SO, WHAT CAN I EXPECT ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL?

The View from the Fire Tower on Albert Mountain

I think this question can best be answered by telling you what we weren't really expecting on that day we set out to complete our first section hike.  Rain.  And lots of it.  So much that we actually held off departing for a day.  But, the rain didn't seem to care that we were on a time schedule and couldn't delay starting our hike past the one day we chose wait it out.  Nope.  It was still coming down by the bucketfuls on the second morning, but we had no choice but to load up and head up to the parking lot at Springer Mountain.

 I can vividly remember sitting in the back seat of the shuttle driver's pickup truck, wondering what on earth we'd gotten ourselves into.  Jack offered to "wait it out," but it looked set in for the day, so we declined his generous offer.  He was so happy as he zipped up his rain jacket and hopped out of the truck - maybe because he knew he'd been hopping right back in a couple of minutes later.  I zipped up the camo rain jacket we'd purchased at Walmart the day before, opened the door, and stepped out into the pouring rain. We slung our backpacks on, waved goodbye to Jack, and took our first steps on the Appalachian Trail - in the pouring rain, making our way through what seemed more like a stream than a trail 

Scott and me at the summit of Springer Mountain

Thankfully, the rain stopped by the time we reached Three Forks, and stayed away for the remainder of the hike.  That being said, what we learned from that point on was that mountains tend to make their own weather, so expect to be rained on at least once during any particular hike!  I'll add the following disclaimer: while you might get "used" to walking in the rain, it is not "refreshing," nor does it help wash away the hiker smell.  You'll probably argue with yourself about whether to wear the rain gear or if it's just a waste of time - it'll make you sweat, but without it, you risk getting cold (yes, even in the warmer weather) - and when you get where you're going, you'll have one more piece of wet stuff to find a place to hang.

Double Spring Gap Shelter, Smoky Mountains

No hope of getting a fire started in this one!

A shelter full of 12 soggy hikers!

 It's in the rain, that you learn what it means to "embrace the suck."  And it does suck.  We spent two full days of hiking in the pouring rain as we covered the first half of the Smoky Mountains.  It was not fun in any sense of the word.  With the rain comes other foes: mud and slippery rocks/tree roots.

MUD

AND MORE MUD (managed to keep shoes on feet though)

During said hike in the Smoky Mountains, I found myself on my backside in a cold, muddy puddle thanks to a tree root that I couldn't see because it was under water.  It's not fun, folks!

Between Double Spring Gap shelter and Clingman's Dome

The beauty of the AT

But it's some of the most memorable time you'll spend hiking -

The moral of the story is to go into a section hike knowing that it WILL rain on you at some point - maybe even for days at a time. Expect it.  Embrace it.  Revel in the feeling of the cold water running down your legs, soaking your socks, and sloshing around in your shoes.  Bask in the glory of having to slide back into those cold, wet clothes the next morning.  And know that, when all is said and done and you're back home all toasty and dry, that you'll look back on those rainy days and think to yourself, "It doesn't get any better than that!"

Happy Hiking!

IT'S BEEN WAY TOO LONG - JUST SAYING HELLO!

I’d like to take a moment to say hello to our followers.  I know that posts have not been put up on a regular basis, but I’m hoping to change that in the next few weeks.  We all know how it is.  Life gets busy and, before you know it, months have passed by in a blur!  At least, that’s how it feels to me.  I thought a good way to get back into the swing of things would be to post a little bit about myself, and I’m hoping to include profiles from my (hiking) partners in crime.  

 Lori Domingo aka Headlight

Somewhere in the Smoky Mountains!

     Hi.  My name is Lori - my trail name is Headlight - and I’m an (almost senior citizen) Appalachian Trail section hiker.  My obsession with the AT began back in November, 2011, while on a trip with my youngest son to visit the senior military college he would be attending the following August up in Dahlonega, Georgia.  While he was busy doing his thing with his ROTC peers, I had time on my hands and ended up visiting Amicalola State Park.  I honestly had no idea when I was paying the park entrance fee that I’d soon be standing in front of that famous arch that marked the beginning of the Approach Trail.  Taking one step through that arch was all it took!  I knew in my heart that I HAD to hike the AT – even though, at that time, I’d never hiked or camped anywhere (except for during basic training).  I had no gear.  I had no experience.  And, I’d soon come to find out that I had no idea! 
     Fast forward to today, and I can say that I’ve got a mere 223 miles under my backpack hip-belt.  While I wish I could get out on the trail more often, it simply doesn’t always work out the way I plan.  Accepting that fact is something that my time on the AT has taught me.  To date, I’ve completed all of the Georgia section (including the Approach Trail), and then from the GA/NC state line up to Clingman’s Dome in the Smoky Mountains.  To many, that might not sound like much.  But I can genuinely say that I’ve learned something each time we’ve set out. 
      It is our sincere hope here at Trail Snails that what we have to offer will help someone make the decision to get off the couch and hit the trail.  We’re not experts.  We don’t claim to be.  We do, however, have the knowledge we’ve gained from each one of our section hikes.  And if we don’t know the answer, we will certainly try to find someone who does.  This is a place for beginners.  This is a place for experienced hikers to share with beginners.  Please stay tuned as we try to get things in order!

Happy Hiking!

Scott Keith - aka Weatherman

      My name is Scott Keith and I was drawn to the world of back-country hiking by my love for the mountains and the sense of accomplishment that completing a challenging hike brings to my life.  I’ve been hiking on and off for roughly seven years.  My first exposure to backpacking came on a section of the Florida Trail.  We utilized these hikes near our home to prepare for our bigger, longer adventures on the Appalachian Trail.  I’ve completed three sections of the AT covering ground in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.  I learned a lot about backpacking equipment and skills from my sister, Lori Domingo.  Her passion for hiking and the challenge of the hills is unparalleled.  I consider myself the “technical support” of the team, with Lori being the route planner, and my other sister, Debbie, being the food and logistics planner.  I handle the route mapping and analysis and carry a GPS to keep us on track.  I’m an Air Force-trained weather forecaster, so I also provide weather support for our team.  Everyone has a role of sorts, and it’s always a blast.  In the real world, I’m a maintenance supervisor for a large city’s traffic signal department. I look forward to every hike and can’t wait for the next adventure.  Happy hiking!

 Debbie Keith aka: No Trail Name Yet!