AT 2022 Oh what a year! 22 miles of the SNP, the Approach trail and beyond.

Verse for the day:
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/jer.29.11-13.NKJV

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Part 1: We started off celebrating 10 years of Kris’ AT thru hike of 2012 with the first 600 miles with his Dad. Their trail names were Joshua and Caleb. (They have a Facebook page, that is still up, if interested: Joshua and Caleb on the AT.)

Kenneth and I drove up to Luray, VA and met Kris, Carla and grandson Kenaniah, who was soon to turn 4 at Spacious Skies Campground. We rented a cabin for 5 days. Kenneth and Carla corralled the grandson while Kris and I hiked 22 more miles of the Shenandoah section of the AT. It was a beautiful time together as a family, and a special time hiking with my son. We had breathtaking views of the northern section of the SNP.

Part 2

In the fall, I had the privilege of joining some of my hiking buddies from Women’s Hoosier Hiker Backpackers. (I will share more about WHHB in another post).

Liz C wanted to celebrate being 25 years cancer free by hiking a portion of the AT! And she wanted to start at Springer Mountain. On one of our earlier group hikes with WHHB, I heard them planning and asked if I could tag along. Suzie had the same idea. They graciously allowed us to crash their party!

So when fall came, we had it all planned out. I was going down early, with Diane. Diane wanted to hike too (another party crasher). She has a brother who lives in Georgia, near the trail. Together, she and I traveled down, visited some sights with her brother and sister in law, and enjoyed their hospitality.

I was eager to join up with the rest of the girls, however and let this epic journey begin! Diane’s brother drove her and me to the Approach Trail arch. The building was under construction, so we had to sign in at a make shift trailer. Then we hit the trail. Amicalola Falls- fabulous. Such a beautiful majestic fall, but over 600 + steps to climb it! Approximately 8.5 miles and 600+ steps later, we made it to the top. After resting a bit there at a nice bathroom and picnic area, we continued on, hiking to the first white blaze of the trail and the AT plaque. Onward we went to the springer mountain camping area for the night.

I should mention, the AT approach trail is really not a good idea for first time backpackers. I recommend you figure out your gear and get some practice in first! We met a dad and a son half way up this extremely challenging approach trail. The dad was already nursing his feet. They had lots of heavy gear. The son was probably in his early 20s and Dad, early 40s. We talked to them a bit and gave them some sock and shoe advice. They told us this was their first backpacking experience. They had 4 days and wanted to do something together. The Dad said he googled and you- tubed everything and bought the gear. They were food to go ( so they thought.)

A few miles later, we refilled our water, using our filters. Along came the guys. It was hot. They had no water left in their water bottles. But, they had a life straw. They would try that now, they said. We went on with questions on our faces- is that going to work? Are they going to make it? Diane and I had our doubts.

After we’d been to camp awhile, had tents set up and working on camp chores, along came the Dad- Son combo. They were tired, hot and thirsty! The Dad said the life filter wasn’t working – not enough water! We shared ours with them and filtered more near a stream at camp. Dad decided to call a shuttler to pick them up the next morning, but they said they would tough it out tonight. Good for them!

It started raining about 6 am early the next morning, with winds and thunder and lighting. When I ventured out of the tent, the guys were almost completely packed up. They’d gotten wet- the tent design didn’t work so well. He also had a cpap machine and 8 batteries he was carrying. He thanked us for our help. He gave me a mountain house breakfast he wasn’t going to fix and a whole role of toilet paper. We said our goodbyes. Diane and I hoped the father- son duo didn’t throw in the backpacking towel, so to speak.

We were to meet up the next morning with the rest of the group, the 2 Liz’s and Suzie, at the top of Springer Mountain at the first white blaze, so they too could experience the exhilarating moment of reaching the iconic southern terminus of the AT.

It was still raining- had been all morning. Diane and I hiked back about 1/2 mile to the blaze and waited. They were supposed to meet us at 10am. We waited and waited in the rain. Finally, we found out they didn’t get dropped off until 11:00am from the parking lot. We headed out and met them half way, took them to the starting blaze on Springer, then headed back on to Hawk Mt shelter.

The rain did not let up. By the time we finally got to the shelter, we had been walking through a trail flooded with cold water. It was like being in a trough that you couldn’t get out of. There were others in the shelter. Diane, and the 2 Liz’s stayed on the main floor with a couple of guys. Suzie and I opted for the loft, where there was a couple from Chattanooga. We took off our wet clothes and got in our sleeping bags to get warm.

The next morning, some of the girls wanted to get off trail and get dry. They were discouraged. We decided to get a ride into into Blairsville to a hotel. Diane called her brother and went home to Hiawasee with him. The 4 of us ordered pizza and washed clothes, hung out wet gear all over the room, warmed up and rested.

That evening I shared with the girls what I believe the Lord gave me to help us stay focused and overcome the circumstances, in this case, the rain! I got this motto :

“Persevere. Do not fear. I AM here!”

That motto has stuck with me, because I know if I don’t quit, I’m gonna make it, because the Lord is my Helper!

The girls and I prayed that night and re-committed our lives to the One Who would help us, because He is here with us! Jesus Christ.

The next day, 4 of us shuttled back to the trail. Diane would join us again in a few days. We hiked on to Gooch Shelter.

Gooch shelter was a nice area. Good campsites, a shelter with a loft and covered picnic table and 2 bear vaults to put your food bags in. And don’t forget the privy! Water wasn’t far away either. We had a fairly good nights sleep, although it was windy. I heard a big crash not far away in the middle of the night. I thought maybe it was deer running through the forest . The next morning, we talked with a couple there while we all gathered around under the shelter to have breakfast and coffee. The couple said a large branch fell out of a tree right next to where their hammocks were! Also at the shelter was a couple who were finishing up a section hike. He was a fireman and she was an oncologist, from Arizona, I believe. That perked up mine and Liz C ‘s ears. Liz was the one who had won the fight against breast cancer. They talked and talked.

For the trip, I had bought special breast cancer awareness bandanas and had given to each of our hiking group. I had a couple left. I gave one to the oncologist. She was thrilled! Who knew Liz would get to share her experience and her faith that brought her through her ordeal right there on the trail? That was a God set up! Both ladies were encouraged and helped and maybe others listening in also.

Liz L felt like she was done. ☹️😥

Her Achilles tendons were acting up. She thought she was getting tendinitis. She hiked with us to Woody Gap and shuttled back to her car.

Liz C, Suzie and I carried on.

It was a beautiful day, as we hiked up a mountain and saw Preacher’s rock. As we enjoyed the view on the cliff where we stood, a head popped up before us- some guy was climbing up from below the cliff. He asked us if we wanted to go see a nest of baby copperheads. There was a rattlesnake down there too. We said no thanks! He went ahead down the trail. Soon we caught up with him. He was poking at a big copperhead when we arrived, just off the trail with a big stick. We quickly made a wide birth around. This guy was snake 🐍 crazy!



We had a nice hike and no rain to Lance Creek campsite. No one else was there. We hung our food bags after supper on the bear cables and got some sleep.

The next morning, we were planning to hike up and over Blood Mountain into Neels Gap. We quickly changed our plans, however, when Liz C felt nauseous when she got up and started vomiting. We called a shuttle to meet us at the next trailhead, which was 3.4 miles away. Liz had trouble. She became disoriented. Liz couldn’t move very fast and had to rest. We’d been flooding her with electrolyte supplements since she’d been awake. We decided to split up. Suzie stayed with her while they rested and I took off for the trailhead where our shuttle driver was patiently waiting. I told Suzie if she got any worse to call 911. Then I lost signal. I had a mile an a half to get to the shuttler and he was on a time limit. Once I arrived, I gave him my pack and told him what was going on. He said he’d wait. Thank you, Mr Anderson!

I came back for the other two. Meanwhile Liz began to feel better. They left her pack on the trail and Suzie and she made it finally to the trailhead. I went back for Liz’ pack. The shuttler, Mr Anderson drove us to Neel’s Gap. I had called Liz L to come pick up Liz C. She was already driving north but came back and got her. She was feeling much more herself by this time. I told her to get checked out at the emergency room. In spite of the challenges, Liz C was able to hike 25 miles with us for her 25th anniversary, and we were grateful. Liz L hiked just a few miles less. But, Suzie and I weren’t finished yet!

Suzie and I stayed overnight at Blood Mt cabins and regrouped. They did our laundry for us but it wasn’t ready until 11am the next day, so got a late start. It was nice though, to rest up, take a shower and eat pizza! I had a resupply box there. We headed out and saw beautiful views, up and down the mountains. The views were breathtaking but our favorite was on the way to the shelter. We took a side journey, a blue blaze, to Whitney Gap shelter. It was 1.4 miles off the AT but we knew we couldn’t go the distance to the next shelter with the time remaining. We saw fresh bear scat for the first time! We were a bit scared. Once we arrived at the shelter, the Boy Scouts we had met at Nell’s Gap were bedded down for the night in the shelter. The leaders were up, tending the fire and attempting to dry the wet clothes over the fire with lines strung like a clothes line. They generously offered to fill our water, which we gladly accepted.

It was dark once we got tents up. It was way after 7 pm. We sat down at the picnic table near the fire and the line full of clothes. As usual, it rained on and off all day. I wanted something quick and easy, but warm for supper. I had a packet of powdered eggs and some spam. When I went to rehydrate the eggs, I saw I had bought the wrong thing. This was a packet that was equivalent to 24 eggs, 🥚 like you would add to other ingredients. I spooned out a couple of tablespoons and added water. Yuck! 🤢 They were horrible! Suzie offered her mustard. With that and the spam they were somewhat edible. It was the worst meal ever. 🚫 🥚 I have thankfully improved on my skill making backpacking meals since!😂

It stormed most of the night. We waited until 9 am to pack up, thinking that the rain was about over. However it rained all day. We were soaked most of the day. We hiked back up out of the gap and to the next shelter. We arrived about 2:30pm there, thinking we would just eat lunch and move on. However, I was ready to get out of the rain. I looked at Suzie, and she agreed. We were done for today! We enjoyed watching it rain and not being in it!

A group of younger Boy Scouts, Jr high age and younger, came to the shelter and the camping area- probably 20 in all. We got a kick out of watching them horse around, set up their tents and hammocks and fix and eat suppers, playing Star Wars, etc all in the rain. One older guy with a brace on his leg, a scout leader, stayed in the shelter with us, along with a section hiker.

The next morning , I got my food bad down from the bear cables. It was drowned. One inch of water stood on the bottom of the bag. My lighter was in the bottom of the bag, floating. I had to borrow Suzie’s to light my stove.

We felt better and hiked more miles in mostly sunny skies, up to Blue Mountain Shelter. It was a long climb up but very rewarding. It has a nice tenting area and shelter. We were able to string up our food bag lines and makeshift a clothesline where we hung our tents for a couple of hours before we set them up.

The evening was amazing. It was a very meaningful and spiritual evening. Two thru -hikers came through and spent the night with us. The first came up while Suzie and I were eating our evening meal at the shelter. He was a doctor, southbound, finishing up his thru hike. He would meet his wife at Springer Mountain and hike down with her. He was a Christian and shared his testimony with us.

Not long after, another sobo thru hiker came in, carrying a small guitar. We had church! We sang hymns and contemporary Christian worship songs. We even sang some original songs the guitarist, whose trail name was Wind song, composed and one of mine too. We prayed together and ended our night. The bear cables were broken and I saw no good trees to hang our food bags. The doctor volunteered to watch them for us, hanging them in the shelter.

🐁 The next morning, the Doc apologized. He said a mouse kept trying to get into my bag. He’d wack it with a broom, only for him to come back in a few minutes. Doc eventually fell asleep, and the mouse had a midnight snack, gnawing a hole in my food bag! 🐭 Doc felt bad, but it was ok. I knew better than to hang it in a shelter! It just gave me an excuse to buy a new bag next year-one that was waterproof and more rodent resistant!!

Suzie and I headed out the next day to a large gap with parking and privys! Diane met up with us there with some trail magic- diet Cokes! We hiked together up Trey Mountain, which was quite an ascent! It was beautiful when we finally reached the top. On the way, Diane, who was in the lead, saw two cubs! Suzie and I missed them. We camped in an area where we could easily get out of our tents in the morning and watch the sun rise. Both sunset and sunrise are spectacular! There was a cool breeze that night but no rain! The stars were brilliant! It was a magnificent night.

The next day, our final one, we hiked all the way down Trey Mountain, 11.5 miles to Dicks Creek Gap. We were picked up by Diane’s brother, who took us to the Hostel Around the Bend to check it out and get some souvenirs and pictures.

This was the end of the trail for us for 2022. Suzie and I did 69 miles together. With the Approach trail too, I accomplished 77.5 miles! I was pleased. Time to go home. We may have feared but we persevered! He was there! Thank you, Lord! You were another to your Word. 💜 📖