June 16th update from Marianne

Marianne sez:

Talked with John this morning! All was well. Once he reached the shelter yesterday there were storms and lots of rain but the shelter was enclosed which is not the norm so this was especially nice considering the weather. The only problem with the shelter were the numbers of mice. They evidently appreciated the enclosed shelter also! Luckily the shelter was large enough for John to set up his tent inside so he had his own little area. The other 3 hikers in the shelter were enough of a distraction that the mice did not try to chew their way into the tent!

John said he is in the area of Burke's Garden. Google it and read the complete history of the place. If the landowners had sold out to Vanderbilt this would have been the location of the famous Biltmore Estate!

Tonight is another night of being pretty dirty and "yucky" but tomorrow night he'll be in a hotel with a shower!

Dad mentioned the mice to me, too. If they got into the food it would have been disastrous!

And, by the way, I DID Google Burke's Garden. Looks nice and sort of bizarre! Check it out:

Sorry...

I dropped off the face of the earth because of a music conference, but I'm back to provide you with more information about the progress of my dad. And, pretty soon, I'm gonna start posting pictures from the LAST go-round as well as the 2007 trek, which seems to be going well. We spoke on Father's Day, as fathers and sons are wont to do, and it seems like everything's going well, particularly for a man who just hit 60. He said he's lost another 20 pounds or so and his clothes are hanging off him. I don't doubt it. He also reiterated the fact that he thinks the Virginia part of the trail is one of the most beautiful parts so far, however remote.

Atkins, VA: June 15th update

This is the only picture I could find from Atkins, VA on Google.

Sounds like things are getting wet and wild up on the trail...from Marianne:

John left Atkins, Virginia yesterday morning after a big breakfast at a local restaurant. My telephone calls from him were mostly just static but when I asked him if he was ok I was able to hear him respond "yes"! Today he was able to finally get thru. Said it had been raining and he was soaked but doing fine. The shelter he was heading for does not have any water so he was being careful to collect water before he got to the shelter. I haven't heard from him since so I assume the sporadic phone service has degressed to none.
His shoes were barely holding together a couple days ago so I am wondering how they are after getting wet. Hope to hear from him tomorrow! This is Father's Day weekend..last year that was the one time I went for over 24 hours without any contact with him. Not fun!

Hopefully, he can get this shoe problem solved soon. Also, I guess I spoke too soon about the cell phone reception! I'm gonna try to call him for Father's Day...we'll see how that turns out.

June 12th Update

This comes via Marianne:

I talked with John a couple times today. He made it the 14.5 miles with no problem and was in the shelter by 3:00 p.m.! He is easily hiking 2 miles/hour with the pack. Quite impressive! He is at a really nice shelter in Mount Rogers park that actually has running water and showers! Almost as good as a Holiday Inn Express! Too bad, no Red Baron pizzas & beer! He called again this evening but the static was terrible. I finally understood that he will be in a B&B tomorrow evening so hopefully I can get more info from him.

My dad called me, too, but I have to transcribe the conversation, which might take a while. He gets amazing cell phone reception out there on the trail. It's kind of wild. I can't get good reception in my house sometimes!

June 11th Update

This comes from Marianne:

Talked with John several times today. By noon, he'd walked his 10 miles for the day. Is in the Troutdale, Virginia area. He heard about a B&B in the area and a good shower sounded really good, so that's where he is. Purchased frozen pizza (must be his new favorite thing since that is what he ate at the last B&B!), beer (of course), a jar of cherries and a jar of peanuts. John said he has alway heard that the Virginia leg of the AT is the most beautiful and he is in total agreement. Really beautiful and some very remote areas. Sunday he was in an area known for wild ponies and saw quite a number, many with newborns. He's taken lots of pics which I know he'll be sharing with you upon his return.

Tomorrow it is 14.5 miles for him. Hope his shoes hold out. He said they seem to be just breaking up all at once. Serious hikers told him they go thru 3 pair of really good boots when doing a thru hike. He is at the 500-mile point or 1/4 of the way so it is about time for the first pair to wear out. Since he met the barefoot hiker earlier this month, I suggested that he try the same but he wasn't ready to join the barefoot club!

John has also met a couple hikers that are 67 years old so he feels like a youngster and is encouraged that he has several years to complete the entire trail!

So Marianne wants dad to go barefoot, Hobbit-Style, and, apparently, he's developed quite the taste for frozen pizza. I wonder why all of these Bed and Breakfasts have frozen pizza on hand. I thought they were classier joints than that usually. Not that there's anything wrong with a Red Baron or Tombstone now and again.


Those wild horses sound pretty amazing, no? This is where I would normally insert a Rolling Stones joke, but my pun skills seem to be lacking this morning. I can't get no...

Update: June 7, 2007!

I haven't heard anything from my dad because he's trying to conserve the cell phone batteries and all that jazz, although I suspect I'm just lower on the cell phone priority list than Marianne. His own son! OUTRAGE!

Anyhoo, Marianne (whom he actually talks to) came through with this update:

John reached Virginia (yeah, done with Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina!) on Tuesday and spent Tuesday & Wednesday nights in a bed & breakfast in Damascus Virginia. Had a chance to clean up his pack, eat some good food and get, as he puts it, really clean for the first time in about 5 days. He also picked up packages at the post office that I'd mailed to him with more food, propane, etc. Today he struck out again with a full pack (10 days supply of food) but said he was doing great. He has lost 10 pounds so far but feels really strong. He also reported that he has taken so many fantastic pictures. Seems like more flowers than ever but too soon for the rhododendrums. Most days he meets someone on the trail. Has met several doctors. One really neat thing is the couple that owns the B&B in Damascus have been the owners for only a short time and as John got to know them better, he discovered that the wife is the cousin of a friend of ours, Jim Cravey! So John really enjoyed his stay in Damascus, described it as "Mayberry".

Sounds nice! I wonder if he met Otis the Drunk there.

Marianne gives an update...and I post a grotesquerie!

Apparently, this barefoot hiker (Mr. Tyvek--see below) made quite an impression. This update came a couple of days ago from Marianne:

I'm not sure when you heard from John last but I have been able to talke with him every day, usually more than once. He is moving along much better than last year. Feels great. This year there have been a couple of hostels really near the trail so he has been able to have a shower or two, frozen pizza and root beer along the way. He hasn't experienced any problems. And has already met lots of neat people. One a little unusual..he was hiking barefoot! No backpack: sleeping pad etc. wrapped in plastic. John was rather impressed with the number and size of calluses!!

Gross. At least he's getting to have root beer and frozen pizza, the cornerstones of any nutritious meal!

On Tyvek

Transcribed the following update from my dad over the weekend:

I've seen a lot of beautiful things on the trail over the 400 miles he's covered, but the Roan Highlands are the most sunning part of the trail. High balds and 360 degree mountain scenery. Everybody needs to do two to three day hikes in the Roan Highlands. Unending scenery--nice shelter called Overmount, looks over a valley that's pretty incredible. In April, people got snowed in. Seven days to Damascus, VA. I will take one day off to pick up food and rest my bones.

Met a bunch of characters on the trail: Tyvek--walking barefoot...600 miles! From Long Island. Bottle of Water, bedroll and food. Wrapped everything in Tyvek. Less than 20 pounds of gear. Lots of people trying to find themselves, so I'm trying to figure out why I'm doing it. So I'm asking everybody why they are doing it...for the adventure, I guess. That's why I do it.

Lots of characters, indeed!

Hello?

(blows the dust away)

Is this thing on?

Hey everybody out there following the exploits of Dr. John W. Jensen! Sorry I am so late to update this thing. My dad is already on the trail and has even given me some updates, which I will get to you shortly! Anyway, he's back out on the trail for another huge swath of distance and time. He's hitting the trail this time in much better shape than last time and is foregoing having Marianne follow him around in favor of mailing food and supplies to himself at pre-arranged stops. So far, so good in that regard, though I know he does have to account for making good or bad time a little more. Here is his take on it:

The "big news" of this year is that I am doing it without help of resupply from home. I am mailing food and equipment to myself general delivery to five different P.O.'s. I am parking my car at a B & B in Erwin TN and then Marianne will pick me up around Pearisburg, VA (west of Roanoke) on the 24th June. I want to return in August and hike into Pennsylvania by September.

I've got some pictures from LAST YEAR to throw up here as well. So look out for those. And an itinerary as well. Enjoy!

More scenes from the trail

He is home!

Well, it looks like the journey is over...for now. John W. Jensen has returned home to Auburn quite a bit lighter than before. He has been so jazzed about the trip that he's already mentioned doing a week or two in September, right as the leaves change. Not a bad idea. Once you get "trail magic," you don't want to waste it! Here is the word from Marianne:

John met me at Sam's Gap on the North Carolina & Tennessee lines yesterday afternoon after hiking over 11 miles. We drove back home after stopping for John to shower at a truck stop and then stopping for a big t-bone steak! He looks great but a little different: hair has grown out some, beard has also grown and the official weight loss of 24 pounds, plus the toning of muscles! We went thru his closet today and got rid of all the "fat" clothes! He will starve or go naked if he ever needs them! Today he is amazed how little energy he has..seems the backpack supplies him with energy & adrenalin! The total miles on the trail hiked was 320 but add probably another 50 miles in "area" miles..to and from streams for water, to and from trail to stores, etc.

More pictures and the like coming soon!

Some scenes from the trail: mostly flowers

Taken by the "Fish Man" himself! My father loves a rhododendrum.

Time Machine time!

My email has been all goofy lately, so I missed this big email update that Marianne sent me! How could I be so stupid? Here 'tis:

Monday morning, June 26.
John called at 7:30 a.m. to report that the skys had opened and the rain was pouring down for over an hour. He was still in the shelter.
9:30 a.m. John called to report the rain had slacked up a bit and he is going to try his luck on the trail. He will see how it goes, if he continues today or returns to the shelter, delaying his schedule by a day.

From the last two weekend trips:

The two weekend trips to visit John were great. He is really doing well. No problems except for the sore foot and he has been able to keep going. He is amazed that he is on schedule, to the hour!

June16: I picked up a rather worn out John at Fontana Dam after a 12.8 mile day. The bruised foot plus a long day and rough terrain made the "zero" day good timing. We stayed at the Fontana Village Resort and recommend it to anyone staying in the area. Great restaurant, laundry facilities, general store, pool, etc. They actually had wireless internet but no cell phone connections.

We spent Friday, June 17, doing laundry, visiting Cherokee NC, cruising the winding roads but avoided the Tail of the Dragon which is known for the 300 plus curves in less than 10 miles! It is the destination of many motorcyclists, some which don't always live to tell about it. Saturday morning I dropped John off, bright and early, at Fontana Dam where he began his week-long hike of the Smokey Mtn. National Park. He was excited about the upcoming week.

June 23 I met John in Waterville, TN after his week-long hike of the Smokeys. Since he'd hiked much of this before, he was able to see many changes in the trail. It was much rougher, more eroded. He was glad to get this week behind him!
We went to Hot Springs, NC for a couple nights. Stayed at a wonderful bed & breakfast, The Duckett House Inn. We highly recommend it! The owner was out of town but had a super couple, Woody & Stacy and their son, Jaden, looking after the place...along with Jack (the dog), Diamond, Monster & Sherman (the 3 cats) and the yard chickens! It was so laid back and relaxing, furnished with a mixture of antiques & eclectic items and a wonderful breakfast was provided. Hot Springs is a town of 600 residents, the only "chain" business is the recently opened Dollar General. There is no cell phone service in town or for several miles around. The water from the natural hot springs in pumped down to the Hot Springs Spa where we spent an hour relaxing. We also recommend the Bright Leaf restaurant. The fried green tomato and crab cake sandwich was fantastic!
Sunday, June 25, I dropped John off for his final week on the trail. And I am glad to report that he says he is ready to come home! Or maybe he thought he'd better tell me that!
He has lost lots of weight and toned up. The hair and beard are now the same length so he doesn't look quite the same!

Sounds like the trail is a great workout regimen...sign me up! I've got a few Budweisers and corn dogs on me that could stand to get gone. That fried green tomato/crab cake sandwich sounds dynamite, by the way.

June 28th

Quick update:

John had a great, relaxing day in Hot Springs, NC today.omorrow could be a rough 11-plus miles. The first mile or so is a steep climb. There most likely will not be any cell phone service so I'm not sure when I'll have any news to report.

New pictures and stuff are on the way. Marianne sent me a bajillion of them. Be on the lookout!

June 27th update!

From Marianne:

No word from John on Monday afternoon or night but I knew he was in an area of little cell phone coverage. But had a call from him around 9:00 a.m. today. He was on the highest mountain he would be on and had some coverage. He had been lucky on Monday regarding the rain and flooding we have all been watching on tv. The rain had moved out of his area by afternoon and he was able to make great time. Today he was really covering lots of ground..the trail is great and he was able to cover 2 miles per hour whether he was on an incline or decline. He called me later in the day and said he'd decided to keep hiking rather than stop at Deer Park Mountain Shelter. He went the 18 miles to Hot Springs! He is in a bed & breakfast (The Duckett House Inn where we stayed over the weekend). He had to walk into town for dinner (burger, onion rings & 3 beers) then walk back to the inn, so he actually walked 20 miles today.

Sounds like it was a long day. I talked to Dad on the phone and he said he feet were on fire.

On the phone with my dad right now!

The highlights:

• He did 15.6 miles yesterday
• His foot is still swollen, but ibuprofen seems to help, as did soaking it in an ice-cold springwater. He thinks the reason it is sore is because the trail has eroded down to rubble that twists and turn his ankle.
• The Smokeys aren't very steep--long, steady descents and climbs. Still beautiful, though, especially Charlie's Bunion outlook, which we considered the best outlook the last time we hit the trail.
• He is at Cosby Knob right now
• 10 days left
• He weighed himself and he's lost 18 pounds, but he's probably lost a lot more in fat as it converted to muscle. He's hiking at two miles and hour and had to get new shorts.
• Lots of nice people on the trail--a father and son from TX are with him right now. 12 people in the shelter last night.
• Purple rhododendrums (sp?) and flame azaleas are in bloom on his side of the mountain.
  
• The gnats are so bad you have to start a fire to keep them away.
• He's not tired of it yet. He actually doesn't want to stop.
  

Sorry for the lack of updates

Marianne called and said that her computer was down. Pictures and stuff are on the way. Dad is doing well though one of his feet seems to have swelled up a bit, possibly due to a pulled muscle. Overall, he's still making good time. Marianne went up to meet him at Fontana Lake and they had a "zero day," meaning he got a chance to reacquaint himself with civilization and relax for a bit. She is going to meet him at Davenport Gap this weekend.

I talked to my dad when he called me on Father's Day to get him to, um, wish him a happy Father's Day. Ha! He was on top of the spectacular Thunderhead/Rocky Top Mountain. Gone, he said, are the fabulous balds that we saw when we were up there nearly two decades ago, replaced by now-grown trees. It's a different kind of beautiful, but those balds will be missed. I can tell you that that area is one of the highlights of the Smokies. Wish I was there!

Day 13 update!

Sorry, my email has been totally crazy at work and I haven't been able to update at a normal regularity. Here is the last update I got from Marianne (and verified by Dad on the phone):

Monday, June 12 presented John with the biggest challenge. He had a steep, 3300 ft descent over rocky, rough terrain and by the end of the day the pounding on his legs was taking a toll. Luckily, Kasey (John's step-daughter) and her friend, Derick, met John at the end of the day at the Nantahala Center with a big burger and some homemade sweet potato pie. Kasey just graduated in Athletic Training from UofA so she was able to advise him and get him set up with some ice. And today, after a good night's sleep at the Nantahala Inn (yea! no shelter for the night), several icing sessions and a another good meal, the legs are better today.
We are keeping an eye on tropical storm Alberto..hope it keeps to the east and no storms or tornadoes in John's direction.

Did the hurricane blow Dad away? I would assume that he's okay as I have not received word of such an occurrence.

The Colonel saves the day!

Sorry. I've gotten a little behind here. Here is the latest update via Marianne:

It is Sunday morning, Day 13. John has called twice today. Once to say good morning and to check in and then again to get the weather forecast. There is thunder rumbling and it looks like he may be in for a stormy afternoon, with rain lasting into tomorrow. Ugh. The lack of rain has really helped him stay on schedule.

Yesterday's visit by Jesse Chappell and Ken Nikkerson was quite a treat for John! They showed up with a bucket of KFC fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn on the cob, biscuits, ice cream and a cantelope. John had plenty to eat and so did another hiker, Speedy. Jesse called last night and gave me the report that John looks really fit, beard a little scraggy, but looks in good health and having a great time! It was a really fun trip for Jesse and Ken but John really appreciates them making such a long drive for the 1.5 hour visit. True "Trail Angels"! (seems someone used the term "Trail Fairies" earlier which I in turn used but we are corrected...the correct term is Trail Angels).

Not sure that I'd ever want to be known as a "Trail Fairy"! Heh. That chicken sounds good, and I haven't even been hiking!

On the phone with my dad right now + recollections of last weekend!

He's at Winding Stair Gap off US 64 in North Carolina and his pack is much lighter because he's eaten most of his food. Jesse Chappell, a colleague, is on the way to bring him "real food" which will be a nice surprise. Tomorrow, Dad should be inside of the Smoky Mountains. He says that all of the poison ivy ended in Georgia, but the climbs in North Carolina have been much tougher. He says they are scrambles more than they are climbs.

All of his blisters have healed, so that's a good thing. He says he'd be disappointed if he hadn't lost 10 pounds by this point.

He continues to pass people who started several days before me. Even at 59, he's got something left in the ol' engine!

Last week, I visited my dad at Walasi-Yi travel center in a semi-surprise, pseudo-early Father's Day present capacity. He was very surprised to see me, and he arrived ten minutes before he said he was going to be there. Good timing! The Walasi-Yi center is really cool. They've got food, a hostel, and a full-service hiking shop where they tell you how to repack if you're struggling. Dad planned well, so he did not need their services, though he bought some underwear. One thing that the fine folks there had was hot dogs. Here is what he ate while we were there:

• two beef hot dogs
• a mango (that I brought him)
• buffalo jerky
• a powerbar
• gatorade
• Combos

The whole 1500 calories a day diet must be hard to deal with. I could do with some of this weight loss stuff. He looks great. I bet he'd already lost five pounds at that point. You could see it in his face. We met a bunch of people he'd been hiking with and they all seemed like nice folks. Apparently, "Fish Man" is his "trail name." They asked me what my trail name was and I just said "Son of Fish Man." I'd hithertofore thought this "trail name" business was a load of bunk, but I guess I was wrong.

Dad took a shower, washed clothes, and added some food from a care package he'd left for himself before we enjoyed a pleasant 2 mile hike (followed by a 2 and half mile hike for me back to my car) through a shady, if somewhat unremarkable stretch of trail that culminated in a bit of an outlook. We tried to take pictures with the automatic timer, and I'll post 'em up here when I get them, though they're hardly Ansel Adams. It was great to see my dad and get back on the trail with him.

Day 9 update

Too much information?

Once again, Marianne reports:

John was full of useful information today:
American Chestnut leaves are great for blowing your nose. They are sturdy and won't blow through! 1 Charmin Mega Roll of toilet paper will last you 10 days on the trail. (Of course, I pointed out that he is a man and he hasn't "run" into any health problems!). And duct tape is good for everything! John remembers when he was a boy his Dad pioneering the use of duct tape ... and everyone still uses it for bandaging wounds, covering blisters, repairing equipment, etc.
A number of hikers have passed John, only to run out of food or supplies, have to walk into town to re-supply then come up on John ahead of them on the trail. So planning and rationing does save time and energy. John said he is a "plodder", just plodding along but getting there in good time. Also, when hiking into North Carolina, be prepared for a very steep climb...straight up! Not the switchbacks he'd been on in Georgia, but a straight up climb. All for today!

I'm not even sure I would know an American Chestnut tree from Adam, so I've included this print from Michaux Silva (I think) to illustrate what passes for Kleenex on the AT. As far as the Charmin talk goes...well, I'm not gonna even address that!

I do remember North Carolina being something of a pain when we hiked there years ago. Thunderhead Mountain and Rocky Top, in particular, were straight up and down. Don't get me wrong, they were worth the effort: Rocky Top and Thunderhead (pretty much the same mountain--one side's in TN and one side's in NC--I think it's fairly obvious which is which!) provide some of the Smokies' most stunning views and most interesting landscapes, all balds and rocks and rhododendrum walls. But what a pain! All of North Carolina and Tennesse on the trail is pretty awe-inspiring, actually. Maybe he can get us some pics soon!

*A correction* In an earlier post, I spoke of Sassafras Mountain in South Carolina. Though my statements about the Palmetto State, the Marshall Tucker Band, and Sassafras Mountain were accurate, I must have been out of my mind when I wrote that. Because there was no way, given the laws of physics that govern this universe, that my father could have been in South Carolina at that time. Apparently, there are TWO Sassafras Mountains, and my dad was on the Georgia one. My apologies to all involved.

A message from Fish Man!

Tuesday morning June 6:
Message from John: I missed Braniac, Pret, Low Income, Papa Joe & Uncle Tony the past 3 nights. If you are reading my blog, enjoyed your companionship. Keep your pack light & your boots tight. Do it again next year. I met somebody almost as good as Noah. His trail name is Dinty Moore...carries 70 lb pack full of canned food!

When bears attack!

Another update from Marianne:

John called again this afternoon. He'd forgotten to tell me that yesterday he saw a large bear..it ran up a hill about 50 yards away and just sat and watched John as he walked past. He also realized that if anyone was planning to meet him at Dic's Creek Gap on Tuesday afternoon, he will be about 4 hours early since he hiked farther today. Also ran into a lady and her granddaughter on the trail who knows retired AU Fisheries prof. Bill Rogers & his wife, Carol! Small world!

Sounds like he's making good time and avoiding dangerous wildlife. One time my dad and I encountered two bears at a shelter on the AT and they ate my freeze-dried strawberries. That was super-annoying.

Day 7 Update!

From Marianne:

Had an early morning call from John wanting me to track the forecast for later today. He was surprised yesterday afernoon by a dangerous thunderstorm about 1 hour from the shelter. He got drenched and cold. The temps are so cool this morning that he is hiking in long sleeves. But a "Trail Angel" left water and a Hershey's chocolate bar at a crossing so the Hershey bar has made a great start to the day!. Yesterday some Boy Scouts here hiking ahead of John and he came upon 2 M&Ms dropped on the trail. One was crushed but the other one was fine, so John picked it up, blew it off and ate it!
Tomorrow is to be a 14.9 mile day but it looks to be rather hilly so John is going a little farther today to trim off some of that mileage.
All in all, everything is going very well and he is enjoying the native azaleas, rhododendrum and sights.

I'll relate more of my time on the trail with Dad (that'd be day 6, I believe) in a future post. When I get the time!

The rendezvous.

I'm off this morning (early...so tired) to meet Dad at Walasi-Yi, a former CCC camp turned hiker hostel and supply store. This marks his first brush with civilization since the beginning, if I'm not mistaken.

I'm gonna hike with him for a few miles before turning around and hiking back. Should be fun, but I have no good gear for this. Teardrop packs and tennis shoes!

I am, however, going to be bringing a delicious-looking Harry and David honey mango that I got from work (the Harry and David Fruit-of-the-Month Club is a wonderful gift).

Day 3: Profanity emerges!

You bet your Sassafras.
Photo courtesy of Southeastroads.com

This update is rated PG-13. The latest news:

John called this morning at 10:45 (central time) with the report that he is halfway thru today's planned mileage. He'd climbed to the top of Sassafras Mountain and his words were: "Sassafras Mountain is a bitch!" Really tough, extremely steep 1-mile hike. Said he is looking forward to a longer hike tomorrow, 11.9 miles. Still feeling good and extremely pleased with his equipment.

It was only a matter of time before we started working blue here at Fish Man in the High Country. Hopefully, this blog doesn't end up like a Lenny Bruce routine.

For those not in the know (and I just looked this up, mind you), Sassafras Mountain is SC's highest point, standing at over 3500 feet. Not bad for the Palmetto State, more noted for its scorching heat, billboards, Charleston, and the Marshall Tucker Band than its mountain ranges.

Day 2: When Mice Attack!

This from my father via Marianne:

Just completed Day 2 and have arrived at Hawke Mtn. Shelter after 7.6 mile hike today. It was an easy trip. Equipment is great. Body is holding up; I am so well prepared. There are so many people struggling with the trail..not enough water and not well organized.
It is beautiful here. Virgin forest of hemlocks and white pines. Spent hour and half at a beautiful waterfall where I had lunch and bath. The sky is clear and a light breeze but pretty warm.
I have learned to protect my camp towel from mice. They chewed a 1-inch hole in it last night!
More tomorrow if cell phone connection available.

Hey, folks! Feel free to leave comments by clicking "comments" below (natch). Send words of encouragement, pep talks, etc. our way and we'll pass them on to the Fish Man himself!

More photos from day 1

He's off and hiking!

I received this missive from Marianne yesterday:

John called and asked that you update his blog with these comments. First, was that "the old body made it!!" The pack was just right..not too heavy. Trekking poles were lightweight & great. No blisters. He made the 8.8 mile hike up to the top of Springer Mountain in 6.5 hours. He wasn't rushing or trying to set a record, just went really well.

It's official! The hike has begun. Will John's "trail magic" sustain him? So far, so good!

Is this the picture of a sane man?

Apparently my dad ditched his comb before the trip because it was "too heavy." Not because it was useless on the hike, mind you. That excuse makes a lot more sense, especially in light of his recently shaved head. Nope. He's obsessed with the weight of the comb. This is what "Trail Magic" does to you!

Seriously, though, when my dad and I hiked a little on the AT many years (and many less pounds) ago, we encountered quite a number of thru-hikers who told horror stories of ditching equipment on the side of the trail during the first 8 miles of the hike. One guy we met had lost so much weight because of his 100 lb sack that he could wrap his belt one more time around! Thus began my father's "ounce obsession."

But, really, a comb is too heavy?

Equipment

I have spent a lot of time (and money) preparing for the trip. I purchased equipment that is, first and foremost, light. My pack is a medium size Gregory. I didn't buy a large size because I was afraid I would have the tendency to fill it and it would weigh too much. I purchased a new sleeping bag (photo) that is a 20-degree bag. Stuffs into a tiny sack compared to my old 20-degree bag that is 4 times the size. Bag is from REI as well as pack. My stove is a tiny SnowPeak that fits in a small plastic container (photo). Stove is run on Butane. One butane/propane cannister will cook 30 meals lasting ten days. I have a titatium cooking pot....left the lid behind to save weight. No cup. I will use 2, 1-liter nalgene bottles and a 2-liter water bladder in my backpack for water supply. I have a powerful headlamp and a mini emergency flashlight. My tent is a Sierra Designs 2-man that weighs 4 pounds without the 5 ounces of tent stakes that I am leaving behind. For comparison the tent I carried 18 years ago was 6.5 pounds. I have planned my itineray to stay in shelters along the trail. However, if a shelter is full must have a tent. I am carrying very few clothes........extra pair of light weight shorts, shirt, underwear, long sleeve T, sock liners and Smart Wool socks. Have a pair of scrubs for night time in camp. My boots are broken in. They are Vasque kind of high tops...Gore-Tex of course. I purchased them from Southern Trails in Auburn. Greg has been a big help there. I am also carrying a pair of crocks for fording streams and for camp. My cell phone is with me with an extra battery. Digital camera also with extra battery.I have an emergency kit and my medicines, a toothbrush, soap, matches, lighter, pepper spray, knife, bear cable to hang my food at night and a bear bell to warn me of critters that are after my food. I have a very light weight rain jacket and a cover for my pack. Have lots of mole skin for my feet, reading glasses and regular glasses, 100% deets, a foam mat for my sleeping, guide book, maps, etc., etc....adds up. I am carrying 5 days of food to start that weighs 5 pounds. I will resupply at Neal's Gap and then carry 10 days of food (10 pounds) to Wesser Gap in the Nantahalla National Forest. Marianne will meet me at Fontana Dam with more supplies. Food is an interesting subject....it is dehydrated and light but also low in calories........400+ or - per serving. I figure that it will be difficult to carry and eat more than 1500 calories per day. Therefore my math says that I should lose 15 to 20 pounds on this trip. If you have any questions, please post them in "comments" and I will try to respond as travel.

More on Fish Man's prep

Is this trail magic?

So what is "Trail Magic"? My definition is that it is the strong attraction that some people have for the AT in particular or for backpacking in general. I got my first taste of backpacking in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota with my father portaging from one lake to another carrying a pack and equipment including a canoe. But I think the idea of hiking the AT came about because of an article I read in a magazine....maybe the National Geographic....written by an man who thru-hiked the AT. I can still remember how fascinated I was with the idea.....so fascinated in fact that I started carrying Lucas on day hikes when he was 4 years old in preparation for the AT. When he turned 12 we went on an 8-day across the Smokies trip from Davenport Gap to Fontana Dam. He weighed in at 75 pounds and carried a 25-pound pack. I carried a 43 pounder(at least 5 pounds heavier than my 2006 pack).

So Trail Magic has gotten me to this point where I have decided (in concert with Marianne) that I will section hike the 2174 miles of the AT over the next several years. I will retire next year and finish inMaine by '08 or '09.

So Trail Magic starts at the approach trail to Springer Mountain at Amicalola Falls, GA. That first day loaded down will be tough. It is steep, warm and I'm still not in the shape I was 18 years ago.

Almost ready!!

Lucas said that I probably forgot how to post. Never learned but am trying my first one now as I get ready to leave soon. I feel good about my preparations and the equipment I am carrying. At 59 years old I wasn't too sure what the effect of age (and overweight) would be, but because Lucas and I hiked parts of the AT 16-18 years ago I know at least what to expect. I set a goal of carrying a backpack lighter than 40 pounds. I will weigh it soon but I believe that I have succeeded in keeping it relatively light........probably 36-38 pounds including 3 liters of water. This didn't happen though without a trial.

Three weeks ago I traveled to Neel's Gap at the base of Blood Mountain in Georgia. I put on my pack and my new boots and walked about 2 miles up and down the trail to see what problems I was having, if any. I found out real quick that my pack wasn't balanced very well and that my knees wobbled. I returned to Auburn, joined Health Plus health club and set out to do 1.5 miles of stairs per day and 8.5 miles of treadmill and streets per day..........10 miles total daily. (I am hungry all the time). I also cut 117 ounces from my pack. I hadn't been extravagant but now I am down to pure necessities. I will tell you more about those necessities tomorrow, with photos hopefully. I will also tell you about how I got caught up in "Trail Magic".

Oh, I cut another half ounce out of my total weight yesterday...got my hair buzzed. See the photos.

Howdy!

So this blog hasn't been updated in a while. My dad and I are both busy folks, and I know he's deep in the preparations for his AT trek, though I suspect he has forgotten how to post on this blog. I showed him at Easter, but who knows...

I'm in the process of scanning a bunch of pictures from one of our trips across the Smoky Mountains from about 17 years ago (yikes!). When you see them, please try not to comment on the relatively small girths of the individuals appearing in the photos. It was a simpler and skinnier time. Coming soon!

John Jensen's itinerary

Here is John Jensen's itinerary for his Appalachian trail hike. Wanna meet up with him on the trail? You're going to have to email him. Of course, no crazies need apply. Dr. Jensen is trained in the deadliest of martial arts.


JOHN JENSEN’S 2006 APPALACHIAN TRAIL HIKE

• Day 1. Begin hike at approach trail to AT at Amicalola Falls State Park on the Springer Mountain Trail Stay at Springer Mountain Shelter 9.0 miles. Privy and water (Fallback is Len Foote Inn at 5.4 miles)

• Day 2. Springer Mountain Shelter to Hawk Mountain Shelter 7.6 miles. Privy and water

• Day 3. Hawk Mountain Shelter to Gooch Mountain Shelter 7.3 miles. Privy and water.

• Day 4. Gooch Mountain Shelter to Woods Hole Shelter 11.9 miles. You can meet up with me at crossing of Georgia 60 at Woody Gap 2.7 miles from Suches, GA and 15 miles from Dahlonega, GA. Will be at Gap crossing at approximately noon.

• Day 5. Woods Hole Shelter to Whitley Gap Shelter 9.9 miles. You can meet up with me at Neel’s Gap on US 19/129. Will be crossing through Neel’s Gap about 11:00 am. At Neel’s Gap there is the Walasi Yi Store, showers and Supplies….Stock up here and telephone.

• Day 6. Whitley Gap to Blue Mountain Shelter 11.6 miles.

• Day 7. Blue Mountain Shelter to Tray Mountain Shelter 7.7 miles. You can meet me at Unicoi Gap on Georgia 75 at about 10:00 am. From here it is 8 miles to Robertstown and 9 miles to Helen.

• Day 8. Tray Mountain Shelter to Plumborchard Gap Shelter 14.9 miles. You can meet me at Dick’s Creek Gap at US 76 at about 3:00 pm. From here it is 11 miles to Hiawasse with good resupply.

• Day 9. Plumborchard Gap Shelter to Muskrat creek Shelter 7.3 miles.

• Day 10. Muskrat Creek Shelter to Carter Gap Shelter 12.5 miles.

• Day 11. Carter Gap Shelter to Rock Gap Shelter 12.1 miles. You can meet me at shelter at about 5:00 pm as you hike to shelter 2.2 miles from old US 64 at Wallace Gap. Franklin, NC is 10 miles east with services and supplies.

• Day 12. Rock Gap Shelter to Siler Bald Shelter 7.5 miles. You can meet me at old US 64 at Wallace Gap about 10:00 am or you can meet me at US 64 at about 1:00 pm. Privy and bear cable.

• Day 13. Siler Bald Shelter to Cold Spring Shelter 12.1 miles.

• Day 14. Cold Spring Shelter to A. Rufus Morgan Shelter 10.7 miles. You can meet me at the shelter at about 5:00 pm hiking up from Wesser Gap on US 74/19.

• Day 15. A. Rufus Morgan Shelter to Sassafras Gap Shelter 7.8 miles. You can meet me at Wesser Gap on US 74/19 at 9:00 am.

• Day 16. Sassafras Gap Shelter to Brown Fork Gap Shelter 9.1 miles. You can meet me at about 3:00 pm at NC 143 crossing.

• Day 17. Brown Fork Gap Shelter to Fontana Village 12.7 miles

• Day 18. All day in Fontana Village. You can meet me here during day at any time.

• Day 19. Fontana Village to Mollie’s Ridge Shelter 10.6 miles. In Smokey Mountains.

• Day 20. Mollie’s Ridge Shelter to Derrick Knob Shelter 11.7 miles. In Smokey Mountains.

• Day 21. Derrick Knob Shelter to Double Spring Gap Shelter 7.2 miles. In Smokey Mountains.

• Day 22. Double Spring Gap Shelter to Icewater Spring Shelter 12.8 miles. You can meet me at Clingman’s Dome at about 11:00 am. You can meet me at Newfound Gap at about 4:00 pm. In Smokey Mountains.

• Day 23. Icewater Spring Shelter to Tricorner Knob Shelter 12.6 miles. In Smokey Mountains.

• Day 24. Tricorner Knob Shelter to Cosby Knob Shelter 7.7 miles. In Smokey Mountains.

• Day 25. Cosby Knob Shelter to Davenport Gap 8.0 miles.

• Day 26. Day Off in Asheville.

• Day 27. Davenport Gap to Groundhog Creek Shelter 9.6 miles. You can meet me in Asheville or Davenport Gap at 8:00 am.

• Day 28. Groundhog Creek Shelter to Roaring Fork Shelter 8.2 miles.

• Day 29. Roaring Fork Shelter to Deer Park Mountain Shelter 14.8 miles.

• Day 30. Deer Park Mountain Shelter to Hot Springs North Carolina 3.2 miles. Overnight in Hot Springs.

• Day 31. Hot Springs NC to Spring Mountain Shelter 11.0 miles. You can meet me at Tanyard Gap US 25/70 at about 1:00 pm.

• Day 32. Spring Mountain Shelter to Little Laurel Shelter 8.6 miles. You can meet me at Allen Gap TN 70 at about noon. There is a convenience store 3.6 miles west of Allen Gap.

• Day 33. Little Laurel Shelter to Flint Mountain Shelter 12.7 miles.

• Day 34. Flint Mountain Shelter to Pickup end of trip for 2006 on US 23 and I-26 11.2 miles. PICK ME UP AT 4:00 PM. AT SAMS GAP!

Welcome!

Welcome to Fish Man in the High Country, a new blog chronicling the adventures of John Jensen (of Auburn University fame; also my father), particularly his forthcoming trip down the Appalachian Trail. I'm Lucas, his son, and I'll be providing updates when he can't. I'll also be trying to figure out how to spruce this site up a little. I'm not a web designer by trade, so bear with me!