So I started last year hiking the Foothills Trail in SC/NC. A beautiful & little known long trail that goes between Table Rock & Oconee State Parks traversing some of the most gorgeous & challenging terrain SC has to offer. I started my quest with my daughter- we did 2 nights on a side trail from Jones Gap to Sassafras Mnt & got hail in April. The Took on a solo 4 night trip from Table Rock to Bad Creek & tested my skills. I did great, but found moleskins useless on a toe blister that cost me a toenail. I Flip-flopped from there doing a night from Oconee to Fish Hatchery in the pouring rain, then 2 day hikes from Bad Creek to White Water Falls & from Fish Hatchery to White Water Falls. All 77-78 miles walked!
A lot of lessons learned:
- I have a vivid imagination that can work against me at times, but I'm a great hiker & covered more ground easier that I thought I would.
-I can do no cooking easily for breakfast, but haven't found a great no-cook dinner yet. I've tried dried ramen mixed & cold couscous with mixed results. By that time of day, I need salt!
-I like warm weather hiking better than cold weather hiking. Lighter gear & less extras to take. This is the opposite of what I thought I'd prefer.
More lesson will come of course, but life is learning. It never stops.
So next summer, I'm going to begin tackling the AT in sections. This year (& this year's blog) will focus on getting ready to do that. So far, I've been reading lots. Some I recommend for you:
-Becoming Odyssa by Jennifer Pharr Davis is excellent & she's local! I hope to visit her hiking store this fall & read her other book on setting the speed record for the AT- 46 days from ME-GA!
-Southbound & Walking Home are 2 books by "the Barefoot Sisters." These 2 hiked from ME-GA in winter & then decided to walk back home to enjoy the spring flowers. Excellent trail details although not a guide book.
So- more post from me this year on this & similar topics (probably). I look forward to hearing from you, too!
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