At least one thru-hiker started North today.

[moldy]

As a trail journal junkie, I make it a point to follow the trials and tribulations of those anxious hikers who are so eager to get going that they are willing to walk into impossible odds by starting far too early. So far I only see one on TJ with the trail name of "Good Rain" that is starting today. There are bound to be several others who are starting who are not on TJ. Despite all the advice to the contrary about starting early they will try it every year. No matter what we might say here on Whiteblaze about how miserable it will be, a handfull will doggedly try every year. In almost every case it's a highly inexperienced, first timer. In many cases they have obsessed about a thru-hike in TJ for a year or more and have dozens of pre-hike postings. I wonder what it is that makes them tick? There is no rational reason for doing it. They clearly can't be deterred. It's a mystery. Good luck is all I can say, I hope they make it to Neel's Gap at least.

[moytoy]

I would say it's the adventure moldy. But who knows people are motivated by so many different things. Young bucks and does can sometimes get along quite well in the wintertime. What baffles me is a couple of years age a retired couple from Alabama tried an early start two years in a row. The clearly did not have the strength to keep going but they tried anyway. Good Luck to all hikers this year.

[doritotex]

Todays local news in Greeneville, TN.

Winter Storm Watch In Effect For Mountains
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
by Jim Miller

---

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for the mountains of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Rain will change to snow by late Thursday afternoon at higher elevations, with periods of moderate to heavy snow possible from late Thursday through Thursday night. Accumulations of four to six inches are possible with up to eight inches across the highest elevations. There is a chance of a small accumulation of snow from this storm at lower elevations on Thursday night.

In addition to the snow, very cold air and blustery northwest winds are expected Thursday night as temperatures fall into the teens and lower 20s.

Stay tuned to Radio Greeneville stations throughout the day on Thursday for the latest weather updates

[SouthMark]

One started yesterday to beat the crowd.

[Del Q]

SouthMark - that is pretty funny!

[TroutknuT]

One started yesterday to beat the crowd.

Will this disqualify them from "thru hiker" as it will be 2 calendar years. Just one day I know but have to draw a line someplace.

[imscotty]

Will this disqualify them from "thru hiker" as it will be 2 calendar years. Just one day I know but have to draw a line someplace.

TroutknuT,

I realize that there is no authoritative definition of a thru hike, but I think that it is generally accepted that it can occur over a year, not necessarily a calendar year. I believe there are a number of SOBO's who started at Katahdin later in the summer and finished after Jan 1 and I am sure they feel what they accomplished was a thru hike.

[Rain Man]

If I recall correctly, Red Dane started her thru-hike on January 1st, some years ago. Of course, it may help, being from Denmark?

RainMan

.

[TroutknuT]

TroutknuT,

I realize that there is no authoritative definition of a thru hike, but I think that it is generally accepted that it can occur over a year, not necessarily a calendar year. I believe there are a number of SOBO's who started at Katahdin later in the summer and finished after Jan 1 and I am sure they feel what they accomplished was a thru hike.

Just making light of one day. End to end is an accomplishment not to take lightly.

[horicon]

What are the weather conditions in GA. & at least he is not going to deal with the storm in the North East

[Slo-go'en]

I checked the forcast out of curiosity for Dahlonega yesterday and the 5 day outlook didn't seem too bad. Georgia, being at a modest elevation and just far enough south to miss most of the bad stuff seems to be okay. The problem is when you get up into NC/TN the middle of January. Then the S*** hits the fan and gets rough.

[Alleghanian Orogeny]

I was interested to see what sort of weather this individual reported on the afternoon and night of the 2nd. Sad to say it appears an injury occurred the night BEFORE starting off. The TJ is difficult to follow, but reference was made to a 40lb load, cold weather, the need for better conditioning, a visit to the hospital, and trying again in 2015. Sad to read.

[Sapelo]

Met a guy by the trail name of Hawk at the Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega on 12-28. He had already hiked south from PA and was planning to leave from Springer on New Year's Day. He does not post on-line. He claimed he has already thru hiked the AT twice. He seemed well equipped for the winter weather and realized he would probably need snowshoes once he hits the Smokies.

[Malto]

I was interested to see what sort of weather this individual reported on the afternoon and night of the 2nd. Sad to say it appears an injury occurred the night BEFORE starting off. The TJ is difficult to follow, but reference was made to a 40lb load, cold weather, the need for better conditioning, a visit to the hospital, and trying again in 2015. Sad to read.

Agree sad and unfortunately way too common.

[nickgann]

Its All so relative. My favorite hiking is winter weather hiking...when I leave on Jan 10 that statement will still be true. I won't be updating a journal online but there will be a documentary released later this year. As far as not making it to Katahdin, it would be great, but I own a business and have to be back mid April for the season, so it likely won't happen. The goal seems to me to get out and enjoy whatever hiking is for the individual...if you don't know about winter hiking though, an early through hike is a hell of a way to start learning.

As CT Fletcher says, "at least I'm doing g something while your bon bon eating ass sits around typing on a computer" - just meant as a light hearted joke.

[jdc5294]

Will this disqualify them from "thru hiker" as it will be 2 calendar years. Just one day I know but have to draw a line someplace.

In the end the only person you have to be satisfied with is yourself, doesn't matter if someone else says you didn't technically "thru-hike". I ran into a few people who said if you slack pack at all or didn't carry your pack up Katadhin you didn't thru-hike. &#$@ 'em. I got knocked off the trail for a week and a half with noro, and luckily it was at the point where the trail passes within 90 minutes driving of my house, so I went home for 8 days. Did I still thru hike? I think so. Just my 2 cents.

[hikerboy57]

supposedly dakota joe is starting his hike today or tomorrow.

[max patch]

supposedly dakota joe is starting his hike today or tomorrow.

The weather guessers are saying that Monday in Suches will have a high of 24 and a low of minus 1 -- and with the windchill its gonna feel like a high of 6 and a low of minus 21.

I would hope that DJ and all other hikers make alternative plans.

[4eyedbuzzard]

There are usually a lot of good hiking days to be had before both the old school traditional April 15 start date and now what seems to be the current trend of March starts. I would think that if a hiker is well funded and has ample time/flexible schedule, they could get a lot of miles in by starting early and sit out the bad weather in towns. They would have to pay close attention to weather forecasts at every opportunity, but technology has made that relatively easy to do compared to the past. 5 day weather forecasts are much more "generally accurate" and cell phones have made getting the data and communication pretty easy.

[capehiker]

I was interested to see what sort of weather this individual reported on the afternoon and night of the 2nd. Sad to say it appears an injury occurred the night BEFORE starting off. The TJ is difficult to follow, but reference was made to a 40lb load, cold weather, the need for better conditioning, a visit to the hospital, and trying again in 2015. Sad to read.

I don't think her hike would've lasted 2 weeks based on the gear list and whomever was giving her advice (she kept saying "they told me" in her video). 'Tis better she hurt herself now then 2 weeks in. It's a shame as it appears she has faced a lot of adversity in life and was looking to be "freed" from the bonds of her struggles.