Care Packages

We know that some of you out there were wanting to send us packages while we were on the trail. Since we are getting back on the trail, you can still do so. We will be doing things the same way as described before. If you are able to get a package out by Monday, we will be in Hot Springs, NC around Monday, May 7. You can use the same address listed before:
Colton and Ashley Akers
C/O Bluff Mountain Outfitters
PO Box 114
Hot Springs, NC 28743
ETA May 7, 2012

If you are not able to send out something by Monday, you can send something before Saturday, May 5. This is the address you can use:
Colton and Ashley Akers
C/O Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel and Outfitters
151 River Rd.
Erwin, TN 37650
ETA May 13, 2012

If you have already sent a package to Hot Springs, we will still be recieving it. Again, we are sorry for all the confusion. We will see you on the other side of the Smokies! .

We take it back :)

Being home the last couple days has made us realize a few things.  We know we can't mentally finish a "thru hike", we are still going to section hike, but quitting 2 weeks into it was too soon.  We are going back out (I know..make a decision haha).  Our goal is, at the least, Damascus, VA and at the most, half way (Harpers Ferry)!  I really hope we might be able to catch back up with our friends and we are sorry that we put everyone through this! Hope the second time is a charm :)  

While we were in Franklin, NC we needed to go to an outfitter in town so Aquaman could get new shoes! (those wal mart ones created WAY too many blisters!)  Well, we step out of the hotel and a little german shepherd puppy ran across the road, darting in front of cars and jumps in my arms! People made jokes that the dog knew I worked in a dog rescue and could help him! We pet it and walked away and the dog kept following us. It was only 4 months old, so I immediately ruled out taking it with us on the trail.  So we have no leash, no rope on us and have no idea what to do with a dog that won't go away! It stayed next to us for the most part but then suddenly jumps out in the street and ALMOST gets hit by a car!  Ryan, the other hiker with us, decided he would just carry it up the hill to the outfitter! They were so nice, they took it to the humane society for us! :) If they werent I was considering calling my boss and having her come rescue it :) Hope it found a good home!  I also forgot to mention how we got a ride into Franklin!  A previous thru hiker named Gingersnap brought us in, with brownies and bananas!

We had our first balds, which are mountains with no trees on top. Siler bald was okay, but Wayah bald was beautiful! 360 degree views! We could see a few of the mountains that we had already climbed like Albert Mountain and Standing Indian Mountain! They looked so huge, made us feel really great about what we had accomplished! You could also see Clingmans Dome off in the distance!

One morning we woke up and got ready really quickly, we were on the trail by 7:45 AM! We knew our friends were ahead of us, but we weren't sure how close! We walked about 5 miles before we saw our first shelter, Cold Spring Shelter. I started looking through the logbook and noticed that our friends had stayed there the night before! We got so excited, especially when we noticed that Snackasaurus and Sassafras were there 20 minutes before us! It was a rainy day, so not many views, so we hiked pretty fast to try to find them.  Turns out they stopped at a shelter to eat lunch and we passed them!! We got down into the Nantahala Outdoor Center and found the rest of our friends. We stayed in Bryson City with them at the Ridge Top Hotel. We had pizza and sat around and talked for a while! It was a nice night. Then ate breakfast at the NOC and found the rest of our friends! It was such a nice reunion--so glad to be back with them!  The hike out of the NOC was brutal! it was 6.5 miles up, up, up! When we finally got to the top, it was FREEZING! We stopped at Sassafras Gap Shelter because we found out it was going to snow that night..it was our first shelter sleep! it was nice, we had Sassafras' birthday party there that night, drank wine and had a great time! The next morning there was a little snow and sleet on the ground and as we hiked higher up we saw ice growing out of the ground!   We hiked on into Fontana Dam, where we decided to stop hiking. Now we have changed our minds and will be out again this weekend! :)  See you all on the trail!

In case anyone is interested in reading some of our other friends blogs, here are their links:

Jiffy Pop-   www.dutch-man-walking.blogspot.com
King of the Hill (originally...That Guy)-  www.atthruhikeattempt.wordpress.com
Dudditz and Lakota-  www.trailjournals.com/dudditz2012
Hunny Bunny and Duckie- go to trailjournals.com and type in the search - Duckie and Hunny Bunny
Sex Panther- go to trailjournals and type in the search - Sex Panther -- this one is in Danish :)

Done but not forever

Hello followers! We are very sorry to announce that we felt it was best to leave the trail.  We met A LOT of wonderful people and had an amazing time! We came to the conclusion that we want to walk the entire length of the appalachian trail, but not all in one season. Instead of thru hiking, we will be section hiking. Walking the miles became more of a job than fun. I guess 16 days of walking with only one day off could do that to a person.  We hope you all will still follow our section hike.  See you at Trail Days friends and keep your eyes open for some "Trail Magic"!

13 to go!

                                                              NC/GA state line

                                                      View from Standing Indian Mountain

                                                   Drying our clothes in the hotel room

We had to take a zero day in Franklin, NC!  It rained for 18 hours straight tuesday night into Wednesday, so we really needed to dry out our gear! In our hotel room we strung some rope around and are using it as a clothesline. It looks so funny! :) The weather is supposed to be a little better this week, rain saturday but that should be it. When we left Hiawassee, it was a little hard to adjust to being back in the woods. My water bladder also broke right before we got on the shuttle, so I was a little disappointed. We crossed the NC border, 13 states to go. We also broke 100 miles yesterday, right on top of Albert Mtn. That was straight up, climbing rocks, while it was raining! Crazy! Our next stop should be at the NOC-Nantahala Outdoor Center, not sure if we will be able to make a blog update there or not so don't worry if we don't :).

1 week down!

From now on, Colton will be referred to as Aquaman (the first night we had a discussion about professions..colton scuba dives so why not named him aquaman.)  and I will be referred to as Tricks. (I broke out my hula hoop one night and showed everyone what I can do :) )Things have been going so great! We have met so many amazing people on our journey so far! We have been hiking with a pretty large group, though some of them have broken away from us already.  Piper was our first hiker, Megan and Awesome Possum, Snackasaurus Rex, Sassafrass, Sex Panther, Jiffy Pop, That Guy, Hot Wheels, Honey Bunny, Duckie, Why Not, Froggie Pete, Crooked Sticks, and High Gear.  I'm sure I have missed a few! Colton already had to buy a new pair of shoes, his first pair blew out on him going up Rocky Mountain the other day! Tater, a former thru hiker gave us a ride into town. Luckily when we got into Hiawassee, a former thru hiker named Tick Tock gave us a ride to a wal mart so he could get a new pair!  Colton has only had a little knee pain and a tiny blister, so far I'm doing amazing...just a tad sore.  When we leave today, we should be crossing into North Carolina, so we get to cross one state off of our list! :) We have had a lot of trail magic so far, I hope we arent getting spoiled! On our climb down into Unicoi Gap, Solo, a former thru hiker, was waiting in the parking lot with beers, drinks, and snacks! Before we climbed Tray Mountain, the B Team was waiting at the road crossing with pancakes, sausage, fruit, and coffee! :) People out here are so nice. We have not seen any bears or deer yet, just a bird and a squirrel. Had a lot of amazing views with so many more to come! No rain yet, but i here that might end today..had to happen sometime!   Well, until next time! :) We love and miss you all!  If you want to send us a package,  Send to:

Colton and Ashley Akers
C/O Bluff Mountain Outfitters
PO Box 114
Hot Springs, NC  28743

Hold For AT Hiker
ETA April 31-May 2

Mail out at least a week before our ETA. We like candy, snacks, and easy dinners.  Anything that won't crush too bad in our packs! Ask our parents if you don't know what to send :)

Left to Right:  Sassafrass, Snackasaurus Rex, Honey Bunny, Duckie, Tricks, Aquaman, Hot Wheels

Top of Blood Mountain

View from Rocky Mountain

Gooch Mountain Shelter

Coltons repaired shoe

Approach Trail Stairs

We officially started our hike today. We only hiked the first 1.5 miles of the approach trail, but we did it with our families. The 1.5 mile hike is very decieving...604 steps! We did carry our fully loaded packs though. Tomorrow we will leave off where we finished today. Here's a few pics of what we experienced today.

Amicalola Falls are the highest east of the Mississippi River.

We will be heading out in the morning. Look forward to hearing from us soon. It could be up to a week and a half. Either way we'll be walking in the woods. See ya soon!

And we're off!!

We are sitting in the hotel room in Tennessee right now! We leave in the morning to drive to Georgia and start the trail on Monday! :) We will miss all of you very much.  Keep watching...the fun is only about the begin!    As Marc would say....Poof...we're gone :)