Journal Entries

Well, my fellow travelers and hikers-- I am still trying to keep moving and getting into the forest to preserve my sanity! Today, I hiked for about three miles on the Art Loeb Trail starting from the trailhead along the Davidson River. Naturally, every day I miss my time on the AT. And boy, have I lost my trail legs!!

This was a real gem to find along the trail today--it's past the blooming season for most of the rhododendrons. So I stopped for a few moments to enjoy its perfection. There is a saying that flowers don't compete with other flowers--they just bloom when they are ready. Be like the flowers.

The most important part of the trail for me was the forest healing, the therapy of being out there. Finding a way to replace that therapy while off the trail is taking some effort. I'm blessed to live in North Carolina where there are such beautiful mountains and trails. So getting out there even for day hikes is a priority. In addition, I have been working on mindfulness meditation to help me adjust. There are two audiobooks that you simply must listen to--these were real game changers for me-- "Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics" and "10% Happier" read by the author Dan Harris. It's not my habit to recommend books but these are so relevant to our modern life, on and off the trail.

Right now, practicing loving compassion for all is my mindfulness exercise, even for the most difficult in my life. I experience deep gratitude for those who hike with me in life and have been a positive influence and I will work on mentally developing compassion for some people who have done some seriously ugly stuff. You gotta know that people who hurt other people intentionally aren't feeling good themselves. No matter what you do to hurt me, my internal happiness is not yours to take!

Hope you have enjoyed today's trail beauty. Happy Trails, Deb

One of the conflict areas where I worked was Liberia-a country largely modeled after the USA. Rural areas suffer from a lack of clean water. As hikers we know how much work it is to collect our liter bottles of water—but imagine that you have to provide water for all uses for your extended family, elders, littles, the disabled and all. This arduous task usually falls to the women of the family. So I am supporting this project in Liberia. I know the groups involved and have met them personally in Liberia. Please read about the project for its interest when you have time. Donating is appreciated but not required. None of the funds go to my hike. Only to help the project get on its feet with an ultimate goal of self-suffficiency. GoFundMe.com/cleanwaterforliberia

Well, it has been awhile since I have written anything. Sadly, I am off the trail due to an ambush at Cantaroso Farms by my spouse. He served me with divorce papers on the trail! That's all I am going to say about that. Needless to say, I had to come home to attend to legal business.

As my life moves into some semblance of normalcy, I hope to remain a resource for the AT community and help in any way I can. I am close to both Franklin and Hot Springs--so please don't hesitate to reach out if I can help. Right now, I am doing a work for stay in order to be close to the lawyer business in Asheville. It's not a hostel but rather a private home that is interested in permaculture. Maybe in the future I can get involved in more trail maintenance in the area.

My tentative plan is to hike the Mountain to Sea trail in 2019 and then make another attempt at an AT thru in 2020. It all depends on how my life shakes out. I really feel for all the hikers that have had to drop out for one reason or another-- whatever it might be. We should start a support group!

Note: The photo is of one of the many beauties you will find at your feet along the trail. Hope you enjoy identifying the plants that surround us as much as I do!

One of the conflict areas where I worked was Liberia-a country largely modeled after the USA. Rural areas suffer from a lack of clean water. As hikers we know how much work it is to collect our liter bottles of water—but imagine that you have to provide water for all uses for your extended family, elders, littles, the disabled and all. This arduous task usually falls to the women of the family. So I am supporting this project in Liberia. I know the groups involved and have met them personally in Liberia. Please read about the project for its interest when you have time. Donating is appreciated but not required. None of the funds go to my hike. Only to help the project get on its feet with an ultimate goal of self-suffficiency. GoFundMe.com/cleanwaterforliberia

Today, I am on a break at mile 344 near Erwin, TN at the Cantarroso Farm and Hostel. The view is from an overlook on the trail with a view of the Nolichucky River. These overlooks are amazing but some of them make me downright dizzy!

Last week my son picked me up at Natures Inn at mile 319 near Sams Gap and we went to Knoxville TN to visit his wife’s grandparents. It was quite a treat because I was meeting them for the first time and they were so gracious and had a beautiful home. Especially wonderful was seeing my two year old granddaughter Anna Marie-I have missed her ever-smiling face. Just to add to all the wonderful ness-I got celebrate my birthday and my son’s birthday too!

So maybe I am not moving up the trail in record time. One thing about the Appalachian Trail is that hikers have different goals and objectives. My primary objective is to stay injury free and so far I have! I still struggle with the foot pain that I have had all my life, but at least I don’t get blisters! All my outdoors barefoot life as permaculture gardener has seen to that.

Another objective newly discovered is to explore alternative getaways in beautiful places! I have discovered so much charm, kindness and downright beauty in all the various hostels I have visited. These are places worth returning to in the future.

A lifelong interest of mine has been useful plants-plants for food, plants for medicine, and beauty. Since I have all day to study the plants at my feet as I walk (saunter as John Muir suggests), I am learning new ones all the time and they stick in my memory because I see them every day.

Well, I have to sign off now and get my pack ready because I will head to the trail at 0700 in the morning. Maybe if I get up early I can make farm fresh eggs before I go. Today I had them for breakfast right out of the coop across from my cabin.

Thanks for following me. Please feel free to tell me about your adventures-AT or otherwise in the comments!

One of the conflict areas where I worked was Liberia-a country largely modeled after the USA. Rural areas suffer from a lack of clean water. As hikers we know how much work it is to collect our liter bottles of water—but imagine that you have to provide water for all uses for your extended family, elders, littles, the disabled and all. This arduous task usually falls to the women of the family. So I am supporting this project in Liberia. I know the groups involved and have met them personally in Liberia. Please read about the project for its interest when you have time. Donating is appreciated but not required. None of the funds go to my hike. Only to help the project get on its feet with an ultimate goal of self-suffficiency. GoFundMe.com/cleanwaterforliberia

Well, I passed mile 300 and had a pretty tough night and next day. It was raining pretty hard in the morning when I started out from the Hemlock Hollow Hostel. Most of the hikers had decided to stick there because of bad weather on the way. It rained early in the morning but as the day wore on the rain let up and the wind dried my clothes. I as feeling pretty good despite the wind and went over Firescald Bald instead of taking the Bad Weather Bypass. That might not have been the wisest decision I have ever made! Between the rock scrambling and the howling winds on unprotected ridges—it was downright scary. The views were stunning though and I did take about two photos on the highest ridge. I was too terrified to linger very long. Luckily, I’m from NC and I definitely want to come back someday in safer weather.

All was going ok until I reached about mile 300 and the torrential downpours started up again. I got completely soaked again, so when I got to Jerry’s Cabin Shelter I threw up my TarpTent Notch in a hurry. Only expecting rain, I did not stake the tent out as much as I should have. Most of us were sleeping peacefully when we thought the rain stopped! LOL, but it had turned to quiet snow and I woke up with lots of condensation in my tent because there was two inches of icy snow weighing down the sides. Fortunately, I had dry clothes to change into but my sleeping gear and tent were soaked.

I got up without eating or filling water bottles and headed down the trail to warm up by hiking. That might be the fastest I have ever hiked! Most of you know I am a very slow hiker. My role model is John Muir who is quoted as suggesting that we “saunter!” But I flew that day and I am not kidding when I tell you that Laurel Hostel at mile 311 was a real lifesaver! Laurel Hostel is just 150 yards off the trail and a lot of us hikers filled the place up, shivering and wet, and grateful to be out of the snow. We got a ride into town to resupply at Walmart and we all ate Mexican food till we thought we would bust!

It was a tough night and day that ended well. The next night was spent in the Natures Inn Hostel where I waited for my son and his family to pick me up for a visit in Knoxville. It was so good to see family and especially my little granddaughter Anna who is now two. As I write this, I’m back at Natures Inn and will get back on the trail tomorrow. I’m eager to get back but today there was a high wind warning and I decided to be cautious.

I think I am still on track to make Trail Days in Damascus and I hope to meet a lot of new and old friends there. Until then, happy trails! Peace is green, Slosh

One of the conflict areas where I worked was Liberia-a country largely modeled after the USA. Rural areas suffer from a lack of clean water. As hikers we know how much work it is to collect our liter bottles of water—but imagine that you have to provide water for all uses for your extended family, elders, littles, the disabled and all. This arduous task usually falls to the women of the family. So I am supporting this project in Liberia. I know the groups involved and have met them personally in Liberia. Please read about the project for its interest when you have time. Donating is appreciated but not required. None of the funds go to my hike. Only to help the project get on its feet with an ultimate goal of self-suffficiency. GoFundMe.com/cleanwaterforliberia

Well, I made to mile 274-ish and the lovely town of Hot Springs. As you can see from the photo, the AT runs right through town with an AT blaze right on the sidewalk. I'm fortunate to stay with my good friend John Watkins who sells native plants in Madison County. He knows more about trees and plants of this are than anybody I know.

There are so many things to write about but I only write when I am in town so I can never cover them all. But I was thinking that some folks haven't started yet and may still be looking for conditioning ideas and I wanted to share some ways to get fit before the trail and stay fit on. My approach is generally functional fitness for life. This is different than athletic competitiveness. Lots of athletes consider injury part of the deal. That's something different than fitness from my perspective. My prime objective is to be fit AND injury-free.

So first, check out Katy Bowman, the biomechanist. She can show how to move and also how to incorporate strengthening movements into daily life. No gym needed. FB: https://www.facebook.com/NutritiousMovement/

Next, there is a great 21-day program that you can get started with- Primal Blueprint. I am a certified coach with this program and I really learned a lot about the Paleo lifestyle that incorporates a high fat low carb diet with functional fitness. Again-no gym needed. https://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-primal-blueprint-21-day-challenge/

Best functional fitness youtube videos are MovNat. In our indoor furniture-bound world we have forgotten how to move in the ways our bodies were designed. https://www.youtube.com/user/MovNat

I'm a big fan of the squat! Put your full weighted pack on and see if you can do a full squat. That's going to do a lot to build trail legs and let you know how you handle your pack weight. Check one of the resources above for proper form for a squat to prevent injury.

Last but not least--cat holes are good for you! Fans of the Squatty Potty know what I am talking about. Squatting is the anatomically correct way to poop folks. Take advantage of this on the trail and say goodbye to the privy!

Well, I hope that gave you some ideas. I look forward to meeting more folks on the trail. Slosh signing off here.

One of the conflict areas where I worked was Liberia-a country largely modeled after the USA. Rural areas suffer from a lack of clean water. As hikers we know how much work it is to collect our liter bottles of water—but imagine that you have to provide water for all uses for your extended family, elders, littles, the disabled and all. This arduous task usually falls to the women of the family. So I am supporting this project in Liberia. I know the groups involved and have met them personally in Liberia. Please read about the project for its interest when you have time. Donating is appreciated but not required. None of the funds go to my hike. Only to help the project get on its feet with an ultimate goal of self-suffficiency. GoFundMe.com/cleanwaterforliberia

Halfway through the Smokies and my thoughts on bears, Gatlinburg and memories...

Well, I was a bit clueless when I got off the trail at Newfound Gap and didn’t realize I was headed into Gatlinburg on the double whammy of Spring Break and Easter Weekend! Reception on the trail was hit and miss and I texted my daughter to find me a place to stay. There wasn’t much left! I haven’t been to the Smokies in about 55 years now but it seems pretty much the same to me as I remember it! Maybe more of the same-candy shops, stuffed bears, t-shirts and chair lifts... My mom and dad brought us to the Smokies camping every August when I was a little girl. I guess that probably planted the seed of mountain love in my little heart way back then. Not that my dad was a primitive camper—we had his old Army tent and Coleman stove and cots and the works. But still it was the mountains and I remember wading in the creeks and playing outside. As for bears, our family album includes a photo of a full size bear with its front paws on the roof of our little Corvair looking for a picnic handout. So the bear issue has been around for a long time.

That said, so far I have had no bear issues. The photo is of cub tracks that I took after heading NOBO from Spence Field. I tracked Mom and the cubs for miles up the trail. One of the advantages of being the slowest person on the trail is that I see a lot of details. I have been hanging my Ursack on the bear cables to be on the safe side although I anticipate no problems. One fellow did lose his Ursack but he had tied it to stump—not a proper way to secure it since the bear can just pull it up and off. Poor bear though. Most likely he can’t get into the Ursack and now he is just mad. There have been some bear sightings near some of the shelters. I can’t wait to get out of the Smokies because I like stealth camping. So far, I have been lucky and all of the shelters have been full. This has enabled me to tent and I have not been forced to sleep in a shelter yet. I try to tent as far from the shelter as I can.

One of the conflict areas where I worked was Liberia-a country largely modeled after the USA. Rural areas suffer from a lack of clean water. As hikers we know how much work it is to collect our liter bottles of water—but imagine that you have to provide water for all uses for your extended family, elders, littles, the disabled and all. This arduous task usually falls to the women of the family. So I am supporting this project in Liberia. I know the groups involved and have met them personally in Liberia. Please read about the project for its interest when you have time. Donating is appreciated but not required. None of the funds go to my hike. Only to help the project get on its feet with an ultimate goal of self-suffficiency. GoFundMe.com/cleanwaterforliberia