[at-l] 2003 Wet Year

[spiriteagle99 at hotmail.com (Jim and/or Ginny Owen)]

I agree, I am also glad not to be hiking the AT this year.  On my first AT 
hike, it rained constantly in New England.  The leather lining in my boots 
rotted out from the wetness, causing constant blisters on feet that hadn't 
had a blister in months.  A couple of the stream crossings were really 
difficult -- on one, I reached the far side and saw a note dated that 
morning stating, "Do not try to cross this stream, it is too dangerous!"  On 
another I met some southbound hikers who had been swept off their feet on 
one crossing -- and I was alone.  Then there's the fact that it is hard 
enough putting on the cold wet stinking clothes on the second or third wet 
day - by the fifth or sixth, it gets really demoralizing.  Especially when 
all the views are just hazy cloudy landscapes or "the great white sheet".

We finally got a break from the weather here in Maryland.  Because of the 
soggy soil we just did a 13 mile hike on the C&O, (between mile posts 17 and 
23) where at least the path is wide enough to get around the worst of the 
wet spots.  The Potomac River is in full flood - an amazing sight.  Saw lots 
of people, of course, but also a beaver, a couple of snakes, a new (to me) 
lizard, a flock with 10 baby geese, several mallards, wild iris, mountain 
laurel, a couple of horses -- and the occasional glimpse of sunshine.  We 
heard some amazingly loud bullfrogs in one swampy section.  I thought it was 
a chainsaw or motor boat at first.  Noone was boating the river, it was way 
too dangerous, but there were several kayaks in the canal. Lots of 
fishermen, including some successful ones.  One guy had a fat perch and 
another had a huge catfish.  By going north of Great Falls, we had hoped to 
avoid the usual crowds, but it was too nice a day (not pouring buckets) and 
a lot of folks had the same idea.  Still - we had a nice walk, even if it 
was canal walking.

Ginny

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