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Appalachian Trail NOBO
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  • Lee Adourian

Appalachian Trail NOBO

Hiking the Appalachian trail northbound from Feb 22, 2023 to ???? Read more
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    Lee AdourianAppalachian Trail NOBOTraveler

    Update!!

    March 17, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    **Update to the Update!!**

    I will be flying back down to Atlanta on May 1st and will be resuming my AT hike northbound on May 2nd. Very excited!

    Will be trekking 4-5 consecutive days at a time followed by 1-2 days off, then repeat. Hopefully this will be amenable to my Vertigo and I will be able to continue on for an extended period of time.

    More to come!!    Read more

  • Lee AdourianAppalachian Trail NOBOTraveler

    Day 8

    March 3, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 41 °F

    *** Update ***
    Just outside of town on hiking Day 8, I started experiencing severe double vision, dizziness and nausea. I was able to get to a hospital where I was seen by a local Neurologist and diagnosed with Spatial Vertigo (PPPD). A sensory overload condition triggered in my case by the constant eye/vision focus (8 hrs per day, every day) on the trail in front of me (foot and trekking pole placement) with not enough equilibrium recalibration time spent on viewing things medium & longer distances away.
    The doctor, who is a hiker and athlete, said it would most likely come back if I kept on thru hiking based on the technical nature of Appalachian Trail and the need to continually focus on the ground 6 feet in front of you. He has a close friend that has this same type of Vertigo, and he has had to switch to section hiking (vs thru hiking) with a max of 4-5 days hard trekking separated by at least 2 weeks of regular daily life.

    So, not a great scenario, but 3 days later, the nausea and dizziness subsided and I was able to fly home to seek out my Neurologist for a 2nd opinion.
    I'm extremely disappointed about the situation seeing as my legs and lungs are feeling so strong, but understand that being safe and smart are priorities and that life happens and sometimes you have to adjust and be creative.

    A big part of the disappointment also lies in leaving the strong relationships built in just the first 2 weeks on the trail, and watching those newfound friends continue their trek “up the trail” without me. But excited at the same time to follow them on their YouTube channels/trail journals, watching their accomplishments and experiences from afar, and scheduling my section hikes where I can reunite with them over the next 6 months to be a part of their epic journey.

    I appreciate all of the support and encouragement from friends and family during this adventure, and can’t wait to successfully complete the trail in sections over the next 2 years. Upward and Onward!    Read more

  • Lee AdourianAppalachian Trail NOBOTraveler

    Day 7

    March 1, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    Cheese Factory site to Dick’s Creek Gap road.

    12.7 miles today, 69.2 total miles.

    Everyone was up and at ‘em and on trail by 7:30 am. All were excited to get to Dick’s Creek Gap road crossing by the end of the day, which meant a zero day tomorrow in Hiawassee, GA to wait out the upcoming thunderstorms. Relaxing hotel room, McDonalds, Starbucks, and Ingles grocery store to re-supply. Yum. Yum. Yum.

    But first, on the hottest (78) and most humid day yet, there was scaling 4,500 ft Tray mountain at 8:30 am.
    Adding insult to injury were 3 different water stops today that were all 0.2 off the trail (so 0.4 round trip each, distance that “doesn’t count”). Down a hill 1/5 a mile, lugging 3 lbs of water back up to your backpack.

    The piece de resistance was the final summit of the day, the trek up Kelly Knob. The steepest rise of the AT thus far. Where’s the sensitivity? No thought to at least add some switchbacks?? 🙁😳

    This hit us early afternoon after we were physically and mentally spent. There was then the 4.5 mile ridge run mostly downhill to Dick’s Creek Gap and our shuttle rides into Hiawassee.

    There is a well known phrase that “the trail provides”. Almost every day, usually when you need it most, there is a moment or a situation that occurs that helps you physically, mentally and/or emotionally. On that downhill toward town, when I was feeling my lowest, I quickly came up on a husband and wife who’s story I had seen/been following on YouTube. Their YouTube site and trail name is “The 592 Movement”. Their combined weight is 592 pounds. The husband’s name is Buddy. In a vial attached to the front of his backpack was some of his father’s ashes. His Dad had always dreamed of hiking the AT, but never got the chance. They were bringing his spirit along, and at the same time, trying to become healthier and have an adventure of a lifetime. They aren’t fast hikers, and it certainly can’t be easy for them, but they were probably the most happy twosome I have seen out there on the trail. When I stopped with them at that last water source of the day (as we were all gassed and out of water), Felicia gave me one of their 592 Movement stickers that she carries and told me to think of them when the trail gets tough. Their goal: get to the end of the AT (Mount Katahdin in Maine) in 7.5 months, a collective 225 lbs lighter, and to bring Buddy’s dad to his happy place.
    Sometimes, true perspective isn’t all that difficult to find. ❤️    Read more

  • Lee AdourianAppalachian Trail NOBOTraveler

    Day 6

    February 28, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Low Gap Shelter to Cheese Factory site.

    13.4 miles today. 56.5 total miles.

    Today was a tough, hot and interesting day.
    Filtered my water mere feet from my tent at 8:30 am and began the steady 8 mile climb out of Low Gap Shelter to the summit of Blue Mountain (4,000 ft). 75 degrees by late morning.
    Then a 1,000 ft drop in elevation in just 1.2 miles off the back side of Blue to Unicoi Gap, a fairly major road that hikers quite often use to meet shuttle drivers to take them to various hotel and/or hostel options in the towns of Helen or Hiawassee 10-12 miles down the road.
    This is where me, Big T, Richard and 7 other hikers (one from New Zealand) found our first trail magic!!
    Smoky Bear was parked there in his old SUV offering up sodas, fruit, pkgs of ramen, bags of chips, etc. . Was a wonderful sight.
    He was rough around the edges but his heart was certainly in the right place.
    He said he had thru hiked 20 years before, and his trail name is Smoky Bear as he smokes a pack a day, and his wife says he snores like a bear. He is a true character.
    After a 30 min break in the Gap, we set off straight uphill to the top of Rocky Mtn (1k ft elevation in 1.4 miles), followed by a 1,000 ft rocky descent crossing Tray Mountain dirt road to Indian Grave Gap.
    Was getting late in the day with nowhere to camp there, so trudged as fast as I could 1 mile uphill to the old Cheese Factory site to get my tent set up before darkness.
    Karaoke, Dan, Thumper and her husband Rabbit, and 3 other folks were just in front of me.
    I got the last flat tent site, quickly fixed dinner by the glow of my headlamp, then threw my bear bag (bag with all my food and other items that could attract a bear) securely up into the branches and got to work catching some Zzz’s by 9:30 pm as tomorrow will be a long, hot and arduous day.    Read more

  • Lee AdourianAppalachian Trail NOBOTraveler

    Day 5

    February 27, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 63 °F

    Bull Gap tenting spot to Low Gap Shelter.
    10.4 miles today, 43.1 miles total.

    After yesterday’s tougher day summiting Blood Mountain (tough uphill and then tough downhill to Neel Gap) and then late day climb to Bull Gap to sleep, today’s route was more rolling and ridge running. A wonderful change of pace.
    Got my bear bag down from the tree, filtered some water from the campsite spring, and headed off into the misty morning. The clouds burned off a bit by late am which added some pep to the step.
    Saw some of my hiking pals during the day including Big T (BigTontheAT YouTube channel, a 60 yr old builder from MS with 2 young grandkids: he can really hike and is such an awesome guy), Karaoke (a 60’ish year old gal from Fairbanks Alaska whose lifestyle is based in hiking), and Cat & Adam (Driftless Adventures on YouTube, 2 early 30’ish artists from Wisconsin who are very personable and fun to hike with).
    Ended up tenting at Low Gap Shelter at 5pm with Karaoke & Alabama Chowder who is a young gun with a energetic personality. They were in the Shelter, me in my tent. Perfect weather for sleeping (50 degrees), with warmer temps to follow in the next few days. Can’t believe I’m lugging all of this cold weather gear in my 34 lb pack and haven’t had to use any of it yet! But the Smokies and winter weather are just down the road!    Read more

  • Lee AdourianAppalachian Trail NOBOTraveler

    Day 4

    February 26, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    Dockery Lake Trail (stayed at Hidden Pond Hostel) to Bull Gap tenting spots.
    9.1 miles, 32.7 miles total.

    Said goodbye to Rainbow (Olivia) and Johnny at their Hidden Pond Hostel and Pootz drove me back to the Dockery trail head. It was then mostly uphill 6 miles (in the fog, mist, and cool’ish temps) including climbing Blood Mountain before grabbing a quick Snickers bar lunch at the iconic Blood Mountain Shelter at the summit (4,500 ft).
    The fog & clouds lifted suddenly providing some nice views. It was then straight down 2.4 slippery miles to Neels Gap & Mountain Crossing Outfitters for some pizza, burrito and coke. Never tasted so good!
    I decided to head north uphill @ 1 mile mile on the trail to the Bull Gap tent site where 5 of us are spending a beautiful evening amidst woodlands with roaming sounders of wild pigs/boar.    Read more

  • Lee AdourianAppalachian Trail NOBOTraveler

    Day 3 on the AT

    February 25, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    Gooch Mountain Shelter to Dockery Lake Trail. 8.1 miles today. 23.6 total.

    Today was interesting as I knew I would be stopping at the Hidden Pond Hostel tonite for my first non “on the trail” stay. Run by 2 for thru hikers from last year that met on the trail and got married shortly thereafter, they purchased this quaint property and are now hosting thru hikers. Johnny & Rainbow are their trail names and “Poots” (another trail name) helps out with picking us all up at various points on the trail and taking us back the next morning. A great group meal tonite of garlic bread toaster cheese sandwiches and chili. Was lucky enough to get the only private room they have tonite, so I don’t have to stay in the close quarters bunkhouse with 8 hikers who tend to snore and maybe not smell the best! 😃😏Read more

  • Lee AdourianAppalachian Trail NOBOTraveler

    Day 2

    February 24, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    Hawk Mountain Shelter to Gooch Mountain Shelter. 7.6 miles today, 15.5 total.

    Was a pretty cool day with lots of climbs and descents. Started off the day with oatmeal & instant carnation breakfast, and then had my typical lunch of peanut butter, a Bobo bar & a large snickers all periodically while walking. A decent day weather wise, though it started to rain once we got to camp @ 5:00 and rained most of the night.
    Met a Ridgerunner trail name moxie that had thru hiked back in 2014. We chatted for 10 minutes on the way up Mt. Sassafras. These volunteer Ridgerunners do tremendous work on the trail and are great sources of info and generosity.
    A mouse chewed a hole in the side of my tent at 2am trying to get (and succeeding) a Bobo bar, the only food item I didn’t put in the bear box with the rest of our items. Mice are damned good. Thank God it wasn’t a bear. A rookie mistake that has been rectified. 😳    Read more

  • Lee AdourianAppalachian Trail NOBOTraveler
    11

    Day 1 (officially) on the AT

    February 23, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 68 °F

    Day 1: Springer Mountain Shelter to Hawk Mountain Shelter. Miles today: 7.9. Total AT Mike’s: 7.9.

    Very exciting to finally be on the AT officially! Was a nice start down hill off Springer Mtn, but that didn’t last long. Weather was overcast and GA is in the middle of a heat wave that will last the next 2 weeks. Both good & bad.
    A highlight was the beautiful Long Creek Falls, and staying at Hawk Mountain shelter) in tents, with 8–10 hikers that I had been going back and forth with all day.    Read more

  • Lee AdourianAppalachian Trail NOBOTraveler
    1

    Approach Trail to top of Springer Mtn

    February 22, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    The 8.8 mile Approach Trail is no joke. Essentially uphill the whole way to the summit of Springer Mtn, but it was worth it. Got to the top with a few others from the class of 2033. The rock face at the summit has the first white blaze that begins the journey. You sign the hiker journal that’s found in a metal box cut into the rock face. And there’s the iconic turquoise colored plaque with the rendering of an early AT hiker. Was a wonderful day and stayed overnight at the Springer shelter site 0.2 from the summit in my Big Agnes tent. All went well for the first night. A bit of drizzle and very high winds, but that added to the mystique.Read more

  • Lee AdourianAppalachian Trail NOBOTraveler
    1

    Sign In Day & Hike the Falls

    February 21, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    A lot of fun today hiking 1 mile downhill to the Approach Trail visitor center from the Lodge to check in, get my official AT bag tag, and then hike back up the famous Amicalola Falls trail and steps. The falls here are the highest east of the Mississippi and absolutely breathtaking.
    Started the walk from the makeshift visitor center (attached are pics of the new one being built… ready late summer), and through the iconic arch that begins all thru hikers’ journeys (pic attached). I’ve seen over 100 YouTube vlogs with others’ emotional send offs from here, and it was surreal that it was now me walking “down the yellow brick road”.
    About 3,000 thru hikers start from here each year, with only 23% successfully reaching their final goal of summiting Mt. Katahdin in Maine. I didn’t pull a hammy walking up the 600+ steps straight up the side of the waterfall, so I’m considering that a good omen. For now. 😃🙏
    The whole approach trail is 8.8 miles long (from the arch to the official start of the AT at the top of Springer Mtn). The 1.3 miles back up to the Lodge was beautiful, steep, exciting and thought provoking. What is in store for me over the next 6 months? The journey starts tomorrow at 9:00 am.    Read more

  • Lee AdourianAppalachian Trail NOBOTraveler

    Travel from Boston to Amicalola GA

    February 20, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F

    Was emotional leaving Karina and CJ this am for my flight from Providence RI to Atlanta GA, but I’m excited to get started with something I’ve been thinking about and planning for years. Flight went like clockwork and I was soon meeting Ron Brown outside of the ATL Airport for the 1.5 drive to Amicalola Falls Lodge (essentially at the base of Springer Mtn). Ron is an AT trail legend who has been working his magic each day for the past 17 years. He gave me some great insights and advice for what’s to come. Stayed tonight in the beautiful lodge, had dinner, and then checked all of my gear for the 63rd time. 😆Read more

    Trip start
    February 21, 2023
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