[at-l] Report from Southbounders

[janl2 at mindspring.com (Jan Leitschuh)]

Thanks, Joan, for that report.
I hiked with most of the named '03 SOBO offenders: Stumpknocker,
Goosebump, Rainbow Slick, et all, over Thanksgiving in that bitter,
windy weather when the snows started falling.
Because the unusually early snows drove most off, there will be lots
of SOBOS out in March and April, finishing their hikes. 
Happy Holidays, all!
MerryShoe

> Thought you might like to read a report from some Southbounders.
> This report was originally sent to friends and family, Mark
> (Rainbow Slick) also did the AT in '95; this southbound trip with
> his wife was a celebration of his completing his podiatry
> internship.
snip
> We had no problems weather wilse in Nov but Dec turnned with a
> fury.  In North Tenn, we spent a night at a hiker hostel (Kinkora - best
> hostel on the  AT).  They only charge a minimal donation.  They
> offered to  drop us off at a road crossing the next morning & hike 23 >miles N back to there hostel to spend another night indoors. 
> 
> Another hiker "Stumpknocker" showed up & 2 other hikers were not
> far behind "Dr. Doolittle" & "Underpants".  We gave the hike a second >chance in a group of 5.  Bob(from the hostel) was extremely nice & >willing to drop us off at  Carvers gap (elev aprx 5500 feet) so we could >hike N back to the road crossing & spend yet another night indoors.  It >was suppose to rain that day so it sounded much better than camping that night.
> 
> We arrived at Carvers gap with the temp in the upper 30's & rain.> What >we  did not know was the Galeforce winds 70+ mph.   We hiked over some
> balds.  The balds are exactly that.  Mts that have no trees on the >summit & are maintained by cattle grazing &/or human intervention.  There >was no wind  protection whatsoever & Becky went Airborne witnessed by
> Stumpknocker.  It was a real struggle to to stay on the trail & not get >blown to the side & have to fight to get back on the trail.  We could >only look down or the rain would literally sting our face from it blowing >sideways.