My Dad, Snapshot

I have an amazing father.

We timed it so that we would be able to meet up with him near the Standing Bear hostel just after crossing out of the Smokies. Not having any cell phone reception, I wasn't exactly sure on when we'd see him, but I knew he would be hiking towards us from Standing Bear. KitFox and I crossed over the park boundary, and after about another two miles we came across a hiker sound asleep against a rock. My dad! So naturally, I quietly crept up beside him and did my best bear impression I could.

We laughed and hugged and took the first of many photos that would be snapped over the next few days. At Standing Bear we got some more food and headed off into the woods once again.

Our final destination was to be Max Patch Bald where my dad parked his car. It's about a twelve mile section of trail we were going to break up over about two days.

We left Standing Bear and started to climb (my dad's first section of the AT since 1978, when he hiked a section in Georgia in the snow when he should have been recovering from a hernia operation. That's another story). Up, up, up we continued to climb. KitFox almost stepped on a snake. As we watched it slither off it began to rain. Still further up we climbed, now in a cold rain. Now in mud.

An excellent hike to begin with if you haven't been hiking the AT for a month already. Cold. Wet. Slippery. Giant snakes. And all uphill. Sorry, dad!

But he was a trooper, and I know he was loving it despite the difficulty. We made it to a scenic little campsite and called it a day after 1.8 miles from Standing Bear.

The next morning it rained some more. We had more uphills and a couple downhills. Welcome to the Appalachian Trail. I saw my dad's blisters. Not good. But he kept pressing on and we made it to our next campsite. About an 8 mile day.

Now we just had to get to the car before anyone died. It was another three miles or so. All uphill. What have I done to my poor father? He's in great shape, but these are some serious climbs. Thousand feet inclines over only a couple mile stretches. Again, not an easy hike to "ease" into.

But he did it. And we did it. We made it to his car at Max Patch. One step at a time.

I know my dad doesn't mind me sharing this story (and a little bit of his misery) because I can relate. Even though KitFox and I are in better shape now than when we started at Springer Mountain, we still have days where the Trail is simply knocking us off our feet (sometimes literally) and punching us in the face (ok, not so literal). It's not easy, no matter who you are! The important thing is to press on and keep on, one step at a time.

For my dad this time it was the car. For KitFox and I, it's Katahdin. What is it for you?

Sometimes life will punch you in the face and make you unable to breathe. What causes you to dig your hiking stick into the mud and continue climbing?

Snapshot

Rambo

Smoky Hiking

Charlie's Bunion

ManCub vs The Boy Scouts of America

It was a tough day for me as we crossed Fontana Dam and entered Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We immediately started climbing an ascent over 3,000 feet.

The miles seemed longer. One mile felt like four. Did we really only walk 0.2 miles from that last gap to this one? No, the guide book must be wrong. Is it too early for lunch? Is there such thing as post lunch?

We pass a shelter and I find the shelter journal. My entry simply reads, "ManCub hungro."

I am struggling this day. The excitement of being in a National Park had me giddy in the morning, but after steep up and downhills, swarms of gnats and flies, unusually warm weather and other hiker frustrations, I was ready for my nightly hibernation.

About twenty minutes before sunset, KitFox and I drag ourselves into camp.

*note*
In the Smokies, you have to stay at the shelters. One is not allowed to tent just anywhere they please. If you're not a thru-hiker, you must make a reservation for a shelter and stay at that shelter. But if the shelter is full, thru-hikers are the exception and may tent close by.
*end note*

I walk up to the shelter to see who we got tonight.

Chief pops his head out and greets us, but something else distracts me from his friendly hellos.

Boy scouts.

A swarm of them. Nibbling on their Chex Mix and Little Debbies. Backpacks and random gear strewn about everywhere.

"Hey guys, y'all already throw your bags down?" I ask.

One of the scout leaders asks the boys if they've all claimed their spaces yet. A boy or two scramble back into the shelter with their sleeping bags.

As this conversation is taking place, more and more hikers continue to stream in. Thru-hikers, section hikers and another group of boy scouts.

Well, I guess we get to tent tonight.

As it turned out, the second group of boy scouts was actually just a father-son group who had actually reserved the shelter. The boy scouts who were there when we arrived did not have reservations. They had reserved the shelter 6 miles south, but because they were "feeling good," they decided to move on up to this shelter.

Hence the severe over crowding.

Whatever, KitFox and I actually prefer tenting anyways, and it's a beautiful evening. We go to sleep with only a few clatters from the shelter and the sound of deer grazing close to our tents.

The next morning we are all up pretty early. The father-son group show a great interest in our thru-hike and end up giving us a bunch of extra food. MORE MAGIC! They were incredibly nice and encouraging to us. They were headed south, though, so we wouldn't see them again.

The boy scouts were headed north.

KitFox and I pass them a couple times on the trail and overhear that they are headed for the same shelter as us.

I sigh to myself but don't really think much of it since there was not too much commotion the previous night.

KitFox and I arrive at the shelter a couple hours before they do. We claim a space and lay out our sleeping bags. Thunder is heard in the distance, and soon it begins to rain.

The thunder grows louder.

A boy scout arrives.

The rain intensifies.

Two more boy scouts and a troupe leader.

Lightening.

Boy scouts.

More rain.

More scouts.

Hail.

Scouts.

Apocalypse!

There are now about 13 scouts and 4 long distance hikers including the two of us. We are all crammed in this shelter as a thunderous hail storm pounds over us.

It's gonna be a long night.

But it's still early. Late afternoon and time for a quick nap before dinner. We are both exhausted and have no problem falling asleep for a quick catnap.

I smell beef jerky.

We wake up and see some boys nibbling on their salty snacks INSIDE the shelter!

*ok, note part two*
Everybody on the AT knows not to eat in the same place you will be sleeping. Reason? BEARS. They can smell your food. They are attracted to it. You eat in your tent or shelter...here come the bears.
*end note part two*

What?!! What are these kids doing? And why aren't the leaders doing anything to stop them? In fact, why is that leader chowing down on some chicken and rice right next to my sleeping bag?! Is this real life?

Remain calm.

You haven't seen any bears yet. They probably don't even really exist. It's been raining a lot... maybe that will drown out the smell. It'll be ok. Why is that kid just staring at me?

It's time to have some dinner. KitFox and I walk out of the shelter and into the crowded eating area (a front porch of sorts) and cook our Ramen. Where we are supposed to. Away from the sleeping area.

We eat, brush our teeth, hang our bear bags in the rain and climb back into our sleeping bags. It's still light out, but we're tired. It's relatively quiet besides the thunder. The boy scouts must be playing the quiet game or something. KitFox and I talk for a bit until it gets dark.

Then they file in.

One after another they fill in the empty bunk spaces. All of us packed like sardines. Headlamps flash to and fro as they search for their belongings.

A troupe leader asks the boys if they've all written in their journals for the day.

Mixed responses.

I'm blinded as a boy struggles to find his notepad and pen.

"There's nothing to write about!"

"I already wrote in mine!"

"What time is it?!"

"There's a giant spider above my head!"

The rest of us try to doze off.

The scouts continue to chatter. Laugh. Squeal. Yelp. What have they been doing the past three hours when it was daylight? Their massively bright headlamps continue to illuminate the entire shelter.

"The spider is getting closer!"

"Hit it with Timmy's shoe!"

"No way!"

I'm beginning to lose it.

"It's gonna crawl in your mouth!"

"My mouth isn't open, so ha!"

"Yes it is because you're talking!"

Again, is this real life? Why aren't the leaders telling them to keep it down? Aren't they boy scouts? Where is their code of conduct? Respect for others?

A scene from Willy Wonka flashes in my mind. How awesome would it be if all of a sudden I started reciting Willy Wonka's crazy speech from this scene:

http://youtu.be/2Zail7Gdqro?t=1m16s

But no, as much as that amused me, I refrained. Surely they would stop soon. They can't be completely ignorant of the other hikers trying to sleep.

"Ahh!! Eeee!! It's crawling towards Tyler!! Hahaheeheeha!!"

That's it.

"WILL YOU GUYS PLEASE STOP TALKING?" came an angry voice from a deep dark corner of the room.

"Yeah," was the prompt reply I received.

"THANK YOU."

Bing. Bang. Boom. The headlamp search beacons went out, and there was an immediate silence.

I smiled and fell asleep.

The power of PLEASE and THANK YOU.

**As a final note on this, the next morning after the scouts woke everyone up, one of the long distance hikers found a clump of rice in his boot.

Boy scouts, y u no be good?

The end.

The portal

Bluegrass

Gatlinburg

Resupply

Clingman

Welcome to Smoky

Fontana Dam

Trail Magic

We are only two weeks in with about 140 miles under our boots, but already I have been blown away by people's hearts.

"Trail magic."

The past four days have been unbelievable in my eyes.

It started when KitFox and I were hiking on towards a shelter near the end of a long day, when I noticed something hanging from the trees up ahead.
"Why on earth is there a giant Tupperware bin dangling from that branch?" I thought to myself.
We got closer and saw a note pinned to the tree. Gingersnap, a 2011 thru-hiker, left a note of encouragement and explanation for current thru-hikers. The note basically explained how Gingersnap would not have made it to Maine without the generosity of strangers on the trail and was now returning the favor. KitFox and I smiled at each other in awe and began to lower the bin via the pulley system Gingersnap had set up. Like opening a present on Christmas or Hanukkah, we peeked inside and found bags of homemade cookies! Are you kidding me?! There was also a journal for us to sign, and as we read over previous entries from other hikers, we realized the impact something like that can have on someone. Some hikers wrote that they were moved to tears before even opening the box. Others said it was just the boost they needed after a long and difficult day to keep them going. For us, it was definitely an uplifting of spirits to be suddenly eating delicious cookies while also seeing the good it had done to our fellow hikers. I was touched.

The next morning we were off again with more miles ahead of us. We ate our breakfast of Poptarts and coffee and were in pretty good spirits, still in astonishment by the unexpected cookies dangling from the trees. About an hour into our hike, a young lady approached us.
"Are you guys thru-hikers?" she asked.
"Yeah, we're trying." we said.
"Well, are you hungry?"
To which I paused then replied, "Always."
She then pulled out an entire bag of McDonalds breakfast items and explained how hikers always crave McDonalds. Her name was Socks, and she was also a 2011 thru-hiker, out on the trail to try and spread the magic she had experienced the previous year. We graciously accepted her offer and took some hashbrowns and egg & cheese biscuits and talked with her while we ate our second breakfast. We told her there were a few more guys behind us who would probably love the leftover sausage biscuits, and she set off to find them. Again, it was completely unexpected kindness and encouragement from a complete stranger, but I felt connected to her and to a larger community.

These are people who truly want us to succeed, but not only that, they want to return the favors given to them. KitFox and I agreed... not a bad system, really. Imagine if everyone performed random acts of kindness in the "real world."

Then the rain came.

And more miles.

After Socks and the McDonalds breakfast we experienced quite a difficult day. I was tired and frustrated with the unexpected uphills and KitFox wasn't feeling too well, but we both marched onwards. We finally reached camp and pitched our tents in the pouring rain. My hands were so cold it took me about twenty minutes to successfully strike a match. Night came and closed out a strenuous afternoon of some arduous hiking.

But a new day is always a new start.

We packed up our gear and set off for our longest day yet. Sixteen miles was our goal. We actually made pretty good time even though I asked KitFox for lots of breaks to catch my breath (she is so much faster than I am!). At about the 10 mile mark was Wesser Bald. Over 5,000 feet elevation and a steep way to the top, we arrived hungry and worn out. My hands were blistering and irritated from the sun, but at least it was a gorgeous afternoon and we had a beautiful scenic view for lunch. Not five minutes into our little meals until we hear voices coming up the mountain. We had recently been leap frogging a group of younger hikers (Tarzan, Renaissance Man and Fancy Pants), and I figured it was them coming to pass us again. A group of about ten young guys come barreling up the mountain and almost all of them give a friendly wave as they pass by. None of them have packs. One guy immediately came up and asked if we're thru-hikers. Conversation began and he plopped down next to us as we continued eating our lunch. Turned out they were a large youth group from Snowbird, a Christian camp, on a day hike up the mountain. As we continued talking, more of them began to show up and soon we had a little gathering around us as we ate and talked about our trail names and life on the trail, etc.
Then the first guy says, "Oh! You should meet Stride. She thru-hiked in '08 and would love to talk with you guys!"
Sure enough, Stride showed up with another group and joined in on the conversation. It was wonderful to talk with these young people as we ate. Good, genuine, friendly people (and who actually had some mutual friends from my high school back in Woodstock) who were all very encouraging. If that wasn't enough, as Stride told us about her thru-hike and gave us good advice, they dropped a food bag at our feet and told us to take whatever we wanted.
"Sweet! Lucky Charms!" I exclaimed while almost simultaneously devouring them.
We talked for a nice bit and then parted ways. It was uplifting and again, unexpected.

Trail magic three days in a row?! I couldn't believe it.

But folks, let me tell you about another kind of trail magic. The kind that that just tugs at your heart strings from the people who are constantly praying for you night and day. People that loved and supported you long before you thought about stepping foot on the Trail.

Trail magic from your family.

It may seem like an obvious thing to state, but I don't think I can ever truly express how thankful I am for my family and for Anna's family. They have all been so supportive of our journey, and with only two weeks in have done so much for us.

Today I experienced every luxury a hiker could think of, brought to you by Dr. Bruce and Glenda Tucker. It is seriously difficult for me to think of words to express my gratitude to them for taking care of us today and making us feel like a king and queen. Shuttles, snacks, laundry, hotel, resupply, lunch, more snacks, dinner, ice cream and so much more! Not to mention just the fellowship, fun and joy of being around people you love.

I think the Trail is teaching me to be more appreciative of people. I know my family is always there for me and Anna's family is always there, too, but how am I returning the favor? How can I spread the "trail magic" on and off the Trail?

Two weeks in and about 140 miles walked.

I want to thank every person who has been so supportive and encouraging to us. It has already gotten us so far, and I appreciate every prayer and thought that has been sent our way. Our Father has been with us every step, protecting us and guiding us and listening to your prayers. I am inspired by you and your loving hearts. Whether you realize it or not, your actions are a Light to the world, and it's a light that should be contagious among us. So thank you everyone. And thank you especially to Gingersnap, Socks, Stride and my amazing family: Mom, Dad, Ben, Sarah, Yiskah, Bruce, Glenda and Anna.

Your trail magic inspires me to be a better person.

PHOTO: KitFox and Gingersnap's cookie bin.

Wesser Bald Fire Tower

Foggy Morning

100 Miles!

Climbing Albert Mountain

Standing Indian Mountain

Water

Water on Rocky Mountain

First Week

I guess it feels like a week. When I think about leaving Amicalola Falls and saying goodbye to our parents, it seems a bit longer. And when I think about meeting our fellow thru-hikers it seems a bit shorter. But today marks our first week on the AT, and that actually feels about right.

I was expecting it to be difficult.

It is.

The first day we hiked the approach trail - 8.5 miles just to get to the AT. We hiked the entire day, and at the end those miles didn't even count towards our ultimate goal. "Negative miles." Honestly, I felt a bit discouraged after our first day.

But one step at a time. Literally.

One step.

After another.

After another.

Each one working towards a small goal, which leads to a larger goal, which ultimately leads to the end goal. It's can definitely be a mental battle telling yourself not to be disheartened by the progress.

My knee began to seriously hurt to the point where I didn't know how I would be able to bend it. KitFox was getting some painful blisters on her feet. But we continue to walk it off. And we will continue to walk. One step at a time.

About four days in we arrived in Neels Gap at the outfitters and were greeted by an encouraging and cheerful staff (all of whom had thru-hiked before). We resupplied. Got a shower. Got a knee brace. And ate some luxurious hiker food like pizza and soda. It was a great boost and our first little milestone of the trip.

The next few days felt great. We were moving and hitting our small goals. It was still difficult but exhilarating and rewarding.

Now we are in town for our second resupply and our first "nero" day (nearly zero). We hiked a couple miles this morning to get to the road then shuttled into town with some other thru-hikers to spend the day relaxing and feasting. Tomorrow we are off again and will hit another, somewhat larger, goal of crossing our first state boundary.

It has only been one week, but within that week we have camped in the midst of thunder, lightning, and high winds. We have seen snow on top of Blood Mountain. Seen signs of bears. Walked among the clouds. Crawled up steep ascents and scrambled down treacherous descents. We have met and hiked with other thru-hikers such as Cicada, Chief, and Smiley. And we have passed others like Animal, Old Hiker, and FireFox. We have gone to sleep when the sun has set and awakened when the sun has risen. We have yet to pass completely through Georgia, but we have walked over seventy miles and will soon be in North Carolina.

It has only been one week, but we are not taking any of it for granted. There is much more walking to come.

Town Tomorrow

Fog

Lunch om nom

Video, y u no work?

Video?

AT Video Update #1

Been having some technology issues, but I will try to keep these coming.

The trail is absolutely breathtaking.