Breakoff After 4 Days

Everything was different then I thought.

My achilles tendon issue came up again. After 3 and a half day I had to abort my hike. I don't know what was the reason again, but it seems like my backpack was to heavy again. Next time I try not to have 44 lbs but under 35. I already have a plan how I can succeed ...

I didn't also expect the weather to be that rainy and the trail to be that lonely but either didn't cause a big problem. A wet sleeping bag could be dried in a few hours ;-)
Like everytime I had too much food for the first days. A little too much clothes (maybe even for the wrong application), big backpack, leaky pack bag and some useless gear added more weight than neccessary.

Maybe I just have to learn it on the hard way ;-) But now I'm sure, I know what was wrong and what I have to improve.

I'm definitly coming back on this trail! Now I know what I have to expect, also I know the right time to meet many people.

More impressions and pictures are coming the next days!

Yours,

Jasper

3...2...1...Start

In a few moments I'm going to departure towards Amicola Falls State Park in Georgia. There I'll spend the night and then start my hike tomorrow morning.

My backpack has a baseweight about 14 kilograms. With food for 5 days it's close to 20. :-0

During my trip I'm trying to post some short notes here.

Wish me luck,

Jasper

Nice Quote

Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great.
You can be that great generation.

Nelson Mandela

Today is the last day of my internship here in South Carolina.
Almost everything is ready. I got my water filter, the hydration system and the 1st-Aid Kit yesterday.
Only my tent is missing. But I got a tracking number yesterday night and it will be deliverd on Friday. So I hopefully have it at the right time.
I put all my food together and am going to ship it tomorrow. Everything should work out fine.
I worked out a new schedule for my hike. Probably post it here tonight!

Have a nice day,

Jasper

Trip Schedule

This is now my first sketch for the hike!

Week 1:

Day 1 (14.9 mi): Springer Mountain ---> Gooch Mountain Shelter
Day 2 (16.7 mi): Gooch Mountain Shelter ---> Bull Gap Tentsite
Day 3 (16.7 mi): Bull Gap Tentsite ---> Blue Mountain Shelter
Day 4 (14.8 mi): Blue Mountain Shelter ---> Deep Gap Shelter
Day 5 (15.1 mi): Deep Gap Shelter ---> Muskrat Creek Shelter
Day 6 (18.4 mi): Muskrat Creek Shelter ---> Bear Pen Trail
Day 7 Break

Week 2:

Day 8 (18.1 mi): Bear Pen Trail ---> Bartram Trail
Day 9 (18.4 mi): Bartram Trail ---> A. Rufus Morgan Shelter
Day 10 (16.8 mi): A. Rufus Morgan Shelter ---> Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Day 11 (18.6 mi): Brown Fork Gap Shelter ---> Birch Spring Tentsite
Day 12 (17.1 mi): Birch Spring Tentsite ---> Derrick Knob Shelter
Day 13 (9.7 mi): Birch Spring Tentsite ---> mi 195.3 Clingmans Dome
Day 14 Break
Day 15 Break
Day 8-13 need to be planed better to get a more equal mileage.

Week 3:

Day 16 (11.3 mi): 195.3 ---> Icewater Spring Shelter
Day 17 (12.8 mi): Icewater Spring Shelter ---> Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Day 18 (14.8 mi): Tri-Corner Knob Shelter ---> Davenport Gap Shelter
Day 19 (10 mi): Davenport Gap Shelter ---> Croundhog Creek Shelter
Day 20 (13 mi): Croundhog Creek Shelter ---> Walnut Mountain Shelter
Day 21 (13 mi): Walnut Mountain Shelter ---> Hot Springs NC
If I like I'm going to extend the last week a bit, because the mileage is not very high.

This is my plan. I have to see, how good it work out with supply and rest days. Maybe I'm going to change a littlebit and look for a more equal distance every day.

So far,

Jasper