Hi everyone! Just wanted to introduce myself.
I've been lurking in these forums without an account for several months but Ill be starting the long walk this April so I thought I'd make a few posts before I set off!
Welcome to Whiteblaze!
Hi all! Thanks for the wealth of information from you wise and experienced hikers. As my user ID suggests, (it is not a trail name... don't have that yet) I am planning a flip-flop hike this year. The plan is to go from Harper's Ferry to Springer first, then return to Harper's Ferry to head north to Katahdin. Looking forward to meeting you on the trail!
Likewise thanks for the wealth of information, support, humor, and just plain old puttin' up with one another that
we enjoy here.
My current plan for a non conventional thru is to walk home twice. Beginning at Katahdin in Mid July and then flippin' to Springer to walk back here through the fall. Hope to do it in the next couple of years. I will keep you posted.
Thanks ATTroll for the welcome, and more especially for the wonderful Website. Don't know where we would be without it.
Pick a hike, any hike....... http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/group.php?groupid=37
"Maybe life isn't about avoiding the bruises. Maybe it's about collecting the scars to prove we showed up for it."
Newest of the noobs. Figured this would be a good place for my first post on the forum. Looking forward to helping and being helped by this great community of people.
First post and thought this would be a good place to start. My husband and I are planning an 18 day section hike in mid September. I am totally new to hiking and have a lot to do to get in shape but I'm very excited. We are planning to go southbound from Atkins VA to Erwin TN. Does this sound doable for 18 days?
Nice section, Valerie! Welcome to WB!
Your mileage capabilities starting out as a newbie hiker is hard to predict. You can plan to start hiking and hopefully end at your planned ending point but you never know what might come up to prevent that.
Again,nice to have you here!
I do have a couple zero days built in - we want to stay somewhere in Damascus one night and at Kincora Hostel. We are gonna do some weekend hikes over the summer so that I can try things out before heading out for a long hike. I haven't ever even slept in a tent before so I'm truly a beginner!
First time to post. Hope to do a few section miles this summer. Get out in southwest va. and eastern tnn. do sometrail magic give out sodas and make some hotdogs
You should be fine with the days you have planned then. You will love staying at the Kincora. I've heard good things about that place. Crazy Larry's Hostel in Damascus might be a good place for you to stay. Don't be put off by the name. He's the nicest guy ever! :>)
It's so exciting to meet someone that is so new to the backpacking world. You'll love it! My first night in a tent was while car camping. Then, I went from there....
I remember my first night out near Tinker Cliffs in VA. Coyotes howled at midnight, then sounding much closer at 3:00 AM. I had my trekking poles, at the ready. Our cook pots were close by for making noise to scare them away. They never came close.
We had our Cairn Terriers with us in our tents. They were standing on our chests listening to the coyotes howl. It's funny to think back on that now.
I loved spending the night in the woods, in anticipation of doing more hiking again the next day.
You are going to love it Valerie! The next time I went out, it was a 112 mile section hike! :0) I'm hooked!