Monday, April 21, 2008

GA-NC-OMG!!

Hi everyone, writing to you from Franklin, NC, where I am currently taking a bit of a rest day at the Budget Inn. Obviously, I have passed into my second state on the trip, and I can definitely say that North Carolina is slightly easier on the average hiker than Georgia was; the hills are much more gradual, few gaps to slog up and out of, etc. Regardless of the difficulty or the beauty of the vistas though, the people are really the interesting part of the trip and what makes it all worthwhile. Whether it be the stories heard while hanging around the shelter/ campground at night or those picked up while in town, there is much more to be had than simply a walk in the woods. Its amazing how such close knit community can exist stretched out over thousands of miles and across cultural and generational gaps. In fact, many people have remarked how un-wilderness like it is. More planning goes into how to get into town when a post office is open than does finding water or keeping the bears away.
That being said, the woods here are beautiful and one can seemingly go through several different ecosystems on a single day. Yesterday for instance started low on Standing Indian Mountain with dry trees and little green vegetation, but as the altitude got higher we were enveloped by rohdodendron forests with lots of wildflowers and views of the sun chasings clouds across rolling peaks. Going up Albert Mt. resembled the Andes, with steep drop offs to the side of the trail and twisted trees hanging onto cliff faces for dear life, while elsewhere whole valleys of trees parched white by winter were covered with sea-green lichen, looking otherworldly against the blue sky. My favorite is seeing a spring gushing out of the ground from beneath the roots of a tree, always a sigh of good water, and listening as it gains momentum and power on its downward journey towards the rivers.
In short its been pretty amazing so far, very tough in spots, but overall rewarding. You learn some things very fast (like how to set up a new tent in the rain) and others more gardually (like exactly how to pull yourself up a ledge with hiking poles, an oft repeated activity). I seem to be moving at a pretty good pace, and after this one restful day of luxury in town, I'm going to try and stay to the trail as much as possible in order to make it to Trail Days in Damascus, VA (a huge hiker event held in that town every year). As always, feel free to write back. The next convienient mail drop will be at 111 Bridge St, Hot Springs, NC, 28743-9231, again labled with "hold for Northbound Appalachian Trail hiker Jeff Bernardoni". Hope everyone is well, and looking foward to seeing people as I inch my way up the map towards home.

1 comment:

elise said...

thanks for the post! i'm loving these. keep warm and dry for tonight at least.
love you.