ATsec'15

Map of the Appalachian Trail courtesy of appalachiantrail.org

Note:  As of June 4, 2015, I've terminated this year's AT hike for family issues.  You can read a bit about them on my last couple of AT blogs.

This link should get you to a map of my progress:

Cipher's AT Progress in Google Maps

AT Prep (a late addition to my AT page).  I wanted to explain my physical prep for my hike. It didn’t go as expected. In May and again in October 2014 I took two long backpacking trips to refine and test equipment and see how I would do physically (Isle Royale and Montana).  Everything went well but I realized I would be slow on the mountains. I was doing weekend day hikes and overnighters (~10 miles) in flat Texas state parks at other times. Then after Thanksgiving I started to believe I had developed a hernia. I began taking it easier. After Christmas I was pretty sure. But I was hoping it was minor enough I could ignore it. But I began having periods of pain. I went to the doctor and she confirmed my suspicion. I was told I needed to take it easy for six weeks after repair surgery. I hit the approach trail six weeks and three days after surgery. I took it easy to avoid injury and because my winter and spring conditioning was virtually nonexistent. I don't know if my lack of conditioning factored into my ankle injury near Franklin NC, but it sure didn't help. I’ve never before had any ankle or lower leg problems. I was unwilling to wait a year because of my age (59), but in hind-sight I probably should have!

The posts linked below will document my (hopefully successful) attempt to thru hike the Appalachian Trail in 2015.

Pre-Trail:

• Hiking the AT is On!  (Feb 28, 2015)
• What is the Appalachian Trail?  (Mar 1, 2015)
• Electronics for the AT  (Mar 1, 2015)
• Cogitations and Ruminations on Hiking the AT  (Mar 2, 2015)
• A Short Hike in Guadalupe River State Park (April 7, 2015)
• Desert Bighorn Sheep? (April 14, 2015) 
• 7 Days Until AT Start - Wild Flowers & Planning  (April 16, 2015)
• 1 Day Until AT Start - Traveling  (April 23, 2015)

Trail:

Day 1 Amicalola SP to Stover Creek Shelter
Day 2 Stover Creek Shelter to Gooch Mountain Shelter
Day 3 Gooch Mountain Shelter to Neels Gap
Day 4 Neels Gap to Low Gap Shelter
Day 5 Low Gap Shelter to Unicoi Gap
Day 6 Zero in Hiawasee GA
Day 7 Unicoi Gap to Deep Gap Shelter
Day 8 Deep Gap Shelter to Bly Gap
Day 9 Bly Gap to Unofficial Tent Site
Day 10 Unofficial Tent Site to Long Branch Shelter 

Day 11 Long Branch Shelter to Winding Stair Gap

Day 12 Zero in Franklin NC
Day 13 Still in Franklin NC
Injury Decision Point
AT Update and Photo Album
Day 13 (29) Winding Stair Gap to Wayah Crest Picnic Area
Day 14 Wayah Crest Picnic Area to Cold Spring Shelter
Day 15 Cool Spring Shelter to Nantahala Outdoor Center
Day 16 NOC to Locust Cove Gap
Day 17 Locust Cove Gap to Cable Gap Shelter
Day 18 Cable Gap Shelter to Fontana 28 AT Crossing
Day 19 Zero at Fontana Village
Day 20 Nero from Fontana Marina to Fontana Hilton
Day 21 Fontana Shelter to Russell Field Shelter
Day 22 Russell Field Shelter to Siler's Bald Shelter
Day 23 Siler's Bald Shelter to Icewater Springs Shelter
Day 24 Icewater Spring Shelter to Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Day 25 AT Stop - Tri-Corner Knob Shelter to Davenport Gap
AT Slideshow from Winding Stair Gap to Davenport Gap

Post Trail:
AT Final Thoughts, Part I, General
AT Final Thoughts, Part II, Electronics
AT Gear List, Apr to Jun 2015