Places on the Trail I'm Eager to Visit (with EIGHT Weeks Remaining!!!)

Can you believe there are only eight weeks to go?  That's just four paychecks! 

Things are really speeding up around here: putting the finishing touches on our gear, packing up the house, looking around Portland for potential places to live/work for 2012.  It seems I have so much to do.  And all the while, the weeks whittle away...

Since last March, when Stew and I decided to really do this, I've been spending a lot of time just looking at pictures of the trail and learning as much as I could about the areas and towns it passed through.  I say learning "as much as I could", but that is not really correct.  You see, I don't want to know too much about the landscape and areas of the Appalachian Trail because I want it to still retain some surprise and mystery when I get on it.  But it is inevitable when reading about the Appalachian Trail to find out or become acquainted with certain areas across the 14 states it passes through.  So this week I thought I'd compile a list of some of the areas I'm most excited to get to/stay at/look upon on the AT. 

*Just a note: I own none of the pictures below and claim no rights to them.  They were obtained online, mostly at www.whiteblaze.net.*

1. Springer Mountain:  The Start

Well, of course I'm looking forward to this!  The summit of Springer Mountain is the start of the Appalachian Trail for those hikers walking north.  You see, many hikers (Stewart and I included) don't actually start at the "start", but instead choose to hike the approach trail on the first day up the mountain.  The approach trail will take us from Amicalola Lodge (where we will sleep the night before) up to the start of the AT.  The alternative to walking up the approach trial is to have someone drop you off on a nearby forest road on top of the mountain.  That just doesn't sound appealing to us, so we'll hike it instead.  




The AT plaque on top of Springer, and the first white blaze we'll see.

 


A couple of southbound hikers celebrate the completion of their hike
 with some champagne.  :)



2. Suches, GA: Family Tradition?
There's supposedly not much here in the way of a town, but my grandpa has been telling me that I need to camp here for a couple years.  He has camped there before, and said it was beautiful.  I wish Stew and I were going to be in this area in the summer, but hopefully the winter landscape won't disappoint.  We'll also probably get our first shower here after a couple days of hiking.  Yay!

3. Great Smokey Mountains National Park: Personal Tradition.
I've been to the Smokies something like three times in my life.  I've loved every visit.  It's always been in the winter (March), for some odd reason.  So it's something of a funny coincidence that this time will be no different.  We might even trek it into Gatlinburg just to take in the sights and smells.  And tastes.  :)  We are taking our time, you know...

4. Max Patch: Unlimited View.
After days and days of walking through forest, it will be nice come to Max Patch, a mountain with a natural bald.  Balds are bare patches on mountains where no trees grow, only grasses and shrubby plants.  No one really knows why they form, some say it was indians and early settlers who created them in order to hunt or give their animals some pasture.  Some think they just form naturally.  Photos of Max Patch are among my favorites of the trail... you have a beautiful rolling mountain top and unlimited views of the mountains around you.  I'm planning on camping here.  *For those of you who remember the news story from last summer of the young couple who got engaged on a mountain in NC and then the woman promptly getting struck by lightning- it was on Max Patch.*


I love this picture of dusk on Max Patch.



What a perfect end to a day of hiking.



Gorgeous! Of course, we'll be there in winter, so it won't look
exactly like this... but you get the point.

 5. Damascus, VA: A Beautiful Trail Town.
I stumbled upon Damascus by accident back in 2005 when I lived in North Carolina.  A friend and I drove through this beautiful down on a drizzly day and just decided to park the car and walk along a boardwalk that followed a clear mountain stream.  There were hemlocks all around, and everything was alive and green.  I've always wanted to return.  And now I am.  Damascus is also the sight of a very popular festival every year called Trail Days.  It attracts thousands of past, present, and wannabe hikers for several days.  Much merriment and hedonism abounds.  I don't know if Stew and I will be passing through at that time, so we probably won't be attending.  That's okay- I've seen pictures, and it's mostly just a bunch of hippies dancing around a bonfire while intoxicated.  :)  Besides a bonfire, there are other legitimate things that go on during Trail Days, such as a parade, and tents set up to repair gear, dish out food, and present various hiking lessons. 

Hiker parade at Trail Days.  Everyone gets out the squirt guns and water hoses.



6. Grayson Highlands: Ponies!

Who doesn't like ponies?  Wild ones? That eat out of your hand?! 



The ponies are so accustomed to people that they let hikers walk up and pet them. 



7. McAfee Knob: Scary Pictures.

In Virginia there is a beautiful lookout point where hikers traditionally take their picture.  Being afraid of heights, I am TERRIFIED of this... but figure I'll probably do it anyways.  ;)

See what I mean?  Ridiculous!

This one is cute.  I love hiking dogs.



!!! Why?!!!!



From a different perspective, it doesn't look as high.  But still....



8. Harpers Ferry: Midway.

Though not the actual midway point in terms of milage, Harpers Ferry has always been the symbolic "half-way" point for thru-hikers.  It is a town and National Historic Park, and the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conference is located here.  Thru-hikers stop in and have their picture taken and their name added to that year's registry.  When Stew and I get here, I'm going to become a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.  A $25.00 membership fee is the least I can give back to the trail.

9. New York Skyline: Just Cool.

Believe it or not, but the trail passes very close to NYC.  So close, in fact, that on a nice clear day you can see the skyline, as is evidenced by this picture. 

A hiker looking towards the NYC skyline, which is just visible in the distance.  Makes the city
look really small, eh?

10. The White Mountains: Rugged landscape.

The White Mountains are home to some of the highest peaks on the trail, and from what I hear, the hiking gets hard again here. 

Miles and miles of trees. 

11. Mahoosuc Notch: The Hardest Mile on the AT.

In western Maine is a series of rocks and boulders through which the AT passes.  It's roughly a mile, and it generally takes up the better part of a day (if you make it through at all).  One mile in a day?  It's not for those who are claustrophobic.  Which I am.  :)  But for some reason I can't wait to test myself.

Look at the white blaze (arrow) showing hikers the way. 
How cute.  Generally, you have to hike this area with
your pack off and push it in front of you or drag it
behind.

A sweaty hiker... just dutifully following those blazes wherever they may lead.



12. The 100-Mile Wilderness: The Middle of Nowhere.
The name alone is enticing.  The stories of being in it are either exciting or scary.  Excitement + fear = adventure!  If you wander off the trail here and get lost, you're more than likely going to die alone.  But at least it will be beautiful.

13: Katahdin: The End.

Haha.... this is probably THE one place I'd be happiest to see.  Not because it means my hike is over, but because it means I went as far as I could go.  I saw it all.  Katahdin is claimed to be the hardest climb on the entire trail... and I think that is a fitting end to a 2,200-mile hike.

A couple of hikers take Katahdin's Knife Edge down after summiting.  Yikers.

Hikers taking the Knife Edge up.  This won't be how Stew
and I climb Katahdin, but we might try it on the way
down.  :)

What a beautiful final mountain.