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Showing posts from March, 2018

Day 5 & 6 - Blood Mountain & Hogpen Gap

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Samantha's Photo Blog for Thursday with Captions by Susan - Thursday, March 29 6:45PM Sam's AT Mileage Tracker: Day 5 Mile Marker 20.3 to 31.1 to reach Neel's Gap Between Woody Gap and Neel's Gap is Blood Mountain, the third highest mountain in Georgia, and the highest for the Georgia section of the AT.  As mentioned yesterday, we took a shuttle from Woody Gap to Neel's Gap to get a good night's rest at "Blood Mountain Cabins & Country Store."  When we arrived at the cabins, a medical crew was hiking up the mountain to carry a large man (and his gear) off the mountain.  He had broken his ankle and was unable to walk.  This section of the trail is tough, and there is really no need to make it harder by lugging full packs over a mountain. With lightened loads, it was time to take the shuttle back to Woody Gap and hike up Blood Mountain. It's a pretty area.  Trillium plants are starting to bloom. Some people just don't kn...

Day 3 & 4 - Gooch Mt and Woody Gap

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Susan's Journal Entry 3 - Tuesday, March 27, 7:11PM Sam's AT Mileage Tracker: Day 3 Mile Marker 8.1 to 15.7 to reach Gooch Mt Shelter "Its the first day of camping for me.  It was a very long day but I'm doing fine.  Samantha is very patient.  She made dinner and got water.  I cleaned up.  We both set up our houses.  Hopefully it won't fall down.  Love you guys." Samantha's Photo Blog for Tuesday and Wednesday with Captions by Susan - Wednesday, March 28 6:45PM Sam's AT Mileage Tracker: Day 4 Mile Marker 15.7 to 20.3 to reach Woody Gap Left Picture: We are starting to warm up.  Lots of rhododendrons are getting ready to bloom.  In a couple of weeks, it will be gorgeous! Right Picture: Fording our first real stream!  I'm next, and I made it!!! Left Picture: Me in the rhododendrons.  They are really green and pretty. Right Picture: It's the next day, all misty rain but the trail and trail markers are clear...

March 26, Hiking Day 2!

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Monday, March 26th 2018 Sam's AT Mileage Tracker: Day 2 Mile marker 0.9 to 8.1 to reach Hawk Mt Shelter  (Poster's note:  Yesterday's post was more centered around Sam's trek along the approach trail to the AT.  Today is an update from Mom's trip to Springer mountain and then their second day!) Don't forget Sarge!  Helpfully pointing out the way to the summit... Sam took most of the pictures for Day 1.  She did 7.6 miles in about 4 hours.  She stayed on the mountain last night, and I decided to stay in the hotel one more night.  It was very cold and windy up there, I hope she made it comfortably!   OFFICIAL START OF DAY 2! First full AT trail day.  Sam had a full day yesterday but that was the approach trail so it doesn't *officially* count.  But she DEFINITELY gets bragging rights. It was freezing, windy and very damp today.  Luckily we had Sarge to start us on our way!  He dropped me off...

March 25, Hiking Day 1!

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Sunday, March 25th 2018 Sam's AT Mileage Tracker: Day 1 -8.8 to 0.9 miles  This is it - the start of our thru-hike on the AT!  Samantha did the approach trail today.  The plan was that Mark and I would hike to the Springer Mountain trailhead from the other direction (via road access, about a mile each way).  Uhhh....  Where's the trail?  I thought we were hiking a trail, not a paved walkway!  If this keeps up, we'll be done in no time.  ;) Day one was misty, but the trail was well marked and everything else went well! VERY well marked.  They even counted the steps for us.  How thoughtful... Notice how everything is "strenuous" here?  Not a problem for Samantha, but it doesn't seem like there's much of a change in difficulty! "604" steps, they said...  No idea where those extra 4 came from, they could have just designed things a biiiiit different to make it a rounded number. A...

Travel Day 1

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(Posting note:  The girls drove down to Georgia today with Sarge and are preparing for their hike!  So far, the forecast looks wet, but spirits are still high!  The plan is to send pictures/updates whenever cell reception is accessible and battery power is still high.  Stay tuned for more updates as SG squared start the hike and make their way through Georgia!) Drove to the beginning of the AT in Georgia today, super long drive (14 hours!), but nothing compared to what we are about to do!  Our hiker legs are getting restless.  Here, we passed the AT on the PA Turnpike. The stats from the trailhead in Georgia.  ONLY 2190.9 miles left to go!  Easy, right? :) Samantha and I are at the entrance to the approach trail.  Here we go, tomorrow is the big day!!

The beginning

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Welcome everyone!! At last - The blog is finally set up and started.  Jonathan and Michael have set this up for us and now it is up to Samantha and me to supply content and pictures.  A note about the blog name - SG squared stands for Susan Grasman and Samantha Grasman - double trouble hiking the Appalachian Trail. I cannot believe all the snow we had yesterday.  Hopefully, we have seen the last of it and it will warm up by Monday down south especially in the evenings. We are busy gathering last minute supplies and weighing everything.  More about final pack weight later when we get to Georgia. Special thanks to all regarding supplies and much needed support and encouragement for this journey. We are very excited and (I'm) a little nervous waiting for the start date. (Supply Sergeant Mark is ready to keep us going throughout the Trail!) We have checked out all of our gear ensuring everything is working properly and we have what we need.  The ...