TravelBlog » OD and CCs Long Walk

OD and CCs Long Walk - Matthew Mooney

My name is Matthew Mooney. I am the proud son of two Appalachian Trail walkers. Pat and Debbie Mooney embarked on this great journey in April 2007. An ankle injury pulled them off early, but they are still plugging away when they have time. It is my duty to keep them in touch with family, friends, and all curious sorts. Added to this journal will be the many resulting tales. Take your time sorting through the journals of this adventuring couple willing to forge a trail many only dream of. Please submit your thoughts and encouragement; they will be passed on. Please subscribe to this blog to be emailed when a new journal entry is posted. Also, leaving a comment will allow all who visit the page to see the entry. Leaving a message only sends me your message, no one else will be able to see it. Enjoy!

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Joined on: March 8th 2007
Last Login: June 1st 2008

Blog Entries: 155
Photos: 480

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Blogs & Travel Journals

by OD-and-CCs-Long-Walk, order by Date newest first.

By OD and CCs Long Walk
May 23rd 2008

May 14: Double Spring Gap Shelter to Icewater Spring Shelter via Clingman’s Dome, highest point of the AT

North America » United States » North Carolina

Well the night went well, no rain just a constant medium breeze. There were two young men who wanted to get up and out of the shelter by 4AM so they could see the sunrise from Clingman’s Dome. Both were still in the shelter sleeping soundly when we got up at 7AM. The one with the watch couldn't hear the alarm with his hand down inside his sleeping bag! We had a continuation of the previous evenings levity as everyone made breakfast, we all took group photos on at least five different cameras. We were lucky to clear the shelter [View Full Entry]

By OD and CCs Long Walk
May 23rd 2008

May 16: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter to Davenport Gap out of GSMNP to Standing Bear Farm Hostel, Hartford,TN

North America » United States » Tennessee

Another night of wind and rain, but again as the night before some kind soul had hiked a tarp into the shelter. This was used to enclose the front of the shelter keeping it quite livable. There was a pair of small resident rodents on patrol, but did little damage to anything. They did however go out into the rain, climb the bear cable, and scout the food bag that hung there (someone else’s food). Then proceed to chew through and sample each and every food item within. These hikers were not amused to say the least. The rain seemed [View Full Entry]

By OD and CCs Long Walk
May 23rd 2008

May 18: Roaring Fork Shelter to Hot Springs, NC

North America » United States » North Carolina

The night passed with only minor interruptions, wood rat chewing on the shelter and a howling dog in the distance. I was up by 6:30AM working on breakfast and hot beverages. We had eaten, packed, and were on the trail by 8:05AM. The plan for today was an ambitious one, 18.8 miles to Hot Springs! What had started out as a four day stroll has turned into a two day hump buster. The weather was turning bad, barometer was dropping like a stone, wind was up, and the sky was clouding up quickly. The first part of the day was [View Full Entry]

By OD and CCs Long Walk
May 23rd 2008

May 17: Standing Bear Farm Hostel to Roaring Fork Shelter

North America » United States » Tennessee

Sleep of babies is the best way to describe last night. Warm room and thick blankets pulled up around your neck and the babble of a brook that just happens to run beneath your bed, almost heaven. I woke early and finished out some of my blog and fired it off through cyberspace to Matt. Then it was make up a breakfast that was other than oatmeal, "HotPockets" from the hostel store, hot coffee for me and cappuccino for CC. We were packed and on the trail by 9:20 AM, a bit later than I wanted but not bad for [View Full Entry]

By OD and CCs Long Walk
May 22nd 2008

May 13: Derrick Knob Shelter to Double Spring Gap Shelter. GSMNP

North America » United States » North Carolina

37 degrees was the low for the night, the sky stayed clear and the wind dropped, sleeping was good. The sun was warming us nicely as we ate breakfast. More good conversation was made. Today will be a short day, just 7.2 miles. We lounged around talking with Phexen making it out of the shelter around 10AM. The day was warming quickly and CC felt it on every hill. Most of the day was spent climbing as the park portion of the trail climbs towards Clingman’s Dome then drops towards the Pigeon River and I40. We made quite good time [View Full Entry]

By OD and CCs Long Walk
May 22nd 2008

May 12: Mollies Ridge Shelter to Derrick Knob Shelter, Great Smoky Mountain National Park

North America » United States » North Carolina

Wind and rain pelted the shelter all night. Trees were snapping and falling in the forest around us all night long. No nocturnal creatures came to visit us while we slept. The temperature dropped in to the mid 30s, but we were comfortable enough. Cloaked in a thick blanket of fog, wind blew though the underbrush and roared as if we were camped on the ocean shore. One tree we had worried would fall over last evening was now standing straight, tall and proud. I slid out of the bag and rustled up breakfast for CC and I. She was [View Full Entry]

By OD and CCs Long Walk
May 22nd 2008

May 11: Fontana Dam Village to Mollies Ridge Shelter. First day in "The Great Smoky Mountains National Park"

North America » United States » North Carolina

Rest is wonderful. Half a day off with a nice room and a soft bed without the wind and rain sharing your bed. There was a very bad storm move through the area about 3AM this morning and the mountains were still clothed in mist and fog when we got up at 7:30AM. We had oatmeal for breakfast then packed away the last of our gear. When we went to the lobby to checkout five other hikers were all there waiting on the shuttle van. Before we finished our paperwork the van arrived to cart us all to the trailhead. [View Full Entry]

By OD and CCs Long Walk
May 19th 2008

Hot Springs, NC to Hemlock Hollow Farm, Greenville, TN

North America » United States » North Carolina

Today will be our last day on the trail this year! It is a happy day and a sad one all at the same time. We are glad to be done with the southern portion of the trail, but sad to be leaving the trail and the friends we have made this year. Both of us will go through "Trail Withdrawls" for a couple of weeks. The body will wake up and wonder where the pack is and why we aren't walking by 9AM. We will be going somewhere and see mountains out the window and yearn to be walking [View Full Entry]

By OD and CCs Long Walk
May 12th 2008

May 6 and 7th: NOC Zero Mile Days

North America » United States » North Carolina

Well no walking today. We hung out here at NOC watching whitewater boaters and going over our gear. We have a simple room on a hill near all the facilities. Washed our laundry and did some repair work on our gear. It was a beautiful day in the mid 70s with a light breeze coming down the river valley. Our box did not arrive today so we will wait until 10-11AM tomorrow to see if it makes it in then. If not we will have to wait to go North on Thursday. If the box comes we will head out [View Full Entry]

By OD and CCs Long Walk
May 12th 2008

May 8: NOC to Sassafras Gap Shelter

North America » United States » North Carolina

Well our re-supply box came in today’s mail. After a two and a half day break we were back to the trail. Just before we headed out "Phexen", the young man we met our first night out, caught up to us. He did a quick re-supply in the store and we headed up the mountain toward Fontana Dam, NC. NOC sits at 1,750' so there is a large climb up to the ridges, up to 4,330' at the first shelter. One of the bad things about sitting is the weather has been beautiful for the past few days. Now they [View Full Entry]

TravelBlog » OD and CCs Long Walk

OD and CCs Long Walk | Matthew Mooney | Travel Blog

OD and CCs Long Walk - Matthew Mooney

Blogs & Travel Journals

May 14: Double Spring Gap Shelter to Icewater Spring Shelter via Clingman’s Dome, highest point of the AT

May 16: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter to Davenport Gap out of GSMNP to Standing Bear Farm Hostel, Hartford,TN

May 18: Roaring Fork Shelter to Hot Springs, NC

May 17: Standing Bear Farm Hostel to Roaring Fork Shelter

May 13: Derrick Knob Shelter to Double Spring Gap Shelter. GSMNP

May 12: Mollies Ridge Shelter to Derrick Knob Shelter, Great Smoky Mountain National Park

May 11: Fontana Dam Village to Mollies Ridge Shelter. First day in "The Great Smoky Mountains National Park"

Hot Springs, NC to Hemlock Hollow Farm, Greenville, TN

May 6 and 7th: NOC Zero Mile Days

May 8: NOC to Sassafras Gap Shelter