We made it back home this afternoon after getting the last three seats on the flight.
We would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and good wishes during our time on the trail.
Turtle and Navigator
P.S. Stay tuned for continuation for more posts as we get ready for next years adventure!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Round 2: June 21, 2009 – Day 9
Starting from Stratton Pond Shelter
Hiked 10.7 miles
The morning started with a wood pecker banging its head on the back of the shelter what a way to wake up don’t you think.
Overall the terrain for our last day on the trail was mild with fairly small uphill and downhill which also allowed us to make fairly good time. We made it to the road crossing meeting up with Terri, Dick (Dale’s cousin), and Dick’s kids Bridget and Trevor just after 1pm.
We then drove a short way down the road and got some real food at a local diner and then it was on to Dick’s house to pack things up and to get a much needed shower.
Total miles hiked: 360.3
Hiked 10.7 miles
The morning started with a wood pecker banging its head on the back of the shelter what a way to wake up don’t you think.
Overall the terrain for our last day on the trail was mild with fairly small uphill and downhill which also allowed us to make fairly good time. We made it to the road crossing meeting up with Terri, Dick (Dale’s cousin), and Dick’s kids Bridget and Trevor just after 1pm.
We then drove a short way down the road and got some real food at a local diner and then it was on to Dick’s house to pack things up and to get a much needed shower.
Total miles hiked: 360.3
Round 2: June 20, 2009 – Day 8
Starting from Goddard
Hiked 19.3 miles
The night sleeping at Goddard Shelter was somewhat eventful. Along with dealing with heavy rain a raccoon decided to visit the shelter in the early hours of the morning. This created a mad house of people trying to get the raccoon back out of the shelter.
The days hike went well it did not rain but due to the rains the day before the trail was wet and muddy. Towards the end of the day we went over Stratton Mountain which by the time we made it to the top it was full of black flies and light rain.
We got to Stratton Pond Shelter at about 7pm and proceeded to filter water and get the other necessary things done before we went to sleep.
Total miles hiked: 349.6
Hiked 19.3 miles
The night sleeping at Goddard Shelter was somewhat eventful. Along with dealing with heavy rain a raccoon decided to visit the shelter in the early hours of the morning. This created a mad house of people trying to get the raccoon back out of the shelter.
The days hike went well it did not rain but due to the rains the day before the trail was wet and muddy. Towards the end of the day we went over Stratton Mountain which by the time we made it to the top it was full of black flies and light rain.
We got to Stratton Pond Shelter at about 7pm and proceeded to filter water and get the other necessary things done before we went to sleep.
Total miles hiked: 349.6
Friday, June 19, 2009
On the Plane Again
While the hikers are blazing the trail someone has to be home to keep things going . . . so it is on the plane again for me. I will be heading to pick them up and with any luck at all will get on the flights without a problem. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they finish this years adventure.
Round 2: June 19, 2009 – Day 7
Starting from Congdon
Hiked 14.4 miles
It rained hard most of the night so the trail was a watery mess. The steps of the trail dance continue to evolve. There is the “avoid the puddle” step which consists of doing everything that you can to go around the puddle. There are many reasons why this step is a good one, but the most notable one is that if you step in the puddle your foot will sink three (3) inches or more in the mud, creating the next step the “cement boot shake off.” Other steps include the “trail straddle” which consists on either stretching your legs out on either side of the trail or walking on the raised edge. Slipping from the “trail straddle” usually results in the "boot soak stream blazer" which needs not explanation.
Remember the earlier posts about boot issues? The boot repairs and blowouts have caused major water leakage for both Navigator and Turtle. When they take their boots off in the evenings they find that their feet are wrinkled and water logged. The good news is that even in the humidity their feet are able to dry over night. From what they say their feet are probably a C- on the foot health grading scale.
The shelter was full when Turtle and Navigator arrived so they had to erect the tent. The other hikers were fine with them setting the tent on the walkway or porch in front of the shelter. The tent was still damp from five days ago!
Note to self, day hiking is good . . . hiking in water soaked conditions and sleeping in a five day old wet tent is not good! More power to the DIE HARD DUO!
Total miles hiked: 330.3
Hiked 14.4 miles
It rained hard most of the night so the trail was a watery mess. The steps of the trail dance continue to evolve. There is the “avoid the puddle” step which consists of doing everything that you can to go around the puddle. There are many reasons why this step is a good one, but the most notable one is that if you step in the puddle your foot will sink three (3) inches or more in the mud, creating the next step the “cement boot shake off.” Other steps include the “trail straddle” which consists on either stretching your legs out on either side of the trail or walking on the raised edge. Slipping from the “trail straddle” usually results in the "boot soak stream blazer" which needs not explanation.
Remember the earlier posts about boot issues? The boot repairs and blowouts have caused major water leakage for both Navigator and Turtle. When they take their boots off in the evenings they find that their feet are wrinkled and water logged. The good news is that even in the humidity their feet are able to dry over night. From what they say their feet are probably a C- on the foot health grading scale.
The shelter was full when Turtle and Navigator arrived so they had to erect the tent. The other hikers were fine with them setting the tent on the walkway or porch in front of the shelter. The tent was still damp from five days ago!
Note to self, day hiking is good . . . hiking in water soaked conditions and sleeping in a five day old wet tent is not good! More power to the DIE HARD DUO!
Total miles hiked: 330.3
Round 2: June 18, 2009 – Day 6
Starting from Wilbur Clearing Lean-To
Hiked 17.1 miles
The weather today was decent. It was cool and humid. The trail was still sloppy. And the day was long!
The hikers called me around 3:00 p.m. at the top of a long climb. They were taking a break before they headed into the home stretch to the shelter. They were in good spirits.
They shared the shelter with Hot Wheels and Spokes again!
In the morning Turtle and Navigator made it into Vermont!
Total miles hiked: 316.9
Hiked 17.1 miles
The weather today was decent. It was cool and humid. The trail was still sloppy. And the day was long!
The hikers called me around 3:00 p.m. at the top of a long climb. They were taking a break before they headed into the home stretch to the shelter. They were in good spirits.
They shared the shelter with Hot Wheels and Spokes again!
In the morning Turtle and Navigator made it into Vermont!
Total miles hiked: 316.9
Round 2: June 16, 2009 – Day 5
Starting from Dalton
Hiked 20.3 miles
The morning brought decent hiking weather with cool temperatures and only light sprinkles. The hikers made terrific time the first 10 or so miles to Cheshire, MA. Then they got to Mt. Greylock, which was seven miles of uphill with multiple steep climbs. The highest peak is 3,491 feet. It was grueling terrain. The cherry on the top of the cake was that there was a stone observation tower at the top of Mt. Greylock.
From the hikers:
Navigator, “There were some steep climbs. It was hard. There was a stone observation tower at the top. We didn’t go up. We saw all we wanted to see from the ground.”
Turtle in the background, “What do you mean hard? I wasn’t going to climb up that tower. The only way I would go up in that tower is if I could drive up the mountain.”
It must have been bad! Think about this . . . when I ask if they took pictures of people they usually say no or we forgot but they never forget to take pictures of the scenery!
They made it to Wilbur Clearing Lean-to where they met two thru hikers, Hot Wheels and Spokes who were typical, down-to-earth folks!
Total miles hiked: 299.8
Hiked 20.3 miles
The morning brought decent hiking weather with cool temperatures and only light sprinkles. The hikers made terrific time the first 10 or so miles to Cheshire, MA. Then they got to Mt. Greylock, which was seven miles of uphill with multiple steep climbs. The highest peak is 3,491 feet. It was grueling terrain. The cherry on the top of the cake was that there was a stone observation tower at the top of Mt. Greylock.
From the hikers:
Navigator, “There were some steep climbs. It was hard. There was a stone observation tower at the top. We didn’t go up. We saw all we wanted to see from the ground.”
Turtle in the background, “What do you mean hard? I wasn’t going to climb up that tower. The only way I would go up in that tower is if I could drive up the mountain.”
It must have been bad! Think about this . . . when I ask if they took pictures of people they usually say no or we forgot but they never forget to take pictures of the scenery!
They made it to Wilbur Clearing Lean-to where they met two thru hikers, Hot Wheels and Spokes who were typical, down-to-earth folks!
Total miles hiked: 299.8
Round 2: June 15, 2009 – Day 4
Starting from October Mountain Lean-to
Hiked 11.8 miles
Yes, they made it through the night and did all of the things they needed to do to keep themselves safe! However, there is still a story to tell. It was already after nightfall; Navigator, Turtle and two other hikers were settled in for the night when another hiker and his dog came stumbling in to camp. The commotion of “doing the nighttime stuff” woke everyone up. The only open bunk in the shelter was on the upper level, so the noisy hiker got on the top bunk and continued to rustle around, never really settling down. Crash, the hiker falls from the top bunk, to the ground, and then crawls back to the top bunk. Did this stop there? No! This rustle, fall, crawl routine went on several more times. The two other hikers were so disturbed by this routine that they got up, packed their things and hiking during the night while it was thunder and lightening. Turtle and Navigator somehow stuck it out. As Turtle was opening his eyes the next morning he saw Tumble, Fall and Crawl (TFC) fall out of the top bunk onto his head. This time the crawl was to one of the lower bunks. It was definitely a restless night!
Most hikers that Turtle and Navigator have met over the years have been down to earth folks from many different walks of life with a love for the great outdoors. The hikers have all been bit by the same desire to hike the AT as Turtle and Navigator. Turtle and Navigator have met many hikers, most were genuinely nice, some were characters, a few very crazy, and only a couple sketchy ones. TFC was definitely sketchy, so much so, Turtle was concerned about two girls that were hiking behind them on the trail. He hoped that TFC didn’t cross paths with the girls.
The trail today was muddy and sloppy. Navigator said that they have learned some new hiking moves this year. During the choreography of the hiking sloppy dance Ben came across several boards that were on the trail. Under normal circumstances these boards would provide stability and he would have traversed over them without an issue. Today he got to the boards, lost his footing which caused him to loose his balance. He wobbled, the weight of his pack and centrifical force started the spin and before he knew it he was falling to the ground on his backside which was cushioned not by a soft bed of leaves, but by a hard Nalgene bottle. Ouch!!!! Navigator got the second “Spectacular Fall” award for the year.
The good news is that they reached Dalton, MA today and picked up their first mail drop. They stayed in Dalton at the Shamrock Inn, which welcomes hikers. The star rating is above trail shelter, maybe one star, certainly not two! At least they had a chance to get a shower, dry out their rain soaked bodies and sleep in a bed.
Total miles hiked: 279.5
Hiked 11.8 miles
Yes, they made it through the night and did all of the things they needed to do to keep themselves safe! However, there is still a story to tell. It was already after nightfall; Navigator, Turtle and two other hikers were settled in for the night when another hiker and his dog came stumbling in to camp. The commotion of “doing the nighttime stuff” woke everyone up. The only open bunk in the shelter was on the upper level, so the noisy hiker got on the top bunk and continued to rustle around, never really settling down. Crash, the hiker falls from the top bunk, to the ground, and then crawls back to the top bunk. Did this stop there? No! This rustle, fall, crawl routine went on several more times. The two other hikers were so disturbed by this routine that they got up, packed their things and hiking during the night while it was thunder and lightening. Turtle and Navigator somehow stuck it out. As Turtle was opening his eyes the next morning he saw Tumble, Fall and Crawl (TFC) fall out of the top bunk onto his head. This time the crawl was to one of the lower bunks. It was definitely a restless night!
Most hikers that Turtle and Navigator have met over the years have been down to earth folks from many different walks of life with a love for the great outdoors. The hikers have all been bit by the same desire to hike the AT as Turtle and Navigator. Turtle and Navigator have met many hikers, most were genuinely nice, some were characters, a few very crazy, and only a couple sketchy ones. TFC was definitely sketchy, so much so, Turtle was concerned about two girls that were hiking behind them on the trail. He hoped that TFC didn’t cross paths with the girls.
The trail today was muddy and sloppy. Navigator said that they have learned some new hiking moves this year. During the choreography of the hiking sloppy dance Ben came across several boards that were on the trail. Under normal circumstances these boards would provide stability and he would have traversed over them without an issue. Today he got to the boards, lost his footing which caused him to loose his balance. He wobbled, the weight of his pack and centrifical force started the spin and before he knew it he was falling to the ground on his backside which was cushioned not by a soft bed of leaves, but by a hard Nalgene bottle. Ouch!!!! Navigator got the second “Spectacular Fall” award for the year.
The good news is that they reached Dalton, MA today and picked up their first mail drop. They stayed in Dalton at the Shamrock Inn, which welcomes hikers. The star rating is above trail shelter, maybe one star, certainly not two! At least they had a chance to get a shower, dry out their rain soaked bodies and sleep in a bed.
Total miles hiked: 279.5
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Round 2: June 14, 2009 – Day 3
Starting from Tyringham Cobble
Hiked 16.9 miles
It was a very rainy night, especially because they were spending it in a tent. Turtle and Navigator were thankful for their sleeping pads, because the pads kept them off the floor of the tent! (This trip might be four stars for adventure, but it is about ½ star for accommodations!)
Did you every wonder what happens to the trail if it rains hard all night? OK, maybe you don't wonder about that kind of stuff, just in case you do the answer is the trail is a soppy mess with puddles and sometimes running water going right where hikers hike! OK, guess what happens to boots that have a tendency to leak? Yup, they leak more when directly immersed in puddles and water that runs through the trail! Wow! This guessing game is pretty easy!
Tonight they are staying at October Mountain Lean-to. The Hiker’s Companion, an AT publication, clearly states that hikers should not leave their packs unattended if they stay in this shelter. That doesn’t sound good, does it? Both Navigator and Turtle are careful hikers, so we’ll have to hope for the best. Please keep them in your thoughts and stay tuned for more updates!
Total miles hiked: 267.6
Hiked 16.9 miles
It was a very rainy night, especially because they were spending it in a tent. Turtle and Navigator were thankful for their sleeping pads, because the pads kept them off the floor of the tent! (This trip might be four stars for adventure, but it is about ½ star for accommodations!)
Did you every wonder what happens to the trail if it rains hard all night? OK, maybe you don't wonder about that kind of stuff, just in case you do the answer is the trail is a soppy mess with puddles and sometimes running water going right where hikers hike! OK, guess what happens to boots that have a tendency to leak? Yup, they leak more when directly immersed in puddles and water that runs through the trail! Wow! This guessing game is pretty easy!
Tonight they are staying at October Mountain Lean-to. The Hiker’s Companion, an AT publication, clearly states that hikers should not leave their packs unattended if they stay in this shelter. That doesn’t sound good, does it? Both Navigator and Turtle are careful hikers, so we’ll have to hope for the best. Please keep them in your thoughts and stay tuned for more updates!
Total miles hiked: 267.6
Round 2: June 13, 2009 – Day 2
Starting from Tom Leonard Lean-To
Hiked 13 miles
Turtle and Navigator had no way to predict that they would have had so many new/different experiences this year. Experiences have the potential to be lessons if one has an open mind. I am happy to report that they learned a lot and have even changed their strategy!!!!!!
The day started off early. It could be because they were so refreshed from their time off the trail or possibly because the shelter was infested with bugs . . . either way the day started early. The good part about starting early is that the temperatures are cooler, even if the humidity is high.
Along the way they met several southbound hikers who were able to tell them about the trail ahead. Turtle and Navigator had to decide if they should go 13-14 miles for the day and stop or push on to the next shelter (21 to 22 miles). They chose the shorter distance. Thier hiking day was done by 4:30 p.m. (See what I mean? They have really have changed!)
When asked about the trail, Navigator reported looking back and seeing Turtle in the woods. Turtle said it was nothing! He just slipped down a rock and got off the trail. At least nobody got hurt.
Upon reaching Tyringham Cobble, they thought they would be staying in an outdoor pavilion in town. Instead they found that they were going to have to tent camp behind a local bed and breakfast. Thank goodness the locals are used to hikers and are willing to allow them to share their space.
Total miles hiked: 250.7
Hiked 13 miles
Turtle and Navigator had no way to predict that they would have had so many new/different experiences this year. Experiences have the potential to be lessons if one has an open mind. I am happy to report that they learned a lot and have even changed their strategy!!!!!!
The day started off early. It could be because they were so refreshed from their time off the trail or possibly because the shelter was infested with bugs . . . either way the day started early. The good part about starting early is that the temperatures are cooler, even if the humidity is high.
Along the way they met several southbound hikers who were able to tell them about the trail ahead. Turtle and Navigator had to decide if they should go 13-14 miles for the day and stop or push on to the next shelter (21 to 22 miles). They chose the shorter distance. Thier hiking day was done by 4:30 p.m. (See what I mean? They have really have changed!)
When asked about the trail, Navigator reported looking back and seeing Turtle in the woods. Turtle said it was nothing! He just slipped down a rock and got off the trail. At least nobody got hurt.
Upon reaching Tyringham Cobble, they thought they would be staying in an outdoor pavilion in town. Instead they found that they were going to have to tent camp behind a local bed and breakfast. Thank goodness the locals are used to hikers and are willing to allow them to share their space.
Total miles hiked: 250.7
Round 2: June 12, 2009 – Day 1
Starting from Kellog Conservation Center
Hiked 10 miles
The alarm rang at 4:00 a.m. By 5:00 a.m. we were headed to the airport to catch the early flight to New York City (LaGuardia). Packing was easy since all we had to take was a carry on. Check-in went well and we got on the flight!!!! The flight even landed on time. Things were starting looking up!
The checklist:
*Get the rental car
*Go to White Plains to retrieve the luggage
*Find an outfitter and purchase fuel cans
*Lunch, a much needed detour in Kent, CT, yes the same little town Turtle and Navigator hiked through earlier this year.
*Find a store to purchase water.
*Go to South Egremont to get on the trail!
We arrived at the Kellog Conservation Center around 1:00 p.m. The humidity was high, but the sky was blue with just a few scattered clouds. The hikers were happy to get back on the trail again!
Welcome back . . . the challenges were evident in the first five miles on the trail. It was swampy, mosquito infested terrain. The next five miles were slightly better as they climbed to higher elevations over rocks. Who would have thought that rocks were a good thing????
They were happy hikers because they met their first goal of 10 miles by 6:30 p.m.
They are staying at Tom Leonard Lean-to was their stopping point. This lovely spot sleeps 10 and has a “very cold stream 0.2 miles down a ravine to the left of the lean-to.” Oh yeah, there’s a privy too!
Total miles: 237.7
June 11, 2009
Intentions were good: Turtle and Navigator spent a nervous day trying to make sure everything was packed.
Flights were bad: Throughout the day flights seemed to get fuller and fuller. With fingers crossed our destination changed from Hartford, CT to White Plains, NY.
The grim reality: Upon checking in we found out our intended flight was delayed. We got to the gate, sat down to do the obligatory watching of the screen. (Delta has monitors which provide information like Upgrade List, Standby List, Cleared List and other information.) To our disappointment the screen flashed “FLIGHT CANCELLED” about 30 minutes prior to our departure time. One would think that if the flight was cancelled than luggage could be retrieved; however, this was not true. Delta rerouted the luggage so it would to through Michigan to White Plains and arrive by midnight. With trepidation we went home with the hope that we could get a flight the next morning.
Flights were bad: Throughout the day flights seemed to get fuller and fuller. With fingers crossed our destination changed from Hartford, CT to White Plains, NY.
The grim reality: Upon checking in we found out our intended flight was delayed. We got to the gate, sat down to do the obligatory watching of the screen. (Delta has monitors which provide information like Upgrade List, Standby List, Cleared List and other information.) To our disappointment the screen flashed “FLIGHT CANCELLED” about 30 minutes prior to our departure time. One would think that if the flight was cancelled than luggage could be retrieved; however, this was not true. Delta rerouted the luggage so it would to through Michigan to White Plains and arrive by midnight. With trepidation we went home with the hope that we could get a flight the next morning.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Back to the trail!
Thank you to everyone that has been thinking of us and hoping for quick healing. Well it has worked Turtle and myself are healed up enough to get back on the trail. We are leaving on Thursday evening and flying to Hartford, CT. Then on Friday Terri will drop us off in South Egremont, MA and we will resume our adventure hope fully without any more problems. Turtle and I are going to try and make it to either Manchester Center, VT or Danby, VT but if this stay has taught us anything it is that we are just going to take it one day at a time and see how we are feeling. So at this point we have mailed a package to ourselves that we will pick up in Dalton, MA and we will see how far we make it. Our finish date is still June 20 because even though we would like to hike longer Turtle and I bothe have to go back to work because as the saying goes bills do not pay themselves. We look forward to talking to all of you when we get back and sharing the stories from the trail.
P.S. I will try to remember to post the pictures that we have taken to this point before we leave on our last nine days.
P.S. I will try to remember to post the pictures that we have taken to this point before we leave on our last nine days.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
June 3 to Present
Let’s just say it has been a few days of ups and downs with Dale saying, “When do you think we can go back to the trail?” . . . followed by answers from me like . . . “How fast do you think skin grows????” (Internal monolog, “How dumb is this . . . don’t you think you have endured enough this year?”) The reality is if my feet looked like Ben’s I would have been thinking about healing. While healing was on their minds it was for a completely different reason. They were trying to make plans to get back on the trail ASAP!
Ben went to the doctor on June 5th to find out if he needed any medical intervention . . . you may be wondering why didn’t he go sooner . . . refer to the paragraph above . . . ugh! It turns out that the PA said that there “probably” is infection so she prescribed an antibiotic and special cream for his feet. The PA said that it would be safe to return to the trail by Wednesday of next week.
I have to work so I cannot take them back to Egremont, MA until Thursday night, so they are going to wait . . . unless one of you wants to volunteer to take them sooner. If so, you know the number . . . I am sure they will be glad to do anything they can to get out on the trail again as soon as possible.
In the mean time I am going to turn my blogging efforts over to the guys until they get back on the trail. Thanks for reading . . . stay tuned; there will be more adventures to come from the DIE HARD DUO!
Ben went to the doctor on June 5th to find out if he needed any medical intervention . . . you may be wondering why didn’t he go sooner . . . refer to the paragraph above . . . ugh! It turns out that the PA said that there “probably” is infection so she prescribed an antibiotic and special cream for his feet. The PA said that it would be safe to return to the trail by Wednesday of next week.
I have to work so I cannot take them back to Egremont, MA until Thursday night, so they are going to wait . . . unless one of you wants to volunteer to take them sooner. If so, you know the number . . . I am sure they will be glad to do anything they can to get out on the trail again as soon as possible.
In the mean time I am going to turn my blogging efforts over to the guys until they get back on the trail. Thanks for reading . . . stay tuned; there will be more adventures to come from the DIE HARD DUO!
June 2, 2009 – Day 16
Egremont Inn, South Egremont, MA
6:00 a.m.
It was a long night full of “what ifs” . . . what if we try to rest, what if we try to go on . . . ultimately Turtle and Navigator decided to make the hardest call of all and that was to go home. By 9:30 a.m. I was in an airplane headed to Hartford, CT, and then to Ergremont, MA to pick up them up.
When I arrived it was clear that they were still wrestling with things. This year I didn’t take pictures when I came to pick them up. In fact, I’m not sure that anyone would have wanted to see what Navigator’s feet looked like, because his heels were covered with different size blisters from the point where his ankle bone was back to his heel. Ugh!
We rushed to pack their things so we could drive to Dalton, MA to pick up their stuff at the next mail drop, then it was another push to get to Hartford for the last flight of the day. What usually is a joyful time with much conversation was a solemn time with much silence. I tried to be the chatterbox, filling them in on things that had been happening at home, but they were pretty bummed out.
6:00 a.m.
It was a long night full of “what ifs” . . . what if we try to rest, what if we try to go on . . . ultimately Turtle and Navigator decided to make the hardest call of all and that was to go home. By 9:30 a.m. I was in an airplane headed to Hartford, CT, and then to Ergremont, MA to pick up them up.
When I arrived it was clear that they were still wrestling with things. This year I didn’t take pictures when I came to pick them up. In fact, I’m not sure that anyone would have wanted to see what Navigator’s feet looked like, because his heels were covered with different size blisters from the point where his ankle bone was back to his heel. Ugh!
We rushed to pack their things so we could drive to Dalton, MA to pick up their stuff at the next mail drop, then it was another push to get to Hartford for the last flight of the day. What usually is a joyful time with much conversation was a solemn time with much silence. I tried to be the chatterbox, filling them in on things that had been happening at home, but they were pretty bummed out.
June 1, 2009 – Day 15
Starting from Riga Lean-to
Hiked 14.4
The day was partly cloudy and fairly cool. They crossed into Massachusetts!
Tonight’s report was a short one . . . Turtle was doing well, but Navigator was in bad shape. He had severe blisters on his feet from the new boots. They decided to stop in South Egremont, MA at the Egremont Inn. The innkeeper even picked them up the trail crossing. They were going to try to get a good nights rest and evaluate things in the morning.
Total miles hiked 227.7
Hiked 14.4
The day was partly cloudy and fairly cool. They crossed into Massachusetts!
Tonight’s report was a short one . . . Turtle was doing well, but Navigator was in bad shape. He had severe blisters on his feet from the new boots. They decided to stop in South Egremont, MA at the Egremont Inn. The innkeeper even picked them up the trail crossing. They were going to try to get a good nights rest and evaluate things in the morning.
Total miles hiked 227.7
May 31, 2009 – Day 14
Starting from Pine Swam Brook Lean-to
Hiked 19.8 miles
It was a full night at the shelter with Navigator, Turtle, 96, Dubs, Jolly Rancher, his girl friend and Harley. Apparently everyone settled in for the night and as the temperatures dropped Harley decided that it would be warmest if he found a spot between Turtle and Jolly Rancher’s girl friend. Things were quite comfortable for everyone until Harley decided that he needed to stretch so he rolled over and put his front paws on Turtle’s shoulder blades and the back paws on Turtle’s backside. With one big stretch Turtle was pushed toward Navigator who was a little offended at first . . . OK, let’s not go there! Since the sleeping arrangements at the shelter were so tight, this little event created a chain reaction.
Today’s hike . . . Navigator said that the climbs today were fewer and seemed to be more gradual. He said that his feet were sore from breaking in the boots. The good news was that his knee seemed to be doing better. As expected his back was sore because of the long day.
Turtle was tired and hiking slow by the end of the day. He asked that Navigator speed up to get to the shelter to start the nightly routine so they could relax a bit before falling asleep.
Total miles hiked 213.3
Hiked 19.8 miles
It was a full night at the shelter with Navigator, Turtle, 96, Dubs, Jolly Rancher, his girl friend and Harley. Apparently everyone settled in for the night and as the temperatures dropped Harley decided that it would be warmest if he found a spot between Turtle and Jolly Rancher’s girl friend. Things were quite comfortable for everyone until Harley decided that he needed to stretch so he rolled over and put his front paws on Turtle’s shoulder blades and the back paws on Turtle’s backside. With one big stretch Turtle was pushed toward Navigator who was a little offended at first . . . OK, let’s not go there! Since the sleeping arrangements at the shelter were so tight, this little event created a chain reaction.
Today’s hike . . . Navigator said that the climbs today were fewer and seemed to be more gradual. He said that his feet were sore from breaking in the boots. The good news was that his knee seemed to be doing better. As expected his back was sore because of the long day.
Turtle was tired and hiking slow by the end of the day. He asked that Navigator speed up to get to the shelter to start the nightly routine so they could relax a bit before falling asleep.
Total miles hiked 213.3
May 30, 2009 – Day 13
Starting from Kent, CT
Hiked 17 miles
It was another long day on the trail. They called at 6:23 p.m. and still had a half mile to go. Navigator was feeling the pain of breaking in new boots. Today the weather was humid, but the temperatures were around 75 degrees. Turtle didn’t want to talk long because he said his clothes were damp with sweat and when he stopped he got cold.
One of the cool things about the trail is that you share periods of time with other hikers. Navigator and Turtle are ahead of most of the through hikers, so most of their interactions have been with local folks who do short hikes or day hikes. Today they met Jolly Rancher and his dog Harley, a yellow lab that looked like the dog in the movie Marley and Me. Jolly Rancher and Harley were a nice diversion. Harley, who was about two years old, was still enough of a puppy to be curious so when Navigator sat down to take a break Harley came right over to see him, face-to-face.
Both hikers were looking forward to getting to the shelter and settling in for the night.
Total miles hiked 193.5
Hiked 17 miles
It was another long day on the trail. They called at 6:23 p.m. and still had a half mile to go. Navigator was feeling the pain of breaking in new boots. Today the weather was humid, but the temperatures were around 75 degrees. Turtle didn’t want to talk long because he said his clothes were damp with sweat and when he stopped he got cold.
One of the cool things about the trail is that you share periods of time with other hikers. Navigator and Turtle are ahead of most of the through hikers, so most of their interactions have been with local folks who do short hikes or day hikes. Today they met Jolly Rancher and his dog Harley, a yellow lab that looked like the dog in the movie Marley and Me. Jolly Rancher and Harley were a nice diversion. Harley, who was about two years old, was still enough of a puppy to be curious so when Navigator sat down to take a break Harley came right over to see him, face-to-face.
Both hikers were looking forward to getting to the shelter and settling in for the night.
Total miles hiked 193.5
May 29, 2009 – Day 12
Starting from Ten Mile River Lean-to Shelter, CT
Hiked 8.7 miles
Good news . . . it was a good thing that Turtle and Navigator spent so much time water proofing the tent before the hike, because it rained all night long and they stayed dry!
Good news . . . today was going to be another short hike since they were heading in to Kent, CT and would be retrieving another mail drop, staying at the Fife ‘n Drum Inn and having dinner with family!
Spectacular event: Navigator was leading the way, as usual, when he started up a climb (for us non-hikers a climb is any uphill, in this case the “climb” was not straight up, but pretty steep). The rocks were covered with leaves and wet from the rain the night before. Navigator lifted one foot and the other foot slipped sending him rolling downhill toward Turtle. (Turtle may have gotten his name because he fell on his pack and couldn’t get up . . . however, his name is equally appropriate to the speed at which he hikes compared to Navigator.) Navigator did not have much to say about his graceful presentation . . . however, Turtle made sure to talk about it. I guess the score is now Turtle -2; Navigator 1. At any rate, Navigator would have been much happier if this graceful event sent him rolling closer to town . . . instead he had the added pleasure of having to retrace his steps back up the climb!
They arrived in Kent in plenty of time to get their mail and check into the Inn. Sis and Darren arrived around 4:15 p.m. to catch up with the hikers and run a few errands. Sis chauffeured to the outfitter where Turtle got his trekking poles fixed, Navigator purchased new boots and they both got some “warmies” or long underwear. Then they headed off to Wal-Mart to see if they could get some cheap hiking pants. After the errands were taken care of they headed back to the Fife ‘n Drum Inn for a good dinner and some sleep. It was a good day completed by a nice visit with Sis and Darren.
Total miles completed: 176.5
Hiked 8.7 miles
Good news . . . it was a good thing that Turtle and Navigator spent so much time water proofing the tent before the hike, because it rained all night long and they stayed dry!
Good news . . . today was going to be another short hike since they were heading in to Kent, CT and would be retrieving another mail drop, staying at the Fife ‘n Drum Inn and having dinner with family!
Spectacular event: Navigator was leading the way, as usual, when he started up a climb (for us non-hikers a climb is any uphill, in this case the “climb” was not straight up, but pretty steep). The rocks were covered with leaves and wet from the rain the night before. Navigator lifted one foot and the other foot slipped sending him rolling downhill toward Turtle. (Turtle may have gotten his name because he fell on his pack and couldn’t get up . . . however, his name is equally appropriate to the speed at which he hikes compared to Navigator.) Navigator did not have much to say about his graceful presentation . . . however, Turtle made sure to talk about it. I guess the score is now Turtle -2; Navigator 1. At any rate, Navigator would have been much happier if this graceful event sent him rolling closer to town . . . instead he had the added pleasure of having to retrace his steps back up the climb!
They arrived in Kent in plenty of time to get their mail and check into the Inn. Sis and Darren arrived around 4:15 p.m. to catch up with the hikers and run a few errands. Sis chauffeured to the outfitter where Turtle got his trekking poles fixed, Navigator purchased new boots and they both got some “warmies” or long underwear. Then they headed off to Wal-Mart to see if they could get some cheap hiking pants. After the errands were taken care of they headed back to the Fife ‘n Drum Inn for a good dinner and some sleep. It was a good day completed by a nice visit with Sis and Darren.
Total miles completed: 176.5
May 28, 2009 – Day 11
Starting from Telephone Pioneers Shelter, NY
Hiked 12.7 miles
Today they made it to Connecticut! In theory it appears that they are taking better care of themselves since they only hiked 14 miles!
They arrived at Ten Mile River Lean-to and found that there were four girls in the shelter, so Turtle and Navigator as well as another hiker set up tents near the shelter. Navigator was in good spirits since the “scenery” had changed a bit.
Total miles hiked 167.8
Hiked 12.7 miles
Today they made it to Connecticut! In theory it appears that they are taking better care of themselves since they only hiked 14 miles!
They arrived at Ten Mile River Lean-to and found that there were four girls in the shelter, so Turtle and Navigator as well as another hiker set up tents near the shelter. Navigator was in good spirits since the “scenery” had changed a bit.
Total miles hiked 167.8
May 27, 2009 – Day 10
Starting from Telephone Pioneer Shelter, NY
Hiked 16.8 miles today
It rained most of the night, but they were able to stay dry. The weather was cooler today than it had been. Physical exertion kept them warm during the day, but it was a different story when they stopped for rest or lunch or breaks.
Both Turtle and Navigator seemed to be in good spirits. They talked about a local hiker who was on the trail for a few days with his dog. Apparently the dog was quite cute. It sounded like this shelter was quite lively!
Navigator’s knee seems to be holding its own, but his boots started falling apart which presents another challenge.
Total miles completed: 155.1
Hiked 16.8 miles today
It rained most of the night, but they were able to stay dry. The weather was cooler today than it had been. Physical exertion kept them warm during the day, but it was a different story when they stopped for rest or lunch or breaks.
Both Turtle and Navigator seemed to be in good spirits. They talked about a local hiker who was on the trail for a few days with his dog. Apparently the dog was quite cute. It sounded like this shelter was quite lively!
Navigator’s knee seems to be holding its own, but his boots started falling apart which presents another challenge.
Total miles completed: 155.1
May 26, 2009 – Day 9
Starting from RPH Shelter, NYHiked 16 ½ miles
RPH Shelter was an old hunting cabin with bunks which turned out to be the perfect shelter since it rained all night. The rain stopped by morning. The rest of the day was cloudy and overcast.
The hike went well. Both Turtle and Navigator seemed to be handling their respective issues today. They were very tired by the time they got to the shelter to begin their nightly routine.
Turtle looked at the maps over and over trying to figure out a new schedule. Navigator continued to go with the flow, teasing Turtle a bit about looking at the maps so often . . . “it’s not like they are going to change if you keep looking at them.” It great to know that humor prevails!
Miles completed: 138.7
RPH Shelter was an old hunting cabin with bunks which turned out to be the perfect shelter since it rained all night. The rain stopped by morning. The rest of the day was cloudy and overcast.
The hike went well. Both Turtle and Navigator seemed to be handling their respective issues today. They were very tired by the time they got to the shelter to begin their nightly routine.
Turtle looked at the maps over and over trying to figure out a new schedule. Navigator continued to go with the flow, teasing Turtle a bit about looking at the maps so often . . . “it’s not like they are going to change if you keep looking at them.” It great to know that humor prevails!
Miles completed: 138.7
Monday, May 25, 2009
May 25, 2009 - Day 8
Starting from Ft. Montgomery/Bear Mountain (New York)
Hiked 14 miles
The taxi cab driver picked the guys up at the hotel and took them close to where they got off the trail yesterday. Apparently New York taxi cab drivers are dare devils. Navigator said that the taxi drivers scared him more than anything he ever did on the trail.
The day went well. Turtle and Navigator stopped at a convenience store located near a road crossing to get cold drinks around mid afternoon and that seemed to give them the stamina that they needed to get to their intended destination for the day. Navigator’s knee continues to give him intermittent pain and Turtle’s stamina is still low, but slightly improved.
The change in schedule means that tonight is a tent camping night. They are staying in the woods, but close to a road crossing. Hopefully they will be able to get a good night sleep. The weather is supposed to be a little cooler tomorrow morning so that should help as well.
Miles completed: 122.2
Hiked 14 miles
The taxi cab driver picked the guys up at the hotel and took them close to where they got off the trail yesterday. Apparently New York taxi cab drivers are dare devils. Navigator said that the taxi drivers scared him more than anything he ever did on the trail.
The day went well. Turtle and Navigator stopped at a convenience store located near a road crossing to get cold drinks around mid afternoon and that seemed to give them the stamina that they needed to get to their intended destination for the day. Navigator’s knee continues to give him intermittent pain and Turtle’s stamina is still low, but slightly improved.
The change in schedule means that tonight is a tent camping night. They are staying in the woods, but close to a road crossing. Hopefully they will be able to get a good night sleep. The weather is supposed to be a little cooler tomorrow morning so that should help as well.
Miles completed: 122.2
May 24, 2009 - Day 7
Starting from Fingerboard Shelter (New York)
Hiked 14 miles
Hiking today was a challenge. The trail continued to be rocky, which was bad enough, but the rocks were covered by leaves. Today’s stunt was performed by Turtle who planted his trekking pole on a rock covered by leaves which was immediately followed by the pole sliding off the rock while he tried to gain his balance. The acrobatic act resulted with the trekking pole being injured worse than the hiker. Thank goodness! The hiker's reported that the pole kind of had a 90 degree bend in it. Navigator did give Turtle a bit of a hard time, but then gallantly gave Turtle one of his trekking poles.
After lunch the hikers hit a bit of a roadblock. Turtle’s energy was low and he felt short of breath on the uphill climbs. In past years something similar to this happened to Turtle, but he was able to push on to the end of the day. This year seemed a little different so they decided to call home for support. Thanks to the Internet I was able to arrange for a taxi to pick them up at a road crossing and make hotel reservations in Fort Montgomery/Bear Mountain.
Turtle thinks that several things were working against him. First, they started out this year with a very aggressive hiking schedule, 17 to 18 miles nearly every day. Second, they terrain was harsher than anticipated and finally the temperatures and humidity were higher than expected. The lesson learned today was that adjusting is OK.
They decided to stretch out their plans for the next four days to five days. Instead of arriving in Kent on the 28th they will arrive on the 29th. It looks like they will be able to juggle their supplies with the trails resources (shelters and water sources) to make this happen.
Those of us at home are standing by to see what we can do, if anything, to make their journey better. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Miles complete: 108.2 (Wow! 100 miles!)
Hiked 14 miles
Hiking today was a challenge. The trail continued to be rocky, which was bad enough, but the rocks were covered by leaves. Today’s stunt was performed by Turtle who planted his trekking pole on a rock covered by leaves which was immediately followed by the pole sliding off the rock while he tried to gain his balance. The acrobatic act resulted with the trekking pole being injured worse than the hiker. Thank goodness! The hiker's reported that the pole kind of had a 90 degree bend in it. Navigator did give Turtle a bit of a hard time, but then gallantly gave Turtle one of his trekking poles.
After lunch the hikers hit a bit of a roadblock. Turtle’s energy was low and he felt short of breath on the uphill climbs. In past years something similar to this happened to Turtle, but he was able to push on to the end of the day. This year seemed a little different so they decided to call home for support. Thanks to the Internet I was able to arrange for a taxi to pick them up at a road crossing and make hotel reservations in Fort Montgomery/Bear Mountain.
Turtle thinks that several things were working against him. First, they started out this year with a very aggressive hiking schedule, 17 to 18 miles nearly every day. Second, they terrain was harsher than anticipated and finally the temperatures and humidity were higher than expected. The lesson learned today was that adjusting is OK.
They decided to stretch out their plans for the next four days to five days. Instead of arriving in Kent on the 28th they will arrive on the 29th. It looks like they will be able to juggle their supplies with the trails resources (shelters and water sources) to make this happen.
Those of us at home are standing by to see what we can do, if anything, to make their journey better. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Miles complete: 108.2 (Wow! 100 miles!)
Sunday, May 24, 2009
May 23, 2009 - Day 6
Starting from 17A (New York)
Hiked 16.3 miles
Today’s hike was a long one. Turtle and Navigator arrived at the shelter around 6:30 p.m. It was a hard day, but they made up two miles to get back on schedule.
Temperatures today were a bit cooler with a nice breeze and at times misty rain. The trail continued to be rocky with steep climbs . . . as Turtle and Navigator hike they continue to wonder why the bumps shown on the trail maps look so small when the reality is so much different. The rigors of the trail were offset by a tasty lunch packed by Kathy.
Navigator accelerated his hiking speed for the last several miles to get to the shelter and start the nightly routine. The shelter, located in a state park, was highly populated with day hikers. Navigator picked out a good spot for the tent and got it set up. Since a water source was not available at the shelter he had to hike another 1.1 miles to get water. After dinner both Navigator and Turtle retreated to their tent to get out of the rain.
Navigator’s knee injury is about the same. He feels that he is able to continue to push on.
Miles complete: 94.2
Hiked 16.3 miles
Today’s hike was a long one. Turtle and Navigator arrived at the shelter around 6:30 p.m. It was a hard day, but they made up two miles to get back on schedule.
Temperatures today were a bit cooler with a nice breeze and at times misty rain. The trail continued to be rocky with steep climbs . . . as Turtle and Navigator hike they continue to wonder why the bumps shown on the trail maps look so small when the reality is so much different. The rigors of the trail were offset by a tasty lunch packed by Kathy.
Navigator accelerated his hiking speed for the last several miles to get to the shelter and start the nightly routine. The shelter, located in a state park, was highly populated with day hikers. Navigator picked out a good spot for the tent and got it set up. Since a water source was not available at the shelter he had to hike another 1.1 miles to get water. After dinner both Navigator and Turtle retreated to their tent to get out of the rain.
Navigator’s knee injury is about the same. He feels that he is able to continue to push on.
Miles complete: 94.2
May 22, 2009 - Day 5
Starting from Road Crossing near Vernon (New York)
Hiked 19.2 miles
Slack packing helped Turtle and Navigator make up two miles. The trail continues to be rocky with some strenuous climbs, but the lighter packs made the hiking easier. The temperatures got up to a whopping 88 degrees today! In just a few days they have forgotten about cool temperatures! The hikers will be staying with Kathy and Joe tonight.
Kathy, Joe, Gene and Fran provided wonderful help, good food, beds and terrific conversation for the past two days. They certainly made it a hiker’s paradise for which both Turtle and Navigator were grateful!
Miles complete: 77.9
Hiked 19.2 miles
Slack packing helped Turtle and Navigator make up two miles. The trail continues to be rocky with some strenuous climbs, but the lighter packs made the hiking easier. The temperatures got up to a whopping 88 degrees today! In just a few days they have forgotten about cool temperatures! The hikers will be staying with Kathy and Joe tonight.
Kathy, Joe, Gene and Fran provided wonderful help, good food, beds and terrific conversation for the past two days. They certainly made it a hiker’s paradise for which both Turtle and Navigator were grateful!
Miles complete: 77.9
May 21, 2009 - Day 4
Starting from High Point Shelter (New York)
Hiked 13.6 miles
Turtle and Navigator ended up at a road crossing near Vernon, but were not able to make up the four miles from the day before. Luckily their generous hosts, Gene and Fran, were able to pick them up at a road crossing before the post office closed.
The guys spend hours planning their route before the hike begins. They try to pinpoint every shelter stop and mail drop to make sure that everything is covered. Their attention to detail has served them well in the past. Missing the mark by four miles is significant, so they feel that they need to do what they can to make up the distance. We’ll have to see how it goes.
Miles complete: 58.7
Hiked 13.6 miles
Turtle and Navigator ended up at a road crossing near Vernon, but were not able to make up the four miles from the day before. Luckily their generous hosts, Gene and Fran, were able to pick them up at a road crossing before the post office closed.
The guys spend hours planning their route before the hike begins. They try to pinpoint every shelter stop and mail drop to make sure that everything is covered. Their attention to detail has served them well in the past. Missing the mark by four miles is significant, so they feel that they need to do what they can to make up the distance. We’ll have to see how it goes.
Miles complete: 58.7
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Vernon
Hello all I hope you are all having a good day. Things have been going well with Turtle and myself to this point on the trail. We made it to the road crossing where Gene picked us up at about 3pm. We are spending the night with Gene and Fran Fay and had a good dinner and then slack packing (hiking only carrying water) tomorrow and being picked up again at the end of the day.
The hiking today went fairly well with us getting an early start out of High Point Shelter. I again made the first 2 hours or so without knee pain and I was hoping that I might be able to make it through the day without since I had used IcyHot and taken Aleve in the morning before hiking but no such luck. At about 9 or 9:30 the knee pain started and came and went pretty much the rest of the day. I bought a knee brace in Vernon so I am hoping that will help but it is hard to say since it only hurts when I have the pack on and am hiking and the other strange thing is that it does not hurt when I am standing still.
Anyway enough about the knee pain Turtle and I are looking forward to slack packing tomorrow which will also get us pretty much back on schedule and we will just hike an extra 2 miles on Saturday.
The hiking today went fairly well with us getting an early start out of High Point Shelter. I again made the first 2 hours or so without knee pain and I was hoping that I might be able to make it through the day without since I had used IcyHot and taken Aleve in the morning before hiking but no such luck. At about 9 or 9:30 the knee pain started and came and went pretty much the rest of the day. I bought a knee brace in Vernon so I am hoping that will help but it is hard to say since it only hurts when I have the pack on and am hiking and the other strange thing is that it does not hurt when I am standing still.
Anyway enough about the knee pain Turtle and I are looking forward to slack packing tomorrow which will also get us pretty much back on schedule and we will just hike an extra 2 miles on Saturday.
Opening Day
Tradition has it that you must start off at the same place you ended . . . hence Navigator and Turtle are touching the Delaware Water Gap trail sign.
Note . . . blogger will A.D.D. had a hard time with chronological order of posts and photographs . . . will take medication or get a cup of tea (caffine is a good thing) to improve outcome!
This is how it all began in 2009!
Drake and Barb, Dale's cousins, helped start the adventure with a wonderful dinner the night before "opening day" of hiking season.
May 20, 2009 - Day 3
Starting from High Point Shelter (New York)
Hiked 14 miles
The trail continues to be rocky and with some “rock walls” as obstacles. Agility is a good thing, but even the most graceful hikers are injured from the twists and turns. Navigator, usually the climber of the group, has twisted his knee. His body’s injury notification system seems to send him a message when he leads with the right leg while climbing so he leads with his left. He has been using Icy Hot at night and may look for a knee brace or ace bandage when they stop tomorrow night at Gene and Fran Fay’s in Vernon.
The hiker’s hotline (word of mouth and trail notes at shelters) was operating well today. The hotline had news that Turtle and Navigator’s intended shelter stop for the night was closed so they stopped four miles short. That will mean a longer day at some point in the next day or so. The change in plans was probably a good thing since they were able to settle in early and get as much rest as possible. Their voices sounded less tired on the phone, but they said they were still feeling the effects of the challenging rocky trail.
Tonight’s lodging is a stone shelter with a wooden floor . . . not sure what star rating that is, but will check and get back on that one!
Miles completed: 45.1
Hiked 14 miles
The trail continues to be rocky and with some “rock walls” as obstacles. Agility is a good thing, but even the most graceful hikers are injured from the twists and turns. Navigator, usually the climber of the group, has twisted his knee. His body’s injury notification system seems to send him a message when he leads with the right leg while climbing so he leads with his left. He has been using Icy Hot at night and may look for a knee brace or ace bandage when they stop tomorrow night at Gene and Fran Fay’s in Vernon.
The hiker’s hotline (word of mouth and trail notes at shelters) was operating well today. The hotline had news that Turtle and Navigator’s intended shelter stop for the night was closed so they stopped four miles short. That will mean a longer day at some point in the next day or so. The change in plans was probably a good thing since they were able to settle in early and get as much rest as possible. Their voices sounded less tired on the phone, but they said they were still feeling the effects of the challenging rocky trail.
Tonight’s lodging is a stone shelter with a wooden floor . . . not sure what star rating that is, but will check and get back on that one!
Miles completed: 45.1
May 19, 2009 - Day 2
Navigator reported that the temperatures were so cool the night before that they had some trouble sleeping. Luckily the temperatures were higher today . . . perfect for hiking and hopefully better for sleeping tonight. Turtle reported that the trail continues to be rocky and in some places steep.
One would think that hiking should be . . . well easy. After all, how difficult should it be to walk, right? The truth is that preparing for this year has been a little different than others. Both guys needed new equipment which provided a good opportunity for a “do over” of sorts. New packs were purchased that actually are supposed to fit better. For those non-hikers, choosing packs is comparable to choosing the right prom dress. The packs have to be the right size to fit the body, the pockets have to be adequate to hold all the stuff and the design has to be just right for access. Just like the prom dress, the packs have to be fitted and adjusted for a perfect fit. Luckily most of the fitting is done by adjusting straps.
Other new stuff this year included warmer clothes and gear e.g., pullovers and Under Armor shirts, which are supposed breathe and yet keep you warm, and hiking pants which both Turtle and Navigator prefer not to wear unless absolutely needed. Then there were the sleeping bag liners that were supposed to help keep them warm in the cooler temperatures (hmmmmm . . . maybe that was a stretch). All of this is to say that they continue making adjustments as they try to get used to things.
They had a long day, but pushed to reach their goal of Gren Anderson shelter. They sounded very tired at the end of the day. Apparently the shelter was OK but filled with mosquitoes. It was a typical hiker finish with aches and pains . . . all is well.
Miles completed: 31.1
One would think that hiking should be . . . well easy. After all, how difficult should it be to walk, right? The truth is that preparing for this year has been a little different than others. Both guys needed new equipment which provided a good opportunity for a “do over” of sorts. New packs were purchased that actually are supposed to fit better. For those non-hikers, choosing packs is comparable to choosing the right prom dress. The packs have to be the right size to fit the body, the pockets have to be adequate to hold all the stuff and the design has to be just right for access. Just like the prom dress, the packs have to be fitted and adjusted for a perfect fit. Luckily most of the fitting is done by adjusting straps.
Other new stuff this year included warmer clothes and gear e.g., pullovers and Under Armor shirts, which are supposed breathe and yet keep you warm, and hiking pants which both Turtle and Navigator prefer not to wear unless absolutely needed. Then there were the sleeping bag liners that were supposed to help keep them warm in the cooler temperatures (hmmmmm . . . maybe that was a stretch). All of this is to say that they continue making adjustments as they try to get used to things.
They had a long day, but pushed to reach their goal of Gren Anderson shelter. They sounded very tired at the end of the day. Apparently the shelter was OK but filled with mosquitoes. It was a typical hiker finish with aches and pains . . . all is well.
Miles completed: 31.1
May 18, 2009 - Day 1
Starting from Delaware Water Gap, PA
Hiked 13.2 miles
For Turtle (Dale) the anticipation of getting on the trail creates a sense of mixed emotions. Nervousness because he is not sure if he anticipated everything . . . anxiety because getting on the trail is something he cannot wait to do. Navigator’s has a slightly different set of emotions . . . contemplative about new equipment and anxious to get on the trail. Both hikers were concerned about the weather since this was their coolest start yet with highs expected in the 50s and frost expected overnight.
The day started off with a Cinderella moment. Apparently the crocks morphed while in storage and neither hiker could get them easily. We were in our room at the Budget Inn ready to go to breakfast and both guys looked like the step sisters trying to shove their feet in the glass slippers. Luckily there was a WalMart close by so the problem was easily fixed after breakfast. Without any other incidents the guys got on the trail and were hiking around 8:00 a.m.
The first day out was a good one. They called around 5:00 p.m. to say they had reached Rattlesnake Spring, their intended stopping point for the night. It was a good day! They had already set up the tent and were inside trying to keep warm. The temperatures were dropping and the wind was blowing . . . cool temperatures create a completely new set of problems compared to the extreme heat of last year and the rain from their 2006 hike!
Today’s main event was Turtle taking a stellar fall in which his trekking pole got lodged in a rock and snapped. The good news is that the pole was the only thing that sustained injury. Turtle said he was fine. (First request from home . . . send Julie's trekking poles ASAP!)
Hiked 13.2 miles
For Turtle (Dale) the anticipation of getting on the trail creates a sense of mixed emotions. Nervousness because he is not sure if he anticipated everything . . . anxiety because getting on the trail is something he cannot wait to do. Navigator’s has a slightly different set of emotions . . . contemplative about new equipment and anxious to get on the trail. Both hikers were concerned about the weather since this was their coolest start yet with highs expected in the 50s and frost expected overnight.
The day started off with a Cinderella moment. Apparently the crocks morphed while in storage and neither hiker could get them easily. We were in our room at the Budget Inn ready to go to breakfast and both guys looked like the step sisters trying to shove their feet in the glass slippers. Luckily there was a WalMart close by so the problem was easily fixed after breakfast. Without any other incidents the guys got on the trail and were hiking around 8:00 a.m.
The first day out was a good one. They called around 5:00 p.m. to say they had reached Rattlesnake Spring, their intended stopping point for the night. It was a good day! They had already set up the tent and were inside trying to keep warm. The temperatures were dropping and the wind was blowing . . . cool temperatures create a completely new set of problems compared to the extreme heat of last year and the rain from their 2006 hike!
Today’s main event was Turtle taking a stellar fall in which his trekking pole got lodged in a rock and snapped. The good news is that the pole was the only thing that sustained injury. Turtle said he was fine. (First request from home . . . send Julie's trekking poles ASAP!)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
2009 Hiking Update
As the soreness starts to subside each year discussions ensue about plans for the next hike. Dale (Turtle) starts looking at vacation schedules and Ben (Navigator) begins to give his input, e.g., expected class schedule and other stuff. This year is no different.
In 2009 the hike is expected to start on May 18th. They plan to travel over 500 miles on foot before reaching their destination of Bartlett, NH (32 days). Last year the hike started in July. They hiked 430 miles in 27 days in temperatures from the high 50s to highs in the mid 90s. This year they expect to see lows in the 30s and highs in the 70s.
A lot of planning is done to prepare each year. This year plans have included purchases of new gear, warmer clothes and a few amenities (sleeping bag liners for those cool nights). New recipes have been developed for the "just-add-water" diet. They will be "feasting" on a new rice/veggie/ham delight for breakfast and a variety of new dried fruits for snacks.
We spent last week in the mountains of Franklin, NC where the guys took the opportunity to try out their new packs and warm clothes. Yes . . . that there was snow on the ground! For all of you non-hikers . . . yes they are crazy, but they were in good company. They met fellow hikers who started in Georgia and plan to hike all they way to Maine by the fall, 2178 miles.
We will be updating the blog in the coming weeks. We hope you will share comments!
In 2009 the hike is expected to start on May 18th. They plan to travel over 500 miles on foot before reaching their destination of Bartlett, NH (32 days). Last year the hike started in July. They hiked 430 miles in 27 days in temperatures from the high 50s to highs in the mid 90s. This year they expect to see lows in the 30s and highs in the 70s.
A lot of planning is done to prepare each year. This year plans have included purchases of new gear, warmer clothes and a few amenities (sleeping bag liners for those cool nights). New recipes have been developed for the "just-add-water" diet. They will be "feasting" on a new rice/veggie/ham delight for breakfast and a variety of new dried fruits for snacks.
We spent last week in the mountains of Franklin, NC where the guys took the opportunity to try out their new packs and warm clothes. Yes . . . that there was snow on the ground! For all of you non-hikers . . . yes they are crazy, but they were in good company. They met fellow hikers who started in Georgia and plan to hike all they way to Maine by the fall, 2178 miles.
We will be updating the blog in the coming weeks. We hope you will share comments!
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