Posts Tagged ‘mountains’

Mountains 141.8

March 29th, 2009

Direct from my journal:
9am – 3pm —– 7.7 today / 141.8 total
No rain today, thought there might be when I had my lunch on top of swim bald, but no, it was snow. Snow! Got into sassafras gap shelter a mile later and decided to stay since it would be warmer than tenting. Supposed to be clear tonight, but… Might be good, this way I’ll know if I need to pick up any more warm gear in Fontana. Looking at doing a long day tomorrow, 15mi.
This mountain today was the first one where I’d look up and think I was near the top, but then i’d get there only to realize I had more to go. This must have happened 5 times on the same mountain. Now, I’m familiar with this because that’s how the mountains are in New Hampshire. The amazing thing was that none of the mountains in Georgia were like that, on those when you thought you were close to the top, you were.
Another strange thing I’ve noticed is mountain popping. It’s feignt, like when you have one window down in a car, and goes pop-pop-pop-pupupupupupu. The shelters in NC are a lot nicer than the ones in GA since they have tables, but they don’t sleep as many people.

Reason #2

February 16th, 2009

Mountain Top Mining.

 

As we speak the Appalachians are dramatically changing shape and appearance due to an enthusiastic new mining approach that literally takes the tops right off the mountains.  Besides destroying the scenery of the oldest mountain range in the world, this form of coal mining has great environmental repercussions for plants, animals, and local residents.  And coal isn’t exactly the cleanest form of energy we have available to us.  Since the damage increases daily, I’d rather hike the trail sooner rather than later, as the effects of the mining becomre more noticeable.  

 

You can read and hear more about this kind of mining at NPR.

 

And then take action at iLoveMountains.org