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[at-l] More of the Trip Report
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I have to come out of lurking to observe that isn't it funny how us =
hikers can have a trip that sounds terrible on paper but we can't wait =
to go back out and do it again - ASAP?
RET in Sunny (but cold) Fla
----- Original Message -----=20
From: DaRedhead@aol.com=20
To: at-l@backcountry.net=20
Sent: Monday, January 01, 2001 1:07 PM
Subject: [at-l] More of the Trip Report
So, we hit the trail late, about 2 or so. (this is approximate, as we =
forgot=20
the watch)=20
Decided to stop at the first "approved" campsite, about 4 miles in. =
It was=20
sunny, balmy even, no snow on the ground - we zipped thru those miles =
in=20
about an hour and a half, if that. (mostly downhill, by the way <g>) =
So we=20
laughed at the weather gods - that was a big mistake. Had a nice =
dinner,=20
camped by the river. Played some dice. Enjoyed being out there. =
Ahhhh -=20
the life. That night, his repaired thermarest was unrepaired, but he =
had a=20
zero bag, so he was just fine. I was using a borrowed bag of unknown =
rating,=20
supplemented by a fleece bag liner. I was just fine. Next day - I =
gotta=20
say, we are unlikely hiking partners. He is tall, I am short. He is =
in=20
shape. I am not. The first two miles of up were mild by most =
standards, but=20
they kicked my butt. If he ever got aggravated at my slow pace, he =
was a=20
gentleman about it and didn't call me names, ! or! ever indicate in =
any way that=20
it was a pain to hike so slow. (oh yea - the lekis performed REALLY =
well. =20
Couldn't have hiked without them.)=20
The trail was pretty boring by most standards. We definitely picked =
the=20
wrong one for our first smokies hike. But anyway, there was snow on =
the=20
ground now, and it made the going slower even than it was for me, =
which was=20
already slow. Not deep enough to require special foot gear, though. =
But man=20
it made one mile seem like 2 or more. Had no problems with being too =
hot or=20
too cold at all while hiking. By the time we got to where we were =
staying=20
that night, the temps had dropped unbelievably, and after a quick hot =
drink,=20
we climbed into our bags for a little nap before dinner. My tent also =
performed well, but now I know why it's a 3 and a HALF season - and we =
were=20
hiking in the half season it wasn't. The wind was blowing so hard by =
the=20
water it was hard to keep it from blowing away while we staked it =
down. (glad=20
I brought the stakes - I rarely use them as it's a freestanding tent). =
So then I got wimpy. I was shivering uncontrollably even in the =
sleeping bag=20
with everything I owned on. I got scared. I started thinking about =
that guy=20
that just died recently from hypothermia, and I truly got scared. I =
think I=20
said something like "Tom, please don't let me die." I wimped. Tom =
was a=20
saint. He got up, went out side, cooked dinner, took care of all the=20
securing chores (including putting the food in a cage thing, fighting =
gale=20
force winds to get there) then let me wear his down jacket on top of=20
everything else I had on. So I was warm enough to sleep. He, on the =
other=20
hand, even in a zero bag, because his pad wasn't inflated, was too =
cold to=20
sleep most of the night. The temps were REALLY low, single digit. =
(you were=20
right, woodelf).=20
So the next morning - it was so cold that water practically froze =
before you=20
could get it from the stream to the tent area. Realizing that we =
didn't have=20
the right stuff to keep both of us warm for another night like the =
previous,=20
we decided to hike back towards where we started. The sun came out, =
and it=20
looked to be a decent day, lots of snow on the ground, but probably at =
least=20
20 degrees out. Stopped for a break, and he cooked some chocolate =
cherry=20
cobler for a mid morning snack. Yum. If I thought the trail was =
kicking my=20
butt the day before, I was mistaken. It was REALLY kicking my butt =
now, and=20
the temps continued to drop after noon. Tom continued to be =
supportive,=20
taking what for him were baby steps so he didn't get too far ahead of =
me. (he=20
may never hike with me again, I've never hiked that slow in my life) =
We hit=20
about 4 miles before the end, and it was late in the day, an! d ! I =
was ready to=20
risk camping again. I really didn't think I could go 4 more miles, =
most=20
likely the end in the dark. It was an effort just to step over a low =
lying=20
tree on the trail by then. But Tom, being the wise one, knew that we =
were=20
courting risk by staying out another night with inadequate =
gear/clothing for=20
such low temps, said lets do it. He took my tent, which lightened my =
pack by=20
6 pounds. Man, what a difference 6 pounds makes. But I was still =
sluggish,=20
and it was mostly uphill to the trailhead. At times I wanted to just =
sit=20
down in the middle of the trail and cry. Then we ran across three =
wild=20
boars. We clanged Leki's and yelled - they ran. Remind me to ask =
what=20
you're supposed to do when you see a wild boar. I think I'm really =
glad they=20
ran. That gave me the adrenaline push I needed to keep slogging =
upward . . .=20
so much that we actually made it bac! k ! to the vehicle right before =
6, as it=20
was getting dark, even at my very slow pace. That was the longest =
10.6 miles=20
I've ever hiked in my life.=20
So it's freezing out, its dark - we get down the five miles of the =
road to=20
nowhere - and the forest service gate is locked. We were on the wrong =
side=20
of it. No emergency numbers to be found on the smokies map, and the =
cel=20
phone was fading in and out, the cold wasn't kind to it. Got =
recordings at=20
every number we tried, finally I called 911, who gave me the number to =
the=20
Bryson City dispatcher. I explained our dilemna, and on New Years eve =
some=20
fine Park employee came up there to let us out, accompanied by a local =
cop. =20
I am very grateful to them for responding so quickly. I doubt we =
would have=20
froze to death, but we could only run the heater til it ran out of =
gas! He=20
asked to see our permit, but as we rummaged for it in freezing temps, =
he said=20
never mind, and just asked which station we filled it out at. What a =
great=20
guy :)=20
So - lessons learned? Water freezes really fast in those conditions, =
and I=20
should have done something on Saturday to keep the water from =
freezing,=20
instead of waiting til Sunday to figure it out. A down jacket is not =
a nice=20
thing to have - it is essential in cold weather backpacking. Have a =
backup=20
pad in case of thermarest failure. Have a 0 degree bag. Period. =
Don't=20
forget your watch. Hiking in snow slows you down, as does the cold. =
If you=20
normally hike 2 miles an hour, plan on half that. And plan on it =
being=20
harder. Lots harder. Pick a trail with some views or decent scenary. =
=20
"Moderate" means easy for an in shape hiker, difficult for an out of =
shape=20
hiker :)=20
The liners I wore with my thorlos were a good idea - I have no =
blisters, even=20
though I only had about 10 miles on those boots. Oh yea - gaiters =
were=20
essential too. My feet stayed perfectly happy and dry the whole hike. =
The=20
whole layering thing worked fine, I was never cold except that one =
night. =20
So - it was an adventure. A learning experience. We learned what we =
did=20
right, what we did wrong, what we had that we needed, and what we =
didn't have=20
that we needed.=20
Only 20 something miles instead of the orginally planned 34 - but hey =
- we=20
got three days in the woods in the winter, and that was great. Thanks =
for=20
all the advice (and thanks for the loaning of stuff, Kahley! Couldn't =
have=20
done it without it).=20
The Redhead=20
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I have to come out of lurking to =
observe that isn't=20
it funny how us hikers can have a trip that sounds terrible on paper but =
we=20
can't wait to go back out and do it again - ASAP?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>RET in Sunny (but cold) =
Fla</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: =
0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A href=3D"mailto:DaRedhead@aol.com"=20
title=3DDaRedhead@aol.com>DaRedhead@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
href=3D"mailto:at-l@backcountry.net"=20
title=3Dat-l@backcountry.net>at-l@backcountry.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, January 01, 2001 =
1:07=20
PM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [at-l] More of the =
Trip=20
Report</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT size=3D2>So, we hit =
the trail=20
late, about 2 or so. (this is approximate, as we forgot <BR>the watch) =
<BR><BR>Decided to stop at the first "approved" campsite, about 4 =
miles in.=20
It was <BR>sunny, balmy even, no snow on the ground - we zipped =
thru=20
those miles in <BR>about an hour and a half, if that. (mostly =
downhill, by the=20
way <g>) So we <BR>laughed at the weather gods - that was =
a big=20
mistake. Had a nice dinner, <BR>camped by the river. =
Played some=20
dice. Enjoyed being out there. Ahhhh - <BR>the life. =
That=20
night, his repaired thermarest was unrepaired, but he had a <BR>zero =
bag, so=20
he was just fine. I was using a borrowed bag of unknown rating,=20
<BR>supplemented by a fleece bag liner. I was just fine. =
Next day=20
- I gotta <BR>say, we are unlikely hiking partners. He is tall, =
I am=20
short. He is in <BR>shape. I am not. The first two miles of up =
were mild=20
by most standards, but <BR>they kicked my butt. If he ever got=20
aggravated at my slow pace, he was a <BR>gentleman about it and didn't =
call me=20
names, ! or! ever indicate in any way that <BR>it was a pain to hike =
so slow.=20
(oh yea - the lekis performed REALLY well. <BR>Couldn't =
have hiked=20
without them.) <BR><BR>The trail was pretty boring by most standards. =
We=20
definitely picked the <BR>wrong one for our first smokies hike. =
But=20
anyway, there was snow on the <BR>ground now, and it made the going =
slower=20
even than it was for me, which was <BR>already slow. Not deep =
enough to=20
require special foot gear, though. But man <BR>it made one mile =
seem=20
like 2 or more. Had no problems with being too hot or <BR>too =
cold at=20
all while hiking. By the time we got to where we were staying =
<BR>that=20
night, the temps had dropped unbelievably, and after a quick hot =
drink, <BR>we=20
climbed into our bags for a little nap before dinner. My tent =
also=20
<BR>performed well, but now I know why it's a 3 and a HALF season - =
and we=20
were <BR>hiking in the half season it wasn't. The wind was =
blowing so=20
hard by the <BR>water it was hard to keep it from blowing away while =
we staked=20
it down. (glad <BR>I brought the stakes - I rarely use them as it's a=20
freestanding tent). <BR><BR>So then I got wimpy. I was shivering =
uncontrollably even in the sleeping bag <BR>with everything I owned =
on.=20
I got scared. I started thinking about that guy <BR>that =
just died=20
recently from hypothermia, and I truly got scared. I think I =
<BR>said=20
something like "Tom, please don't let me die." I wimped. =
Tom was a=20
<BR>saint. He got up, went out side, cooked dinner, took care of =
all the=20
<BR>securing chores (including putting the food in a cage thing, =
fighting gale=20
<BR>force winds to get there) then let me wear his down jacket on top =
of=20
<BR>everything else I had on. So I was warm enough to sleep. =
He,=20
on the other <BR>hand, even in a zero bag, because his pad wasn't =
inflated,=20
was too cold to <BR>sleep most of the night. The temps were =
REALLY low,=20
single digit. (you were <BR>right, woodelf). <BR><BR>So the next =
morning - it=20
was so cold that water practically froze before you <BR>could get it =
from the=20
stream to the tent area. Realizing that we didn't have <BR>the =
right=20
stuff to keep both of us warm for another night like the previous, =
<BR>we=20
decided to hike back towards where we started. The sun came out, =
and it=20
<BR>looked to be a decent day, lots of snow on the ground, but =
probably at=20
least <BR>20 degrees out. Stopped for a break, and he cooked =
some=20
chocolate cherry <BR>cobler for a mid morning snack. Yum. =
If I=20
thought the trail was kicking my <BR>butt the day before, I was =
mistaken.=20
It was REALLY kicking my butt now, and <BR>the temps continued =
to drop=20
after noon. Tom continued to be supportive, <BR>taking what for =
him were=20
baby steps so he didn't get too far ahead of me. (he <BR>may never =
hike with=20
me again, I've never hiked that slow in my life) We hit =
<BR>about 4=20
miles before the end, and it was late in the day, an! d ! I was ready =
to=20
<BR>risk camping again. I really didn't think I could go 4 more =
miles,=20
most <BR>likely the end in the dark. It was an effort just to =
step over=20
a low lying <BR>tree on the trail by then. But Tom, being the =
wise one,=20
knew that we were <BR>courting risk by staying out another night with=20
inadequate gear/clothing for <BR>such low temps, said lets do it. =
He=20
took my tent, which lightened my pack by <BR>6 pounds. Man, what =
a=20
difference 6 pounds makes. But I was still sluggish, <BR>and it =
was=20
mostly uphill to the trailhead. At times I wanted to just sit =
<BR>down=20
in the middle of the trail and cry. Then we ran across three =
wild=20
<BR>boars. We clanged Leki's and yelled - they ran. Remind =
me to=20
ask what <BR>you're supposed to do when you see a wild boar. I =
think I'm=20
really glad they <BR>ran. That gave me the adrenaline push I =
needed to=20
keep slogging upward . . . <BR>so much that we actually made it bac! k =
! to=20
the vehicle right before 6, as it <BR>was getting dark, even at my =
very slow=20
pace. That was the longest 10.6 miles <BR>I've ever hiked in my =
life.=20
<BR><BR>So it's freezing out, its dark - we get down the five miles of =
the=20
road to <BR>nowhere - and the forest service gate is locked. We =
were on=20
the wrong side <BR>of it. No emergency numbers to be found on =
the=20
smokies map, and the cel <BR>phone was fading in and out, the cold =
wasn't kind=20
to it. Got recordings at <BR>every number we tried, finally I =
called=20
911, who gave me the number to the <BR>Bryson City dispatcher. I =
explained our dilemna, and on New Years eve some <BR>fine Park =
employee came=20
up there to let us out, accompanied by a local cop. <BR>I am =
very=20
grateful to them for responding so quickly. I doubt we would =
have=20
<BR>froze to death, but we could only run the heater til it ran out of =
gas!=20
He <BR>asked to see our permit, but as we rummaged for it in =
freezing=20
temps, he said <BR>never mind, and just asked which station we filled =
it out=20
at. What a great <BR>guy :) <BR><BR>So - lessons learned? Water =
freezes=20
really fast in those conditions, and I <BR>should have done something =
on=20
Saturday to keep the water from freezing, <BR>instead of waiting til =
Sunday to=20
figure it out. A down jacket is not a nice <BR>thing to have - =
it is=20
essential in cold weather backpacking. Have a backup <BR>pad in =
case of=20
thermarest failure. Have a 0 degree bag. Period. =
Don't=20
<BR>forget your watch. Hiking in snow slows you down, as does =
the cold.=20
If you <BR>normally hike 2 miles an hour, plan on half that. =
And=20
plan on it being <BR>harder. Lots harder. Pick a trail =
with some=20
views or decent scenary. <BR>"Moderate" means easy for an in =
shape=20
hiker, difficult for an out of shape <BR>hiker :) <BR><BR>The liners I =
wore=20
with my thorlos were a good idea - I have no blisters, even <BR>though =
I only=20
had about 10 miles on those boots. Oh yea - gaiters were =
<BR>essential=20
too. My feet stayed perfectly happy and dry the whole hike. =
The=20
<BR>whole layering thing worked fine, I was never cold except that one =
night.=20
<BR><BR>So - it was an adventure. A learning experience. =
We=20
learned what we did <BR>right, what we did wrong, what we had that we =
needed,=20
and what we didn't have <BR>that we needed. <BR><BR>Only 20 something =
miles=20
instead of the orginally planned 34 - but hey - we <BR>got three days =
in the=20
woods in the winter, and that was great. Thanks for <BR>all the =
advice=20
(and thanks for the loaning of stuff, Kahley! Couldn't have <BR>done =
it=20
without it). <BR><BR>The Redhead</FONT> =
</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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