PA's rocky trail continues into New Jersey and New York!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
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!
Friday, August 8, 2008
August – Long Days/Rugged Trail
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.
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.
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."
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