Sunday, April 29

Gary called today from mile marker 565.2.  They are staying at Chestnut Knob Shelter.  It is a fully enclosed house.  He has just passed through Atkins, VA.  He only has 1619.0 miles to go.  It is winding down fast!

Saturday, April 28

I talked to Gary last night and this morning,  He was staying in a hotel in Atkins, VA.  Atkins is at the 542.2 mile marker.  He is heading toward Pearisburg, VA for next week end. He told me that Tuesday morning they woke up to about 4 inches of snow.  I don't believe he has winter wear, just a rain suit.  He said he was cold. 

I changed settings so hopefully all comments will show.  I am not too good at this "techy" stuff.

Tuesday, April 24

     I came home for lunch today and Gary called while I was home.  He is staying at the 482.7 mile marker at the Lost Mountain Shelter in Virginia. He said he was cold and some snow on the ground but doing OK.  One of the people with him had a problem with his knee and they went off the hill to Damascus and he got a shot of cortisone and rested a couple hours and they rode back to the trail and are hiking like nothing happened.  Talk about a tough guy, I've heard the shot is awful by itself.

Monday, April 23

I didn't get a call today from Gary but have a couple more pictures to post.  I did get a call from a minister friend that has a 74 year old friend walking and they called to get  Gary's number so maybe they can see each other.  When the fella signed up in Georgia they said he was the oldest on the trail.  He is doing fine after the first week or so.

Looks like lunch at the shelter.

A footbridge.

A small path through the woods.

Friends across the road.

A couple guys Gary met early in the walk and the three seem to be sticking together.  When Gary's phone won't get service he uses one of their's.

Later on Sunday

Gary called just now and said he was at the 403.2 mile marker.  The NC-TN line is 388.9. He said it was supposed to get really cold there tonight.  I know how cold I feel here so can't imagine sleeping out in it.  Guess that is what 0 degree bags are for.

This picture shows the rocky trail up a hill.

I think this was the old tent....apparently a campsite.

On the phone when I was asking him about this Gary thought it was a hotel from my description.

Tennessee Mountains

Who is that beardy fella?

Either NC or TN mountains.

Crossing from GA to NC.

We were noticing not much green.  May be the altitude.

Sunday, April 22

Rite Aid called this morning and the pictures from the disposable camera were in.  These were taken the past two weeks I imagine so I think they were in NC and TN.  I'll post some then more when I get home. I imagine this is one of the shelters they can stay in.

Thursday, April 19

Gary called today and corrected his mileage. He had only walked 354 miles, not 454.

Wednesday, April 18

Gary just called from a friend's phone.  He is calling almost every day now...to me or David.  When he gets to the top of a mountain or climbs a fire tower he has service.  He sent home disposable cameras but Rite Aid had to send them off to get them developed.  Hopefully I will get some pictures soon. 
    
He is in Virginia now at the 454 mile marker at a campsite.  This I believe is their first camp fire.  They got hotdogs and are having a great time. He said it is rainy there.  He only has 1730 more miles to walk.  He is shaving those miles off quicker than he was.

Thursday, April 12

Gary called today and seemed very happy.  The misery of the climb/walk/sleeping on the ground seems to not be so bad now and he is starting to really enjoy the trip.  He slept in a shelter last night but tonight will be his first night in the new tent.  He said it was 30 degrees last night and I bet that was a little chilly sleeping in a sleeping bag.  He is at the  295.6 mile marker and has only 1,890.7 miles to go before he comes home.  The elevation at the campsite is 4446 feet.  Still up there.

Wednesday, April 11

Gary called today and was really excited about his new tent.  I know the load will be much less.  He got my food but told me not to send food to his next stop.  He was at a Lookout Tower about 10 miles north of Hot Springs.  He stayed in Hot Springs at the house I sent the tent to.  This may be his first 20 mile day because he is going to stay 10 more miles up the road.  It was freezing on the tower but got great phone reception.  It was good to hear him sounding almost happy....not like the walk was a job.  I know it takes a while to get accustomed to the walk, carrying a pack on your back and all. He is sending a disposable camera for me to get the prints from so I will have pictures soon. 

Tuesday, April 10

I did not hear from Gary today but did run upon other blogs and they even mentioned Gary in their entries.  That was great.  I am going to continue to look at those because they have several pictures.  I was really impressed to hear that Clingmans Dome was 6,643 feet.  Wow, that was a climb.  They said it has rained a lot and that has slowed them down.  I was really impressed at the pre hike trips some of the people took before the trip to get them in better shape and increase their endurance.
This is a picture of the GA mountains from an AT hiker.  He said, "Yes, it does hurt to climb but what a view ".

Monday, April 9

Gary called and said he was almost out of the park.  He stayed in a hotel on Saturday night and called me Easter morning.  Today he called and is staying at Cosby Knob Shelter at the 230.1 mile marker.  At the 273 he will get the new tent and enjoy loosing about 8-9 pounds from his back.  He sounded really in good shape today and hopefully in about 3 weeks I can meet him when he comes near WV.

Saturday, April 7

Gary called from Gatlinburg, TN today.

Friday, April 6

Today Gary is at Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the Appalachian Trail.

Wednesday, April 4

Gary called me about 5:30 from the Smokey Mountain National Park.  The has walked so far almost 180 miles since March 17.  He said it rained yesterday but it was a beautiful day today.  He will be in Gatlinburg, TN in a couple days.  He is sending the I Pad home because there is no service anywhere he has been.

Sunday, April 1

Gary just called and he is at the 152 mile marker (getting close to Fontana Dam, NC) and still has a half a day ahead.  He said the weather is perfect.  A couple hikers' (I think he said married couple) friends met them with a BBQ picnic and invited everyone to join in.  It appears that even though he is alone he is having a good social time also. 

He said the day started out rocky but has evened off.  He gets reception when he is on top of a hill so he can call.  He commented that the bugs are eating him alive though.