(Sat. 7/21/12 - Fri. 7/27/12) Kittery, ME (Family Visit/Break From the Trail)

I picked up Brett in Gorham, NH, as previously arranged. I got there early and hiked down the trail a little bit. I found a perfect spot by the creek that followed the trail for a bit and sat on a rock with my feet in the water while I waited for Brett to come down the trail. I was so happy to see Brett after so long (four months since Spring Break) that I cried. It took me a while for my eyes and emotions to get back to normal.

Brett has lost 50 pounds on the trail. He is skin and bones compared to what he was before. For the first few days, every time I saw him or put my arms around him it took me by surprise. It took about five days for me to look at him and not immediately think "He's so skinny!"

Brett also has an almost fully gray beard and looks "so old". Brett is fairly proud of his beard. He says it easily identifies him as a northbound thru-hiker, and he is respected by southbound hikers (who haven't been on the trail that long) or section hikers he meets on the way. I think Brett's beard is one small way to measure everything he has done so far.

It was so nice to have time with Brett. Brett's two goals for his time off were to spend time with the family and rest. So we spent most of our time at my parents' house just hanging out rather than going out or sight-seeing. (Being around crowds is the last thing Brett wants right now!) It was good to be together as a family again, although it may have made it a little harder for Brett to get back on the trail. My parents live on the water, and being on the water also made Brett realize how much he missed it.

Brett took care of some gear issues while he was here. He had a new pack shipped because the frame in his old one broke. He had to do some sewing to make minor modifications, just as he did with his previous two packs. He had to replace his hiking shoes, because sole on one of his shoes started separating. He also had to replace his pillow which wasn't holding air like it should. And of course, he unpacked, washed, and aired all of his gear out. Evidence of Brett was seen in many rooms of the house as well as on both the front and back porches.

I'm hoping the first few days on the trail weren't too tough for Brett. I had thought that the White Mountains in New Hampshire were the toughest part of the trail, but Brett said that the first 100 miles of Maine were supposedly the toughest. So Brett has just begun a very difficult section of the trail with new shoes, muscles that need to be worked back in, and a twinge or homesickness after spending so much time with the family. I know that he will get back into the swing of things soon. I am proud of him, and continue to be amazed at what he has done.

Here are a few Brett photos from our time together. First, a photo of Brett and his shadow (i.e. Ryan) hunting for treasure by my parents' house in Kittery, Maine.

The only tourist-y activity we did: stopping by the fisherman's memorial in Gloucester, Mass., on our way back from a trip to REI (new shoes).

Mending a small tear in his shorts.

First, we watched the lobster boats unload their catch from my parents' house. Then we went and bought the fresh, live lobsters (only $4.00 a pound!). Then Brett played with the lobsters. Later, Brett washed and steamed the lobsters (with no help). Finally, we all ate the lobsters (with step-by-step instruction from my parents).

At a rest stop in the White Mountains on the way to dropping Brett back off on the trail (before the emotional good-byes hit). The peak of Mount Washington was covered in clouds. We had rain on the three-hour drive there, but I think most of it had passed by the time we got to the trail.

Following our family tradition, we all wore our "Support Daddy Tie-Dye T-Shirts" on our first day with Brett, on our family outing to REI and Gloucester, and on our last day together.
Only three more weeks 'til Katahdin. We're proud of you, "The Dude".

(7/15/12-718/12) White Mountains, NH (E-mails)

Sun. 7/15/12 E-mail:
What is your parents' address?  I need to get another pack sent to them.
[This would be his third backpack!]

Wed. 7/18/12 E-mail:
I should summit Washington tomorrow am. No cell coverage at all. I am thinking of having you pick me up late this weekend. I will finish the Whites by then.

(Wed. 7/11/12) Smarts Mountain, NH (E-mail/Phone Update)

I got an e-mail from Brett on Wed. 7/11/12:
I am unable to call. I should be in Glencliff, NH tomorrow early afternoon. It should be about 2.5 hrs away. What time will you be able to be there? I will need long john bottoms, wool long sleeve shirt, down jacket, and clothes to wear for the day.

Brett called me late that night from the top of a fire tower where he had some reception. I believe it was the fire tower on Smarts Mountain. Brett said he was there alone, sleeping on top of the tower. The wind had woken him up and he was a little cold. That was when he decided to call, knowing that I would still be awake. I had just flown in to New England from Utah and was still getting settled though it was almost midnight. Brett said he would be in Glencliff, NH the next day. We made arrangements for me to meet up with him.

The next morning, Thu. 7/12/12, everyone here slept in. The boys were still asleep at 10am. I ended up taking too long to unpack from my trip, to pack what I needed to take to Brett, and get ready to go. I spent too long talking to my mom and figuring out my route to the Whites. I ended up leaving about two hours later than I had planned with Brett. Brett called to check on my status, heard that I had only just left, and suggested that I go back home and we would find another place to meet up. Needless to say, we were both disappointed.

Brett continued hiking through the White Mountains. The Whites are one of the most difficult sections on the trail. I think that Brett decided to just keep pushing forward through the Whites with a plan to meet up with me when he finished.

(Tue. 6/12/12) NY (Phone Update)

I apologize for those who may have been waiting to hear updates from from Brett for the past month. I have not had easy access to a computer during that time. In addition, I have not had very much communication with Brett. Most of the problem has been cell phone reception. But Brett also may not have called as much because he did not want to interrupt my time with family, and finding time when he was not hiking and when I was at home to talk to him without being surrounded by family was a little difficult.

During this short phone call Brett did not let me know his location.  He crossed into New York two days before. He was staying in the basement of a church with a kitchen and was taking a walk to the grocery store to get some snacky food. He decided to take a zero day. Brett said he was ready for one; besides, it was going to be raining all day.

Brett said that there were no more outfitters around for him to easily get supplies. He asked me to start looking for some things for him. He second pair of shoes were going out. I ended up shipping him a new pair of shoes, sock liners, hiking pole tips, and a smaller pair of underwear.

Brett has lost 45 pounds and now weighs close to 195 pounds.

(Sat./Sun. 6/2-6/3/12) Port Clinton, PA - Phone Update From Brett

I got two calls from this weekend. He called Saturday, and first thing Sunday morning. I don't have much to report. Brett didn't have a lot to say from his end, and we spent more time talking about things from home.

Brett came into the town of Port Clinton on Saturday. He planned on going to a Cabela's store there as soon as it opened on Sunday, and then would get back on the trail. He has had a gift certificate sitting on the desk for quite a while, and this was a perfect opportunity for him to use. Brett's dad said he thought Brett needed to buy new shoes (again?), but I had not heard that. I wonder how many pairs of shoes Brett will end up going through before it's all over.

Brett had been able to meet up with his dad's cousins a few weeks ago. He expects to be able to meet up with his dad's cousin's daughter on Monday afternoon. (That would be Wendell's daughter Kristin, i.e. Brett's second cousin.)

(Tue. 5/8/12) Waynesboro, VA - Phone Update From Brett

Brett made it into Waynesboro, so he had reliable phone service. He was tenting outside of the YMCA. They allow hikers to set up tents outside and use the showers in the YMCA. He was expecting heavy thunderstorms that evening.

Brett had to replace his backpack. He had a new one shipped to Waynesboro. Brett had made some modifications to his first backpack. There was a few things, including a "poofy pocket" for a water bottle, that he wanted to add to this new backpack as well. So he ended up spending about two hours sewing the new pack until his fingers were bleeding. He whittled down some of his gear again and sent a box back home.

Brett has been hiking in his Chaco sandals for about 100 miles so far. He has always been a sandal person, and the weather is only getting better for them.

It was still early enough that Brett was headed to the library in town. I think he was looking forward to having some indoor quiet time for writing in his journal and maybe using the computer (if they allowed non-residents to use them).

Brett finished the Blue Ridge Parkway that day and would be starting the Shenandoah National Park/Skyline Drive. The trail in Shenandoah should be easier.

Brett is down at least 37.5 pounds, even though he's eating as much as he can carry. (Yes, he's taking his vitamins.)

Brett's tooth is feeling better this week. It's not hurting like it was. I hope that he will get it taken care of when he visits his friend Don in Pennsylvania.

I asked about wildlife. He sid that he is hearing more birds in the woods, but hasn't seen anything spectacular. He did see a black and white nuthatch that was pretty. He saw a big rattlesnake on top of a mountain. And while he was walking through Waynesboro he saw some pretty cute baby goslings in the park.

When he was staying at the Dutch House Hostel he enjoyed seeing the pretty goldfinches and hummingbirds at the feeders the owner had said up. Apparently, at certain times of the year the hummingbirds come through in such great numbers that the feeders have to be refilled daily.

What Brett has really liked seeing on the trail are the red/bright orange salamanders. He said the color is so unreal, they look like little gummy worms you could just pick up and eat. (I'll have to get him to identify the species when we get to a computer.)

I think Brett is looking forward to seeing  more wildlife in Shenandoah, which is known for tame deer . . . and bears . . . and ticks. He has found about a dozen or so ticks on him, only two of which were buried in. The rest he could just brush off.

Brett is really enjoying the small towns on the trail: small-town America. He feels completely comfortable in these small towns and doesn't feel out of place. He does look a little out of place, though. Brett said he definitely looks homeless: long hair, long beard, dirty, smelly, with pants that keep falling down. He had been sitting by the side of a road. Someone passing by stopped and offered him a beer saying, "You look like you could use one." (Brett graciously declined.)

Brett did comment on the sad dental state of many a small-town West Virginia/Virginia resident. He was shopping in a Dollar General recently, and the young, pretty girl at the cash register had just one front tooth. Brett said these kind of toothless smiles are, sadly, prevalent.

I asked Brett whether he has been keeping the same pace with any hikers. He said "Buzz Kill" is still around. They started at Springer on the same day and have leap-frogged each other throughout their hikes. The last few days he enjoyed keeping up with a retired Marine from Virginia Beach. The Marine was a section hiker who would be getting off in Harpers Ferry, I believe.

Brett's attitude is definitely getting better. I can hear the difference in his voice as we talk. He said does not have the big doubts that he had earlier in Virginia. (Those of us at home never doubted him!)

(Fri. 4/13/12) Marion, VA - Phone Update From Brett

Brett has been out of cell phone range this last week. I was excited to hear from him last night. Unfortunately, the cell phone quickly started breaking up and we had to cut our call short.

In Damascus last weekend Brett received his package with the summer-weight sleeping bag and lighter down pullover. He boxed up his winter-weight sleeping bag, down jacket, and long johns. Then at the beginning of the week a cold front came through and Brett experienced his coldest day on the trail--with only his summer gear to help him through. He said that it was warming up (it was only supposed to be in the 30's on Friday night), but should get a little warmer in a few days.

Brett called back today. He made it into Marion, Virginia, an interstate town a couple of miles from the trail. Last night he mentioned his plan to hitch-hike into town. I am assuming he was successful. Marion is a bigger town with a Wal-mart, hotels, restaurants, etc. where they were able to get some resupplying done. Brett, Ed and another hiker pooled together and got a hotel room. Brett said it feels good to be clean. He said it is the first real shower he has had in about two weeks. Apparently, the shower he had at the hostel in Damascus ran out of hot water quickly. Tonight they have plans to do laundry and go out for dinner.

Update/End of the night call:
Brett called me on his walk back from the restaurant to the hotel. It didn't sound like he had an impressive dinner. They just chose the restaurant because it was convenient to walk to from the hotel.

I asked about whether they had to hitch-hike into town. They didn't. They were able to use county transportation to get them from their shelter last night to town. Last night they stayed at Partnership Shelter, a really nice shelter next to a National Forest Service visitor center. They have a shower (with cold water) and a phone. Apparently, a traditional thing to do when staying at this shelter is to use the phone to order a pizza delivery. So, of course, Brett has to follow tradition. Brett said he suspects that the pizza is probably pretty good when you eat it in the store, but it wasn't that great by the time they got it. It was cold and kind of dry.

In the morning, they were able to use the phone to call the county public transportation and arrange a ride into town. They plan to use the public transportation tomorrow to get from the hotel back to the trail. Not a bad deal for $0.50.

Brett said that he offered to take the floor in the hotel tonight. He said that he is quite comfortable on his sleeping pad. Brett said that he would take sleeping in his cozy tent apartment over a shelter any day. The only thing he doesn't like is setting up or taking down camp in the rain. That is no fun. He has spent only two nights in a shelter so far because of bad weather. One night was the hail storm, previously mentioned. The other time was he chose to sleep in a shelter because it had been raining for an hour before it was time to set up and was expected to rain through the night.

Brett said he has been sleeping well. That is, before the cold snap came through. He couldn't sleep last night because he was so cold with all of his warm gear gone.

A typical evening schedule might be:
7:00pm - retire to bed
8:00pm - write in journal for a while; fall asleep fairly quickly after journaling
1:00am - wake up; toss and turn for a little before falling back asleep
6:30am - wake up
7:00am - get out of bed and start packing up camp
8:00am - ready to hit the trail
Brett did say the times are starting to get a little earlier than the above with the days getting longer.

(Thu. 4/5/12) near Laurel Falls, TN - Phone Update From Brett

Brett has not had much cell phone service at all this week. He finally got a call in to me this morning to confirm the package that he needed me to ship today to send to Damascus, VA. Brett said they are about a day ahead of what he expected. They will probably take one "zero" day there, but he doesn't want to be waiting around longer for a package.

This is a fairly important package for Brett. It signifies a switch from some winter to summer gear. Brett and Ed will both be switching out their winter sleeping bags for lighter and cooler summer bags. I sent Brett his lighter down pullover jacket. He is also going to start using his converted aluminum beer bottle alcohol stove (a very nifty stove Brett discovered online and made prior to leaving).

Brett didn't ask for much in the way of food except a couple of Mountain House dehydrated meals (lasagna and BBQ beef). I also sent him a bag with some candy for Easter and a homemade card from me and the boys.

(3/28/12) Sams Gap, TN? - Phone Update From Brett

It sounded like Brett was enjoying a beautiful afternoon. He called from a nicely mowed field where he was lying down, enjoying the perfect weather--warm sun and cool wind.

He was also giving his feet a break. Brett's first pair of shoes started wearing down after a month of serious hiking. Brett had ordered a new pair and had me bring them to him in Gatlinburg. He wore them all week in an attempt to break them in, but was unsuccessful. The new shoes were giving him blisters, especially bad on his heel. He had hiked all day in his Crocs, which felt okay except that he feels every rock and root when wearing them.

He called the shoe company (Merrill) and was very impressed with their customer service. They said they would send him another pair of shoes--a different style and a bigger size. But he would have to hike with what he has until he gets to the mail drop. Brett expected to be in Erwin, TN in maybe two days, but the mail drop in Roan Mountain, TN, is beyond that.