[at-l] slow hike #2 - 03/30/2003

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haywire, katydid, tennessee one (bigwalt2003), tennessee too (her 42 year o=
ld son), and tommy tynes hiked to hickory flatts for the start of the 2nd s=
low hike.  the weather was brutally cold, with occasional horizontal snow s=
qualls.  mother nature decided to kick some butt...

barb and i had dropped katydid off at springer, then drove up to hickory fl=
atts.  we put on all of the clothing that was available.  we pitched our te=
nt inside the open-sided pavilion, then gathered firewood.  the squalls hit=
 intermittantly...

haywire hiked in first and set up his tent on a flat spot that, upon furthe=
r reflection, was not all that flat.  the tent soon took on a snowy white a=
ppearance.  haywire and barb collected firewood as i struggled to get the f=
ire going.  it finally took, and we had some warmth..

katydid came in next, very vocal and with arms outstretched.  she had smell=
ed the campfire during the last part of the hike, and was anticipating the =
warmth.  she was giddy with excitement after hiking the first official day =
of her thru-hike.  her enthusiasm never waned, nor did her conversation.  k=
atydid pitched her tarp inside of the pavilion...

tennessee one and tennessee too - mother and son - arrived next.  we did no=
t know right away that they were official "slow hikers", but it turned out =
that she is bgwalt2000 on the slow-hike yahoogroup.  they both pitched tent=
s outside of the pavilion...

as people came in, they told of passing tommy tynes on the trail, and of ho=
w much he was struggling.  haywire and i headed up to the trail to hike in =
a bit and look for tommy.  we went only a hundred feet or so, and there he =
came - pack askew - head down.  barb had driven the car up to thetrailhead,=
 and tommy piled in after we peeled off his pack.  he needed to rest and wa=
rm up.  barb, who is a nurse, went into caretaker mode and kept a professio=
nal eye on tommy...

everyone was sitting by the fire or cooking supper, except tommy and barb, =
who remained in the car.  after maybe an hour, tommy agreed to let us take =
him off trail and into dahlonega.  this was the proper decision.  he was no=
t up for the rigors of a 20 degree night on a mountain top...

barb and i drove tommy to town, then we headed back to hickory flatts.  it =
was well after dark when we returned, but everyone was still up and sitting=
 by the fire.  we joined them and had a very pleasant time.  katydid had mo=
ved her bedroom into the large privy building, opting for a more secure spo=
t away from the squalls and winds...

we all eventually said goodnight.  the fire was doused, and the fight to st=
ay warm began.  no one expected these weather conditions, but everyone was =
prepared.  good planning won out this time...

barb and i drove to pittsburgh on monday (april 1st).  we will return to ge=
orgia next saturday (april 5th) to host a feast at tray gap.  hummingbird a=
nd dutch treat, plus hopefully coosa, will again be there hosting as well...

pittsburgh

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