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Where on the AT is Miss Alice
by aliceeisenhooth
2012-04-11
United States Pennsylvania Ephrata
Backpacking
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My Adventure Story
My adventure will start this evening as my Family takes me to the bus station to board a bus to Gainesville. Ga. I hope to start my hike on the Appalachian Trail Thursday April 12, 2012. I will not be able to update this site daily, but I hope that you enjoy my pictures and blog when I do.
4/9/2012 Bus leaves York, PA bus station at 8:26 PM
4/11/2012 Began my hike, Springer Mountain GA
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aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-14
E-mail dated 5-10-2012:
Everyone, I am taking my first 24 hour zero day. I have a room with my own bath, no shared bunkroom etc. I arrived last evening after hiking 2 days in the rain. I just checked a months worth of emails and enjoyed your comments. I understand my girls are doing a great job keeping my post card journals posted on spot adventures. I talked to both of them on the phone last evening, wow, phone service ,bed with private bath , resturants, what more can a water loged hiker ask for! My food boxes have always been waiting for me, with special notes, Bible verses, and treats. I even got a barrette for my short, short hair in one of the packages today. As I told my Girls, Please do not worry if you get a day with no signal from spot. If it is raining I do not turn it on and try to keep it with my camera, cell, in a dry place. If it clears I get it out at lunch, as I did at Max Patch Bald the other day. Sometimes, when I am going up and down steep revines it does not get a signal out. I plan to hit the trail tomarrow morning after one more breakfast at the great resturant a block away. I have lost some weight and need to put more fat into my diet to burn and give me energy. SO, bring on the bacon, ham and burgers! My old body is holding up very well, I think. The knee I fell on was hurting me going down hill. It is the one with arthritis, so I got a knee wrap at the dollar store. It did not stiffen up on me today. Well, I need to get my bounce box ready to mail to the next stop before the post office closes. Library is open to 6:00, so maybe I'll try to send out some picture later. I f I am not successful Pam will help me when I see her next week. This is a uniqure little town, very hiker friendly, but everything closes by 8pm. That's my bed time anyway! This is a wonderful experience!! The world around us is so beautiful!!! And the hiker community is unbelieveable.( even though they have strange names ) NO I'm not ready to come home. Gran
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-14
Postcard dated 5/3/12:
I hiked 8 miles today. Got into the shelter about 2:30. There is a German couple section hiking here and my college couple friends from last night. Another couple thru hiking. More section hikers are rolling in, which is good. Because they get first dibs on the shelter. That means I can sleep in my tent. This is the first shelter I've been at with a great view of the mountain ranges in the distance. The weather has been beautifully clear. During the night I heard thunder, but the rain did not start until day break. I was packed up ready to leave at 7:30. I have 12 miles to hike today.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-14
Post card dated 5-8-2012: Still raining when I woke up. I made coffee in tent vestibule. Finally the skies cleared, I packed up my wet tent and started hiking about 9:30. By 11:30 I was rewarded when I hiken on top of Max Patch Bald. No trees to obstruct a 360 view of the mountains. Beautiful. After that the skies opened up and I got a shower. It felt good, I was hot and stinky. Soon I got to a shelter, dried off, and had lunch. When it cleared I hiked 5 more miles. Total 10 miles. In my now dry tent again. Tomorrow 13 miles to Hot Springs N.C.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-14
5-6-2012 I am spending the day at Standing Bear Hostel. Shower, laundry,bunkbed. Walked out of the Smokies this AM. I saw a bear.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-14
Post card dated 5-5-2012 & 5-6-2012: Sunday 7:30AM 60 degrees. Davenport Gap Shelter. I am sitting on a wood bench in front of the shelter with the sun coming through the trees on my face and a cup of coffee in my hand. A slower start today. Yesterday I hit the trail at 7:30 because I wanted to hike 15 miles to this shelter, the last one in the Smokies. Cinco de Mayo. I always remember the year we were in Iowa! I was tired after 15 miles, arriving almost 6 pm, cooked and talked to "Chain Saw", went to bed. This is the only old style shelter remaining with chain link fence to keep bears out.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-14
Post card dated 5-4-2012: It was raining when I started my hike at 7:30 today. After I walked 30 minutes there was a big black bear on the trail running away from me. Very cool! The rain stopped after severl hours but sun never came out. Some views I could see nothing. I am in the shelter again tonight. I hope that I can get an early start tomorrow. I want to hike 15 miles. That will take me out of the Smokies.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-14
Post card dated 5-1-2012: The nights have been warm in the 50's and the day 70 today. A bear visited our shelter last night and saw several deer and turkey. Because of the way the shelters are situated and the fact that we have to sleep in the shelters I hiked only 7 miles today. Tomorrow is Clingman's dome.
Nice view of the "Smokies". Lucky to have a beautiful clear day. Some of my hiking friends are taking a shuttle into Gatlinburg. Not me.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-14
Post card dated 4-30-12 Got an 8am start, walked 12 miles. Some beautiful views but some challenging hiking. Got in the low 80's. At the shelter tonight with some of the same guys from last night. After all 12 of us were in our sleeping bags (8:30) someone said, "look bear." We all had EVERYTHING hung out of reach and watched the bear check it all out and walk away. Awesome experience. This morning as I drink my coffee, we are listening to the turkeys around us talk to each other. Tell Kevin!
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-08
4-29-2012 Day ending at the following coordinates: Latitude: 35.54456 Longitude: -83.79581
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-08
Postcard dated 4-27-2012 Woke up to sunshine this AM. I am in a shelter with 3 guys. The thunderstorms started again soon after we arrived. The tin roof was really loud. I will hike about 9 miles today, almost to Fontana Dam. Found a nice camp site. Have reservations at Hike Hostel and they do not shuttle after 4 pm. Had my food box mailed to Hostel because this Post Office closes at noon on Friday and does not open until Monday am. Looking forward to a 2.5 mile day then getting pictures sent, shower, and laundry.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-08
4-27-2012 Day ending at the following coordinates: Latitude: 35.42376 Longitude: -83.79333
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-08
Postcard dated 4-16-2012 60 degree am temp. Passing daytime showers. Got my usual 8:30 start, hiked until 5:15 = 11 miles. I'm on Rocky Mt just passed the road crossing for Helen, Ga. Most of the group I'e been hiking with went into town for the night. A few went onto Tray Mt. Shelter. 7:00 and no one has joined me yet. The shelters and area around have been sleeping 25-30 people. My supper was rice with pork and vegies. All dinners have been good. Been fun getting to know the hikers. Brownie Krunch is 62. 8 p.m. Raining. Good night.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-08
4-26-2012 Day ending at the following coordinates: Latitude: 35.36396 Longitude: -83.716
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-08
Postcard dated 4-26-2012 Slept in a shelter - Sassafras - because of predicted storms. In the morning the marble size hale kept everyone in the shelter longer. It never did clear, hiked all day in Rain Forest conditions. Extra caution with wet rocks, roots, and mud. Sure glad my knee worked it's self out. Ending the day with a thunder storm. In a shelter again tonight (& hail)
Hiked 9 miles today.
Seven miles up out of the NOC yesterday.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-08
4/25/12 70 degrees warm afternoon.
I got a late start this morning. I hiked seven miles, up hill. I decided to sleep in Sassafras shelter since rain is in the forecast and my tent is dry. This shelter sleeps 12. My first night in a shelter. I saw a rattlesnake today. He was right along the side of the trail, not happy with me.
I fell on my knee this morning before I even left the N. Outdoor Center. I was worried because it hurt all day. But today the 26th it got much better as I hiked. Praise God! I was a little worried.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-02
4-25-2012 Day ending at the following coordinates: Latitude 35.33432, Longitude -83.66153
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-02
4-24-2012 Day ending at the following Coordinates: Latitude 35.33307, Longitude -83.59161
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-02
Postcard dated 4-24-2012
30 degrees with snow squalls again this AM. I wanted to hike 14 miles today so that I could stay inside a bunk bed. The Nantahala Outdoor Center is nice. I'm sharing a bunk room with a girl from VT. I bought a new rain jacket at the outdoor center. 8:15 and it is raining. Looks like I made the right choice. When I walked into the restaurant, most of the hikers said, "Hi Gran!" It is a great community out here. They invited me to join their table. I ordered a large pizza.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-05-01
Postcard dated 4/21/12:
It sprinkled over night, temps in the 40's. Then in poured for 2 miserable hours. I managed about 11 miles in all that. Stopped to dry out and set up camp when the sun came out, 4:00pm. Cheesy broccolli and noodles tonight. Walking pretty easy again today. Eight hours. Tomorrow Mr. Albert, some hand over hand they say?
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-30
4-20-2012 Day ending at the following coordinates: Latitude 35.04199, Longitude -83.54776
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-30
Postcaard dated 4-20-2012: I hiked 10 miles today. Most of the day was thick with fog. Might have the sun for a few hours here at the end of the day. Good, it is drying out my tent. First 3 hours were tough miles, just like most miles in Georgia. The last 6 1/2 were nice miles, more like I'm accustome too. Talked to a 76 year old hiker today. I first met her at Springer. She is doing sections. Also met a man with one arm hiking. Spaghetti with meat sauce tonight. Got below 50 degrees last night. Stayed alone Indian Shelter.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-30
Postcard dated 4-19-2012: 6PM clear and breezy. I hiked out of Georgia today. Set-up for the first night in North Carolina. Just ate chicken, broccli, and pineapple with rice. The shuttle brought me back to the trail from the Blueberry Patch hostel about 10AM. I hiked 8 miles today. Breakfast was GREAT: Pamcakes with blueberry syrup, scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage and biscuits with sausage gravey; coffee and OJ. I only hiked about 6 miles yesterday to get to Dicks Gap in Hiawasiee.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-30
4/19/2012 Day ending at the following coordinates: Latitude 34.99366, Longitude -83.59933
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-30
Postcard dated 4-18-2012
Tomorrow, on Luke's birthday, I will hike out of Georgia and into North Carolina. Hard rain, thunder and lightning last night. Dry in my tent. Rained all day. First day to hike in rain. Met a man here who had to see a doctor for beetle bites on his legs. The hills are tough, but I'm having fun.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-24
Postcard dated 4-11-12:
My bus was 1 hr late getting into Gainesville. The shuttle was waiting for me. We got to the Hiker Hostel about 10:15pm. It was full; 19 people. I had a bunk reserved. They gave me a quick tour and said good night. Everyone in my bunk room was snoring so I got ready for bed and climbed into my top bunk in the dark. Had no idea what I slept with until morning…. All men! The breakfast was delicious. Shuttle took me to trail head, took pictures of Springer plaque and started north 10:30am. By 3:30 we hiked 8 miles and stopped for the night at Hawk Mountain Shelter.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-22
4-14-2012
Day ending at the following coordinates: Latitude: 34.73761 Longitude: -83.9306
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-22
Post Card Dated 4-14-2012
Decided to stay at the Hostel in Neels Gap. There is a 25 mile section of Trail where you need to use a bear cannister for your food to camp, or get a $200.00 fine, so I decided to sleep in a bunk and get a shower. Had a hot dog & coke when I got here about 3pm. They say a neaby church will be here with a meal later, maybe even breakfast. Climbed Blood Mountain, highest peak in Georgia today. Slept very well last night along stream my body feels better today.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-20
4-13-2012 Day ending at the following coordinates:
Latitude: 34.70772
Longitude: -83.98511
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-20
Post Card Dated 4-13-2012 Not so cold this morning. 40 degrees. Tell Uncle Kevin that I heard turkey’s before I got out of my tent about 6:30 am. I still have not seen anything but squirrels. Staying at Lace Creek campsite. Hiked 8 miles today. Had the best views yet! My supper was beef ramen noodles with tomatoes from my garden and broccoli. Hiking to Neels Gap tomorrow. I do not have a Bear Canister so I can’t stop anywhere between. I talked to Ridge Runner and the fine would be $200. My hips, shoulders and back hurt.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-20
4-12-2012 Day ending at the following coordinates:
Latitude: 34.65589
Longitude: -84.05023
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-20
Post Card Dated 4-12-2012
It was cold last night. 30 degrees when I got up. But I was warm. I had coffee and oatmeal with apples, bananas, and nuts for breakfast. Peanut butter and Sandwich for lunch. For supper I am making Curry Veggie (spinach, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and beans) with Couco Sauce. The sun came out, beautiful day about 60 degrees now. We hiked 8 miles. 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Lots of climbs up mountains. A harder hike day than yesterday. Tonight I’m tenting at Gooch Gap Shelter.
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-20
4-11-2012 Day ending at the following coordinates:
Latitude: 34.66626
Longitude: -84.1366
aliceeisenhooth • 2012-04-20
Post Card Dated 4-11-2012
Hiked about 9 miles today. Bright blue skies, the wind made it chilly at times, temp about 60 degrees. Breakfast at the Hiker Hostel: Coffee, pancakes, scrambled eggs, oatmeal and gritts. I did not sample the gritts. Lunch: PB sandwich. Supper: Stuffing with broccli, mushrooms, and pork. Getting ready to go to bed at 6:00 PM. There are many, many people at this shelter (Hawk Mountain Shelter). Many, many more camping around the shelter. Some kink of military instalation with helicopters flying over just above the trees. Heard an owl, but did not see any other animals.
