Brett called and said he expected to be in Damascus on Sunday, where he would spend a zero day.
His feet are feeling better, especially the blister on his left foot. However, the tops of the toes on his right foot were forming a blister where the leather of his new shoes is crimping in against his toes. He is going to try to reshape the shoe or figure something out to stop it from rubbing.
He is hoping for and looking forward to a visit from his Mom and Dad sometime in Virginia.
Showing posts with label TN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TN. Show all posts
Friday, April 13, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
North Carolina / Tennessee Timeline (2/27/12 - 4/7/12)
Feb. 27 (Mon.) - Crossed the GA/NC border [78.5 mi.].
Camped in Bly Gap (NC) [78.6 mi.].
Mar. 1 (Thu.) - Hitched a ride into Franklin (NC) and back to the trail the same night [109.8 mi.].
Mar. 13 (Tue.) - Finished hiking through Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NC/TN) [238.1 mi.].
Mar. 13 (Tue.) - Hiked 18 miles and stayed at Standing Bear Farm bunkhouse (TN) [240.8 mi.]
Mar. 17 (Sat.) - Stayed at Elmers Sunnybank Inn (old Victorian home) in Hot Springs (NC) [273.9 mi.].
Mar. 18 (Sun.) - Picked up in Hot Springs (NC) to meet up with the family for Spring Break [273.9 mi.].
Mar. 24 (Sat.) - Started back on the trail in Hot Springs (NC) after a week of Zero's with the family in Gatlinburg (TN) [274.3 mi.].
Mar. 29 (Thu.) - Stayed in hostel (Uncle Johnny's?) in Erwin (TN) [341.5 mi.].
Apr. 1 (Sun.) - Stayed at Overmountain Shelter (TN) [382.7 mi.].
Apr. 2 (Mon.) - Hiked about 8 miles and stayed at Mountain Harbour B&B/Hostel in Roan Mountain (TN) [391.9 mi.].
Apr. 7 (Sat.) - Crossed TN/VA border [463.2 mi.].
Camped in Bly Gap (NC) [78.6 mi.].
Mar. 1 (Thu.) - Hitched a ride into Franklin (NC) and back to the trail the same night [109.8 mi.].
Mar. 13 (Tue.) - Finished hiking through Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NC/TN) [238.1 mi.].
Mar. 13 (Tue.) - Hiked 18 miles and stayed at Standing Bear Farm bunkhouse (TN) [240.8 mi.]
Mar. 17 (Sat.) - Stayed at Elmers Sunnybank Inn (old Victorian home) in Hot Springs (NC) [273.9 mi.].
Mar. 18 (Sun.) - Picked up in Hot Springs (NC) to meet up with the family for Spring Break [273.9 mi.].
Mar. 24 (Sat.) - Started back on the trail in Hot Springs (NC) after a week of Zero's with the family in Gatlinburg (TN) [274.3 mi.].
Mar. 29 (Thu.) - Stayed in hostel (Uncle Johnny's?) in Erwin (TN) [341.5 mi.].
Apr. 1 (Sun.) - Stayed at Overmountain Shelter (TN) [382.7 mi.].
Apr. 2 (Mon.) - Hiked about 8 miles and stayed at Mountain Harbour B&B/Hostel in Roan Mountain (TN) [391.9 mi.].
Apr. 7 (Sat.) - Crossed TN/VA border [463.2 mi.].
(Thu. 4/5/12) near Laurel Falls, TN - Phone Update From Brett
Brett has not had much cell phone service at all this week. He finally got a call in to me this morning to confirm the package that he needed me to ship today to send to Damascus, VA. Brett said they are about a day ahead of what he expected. They will probably take one "zero" day there, but he doesn't want to be waiting around longer for a package.
This is a fairly important package for Brett. It signifies a switch from some winter to summer gear. Brett and Ed will both be switching out their winter sleeping bags for lighter and cooler summer bags. I sent Brett his lighter down pullover jacket. He is also going to start using his converted aluminum beer bottle alcohol stove (a very nifty stove Brett discovered online and made prior to leaving).
Brett didn't ask for much in the way of food except a couple of Mountain House dehydrated meals (lasagna and BBQ beef). I also sent him a bag with some candy for Easter and a homemade card from me and the boys.
This is a fairly important package for Brett. It signifies a switch from some winter to summer gear. Brett and Ed will both be switching out their winter sleeping bags for lighter and cooler summer bags. I sent Brett his lighter down pullover jacket. He is also going to start using his converted aluminum beer bottle alcohol stove (a very nifty stove Brett discovered online and made prior to leaving).
Brett didn't ask for much in the way of food except a couple of Mountain House dehydrated meals (lasagna and BBQ beef). I also sent him a bag with some candy for Easter and a homemade card from me and the boys.
(Mon. 4/2/12) Roan Mountain, TN - Phone Update From Brett
Brett just got into Roan Mountain, TN, this morning after hiking 8 miles. They stayed at Overmountain Shelter last night, an old hay barn that has been converted to a shelter. Brett said it is huge and really neat.
They left the shelter this morning and had some of the worst weather so far. They were hiking in the pouring rain with 40mph winds. At some points they were essentially walking sideways down the trail to compensate for the wind. Brett said it was really tough.
What makes it sad is they were hiking from one high bald to another. They would have enjoyed some great views, had it not been for the nasty weather. ["bald", n. - (Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.) a treeless mountaintop or area near the top.]
Brett picked up his package in Roan Mountain, sent the "old" shoes home, and put the new shoes on his feet. They feel better than the old pair. He thinks his feet have grown (or swelled) some. His left foot has a big blister on his heel; his right foot has a blister between his big toe and the next toe over; and he has blisters on the tips of his toes from the Crocs. He wasn't able to get mole skin or anything else to stick to help with the blisters. Hopefully, he will adjust to the new shoes and recover from the old ones quickly.
The weather was bad, but not miserable. It helped having town to look forward to, knowing that he would be able to dry out later in the day and escape the wet.
He took an ibuprofin in the morning to help with a headache he woke up with. Aside from that, he hasn't had to take any "vitamin I" to alleviate hiking pains and sore muscles.
Spring has almost fully sprung in the mountains. The trees are still bare, but flowers are blooming and the grass is green. They have seen a lot of mountain salamanders. Brett said they look cool. They are orange and almost look like a fruit chew. Brett also saw some deer that were not scared off by people.
They were staying in a hostel in Roan Mountain (Mountain Harbour B&B/Hostel?), and Brett was petting a billy goat as we talked. He said he thinks the hostel owner keeps the goats on his steep hill just to mow the grass.
Brett said his "hiker hunger" has finally set in. He is starved all the time and is really losing weight. Brett thinks he is down 20 pounds at this point.
Brett expects to be in Damascus, Virginia, around Sunday. Brett said that Virginia should be flatter and faster. It should take him about six weeks to make it through Virginia, reaching the "half-way point" in Harper's Ferry. He will be hiking summer in Virginia and will go through the Shenendoah Mountains. He is hoping that his mom and dad will be able to meet up with him then. I think it helps Brett to have something to look forward to along the way.
Brett gave me a list of items to put in his next package and warned me to open the package from him outside. He would be sending wet, muddy shoes and a raincoat. Messy and stinky.
They left the shelter this morning and had some of the worst weather so far. They were hiking in the pouring rain with 40mph winds. At some points they were essentially walking sideways down the trail to compensate for the wind. Brett said it was really tough.
What makes it sad is they were hiking from one high bald to another. They would have enjoyed some great views, had it not been for the nasty weather. ["bald", n. - (Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.) a treeless mountaintop or area near the top.]
Brett picked up his package in Roan Mountain, sent the "old" shoes home, and put the new shoes on his feet. They feel better than the old pair. He thinks his feet have grown (or swelled) some. His left foot has a big blister on his heel; his right foot has a blister between his big toe and the next toe over; and he has blisters on the tips of his toes from the Crocs. He wasn't able to get mole skin or anything else to stick to help with the blisters. Hopefully, he will adjust to the new shoes and recover from the old ones quickly.
The weather was bad, but not miserable. It helped having town to look forward to, knowing that he would be able to dry out later in the day and escape the wet.
He took an ibuprofin in the morning to help with a headache he woke up with. Aside from that, he hasn't had to take any "vitamin I" to alleviate hiking pains and sore muscles.
Spring has almost fully sprung in the mountains. The trees are still bare, but flowers are blooming and the grass is green. They have seen a lot of mountain salamanders. Brett said they look cool. They are orange and almost look like a fruit chew. Brett also saw some deer that were not scared off by people.
They were staying in a hostel in Roan Mountain (Mountain Harbour B&B/Hostel?), and Brett was petting a billy goat as we talked. He said he thinks the hostel owner keeps the goats on his steep hill just to mow the grass.
Brett said his "hiker hunger" has finally set in. He is starved all the time and is really losing weight. Brett thinks he is down 20 pounds at this point.
Brett expects to be in Damascus, Virginia, around Sunday. Brett said that Virginia should be flatter and faster. It should take him about six weeks to make it through Virginia, reaching the "half-way point" in Harper's Ferry. He will be hiking summer in Virginia and will go through the Shenendoah Mountains. He is hoping that his mom and dad will be able to meet up with him then. I think it helps Brett to have something to look forward to along the way.
Brett gave me a list of items to put in his next package and warned me to open the package from him outside. He would be sending wet, muddy shoes and a raincoat. Messy and stinky.
(3/29/12) Erwin, TN - Email/Phone Update From Brett
Email Update From Brett:
I am in Erwin today. Just got in and have errands to run. It feels good to be clean. Can't wait for the new shoes. I have two new blisters from the Crocs. Love you.
Phone Update:
Brett called from a hostel in Erwin, TN. He's doing okay, hanging in there, but he needs his shoes. Four to five more days until Roan Mountain (and new shoes).
I am in Erwin today. Just got in and have errands to run. It feels good to be clean. Can't wait for the new shoes. I have two new blisters from the Crocs. Love you.
Phone Update:
Brett called from a hostel in Erwin, TN. He's doing okay, hanging in there, but he needs his shoes. Four to five more days until Roan Mountain (and new shoes).
(3/28/12) Sams Gap, TN? - Phone Update From Brett
It sounded like Brett was enjoying a beautiful afternoon. He called from a nicely mowed field where he was lying down, enjoying the perfect weather--warm sun and cool wind.
He was also giving his feet a break. Brett's first pair of shoes started wearing down after a month of serious hiking. Brett had ordered a new pair and had me bring them to him in Gatlinburg. He wore them all week in an attempt to break them in, but was unsuccessful. The new shoes were giving him blisters, especially bad on his heel. He had hiked all day in his Crocs, which felt okay except that he feels every rock and root when wearing them.
He called the shoe company (Merrill) and was very impressed with their customer service. They said they would send him another pair of shoes--a different style and a bigger size. But he would have to hike with what he has until he gets to the mail drop. Brett expected to be in Erwin, TN in maybe two days, but the mail drop in Roan Mountain, TN, is beyond that.
He was also giving his feet a break. Brett's first pair of shoes started wearing down after a month of serious hiking. Brett had ordered a new pair and had me bring them to him in Gatlinburg. He wore them all week in an attempt to break them in, but was unsuccessful. The new shoes were giving him blisters, especially bad on his heel. He had hiked all day in his Crocs, which felt okay except that he feels every rock and root when wearing them.
He called the shoe company (Merrill) and was very impressed with their customer service. They said they would send him another pair of shoes--a different style and a bigger size. But he would have to hike with what he has until he gets to the mail drop. Brett expected to be in Erwin, TN in maybe two days, but the mail drop in Roan Mountain, TN, is beyond that.
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