They Go Uppity Up. They Go Downdedy Down

Everyone talks about the 2200 mile length of the AT but you rarely hear people talking about the really important figure. There is a total of over 520,000 feet in ascents (and descents) over that length. That's enough to climb Mt Everest 18 times. I think that is the main reason most people (over 80%) who set out to do a thru hike fail (injury being another major cause). They don't understand when they start just how much work it will be.The day I started I met a guy sitting at the first trail head who was already quitting. Statistically, 5% of NOBO hikers quit before getting out of Amicalola State Park where the southern terminus is located. Twenty percent quit before reaching North Carolina. The trail in Georgia isn't even all that demanding. I have to wonder where does it reach the point where at least 50% of the people who reach that point go on to succeed. 

I had an advantage from past experience - I at least knew I'd be doing some serious climbing (with an equal amount of descending). According to the phone app I use (Farout/Guthook), I've climbed 68360 feet so far with a descent of 66565 feet. So, I have only about 450,000 feet more to climb. No big deal. Easy peasy.

But, I entered the Great Smokey Mountains National Park the other day. I've heard it said this is the toughest part of the whole trail. I'm not going to argue. If it was this hard the whole way I wouldn't make it. In the last 40 miles I've climbed 17746 feet and descended 13940 feet. Over the next 35 miles I'll climb an extra 5292 feet and descend 9400 feet. Don't be fooled, the descents can be even tougher than the ascents.

But, it appears I've gone through the toughest part of the park and went over Kuwohi (formerly Clingman Done), the highest point on the entire trail at 6633 feet. I had to hit the trail at 5 AM, hike two hours by headlamp, and go 12 hours in the rain, wind and fog to do it, but I avoided hiking over the top in a thunderstorm the next day by doing that.

I'm finishing a two-day zero with Sherry in Cherokee, NC and will be hitting the trail again tomorrow (4/3) at Newfound Gap (mile 208) to finish the park. Onwards and upwards. 450,000 feet of upwards.

 

 

Rainy day on the trail

I may be a solo hiker, but I'm not alone.


You're required to stay in the shelters while in the park.

Wish the view could've been better.


Fog and rain in the morning.



A view looking up the trail which goes from lower right to upper left.

 

 


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