up is the smell of certain animals that are in the area, esp. skunks or even bears.

For me there are a few places and things I do that refresh my spirit. One of those is performing music, one has been driving, and the one I have done the longest and always works is getting out in the woods. That can be hiking, backpacking, picnicking, canoing or just sitting. I love being outdoors.

I used to canoe a lot also, and hope to get another canoe before this summer. Then we can add those trips to the hiking trips. I'll update here as we make progress. Whatever makes you happy, I hope you are able to do as much as possible.

I walk to lose weight; I walk to keep my sugar level low; and I walk because I like to walk. Maybe I should go walkabout.

See you down the road, or trail.

Nelson H Thomas