View Full Version : Cerberus Update
Just heard from Zak. He called from Hiawassee. Last year he went from Springer to Fontana in 10 days. Everyone told him to take it slow and enjoy his time, and he has really taken that to heart!
Day 1 - Stover Creek Shelter area
Day 2 - Gooch Mtn Shelter area. Ended up staying there all day of day three due to rain and high winds, and did a night hike to Woods Hole .
Day 4 - he hit Neels Gap, hung around with several people most of the day then hiked another 4 miles and hung his hammock a little off the trail.
Day 5 and 6 - Low Gap. Decided to sit out the rain. Guy there named Hillbilly and they decided to laugh at all the ones that came through and took off in the rain. He said there were some miserable wet and cold hikers, but they didn't sit out the rain and snow. Must have somewhere they need to be!:confused:
Truly enjoying every minute of the trail. In just a weeks time he has totally changed his view on this hike. Instead of "Katahdin or Bust", it's now stay in the woods for as long as possible! HYOH Zak, and enjoy the adventure.
His gear is holding up fine. The only problem he has had was his food bags. Using DWR and his oatmeal turned to mush! Bought some Sil bags at Neel's Gap and that problem solved.
He's going to keep some low miles for a few more days and see if Cannibal catches up with him. I think the bet is only good if the hammock on the ground is witnessed!
rigidpsycho
03-08-2008, 15:53
Glad to hear he is having fun, I hope he's ready for the winter weather heading that way.
He said it's already been pretty wintery! That's why he took a zero and stay warm and dry in his hammock!
Just noticed that Cannibal has updated his TJ today. Zak is taking a zero tomorrow to rest his knee. Sounds like he and Cannibal are in the same boat there.
rigidpsycho
03-08-2008, 16:26
It seems they're both having knee troubles.
Shadowmoss
03-08-2008, 18:17
Shiloh may catch both of them yet. He starts Monday.
Zak seemed a lot more relaxed once he was up on Springer. I'm glad he has slowed down and is enjoying the hike.
Great! Please tell him Mule is hee hawing for him.
That's the prefect speed. Thinking back I took 5 with a zero as a southbounder. Crazy how he will probibly see more snow than I did.
Well, I stayed in Hawassi (you know what I mean) again last night. Slacked from Unicoi to Dicks creek gap yesterday. I've been over Kelly Knob once with a full pack, and don't intend to do it again. Now I'm at the library and about to head over to Cloud 9 and stay the day. I've heard good things about it, so I want to see what all the fuss is about. I'm gonna go as slow as possible so that I am within easy driving distance for the Hot Springs hangout. Looks like I will be just north of Damascus for it so it works out great.
slowhike
03-10-2008, 21:09
Well, . I'm gonna go as slow as possible so that I am within easy driving distance for the Hot Springs hangout. Looks like I will be just north of Damascus for it so it works out great.
slow... that's the way you do it:D
glad to hear that you're planning on trying to make hot springs.
Well, I caught a trout at Cloud 9 today. Hammock Engineer would be jealous. I came in here and told them I knew the hiker who caught the bigest fish of the season, and I was on a mission to catch the smallest. I caught one that was about 3 or 4 inches long. Very proud. The owner here just started laughing at me when I got all excited and ran for my camera when I pulled this little baby out of the water. He didn't have a clue what was wrong with me until I explained it.
I'm thinking of doing another zero at Blueberry patch. See what all the fuss is about the food there. Then I guess I will get back on the trail. Plan on taking 5 or 6 days to get to Franklin. The people here at the hostel say that at my rate with zeros, neros, and general slothiness I might need more than 6 days of food to hike 40 miles.
angrysparrow
03-10-2008, 21:37
The people here at the hostel say that at my rate with zeros, neros, and general slothiness I might need more than 6 days of food to hike 40 miles.
Are you setting a goal of slothiness?
If so, you might compare your progress to Zero (http://www.trailjournals.com/zerohiker/)'s hike from last year. All together, he said he took about 3 months worth of zero days.
Way to go son! Can't tell you how glad I am that you are doing this the way you want to and taking the time to see and visit places you've heard so much about.
Now about the trout. Your Dad won't be very impressed, however, he's home from his fishing trip since they didn't even get a single bite!
Please tell me you ate more than that. Can't wait to see your pictures so far.
Continue to have fun, and I'll see you for Hot Springs weekend.
My goal is to be out here atleast until my birthday, Sep 30. That's the day I want to summit.
We had a big trout dinner last night. So a few of us here caught fish for a while for the dinner. I caught two other decent sized ones which did get eaten. I'm proud of my baby fish. Off to Blueberry Patch in a couple hours.
Cannibal
03-11-2008, 19:37
Just got done eating my trout here at Cloud 9, great little hostel. They got a jacuzzi!!!!!!!!!!
Slacking Unicoi tomorrow; 17 miles no pack, no problem. Cerberus, who told you I was having hammock problems? Saw your entry at Blue Mountain Shelter when I stopped for lunch. Warbonnet is still very much ON! Working out some kinks with the Warbonnet Superfly, but it's coming along nicely. No ground, not today, tomorrow, or ever! Hang em high!
slowhike
03-11-2008, 19:52
all right!!! go cannibal, go!!!:D
Watch out trail - Cannibal and Cerberus are within a day of each other again!
Cannibal
03-11-2008, 20:59
Watch out trail - Cannibal and Cerberus are within a day of each other again!
Won't last. After tomorrow, I'm pretty sure I'll be taking zero....again. Seventeen miles with two nasty ups and one nasty down. He's leaving me some pretty funny enties in the registers; he better hope I don't catch him.:D
The Georgia section of this little trail is hammock heaven. I don't think there has been more than half a mile that wouldn't have been great for hanging. Lovin it, hatin it, lovin it again.
Well, I caught a trout at Cloud 9 today. Hammock Engineer would be jealous. I came in here and told them I knew the hiker who caught the bigest fish of the season, and I was on a mission to catch the smallest. I caught one that was about 3 or 4 inches long. Very proud. The owner here just started laughing at me when I got all excited and ran for my camera when I pulled this little baby out of the water. He didn't have a clue what was wrong with me until I explained it.I
This one's for you, Hammock Engineer!
1209
rigidpsycho
03-15-2008, 12:02
where's the fish. all I see is his hands. Oh there it is I thought it was just a little dirt spot on the picture.
Seriously glad to hear you're having fun Cerbeus/Zak. Enjoy you time out there.
Man, that is awesome. I always say if you are going to go, go all out. How did it taste?
They didn't let me eat the fish. I guess a trophy like that should be saved. They will probably use it to breed more trophy fish.
In Franklin with Cannibal now. He finally caught up with me after 3 zeros, and a bunch of short days. I think some of the great minds here need to design an ultralight walker for him to use. :D
Cannibal
03-16-2008, 11:26
I think some of the great minds here need to design an ultralight walker for him to use. :D
I'd take it! Then really put you to shame when I go scooting past you, squeaky wheels and all. :D
At least I haven't slept in a shelter. Keepin it real and hangin high!
slowhike
03-16-2008, 11:58
we'll work on that ultralight walker design (comes apart for multi-use applications???).
you guys just keep us laughing & wishing we were there<G>.
Oh and Wayah Blad, I think its called, just north of you had one of the best sunsets I saw on the trail. The fire tower north of that would also be a good place for the night.
Hey Cerberus and Cannibal...Glad to hear your hikes are going well. How is the water situation? I'm planning to start in mid-April at Springer for a 30-40 day hike north. BTW, I was just down on the Florida Trail a couple of weeks ago in Ocala NF. I think I'm ready for some hills...:) But...probably not!
Cannibal
03-16-2008, 14:04
I was just down on the Florida Trail a couple of weeks ago in Ocala NF. I think I'm ready for some hills...:) But...probably not!
Yeah, I remember when I thought that. :eek:
Water is fine and frequent right now. Rains about once or twice a week and keeps it flowing nice. Only one source was dry (Stover Creek Shelter), but you cross a creek 200 yards nobo from the shelter. Way better than the water out of my tap at home!
Cerberus (Nest) and I were at the outfitters burning webbing today. They thought we were nuts, but were glad to know that it was nylon on their mystery spool.
Cannibal
03-16-2008, 14:04
Shelters are awesome!!
Great until bedtime! :D
The shelter was actually comfortable. Had my hammock and potomac under me. Just pulled the hammock sock over the two so they didn't snag on any nails. Slept great.
I don't know what you are talking about. They were empty when I went through.
I don't know what you are talking about. They were empty when I went through.
Yea, but Cannabal is heading the wrong way, instead of SOBO like you did. :eek: :D
Hey I wasn't going to tell him he can't read the Maine to Georgia signs.
[QUOTE=Cannibal;Cerrberus (Nest) and I were at the outfitters burning webbing today. They thought we were nuts, but were glad to know that it was nylon on their mystery spool.[/QUOTE]
That's pretty funny. I was at a fabric store today, buying material for a new sock. I'm standing there trying to blow through the fabric to make sure it's coated. The sales clerk looked at me like I was crazy and asked what I was doing. I told her I was trying to breath through the fabric:confused: She responded "okay. At least you didn't try to burn it like one strange customer did."
Okay - which one of you was it???
That's great. It wasn't me. I still don't understand the whole blowing or fire thing. You can look close and feel it and tell the difference.
That's great. It wasn't me. I still don't understand the whole blowing or fire thing. You can look close and feel it and tell the difference.
I can't, but that's a lack of experience. I figure that WalMart wouldn't want me burning their fabric (or I've got no lighter...) so I'm stuck blowing through it. :D
I can't, but that's a lack of experience. I figure that WalMart wouldn't want me burning their fabric (or I've got no lighter...) so I'm stuck blowing through it. :D
Here's what I do.
1.1 untreated. You can see through it, almost; ends fray; does not look shinny; if you look real close you can see a rough surface
1.1 treated. The ends fray; it has the plastic like feel; one side is a slightly different shade of color than the other; if you look really close the surface is smooth.
sil: this is the only one that will not fray no matter how hard to try (it does over time and enough use), has a plastic like and smooth finish.
I don't understand the whole blowing thing, but that is ignorance on my part. I held all of them up to a fan on high and put my face on the other side. I couldn't tell a noticable difference.
Cannibal
03-17-2008, 08:15
Yea, but Cannabal is heading the wrong way, instead of SOBO like you did. :eek: :D
I'm sobo today baby! Slacking from Wayah Gap (sp?) back to Rock Gap. Jack Tarlin corrupted about 8 of us yesterday. That and it's hard to leave Ron's place. Even found some nice trees to hang from for an afternoon nap. :D