MiaCMS site syndication http://www.harwardadventureministry.com 2013-05-25T21:40:00+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/images/miacms_logo.png text/html 2011-05-17T06:48:22+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/88/49/ Fri.- April 22, 2011 We all head to Charlotte for final pack-up. The guys all stay in Charlotte. Renee' takes all the female folk to Hickory. Most of our camping equipment is in Charlotte and I just got a new backpack. Also, we're getting a van from Renee' parents. On a happy note, we eat supper at Recah's house - very nice!! Sat. - April 23, 2011 Guys get up, shower, dress, breakfast, and head out to Hickory and arrive somewhere around 6:45 a.m. Girls are not ready. Start packing the van and checking the fluids and tires. Get gas for the van and the pump shuts off at $75 - van 3/4 full. Go to Advance Auto and buy needed fluids. Leaving Hickory, there is a slight drizzle and dark clouds overhead. Arrive at N.O.C. around 11:30 a.m. - sunny skies and not a cloud visible any where. Do lunch and then head to trail. Only take a few backpacks with water and snacks. Dusty and I hike south to pick up vehicles while everyone drives to Telico Gap and hikes north. Seems weird to be on the trail and no heavy backpack. Funny how map shows mostly uphill and there are ups and down everywhere - deceptive. Steady climb up until we reach 200 yards of steep rock climb to reach "Jump Off". Fantastic views - 2 BIG mountain ranges with several rolling hills surrounding them. Unable to look at the view without seeing God's creative hand in His wonderful creation. Pre-trail conditioning paying off. Dusty feels out of shape with his mostly indoor desk job. We run out of water!!! Slightly warm and we thought 4 liters would be more than enough. We meet rest of our crew about 5 miles down the trail. To my surprise, Dawn-Marie is with the front crowd. Everyone like hiking without heavy backpacks. Alex tells us there is water nearby. We hike on and visit the shelter. No water but we do meet a Canadian hiker with his dog, Micah. Looks like Micah made the trip but no Elizabeth. We refill our water bottles and continue. Reach Wayah Bald Observation Tower. Another Fantastic 360 degree view above the treeline. Take lots of pictures. Dusty likes using his trail G.P.S. and has also purchased a solar powered charger. I rename Dusty "Gadget Boy". I take the small backpack of water, snacks and stuff for the final mile and half. Dusty agrees - it feels weird hiking with no backpack. Finish up and take the two vehicles back to the N.O.C helping a stranded hiker along the way. Upon arriving at the N.O.C., pure chaos erupts. Most do not want to hike anywhere to camp. Renee' changed the menu and then did not bring some replacement items. I had wanted to drop two vehicles at our ending point to make the morning less stressful, but can't get a third driver to help because everyone busy doing something and some of the younger one want to sleep in the van. I finally make needed decisions and find a place to set up tents, will take vehicles in morning and go to convienence store and purchase cooking oil that was needed and everyone get supper and to bed. Sunday - April 24, 2011 Have breakfast, pack our stuff, and Dusty, Renee' and I drive vehicles to endpoint. Sunny morning. Have Easter morning devotions. Alex and Dawn-Marie did a good job of getting everyone else packed up. After posing for picture, we start off. Lot different with loaded packs on. Kenderick and I in the lead as usual. Fairly steady ascents. Tree had fallen across the trail, but Alex and Ty enjoy clearing it to make it easier for crew behind to pass. Encountered a couple of switchbacks going up the "Jump Up" and then the trail got hard with steep inclines. This is where actually hiking and looking at a map can mess with your mind when the two are dramatically different. Was expecting some hard climbs but then hit a flat area and level off. Found the flat area only to encounter another steep climb - NOT ON MAP. Finally begin slight decline to shelter. Everyone glad to be done. Area around shelter was hilly - no real flat area. Wherever one puts a tent you are going to sleep on a slight incline. We get a fire going and boiling water for our roman meals. Everyone eats hardily and enjoys smores for snack. Alex even tried roasting a marshmellow PEEPS. Carmelized nicely. Kinda chilly, but we all sleep good. Monday, April 25, 2011 Yesterday was hard. I breathed a lot of God's clean oxygen. Breathed so much my nostrils hurt. The Canadian and his dog, Micah, was at the shelter. His dog has a habit of stealing people's socks and burying them. Dawn-Marie noticed a sock missing and Dusty found a sock chewed up - not happy people. Another interesting point about yesterday. I find usually that where there is water there is usually a small breeze. I felt God's presence when low on water, looking for a water source and campsite on my map, I felt the wind blow as if God saying, "keep going, you're almost there and I am here with you." Sure enough, there was water and a place to rest. Breakfast was quick - coffee and breakfast bars. I started with Susie and Autumn. Seemed like everyone else would be soon be leaving behind us. Somehow, Dawn-Marie went the wrong way. It was quickly discovered and got her turned around. Meanwhile, the rest of us were slowly climbing a Cheoah Mountain. When we got to the top, there was a cloud covering, slight drizzle and wind seemed to be picking up and temperature dropping. Alex even got a report of possible hail storm. Everyone took a break but didn't stay long - we needed to get down this mountain. It didn't take long to get to the other side of the mountain. Drastic weather change 2 miles down in a small gap - sunny, no clouds, no wind. Ate lunch, refilled water bottles, and then happily back on the trail. Took some good pictures of girls in hollow out tree still standing. Tough hiking over rocks on way down. My knee was hurting on the way down but was glad when I heard and finally saw cars/trucks driving on road through gap that was to be our take-out point. Everyone very happy to finish. First stop - Sonic - I want a Route 44 fruit slushy!! On a sad note, Micah and Liz called to say that our house had been broken into. Good note - the van rides good. Grandma Toney calls to say she is fixing supper for us all - Spagetti. Alex, Autumn, Ty and Susie drive on to Fayetteville. Kenderick and I ride with Dusty to Charlotte and spend the night. The rest stay in Hickory and everyone returns to Fayetteville the next day. text/html 2011-05-15T22:10:32+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/87/49/ This is the Blog Post that came way late from last years hike in August!.... Sat. July 31, 2010 Had a ambitious plan to hike 9 miles a day so we could take some new people rafting, but ran into some problems right away. Did not get an early start as planned due to packing some new people up the night before. Dropped everybody at the starting point while Micah and Dusty ran vehicles to our take out point. Was amazed at how tall the grass and weeds were overgrown and coving the trail. couple of miles down the trail, I ran into a rattlesnake. Hard to see because it was black and grey and sitting the shade about 10 feet off the trail. Snake not in any position to hurt any one, but scary none the less and would not go away. I waited while the rest of the crew caught up and walked each one slowly by until all had passed. Water sources were few and many were dried up. We had to take a side trail to the shelter near Siler Bald just for water. Dusty and Micah finally caught us after we got back on the actual trail after our 1.1 mile diversion to get water. A bald is grassy area near or on top of a mountain. Most made the hike up to Siler Bald to see the view. I hiked on to find us a camping spot because of time and realizing we were not going to make mileage to planned camp spot - new people were walking slow. About 2-3 miles down was Wayah Gap and an nice picnic area with grassy camping area. Made camp, had supper with tin foil banana splits for dessert. Sun. Aug. 1, 2010 Woke to a beautiful sunny morning but needed to get water - no water at camp site. Dusty and I hiked a half mile back for water and filled everyone's water bottle. Good hiking but water sources were dry. Finally found water only to discover there were hundreds of dead centipedes in it. Even with filtering, we did not feel safe drinking it. Tried to redistribute with everyone and keep moving. Elizabeth felt sick. Renee' tried to nurse but we had to keep moving. Elizabeth never did get to feeling better. Made it to the top of Wayah Bald and Elizabeth had decided she was done for this trip. She called parents to meet her and Micah in Franklin, NC and then hitchhiked a ride with a kind elderly couple visiting Wayah bald. Another slow moving day, but we kept on and hiked as far as we could before dark. Water source at the next shelter was just a trickle. Someone put a pot to catch it. We filled 3 water bottles, but moved on because it was really slow filling the pot. We were very concerned of snakes with the overgrown grass and very thirsty. I was out front and found a good water source just before dark. Renee' and the girls stopped a half mile back - could not go any further. Dusty and Kenderick brought all the water bottles and we filled up. I hated backtracking but had no choice. Supper was good but rain was threatening so we got our tents set up. Shortly after finishing supper, it did rain. Sleep came quickly for everyone. It was obvious that finishing on the next day was going to be a 15 mile day or we hitch-hike out at Telico Gap. Mon. Aug. 2, 2010 We got up early. I decided if we could hitch-hike out at Telico Gap, we would. Did not want to hike to midnight and then go rafting the next day. Beverly, Emily, and Erica really wanted to go rafting because they had never been. This was not a fun trip for me because I was too concerned with trying to make tracks and look out for dangers on the trail. Kenderick and I got out front and discovered that we had communication problems going around mountains. Lost signals with those behind us. Had good water sources for the day. At Cold spring shelter, the shelter was right beside the trail. There was flower field just below the shelter - very beautiful. Kenderick and I had a rest and snacktime at the shelter. Moved on before the rest caught up. About a mile after the shelter, Kenderick nearly stepped on a rattlesnake sunning itself on the trail. Almost thought it was dead because it did not move. After Kenderick walked around it, it caught Kenderick's scent and moved off the trail and under a log on left side of the trail. I left my bandana on the log on the right side of the trail. Could not reach Dusty or Renee because we were going around a mountainside trail. Ken and I stopped before going around another bend. Had to wait 2-30 minutes before finally reaching Dusty. We warned him of the area of the snake and the left behind bandana. Kenderick and I took 2-3 steps and there was a third rattlesnake, warning us not to come too close with his loud rattle. This was getting irritating. This snake was huge, too. I called back to Dusty to make sure he got everyone safely by the second one and then proceed out front to find the third one. I back up to put some warning sticks on the trail. Kenderick and I moved on. About 15-20 minutes later, we heard gunshots as Dusty found the third rattlesnake who not leave. Matter of fact, it started moving toward Dusty and he had no choice but to shoot it. Fired 22 shots and hit it 5-6 times. Kenderick and I got to Telico Gap around 2:30 p.m. There were some cars there but no people. Dusty and the rest arrived 20 minutes later. To finish we had 8 miles to go. Next vehicle came along and Dusty able to hitch a ride. Felt good to be moving and off our feet. the gentleman dropped us off at the N.O.C. put-in place for rafting. We hitched another ride with one of the bus drivers. Took us almost 2 hours to get Dusty's car picked up from starting point and back to Telico Gap. Everyone showers at N.O.C. Buy everyone a big cold drink from General Store and eat our roman meals at picnic area in N.O.C. We grab our 3 tents, sleeping bags and pads, rain coats or ponchos and head back to Rufus Morgan Shelter about 8/10 mile back on the trail to sleep for the night. Slight rain and scary hiking in the dark on very small trail over some wet rocks. Girls can't find their flashlights, but we make our way slowly to shelter area. Glad to be done hiking and sleeping. Tues., Aug. 3, 2010 Awake to a sunny day and head back to N.O.C. for breakfast and pictures on the big rocks around the Nantahala River near the N.O.C. Rafting company picks us, helping to save us some time when we finish. We have fun splashing people as usual, but we do miss having our Tide buckets. Surprised to find out that we could have taken our dogs, Diamond and Reece, with us rafting as well. text/html 2010-04-16T08:18:01+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/86/71/ text/html 2010-04-16T03:14:16+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/85/49/ Spring Break 2010 Hiking Trip Springer Mountain to Dick’s Creek Gap Day 1 Saturday March 27, 2010 We started on Saturday and made the long drive down to the trail head, dropping off a resupply box at Neel’s Gap on the way down. Our original plan was to hike from Springer to Stover Creek Shelter and stay the night there giving us a 3 mile day for the first day. However, when we arrived there at that shelter we very quickly discovered that it was over-run with 28 cub scouts. Being that I had seen the weather report and knew that about 4:00am there was a huge rainstorm headed our way. Soon as the rain started there would have been all the cub scouts in that shelter and we would not have gotten any sleep at all. So we checked the map and made the group decision to move on up to the next shelter which was a total of 7 miles from Springer. We trekked on and had to actually hike for about an hour and a half in the dark. We did not get to the shelter until 9:30pm. We got there and realized that ti was full aswell because all of the thru hikers had seen the cub scouts there and made the same decision we did. The boys and I know that it was a risk we would be taking and it ended up not being in our favor. So we setup our tent next to the shelter and I was very careful in the tent placement to use the shelter to help block the wind. We got everything packed into the tent and went straight to bed because we were all very tired from hiking the 7.5 miles that afternoon. I had planned hot dogs for dinner that night but we were so tired that we just did not really care. We ate the hot dogs cold and just went to bed. Day 2 Sunday March 28, 2010 The next morning we got up slowly. I got out and got my coffee started. It was still raining off and on. Everyone in the shelter was packing up to get ready to leave. The boys and I were going to try to stay behind and try to dry out our tent a little. After getting up and having the chance to really examine the tent I realized that it was sitting in a half inch deep puddle. Woops. When I placed the tent I was looking for wind placement and totally forgot to check for water drainage. But to our surprise there was not a drop of water in the tent. There was a little condensation on the bottom of one of the sleeping pads but that was hardly enough to worry about. I was very impressed with my new tent. After everyone left we pulled all of our stuff into the shelter and laid out the tent to dry (just the outside was wet) at about lunch time the thru hikers behind us began to come into the shelter. It filled up pretty quickly. About 1:00pm we began to get a little antsy and the weather cleared up so we decided to pack up and move down the trail to another camp site, knowing that this was the only rain we were going to be getting all week. It felt good to get back to moving and make some progress on the trail. That night we made it to the top of Sassafras Mountain. We setup camp and got a campfire going. It was a little windy up there but it was a nice spot. We had a nice spaghetti meal that night. We fooled around and had some fun there that night. We played some card games before we hit the bed. Day 3 Monday March 29, 2010 We got up the next morning and began to see some familiar faces as the thru hikers behind us began to catch up with us and pass us. We quickly ate breakfast and packed our bags to get moving. We hiked pretty much all day until we made it up to Gooch Mountain Shelter where we cought up with everyone ahead of us and setup camp. We opted for the tent to avoid the mice and so Diamond would not be bothering anyone in the night. After setting up our tent we got another campfire going and all the other hikers very much appreciated it. They were all helping to get firewood and after that we grouped around the fire for some great conversation and many of us were drying out clothing that had gotten soaked in the rain. Dry socks are such a nice thing to have. Most of the best conversations I have had with other campers have been around the campfire. It’s just a good thing to enjoy. Mark found another hiker and quickly made friends with him. We did our freeze dried meals that night and it was really good. At one point, another camper was eating another freeze dried and after finishing it he left the bag sitting next to the log he was sitting at, not realizing that Diamond was also sitting right there. Next thing they knew Diamond had her entire head in the bag licking it clean and kind of walked around with the bag on her head for a second. When they pulled the bag from her head it was entirely orange. So from that point forward Diamond has been assigned a trail name. She will now be known as “Chili-Mac.” I thought it was funny. She did not seem to mind it at all, well at least not until she had to be cleaned up. I took her to the creek and tried to wash the orange out of her fur but it was not coming out very well. So she was just going to have to wear it off. We busted out the marshmallows around the campfire and shared them with everyone that wanted one. We made quite a few friends that night. Day 4 Tuesday March 30, 2010 We got up the next morning and got packed and on the trail pretty early that day we had a lot of mileage to do. We hiked for a while and started play leap frog with a few hikers for the first half of the day. We decided to shoot for Jarred Gap. That would put us at around 10 miles that day. We kept up with the couple from Florida and made some good conversation with the most of the day. They were aiming for Jarred Gap as well and we were all making good time. We got there around 3:00p and setup camp. There was a pretty strong wind blowing but that helped keep the bugs away so we did not mind it. There was another couple that caught up with us and decided to say as well as another guy and his younger brother out preparing for a scout trip. We had a good time talking around the campfire that night. There were a good number of hikers that pushed passed us to stay up around Slaughter Creek Campsites at the base of Blood Mountain. Day 5 Wednesday March 31, 2010 This morning was beautiful. I got up early. The wind made it really cold but the sunrise coming up was beautiful. I got some really pretty pictures of the sun coming through the trees. We got up ate breakfast and got onto the trail early that day. We were in a rush to get to Neel’s Gap because we knew that showers, clean laundry and our drop box awaited us there. The hike was not bad at all until we started coming down Blood Mountain. Coming up the mountain just before Blood Mountain we were hiking up a section that had a few big logs from fallen trees laying over the trail. Diamond was on the leash tied to me started acting a little funny. She stopped and was staring at something next to the log. She would take a few steps towards it, growl at it and then back away as if she was afraid of it. Mark and I approached it with extreme caution. I could not tell what it was, but it was clear that there was something in that pile of leaves next to the log. I had to drag Diamond by it because she clearly did not want anything to do with it. Soon as we got passed that log she was fine. Kind of odd because if it was like a squirrel or a mole or something she would have normally chassed after it to play with it but she was very much afraid of whatever it was. So there that’s my girl protecting us as best she can. Mark and I got passed it and yelled back to Matt who was lagging behind for a moment and we moved on. We got to the top of Blood Mountain and took a nice long break sitting on top of all the boulders and enjoying the view. Our fellow camping neighbors from the night before caught up with us and about that time we decided it was time to move on. The hike coming down Blood Mountain was extremely steep and seemed to take forever, but I think that was mostly because we wanted to get there so bad it just took forever. Once we got there we showered up and washed laundry. We enjoyed some fresh snacks from the store there and I bought a frozen pizza. It was good. Soon after arriving and talking with some of the through hikers we learned of some bear activity at the slaughter creek campsites the night before. Apparently there had been a few bear bags that had gotten torn down and destroyed. I was glad that we did not stay there that night. Fortunately those that had their food stolen had very little food left and were all planning on stocking up today at Neel’s. We spent 4 hours there and then got our packs back on and headed up to the next camp site a bull gap. Having to get back to hiking after our long break at Neel’s Gap was a little depressing but we made it in about 30 minutes. Set camp and everything. We had a little fun with the bear cable. First 2 tosses got the rope stuck on the tree. We were using a tree that was leaning severely and the rope kept getting stuck. At one point we could not get it down at all so in an attempt to get the rope back down we began to cop the tree down it was not that big. But about half way through in an attempt to pull the tree to the ground the rope came loose. We had a little fun chopping at the tree and were a little disappointed that it came loose, so I threw the rope back up over the tree and got it in just the right spot and we used it for our bar cable that night. We at dinner and played some card games that night and had some fun just talking. But sleep was great. Day 6 Thursday April 1, 2010 We got up that next morning and started hiking early yet again, this time with the goal of getting to Low Gap shelter, which was the next shelter on the map and was about 10 miles up from bull gap. We covered a number of fairly large hills nothing in comparison to Blood Mountain but Wildcat Mountain was essentially an elevator going straight up, but we can now say we have hiked the entire southern end of the AT. Last time we skipped the section there with Wildcat Mountain and just walked the road going around which was a lot shorter and not as steep. As we got to the top we discovered exactly why that climb was so hard. The view from the top there was amazing. We pushed on for the next 4 miles. We had almost run out of water and were on our last liter. The boys were getting worn out because the mileage I had set out to accomplish that day was a lot more difficult than I had anticipated. We got on the top of a very long ridge and seemed to stay there for a while. There were some small hills on the top of the ridge along sheep top rock. We tried counting them on the map to see how far we were from the shelter but it just seemed to take forever. We finally got to the shelter about 3:30pm. We were all very worn out and a little dehydrated. We had gotten there much faster than most of our thru hiker friends. Diamond was walking around and looked very much worn out. Soon as I got her pack off the first thing she did was walked over to the creek and laid down in the water. We all found it quite funny. After getting some rest and washing up in the creek we had dinner and played a few rounds of Mao. We had a blast teaching others how to play it. Mark had seemed very tired while we were hiking but almost immediately after taking off his backpack his energy came back and he was running around playing in the creek and exploring the woods around the shelter. Matt was not feeling good. I think he was a little dehydrated. He laid down in the tent and slept for a while. We all slept very well that night, well at least those of us in the tent. Our thru hiker buddies that stayed in the shelter were battling mice all night long. Occasionally I would wake up in the middle of the night and hear them scuffling around and trying to kill the mice. Day 7 Friday April 2, 2010 We got up feeling sore from the previous day. Took a little longer than usual to get moving, but we knew today was going to be an easy day because we followed an old logging road for about 5 miles. We had a total of 7 miles to accomplish today because we were stopping at Unicoi Gap, just on the other side of Blue Mountain Shelter. My dad was coming to join us and to help move vehicles around so that we could get home after we were done hiking. It took us 6 hours to get back to Springer and the cars put back where we wanted them to go. As we were moving cars around we saw a set of Golden arches in the skyline ahead of us. We were excited to be getting some McDonalds. Soon as I saw it I radioed to my father “hey see that sign just ahead of us?” We pulled into the parking lot to discover that it was closed for remodeling. Talk about disappointment. Looking forward to a McDonald’s burger for a few days and not getting it. We settled for Burger King across the street. Being it was so late and as tired as we were we just drove up to Dick’s Creek Gap and dad and I setup a tent the boys slept in the car with Diamond. Day 8 Saturday April 3, 2010 We woke up around 6:00am to get moving we still had to pack our bags and drive down to Unicoi Gap. It took until about 9:00am to get there and by that time our buddies were beginning to get into Unicoi. Our first mile was a pretty steep hill to climb up, the boys wanted to go back and stay at the car and wait for my dad and I to get back the next day. I pushed them to keep moving, and after the first hill or two it was past the point of return and they just kept coming. Tray Mountain was quite a hike up. But like all the rest the big hills always have a payoff at the top once you get up there. Mark, my dad, and I kept towards the front for most of the day. Kenderick and Matt stayed out back. It was a good team setup there we encouraged each other when we needed it. Hiking today was not hard for the three of us that had been on the trail for a week already but it was a different story for my dad and Kenderick. They had to get used to hiking at that pace. My dad did very well and kept a steady pace. We move a total of about 11 miles to Sassafras Gap. There we caught up with Shakin’ Britches, Natured Own, and Teflin, our fellow hiking buddies. That night we brought a pack of hot dogs and this time we cooked them over the fire along with the s’mores. We ALL enjoyed those nice treats on the trail. Day 9 Sunday April 4, 2010 Dad got up first and was first to hit the trail because he knew that we would all catch up with him pretty quickly. I think he actually started hiking about an hour before we did. After he left the boys and I got everything all packed up and we hit the trail. Those 6 miles seemed to be the longest 6 miles we hiked the entire trip. Something about just wanting to get back home and sleep in your own bed makes that wait seem much longer. We packed light and kept up with our bare minimum water. We wanted to keep a good pace so we could get on the road and head home as soon as possible. Mark and I caught up with dad in about an hour and we pretty much flew past him. We caught Shakin’ Britches and stayed right on the Teflon’s heels most of the day. We all had a great time on the trail but we were more than ready to get back home. So we just pushed through as quickly as possible. Mark and I got to the car first and washed up in the creek there while we were waiting. Dad got there about 45 minutes after we did and Kenderick and Matt were about an hour after that. In the mean time Dad and I gave Teflon, Shakin’ Britches, and Natures Own a ride back into town so that they could stay for the night. We said our goodbyes and wished them all good luck. And went and picked up the other car and headed home. Over all it was a great trip and we all had a really good time. The day after I got home I was already checking my calendar for when I can go hiking again. So overall we covered 67.5 miles to complete the section from Springer to Dick’s Creek gap giving us as a group our mileage of 107.7 Miles of the Southern end of the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain to Winding Stair Gap completed. Our next section is planned for the last week of July this summer to Hike from Winding Stair Gap to Fontana Dam (about 59.1 Miles). Anyone wanting to go with us is more than welcome to join just let me know and we can accommodate you and help provide gear if necessary. text/html 2010-03-26T10:49:33+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/84/49/ Ok our next big adventure is the Re-start of the Appalachian trail for some of us. Dusten is taking a second trip to re-hike the first 67.4 miles of the AT. Attendees: (Pack weights include water) Matthew Ostrega – pack weight 35lbs Mark Ostrega – Pack weight 33lbs Dusten Harward – Pack weight 47lbs To join us at Unicoi Gap: Rick Harward Kenderick Harward and a friend Our intended hike will begin at Springer Mountain Georgia, and will head northward over the next week ending on Easter Sunday April 4th. Anyone interested in meeting up with us we will be more than happy to hike with you just come on out and catch up with us. We appreciate your prayers. Check back on our website to see our trail blogs and our pictures. Lets enjoy God’s creation as He intended us to. text/html 2009-07-17T01:54:43+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/83/71/ text/html 2009-07-10T05:11:46+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/82/49/ DICK’S CREEK GAP TO WINDING STAIR GAP – June 20-27, 2009 SAT – 6/20/09 Harward Adventure Ministry has officially become a ministry. Besides our family of 6, we had 5 other people on this trip; two girlfriends, Elizabeth Rogers Autumn Powers, and 3 friends of the family, Ty Thurman, and Matt Mark Ostrega from Myrtle Beach, SC. Everyone was excited as we pull into Dick’s Creek Gap to begin. We did not get our usual 0500 start as it took us till midnight to get most of our new people packed. We arrived at Dick’s Creek around 2:30p, we had lunch, completed backpacks and got to hiking. Having just over 4 miles to shelter, it was interesting to find everyone’s pace. It was good to have 5 walkie-talkies. Elizabeth having a tough time, but Micah patiently encouraging. Heat and humidity was bad and everyone was suffering. Dr. Mom (Renee’) began checking everyone and making sure they were getting electrolytes and salt, which helped perk everyone up and glad to make the shelter. A Nice hot dog supper got everyone refueled and ready for the next day. SUN – 6/21/2009 It was hard to sleep last night with the humidity. Some of us also were not use to extreme darkness and quiet of the woods. We had devotions and gave the crew an overview of the day. We had a small hill to go over and then a steady climb to GA/NC line. We all took pictures at the famous Bly Gap tree (4.5 miles). Our welcome to NC was met by 3 tough climbs over Sharp Top Mtn., Courthouse Bald and climb to Muskrat Creek Shelter. Everyone was exhausted and sore at the end of the day. I think our 8.3 miles was actually closer to 10 miles. In spite of the troubles, they all hung in, took lots of breaks and kept encouraging each other. We got our first bear scare – fallen tree rubbing another tree when the wind blew, ran across a possible poisonous snake and got to see our first great view that seemed to lift everyone spirits. One of the new guys saw a snake that I chased off. He complained a lot the last 2 miles about his feet hurting and wanting to stop and rest longer. I was determined to make the shelter. I would tell him to wait for Dusty coming behind me but he was not going to be left alone. He was afraid the snake would come back!! After 3 exhausting climbs and thinking we were never going to find the shelter, we did find it. We hiked sun-up to sun down; fortunately, we saved our pasta dinner for supper. Afterwards, everyone felt better and went right to sleep with bellies full. MON – 6/22/09 We did get a small shower that morning, I gathered wood for a fire, and let everyone sleep in. We only had about 4.5 miles to next shelter. We needed an easy day to recuperate from the previous day. It was also a good day to bath and wash clothes. We only took about 3 hours to hike 4.5 – 5 miles for the day. We got rained on a little but then the sun popped out. We relaxed and had some fun after doing laundry in the stream. Dusty and all the guys made some goofy videos that brought a lot of laughter and fun. Hiking is beginning to be fun now. We met our first group on the trail - a leader and 6 guys from a Methodist Church on a wilderness camp week. Also, we met a retired gentleman about to finish section hiking the entire trail that had taken him about 11 years to finish. I really wanted to see a sunset/sunrise on top of Standing Indian Mtn. Dusty and I talked about getting up early next morning, however, Renee’ and I decided to pack up and go on up that evening. Left around 8:00a and had a 1.5 mile climb to the top. It was an easy upgrade but had 10 switchbacks. We got to top and it was almost dark. Thought there was a trail to top but was unmarked and too dark to see. Renee’ and I made camp and went on to sleep. TUES – 6/23/09 Renee’ and I got up early to take sunrise pictures but could only find a small clearing for pictures – FRUSTRATING. We went to find water but directions were unclear. We went down another side trail but no water. An hour later, coiming back to camp. I saw an arrow on back to trail sign pointing to unmarked path to water. At least we found water to wash up and refill our bottles. We had to wait for the rest of the group to come up the mountain. They got to the top by 12:00p. Matt Ostrega was in first group and he found trail to clearing on top of Standing Indian Mtn. in 2 minutes. At least, we all got to see a really great view. We had a nice 6 mile hike from there with easy declines and a slight incline to reach Carter Gap Shelter. We stopped at a small creek to refill out water bottles and most took off their boots and soaked their feet – REFRESHING. We got to the shelter and there were 3 or 4 other groups there as well so we decided to set up our tents. I like sleeping in our tents – its cooler and no bugs and no shelter mice running around you all night. On a funny note, a mouse crept into Dusty’s or Micah’s backpack. It didn’t survive long once someone attacked it with Autumn’s shoe. We think the mouse was the alias “Mousey McTurdface” that had terrorized another hiker from Standing Indian Shelter and had a wanted poster drew in the shelter journey for its capture or death with a reward of someone carrying your backpack for 42 miles. Dusty is trying to claim the reward. He had taken a picture of the trail journal entry. He made a video of it all and placed on our website. Just another crazy adventure on the trail. I ended our day with devotions on memorials and the need for everyone to find one before leaving the trail. WED. – 6/24/09 We had a relatively easy hike until Albert Mtn. but we were looking forward to it. The hike over Big Butt Mtn put us right on the edge with a foot and half trail and a 600 ft. drop over the side. I think if most of the parents had seen what we hiked over, there would be some concerns and questions, but our crowd hiked on over like it like the pros they had become. This put new meaning to the phrase to “Living life on the edge”. Albert Mtn. climb was challenging but fun. On funny note, Dusty went up and tired out trying to go too fast. He radioed down, “Why are we doing this?” It was interesting when one of the new guys who had complained a lot grabbed the radio and started encouraging, “Dusty, you can do it! I have faith in you!” The view from the tower on top of Albert Mtn. was very worth the climb. We had a 360 degree view in all areas above all the trees. We stayed for 45 minutes taking in the view of God’s creation. Our stopping point for the day was only a half mile away. We went on down and set up camp and had supper. Dusty, Mark and I went back up Albert Mtn. for sunset pictures. It was great to get some fantastic pictures. It was one of the best days ever on the trail. I hiked most of the day with Elizabeth and learned a lot about her and her family. THUR. – 6/25/09 It was a sunny morning, but most slept it. I had planned to hike 5.5 miles and stop and finish the other 4 miles on Friday. However, most were talking about finishing all 9.5 – 10 miles today. I said we’ll see how it goes and base my decision at Rock Gap shelter when I see how everyone is doing. We made very good time. We started around 11:30a and made the shelter around 4:30p even after stopping for lunch. We took a break at Rock Gap and a butterfly came to join us. It stayed a long time when Renee’ put out a piece of dried mango. The shelter at Rock Gap was mosquito infested and I did not want to stay. We only had 1 mountain to climb and then another 2 miles on easy descents. Everyone was okay at the top of the mountain and still wanted to finish, so on we went. I sent Dusty, Renee’ and Micah on ahead so they could go and retrieve the vehicles left at Dick’s Creek. It was an easy descent and we all finished about 30 minutes behind Dusty and them. Dusty had dropped their packs on a slightly hilly section that would have been hard to camp at. When they did not return at 8:30p, I figured they got lost and I went across the highway at Winding Stair Gap to find a better place to camp. I did find a better place and we began to set up camp knowing that Dusty, Renee’ and Micah would not return until after dark. It was on a service road that went up the mountain very near the trail and near some water falls. Everyone was relieved to be finished on the trail. My legs and everyone else’ were very sore from hiking 10 miles that day. FRI. – 6/26/09 Off the trail and everyone is glad. Got up, got breakfast, packed up and headed to Franklin, NC to find some civilized coffee. Had Dusty locate a coffee shop and $57.00 later, everyone had coffee, tea, fruit smoothie, bagel or biscotti. I saw a rock museum and rock shop and went to check it out. Loaded everyone up and to Wessor, NC and the Nantahala Outdoor Center we ventured. We felt so good to have a hot shower after 7 days on the trail and cold sponge baths. We got a hot meal shortly thereafter and finally relaxed. Found a place to camp and set up. Dusty took all the teenagers swimming while Renee’ and I went to Bryson City, NC to buy a few groceries and do laundry. It was a good relaxing day. We roasted some hot dogs, marshmallows, and even found a watermelon. SAT. 6/27/09 To put an exclamation point on our vacation, we ended our trip with a rafting ride down the Nantahala River. The Tide Pirates rode down in style – “Soak’em till they cry, leave none dry”. People were asking a lot of questions why we had the detergent bottles with the bottoms cut out. Most found out pretty quickly and had fun or sought to avoid us. We had one older guy in a funyak who really enjoyed us getting him wet. We had a blast until the girls and my wife got cold and did not want to get wet any more. That’s why it’s a Men’s only rafting trip with our church. We will probably stick to that in the future. Still, it was a good trip and we had a lot of fun and got to see a lot great views from the mountains. Can’t wait to go again. text/html 2009-07-05T00:47:28+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/81/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:42:22+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/80/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:41:48+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/79/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:41:07+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/78/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:40:32+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/77/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:39:43+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/76/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:38:58+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/75/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:38:17+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/74/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:33:12+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/73/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:32:38+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/72/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:31:59+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/71/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:31:13+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/70/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:30:02+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/68/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:29:15+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/67/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:28:31+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/66/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:27:59+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/65/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:27:13+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/64/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:26:22+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/63/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:25:36+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/62/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:24:57+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/61/71/ text/html 2009-07-05T00:23:38+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/60/71/ text/html 2009-07-04T19:30:37+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/69/71/ text/html 2009-05-13T22:12:30+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/59/1/ text/html 2009-04-05T20:37:50+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/58/49/ Friday - March 28-30, 2009 Arrived in Charlotte for pre-staging and final preparations. After checking the Weather Channel for the hundreth time, it was decided to hike backwards this time. We knew we were facing some rain and some cold weather. Figured it would be shorter to hike in the rain for 3.5-4 miles to a shelter and go up one big mountain than to hike 5.5 miles and have two mountains to climb the other way. Saturday - March 28, 2009 Worked out okay as we only had a light drizzle. However, Ken, Micah and Dad boots were soaked. Was happy to arrive at the shelter 3-4 hours later We were the first at the shelter. We all changed into dry clothing and got lunch. Other hikers began to arrive. All of them were Thru-hikers and had been hiking in the rain for 5 days. When the rain stopped, we built a fire to warm-up and try to dry out our boots. Had a good time around the fire and watching the amazing "steam man" dry out all his clothes that had gotten wet the last few day. As his clothes would dry, steam would come off in all directions. Was glad we only had rain for one day. It got a little chilly that night, but our new 20-degree sleeping bags did fine. Sunday - March 29, 2009 Weather forecasts had predicted sunny skies and 60-70 degree weather. Saw the sun some, but weather never got above 40 as we faced a chilling 10-15 mph wind whenever we were on the right side of the mountain. Path switched back and forth to the right and left side of the mountain. Warmed up on the left side and froze on the right side. Was climbing Trey Mountain to stay at the shelter there (4500 ft elevation). Nearing Trey Mtn, was on the left side of the mountain. Temp dropped to 32 on top and 15-20 mph winds. Renee' was close to hyperthermia. Got hot tea and Roman in her and she was fine. Small shelter for 7 people and there were 20-25 people there. Was amazed at how quickly the temp dropped even more. Dad began looking for a campsite to pitch a tent on the left side of the mountain away from the wind blowing. Dusty found a better place among the trees a hundred yards away and Dad pitched his tent 15 feet away near the edge of a cliff but away from the wind. There were trees to prevent tent from moving. Beautiful scene at night looking down into the valley seeing all the homes light up. Looked like a Thomas Kinkade painting. It got down into the teens. We froze in our tents. Took some close huddling to warm up some. Nobody slept much, but we were able to get warm. Monday - March 30, 2009 Awoke to a beautiful sunrise coming over the mountains. Made all the rain and cold worth it to see that sunrise. Sun was out and it began to warm up rather quickly. Hot coffee and grits made for a good breakfast. Day got progressively warmer as we went. By the end of the day, everyone was in shorts and T-shirts. Good hiking. Only slight declines. Took Dusty, Micah, and Kenderick an hour to catch Dad and Mom 2.5 miles later. Someone left a cooler with drinks and snacks at the bottom of Trey Mountain and labeled it Trail Magic. Was a welcomed sight after all the difficulty 2 days before. I know the Thru-hikers welcomed the gifts after 5 difficult days on the trail. Being out of shape got to us all going over the Rocky Mtn. It was 1.2 miles up and 1.3 miles down. Dad's knees began to feel the pressure and slowed down. Ran across a garter snake near Unicoi Gap. Renee' and the boys played with it a little and removed it from the trail. We were very glad to survive our weather odeals for the weekend. We learned a valuable lesson that the Weather Channel does not know much about weather on A.T. It predicts weather for the low lying cities near the base of the mountains. Apparantly, a cold front got stuck on the mountains - not in any forecast we say prior to our trip. We were all looking forward to a hot cooked meal at Wendy's on the way home. text/html 2009-02-18T11:04:44+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/57/69/ text/html 2009-02-17T23:15:18+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/56/49/ This was a journal entry that I stumbled upon in the shelter journal way back at the Stover Creek Shelter at the very start of your trail. I found it to be very interesting and thought I would share it here: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Quote From William Shakespeare's play As you like it Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile, Hath not old custom made this life more sweet Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods More free from peril than the envious court? Here feel we but the penalty of Adam, The seasons' difference, as the icy fang And churlish chiding of the winter's wind, Which, when it bites and blows upon my body, Even till I shrink with cold, I smile and say 'This is no flattery: these are counsellors That feelingly persuade me what I am.' Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life exempt from public haunt Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in every thing. I would not change it. text/html 2009-02-13T15:14:48+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/55/49/ With the start of a new year, begins our planning for our trail progress. We have laid out plans so far that will alow us to arrive in Nantahala Outdoor Recreation center by the end of June. The last week in June there is rafting trip that is planned with our church, Cliffdale Christian Center, and we are planning on hiking 30 miles into Nantahala and arriving the same day our church group arrives. So a full week of hiking followed by a weekend of rafting. This has been our goal since we started the AT. We are planning tree trips between now and June to allow us to reach that point in time, one trip in March and two trips in April. We are not able to do anything in May but we have set it up so we won’t have to. Later this year we will be planning our trips for the rest of the year but at the moment we are all set through June.Soon I hope to have a calendar application installed so that we can post up our trip dates and information. So stay tuned to find out more. If there is anyone that may be interested in joining us please feel free to leave a message here on the site and I will see about setting it up. text/html 2008-08-25T10:44:14+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/54/49/ Day One – Friday August 29This adventure was no different from our last voyage, filled with family fun, and enjoyment of God’s creation. We started out our long drive to Unicoi Gap on early Friday morning August 29th about 5:00a.m. We dropped off my car at Unicoi Gap, and loaded everything up into Micah’s truck and we headed down to Woody Gap. Once there we took to the trail immediately. This trip our mother was able to join us for her first adventure on the AT. Also joining her was her little dog Reece. Dusty decided to bring his dog Diamond as well. On our first day we were headed northward up the summit to Blood Mountain, which is one of the steepest climbs and the highest point on the AT in Georgia with an elevation of 4458 feet above sea level. This hike seemed long and hard as we were getting reconditioned to the trail. Even though we all tried to keep in shape after our last trail adventure, running around the block in our neighborhood is nothing like hiking up a mountain with forty pounds on your back. We all worked very hard and we made about seven miles the first day and set out camp. One thing that made it somewhat difficult for us was that a lot of the water sources on the map were dried up. We expected to be able to fill up at the spring there in Woody Gap. But that one was dry. We had to hike in about 4 miles before we could find a place to get water. Sometimes, it’s the little things that can make a big difference in hiking on the A.T. My mom had trouble with her shoes. Her shoes were fine working around Fayetteville, but hurt her feet hiking with a 35 pound backpack. Also, we discovered her backpack did not fit right. Made 3 adjustments before she found one she could tolerate for the next 30 miles. So we continued our journey with a looming fear of not knowing what sources were going to be available for us to draw water. The first night on the trail we stayed at Woods Hole Shelter (about ½ mile hike off the trail) hoping that it would have water there at the spring. Unfortunately that spring was too dry for us to pull water out of. Had some great views on top of Big Cedar Mtn. Everyone was glad to be done for the day. It was incredible loud at night. It was katydid season. Day 2 – Saturday August 30 So we finished our ascent up and back down Blood Mountain with the remaining water we had drawn the previous day. Most of us ran out of water. We were not able to find another decent water source until Neels Gap at the Walasi-Yi Centre. We were so relieved to see the Walasi Center coming down that mountain. Dad walked inside and bought a round of Gatorades and a bunch of bananas for us all. We all took the opportunity to take a shower there at the center to rehydrate our outside and rested a bit. Dusten went inside and bought another liter bottle to carry to ensure we would have some extra water. He filled up all of the water bottles and got them all loaded up. As we were getting ready to leave Dad went back inside and got another round of Gatorades and bananas. We spent a total of two hours there at Neels Gap. We got back on the trail to finish our mileage (about 8 miles) for the day. We stopped just short of Cowrock Mtn. in a small campsite by an underground spring that was flowing pretty well. That night Mom made the soup mix that she had put together for all of us. After eating the soup the gas began. The farts continued to flow for the rest of the trip. We will now stay away from the Bear Creek soup mixes. It seemed to have had a bad effect on all of us. Day 3 – Sunday August 31We bedded down and got a good start the next morning and continued our hike. We had a nice breakfast and fixed coffee. That seemed to help everyone’s mood. There were lots of ups and down. Being behind our planned schedule, we took a shortcut around Wildcat Mtn. Sometimes, there is a blessing inside a small tragedy. My dad somehow tripped on a loose rock. He was okay but needed to adjust his backpack. There was a rock several feet ahead and he was going to set his backpack there. He stopped short of setting his backpack down when he noticed a snake sitting there looking at him. He backed away. Upon more careful observation, we discovered it was a Georgia rattlesnake. Poisonous snakes do not usually bite the first person in a line. They usually bite the second on third person or maybe one of our dogs. Kenderick, our youngest hiker at 12, had already walked past the snake. Dusty was able to throw a rock at it and chase it away, thus, preventing any trouble. We have a snakebite kit but hope to never use it. After reaching the Low Gap Shelter, we rested and rehydrated. On a funny note, Renee’ hiked the remaining trail in her flip flops. I don’t recommend this for most people. She had rather deal with hitting her open toes on rocks and sticks than deal with her acing feet in her hiking boots. After this, our hike was a lot easier and a lot more level. The trail follows along an old logging road for about four miles and we were able to hike through it a lot faster than we had expected. About Seven o’clock Dad decided to just find the next water source, fill up, and camp at the next site we found. That night, after we got everything setup and had just finished dinner, we were starting to make plans for the next day when our 20% chance of rain came against our favor. It began to pour and we all threw everything into the tents as quickly as possible and the rain really began to pour. Both tents began to leak, so we pulled out the tarps to cover our tents. It only rained for about fifteen minutes and we got everything settled and bedded down. Day 4 – Monday September 1The next morning we got the earliest start we have done yet since we began this journey. We got up at six o’clock, before the sun came up. We got going earlier so that we could get done before lunch. My dad had left a few items hanging from tree limbs and noticed that something had taken one of his bandanas. Probably a raccoon gang running around with bandanas somewhere. We were on the trail around 8:00 A.M. Later that day Dusten realized that he had left his car keys in the truck. So it proposed a slight issue with the truck sitting in Woody Gap. After we got down the trail he was able to get a cell signal and called around to get some numbers to schedule a pickup with a shuttle company. Going up Blue Mtn., the trail turned to rock ledges and we had to be very careful. At the point, I think even the dogs were tired. My dad watched Diamond, Dusty’s dog, take 30 seconds to sit down. Everyone took a privy break at the Blue Mtn. shelter. It was a steep decline down Blue Mtn. for 2 miles. Thoughts of going home motivated us to finish. Somewhere along this hike, Kenderick stepped on a baby snake. No damage to Kenderick or the snake. We got back to my car and Dad rode down with “Tom” (Shuttle Driver) to the truck. And we began our journey back home. Overall we had a great time on the trail this trip, we had expected the dogs to kind of lag behind a bit but they kept up very well. Every time we stopped to take a break the Dogs would whimper and whine because they wanted to keep moving. Every night when we would setup camp the dogs would find a place to lie down and just crash. We wore these dogs out, but they had a blast. I think Diamond would love to go next time. text/html 2008-07-07T10:40:34+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/52/49/ Pre – Trail. June 28, 2008 Got to Amicalola Falls State Park. After setting up camp, a drenching rain hit us. We were saved by a covered picnic shelter and were able to dry out our tents and any wet stuff. Supper was saved because we had gotten a fire going and some coals survived the rain and we were able to cook our kabobs and potatoes. On a funny note, a raccoon got into our push button cooler and stole most of our sausage links for breakfast. Trail – Day 1 – June 29, 2008 Got up for breakfast and discovered that I forgot to bring a frying pan to cook pancakes. Had leftover potatoes instead. Drove up to a parking place near the start of the trail. There were lots of clouds when we started. We hiked up to Springer Mountain (9/10 mile). Took our pictures of Springer Mtn. and were about to leave when the wind blew and cleared a little we could see 3 mountains. Started down the trail and it was cool. Our packs felt very heavy. We’re trying to get about 5 miles to Long Creek Falls. There was a shelter about 3 miles down but the weather was nice and we decided to hike on to the Falls. One hour later, it began to rain. We stopped for a little while and went on. About the time we got to Long Creek Falls, it began to rain buckets. Micah put up his poncho as a tarp, but we were stuck. It was 6:30 and the nearest shelter was 3 miles up. Waited for rain to stop. Two hours later, the rain did stop. Kenderick and I were soaked. Got some soup going and everyone warmed up. Set up our tents, dug a trench and built a hooch to protect our tents. Was amazed at how dark it got once the sun went down. Could not even see your hand in front of your face. Trail – Day 2 – June 30, 2008 I let everyone else sleep in as late as possible to let them rest. I probably got up around 7:00 a.m. went to working on building a fire. Took an hour to get and keep the fire going because I had to shave all the wet bark off. Micah and Dusty got up and had the fire blazing in 30 minutes. Needed the fire to try and dry out our shoes. The Falls were beautiful. It was good to see the sun and blue skies. Took a while to get everyone up and going. Left camp at 12:30. Lots of ups and downs on the trail. Plan was to go to Hawk Mtn. shelter about 3 miles down trail to dry out and wash clothes. Warm day. It was relaxing to get to the shelter. Kenderick was in very good spirits today. Yesterday, being cold and wet, he was ready to quit and go home. Met some more hikers on the trail, also staying at the shelter. There was Ann and her dog, Bear and a couple named Robin and Jeff. Trail – Day 3 – July 1, 2008 The weather was beautiful. We climbed 2 mountains that kicked our butts – Sassafras Justus Mtn. Went from 2,673 to 3,336 – 1 mile ascent and up 664 foot climb with several switchbacks (Sassafras), down to 2,828, then up to Justus Mtn (3,224), down a little, up a little, descended to 2,600 feet and stopped at Gooch Mtn Shelter. We did not want to stay in the shelter unless we had to because I heard mice running all through the shelter last night. Left at 10:30 a.m. and made the shelter at 5:30 p.m. Did 7.3 miles in 7 hours. Made very good time. All legs muscles were burning when we quit. We beat the other 2 groups at our shelter from previous night. Had 2 guys, Mike and Matt, which we kept passing and being passed. They had traveled 12 miles that day and had a seriously heavy backpack – lots of can food and 3 liter “box of wine”. Had another couple from Florida, Chris and Liz, come in as well. Had a great time at the shelter between everyone telling funny stories and watching Matt, Mike, Chris, and Liz try to lighten the wine box. Trail – Day 4 – July 2, 2008 Only 5 miles to get from Gouch Mtn. shelter to Woody Gap – our pullout. Wish we were going on, but most were starting to get blisters. Made very good time. Mostly Flat. Left shelter at 11:33 a.m. and finished at 2:45p.m. Finally had some really good overlooks off the top of a few mountains toward the end. It was good to stop after our first week on the trail. Learned a lot and still need some better equipment, not much just a few minor items. After we all transported back to the trailhead, everyone said their last goodbyes and began their journey home. After a few miles we decided to stop and have dinner at Burger King. On the way back out we noticed a few odd looking prints on the hood of my car. It appears that we had a bear hop up onto and sit on the hood of my car. He did not appear to have done any damage, but its just kind of funny that I had bear prints all over my car. text/html 2008-06-23T12:52:45+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/51/49/ Wow, we are now gearing up for our very first adventure on the AT. The more we look into this now, the more we discover that we made a very good decision not to hit the trail back on Memorial Day. We would not have had the time or the proper gear once we got there. But we are all set and prepared now. We have triple checked our gear lists, reviewed numerous trail guides and maps. And we are now going to be ready. We have the two-way radios now, after discovering the hard way on our Uwharrie trip just how important they can be. We have our maps and plans are being finalized as to where we will make for camp each night. Preferably with water source at each camp (also discovered the hard way). But you know some of life’s best lessons are learned the hard way, that way you are sure not to forget them. We are all very excited to embark on this trip.We plan to leave and make camp at Amicalola Falls State Park on Saturday June 28, and begin our journey northward from there the next morning. See you on the trail!!! text/html 2008-06-23T12:36:20+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/50/1/ Hi, we are the Harward Family. This site is an ongoing blog about our adventures on the trail. This is a story about our adventures as a family as we take on an experience that we feel everyone should have at least once in their life. We are planning to hike the entirety of the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine over the next five years. As we embark on this long journey we are going to continuously post here on the site to share our adventures. Also on this site we will have resources available for free as we find them. We would love to answer any questions or comments that you may have, simply click the Contact Us (index.php?option=com_contact Itemid=3) link in the menu, If you would like to receive a notification next time we make a post please sign up to our Mailing List (http://harwardadventureministry.com/mlist/?p=subscribe id=1).Here on the home page you will be able to read our last 4 posts, if you would like to read about or adventures from our beginning post please visit the “From the Beginning (index.php?option=com_content task=blogcategory id=20 Itemid=49)” section. **********************************************Our Story Begins********************************************** text/html 2008-06-12T14:46:01+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/48/63/ Submitted By: Pat G.On: 5/29/2008 Hey my family. work those abbs move those legs, all in 1,2,and 3. All in shared now. Looking great and what a great job. But please buy a 2 way radio for me please. - Don't worry Pat, we got em now!!! ><> Dusten <>< text/html 2008-06-12T14:42:28+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/47/63/ Submitted by: Melissa C.On: 5/9/2008 I think it would be a great family trip. what ever you do dont delay it. text/html 2008-06-12T14:38:12+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/46/63/ Submitted by: DarbyOn: 5/26/2008Q: How many miles long is this(Meaning the AT)?A: It is approximately 2175 miles (3,500 km) long. text/html 2008-06-03T11:14:35+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/45/58/ Trail PathThe trail is currently protected along more than 99% of its course by federal or state ownership of the land or by right-of-way. The trail is maintained by a variety of citizen organizations, environmental advocacy groups, governmental agencies and individuals. Annually, more than 4,000 volunteers contribute over 175,000 hours of effort on the Appalachian Trail, an effort coordinated largely by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) organization.In the course of its journey, the trail follows the ridgeline of the Appalachian Mountains, crossing many of its highest peaks, and running, with only a few exceptions, almost continuously through wilderness. It is unique in that it is the only trail that traverses Revolutionary War-era cemeteries and Civil War battlefields like Antietam. A hiker signs the register on Springer Georgia has 75 miles (120 km) of the trail, including the southern terminus at Springer Mountain at an elevation of 3,280 feet (992 m). At 4,461 feet (1360 m), Blood Mountain is the highest point on the trail in Georgia. The AT and approach trail are managed and maintained by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club. See also: Georgia Peaks on the Appalachian Trail.North Carolina has 88 miles (142 km) of the trail, not including more than 200 miles (325 km) along the Tennessee Border. Altitude ranges from 1,725 to 5,498 feet (525 m to 1676 m).Tennessee has 293 miles (472 km) of the trail, including more than 200 miles (325 km) along or near the North Carolina Border. The section that runs just below the summit of Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the highest point on the trail at 6,625 feet (2019 m). Virginia has 550 miles (885 km) of the trail, including about 20 miles (32 km) along the West Virginia border. Some consider this to be the wettest, most challenging part of the hike for northbound hikers because of the spring thaw. On average, it rains 20 out of 30 days during the spring.[citation needed] Substantial portions closely parallel the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway in Shenandoah National Park. Parts of the trail near the Blue Ridge Parkway are often considered the best for beginner hikers. The trail goes within one half mile of the highest point in Virginia, Mt. Rogers, and is a short side-hike from the AT.West Virginia has 4 miles (6 km) of the trail, not including about 20 miles (32 km) along the Virginia border. Here the trail passes through the town of Harpers Ferry, headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Harpers Ferry is considered the psychological midpoint of the AT.Maryland has 41 miles (66 km) of the trail, with elevations ranging from 230 to 1,880 feet (70–570 m). This section, great for three- or four-day trips, is easy by AT standards, and is a good place for hikers to find out if they are ready for more rugged parts of the trail. Hikers are required to stay at designated shelters and campsites.Pennsylvania has 229 miles (369 km) of the trail. The trail extends from the Pennsylvania - Maryland line at Pen Mar, a tiny town straddling the state line, to the Delaware Water Gap, at the Pennsylvania - New Jersey border. The Susquehanna River is generally considered the dividing line between the northern and southern sections of the Pennsylvania AT.The AT passes through St. Anthony's Wilderness, which is the second largest road less area in Pennsylvania and home to several coal mining ghost towns, such as Yellow Springs and Rausch Gap.New Jersey is home to 72 miles (116 km) of the trail. The trail enters New Jersey from the south on a pedestrian walkway along the Interstate 80 bridge over the Delaware River, ascends from the Delaware Water Gap to the top of Kittatinny Ridge in Worthington State Forest, passes Sunfish Pond (right), continues through Stokes State Forest and eventually reaches High Point State Park, highest peak in New Jersey (a side trail is required to reach the actual peak). It then turns in a southeastern direction along the New York border for about 30 miles (48 km), passing over long sections of boardwalk bridges over marshy land, and then entering Wawayanda State Park and then the Abraham Hewitt State Forest just before entering New York near Greenwood Lake.Black bear activity along the trail in New Jersey increased rapidly starting in 2001. Hence, metal bear-proof trash boxes are in place at all New Jersey shelters. Island Pond, Harriman State Park New York's 88 miles (142 km) of trail contain very little elevation change compared to other states. From south to north, the trail summits many small mountains under 1,400 feet (430 m) in elevation, its highest point in New York being Prospect Rock at 1,433 feet (438 m), and only 3,000 feet (800 m) from the border with New Jersey. The trail continues north, climbing near Fitzgerald Falls, passing through Sterling Forest, and then entering Harriman State Park and Bear Mountain State Park. It crosses the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain Bridge, the lowest point on the entire Appalachian Trail at 124 feet (38 m). It then passes through Fahnestock State Park, and continues northeast until it enters Connecticut via the Pawling Nature Reserve. The section of the trail that passes through Harriman and Bear Mountain State Parks is the oldest section of the trail, completed in 1923.The 52 miles (84 km) of trail in Connecticut lie almost entirely along the ridges to the west above the Housatonic River valley.The state line is also the western boundary of a 480-acre (190 ha) Connecticut reservation inhabited by 11 Schaghticoke Indians. Inside it, the AT roughly parallels its northern boundary, crossing back outside it after 2,000 feet (640 m).Massachusetts has 90 miles (145 km) of trail. The entire section of trail is in western Massachusetts' Berkshire County. It summits the highest peak in the Southern Berkshires, Mount Everett (2,602 ft., 793 m), then descends to the Housatonic River Valley and skirts the town of Great Barrington. The trail passes through the towns of Dalton and Cheshire, and summits the highest point in the state at 3,491 feet (1,064 m), Mount Greylock. It then quickly descends to the valley within 2 miles (3 km) of North Adams and Williamstown, before ascending again to the Vermont state line. The trail throughout Massachusetts is maintained by the Berkshire Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club.Vermont has 150 miles (241 km) of the trail. Upon entering Vermont, the trail coincides with the southernmost sections of the generally north/south-oriented Long Trail (which is subject to a request by its maintainers to protect it in its most vulnerable part of the year by forgoing spring hiking). It follows the ridge of the southern Green Mountains, summiting such notable peaks as Stratton Mountain, Glastonbury Mountain and Killington Peak. After parting ways with the Long Trail at Maine Junction, the AT turns in a more eastward direction, crossing the White River, passing through Norwich, and entering Hanover, New Hampshire, as it crosses the Connecticut River. The Green Mountain Club maintains the AT from the Massachusetts state border to Route 12. The Dartmouth Outing Club maintains the trail from Route 12 to the New Hampshire state line.View of the spectacular Franconia Ridge, a section of the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire. New Hampshire has 161 miles (259 km) of the trail. The New Hampshire AT is nearly all within the White Mountain National Forest. For northbound thru-hikers, it is the beginning of the main challenges that go beyond enduring distance and time: in New Hampshire and Maine, rough or steep ground is more frequent and alpine conditions are found near summits and along ridges. The trail reaches more than half of the four-thousand footers of New Hampshire, including Mount Washington, the highest point of the AT north of Tennessee. The Dartmouth Outing Club maintains the AT from the Vermont border past Mount Moosilauke to Kinsman Notch, with the AMC maintaining the remaining miles through the state.A thru-hiker celebrates the successful completion of his thru-hike atop Mount Katahdin in Maine. The 281 miles (452 km) of the trail in Maine are particularly difficult. More moose are seen by hikers in this state than any other on the trail. The northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is on Mount Katahdin's Baxter Peak in Baxter State Park.The western section includes a mile-long (1.6 km) stretch of boulders at Mahoosuc Notch, often called the trail's hardest mile. Also, although there are dozens of river and stream fords on the Maine section of the trail, the Kennebec River is the only one on the trail that requires a boat crossing. The most isolated portion in the state (and arguably on the entire trail) is known as the 100-Mile Wilderness. This section heads east-northeast from the town of Monson and ends outside Baxter State Park just south of Abol Bridge.Park management strongly discourages thru-hiking within the park before May 15 or after October 15.The AMC maintains the AT from the New Hampshire border to Grafton Notch, with the Maine Appalachian Trail Club responsible for maintaining the remaining miles to Mt. Katahdin. text/html 2008-06-03T11:14:04+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/44/60/ Trail hikers who attempt to complete the entire trail in a single season are called thru-hikers ; those who traverse the trail during a series of separate trips are known as section-hikers . Rugged terrain and cold weather during the spring and fall make thru-hiking difficult. Only about 30% of those who make the attempt report to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy that they completed it; 2007 estimates said 28,500 have done so. It is widely acknowledged that many or even most of these have skipped portions of the Trail. Completion generally requires five to seven months, although some have done it in three months, and several trail runners have completed the trail in less time. Trail runners typically tackle the AT with automobile support teams, without backpacks, and without camping in the woods.The current unofficial speed record for through-hiking the AT was set by trail runner Andrew Thompson in 2005, at 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes. Thompson made the trip southbound, from late June to early August.Thru-hikers are classified into many informal groups. Purists are hikers who stick to the official AT trail except for side trips to shelters and camp sites. Blue Blazers cut miles from the full route by taking side trails marked by blue blazes. The generally pejorative name Yellow Blazers, a reference to yellow road stripes, is given to those who hitchhike to move down the trail. There are also those who hike the trail in sections known as sectioners as opposed to those who hike the whole trail as one course.Most thru-hikers walk northward from Georgia to Maine, and generally start out in early spring and follow the warm weather as it moves north. These north-bounders are also called NOBO (Northbound) or GAME (Georgia (GA)-to-Maine (ME)), while those heading in the opposite direction are termed south-bounders (also SOBO or MEGA).Part of hiker subculture includes making colorful entries in logbooks at trail shelters, signed using trail names.The Appalachian Trail Conservancy gives the name 2000 Miler to anyone who completes the entire Trail. The ATC's recognition policy for 2000 Milers gives equal recognition to thru-hikers and section-hikers, operates on the honor system, and recognizes blue-blazed trails or officially required road walks as substitutes for the official, white-blazed route during an emergency such as a flood, forest fire, or impending storm on an exposed, high-elevation stretch.Most of the trail is also open to local use. text/html 2008-06-03T11:10:34+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/43/57/ As the Appalachian Trail was explicitly designed to be hiked, it includes resources to facilitate hikers. Some are common to trails throughout North America, while some are unique to the Appalachian Trail. The trail is much more frequently hiked south to north (i.e. Georgia to Maine) than vice versa. Hikers typically begin in March or April and finish in late summer or early to late fall of that particular year. Many hikers will break down the mileage into halves or thirds, so that they can have the best weather, which typically occurs between May and September.NavigationThroughout its length, the AT is marked by 2-by-6-inch (5-by-15-cm) white paint blazes. Side trails to shelters, viewpoints and parking areas use similarly-shaped blue blazes.In past years, some sections of the trail also used metal diamond markers with the AT logo, few of which survive.LodgingThe trail has more than 200 shelters and camp sites available for hikers. The shelters, sometimes called lean-tos (in Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut) or huts (in Shenandoah National Park and the White Mountains in New Hampshire), are generally open, three-walled structures with a wooden floor, although some shelters are much more complex in structure. Shelters are usually spaced a day's hike or less apart, most often near a water source (which may be dry) and with a privy. They generally have spaces for tent sites in the vicinity.Shelters are generally maintained by local volunteers. Almost all shelters have one or more pre-hung food hangers (generally consisting of a short nylon cord with an upside-down tuna can suspended halfway down its length) where hikers can hang their food bags to keep them out of the reach of rodents. In hiker lingo, these are sometimes called mouse trapezes. In addition to official shelters, many persons offer their homes, places of business, or inns to accommodate AT hikers. One example is the Little Lyford Pond camps maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club. Inns are more common in sections of the trail that coincide with national parks, most notably Virginia's Shenandoah National Park.Trail towns The trail crosses many roads, thus providing ample opportunity for hikers to hitchhike into town for food and other supplies. Many trail towns are accustomed to hikers passing through, and thus many have hotels and hiker-oriented accommodations. Some of the most well-known trail towns are Monson, Maine; Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; Damascus, Virginia; Hot Springs, North Carolina; Erwin, Tennessee; Duncannon, Pennsylvania; Port Clinton, Pennsylvania; and Hanover, New Hampshire. In the areas of the trail closer to trail towns, many hikers have experienced what is sometimes called trail magic, or assistance from strangers through kind actions, gifts, and other forms of encouragement. Trail magic is sometimes done anonymously. In other instances, persons have provided food and cooked for hikers at a campsite.HazardsThe Appalachian Trail is relatively safe. Most injuries or incidents are consistent with comparable outdoor activities. Most hazards are related to weather conditions, human error, plants, animals, diseases, and fellow humans encountered along the trail. Many animals live around the trail, with bears, snakes, and wild boars posing the greatest threat to human safety. Several rodent- and bug-borne illnesses are also a potential hazard. Ticks are carriers for Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and other diseases, and are in higher abundance in northern states. Being thoroughly covered and wearing DEET can greatly reduce the chances of getting infected.In scattered instances, foxes, raccoons, and other small animals may bite hikers, posing risk of rabies and other diseases. There has been one reported case (in 1993) of Hantavirus (HPS), a rare but dangerous rodent-borne disease affecting the lungs. The afflicted hiker recovered and hiked the trail the following year.Poison ivy plant life can create its own brand of problems. Poison ivy is common the length of the trail, and more plentiful in the South. Flare-ups can be treated with calamine lotion or Solarcaine.Hiking season of the trail generally starts in mid to late spring, when conditions are much more favorable in the South. However, this time may also be characterized by extreme heat, sometimes in excess of 100°F. Under such conditions, hydration is imperative. Light clothing and sunscreens are a must at high elevations and areas without foliage, even in relatively cool weather.Further north and at higher elevations, the weather can be intensely cold, characterized by low temperatures, strong winds, hail or snow storms and reduced visibility. Prolonged rain, though not typically life-threatening, can undermine stamina and ruin supplies. Typical electrical storm precautions should be followed.Violent crime, including murder, has occurred on the trail in a few instances. Most have been crimes by non-hikers who crossed paths relatively randomly with the AT hiker-victims.In May 1996, two women were abducted, bound and murdered near the trail in Shenandoah National Park. The primary suspect was later discovered harassing a female biker in the vicinity but charges against him were dropped, and the case remains unsolved. A total of 9 murders have occurred since then, including the notorious Ramsey/Mountford murder in 1981 and the Williams/Winans murder in 1996. On May 6, 2008, two fishermen from Virginia were shot, but survived near the trail in Giles County, Virginia, by the man behind the Ramsey/Mountford murders, Randall Lee Smith, who had recently met them not far from the 1981 murder site. Smith died four days later in jail of unknown causes. text/html 2008-06-03T11:08:51+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/41/56/ The Appalachian Trail is home to literally thousands of species of plants and animals, including 2,000 distinct rare, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and animal species.AnimalsThe American black bear (Ursus americanus) is the largest omnivore that may be encountered on the trail, and it inhabits all regions of the Appalachians. However, bear sightings on the trail are uncommon, and confrontations rarer still, as black bears typically avoid humans and can usually be frightened away by loud noises. Other hazards include venomous snakes, including the Eastern timber rattlesnake and copperhead, which are common along the trail. Both snakes are generally found in drier, rockier sections of the trail; the copperhead's range extends north to around the New Jersey-New York state line, while rattlesnakes are commonly found along the trail in Connecticut and have been reported, although rarely, as far north as New Hampshire. Other large fauna include deer; elk, reintroduced in the Smoky Mountains; and moose, which live as far south as Massachusetts but are more commonly seen in Maine.For most hikers, the most persistent pests along the trail are mice and bugs. Mice inhabit shelters and are a greater threat to hiker food than bears. The bugs are a persistent hazard, but are particularly bad in the northern stretches of the trail [citation needed]. Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York have notoriously bad mosquitoes, but the worst section of the trail for bugs is in the lowlands of Maine [citation needed]. The northern hardwood and boreal forest of Maine is perfect for mosquitoes and tiny, pesky black flies to breed. Numerous lakes, rivers, and streams provide the perfect habitat for biting insects to breed and hatch, especially in late spring and early summer.In the southern portions of the trail, mosquitoes, no-see-em and other biting flies are less of a nuisance because there are fewer mountain lakes and ponds. In addition, the lack of great seasonal changes in the South keeps the onslaught of these biting insects down. The continental glaciations that carved so many lakes in the northeast stopped near the Delaware Water Gap, leaving the southern mountains with fewer holes to be filled by rain.PlantsPlant life along the trail is varied. The trail passes through several different biomes from south to north, and the climate changes significantly, particularly dependent upon elevation. In the south, lowland forests consist mainly of second-growth; nearly the entire trail has been logged at one time or another. There are, however, a few old growth locations along the trail, such as Sages Ravine in Massachusetts and The Hermitage, near Gulf Hagas in Maine. In the south, the forest is dominated by hardwoods, including oak and tulip trees, also known as yellow poplar. Further north, tulip trees are gradually replaced by maples and birches. Oaks begin to disappear in Massachusetts. By Vermont, the lowland forest is made up of maples, birch and beech, which provide spectacular foliage displays for hikers in September and October. While the vast majority of lowland forest south of the White Mountains is hardwood, many areas have some coniferous trees as well, and in Maine, these often grow at low elevations.There is a drastic change between the lowland and subalpine, evergreen forest, as well as another, higher break, at tree line, above which only hardy alpine plants grow. The sub-alpine region is far more prevalent along the trail than true alpine conditions. While it mainly exists in the north, a few mountains in the south have subalpine environments. These include the Great Smoky Mountains, where sub-alpine environments only begin around 6000 feet in elevation, the Unaka and Roan Ranges on the North Carolina-Tennessee border, where sub-alpine growth descends below 6000 feet, and Mount Rogers and the Grayson Highlands in Virginia, where there is some alpine growth above 5000 feet. Some high mountains in the south are also balds, due to fires or grazing in recent centuries, or perhaps due to thin, sandy soils. Several balds are sprouting trees, and on some, the National Forest service actually mows the grasses periodically in order to keep the bald open. Mostly in the mid summer to late fall. text/html 2008-06-03T11:07:41+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/40/55/ The trail was conceived by Benton MacKaye, a forester who wrote his original plan shortly after the death of his wife in 1921. MacKaye's idea detailed a grand trail that would connect a series of farms and wilderness work/study camps for city-dwellers. In 1922, at the suggestion of Major William A. Welch, director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, his idea was publicized by Raymond H. Torrey with a story in the New York Evening Post under a full-page banner headline reading A Great Trail from Maine to Georgia! The idea was quickly adopted by the new Palisades Interstate Park Trail Conference as their main project.On October 7, 1923, the first section of the trail, from Bear Mountain west through Harriman State Park to Arden, New York, was opened. MacKaye then called for a two-day Appalachian Trail conference to be held in March 1925 in Washington, D.C. This resulted in the formation of the Appalachian Trail Conference organization, though little progress was made on the trail for several years.At the end of the 1920s and beginning of the 1930s, a retired judge named Arthur Perkins and his younger associate Myron Avery took up the cause. Avery, who soon took over the ATC, adopted the more practical goal of building a simple hiking trail. He and MacKaye clashed over the ATC's response to a major commercial development along the trail's path; MacKaye left the organization, while Avery was willing to simply reroute the trail.Avery became the first to walk the trail end-to-end, though not as a thru-hike, in 1936. In August 1937, the trail was completed to Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, and the ATC shifted its focus toward protecting the trail lands and mapping the trail for hikers. From 1938 to the end of World War II, the trail suffered a series of natural and man-made setbacks. At the end of the war, the damage to the trail was repaired.In 1948, Earl Shaffer of York, Pennsylvania, brought a great deal of attention to the project by completing the first documented thru-hike. (In 1994, a story appeared in the Appalachian Trail way News describing a 121-day Maine to Georgia thru-hike in 1936 by six Boy Scouts from the Bronx. The story has been accepted by some individual members of ALDHA, though a great deal of doubt has also been expressed; this earlier thru-hike has never been verified or accepted by any responsible hiking organization or group; therefore, Shaffer's 1948 journey is still universally recognized as the first A.T. thru-hike. )In the 1960s, the ATC made progress toward protecting the trail from development, thanks to many sympathetic politicians and officials. The National Trails System Act of 1968 paved the way for a series of National Scenic Trails within the National Park and National Forest systems. Trail volunteers worked with the National Park Service to map a permanent route for the trail, and by 1971 a permanent route had been marked (though minor changes continue to this day). By the close of the 20th century, the Park Service had completed the purchase of all but a few miles of the trail's span.On April 23, 1998, President Bill Clinton with Vice President Al Gore planted phlox and patched a stone wall along the AT in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in support of environmental initiatives.The Appalachian Trail should not be confused with the International Appalachian Trail, a 690-mile extension, running north from Maine into New Brunswick and Quebec that is a separate trail, not an official extension of the Appalachian Trail. An extension of the International Appalachian Trail, to Newfoundland, is still under construction.In 2008, the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama was connected to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. text/html 2008-06-03T11:05:41+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/39/54/ The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply The A.T., is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States, extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately 2175 miles (3,500 km) long. The path is maintained by thirty trail clubs and multiple partnerships. The majority of the trail is in wilderness, and thus encounters a wide array of wildlife, topography and plant life. Some portions do traverse towns and roads, and even cross rivers.The Appalachian Trail is famous for its many hikers, many of whom attempt to hike it in its entirety in one trip. Earl Shaffer was the first to do so. Many books, memoirs, web sites and fan organizations are dedicated to this pursuit.Along the way, the trail passes through the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. An extension, the International Appalachian Trail, continues north into Canada and to the end of the range, where it enters the North Atlantic Ocean. text/html 2008-05-28T18:03:00+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/26/39/ Appalachian Trail Equipment ChecklistHiking bootsBackpackSleeping BagSleeping padTent/Tarp and ground clothStove and FuelCooking pot and Eating utensilsPocket knifeWater filter and/or Iodine (unless you plan to boil your water)Food for length of hikeSpices*One-Liter (Minimum) water bottle.Drinking cupFluorescent/blaze orange clothing, vest, hat or pack coverRaingear and pack coverGaitersOne pair of shortsOne pair of loose-fitting long pants*One long sleeve shirt or sweaterKnit capBalaclavaDown or synthetic parka*Two pairs of linear socksTwo pairs of hiking socksBandanasLong Johns*Two pairs of underwear*Toilette paper and trowelBiodegradable soap and washclothDeodorant*Toothbrush and toothpasteShaving kit*Nylon Cord (at least 50 feet)Maps and guidebooks (Usually good to have Topographical Maps)CompassFlashlight with new batteriesWatch or clock*Sunglasses*First-aid kit with moleskin and space blanketEmergency phone numberCopy of itinerary (original left at home with family members)Swimsuit and towel*Extra shoes*Repair supplies for pack, tent, and stove*Camera and film*Radio with headphones*Insect repellentSunscreen and lotion*Hiking stickCrampons and ice axe*Two Way RadiosAdditional Equipment for Longer Hikes Repair equipment for cloathesTrash bagsAn extra long-sleeve shirt or sweaterLong johnsReading material*Journal** Optional or Seasonal Equipment text/html 2008-05-28T10:47:45+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/38/49/ Wow what a trip! What was once the weekend we were to start the AT, has had plans changed and interrupted numerous times. After some trouble with locking the keys into the trunk of the car and spending numerous hours trying to get them out and delaying out departure more, we decided to venture to Morrow Mountain to do a hike to prepare for the AT. So we packed everything up and ventured to Albemarle, NC to Morrow Mountain State Park only to discover that the park was full and there were not any camp sites available. Uwharrie National Forest was next door and was told that there were primitive trails to hike and camp on. We drove around to the south eastern side of Uwharrie just south of Wood Run Camp and parked there and began to hike the Uwharrie Trail from the southern tip headed north. Here we had a bit of a shocking experience as we received a taste of what hiking the AT would feel like. There were a few hills that seems like we would never get over but once we got to the top it all was easy going downhill. We made camp right off of the trail where the Uwharrie trail meets Big Island Creek. That was a very good spot because we had just came over one of the biggest hills on that trail and it was right next to a creek so we would be able to draw water. That first day we hiked a total of 4.5 miles. We would have been able to go further if we had been in a little bit better shape, but we are all working on that now. The next morning we had breakfast and got everything packed back up and had a small worship time and bible study. We went over Psalm 136:1-12. It was very inspiring for what we had experienced the day prior and seemed to fit the moment perfectly. After a small prayer we began our journey northward. After a ways up the road we started up a large hill, Mom, Samuel, and Alex were moving along pretty good and got out ahead of everyone, Dad was moving kind of slowly due to his leg bothering him, Kenderick was just not having a very good day and was not moving very well at all. Micah and I told dad to head on up the hill and that Micah and I would take care of Kenderick. After that hill, we were all a little separated. Our plans were to take the turnaround at the next crossing and head back down Dutchman’s Creek Trail back to the parking lot. But we seem to have missed the first crossing entirely, and all got confused on the second crossing. Mom, Samuel, and Alex took a left and headed north on what we thought was the “turnaround” , Dad kept on going straight, and by the time Kenderick, Micah, and I got to that point I pulled out my cell phone and called my mom and had her wait on us to make sure we were all on the same trail. Kenderick, Micah and I caught up with mom and realized that dad was nowhere to be found. So we stopped right there and began the search to find him. Micah and Sam left their packs with us and took off running to take the Uwharrie trail back north hoping he just missed the turn, they ran about a mile down and ran back and had not found dad. After realizing that this was really bad Alex and I took two of the packs and lashed them together to two long sticks so we could carry them kind of a stretcher style and head back to the crossing where we all got lost. We met Micah and Sam back there and began to discuss possible actions to find dad. By this time we had realized that we missed the turnaround entirely and the trail that we thought was the turnaround was in fact the Dutchman’s Creek Trail. So Mom and Micah decided to head back and try to find the turnaround and see if Dad had found it and took it. They took off and after a few minutes we saw two hikers come to the crossing from the Uwharrie trail (the same direction Micah and Sam ran down about a mile to look for Dad). So we asked if they had seen him and after a few descriptions they claimed that they had seen him sitting on a log about a few miles back. So I called Mom and Micah and had them hurry back so we could catch up with him, it was not long before we caught him. While we were running around looking for him, he had thought that since he had not caught up with Mom and the others he would wait for Micah Kenderick, and I to catch up with him. After about thirty minutes of waiting he thought that maybe he had missed a turn or something so he headed back. As it turns out he had been waiting about a half mile further than where Micah and Sam had run to. After all of that, we decided that from now on we all need 2 way radios so we can prevent this. We continued north on the Uwharrie trail and were going to camp down at Yates Place for the night (Which was quite a distance from our originally planned location). Once we got up there we discovered that there was no way we were going to be able to make it back to the parking lot the next day if we camped here. After talking with some of the others camping at Yates Place we were able to get a ride back to the other parking lot to bring the cars up here to Yates. So we brought the cars back and also stopped and bought some gallons of water because Yates place is not near any creeks to draw water from so Sam and I thought this would just be simpler. So we camped at Yates Place for the night and got up the next morning, packed up the cars and headed home. text/html 2008-05-21T11:30:26+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/33/49/ Well, we leave tomorrow night to head down to Springer Mountain Georgia. We are starting the trail this weekend and plan to see how far we can get so we will be able to set a schedule for our hikes from now on. We have reviewed all of our gear, and we are all set and ready to hit the trail. Our entire family is going to hit the trail this weekend, Renee (Mom), Ricka (Dad), Dusten (Me), Micah, Alex, Kenderick, and a friend of ours Samuel. We will have some pictures posted up from here after our trip as well as another post. This is going to be a very exciting adventure. We only wish that a dear friend of ours was able to join us. Trail Boss Scott always had it in his dream to hit this trail with us, just wanted to let him know that we will miss him on this trip and hope to see him very soon. Well until Next week, unless you happen to see us on the trail... text/html 2008-04-27T15:17:42+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/32/49/ Ok, now we have dates to bein our journey this year. This summer We are going to be on the trail on Memorial Day weekend, the First Week in July, and again in September. We now have all the gear, and we officially got dates set in stone. Keep in touch we will have pictures posted up here after our first trip on the trail. text/html 2008-03-04T12:31:55+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/31/49/ Our planning phase seems to be taking longer than anticipated. We originally planned to have already started the trail by now, but sometimes things just don’t go as planned. We are still laying out plans on when and where we are going to start the trail. Just a few days ago my father said: We are going to hike this trail, even if we have to start in Nantahala and hike down to Georgia, Of coarse I feel it would be a much better experience if we start at one and continue up north... But those are just a few ideas we are still bouncing around. We currently anticipate to start the trail this summer. We will keep you updated… text/html 2007-07-03T09:25:33+01:00 http://www.harwardadventureministry.com Dusten Harward http://www.harwardadventureministry.com/content/view/25/49/ Hi, we are the Harward family. We are making plans to hike the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine over the course of the next five years. We are now making final preparations as we are going over all of our gear to ensure we have everything that we need. As our actual trail dates draw closer we are going on small hiking trips to get warmed up… even though there are not many trails that actually compare to the AT, but we are still going over everything in our heads. Our last little trip was to Jones Lake, outside Elizabethtown, North Carolina. This trip was a lot of fun, mainly because we were all able to spend time together, and discover just a taste of the real trail. We plan on starting the AT sometime later this year…