Jenny's 2021 AT Adventures

Introduction

For those of you who do not know me, I am Jenny Jardine. My husband, Ray, and I own Ray-Way Products, and I am in charge of receiving orders from our customers, building the kits, packing the orders and shipping. We sell Sew-It-Yourself kits for hiking and camping gear, with an emphasis on lightweight and simplicity.

This is the story of my second thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. My first end to end AT trek was in 1993 with Ray. I have now completed 6 thru-hikes:

1987 PCT
1991 PCT
1992 CDT
1993 AT
1994 PCT
2021 AT

In 1993, after completing the AT, Ray and I received a Triple Crown Award for the successful completion of the PCT, the CDT and the AT. Today, most "Triple Crowners" are not aware that prior to 1993, there was no such award in the long-distance hiking community, and that the award was Ray's idea and creation.

My 2021 AT northbound thru-hike was unique for me in two ways. 1: I would be hiking solo. 2: I would be celebrating my 63rd birthday on the trail. And I am happy to say that 1: I loved hiking solo. And 2: I discovered age was not an issue.

For this trek (and all my other long hikes), I used Ray-Way gear that I sewed myself: tarp, spitfire (net-tent), quilt, backpack, shell pants, hiking shorts, and stowbags.

I slept inside the Spitfire and under the tarp for the entire hike. I did not stay in any shelters or lean-tos, although I did sleep in two bunkhouses along the way.

*Springer Mtn start April 1, 2021 (I was off the trail for 3 weeks in early May)

*Katahdin finish August 14, 2021

*114 days total, with 3 of those days being rest days ("zeros") and 2 more of those days being less than 5 miles ("neros")

The Appalachian Trail is an extremely popular trail with day hikers, section hikers and thru-hikers. As such the trail requires never-ending maintenance. The AT would not be hikeable without the efforts of the trail clubs and their volunteer trail crews. To them, my sincere thanks.

One other unique aspect of the Appalachian Trail is the fabled Trail Magic: kind-hearted folks will bring free food, water and supplies to the trail for the hikers, and they often offer rides into a nearby town from. I experienced Trail Magic on many occasions, and it always brought a smile to my face. Thank you to all the Trail Magic people!

My solo thru-hike would not have been possible without the help and support of Ray and my friends at home. Sending resupply boxes, keeping track of my progress, lending encouraging words, ordering more shoes... Thank you!

Let's get hiking!!

Part 1: Georgia, North Carolina & Tennessee

April 1, 2021 Springer Mountain trailhead parking lot. It was finally time to change from my blue jeans into my hiking pants and start this great adventure!

I had an overnight, red-eye flight to Atlanta, Georgia. From the Atlanta airport I rode the MARTA Red-Line train to the North Springs station at the end of the line, a 45-minute ride. An AT shuttle driver, Michelle, picked me up at the train station and what normally would be a 2-hour ride turned into a 3-hour ride: downed trees blocked FS Rd 42, so we had to detour to a different route to get to the Springer Mountain trailhead.

I had not yet changed into my hiking clothes, so in the 32 degrees plus wind howling chill, I went behind a tree to change. Welcome to Antarctica. It reminded me of the shock of stepping off the Ilyushin Russian cargo plane in Antarctica. I pulled on my rain pants and rain jacket over all my other layers in order to cut the wind. Michelle was kind enough to take my blue jeans; she said she would donate them to a thrift store.

I was excited to finally start this solo hike. My gear was simple and mostly home-made: Ray-Way Backpack, Tarp, Spitfire net-tent, quilt and shell pants. I had trained for five months, and had practiced pitching the tarp and Spitfire. I was ready for the AT!

April 1, 2021 At the summit of Springer Mountain in Georgia
Sunny but cold: 32 degrees F. at 11:00 am

From my journal: "It was a joyous feeling to be at the top of Springer Mountain. Joy was a good word, I thought. Maybe that will be my trail name. Joy."

Icicles hang like stalactites from the trailside rocks.

My first camp, near Justus Creek. The temperature dropped into the 20s during the night, but I stayed warm under my Woodland Ray-Way quilt.

I wrote in my journal that first night: "During the drive from home to the airport, Ray had filled my head with last minute advice. At the time I was distracted by my emotions of what I was embarking on, but I still listened to Ray's wisdom and words: Always DR to the next waypoint. Stop often to filter water and drink. Look up and around, don't hike hunched over looking at your feet. Take lots of pictures. Be in the moment and enjoy each moment. Have fun. How glad I am now for all that fantastic advice."

Violets - my constant companions for the first half of the hike

At the end of my second day on the trail, I reached Neel Gap and the Walasi-Yi Center at mile 31.1

The descent from Blood Mountain to Neel Gap was icy and slippery. I hiked slowly to avoid slipping on the ice-covered rocks. By the time I reached Neel Gap at 5:15 pm I was chilled, thirsty and very tired. The store had closed for the day, so I would need to wait until tomorrow morning to get my food drop. First things first: put on warm clothes, then find water, then find camp.

Ray had suggested I take advantage of the nearby Blood Mountain Cabins, but I had stubbornly thought, no, I don't need a cabin. It's only Day 2. As I was pulling on my fleece sweater, a young woman approached and asked if I would be interested in splitting the cost of a cabin with her and her partner. It didn't take me too long to decide. "Yes, and thank you for offering."

The next morning I was still tired. After talking it over with Ray, I decided a day off the trail, resting in this warm, dry and comfortable cabin, would help.

In the months leading up to the start of my hike, I had received some generous Trail Magic. It was a gift of $50 from a good customer and fellow adventurer Jamie Noble from Ontario, Canada. He had written, "Hi Jenny, Back when I went around all five of the great lakes on a bicycle (2003-2007), sometimes people would surprise me with a meal. Any chance I can send a small donation your direction so during your hike you can treat yourself a little bit?" Sure, I replied, thank you so much!

The extra day of rest was what I needed. And it was thanks, in part, to the trail magic money from Jamie. He had said to use the money to treat myself a little bit, and that is exactly what I did. Thank you Jamie.

By the following day I was well-rested, well-fed, well-hydrated and more than ready to carry on with my hike.

There were lots of mountains to climb in Georgia. I heard Ray say: go slow, go steady.

April 4, Day 4 Camped near Hogpen Gap. This was an expansive, fairly level "gap" between mountains, and I was pleasantly surprised to find no one else camped here. Two trees for my ridgline and a thick cushion of grasses and oak leaves for a comfortable mattress.

April 6, Day 6 It was great to reach the GA-NC border.

Just north of the GA/NC state line is an old oak tree, still living. Ray had reminded me to watch for it. "I didn't see the gnarly oak at first because the trail now goes directly to the spring first, then climbs up to the gap where the oak still stands. What a magnificent old tree! Long may it survive. I looked left, and sure enough, there was the old section of AT coming around on the opposite side of the mountain. I had fun looking for pieces of old trail today."

April 8, Day 8

Pitching the tarp was usually easy, with the ridgeline strung between two trees. About 10% of my camps required the one-stick pitch: one tree and one stick. Only twice did I use the two-stick pitch.

April 9 The Nantahala River, at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina

April 9, Day 9 Camped near Tyre Knob

"The hooting owl alarm was late this morning. I was awake and starting to stir at 5:15 am. The sky was cloudy and dark. I set off at 6:10 by flashlight. The morning sky was slow to lighten and when it finally did I saw that the clouds were quite low and pervasive, and I was climbing up into those misty clouds."

April 10 I did not linger at the top of Cheoah Bald, mile 145. The morning was cold and clouds swirled around, obscuring any views.

The hiking was rarely easy. The AT is notorious for all the climbing and descending it does. Warren Doyle, (founder of ALDHA - American Long Distance Hikers Association - and with 14 hikes along the entire AT, in addition to helping over 80 other individuals to plan and complete their treks), had written, "Walking the entire Appalachian Trail is not 'going on a hike'. It is an education and a job. It is not recreation."

I found truth in his words. In addition, he asks the hopeful AT hiker, "It is a challenging task - a journey with deeper ramifications. Are you willing to accept them and learn from them?" So far I felt I was up to the task, and every day I was learning to accept the difficult along with the easy.

April 11 The AT followed the road above Fontana Lake, across the dam, and into the Great Smoky Mountains

April 12 Early morning at Rocky Top in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

April 13, Day 13 Trail Magic at the parking lot at Newfound Gap in the Smoky Mountains

Approaching Mt. Sequoyah (elevation 6,003 feet) in the Smoky Mountains

The weather was pleasant for my trek through the Smokies, with cool days, cold nights, and no rain. I averaged 20 miles per day for the four days hiking through the GSMNP.

April 14 My last day in the Smoky Mountains, descending from the high country

April 14 Near Standing Bear Farm Hiker Hostel

It was late in the day, with a light but consistent rain falling when I reached the Standing Bear Hostel. I was looking forward to a hot shower and hot food; when I asked about a spot in the bunkhouse for the night I was told the bunkhouse was full. I must have looked disappointed because the fellow said he would open the overflow room for me and I could stay there. I would have it all to myself unless any other hikers arrived tonight. My own private bunkhouse! Perfect!

April 15, Day 15 Early morning near Snowbird Mountain

Max Patch Summit, elevation 4,629 feet. I did not stop to rest; the cold wind prompted me to keep moving

April 16 Descending into the town of Hot Springs, NC

Mid-afternoon on April 16, Day 16 I hiked into the trail town of Hot Springs, North Carolina, mile 275. I picked up my resupply box at the post office, then made a difficult decision. I had a knee injury that was not healing and I knew I needed to stop hiking for the injury to heal. I decided to fly home. I hated to leave the trail, but I knew the healing was important. I would be back as soon as I possibly could, to resume my AT hike where I had left off.

Wild azalea

After three weeks at home resting and healing, my knee was good to go. I returned to Hot Springs on May 9. In those three weeks, spring had come to the southern AT. The hardwoods were green with new leaves and wildflowers were blooming. I picked up my Day count where I had left off: May 9, Day 17.

May 12, Day 20 Near Spivey Gap, Tennessee, after a gentle morning rain. The wet forest was magical. The trail was sloppy, muddy and slick and I hiked in wet, muddy shoes - welcome back to the AT!