It's snowing in them thar hills

It's 4 weeks until Digby and I start walking.

I am reading through the internet trail journals of those who have just started on the trail battling the snow and the rain in Georgia. The heaviest snowfalls in Georgia ever. Hikers are freezing in the sub zero sleeping bags, bailing out to stay in towns and wait for the snowstorms to pass. Down jackets are sold out in the towns near the trail. One group orders snow shoes with cleats to be shipped to Franklin, the town they are holed up in, waiting for the weather to improve. They can't hitch a ride back to the trail because the highway crossing the trail is closed. They plan to get a ride as far as they can, then clip on the snowshoes and start walking.

Meanwhile, we sit in tropical Queensland, sweating in high temperatures and high humidity and read about the hiker who has worn all the clothes he has to sleep in, and is still cold. Counting down the days, wondering what extra gear we should be taking - down jackets had not been on the agenda.

How much can the weather improve in 4 weeks? I am glued to the journals and read the latest updates each night. Getting mentally prepared to freeze my bum off.