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AT-HITMAN2005
10-23-2007, 08:36
A Thread that 2008ers can use to talk about exciting things going on in their planning.

Just ordered my shoes the other day, should be here monday. Also just patched my thermarest the other day, pretty proud of myself. :banana

thanks to Sgt. Rock's countdown timer i know i only have 129 days to go!

SGT Rock
10-23-2007, 08:44
95 and a wake up.

I can't think of much left to do but some grocery shopping. But this weekend I am going to crosscut saw certification - I am excited about that.

troglobil
10-23-2007, 09:24
You need certification to know pointy edge down, push-pull,push-pull, (unless two man saw, then never push) ?

warraghiyagey
10-23-2007, 09:29
You need certification to know pointy edge down, push-pull,push-pull, (unless two man saw, then never push) ?
I guess somebody has never seen a crosscut saw pop off a knot and finish it's stroke through soft skin.

Wonder
10-23-2007, 09:30
Best of luck to all of the 2008'ers........I wish I could be out there again. WHo knows....maybe I can wezel a month....

Mad Hatter 08
10-25-2007, 01:42
I'm praying hard I still can go. I can't wait till march 1st

chiefdaddy
10-25-2007, 06:49
Yup I am stuck waiting til march 1st and can't wait. I keep wanting to yo-yo the ga section lol, I have to stop myself! WAIT for the 1st!!!

Cannibal
10-25-2007, 08:41
Anybody else totally slacking off at work? I can't focus on anything other than the fact that I have 126 days left (102 working days).

SGT Rock
10-25-2007, 09:27
I'm slacking off at work - but they sort of tell me to. I only have about 90 days left in the Army.

I'm going to go to my cross-cut cert this weekend and plan to camp overnight between the classes on the trail where I should be walking through there in about 15 weeks.

walkinfool
10-25-2007, 09:34
Anybody else totally slacking off at work? I can't focus on anything other than the fact that I have 126 days left (102 working days).


Cannibal, I know what you mean...I can't get my mind off the trail and prep stuff. I think I look at my packing/buying list at least 5 times a day. It feels like March 16 will never come!

Cannibal
10-25-2007, 09:35
Sounds like a good cache spot to me Rock! How you gonna keep the beer cold for 15 weeks? :D

Marta
10-25-2007, 09:48
I don't think keeping things cold will be a problem. The real issue would be the cans freezing and bursting.

If you stick to bourbon, it won't freeze...

Lone Wolf
10-25-2007, 09:50
Anybody else totally slacking off at work?

The majority of posters on here are slacking off at work. i wonder if their bosses know they're spend 8+ hours a day on here

SGT Rock
10-25-2007, 09:52
Marta is correct. I could plant a bottle right there this weekend...

But I already have a cache going in there ;) wouldn't want to get too drunk while thru-hiking in winter. I might end up the subject of some poem.

Lone Wolf
10-25-2007, 09:55
I might end up the subject of some poem.

or Sean Penn might be inspired and do movie about you :rolleyes:

John B
10-25-2007, 10:02
or Sean Penn might be inspired and do movie about you :rolleyes:

Now that's just funny. HA!

SGT Rock
10-25-2007, 10:06
or Sean Penn might be inspired and do movie about you :rolleyes:
NOOOOO!!!!!!

If anyone does a movie about me, please no liberal hollywood actors involved. I'd want Bruce Willis doing the project

rafe
10-25-2007, 10:09
The majority of posters on here are slacking off at work. i wonder if their bosses know they're spend 8+ hours a day on here

Umm, LW? You've got no standing to talk about work. :rolleyes:

Lone Wolf
10-25-2007, 10:10
Umm, LW? You've got no standing to talk about work. :rolleyes:

are you unemployed too?

Marta
10-25-2007, 10:29
My boss, who owns the company, is worse than I am about cruising the net while in the office. As long as we get done what needs to be done, he doesn't care.

Then there are my leaves of absence so I can hike.

Have I mentioned what a great job I have?

Cannibal
10-25-2007, 10:31
I taught my boss how to use a computer! If he figures out I'm wasting his time surfing hiker sites; I'll just be proud that I was such a good teacher. My bigger concern is he figures out how to "google" me and comes across my TJ. Might have to have a certain conversation a little earlier than I was planning if that happens.

Jan LiteShoe
10-25-2007, 10:43
Though I have "a boss," I work for myself; independent contractor.
My real "boss" is the need to cover expenses. LOL. I can "escape" anytime, but there are economic consequences.
;-)

To put this on-topic (sorta), just think of how great it will feel not to have to "work" (ha-ha) for six months. (Ha-ha, because you will work your tushes off. Literally. And that's not a bad thing.)

I ran across this quote today. It's one that would have whipped up my excitement meter up before my hike, when a number of people important to me expressed serious doubts about a six-month walk in the woods (doubts I secretly shared).
It goes:

"Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires...courage."

http://www.insightoftheday.com/images/greenbutton.gif (http://www.insightoftheday.com/play.asp?m=447083&f=PHDSWL&ps=6&p=1)

Ralph Waldo Emerson
1803-1882, Poet and Essayist

Gray Blazer
10-25-2007, 10:47
The majority of posters on here are slacking off at work. i wonder if their bosses know they're spend 8+ hours a day on here
SSSsshhhhhh!!

warraghiyagey
10-25-2007, 11:37
NOOOOO!!!!!!

If anyone does a movie about me, please no liberal hollywood actors involved. I'd want Bruce Willis doing the project

Sorry Dude. It Looks like it's going to be Mark Harmon and the movie is called 'Frozen Rock.'
You're lucky, he outbid Paul Reubens who was going to call it 'Large Sarge.'

SGT Rock
10-25-2007, 13:20
At least it wasn't Paulie Shores.

Marta
10-25-2007, 13:26
What about Adam Sandler?

SGT Rock
10-25-2007, 13:42
He'd be OK I guess. Sam Elliot would be my favorite.

warraghiyagey
10-25-2007, 16:28
He'd be OK I guess. Sam Elliot would be my favorite.

Yup, Sam Elliot is the man. You can almost here hime drawling out 'N o o o snivell i i n n.

SGT Rock
10-25-2007, 17:15
Exactly. Plus he looked good with a high and tight in We Were Soldiers.

warraghiyagey
10-25-2007, 17:20
Exactly. Plus he looked good with a high and tight in We Were Soldiers.

Mm hmm. You would. Hippy version for me thanks. Road House, Tombstone, The Big Lebowski.

mudhead
10-25-2007, 17:40
Steve Martin wants the job.

Kirby
10-25-2007, 19:00
Being full time un-employed is a tough life;).

In 124 days, I will be employed as a full time backpacker, talk about a tough life, but, according to Bill Bryson, the Appalachian Trail is a 'walk in the woods', can't be that tough, right?:rolleyes:;)

Kirby

rafe
10-25-2007, 19:04
In 124 days, I will be employed as a full time backpacker

You're being paid to hike? :-?

SGT Rock
10-25-2007, 19:04
Unemployed, maybe. But you have homework.

Kirby
10-25-2007, 19:35
Unemployed, maybe. But you have homework.

And tons of it. I have to do 3 months worth of school work before I leave, but, my school is working with me to make it happen, which is pretty sweet.

I am being paid $0.0 for my hike.:sun

Kirby

partinj
10-25-2007, 23:03
It hard to belive their only 2 months and 7 days before i leave on my thur-hike
time is just flying bye. Have maildrops ready to go for the smokies the dam hotspring and a few other. The rest i will buy on the way have all my gear now it gone to get petty cold at nite where i live so gone to try out the wind screen and pot cozy for my snow peak stove. WELL GOOD LUCK TO THE CLASS OF 2008:banana:banana:banana

AT-HITMAN2005
10-26-2007, 15:12
got my shoes yesterday...now i get to pass the time breaking them in! Yay!

Kirby
10-26-2007, 16:53
I am about to start the nightmare that is mail drop coordination, everything else is pretty much set to go.

Kirby

rafe
10-26-2007, 17:02
I am about to start the nightmare that is mail drop coordination, everything else is pretty much set to go.

Kirby

Why nightmare? Don't bother doing the whole hike's worth. Just get the first 3 or 4 set up for now. Just my $0.02.

Kirby
10-26-2007, 18:07
Why nightmare? Don't bother doing the whole hike's worth. Just get the first 3 or 4 set up for now. Just my $0.02.

Someone else is taking care of the creation of the mail drops themselves, but I have to give him a rough idea of how many mail drops I will need, and roughly how many days I am going between mail drops. The only mail drop that will be set in stone when I leave will be Neels Gap, and most likely my second one. After that, it is me calling him telling him how many days worth of food, where I want it, and what I want in it.

Thanks for the advice though,
Kirby

AT-HITMAN2005
10-27-2007, 10:32
thats a sweet set up you have. wish i had someone who i could rely on to do that for me.

but anyways, i think theres an article on here that lists the best places for mail drops. i would follow the advice it gives. its pretty acurate. some towns just doesn't make sense to get a drop in and some doesn't make sense not to.

AT-HITMAN2005
11-17-2007, 18:56
:bananapicked up our tent today, hubba hubba.:banana

wife just needs sleeping bag and her pack and we are set with the big 4.

AT-HITMAN2005
12-29-2007, 18:20
wife got her sleeping bag today.

between the 2 of us we are at approximately 21 lbs. without food and water.
figure my base weight will be about 10, and hers a little more.
will update when we get her pack in a couple weeks.

76 days to go!

Hooch
12-29-2007, 19:10
It's cool seeing the plans of the '08 thru-hikers coming together. All the effort, planning and coordination will pay off, I'm sure. I hope you make your hike great in '08! Since the new year is almost upon us, best wishes to the class of 2008 for a wonderful thru! :banana

Kirby
12-29-2007, 19:50
As of Tuesday, I can say "I leave this March", as opposed to "I leave next March". I can also say "I will be on the trail this spring", as opposed to "I will be on the trail next spring". Simple little things like this make my day!

Kirby

ATbound
12-30-2007, 06:21
I've finished buying most of my gear online. It's now sitting at my sister's house in Utah. I won't get to see it until the day before I fly to Georgia. This wait is killing me! At the same time thought, I'll be sad to leave Korea. It's been such a great place to live. And again on the flipside, all I think about is that I start the hike in eight weeks!!!! That's cause for celebration. If only I was a drinker......

wrongway_08
12-30-2007, 10:17
Have all my gear ready to go, sitting at around 26 or 27 pounds winter weight, with food and water!

Already missing the Dog and Family.

Cant wait to get out there and curse the cold, pain, hills, smell, heat, bugs, noisy weekend party goers, morning pain, night pain, wet clothes, lack of food, lack of water, lack of sleep, miles of rocks, the ups/downs of mental well being, home sickness, lack of work-sickness :)........ this is going to be great!!!!!

To me some of the best times are here on W.B., getting ready for this trip, meeting new faces, learning new tricks, talking to everyone here on W.B., soaking up info, arguing over stupid stuff and just being around people with the same interest.

I think its safe to say, the next time I will feel this good about the trip is when its over...... sitting on top of Katahdin.... laughn about the prior 6 months of hell I put myself through. :D :D :D

Oh yea, 2 months 1 day, 14 hours, 42 minutes and 40 seconds to go !!!

SGT Rock
12-30-2007, 10:19
I've been ready to leave now for about a week, too bad I can't speed up time. Or can I...

rickb
12-30-2007, 10:56
I've been ready to leave now for about a week, too bad I can't speed up time. Or can I...

Not sure, but I think Einstein proved that if you walk faster, time actually slows down. Not sure how that might affect your planning.

SGT Rock
12-30-2007, 11:01
Einstein never served in the US Army. Time can be warped with a DA31 pass form.

Smile
12-30-2007, 11:59
If it can be done, I'll bet on SR to do it :)

Do you have your stuff all laid out and ready to go?

SGT Rock
12-30-2007, 12:01
Yes. I just have to get some folding money to put into my wallet and get to Springer. I'm working on a plan to start hiking over the weekends begining at Springer until my actual start day. Like an early start with lots of zeros.

Smile
12-30-2007, 12:18
Sounds like a great plan, hope you have an awesome hike :)

Footslogger
12-30-2007, 12:26
[quote=SGT Rock;431815]95 and a wake up.

==================================

You got a "Short-Timers" calendar on the wall Rock ??

'Slogger

SGT Rock
12-30-2007, 12:33
You bet - right now it says 25 and a wake up to be out, and 27 and a wake up until my hike. but I have very itchy feet and nothing to do except a few retirement things between now and then. I'm working a possible course of action that will allow me to hike a few 4 day passes between now and the start day. Nothing solid yet.

Footslogger
12-30-2007, 12:39
You bet - right now it says 25 and a wake up to be out, and 27 and a wake up until my hike. but I have very itchy feet and nothing to do except a few retirement things between now and then. I'm working a possible course of action that will allow me to hike a few 4 day passes between now and the start day. Nothing solid yet.

=======================================

Most excellent !! You're getting SO short you need to be carefull jumping out of bed in the morning :)

'Slogger

Kirby
12-30-2007, 12:48
58 and a wake up.

Kirby

ZEKE #2
12-31-2007, 17:27
"Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires...courage."[/SIZE]

http://www.insightoftheday.com/images/greenbutton.gif (http://www.insightoftheday.com/play.asp?m=447083&f=PHDSWL&ps=6&p=1)

Ralph Waldo Emerson
1803-1882, Poet and Essayist




Man, does that hit home. Thanks for the inspiration!

StarLyte
12-31-2007, 17:46
You guys are pumping me up and I'm not even thruhiking!

I'm so excited for all of you.

I'll be seeing a lot of you out there this year, I have a lot of hikes planned to add to my life-sectioner portfolio ;)

Anytime I'm out there I'll slack you or take you where you want to go :D

Keep it up---it gets BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER !!!!!!

YEAH!!!!!!!!

Kirby
12-31-2007, 18:09
In 6 hours and 42 minutes, it will be the year 2008.

Kirby

Smile
12-31-2007, 18:50
Did you ever hear the saying " How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on"?

- that could also be on which part of your hike you're on. The waiting to leave part - or the 'out there hiking' part :)

Lone Wolf
12-31-2007, 19:55
..........

Lone Wolf
12-31-2007, 19:56
In 6 hours and 42 minutes, it will be the year 2008.

Kirby

yeah. so?

Kirby
12-31-2007, 20:10
yeah. so?

Welll.... We are talking about getting excited for 2008.

Kirby

Frolicking Dinosaurs
12-31-2007, 20:13
Wolfy, remember the exuberance of youth. We could more of that and less cynicism

Lone Wolf
12-31-2007, 20:19
Wolfy, remember the exuberance of youth. We could more of that and less cynicism

i'm not being a cynic. 08 in 5 hours. so?

Kirby
12-31-2007, 20:26
i'm not being a cynic. 08 in 5 hours. so?

Welll... It is a mentality thing. I can go from saying "I am leaving next year", to "I am leaving this year", like wise with Spring. May seem stupid to you, but it is exciting for me.

Kirby

Smile
12-31-2007, 20:30
Good for you Kirby! Nothing wrong with getting exited about the turn of a new year - or for counting down your hike!

This year it is ( in a little while) :)

Lone Wolf
12-31-2007, 20:30
Welll... It is a mentality thing. I can go from saying "I am leaving next year", to "I am leaving this year", like wise with Spring. May seem stupid to you, but it is exciting for me.

Kirby

ok. i get it

Frolicking Dinosaurs
12-31-2007, 20:32
::: Dino seen rejoicing as she sees LW and Gypsy dancing in the new year :D :::

Lone Wolf
12-31-2007, 20:49
::: Dino seen rejoicing as she sees LW and Gypsy dancing in the new year :D :::

i'll be sitting here at home giving y'all hell on whiteblaze. gypsy WILL be dancing in the new year in south florida with the queens

Smile
12-31-2007, 20:51
Hope you have a good night tonight :)

Pacific Tortuga
12-31-2007, 20:52
i'll be sitting here at home giving y'all hell on whiteblaze. gypsy WILL be dancing in the new year in south florida with the queens

Sounds like she'll be Monkey-ing around :)

AT-HITMAN2005
01-09-2008, 19:54
65 days to go. wife will soon have her pack, the last major item on her list. then we can start pulling some weekend overnighters. perhaps on the FT, any suggestion for short couple overnight hikes in the orlando area? may even do some in the ONF. i know the trail passes through oviedo and tosohatchee forest near christmas but not sure how the camping is on the oviedo portion.

Jaybird62
01-09-2008, 20:00
Good Luck on your journey hitman. Just wanted you to know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers this season- are you gonna have a journal?

AT-HITMAN2005
01-09-2008, 21:42
thanks for the support. haven't decided on the journal yet. i didn't have one last time but i was more focused on the task at hand. i think it would be fun this time around having both of our perspectives to look at. but OTOH i don't feeling like i have to update it all the time. planning on having an e-mail list for people close to us, maybe we can get one of them to update a TJ for us.

AT-HITMAN2005
01-12-2008, 17:39
trail guide has been ordered. maps have been ordered. wife got her pack last night(granite gear vapor Ki). now its just a matter of working out the kinks and breaking in the shoes.

Cindy from Indy
01-14-2008, 10:46
Okay, I just outlined my first 10 days on the trail. Mileage, water stops, privy locations, shelters and hostels.

I'm taking it easy the first 14 days, averaging about 7 miles per day. Then, once I'm in Tennesse, I'll be ready to kick it into a higher gear.

I found a wonderful mileage/shelter/water locater chart on the ATC website, but only for GA. Anyone know where I can find similar charts for the other states?????

Mad Hatter 08
01-14-2008, 13:07
so my last day of work is a month from wednesday!!!!! I'll go home to texas to see my family for a week before i head to Ga to start March 1st. I seriously cannot wait.

Kirby
01-14-2008, 15:44
so my last day of work is a month from wednesday!!!!! I'll go home to texas to see my family for a week before i head to Ga to start March 1st. I seriously cannot wait.

Are you officially cleared to hike the trail now?

Kirby

Marge
01-21-2008, 10:36
Only 68 days until I give my notice and 103 days until my last day of work. Yoo Hoo!!!! I just started to tell my friends to enlist their help. I also ordered personalized M&Ms to share the news with my family. (GA>ME on one M&M and 2175 on the other). We'll see if they figure out what I'll be doing with my time off work. An expensive way to share the news, but I hope it will keep things light and fun.

Jason of the Woods
01-21-2008, 11:25
I don't work but if I did I'd want a job where Marta works. We are about to hike a chunk of the AT for the first time so we are both like kids before Christmas. The only problem being that Christmas is still two months away.;(

Montego
01-22-2008, 04:19
It was slow at first. Long days and even longer nights. Reading WB, researching the best gear for me, replacing old gear, and dreaming, always dreaming.

Now with only 14 weeks, 6 days left - the time is going by so fast - WOW! Still so much to do. Just got my Jansport pack from Campmor today. Now the only major things to do is get a tent, schedule the transportation, and plan the meals/get the food.

The excitement builds, as well as the anxiety. Have I forgotten to do something? Will I have the right gear? Am I physically and mentally able to do this?

But then I tell myself that it's just walking, not much different from all the other trails I once hiked so many years ago. Like riding a bicycle, it WILL come back. The only failure on my part would be to not hike the AT, and failure is simply not an option!

I want to thank the WB community for their thoughts, tips, ideas, humor, and encouragement. :sun

Quagmire
01-22-2008, 05:10
haha..i now have 10 days left till we get down there, and we start hiking in 11. time is near.

Quagmire
01-22-2008, 05:10
i just hope we arent leaving so early we dont get to meet a lot of people

High Places
01-22-2008, 08:20
The majority of posters on here are slacking off at work. i wonder if their bosses know they're spend 8+ hours a day on here


Shhhh! be quiet! My boss might hear ya! :sun

Ok I am new here! I haven't done the AT yet and after reading alot of the trailjournel and looking at the pictures. I WANT TO DO THE AT! I am excited about it. Waiting on a friend of mine to come thru for me. I don't know his trail name, but he has been doing the AT for quite some time. He a sectional hiker, I think that what ya would called him. He goes twice a year and pick up where he left off each time. He tell me alot about his experiences and how much he loved it. So hopefully I will be able to go with him on his next trip.

I am amazed how wonderful you guys are! I did a 50 miles hike when I was in the Boy Scout and loved the experiences. But it has been over 35 years ago. LOL. I am 51 now and loved adventures! Hiking the AT is just something I really want to do. You all inspired me so much, that I can't wait! Maybe with some experiences behind me, I will become a thru-hiker when I retired in a few years.

Thank for letting me barge in!

High Places

maxNcathy
01-22-2008, 09:13
i am excited .. and I will not hike the whole trail this year like most of you.
Friends and I start near Roan Mt on March 19th to hike 5 weeks north to.......Hoocairsville
See you out there.
Have a super time.
Sandalwood

Montego
01-23-2008, 00:48
Welcome to WhiteBlaze High Places. Glad to hear of your excitement and hope your hike turns out to all that you expected :welcome

High Places
01-23-2008, 11:11
It is official! My friend called and stated that he is planning a trip in September and would be happy to have me along! Boy, I am so thrilled and looking forward to it. This give me plenty time to get my stuffs together. Plus I got a birthday coming up in Feburary, I am going to make a wish list. Hoped my wife got alot of money! LOL. She will be thrilled to hear that she doesn't have to go with me.

High Places
01-23-2008, 11:13
Oh thank Montego! For the welcome!

Being 51 and soon to be 52! I feel like a kid all over again!

Cindy from Indy
01-23-2008, 12:20
OMG! :eek:

It's official, I just bought my plane ticket from Indy to Hot-Lanta (only $68 bucks!!) and then will shuttle to the approach trail from there.

I am so FREAKIN' excited!!!! :banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana

AT-HITMAN2005
01-23-2008, 16:59
51 days to go.

Just received my appalachian pages. it looks awesome. also just got our hole-less crocs for camp shoes. and got our maps a couple days ago.

Mad Hatter 08
01-23-2008, 17:25
Are you officially cleared to hike the trail now?

Kirby

Well we still don't know if my grandma will need surgery or not but she doesn't want me to stay. So yeah I am all clear to go!!

High Places
01-24-2008, 10:35
I envy u guys! Getting a head start before I hit the trails in September! Best of luck to all of you! Love to hear about your adventures when you get back. I am reading MARTA's (five-leafed clover) trailjournal right now. She just making me itch to get on the trails.

Kara
01-24-2008, 20:46
Hi Everyone!! Like you High Places, I'm new here. I was only mildly intriqued about the AT (spurred from hearing stories from a friend that did it in 2003), but since I've been reading all the great stuff on Whiteblaze.net, I'm now trying to figure out how to pay my mortgage for 9 months, how to get the money to get the gear, and how to get the money for while I'm out there.

Y'all are great! Good luck to you!! Who knows, maybe I'll make it to the AT for my first time this year for a short hike and see some of you...