Date: Tue, 9 May 2000
Subject: Re: AT Update

Elizabeth Bunting wrote:

> Greg,
> On the same day you wrote, I was longingly looking out my open
> window wishing I could be outside all day. Today, however, the wind is
> cold and fierce and I don't mind staying inside (although I'd pick
> inside at home as opposed to inside here). It must be a day to day
> thing for you - some good, some hard. So much depends on the weather.
>
> I can't imagine not seeing a soul all day. I don't
> think I can say that for any day in my whole life!

Hi Beth,

Yes, much of the day-to-day experience is dependent on the weather.  I've been relatively lucky, compared to the Northbounders I've been meeting.  They say they went through at least 2-weeks straight of rain and mist, where my weather was more mixed.  It's disheartening to hike all day and every viewpoint is the same "wall of fog".  But I've had few days like that.   The last few days turned "unseasonably warm", and I saw the weatherman on TV last night joking that we had skipped Spring and launched directly into Summer.  I hated the cold mornings, but I'll miss hiking uphill during the day and it not being warm enough to break a sweat.

Although, there are still some quiet hours on the Trail, it's a rare day now when I don't pass a dozen or more Northbounders, and other section-hikers, weekenders, and day-hikers.  The AT is not the place to go if one is seeking solitude.  The shelters have been full, too, so I may be resorting to my tent more often.