Day Three

1.  Date: 4/25/14
2.  Day 3
3.  Morning temp: 50s
4.  Weather: clear, nice5.  Time start: 0645
6. Time stop and miles: 1220 11.3
7.  End point: Rt 325
8.  Events: backtrack, deer's ass
Log: Up at 0545. Out the shelter after a warm bfast. Thru who came in after 7 last night wasn't stirring. Day felt good and so did I. Didn't see any sign of rain yet. Hike back along ridge seemed fast. I was back at the parking lot just after noon. Saw Big Rags again and talked more about the golden ratio. Headed to Carlisle and then Sheets, then back to the Museum. The rain started as I was taking a shower at the camp. No new miles today, but it was a good hike.

Day one and two were written out on the trail and uploaded when I had wi-fi back at the Museum.  Today's entry is being loaded from text I wrote at the end of the hike.  Here are some more pictures from the hike.  

Day 1 - working on my register signature

Day 1 - A real pink blaze...

Day 2 sunrise

Day 2 - a cool rock split "View of the Day"

Day 2 - a rock in the crock

Day 2 - Rausch Gap Shelter

Day 2 - Last hike for this shoe

Day 3 sunrise

Day Two

1.  Date: 4/24/14
2.  Day 2
3.  Morning temp: high 30s maybe
4.  Weather: breezy, sunny, nice
5.  Time start: 0620
6.  Time stop and miles: 1425 12.9
7.  End point: Rausch Gap shelter
8.  Events: 3 mile climb
Log: The cold seeped into my body by 5. Got up around 0550. Did some jumpingjacks to warm up.  Broke camp fast and headed to the truck.  Ate bfast then headed up Stoney Mt. Long up. Was nice along ridge. Ate lunch at Yellow Springs. Got to shelter early and decided to stay in shelter tonight.

Rausch Gap Shelter

Spring Section Day One

1.  Date: 4/23/14
2.  Day 1
3.  Morning temp: mid 40s
4.  Weather: windy overcast
5.  Time start: 0710
6.  Time stop and miles: 1431 11.8
7.  End point: camp near Rt 325
8.  Events: turkey flush
Log: Up and off to parking lot early. First part of hike was a climb. The rest was a windy ridge walk. Lunch at Peter's Mt shelter. Headed back north to campsite next to trail. Hope the wind dies or I may have to move over to the lee side of the ridge. Good hike good day. May the breeze blow new strength into your being.

Trail Register at Peter's Mountain Shelter

What's In a Trail Name?

I have come to love the Trail Name part of the Hiker World.  I have a lot of fun with it, both in naming myself and talking to others about their names.  

You can find a lot of stories and information on the Interwebs about trail names, but I haven't found yet any definitive origin of the trail name.  In some of my readings I have seen that other groups (like fraternities and sororities) use nicknames and since a lot of the hikers nowadays seem to be college age or just out of college, maybe that was a natural extension of their nicknaming. 

Regardless of the origin, it is a very popular part of hiking the trail and isn't just a Thru Hiker thing.  Anyone who gets out there is able to take on a new moniker that they can take with themselves along the trail and beyond.  Its popularity has grown along with the number of people who hike the trail.

To add on to what Larry Luxenberg said,  I remember reading that Earl Shaffer called himself "The Crazy One" and later "The Original Crazy One".  I think the meaning and origin of that one is evident as no one believed he was doing what he was doing and it took him a while to convince the ATC that he completed a Thru Hike.  

Here are the reasons I have seen for Trail Names.  It is a fun way to take on a new persona while hiking the trail.  You can shed your "Real World" life and take on the Outdoorsy life along with a new name.  You can name yourself (but don't tell the purists that) or a name can find you along the way.  The one caution is, a name that finds you may not be as flattering as you want it to be, but if you are a good sport, you can go with it.  One thing I have seen that a person who constantly vetoes suggestions, ends up with the trail name Veto.  :)

For me, like I said, I like having fun with my trail name.  The trail has named me and so have I.  You get to think about a lot of useless things while out walking all day, so during this time I came up with my own Guidelines for Trail Names.  I call them "Joe's HYOH Completely Non-Purist Guidelines for Trail Names".  Only I follow these rules, but I like to explain them to others when I tell them I have several names (and one really long, strung together name) and I can interchange them or add to them at any time I feel like it.

Guidelines:

1.  I can have up to 14 trail names at one time.  

2.  I can add or delete to my trail names whenever the urge comes to me.

3.  If I find a 15th trail name, I must select one to delete from my trail name list.

4.  I can string my names together if I want and make one super long trail name.

5.  I can create my own names.

6.  I can accept suggested names, if they fit.

7.  If the name fits, even if it is unflattering, I should always consider accepting it in the spirit of the name game.

8.  Do your best to help others find their Trail Name(s).

9.  Keep having fun, no matter what.  As Model T says, "Find the Happy Side of Misery".  

10. Everyone is entitled to a Trail Name.  Even if they are out for a day hike.  NO ONE has a monopoly on Trail Names.

And that is if for now.

Sincerely

EarthTone

aka

El Jefe Maestro Obi Wan, the EarthToned Stiller Fan

An AT Hike in the World of RPGs

The other day I was reading someone's post about the AT and they mentioned doing a "side quest"  My geeky brain immediately kicked into overdrive as I thought that hiking out there is so Hobbit like.

I could never comfortably play a real game of D&D, but when the computer games figured out how to do it, I had found my niche.

So as my mind started thinking of things to write about that compared and contrasted hiking and Middle Earth, I came up with the following Hiker Player Classes.

Chaotic evil - leaves trash, parties constantly, entitlement issues.

Chaotic good - will offer advice that gets you lost, plans big mile days, knows where all the AYCE places are.

Chaotic neutral - takes most blue blazes, doesn't fret making planned miles, might not show up at the agreed upon shelter.

True neutral - hikes own hike, makes friends easily, usually camps just past shelter.

Lawful neutral - purist tendencies, takes same trail out of shelter that he came in on, will fill your water bottles.

Lawful good - trail angle that hikes, lets you use all his gear, always has extra food.

Lawful evil - insists that "yur doin it wrong", the outspoken gear critic, knows how to bear bag three different ways (but uses food bag as pillow).

I think I have more to say about this...

EarthTone

That List of Failure

A lot of this year's class of AT hikers have read the book "Appalachian Trials", by Zach Davis which is geared to help you learn about the psychological and emotional stuff to prepare for while hiking the trail.

From what I have read of it (and the blog), it has some good information on preparation and one of the things it asks you do to is make three lists.  The first list is why your are hiking the trail.  The second asks you to list the feelings you would have if you made your goal (i.e. hiking Springer to Katahdin).  The last list was for what you would feel if you had to leave the trail before your goal has been achieved.

All of those Third Lists that I have read have made me a little depressed.  They always seem sooooooo negative.  They seem to totally dismiss the things you did accomplish during your hike, and concentrate on those things you couldn't do (for whatever reason).

I thought it was just me, but yesterday, I saw someone comment in the same manner to someone's number three list and that has led me to write down these little tidbits.

Call me an optimist, but here is my list for the "What if" of going out hiking and having to leave the trail.

If I don't complete the whole trail, I will...

1. ...most likely try again.

2. ...know that the trail will always be there... waiting for me... to come back.

3. ...realize that being ON the trail is the place to be.  Why rush the journey?

4. ...believe that a goal not yet achieved, is still a challenge to be taken.

5. ...still have a bucket list item to strive for.

6. ...still love the trail with yearning.  Wanting to be hiking on it, experiencing the world of the AT, always.

7. ...not be afraid to adjust my goals and work my way towards them at a life enjoying pace.

8. ...not think of myself as a failure.

9. ...learn a lot about myself that I didn't know.

10. ...know that I did so much more than those who never leave their front door.

Peace,
EarthTone

Tracking the Trail

After yesterday's work at the Museum, I did a short trip up to Pole Steeple and back through the park to get some new GPS tracks and some pictures of the areas of interest.

It was a cold day with freezing rain and sleet coming down.  It made for an interesting hike.  Especially near the rocks of Pole Steeple.  All were coated in ice.  I stayed well away from the edge.  I don't think I would have been able to cross any of the rocks anyway, they were so slick.  It was fun coming back down the stone steps.  I had to bypass the trail a lot to stay on leaves.

Any day is a good day to be in the woods.

Here is a visual rending of the hike.

Pole Steeple to Rt 233

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