Matt Pincham
04-21-2004, 20:02
This post has been a long time in the making as I haven't visited WB for at least a month. Been a bit depressed about having to quit the trail so early. Here's my story.
My girlfriend, Lindsay, and I touched down in Atlanta on 23rd March and were picked up by Josh Saint (PROFILE '00) and we went to the Hiker Hostel, Dahlonega for a couple of nights while we got the remnants of our kit and our food sorted. Started from Amicalola on the 25th March and I was so happy to be on the trail at last. Lindsay was feeling a bit ill as she had a cold but was still enjoying herself. Anyway, we got about 2 days into our hike and Lindsay's knee was hurting her real bad. I was having a pretty bad day myself up Sassafras Mountain and was wishing I had spent more time training for the hike. We camped on our 3rd night at Justus Creek which is a mile or two before Gooch Gap and by this time Lindsay was in agony as a childhood pain in her knee had resurfaced. We then made the decision that we would have to quit the trail. We hiked the next day to Woody Gap then took the road to Suches. A lovely family drove past and we waved at them, then 2 minutes later they came back and offered us a lift. I was amazed at how kind-hearted everyone in America was and one of the ladies in the car was actually going to be starting from Springer that day.
Once we got to Suches Josh was kind enough to pick us up and we stayed a few nights at the Hiker Hostel while we tried to make plans. Even after spending only a few hours off the trail I really longed to be back up in the mountains. I wished I was still hiking up those 45 degree inclines while the (surprisingly warm) Georgian sun burned my arms. Lindsay said that if I wanted to carry on hiking the trail, she wouldn't mind going home on her own but I love Lindsay so much I didn't want to hike without her.
To cut a long story short, we went to New York City for a day, (raining, overcast and boring) went to Spain for a week and a half (raining, overcast and boring) and then came home to the UK (raining, overcast and boring). I'm already back in the daily 9-5 grind but my working is motivated by one thing... you'll be damned if you're keeping me away from that trail for too long. I can't stop thinking about it and mark my words, whether it's in a year or a decade, I'll be back, and I will thru-hike that trail.
See you all in 2005 (or later)
Matt Pincham
My girlfriend, Lindsay, and I touched down in Atlanta on 23rd March and were picked up by Josh Saint (PROFILE '00) and we went to the Hiker Hostel, Dahlonega for a couple of nights while we got the remnants of our kit and our food sorted. Started from Amicalola on the 25th March and I was so happy to be on the trail at last. Lindsay was feeling a bit ill as she had a cold but was still enjoying herself. Anyway, we got about 2 days into our hike and Lindsay's knee was hurting her real bad. I was having a pretty bad day myself up Sassafras Mountain and was wishing I had spent more time training for the hike. We camped on our 3rd night at Justus Creek which is a mile or two before Gooch Gap and by this time Lindsay was in agony as a childhood pain in her knee had resurfaced. We then made the decision that we would have to quit the trail. We hiked the next day to Woody Gap then took the road to Suches. A lovely family drove past and we waved at them, then 2 minutes later they came back and offered us a lift. I was amazed at how kind-hearted everyone in America was and one of the ladies in the car was actually going to be starting from Springer that day.
Once we got to Suches Josh was kind enough to pick us up and we stayed a few nights at the Hiker Hostel while we tried to make plans. Even after spending only a few hours off the trail I really longed to be back up in the mountains. I wished I was still hiking up those 45 degree inclines while the (surprisingly warm) Georgian sun burned my arms. Lindsay said that if I wanted to carry on hiking the trail, she wouldn't mind going home on her own but I love Lindsay so much I didn't want to hike without her.
To cut a long story short, we went to New York City for a day, (raining, overcast and boring) went to Spain for a week and a half (raining, overcast and boring) and then came home to the UK (raining, overcast and boring). I'm already back in the daily 9-5 grind but my working is motivated by one thing... you'll be damned if you're keeping me away from that trail for too long. I can't stop thinking about it and mark my words, whether it's in a year or a decade, I'll be back, and I will thru-hike that trail.
See you all in 2005 (or later)
Matt Pincham