August blew in like a lion . . . I asked the Turtle and Navigator if they might be able to end their adventure one day early. It was only something I asked them to think about. We talked about this possibility before they left, so it did not come as a great surprise.
I thought that they would just cut a day off their hike; however, keeping true to form they have chosen to push themselves harder to work in 20 miles over 10 days. August has had some delightful moments including the guys entering into an ice cream eating contest. Dale was the clear winner on this one, eating a half gallon of ice cream in less than an hour. Ben completed the competition, but took a little longer. They guys also were met by a Keith, Dale’s life long friend. Keith was their chauffer and tour guide to Gettysburg.
The good times were combined with a few scary moments in August . . .
Port Clinton - Turtle and Navigator called after arriving at their last ‘port-o-call’ or overnight in a ‘hotel’ on August 5. The term hotel should be used loosely . . . indoor accommodations maybe, not that’s not it . . . night with electricity is probably the most appropriate.
Their arrival to the city was one day earlier than expected. They called in the early evening, after showering, but before eating dinner. Both Dale and Ben’s voices were weary and weak. This was the first time that sounded this way.
The Port Clinton hotel experience was less than relaxing . . . to paraphrase Ben this hotel is slightly better than their worst experience, because there wasn’t a burned out bar in front of the hotel and the shower did not have holes to the outside of the building. Dale’s funniest comment had to do with the sleeping arrangements . . . .the hotel was located above a bar and restaurant with two bathrooms, one at each end of the hall, and beds only in the rooms. The bed was a double bed with a dip. The dip was across the center of the bed where your backside normally hits, so the head and the foot of the bed were slightly higher. It was not a very restful night.
Eckville Shelter – Navigator called around 6:30 p.m. to let me know that they were having yet another long day, 23 miles. He said that the terrain was rocky. On one climb he heard Turtle holler . . . this was somewhat disconcerting because a fall could have really been dangerous . . . it turned out that Turtle lost his footing and only slipped/fell a short distance. Navigator cut the call short because a storm was rolling in so I do not have any more details on the fall. Here’s hoping that Turtle did not hurt himself.
At this point the guys say that they will finish on August 9. Please continue to keep them in your prayers . . . the next few days are going to be the hardest. According to other hiker accounts the last 20 miles on Saturday are the most memorable part of the Pennsylvania trail and not because they are scenic qualities, because they are rocky and hard to climb.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Rausch Gap to 501
Hi everyone. Julie here again. Mom's been a bit busy lately, what with going to New Orleans for the ArenaBowl last weekend (Go SaberCats! If the Soul had kept the ball on the field for the last 17 seconds of the game, they wouldn't have had a prayer.) and piecing the house back together now that the bedrooms have been carpeted (Let's just say that by the time this is all said and done, Goodwill isn't going to know what hit them).
Mom has been talking to the boys on a daily basis, however, and I'm sure she'll update soon with some of that information in order to fill in the gaps.
For today, I got to talk to the boys, and they were exceptionally chatty, so I've got lots to share!
This morning, they left Rausch Gap Shelter at about 7:30 AM. Turtle estimated the temperature to be about 70 degrees, but he said that, due to the humidity, after only about 20 minutes, his clothes were soaked with sweat. This was in response to my asking whether they'll choose to take the hike this late in the summer next year. Usually they hike in late May and early June, but because Navigator had to take a summer class, they had to postpone things this year. Turtle's response was, "Not if we can help it." He noted that when the sun does come out, things heat up pretty quickly.
Turtle did say, however, that he felt as if he was in better physical shape this year than in previous years. I guess that that gym membership paid off! (I hear that he's a monster on the elliptical machine. Not so much on the treadmill, after that one time that he fell off... :) Despite all that, however, he did tell me that they're both losing a little bit of weight. The waist straps on their packs are being adjusted accordingly.
Besides getting skinnier, the boys are also getting hairier. Neither shaves during their yearly hikes, so their beards are usually a sight to behold. Sometimes Navigator actually keeps a goatee. Turtle usually shaves his as soon as possible. I think it might be because it's brown near his face but gray on the ends, although he insists that it's not actually gray. It's just that the ends stick out from under the brim of his hat and get bleached by the sun.
Sounds like some good old-fashioned BS to me. :P
I commented on their good cell reception. It seems that during this year's hike, they've passed through areas with a higher population; therefore cell reception is better. Turtle mentioned that they're also at a higher elevation, so that helps as well. In fact, for those of you keeping track, they called today during their lunch break from a ridge on Blue Mountain, a little bit east of Swatara Gap. Unfortunately, though, they weren't enjoying a spectacular view since they were surrounded by trees. And so it goes...
Foot update: Things are about the same. Navigator's blisters, earned early due to his boots being too big, are healing. Even breaking in the new boots we sent him seems to feel better than the old ones. Turtle has been putting duct tape on his hot spots and has found that his boots, new this year, don't breathe quite as well as he'd like. As a result, his feet are soaked with sweat, and when he removes the tape, lately he's been taking off some skin with it. He doesn't have any blisters in the usual places, but Navigator spied one on Turtle's toe this morning. I think that this is Turtle's first of the year- a much better record than in the past!
It's been interesting to note how the character of each year's hike differs from previous years, usually due to the people that the boys meet on the trail. Through-hikers (those that complete the trail in one continuous stretch, unlike our boys who are called section hikers) usually do one of three things. They either hike south to north, north to south, or they hike south to north (when it's cooler in the south), hit the halfway point, and travel via an alternate mode of transportation to Maine where they hike from Mt. Katahdin south, back to the halfway point (before it gets too cold in the north). The boys, being section hikers, just pick up each year where they left off the previous year, so, depending on where they are and the time of year, they sometimes meet with many other hikers and usually meet some pretty interesting people along the way. This year, according to Navigator, they seem to be behind the crowd, so they haven't run into as many people. As a result, they had the shelter to themselves last night, and Navigator got to be the sole audience member for Turtle's snoring. Their hike concludes this weekend, and I imagine that Navigator is pretty excited about sleeping in his own room again- especially without the background noise!
Tonight, they're either headed to the 501 shelter (17 total miles for today) or a campground about 5 miles past it. They're going to try to finish a day earlier than planned, which means some really high-mileage days all the way to the end. As for today, the 22 total miles wasn't a promise. They'll get to 501 and see how they feel. They'd completed two significant climbs before lunch, one of which Turtle classified as a real "lung buster."
Mom has been talking to the boys on a daily basis, however, and I'm sure she'll update soon with some of that information in order to fill in the gaps.
For today, I got to talk to the boys, and they were exceptionally chatty, so I've got lots to share!
This morning, they left Rausch Gap Shelter at about 7:30 AM. Turtle estimated the temperature to be about 70 degrees, but he said that, due to the humidity, after only about 20 minutes, his clothes were soaked with sweat. This was in response to my asking whether they'll choose to take the hike this late in the summer next year. Usually they hike in late May and early June, but because Navigator had to take a summer class, they had to postpone things this year. Turtle's response was, "Not if we can help it." He noted that when the sun does come out, things heat up pretty quickly.
Turtle did say, however, that he felt as if he was in better physical shape this year than in previous years. I guess that that gym membership paid off! (I hear that he's a monster on the elliptical machine. Not so much on the treadmill, after that one time that he fell off... :) Despite all that, however, he did tell me that they're both losing a little bit of weight. The waist straps on their packs are being adjusted accordingly.
Besides getting skinnier, the boys are also getting hairier. Neither shaves during their yearly hikes, so their beards are usually a sight to behold. Sometimes Navigator actually keeps a goatee. Turtle usually shaves his as soon as possible. I think it might be because it's brown near his face but gray on the ends, although he insists that it's not actually gray. It's just that the ends stick out from under the brim of his hat and get bleached by the sun.
Sounds like some good old-fashioned BS to me. :P
I commented on their good cell reception. It seems that during this year's hike, they've passed through areas with a higher population; therefore cell reception is better. Turtle mentioned that they're also at a higher elevation, so that helps as well. In fact, for those of you keeping track, they called today during their lunch break from a ridge on Blue Mountain, a little bit east of Swatara Gap. Unfortunately, though, they weren't enjoying a spectacular view since they were surrounded by trees. And so it goes...
Foot update: Things are about the same. Navigator's blisters, earned early due to his boots being too big, are healing. Even breaking in the new boots we sent him seems to feel better than the old ones. Turtle has been putting duct tape on his hot spots and has found that his boots, new this year, don't breathe quite as well as he'd like. As a result, his feet are soaked with sweat, and when he removes the tape, lately he's been taking off some skin with it. He doesn't have any blisters in the usual places, but Navigator spied one on Turtle's toe this morning. I think that this is Turtle's first of the year- a much better record than in the past!
It's been interesting to note how the character of each year's hike differs from previous years, usually due to the people that the boys meet on the trail. Through-hikers (those that complete the trail in one continuous stretch, unlike our boys who are called section hikers) usually do one of three things. They either hike south to north, north to south, or they hike south to north (when it's cooler in the south), hit the halfway point, and travel via an alternate mode of transportation to Maine where they hike from Mt. Katahdin south, back to the halfway point (before it gets too cold in the north). The boys, being section hikers, just pick up each year where they left off the previous year, so, depending on where they are and the time of year, they sometimes meet with many other hikers and usually meet some pretty interesting people along the way. This year, according to Navigator, they seem to be behind the crowd, so they haven't run into as many people. As a result, they had the shelter to themselves last night, and Navigator got to be the sole audience member for Turtle's snoring. Their hike concludes this weekend, and I imagine that Navigator is pretty excited about sleeping in his own room again- especially without the background noise!
Tonight, they're either headed to the 501 shelter (17 total miles for today) or a campground about 5 miles past it. They're going to try to finish a day earlier than planned, which means some really high-mileage days all the way to the end. As for today, the 22 total miles wasn't a promise. They'll get to 501 and see how they feel. They'd completed two significant climbs before lunch, one of which Turtle classified as a real "lung buster."
Sunday, July 27, 2008
July 27: Starting from Devil's Racecourse
Hi there! It's Julie again, signed in as Mom. I'm incognito...
Got a call from the boys at about 8:30 this morning. Ben (Navigator) sounded rested and happy, probably because, according to him, they were on a rocky outcrop overlooking Pennsylvania! Beautiful views are good for the soul, especially because the Appalachian Trail is largely wooded, even on the tops of mountains, and expansive views can sometimes be difficult to come by. (Can we say that sometimes it's difficult to see the forest for the trees!?) :)
Yesterday was a 20-mile hiking day, and today will be approximately 18 miles, so they couldn't talk for long, but I did get a couple of updates.
Bear update: No more bear sightings recently.
Foot update: Ben's feet seem to be healing nicely. No mention of Dad's feet, so, they're either fine, or Ben doesn't care... :P
When asked if they had any good stories or met any interesting people, Ben said that they'd been hiking through a lot of areas where the Civil War had been fought and that yesterday, they (hiking northward) passed some southbound hikers wearing Confederate uniforms. The boys didn't stop to talk to the "soldiers," so they don't know the whole story, but I'm hoping that they were heading for a reenactment and not modeling REI's latest hiking-wear. While wool probably does a fine job wicking moisture away from your skin, I'm not sure it's all that breathable. Besides, those muskets can get heavy...
Got a call from the boys at about 8:30 this morning. Ben (Navigator) sounded rested and happy, probably because, according to him, they were on a rocky outcrop overlooking Pennsylvania! Beautiful views are good for the soul, especially because the Appalachian Trail is largely wooded, even on the tops of mountains, and expansive views can sometimes be difficult to come by. (Can we say that sometimes it's difficult to see the forest for the trees!?) :)
Yesterday was a 20-mile hiking day, and today will be approximately 18 miles, so they couldn't talk for long, but I did get a couple of updates.
Bear update: No more bear sightings recently.
Foot update: Ben's feet seem to be healing nicely. No mention of Dad's feet, so, they're either fine, or Ben doesn't care... :P
When asked if they had any good stories or met any interesting people, Ben said that they'd been hiking through a lot of areas where the Civil War had been fought and that yesterday, they (hiking northward) passed some southbound hikers wearing Confederate uniforms. The boys didn't stop to talk to the "soldiers," so they don't know the whole story, but I'm hoping that they were heading for a reenactment and not modeling REI's latest hiking-wear. While wool probably does a fine job wicking moisture away from your skin, I'm not sure it's all that breathable. Besides, those muskets can get heavy...
Friday, July 25, 2008
Pictures!
Hi guys- this is Julie.
When the boys take long hikes like this, they can't carry all of their food, so Mom periodically sends boxes of food and supplies to pre-arranged post offices for them to pick up. This also gives the boys a chance to send home anything that they might not be using- including dirty laundry! The idea is that the clothes can be washed and sent back to them with the next batch of food.
This year, I somehow earned the dubious honor of opening what I like to call the box o' stank. The good part, though, (besides the fact that the clothes are now clean) is that they also sent the data card for their digital camera. Since there were over 40 pictures, I decided not to attach them directly to the blog. Instead, I uploaded them to the Kodak Gallery site. Click on the link below to view the pictures:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=19h2vpy2.3d0rn9z6&x=0&y=4gn2jh&localeid=en_US
And please let me know if, for some reason, you're unable to view the pictures. I'll try to find another way to post them if I need to.
Sorry that there aren't any updates about bears or weather or sore feet. I haven't personally talked to the boys in several days. I'm just on temporary picture duty...
When the boys take long hikes like this, they can't carry all of their food, so Mom periodically sends boxes of food and supplies to pre-arranged post offices for them to pick up. This also gives the boys a chance to send home anything that they might not be using- including dirty laundry! The idea is that the clothes can be washed and sent back to them with the next batch of food.
This year, I somehow earned the dubious honor of opening what I like to call the box o' stank. The good part, though, (besides the fact that the clothes are now clean) is that they also sent the data card for their digital camera. Since there were over 40 pictures, I decided not to attach them directly to the blog. Instead, I uploaded them to the Kodak Gallery site. Click on the link below to view the pictures:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=19h2vpy2.3d0rn9z6&x=0&y=4gn2jh&localeid=en_US
And please let me know if, for some reason, you're unable to view the pictures. I'll try to find another way to post them if I need to.
Sorry that there aren't any updates about bears or weather or sore feet. I haven't personally talked to the boys in several days. I'm just on temporary picture duty...
July 23 – Starting from David Lesser
Motivation is knowing you are going to eat real food, get a shower and sleep in a bed . . . that’s what drives two very tired hikers to go 8.8 miles by lunch time!
The guys arrived in Harpers Ferry, WV today! The first thing they did was get some lunch at a pizza place, then it was off to the post office and to check in to the hotel. They got showers, had a nice dinner and were back at the hotel before dark! It was a good day!
8.8 miles today – 160.7 miles completed
The guys arrived in Harpers Ferry, WV today! The first thing they did was get some lunch at a pizza place, then it was off to the post office and to check in to the hotel. They got showers, had a nice dinner and were back at the hotel before dark! It was a good day!
8.8 miles today – 160.7 miles completed
July 22 – Starting from Same Moore
As usual the hiking day started around 7:30 a.m. The rain had stopped so things were looking up . . . about 9:00 it started to sprinkle.
About mid morning they reached the Bears Den Hostel. http://www.bearsdencenter.org/ The Hostel was terrific! They were able to get a cold drink and sit down and rest.
By 11:00 they were back on the trail and just after that it started to down pour. It looks as if they are going to have another ‘just add water’ type of day!
Sidebar: Much of the food they carry is freeze dried. For those of us who are old enough to remember astronauts landing on the moon and Tang® it is all about adding water to powder to make something ‘good’ to eat/drink. Freeze dried food has come a long way since the 1960s and from what I hear some of the food is pretty good. The consensus has been powered eggs still taste bad unless you add a great deal of flavoring, e.g., ketchup or hot sauce.‘Just add water’ hiking is much the same as freeze dried food . . . one or two meals/hikes in the rain aren’t too bad, but experiencing it day after day is like eating powdered eggs! Yuk!
They hiked on to Blackburn Trail Center. This too was supposed to be a staffed shelter . . . the guys were less than impressed. They decided that it was best to stick with their plans and hike to the David Lesser Shelter.
Notable events for the day . . .
At some point Dale realized his glasses fell out of his pocket. He knew he needed to go back and try to find them (Hiking back is not like writing with pencil and erasing it’s more like writing with permanent marker and making a mistake). Ben, being the dutiful son, offered to watch the packs while Dale hiked back to find his glasses. Luckily Dale only had to go back about a half mile. There was some good natured ribbing going on by the time that they called me!
After a hard day at work everyone likes to come home and relax a little, right? Well, the same is true for the guys . . . but there was no rest when they got to the shelter. The water source, a spring, was located a half mile DOWNHILL from the shelter. You might think to yourself . . . how bad could it be; they already hiked 14 miles what’s another .5? Ben reminded me that the water bottles are pretty light walking down, but then you have to carry them back uphill full! I said, “Oh! Sorry about that,” as I went to the kitchen and poured myself a class of water . . . really, I am grateful to be writing this from home!
NEW FLASH! Today marked another milestone . . . they crossed from Virginia to West Virginia! Another state complete!!!!!
14.1 miles today – 151.9 miles completed
About mid morning they reached the Bears Den Hostel. http://www.bearsdencenter.org/ The Hostel was terrific! They were able to get a cold drink and sit down and rest.
By 11:00 they were back on the trail and just after that it started to down pour. It looks as if they are going to have another ‘just add water’ type of day!
Sidebar: Much of the food they carry is freeze dried. For those of us who are old enough to remember astronauts landing on the moon and Tang® it is all about adding water to powder to make something ‘good’ to eat/drink. Freeze dried food has come a long way since the 1960s and from what I hear some of the food is pretty good. The consensus has been powered eggs still taste bad unless you add a great deal of flavoring, e.g., ketchup or hot sauce.‘Just add water’ hiking is much the same as freeze dried food . . . one or two meals/hikes in the rain aren’t too bad, but experiencing it day after day is like eating powdered eggs! Yuk!
They hiked on to Blackburn Trail Center. This too was supposed to be a staffed shelter . . . the guys were less than impressed. They decided that it was best to stick with their plans and hike to the David Lesser Shelter.
Notable events for the day . . .
At some point Dale realized his glasses fell out of his pocket. He knew he needed to go back and try to find them (Hiking back is not like writing with pencil and erasing it’s more like writing with permanent marker and making a mistake). Ben, being the dutiful son, offered to watch the packs while Dale hiked back to find his glasses. Luckily Dale only had to go back about a half mile. There was some good natured ribbing going on by the time that they called me!
After a hard day at work everyone likes to come home and relax a little, right? Well, the same is true for the guys . . . but there was no rest when they got to the shelter. The water source, a spring, was located a half mile DOWNHILL from the shelter. You might think to yourself . . . how bad could it be; they already hiked 14 miles what’s another .5? Ben reminded me that the water bottles are pretty light walking down, but then you have to carry them back uphill full! I said, “Oh! Sorry about that,” as I went to the kitchen and poured myself a class of water . . . really, I am grateful to be writing this from home!
NEW FLASH! Today marked another milestone . . . they crossed from Virginia to West Virginia! Another state complete!!!!!
14.1 miles today – 151.9 miles completed
July 21 – Starting from Dick’s Dome
There are times in our lives when things happen that make us move at a faster pace . . . today was that kind of day for Turtle and Navigator . . . the skies opened and rain poured down. As the rain poured the guys picked up their pace! They covered about nine miles by lunch time! Remember . . . yesterday it took most of the day to hike 9.9 miles!
After lunch they were headed into the part of the trail known as the Roller Coaster. Ben explained that the trail has a series of 10 ascents and descents that would last about the next 13.5 miles. The Hiker’s Companion describes this part of the trail as narrow, viewless and rocky ridges. Now doesn’t that sound like paradise? The reality is . . . trekking poles will save them from falling and twisting their knees and ankles. The poles also are used to drag their tired bodies step by step.
Good news - the stuff they are carrying seems to be staying dry thanks to the pack covers. But you guessed it . . . their clothes and boots are a different story. They wear clothing that should dry quickly if given a chance. After hiking all day with wet stuff on they do their best to hang their clothes at night to let them dry. Hiking socks never dry completely once they get wet. Dale said that his feet were all ‘pruned up’ when he took his boots off. He tried to sleep outside of his sleeping bag for several hours to give his feet time to dry during the night!
OK . . . I have really tried to write this as an informative journal . . . but really . . . aren’t you wondering why they keep doing this????? The only answer I can come up with is never ever give up on your dream, even if it means hiking through some nasty stuff!
15.3 miles today – 137.8 miles completed
After lunch they were headed into the part of the trail known as the Roller Coaster. Ben explained that the trail has a series of 10 ascents and descents that would last about the next 13.5 miles. The Hiker’s Companion describes this part of the trail as narrow, viewless and rocky ridges. Now doesn’t that sound like paradise? The reality is . . . trekking poles will save them from falling and twisting their knees and ankles. The poles also are used to drag their tired bodies step by step.
Good news - the stuff they are carrying seems to be staying dry thanks to the pack covers. But you guessed it . . . their clothes and boots are a different story. They wear clothing that should dry quickly if given a chance. After hiking all day with wet stuff on they do their best to hang their clothes at night to let them dry. Hiking socks never dry completely once they get wet. Dale said that his feet were all ‘pruned up’ when he took his boots off. He tried to sleep outside of his sleeping bag for several hours to give his feet time to dry during the night!
OK . . . I have really tried to write this as an informative journal . . . but really . . . aren’t you wondering why they keep doing this????? The only answer I can come up with is never ever give up on your dream, even if it means hiking through some nasty stuff!
15.3 miles today – 137.8 miles completed
July 20 – Starting from Jim & Molly Denton Shelter
July 19th Bear report: there was another bear sighting . . . luckily it was only one little bear who didn’t mind sharing its space with the guys!
Yesterday was about reaching the goal and they did just that by 6:00 p.m. when they reached the shelter! All 18.6 miles were completed! The heat and the trail made it a hard hiking day. Usually the trail is covered by trees. The natural flora and fauna create a canopy that covers the trail. Even on the days when the sun it bright the trail stays shady. Yesterday was a bit different . . . there were quite a few open areas where the sun beat directly down on the trail. The open trail made the hiking much harder. Both Dale and Ben said they were whipped by the time they reached the shelter. In fact, they had to lie down and rest for a while before they started their evening routine.
The Jim and Molly Denton shelter sleeps eight with an enlarged porch for extra sleepers. Only two other hikers shared this humble abode with the Dale and Ben so there was plenty of room to move around. The Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker’s Companion stated that the shelter had a solar shower . . . however; Mother Nature provided an all natural shower in the form of a rain storm that lasted all night long. Could this be the beginning of another year of ‘just add water’ hiking?
Today the temperatures are cooler, but the humidity is higher. They were grateful that they only had to hike 9.9 miles today. Hmmmmm . . . isn’t it funny how priorities change . . . hiking 9.9. miles in high humidity usually isn’t something that most people would feel grateful for!
9.9 miles today – 122.5 miles completed
Yesterday was about reaching the goal and they did just that by 6:00 p.m. when they reached the shelter! All 18.6 miles were completed! The heat and the trail made it a hard hiking day. Usually the trail is covered by trees. The natural flora and fauna create a canopy that covers the trail. Even on the days when the sun it bright the trail stays shady. Yesterday was a bit different . . . there were quite a few open areas where the sun beat directly down on the trail. The open trail made the hiking much harder. Both Dale and Ben said they were whipped by the time they reached the shelter. In fact, they had to lie down and rest for a while before they started their evening routine.
The Jim and Molly Denton shelter sleeps eight with an enlarged porch for extra sleepers. Only two other hikers shared this humble abode with the Dale and Ben so there was plenty of room to move around. The Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker’s Companion stated that the shelter had a solar shower . . . however; Mother Nature provided an all natural shower in the form of a rain storm that lasted all night long. Could this be the beginning of another year of ‘just add water’ hiking?
Today the temperatures are cooler, but the humidity is higher. They were grateful that they only had to hike 9.9 miles today. Hmmmmm . . . isn’t it funny how priorities change . . . hiking 9.9. miles in high humidity usually isn’t something that most people would feel grateful for!
9.9 miles today – 122.5 miles completed
Sunday, July 20, 2008
July 19 – Gravel Spring Shelter
This morning they called me at 7:45 a.m. and they had already hiked a little over a mile. Dale said that they were standing on a rock point overlooking a cute little town. The scenery this year has been different than in the Smokey Mountains. There are not as many scenic breaks and of course there is the summer haze that covers the mountain views.
Weather report: today the weather is warm, but windy.
Bear report: after only a little over a mile on the trail there have been several bear mounds sited . . . so the answer to the question, does a bear poop in the woods is . . . YES! So cross your fingers and say a prayer that the next bear they run into is also a distant cousin of Baloo!!!!
They expect to hike 18.9 miles today. The map shows that there will be more downhill climbs than they had on their last 18 mile day. Hopefully it will be a good day for hiking!
18.9 miles today – 112.6 miles completed
Weather report: today the weather is warm, but windy.
Bear report: after only a little over a mile on the trail there have been several bear mounds sited . . . so the answer to the question, does a bear poop in the woods is . . . YES! So cross your fingers and say a prayer that the next bear they run into is also a distant cousin of Baloo!!!!
They expect to hike 18.9 miles today. The map shows that there will be more downhill climbs than they had on their last 18 mile day. Hopefully it will be a good day for hiking!
18.9 miles today – 112.6 miles completed
July 18 – Starting from LuRay's Budget Inn
If hotels.com were to rate the Budget Inn it would be off the scale . . . that is there would be zero stars . . . it was a step above a trail shelter because it had running water, but not much to brag about. At least they got off the trail and had a break for a night!
The most notable events of the day were BEAR sightings. The first bear that came into view was a young one. It really did not care that Dale and Ben were hiking. The second BEAR was a big one! Yes, a BIG ONE! The bear was about 20-30 feet in front of the guys when it appeared on the trail. The bear was black with a brown muzzle. Upon entering the trail, the bear looked at them and decided to lead the way . . . maybe it was Baloo’s distant cousin . . . anyway Mr. Black Bear walked in front of them for a while, looking back to see if they were still there, but not really showing much interest. Eventually the bear just got off the trail and that was that! The guys said that they were making noise, but the bear really did not care if they were there.
Ben decided to change to the new boots because they fit better. Breaking them in hasn't been much fun . . . either way; he was going to have sore feet so hopefully he has made the right choice!
The water pump is working . . . everything is rolling along just fine!
14.3 miles today – 93.7 miles complete
The most notable events of the day were BEAR sightings. The first bear that came into view was a young one. It really did not care that Dale and Ben were hiking. The second BEAR was a big one! Yes, a BIG ONE! The bear was about 20-30 feet in front of the guys when it appeared on the trail. The bear was black with a brown muzzle. Upon entering the trail, the bear looked at them and decided to lead the way . . . maybe it was Baloo’s distant cousin . . . anyway Mr. Black Bear walked in front of them for a while, looking back to see if they were still there, but not really showing much interest. Eventually the bear just got off the trail and that was that! The guys said that they were making noise, but the bear really did not care if they were there.
Ben decided to change to the new boots because they fit better. Breaking them in hasn't been much fun . . . either way; he was going to have sore feet so hopefully he has made the right choice!
The water pump is working . . . everything is rolling along just fine!
14.3 miles today – 93.7 miles complete
Saturday, July 19, 2008
July 18 – Starting from Rock Spring Shelter
As always, they got on the trail early. They wanted to make good time so they could reach town at a reasonable hour. Sara and Brian, Dale’s niece and her husband, picked them up at a road crossing about 3:00 p.m. Lots of good things happened today . . . they got a new water filter . . . showers . . . two care packages. . . and real food!
The foot report was pretty good. Dale has taken good care of his feet this year. No blisters!!!! Ben reported that his blisters did not seem to be getting worse, but he did have another little bump come up on is toe. Hopefully the ointment they received in the care package will do the trick!
All of the activities in town made it a longer day than usual. It was well past hiker’s midnight when they got back to the hotel and climbed into bed.
14.1 miles today – 79.4miles complete
The foot report was pretty good. Dale has taken good care of his feet this year. No blisters!!!! Ben reported that his blisters did not seem to be getting worse, but he did have another little bump come up on is toe. Hopefully the ointment they received in the care package will do the trick!
All of the activities in town made it a longer day than usual. It was well past hiker’s midnight when they got back to the hotel and climbed into bed.
14.1 miles today – 79.4miles complete
July 17 – Starting from Pocosin Cabin
Wow . . . this was a good day for a few reasons . . . only 14.1 miles to hike and tomorrow night will bring real food, a shower and packages from home! It was definately a good hiking day. The most notable thing to report was that there were no other hikers on the trail.
However, when they reached Rock Spring shelter they had some company of the winged variety . . . gnats! Yes, they had to share their sleeping space with gnawing critters . . . yuk!!! (When should you re-evaluate your choice to hike . . . when you get blisters, when your water pump breaks or when you are sleeping with bugs . . . apparently those are questions that non-hikers ask . . . real hikers just accept the inevitable and go on! They must be real hikers!!!)
The weather continues to be hot, high 80° range, with high humidity. At night, the temperatures cool off to the low 60s.
14.1 miles today – 65.3 miles completed
However, when they reached Rock Spring shelter they had some company of the winged variety . . . gnats! Yes, they had to share their sleeping space with gnawing critters . . . yuk!!! (When should you re-evaluate your choice to hike . . . when you get blisters, when your water pump breaks or when you are sleeping with bugs . . . apparently those are questions that non-hikers ask . . . real hikers just accept the inevitable and go on! They must be real hikers!!!)
The weather continues to be hot, high 80° range, with high humidity. At night, the temperatures cool off to the low 60s.
14.1 miles today – 65.3 miles completed
After a Hard Day of Hiking
This picture is from several years ago, but it is probably a fairly accurate depiction of how Dale and Ben looked after 18 miles on the trail!
July 16 – Starting from Pinefield Hut
18 miles today! By lunch time they had done three very hard uphill climb in about eight miles. They felt they were making good time, but were already pooped! The temperatures were in the high 80s and the humidity was high. By the time that they reached the cabin in the afternoon they were worn out! It took them about 30 minutes to catch their breath before starting their normal evening routine . . . getting water, eating and relaxing.
FYI - Dale and Ben are very thorough when they plan these hikes. They said the cabin worked well with their itinerary. Dale made the reservations for Pocosin cabin before they left. They didn’t say what they thought they were getting, but it sounded like it was more than they got. By their account the cabin was, “a shelter with a door.” Shall we say that the accommodations were rustic?!?!?!?!?
18 miles today – 51.2 miles completed
FYI - Dale and Ben are very thorough when they plan these hikes. They said the cabin worked well with their itinerary. Dale made the reservations for Pocosin cabin before they left. They didn’t say what they thought they were getting, but it sounded like it was more than they got. By their account the cabin was, “a shelter with a door.” Shall we say that the accommodations were rustic?!?!?!?!?
18 miles today – 51.2 miles completed
July 15 – Starting from Blackrock Hut
The guys called fairly early again today. It seems that they are still going over stuff in their heads . . . for instance, it sure would be better if we had a ________ or a _________. Their requests have been very practical, like ointment for their feet or a replacement for their water pump which broke on the first day out. (Luckily Julie was home and she could go to the store with me to pick out the appropriate water pump!)
I asked Ben about his feet. He thought that the reason he was getting blisters was that his boots were the wrong size. O.K., before you start thinking stuff like, “Really,” “No Kidding” or “Dah” listen to the rest of the story. Ben and I purchased his boots in the spring. The sales person suggested that Ben purchase boots that were a size larger so that his feet would be more comfortable. This is a common train of thought. It is especially easy to accept this suggestion when the boots are new, snug fitting and you are standing still in a shoe store. The reality is that boots that are a size larger are not only longer, but they are wider too. To help Ben, Julie and I took it upon ourselves to go out and purchase new boots for Ben and put them in a care package to arrive at LuRay, their first overnight stop in a hotel. Hopefully the new boots will fit and his foot problems will start getting better.
13.2 miles today – 33.2 miles completed
I asked Ben about his feet. He thought that the reason he was getting blisters was that his boots were the wrong size. O.K., before you start thinking stuff like, “Really,” “No Kidding” or “Dah” listen to the rest of the story. Ben and I purchased his boots in the spring. The sales person suggested that Ben purchase boots that were a size larger so that his feet would be more comfortable. This is a common train of thought. It is especially easy to accept this suggestion when the boots are new, snug fitting and you are standing still in a shoe store. The reality is that boots that are a size larger are not only longer, but they are wider too. To help Ben, Julie and I took it upon ourselves to go out and purchase new boots for Ben and put them in a care package to arrive at LuRay, their first overnight stop in a hotel. Hopefully the new boots will fit and his foot problems will start getting better.
13.2 miles today – 33.2 miles completed
Monday, July 14, 2008
And They're Off
Last week was a whirlwind of activity at our house . . . the guys were very busy packing supplies, preparing and wrapping food and trying to remember all of the essential things for the trip (everything from hot sauce to toilet tissue). On Saturday morning, July 12, we tried to go to Richmond, but alas, the flight was cancelled . Luckily, the Turtle was on top of his game and rerouted us to Norfolk, VA where we rented a car and drove about 200 miles to Waynesboro, VA.
We arrived at Rockfish Gap, located in Shenandoah National Park at the intersection of Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway around 5:30 p.m. The guys completed their permit at the park entrance in preparation of their departure the next morning. Then it was off to the hotel to get things organized. Of course there was time for a nice steak dinner followed by a trip to Wal-Mart for a few last minute purchases.
July 13 – Starting at Rockfish Gap – Appalachian Trail Map
We got up, showered and ate breakfast before 8:00 a.m. Backpacks were checked and rechecked, water bottles were filled with ice and water . . . feet were gingerly inserted snugly into hiking socks and boots. All was well!
Day one started with an uphill climb from the parking area, over a small bridge, along a road for a few yards then up a hill into the woods. The day was relatively short, with only seven (7) miles of hiking to Calf Mountain Shelter. They made it to the shelter around 4:30 p.m.
The shelter sleeps six and boasts two skylights . . . or possibly holes in the roof (OK, maybe there really are skylights???). Turtle and Navigator reported that the shelter was full!
7 miles complete
July 14 – Starting at Calf Mountain
The hiking started at 7:30 a.m. (Navigator typically only sees one 7:30 per day and it usually isn’t the first one! Then again, hiker’s midnight is nightfall and sunrise is around 6:00 a.m.)
The day typically starts out with some type of breakfast, packing up gear and privy time. Today was a clear day with a high of about 82° and a low in the mid 60°s. Today’s hike went well. They traveled 13 miles to Eagles Nest shelter, arriving at around 3:30 p.m.
Foot Report
Dale decided to be proactive this year. On the first day he bandaged the “normal” hot spots with a layer of gauze covered by duct tape. After two days of hiking his feet are doing fine...
Ben on the other hand has never really had problems with his feet, so he didn’t take any aggressive measure . . . today he reported his first blisters! Tomorrow he will be bandaging his feet! Only 26 more days to hike . . . let’s hope he finds something that works!
13 miles today - 20 miles complete
We arrived at Rockfish Gap, located in Shenandoah National Park at the intersection of Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway around 5:30 p.m. The guys completed their permit at the park entrance in preparation of their departure the next morning. Then it was off to the hotel to get things organized. Of course there was time for a nice steak dinner followed by a trip to Wal-Mart for a few last minute purchases.
July 13 – Starting at Rockfish Gap – Appalachian Trail Map
We got up, showered and ate breakfast before 8:00 a.m. Backpacks were checked and rechecked, water bottles were filled with ice and water . . . feet were gingerly inserted snugly into hiking socks and boots. All was well!
Day one started with an uphill climb from the parking area, over a small bridge, along a road for a few yards then up a hill into the woods. The day was relatively short, with only seven (7) miles of hiking to Calf Mountain Shelter. They made it to the shelter around 4:30 p.m.
The shelter sleeps six and boasts two skylights . . . or possibly holes in the roof (OK, maybe there really are skylights???). Turtle and Navigator reported that the shelter was full!
7 miles complete
July 14 – Starting at Calf Mountain
The hiking started at 7:30 a.m. (Navigator typically only sees one 7:30 per day and it usually isn’t the first one! Then again, hiker’s midnight is nightfall and sunrise is around 6:00 a.m.)
The day typically starts out with some type of breakfast, packing up gear and privy time. Today was a clear day with a high of about 82° and a low in the mid 60°s. Today’s hike went well. They traveled 13 miles to Eagles Nest shelter, arriving at around 3:30 p.m.
Foot Report
Dale decided to be proactive this year. On the first day he bandaged the “normal” hot spots with a layer of gauze covered by duct tape. After two days of hiking his feet are doing fine...
Ben on the other hand has never really had problems with his feet, so he didn’t take any aggressive measure . . . today he reported his first blisters! Tomorrow he will be bandaging his feet! Only 26 more days to hike . . . let’s hope he finds something that works!
13 miles today - 20 miles complete
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Hiking schedule
This is the plan that Turtle and Navigator have come up with for our trip. We leave to go up to Virginia on Saturday and then we will start hiking on Sunday. I am going to put the day number and the shelter or town that we plan on stopping at below along with the number of miles we plan on hiking that day. This schedule will probably change but I will leave the updates while we are out up to Terri.
Day 1 - Calf Mountain shelter - 7
Day 2 - Blackrock hut - 13
Day 3 - Pinefield hut - 13.2
Day 4 - Pocosin Cabin - 18
Day 5 - Rock Spring hut - 14.1
Day 6 - Luray (first town) - 14.1
Day 7 - Gravel Spring hut - 14.3
Day 8 - Jim and Molly Denton shelter - 18.6
Day 9 - Dicks Dome shelter - 9.9
Day 10 - Sam Moore shelter - 15.3
Day 11 - David Lesser shelter - 14.1
Day 12 - Harpers Ferry (second town) - 8.8
Day 13 - Rocky Run shelter - 16.1
Day 14 - Devils Racecourse shelter - 20.6
Day 15 - Rocky Mountain shelter - 19.8
Day 16 - Toms Run shelter - 19.2
Day 17 - Alec Kennedy shelter - 19.2
Day 18 - Darlington shelter - 18.2
Day 19 - Duncannon (third town) - 11.3
Day 20 - Zero Day
Day 21 - Peters Mountain shelter - 11.4
Day 22 - Rausch Gap shelter - 17.5
Day 23 - 501 Shelter - 17.4
Day 24 - Eagles Nest shelter - 15.1
Day 25 - Port Clinton (fourth and final town) - 8.6
Day 26 - Eckville Hikers Center - 15.2
Day 27 - Outerbridge shelter - 24.2
Day 28 - Leroy Smith shelter - 16.7
Day 29 - Delaware Water Gap - 20.2
For those reading this we appreciate your thoughts and we will keep Terri advised on how we are doing. Any questions you might have, direct them toward Terri and she will ask us. We will share the stories of our adventure when we get back.
Day 1 - Calf Mountain shelter - 7
Day 2 - Blackrock hut - 13
Day 3 - Pinefield hut - 13.2
Day 4 - Pocosin Cabin - 18
Day 5 - Rock Spring hut - 14.1
Day 6 - Luray (first town) - 14.1
Day 7 - Gravel Spring hut - 14.3
Day 8 - Jim and Molly Denton shelter - 18.6
Day 9 - Dicks Dome shelter - 9.9
Day 10 - Sam Moore shelter - 15.3
Day 11 - David Lesser shelter - 14.1
Day 12 - Harpers Ferry (second town) - 8.8
Day 13 - Rocky Run shelter - 16.1
Day 14 - Devils Racecourse shelter - 20.6
Day 15 - Rocky Mountain shelter - 19.8
Day 16 - Toms Run shelter - 19.2
Day 17 - Alec Kennedy shelter - 19.2
Day 18 - Darlington shelter - 18.2
Day 19 - Duncannon (third town) - 11.3
Day 20 - Zero Day
Day 21 - Peters Mountain shelter - 11.4
Day 22 - Rausch Gap shelter - 17.5
Day 23 - 501 Shelter - 17.4
Day 24 - Eagles Nest shelter - 15.1
Day 25 - Port Clinton (fourth and final town) - 8.6
Day 26 - Eckville Hikers Center - 15.2
Day 27 - Outerbridge shelter - 24.2
Day 28 - Leroy Smith shelter - 16.7
Day 29 - Delaware Water Gap - 20.2
For those reading this we appreciate your thoughts and we will keep Terri advised on how we are doing. Any questions you might have, direct them toward Terri and she will ask us. We will share the stories of our adventure when we get back.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Double Meaning
Some names have two meanings . . . like Navigator's name. He may have earned his name by getting a bit disoriented, but when they hike he takes the lead while Turtle follows!
Looking Good on Day One
This photo was taken day one, year two (May 2005) . . . Navigator (left) and Turtle are looking fresh and ready to go. They learned a lot after the first year so there were significant improvements to start year two like lighter packs, better hiking clothes, new boots and hiking poles.
It Started as a Dream
Once upon a time a man said to his wife of 25 plus years, “Honey, I think I would like to hike the Appalachian Trail.”
Her response was something like, “OK, why not??? Go for it.” After all it sounded harmless in 2004 . . . the man and his son went camping before didn’t they?
For months father and son planned their trip. The adventure began on a Sunday morning in June when the man and his son strapped on their packs, which weighed over 60 pounds each, and took their first steps up the Approach Trail in Georgia. The support staff consisted of Terri, the wife, and Stacy, the daughter that year. As with all good adventures, the support staff took pictures and waved goodbye with thoughts of wonderful hiking scenes dancing like sugarplums in their heads. The father and son adventurers were armed with a cell phone just in case something went wrong. The day before the trip Mom got a second cell phone so that she could stay connected to the hikers day and night.
Less than two hours after bidding the support crew farewell, father and son began to have some doubts about the hike. Things were not adding up. Two very heavy packs + two soaking wet sets of clothes + one steep rocky incline = two extremely challenged hikers who had shadows of doubt passing before their eyes. The hikers were so concerned that they tried to call the Support Crew to see if they could return to the approach trail and pick them up.
Unfortunately the new cell phone was not working properly, so the call from the hikers never got through to the Support Crew. The strong, stubborn hikers were so motivated that they pushed on . . . it was to be the start of a very long journey.
The son/brother earned his name, Navigator, in 2006 when he got a bit disoriented and could not remember what state he was in. The following year the husband/father would earn the name Turtle when he fell, pack side down and could not get up without help. Hence the title of this story is N.A.T. – On the Trail Again (Navigator and Turtle - On the Trail Again).
In the coming months our family will post stories from the past and updates from new adventures. We hope that you will enjoy reading as much as we enjoy sharing these stories with you.
Her response was something like, “OK, why not??? Go for it.” After all it sounded harmless in 2004 . . . the man and his son went camping before didn’t they?
For months father and son planned their trip. The adventure began on a Sunday morning in June when the man and his son strapped on their packs, which weighed over 60 pounds each, and took their first steps up the Approach Trail in Georgia. The support staff consisted of Terri, the wife, and Stacy, the daughter that year. As with all good adventures, the support staff took pictures and waved goodbye with thoughts of wonderful hiking scenes dancing like sugarplums in their heads. The father and son adventurers were armed with a cell phone just in case something went wrong. The day before the trip Mom got a second cell phone so that she could stay connected to the hikers day and night.
Less than two hours after bidding the support crew farewell, father and son began to have some doubts about the hike. Things were not adding up. Two very heavy packs + two soaking wet sets of clothes + one steep rocky incline = two extremely challenged hikers who had shadows of doubt passing before their eyes. The hikers were so concerned that they tried to call the Support Crew to see if they could return to the approach trail and pick them up.
Unfortunately the new cell phone was not working properly, so the call from the hikers never got through to the Support Crew. The strong, stubborn hikers were so motivated that they pushed on . . . it was to be the start of a very long journey.
The son/brother earned his name, Navigator, in 2006 when he got a bit disoriented and could not remember what state he was in. The following year the husband/father would earn the name Turtle when he fell, pack side down and could not get up without help. Hence the title of this story is N.A.T. – On the Trail Again (Navigator and Turtle - On the Trail Again).
In the coming months our family will post stories from the past and updates from new adventures. We hope that you will enjoy reading as much as we enjoy sharing these stories with you.
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