tomman
04-01-2007, 22:18
I got very sick and had to get off the trail after only hiking a few miles. It was my own fault because I did not listen to what my body was telling me. I know better but I wanted to go and had told my hiking partner David from here in Garland that I would go with him. That was a very big mistake but stupid me I wanted to be out there so badly I took a chance.
I had been sick with a Acute bronchitis infection since the middle of December and they could not seem to cure the infection. The last try was from the end of Feb to about the 8th of March. They had doubled the dose and the length of time I took the medication. I was starting to feel very good so I made the mistake of thinking they had cured the infection this time. I was almost Mumping for joy because I could see the AT waiting.
I was wise enough not to try the approach trail. I was certain I could not make it. I had not been hiking or training since back in Jan because of the infection, that was another big mistake even though I had planned only about 5 miles a day. Since I had hiked some steep and very rough trails in this area for 6.2 miles in just over 4 hours I figured 5 miles was not to much. Of course the 6.2 miles were before I got sick. The trail here is about like the climb up the Springer Mt except not as long a climb here it is only about 4 to 5 hundred feet at a time, but with little or no level paths in between. So stupid me I felt I would be fine.
I started from the forest service road 42 parking lot and hiked up to the top of Springer Mountain. It took me longer that I expected but I made it fine. I then hiked back down to the parking lot. I was totally beat by that time and almost out of water. I rested for a while and a couple I had met on the trail, who were day hiking, give me their remaining water. Also another hiker who was getting off the trail. He had planned do this and had his car waiting in the parking lot. He also gave me a small amount of water that he had left.
It was already after 3pm so I decided to hike to Stover Creek shelter and stay the night. My hiking partner caught up with me about half way to Stover Creek. He had hiked the Approach trail and he was also done in and he is a much stronger hiker that I am. We had planned to try for Hawk Mt. for the first night but he said he was very happy to stop at Stover Creek. It took me until after 6pm to hike the 1.6 miles because I was completely exhausted and stumbled into camp.
I had to rest for a while before I could set up my tent. I then ate a small bit of food because I had no apatite and the food tasted almost as if it was saw dust. This was another mistake. David was able to eat a very good meal so he was in good shape. We went to out sleeping bags soon after eating.
I started cough and wheeze very badly during the night. I was not able to sleep very well because of this. Every time I would dose off to sleep I would start to cough again and wake up. David was tented about 20 of more feet from where I was because he snores badly. He told me I woke him about 3 times and he almost come to check on me because he could hear me coughing and wheezing during the night.
I first got up at 6am and it was pitch black outside so we decided to sleep another hour, but I could not go back to sleep. We got up at 7am and
was just light enough to start breaking camp. We had breakfast and I was able to eat some oatmeal and have an instant breakfast.
The bad thing was I was running a fever and I could tell it was not bad yet but would more than likely get worse. I knew then the infection had not been cured as I had hoped.
David and I had only plan to spend the first couple of days together so I told him to go on because he had a time schedule to meet and I did not want to hold him up. I did not tell him I was getting very sick.
I checked my handbook and saw that 3 forks was only 1.3 miles ahead. I checked my cell phone, which I carried because of my health, but it had no signal. I started hiking to 3 forks and a road. After about 30 minutes of hiking I new I was in deep trouble. I could not hike more than about 20 steps and I would have to stop because I could not breath. I was already starting to stumble along the trail and my legs were shaking as if I had waked all day. my lungs were also starting the hurt. This had happened enough in the past couple of month that I knew it was because of the infection
I checked my cell phone again and still did not have a signal. I panicked for a moment. I was afraid I was out here along and no way to call for help. I sat down and calmed my self down and realized there would be other hiker along in time. I continued to hike toward 3 forks very slowly.
One of the times I sat down to rest 4 trail angels came by. One of the trail angels was our very own Bluebelle and her husband Tree. The other lady was Nancy from Kentucky. I am sorry but I have forgotten the other fellows name.
With their help I was able to get to 3 Forks. I started at 9am and got to 3 forks at 12:45pm. It had taken me 3 hours and 45 minutes to hike 1.3 miles and that was on a very good path way and mostly down hill and with help. I started thinking about hiking on to Hawk Mt but realized I had 3.7 miles to go and would not get there until after dark. I then remembered that I still had Sassafras Mt. ahead of me with 6.8 miles with no water. I knew I would take 2 to 3 days to hike that and there was no way I could make it.
Bluebelle and her group were going to hike to Hightower Gap and be picked up by the people from the Hiker Hostel, where I had spent the first night. Bluebelle said she would make sure the came by to pick me up. I had to wait about 3 hours and gave me time to consider what I was up against.
While I was there Bear Bag and Cimarron came by. For those that do not know Bear Bag is a Doctor. He took one look at me and ask what was wrong and could he help. I told him what I was going through and that I decided it was best that I get off the trail. He agreed that I should not try to hike any longer until I was certain that the infection was gone. He could tell I was sick just by looking at me. So I guess I could also say I got off the trail by Doctors orders.
I learned a lot during the short time I was out there. I made mistakes I shall remember. I also done some things right. My tent was great as was my sleeping bag. My boots did not give me even a single hot spot so they were a very good choice and worked very well over the bad rocks up to Springer. I learn more about the food that should be carrying, for example Pop Tarts are to heavy and do not provide enough calories for their weight. I will not carry them next time, oh! yes there will be a next time. Next time I will spend more time finding light food with high calorie content so I carry less weight in my food choices. Many of you warned me but it did not sink in.
I loved the time I had on the trail and it was beautiful even with out all the flowers that would have came later. I have always loved the mountain and even with the pain and suffering I was going through I loved it. I am certain that if I had not had the infection and been in the shape I had been about 3 months before I would have gone much further. I may not have made it to Maine but I would have gone several hundred miles.
Knowing that I could have gone further with out the infection means I will certainly be back out there it they ever cure this infection and I can get back into good shape. This time I plan to do some hiking in the mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas to insure that I can hike at the higher altitudes and I can hike up the mountains with no problems. I may even hike the entire 250 mile trail through the mountains in Arkansas. I should have done this before.
I have been home almost 2 weeks and I am still sick. I was going to a Doctor at North Texas Lung Institute. When I called for an appointment they have close down for the time being. They dumped many pulmonary people on the market so I had to called another Doctor and I have to wait a month for an appointment. I am lucky because my primary doctor is helping me until then. I am making certain this time I want them to find out for certain what is wrong and fix it, even if they have to put me in the hospital which I think they will.
I will give it another try next year provided I feel I am in good enough shape and can hike the mountains in OK and AR. I guess I just wanted it to much and made many mistakes. The biggest was not listening to my body.
For any one planing to hike in the years to come please learn from my mistakes. Make sure you are in good health and in good shape before trying to hike the trail. Listen to your body and only hike as fast and as far as the body says it can keep going. Stop when the body gets to beat.
I still want to thank all the people here on Whiteblaze for all their help and encouragement before my hike. I will still be active here on the net and try to learn more and more.
I will also have time to try and find some lighter gear. My total pack weight with food and water was 38 pounds. I hope to get that down to 30 pounds if I can with out endangering my health.
Cherokee Tom:mad: :mad:
I had been sick with a Acute bronchitis infection since the middle of December and they could not seem to cure the infection. The last try was from the end of Feb to about the 8th of March. They had doubled the dose and the length of time I took the medication. I was starting to feel very good so I made the mistake of thinking they had cured the infection this time. I was almost Mumping for joy because I could see the AT waiting.
I was wise enough not to try the approach trail. I was certain I could not make it. I had not been hiking or training since back in Jan because of the infection, that was another big mistake even though I had planned only about 5 miles a day. Since I had hiked some steep and very rough trails in this area for 6.2 miles in just over 4 hours I figured 5 miles was not to much. Of course the 6.2 miles were before I got sick. The trail here is about like the climb up the Springer Mt except not as long a climb here it is only about 4 to 5 hundred feet at a time, but with little or no level paths in between. So stupid me I felt I would be fine.
I started from the forest service road 42 parking lot and hiked up to the top of Springer Mountain. It took me longer that I expected but I made it fine. I then hiked back down to the parking lot. I was totally beat by that time and almost out of water. I rested for a while and a couple I had met on the trail, who were day hiking, give me their remaining water. Also another hiker who was getting off the trail. He had planned do this and had his car waiting in the parking lot. He also gave me a small amount of water that he had left.
It was already after 3pm so I decided to hike to Stover Creek shelter and stay the night. My hiking partner caught up with me about half way to Stover Creek. He had hiked the Approach trail and he was also done in and he is a much stronger hiker that I am. We had planned to try for Hawk Mt. for the first night but he said he was very happy to stop at Stover Creek. It took me until after 6pm to hike the 1.6 miles because I was completely exhausted and stumbled into camp.
I had to rest for a while before I could set up my tent. I then ate a small bit of food because I had no apatite and the food tasted almost as if it was saw dust. This was another mistake. David was able to eat a very good meal so he was in good shape. We went to out sleeping bags soon after eating.
I started cough and wheeze very badly during the night. I was not able to sleep very well because of this. Every time I would dose off to sleep I would start to cough again and wake up. David was tented about 20 of more feet from where I was because he snores badly. He told me I woke him about 3 times and he almost come to check on me because he could hear me coughing and wheezing during the night.
I first got up at 6am and it was pitch black outside so we decided to sleep another hour, but I could not go back to sleep. We got up at 7am and
was just light enough to start breaking camp. We had breakfast and I was able to eat some oatmeal and have an instant breakfast.
The bad thing was I was running a fever and I could tell it was not bad yet but would more than likely get worse. I knew then the infection had not been cured as I had hoped.
David and I had only plan to spend the first couple of days together so I told him to go on because he had a time schedule to meet and I did not want to hold him up. I did not tell him I was getting very sick.
I checked my handbook and saw that 3 forks was only 1.3 miles ahead. I checked my cell phone, which I carried because of my health, but it had no signal. I started hiking to 3 forks and a road. After about 30 minutes of hiking I new I was in deep trouble. I could not hike more than about 20 steps and I would have to stop because I could not breath. I was already starting to stumble along the trail and my legs were shaking as if I had waked all day. my lungs were also starting the hurt. This had happened enough in the past couple of month that I knew it was because of the infection
I checked my cell phone again and still did not have a signal. I panicked for a moment. I was afraid I was out here along and no way to call for help. I sat down and calmed my self down and realized there would be other hiker along in time. I continued to hike toward 3 forks very slowly.
One of the times I sat down to rest 4 trail angels came by. One of the trail angels was our very own Bluebelle and her husband Tree. The other lady was Nancy from Kentucky. I am sorry but I have forgotten the other fellows name.
With their help I was able to get to 3 Forks. I started at 9am and got to 3 forks at 12:45pm. It had taken me 3 hours and 45 minutes to hike 1.3 miles and that was on a very good path way and mostly down hill and with help. I started thinking about hiking on to Hawk Mt but realized I had 3.7 miles to go and would not get there until after dark. I then remembered that I still had Sassafras Mt. ahead of me with 6.8 miles with no water. I knew I would take 2 to 3 days to hike that and there was no way I could make it.
Bluebelle and her group were going to hike to Hightower Gap and be picked up by the people from the Hiker Hostel, where I had spent the first night. Bluebelle said she would make sure the came by to pick me up. I had to wait about 3 hours and gave me time to consider what I was up against.
While I was there Bear Bag and Cimarron came by. For those that do not know Bear Bag is a Doctor. He took one look at me and ask what was wrong and could he help. I told him what I was going through and that I decided it was best that I get off the trail. He agreed that I should not try to hike any longer until I was certain that the infection was gone. He could tell I was sick just by looking at me. So I guess I could also say I got off the trail by Doctors orders.
I learned a lot during the short time I was out there. I made mistakes I shall remember. I also done some things right. My tent was great as was my sleeping bag. My boots did not give me even a single hot spot so they were a very good choice and worked very well over the bad rocks up to Springer. I learn more about the food that should be carrying, for example Pop Tarts are to heavy and do not provide enough calories for their weight. I will not carry them next time, oh! yes there will be a next time. Next time I will spend more time finding light food with high calorie content so I carry less weight in my food choices. Many of you warned me but it did not sink in.
I loved the time I had on the trail and it was beautiful even with out all the flowers that would have came later. I have always loved the mountain and even with the pain and suffering I was going through I loved it. I am certain that if I had not had the infection and been in the shape I had been about 3 months before I would have gone much further. I may not have made it to Maine but I would have gone several hundred miles.
Knowing that I could have gone further with out the infection means I will certainly be back out there it they ever cure this infection and I can get back into good shape. This time I plan to do some hiking in the mountains of Oklahoma and Arkansas to insure that I can hike at the higher altitudes and I can hike up the mountains with no problems. I may even hike the entire 250 mile trail through the mountains in Arkansas. I should have done this before.
I have been home almost 2 weeks and I am still sick. I was going to a Doctor at North Texas Lung Institute. When I called for an appointment they have close down for the time being. They dumped many pulmonary people on the market so I had to called another Doctor and I have to wait a month for an appointment. I am lucky because my primary doctor is helping me until then. I am making certain this time I want them to find out for certain what is wrong and fix it, even if they have to put me in the hospital which I think they will.
I will give it another try next year provided I feel I am in good enough shape and can hike the mountains in OK and AR. I guess I just wanted it to much and made many mistakes. The biggest was not listening to my body.
For any one planing to hike in the years to come please learn from my mistakes. Make sure you are in good health and in good shape before trying to hike the trail. Listen to your body and only hike as fast and as far as the body says it can keep going. Stop when the body gets to beat.
I still want to thank all the people here on Whiteblaze for all their help and encouragement before my hike. I will still be active here on the net and try to learn more and more.
I will also have time to try and find some lighter gear. My total pack weight with food and water was 38 pounds. I hope to get that down to 30 pounds if I can with out endangering my health.
Cherokee Tom:mad: :mad: