While heavy rains move through the valley and snow falls in the higher elevations I am preparing for my second patrol on the AT.  I plan to cover the same ground that Caleb and I covered last patrol and complete the projects that we couldn't because of the weather and the rescue that we were involved in.  I will leave Newfound Gap tomorrow and cover the trail out to Silers Bald and be back Sunday.  I plan to be flexible with that itenary because of the weather and cold temperatures.  I hope to document the location of some large blown down trees and clear some smaller blowdown off the trail.  Weather permitting I will be able to give the shelters a thorough clean up.

    A comment by Tom on my last post brought up a couple questions I would like to answer here.  Let me quote Tom.

    "Do you think you will eventually become callous or cynical, looking for something of a tax on ignorance?"

    "Will you have a "patrol zone" or cycle through the park? Do rangers drop supplies for you so you do not have to cycle through Gatlinburg? Are you typically on patrol with a partner or solo? Can your radio always reach civilization or are you sometimes dark?"

    Well, here we go!  I do not believe that I will become callous or cynical.  I think that if I were going to feel that way I would have already developed those negative feelings during my experiences on Mt. LeConte.  In my time interacting with people in the Smokies I have not encountered "Stupid".  It is extremely rare for me to encounter "Mean" or "Malicious" people in the Smokies.  On occasion I encounter hikers that are Uneducated or Unprepared.  The Uneducated or Unprepared hiker is and issue we can all address.  By educating and helping better prepare or friends on the trails we will improve their experience and ours.

    My patrol zone is basically the Appalachian Trail through the Smokies.  Right now we have Carl Goodman patrolling the south end from Fontana and Caleb Gray and I patrolling the rest of the trail.  Later in the season I will be the only Ridgerunner and will divide my time up over different sections of the trail.  I will normally go out for 5 days and come in for 2.  I will carry all the supplies I need with me.  I went on patrol with Caleb last weekend to learn from Caleb but we will generally be out solo so we can interact with more hikers and cover more ground.  I always have a radio that I can keep in touch with the Park Service with.  I also have cell phone service in a few select locations.

    I hope to see you on the trail!