Since (hopefully) we will be reaching the notorious painfully-rocky PA stretch of the A.T. this time, I found Sojo a pair of booties - just in case. Well, actually we tried and returned 5 different styles before finding some that are tolerable for her! The only ones she likes - and I use that term rather loosely - are the "Mud Monsters" from Muttluks. In this, she actually walks rather than prances in panic. I am glad to have something we can use to pad her paws, should that prove necessary. Otherwise, "Musher's Secret" paw wax has worked wonders already and will be a staple on our journey. By the way, a bonus of her "Groundbird Gear" (detachable) Trekking Pack is this red harness that also works well in the car to help keep her semi-restrained without a kennel, via a swivel / carabiner link to the seatbelt. I do so appreciate multi-purpose gear!
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As I get ready to return 21 years later to the Appalachian Trail journey I left off at age 21, I searched for a photo of Sam who was one of the most incredible beings I have ever known. This is from our 1994 AT trek. He was another shelter jewel, with an old-soul personality and a depth of love that never ceased to amaze me. While they are very different creatures, I sense a similar bond developing already with Sojourner as we prepare for our own long trek in 2015. There appears to be no end to the details to consider when planning such a trek, and it's easy for me to let my anxiety take over especially while reading well intended resources that insinuate that there is only one right way to do things which is invariably expensive. And that while not every eventuality can be planned for, they really ought to be. But that is rather similar to other arenas of life, isn't it? So when all else fails, we go out and walk.
I feel so fortunate that Melanie has developed a new interest in and expertise with food dehydration! While the fruits were pretty sure bets, we've tasted with delight her new quick-to-cook light-weight rendition of black beans with rice and tomatoes. Another big hit is the pumpkin-pie style sweet potato "bark". Looking forward to trailside meals!
While Sojo has become the star of our trekking team, little Luna has been helping Melanie with lots of behind the scenes dehydrating of trail food. We are very grateful for their help!
As I mentioned in another post recently, due to significantly increased usage of the AT, stewardship group Appalachian Trail Conservancy is requesting thru-hikers register online. For more info, visit the corresponding FAQ page.
SO excited about this high quality product, custom made just for Sojo by fellow long-distance hiker Marie Bobwhite Sellenrick of Groundbird Gear. Having read many stellar reviews from other customers of hers I was optimistic, but now I'm downright delighted. VERY thoughtful design, carefully crafted, great pack. As you can see, Sojo wears it well!
I was delighted that this year two of my images from the flooding rains we had two years ago were selected for display in the Turchin Center for Visual Arts in Boone, NC for the 12th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition. Pictured above in "Appalachian Storm Surge" is the cascade just below 'Trashcan Falls' on Laurel Creek [in Watauga County, NC] in the flooding rains of January 2013. The fog lingered a while after the sunshine replaced the rain. Photograph © Catherine Hopkins, All Rights Reserved. Our Ecological Footprint: “Slope Sliding Away” by Catherine Hopkins According to the NC Geological Survey, some 300 landslides were documented in western NC during the record rainfall in the first 7 months of 2013. And the vast majority of those slope failures had involved slopes altered by development and mobilized into damaging debris flows. In large part due to steep slope development, Watauga County leads the state in the number of known slides. I learned only after our slide that our home was already depicted in a high-risk landslide site mapped by State Geologists seeking to identify such likely hazards before their funding was cut. In this case, the final trigger was likely the blockage of drainage ditches up above, that redirected the stormwater over a weakened slope. Photo © Catherine Hopkins, All Rights Reserved. Ah well, I could write an entire blog detailing each grueling stage of the whole landslide experience, which ended up being a two-year journey in and of itself. But for now, suffice it to say that it inspired the trail name I feel called to use: Salix (as in Willow). Preparations are fully underway now as our departure date for a major section-hike of the Appalachian Trail is just under one month now. Our own wonder dog Sojourner joined our family just before Christmas, and in January and February she and I focused on stamina building done by hiking with packs almost daily. Unfortunately Sojo developed sores where the straps rubbed her armpits, but we discovered Groundbird Gear, and a custom chafe-free pack should be reaching us this week. I believe the extra cost will prove a worthy investment, hands down. We are currently focusing on the even more challenging training of working on socialization! Sojourner is a kindred spirit for me in many ways, not least being that she struggles with anxiety and the mixed-blessing of high sensitivity. She is incredibly intelligent, agile, loving, and beautiful, and finally I think we have hit upon the right formula for better managing her reactivity. Of course, much as I've had to do in previous years myself while struggling with agoraphobia, part of what is required is desensitization, so we are practicing social skills.
Seems a bit ironic to have to better socialize ourselves to go backpacking in such sylvan mountains, but for all its wilderness appeal there are frequently social aspects to journeying along the Appalachian Trail - especially in recent years. In fact, this year the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has launched a new but voluntary registration system to prevent overcrowding and resource harm from the increased usage. Here and here are statistics on numbers of AT hikers. The ATC also has helpful guidelines for those hiking with dogs. |
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