Trudging up the trail. One weary step after the other. Will we ever get to the top of this gigantic mountain? I was following Jen, someone asked me, "Is that your woman in front of you?" I laughed and said, "Yes, I guess so. I have been chasing her since we were 16 and now I am chasing her to Maine."
Anyway, we were trudgin up this trail, tired, sweaty, worn out, when all of a sudden, Jen Let out a shout, jumped at least a foot in the air, 25 pounds on her back and all and came running back down the trail with her eyes as big as saucers.
BEAR! I thought. Finally something besides squirrels. "Did you see a bear?" I asked as I hurried to the place she yelped. "No! It is a snake." How disappointing. "What kind of snake?" I asked her. "A boa constrictor python rattle snake" she said. Actually it was about 2 1/2 feet long, little brown and yellow snake. When I touched it with the end of my hiking pole, it took off like a red racer.
I didn't get a picture of that monster. My camera is broken, I sent it home. Amy is sending the old digital camera to our next mail drop on the other side of the Smokies. Until then, we only have Jen's camera to take pictures with. I am going to be upset if I see a Bear and don't get a picture. According to the book, there are 400- 600 bears in the Smokey Mountain National Park, where we will be for the next 7 days.
When we leave Fontana Dam tomorrow, we will hike across the Dam. It is on the Little Tennessee River and we will be in Tennessee. Our third state. And sometime during the hike, before we sleep at Mollies Ridge Shelter we will drop under 2000 miles to go.
I asked Jen today if she had any thoughts of giving up. If she was thinking about how nice it would be just to go home and resume our other life. Her answer was, "not at all, how about you." "Nope I said, I am still committed to walking this thing to Maine."
I have started a journal at trailJournals.com. I have done that for the sake of the hikers we have met who keep track of one another there. If you would like more detail of our days, you can read them there. Go to www.trailjournals.com click on Journals and you should find us there under Flint and Jubilee.
I don't know why but this compter won't allow me to post a picture. Sorry. Talk to you on the other side of the smokies.
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5 comments:
the snake is way scarier than a bear.
For anyone looking for their trail journal, and having a hard time finding it on that website that was clearly designed by a hiker (NOT a web designer), try searching for "Flint & Jubilee" not "Flint and Jubilee."
Good to hear from y'all and to know that you are persevering! Did you ever decide what kind of snake you encountered? How many hikers do you meet on the average day? You two keep walking and I'll keep praying! -- Hope to see some pictures soon -- Bill R.
Hey kids,
I love the Trail Journal. I'm learning so much information that is available online just by staying up to date with you guys.
I've started making plans to hike the Centennial Trail in Idaho in 2008. It starts in Southern Idaho and travels North to the Canada boarder. I'll be waiting for the next update.
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It may just be me...but wouldn't you think going hiking in bear country not knowing what a bear print looks like would be like going ski diving not knowing what a parachute looks like?
Second thought....If you can hike on a bum knee 10 miles out of the area where the bear was what makes you feel safe? Don't you think the bear could make it that far plus?
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