Jeff aka Loner at Fontana Dam

I rec'd another email from my son, Jeff aka Loner. On the anniversary of the first week, he was able to cross the GA/NC line (video here). During the first week he was able  He was able to pick up the two drop boxes I sent.  One for his pack and one for town food or for his bounce box.  He did bounce some of it forward to Hot Springs.  He's passed the dam after two days of rain, but stayed dry at night.  Only one blister so far - no other problems.
 He was able to get into town at Hiawassee and NOC (The Nantahala Outdoor Center) video here, so within the first two weeks there are plenty of towns to stop in to resupply. Thirty miles into the trail after the descent from Blood Mtn. (video here) there's one outfitter at Neels Gap. Most AT All Thru-hikers stop in at Mountain Crossings store and hostel since the trail runs right through the building! Mountain crossings is only place where the trail runs right through the building and the only place on the  2,178-miles of the AT that passes under a roof.

Here thru-hikers can get a backpack shakedown by the highly knowledgeable outfitter staff. They weigh it there then tell you what you need and what you don't need to get your weight down. Some first-timers carry up to 35 lb packs!  They end up throwing a lot it away.  In many of the outfitters and hostels there are boxes or barrels where AT thru hikers can leave the stuff they don't need or want. Hikers who come after them can dig through it and restock. Each year, an average of  9,000 pounds of unnecessary stuff is sent home or left behind in the Mountain Crossings boxes and barrels.
Jeff let them do his backpack shakedown on his prep hike last October so he knew what was going to work this time to get the weight down to 13.5.

After Jeff left Fontana Dam, NC he entered the Smokey Mountains.  He produced a yout tube video of this section on his You Tube site LonerAT2012. Then climbed Clingman's Dome the highest mountain trail on the AT at  6,643 feet, Clingman's Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the highest point in Tennessee, and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi. There is a viewing tower at the top with 360 degree views, but I' think it's raining there so Jeff may not get to see this great angle of the Great Smoky Mtns. 
  I think it's around here that AT hikers keep straddling the Eastern Continental Divide circling around and switching back and forth into North Carolina and Tennessee.  And at this point he'd hiked 200 miles.

Jeff aka Loner at NOC

Actually my son, Jeff aka Loner (also on White Blaze) answered all my emails today - three in one day!  Yay!
He's making faster time than he thought he would.  He asked me to send his first box to Fontana Dam for Friday April 17 but now he'll be there Wed. April 18, so hopefully the first one will get there in time.  I sent another one today with just town food - stuff too big or heavy for his 13.5 lb. pack, at least that's what it weighed at the weigh in at sign in time at Amicalola Falls. It's just snack food for him to gorge on in town or send forward to another postal drop for future Jeff, as The Good Badger puts it. So that will end up returned.  I need to send boxes further ahead than we thought.

Hey again Mom,

Cool message and liked the Indian info and cool name. ( this is in answer to when I emailed him about the Algonquin Indian in his ancestry-  similar to what I wrote in an earlier post.) Thanks for sending the box.  I'll be in Fontana prob Wed.  The one you send on Friday will get returned so please don't send it if you have not already.  I can't wait on it.  

We heard about the bear can rule and did that whole run in one day and camped on the other side.  I saw a tore up bear bag and some claw marks on some trees. (Photo borrowed  from Shenandoah National Park site. )
I met a dude named James from Greenville but there may be others.  Been doing 17, 18, and 19 mile days.  But taking a slow day today at the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) and do about 12 today.   (photo by Mike of Forget-Me-Not and Filly entering the NOC).

Having a lot of fun but pushing too many miles too soon I think and my feet get tired.  Had great weather and seen some really cool stuff.  Got to visit a Indian Mound in Franklin, NC.

Please don't worry about the FBI thing.  (This was in regards to an AT Hiker AT name, Stonewall, who was murdered in fall of 2011 near Virginia.  I sent Jeff the FBI notice on the White Blaze website, a forum for AT enthusiasts, just so Jeff could be on the look out in that area in case the guy comes back.
Sorry Zach (The Good Badger) , I didn't do too hot about trying not to worry over my son earlier this week - I'm doing better now). 

And I've been taking salt tablets as it's what I purify my water.  Been doing good with water but some others have got sick and one guy quit because of blisters on every toe and another fell at blood mountain.  
 
Love ya,
Got to go, Jeff

By the way, the NOC, Nantahala Outdoor Center is an adventurer's dream - a large compound on the stunning Nantahala River, complete with Outfitter's Shop, Restaurant, Cabin rentals, kayak and canoe rentals, laundries, showers, computer access. It's one of the most elaborate pit stops for any AT thru-hiker and a destination for many day-trippers and overnighters.  After Jeff gets back I'd like to take a trip here with our family to explore the area.
Jeff's a big kayaker but I don't know yet if he interrupted his trek long enough to kayak any of the courses (all levels and many large competitions are held here) or if he just took the opportunity to refit his gear, resupply and eat a hot meal in a gorgeous location.  I'm glad he took the time to access a computer and email me.
Here's a cool blog and a great photo of the restaurant from Whitewater, another 2012 AT thru-hiker who went on trail before Jeff.  

1st e-mail from Jeff aka Loner at Hiawasee (I think)

Wow - Friday afternoon, April 13, 2012, I came home to find this email from my son, Jeff hiking the Appalachian Trail.  What a wonderful surprise - especially since we made a deal that Jeff would only write every 3 weeks.  He wanted to wait for 4, but Beth and I wheedled him down to 3.  And here it is less than a week, just 5 days/3 daylight hours into his journey.
 Yay!  Brief but enough.  Another lesson to be learned from an AT hiker  - appreciate the little things!


Hey Mom!

"Thanks for the ride up and the message.  All is fine here having a great time.  I'm going to cross into NC today.  80 miles so far. Has not been cold.  I've been hiking with a cool Mexican dude from TX who goes about the same speed.  We keep leapfrogging each other. 

Not going to be able to do any videos till i get back without a phone.  There's no time except for hiking, setting up camp, and eating.  And a total pain to get on a pc for even 5 minutes.  But I've been filming them.  Been doing between 12 and 16 miles a day so far.  Went to the 1st white blaze the first night.  Tics are here already.  The views are awesome.

If you like, could you please mail the 1st box to the Fontana Dam PO that I left yo?  I'll be there in a week or so.  If the bags (Jeff is talking about the trash compactor bag to keep his pack dry) are not there in time that's fine.  Thanks for doing that.  And sure just put anything in the boxes as a surprise. 

Everyone is nice here and helps each other.  Wish there was more time to write but will have to wait till I get back."

Love ya, Jeff aka Loner