Knowing that Brett was in the Hundred Mile Wilderness, I really didn't expect to hear from him again. Brett surprisingly had some cell service and was able to call home. He just doesn't have a way of recharging his phone. He is staying in a hostel in the middle of nowhere which has no electricity. They cook and run everything (including lights and refrigeration) on propane gas. The hostel is right on a lake. You blow an air horn when you get to their dock, and they come by boat to pick you up.
Brett said there are lakes everywhere. Katahdin may be only about 15 miles as the crow flies, but the trails twists and turns around the water. You see planes flying everywhere.
Brett hiked 3 miles to the hostel, leaving him only 46 more miles to go. The weather is terrible. Brett said that it has rained five of the last seven days. "Even my bones are wet." Brett, and quite a few other hikers (the hostel is full with 12 people), welcomed a chance to get out of the rain and stay in a hostel. Brett plans to hike the summit of Katahdin on Sunday, weather permitting. Sunday had the best forecast, and Brett may have to skip up to 10 miles in order to be at the top in decent weather--a sacrifice that Brett will gladly make.
The plan for Brett's return is that Coconut and her dad (whose name I finally discovered is Tailwind), as well as fellow hiker, BP, will drive down I-95 and drop off Brett in Kittery. Brett said he is ready to go home and sleep.
I asked Brett about Buzzkill, who started hiking the A.T. when Brett did, and whom Brett has kept up with almost the entire time. Brett saw Buzzkill a few days ago. They talked about summitting together, but Buzzkill got ahead of Brett and was ready to be done and get home.
Brett came into the hostel with an almost empty food bag. The hostel has a pantry for hikers to resupply. After this there may be one more "supply pantry". But Brett is starting to throw away some of his food containers now as he finishes them. He has only about one more meal on the trail. Then one last guilt-free meal in Millinocket (the town closest to Katahdin where Brett will probably stay after he summits).
Brett has only one more page of "The A.T. Guide" left. This is the book that has given him all the details of the trail along the way. He would rip out one page at a time, keeping it in his pocket for easy reference as he hiked. Then, when he finished that section he would throw it away and tear out the next page to carry. Now all that is left is one page.
Brett said that he is ready to be done. He is ready to be home. But, he is still enjoying this last section of trail. I hoped that Brett wouldn't be so focused on getting it over with, that he missed enjoying the finish. It sounds like he will enjoy the finish as well as being finished.
Showing posts with label inclement weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inclement weather. Show all posts
Sunday, August 19, 2012
(Fri. 8/10/12) Monson, ME (phone call)
I expected cell phone service in Maine to be terrible. It was still hard for me not to hear an update after Brett told me about his black and broken foot. I was finally able to hear from Brett and get an update.
Brett said the part of his foot that is broken is the bump on the outside of his foot right below his little toe. He said it hurts, "but what can you do?" [The answer that comes to my mind is "see a doctor".] Although it hurts, it doesn't sound like his foot has really slowed Brett down. I hope that Brett will have it looked at when he returns home, but I know he does not want to think about that yet.
Brett said that he had only about a hundred more miles, about one week, left on the trail. Monson is the last town near the trail before the "Hundred Mile Wilderness." Brett's pack is heavy with all the food that he will need. This was essentially his last resupply. I am sure that at this point Brett will be noticing many "lasts".
The weather in Maine has not been very good to Brett. It sounds like there has been a lot of rain.
Brett has continued hiking with Coconut and her dad since Andover, ME. I'm really grateful that I was able to meet them in Gorham, NH, the day I dropped Brett off. They seemed very nice, and I'm glad that Brett has some good companions.
Coconut and her dad even offered to give Brett a ride back to my parents' house. They will be picked up at Katahdin and will be driving down I-95, which goes right through Kittery and Portsmouth. I was given an assignment to start checking out flights. Brett should be home in less than two weeks!
Brett said the part of his foot that is broken is the bump on the outside of his foot right below his little toe. He said it hurts, "but what can you do?" [The answer that comes to my mind is "see a doctor".] Although it hurts, it doesn't sound like his foot has really slowed Brett down. I hope that Brett will have it looked at when he returns home, but I know he does not want to think about that yet.
Brett said that he had only about a hundred more miles, about one week, left on the trail. Monson is the last town near the trail before the "Hundred Mile Wilderness." Brett's pack is heavy with all the food that he will need. This was essentially his last resupply. I am sure that at this point Brett will be noticing many "lasts".
The weather in Maine has not been very good to Brett. It sounds like there has been a lot of rain.
Brett has continued hiking with Coconut and her dad since Andover, ME. I'm really grateful that I was able to meet them in Gorham, NH, the day I dropped Brett off. They seemed very nice, and I'm glad that Brett has some good companions.
Coconut and her dad even offered to give Brett a ride back to my parents' house. They will be picked up at Katahdin and will be driving down I-95, which goes right through Kittery and Portsmouth. I was given an assignment to start checking out flights. Brett should be home in less than two weeks!
Friday, July 20, 2012
(Sat. 7/6/12) Killington, VT (Phone Update)
Brett was staying at The Inn at Long Trail, near where The Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail split. Brett said it had rained all day and he was tired. He decided to share a hotel room with another hiker, Gun Runner.
I asked how Brett's Fourth of July celebration was. He said it was a bust. He got a rider to a soccer field in town to participate in the festivities. They had a nice presentation before the fireworks but they had to delay the fireworks because of a big lightning storm the next town over. They delayed again. And again. Then there were reports of hail the next town over, so they had to cancel the fireworks altogether. Brett had to walk to meet back up with his ride and ended up soaking wet. Bummer.
Brett said he crossed the point where there are less than 500 miles left to go. He still faces mental challenges every day. Every hill is still a challenge.
Killington is the first 4,000-ft. climb since maybe VA. He met up with four college kids were there hiking Killington as part of a reunion. He climbed with them and talked the whole way. Brett said it was nice to have the company while climbing. It made it go by faster and easier.
I asked Brett if he could feel that the uphill climbs were easier now that he has been hiking for over four months. Brett said that every climb is tough. But the recovery after a climb is quicker and the breaks are shorter.
We talked about wildlife on the trail. Brett had not seen a moose, but he did see moose turd. He saw a porcupine in New York. And he saw a bear in Mass. Brett was a switchback down from the bear. The bear came down from a tree, sat on the trail, and walked off.
Brett said that he hasn't been hiking with many other hikers. There was a section hiker, G-Paw (?) that Brett had been enjoying hiking with. But he broke his wrist and was now off the trail. Brett said he is about two weeks ahead of the pack. Brett left in mid/late February, and most set off in March. Brett said he "had my lonely fill" and would be okay with some more people.
I asked how Brett's Fourth of July celebration was. He said it was a bust. He got a rider to a soccer field in town to participate in the festivities. They had a nice presentation before the fireworks but they had to delay the fireworks because of a big lightning storm the next town over. They delayed again. And again. Then there were reports of hail the next town over, so they had to cancel the fireworks altogether. Brett had to walk to meet back up with his ride and ended up soaking wet. Bummer.
Brett said he crossed the point where there are less than 500 miles left to go. He still faces mental challenges every day. Every hill is still a challenge.
Killington is the first 4,000-ft. climb since maybe VA. He met up with four college kids were there hiking Killington as part of a reunion. He climbed with them and talked the whole way. Brett said it was nice to have the company while climbing. It made it go by faster and easier.
I asked Brett if he could feel that the uphill climbs were easier now that he has been hiking for over four months. Brett said that every climb is tough. But the recovery after a climb is quicker and the breaks are shorter.
We talked about wildlife on the trail. Brett had not seen a moose, but he did see moose turd. He saw a porcupine in New York. And he saw a bear in Mass. Brett was a switchback down from the bear. The bear came down from a tree, sat on the trail, and walked off.
Brett said that he hasn't been hiking with many other hikers. There was a section hiker, G-Paw (?) that Brett had been enjoying hiking with. But he broke his wrist and was now off the trail. Brett said he is about two weeks ahead of the pack. Brett left in mid/late February, and most set off in March. Brett said he "had my lonely fill" and would be okay with some more people.
(6/2_ /12) Great Barrington, MA (Phone Update)
Ugh. I was able to chat with Brett for a while, but I was so busy taking notes of his activities that I never wrote down the date of this phone call.
Brett had pushed himself the day before, hiking 26 miles. He said it was too much and he was hurting because of it. He had blisters from his new shoes. He hiked only a few miles and arrived at a hostel that morning-what they call a Nero day (near zero). His goal was to hike 20 miles the next day.
He was spending the day at the hostel taking care of errands-phone calls, laundry, and a shower. He planned on ordering pizza for dinner.
Brett said he hiked all through Connecticut without really seeing other hikers. He was in kind of a weird bubble. Some hikers were about a day ahead, some about a day behind, but he was really hiking alone.
They had record heat the previous weekend. Brett said the smell has gone up to a whole different level. He sat in a creek pouring water over his head to cool down his core temp. He said to himself, I could handle some rain. Not much later he was stuck in a thunderstorm with hail the size of a cherry or grape, with nowhere to go. It was June and there was an inch of ice on the ground. He from hot to freezing in about 15 minutes. The hail was smooth and round, making it difficult to walk over. Brett said you have to be careful what you wish for. Brett said it was raining again; another grey day.
Brett was in Massachusetts and said that the mosquitoes were the worst he's ever seen. They continued biting even while he was moving.
On the positive side, Brett said there were wild blueberries all over the place. He was out of the range of the wild raspberries, and the huckleberries weren't ripe yet. He passed by a small, out-of-the-way, but busy creamery. I told him folks know how to do ice cream in New England.
Brett was in Great Barrington, MA. He planned to resupply in Lee.
I didn't hear much about it, but Brett was able to have visitors along the way. His friend Nancy and her sister were able to hike with him for a couple of days. Although I think Brett had to significantly slow down his pace, it's worth it to be able to have good company for a little while.
Brett had pushed himself the day before, hiking 26 miles. He said it was too much and he was hurting because of it. He had blisters from his new shoes. He hiked only a few miles and arrived at a hostel that morning-what they call a Nero day (near zero). His goal was to hike 20 miles the next day.
He was spending the day at the hostel taking care of errands-phone calls, laundry, and a shower. He planned on ordering pizza for dinner.
Brett said he hiked all through Connecticut without really seeing other hikers. He was in kind of a weird bubble. Some hikers were about a day ahead, some about a day behind, but he was really hiking alone.
They had record heat the previous weekend. Brett said the smell has gone up to a whole different level. He sat in a creek pouring water over his head to cool down his core temp. He said to himself, I could handle some rain. Not much later he was stuck in a thunderstorm with hail the size of a cherry or grape, with nowhere to go. It was June and there was an inch of ice on the ground. He from hot to freezing in about 15 minutes. The hail was smooth and round, making it difficult to walk over. Brett said you have to be careful what you wish for. Brett said it was raining again; another grey day.
Brett was in Massachusetts and said that the mosquitoes were the worst he's ever seen. They continued biting even while he was moving.
On the positive side, Brett said there were wild blueberries all over the place. He was out of the range of the wild raspberries, and the huckleberries weren't ripe yet. He passed by a small, out-of-the-way, but busy creamery. I told him folks know how to do ice cream in New England.
Brett was in Great Barrington, MA. He planned to resupply in Lee.
I didn't hear much about it, but Brett was able to have visitors along the way. His friend Nancy and her sister were able to hike with him for a couple of days. Although I think Brett had to significantly slow down his pace, it's worth it to be able to have good company for a little while.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
(Tue. 5/29/12) Duncannon, PA - E-mail From Brett
I am past Duncannon in another shelter as a big thunderstorm is in for the evening. I have poison ivy on my arm. The weather is the hottest that it has been so far for the last few days. It is hot even for the Florida boy. Water has been scarce. I am carrying a lot of extra weight, because I do not want to run out. I miss you, it seems like more each day. It feels like it has been so long since I have seen you--much longer than it has felt for you, because time goes by slower on the trail. I know your birthday is coming up. I never know if I will have service the next day, so happy birthday if I do not have service. I do not know what town I will be in next, but I will figure it out in a day or two and let you know my plan.
(Thu. 5/31/12) Shy of the 501 Shelter, PA - Phone Update From Brett
Brett called me while eating his lunch on the top of a mountain. He had good cell phone reception and wanted to call me while he had a chance (didn't want to miss my birthday). Lunch was a tortilla with tuna fish and hot sauce.
Brett said that is was a nice day, the first nice day he had in over a week. He was enjoying an absolutely clear sky. It had cooled down to 60 degrees the previous night and was supposed to go down to the 50's that night. With a light breeze on the mountain, dry air, and a slightly wet shirt, Brett was almost chilly. He said he was looking forward to snuggling up in his sleeping bag instead of laying naked on top. The weather in Penn. has been unseasonably hot with high humidity. He said he was hearing locals complain about the weather, and didn't think they were used to is.
Brett said they got some of the tail winds of Albert, a tropical storm that came through. It rained for about a day and a half.
Brett woke up to a clear, bright sunny morning and started hiking early. He finished 10 miles by lunch and only had 6 more miles to go before his goal of reaching the 501 Shelter. The 501 Shelter is close to the road. You can order pizza there, and there is also a place to charge cell phones.
Brett said people easily recognize him as "The Dude". While I was on the phone with Brett another hiker said, "Oh, you must be 'The Dude'." I asked Brett how this hiker would know that if they had never met before. Brett said if the hiker had seen his name in a log, it would be easy for him to match the name with the right person. Recently another hiker said to Brett, "I sure hope your name is 'Lebowski' or something like that." When Brett told him that it was "The Dude", this hiker replied that Brett had one of the most fitting names. I have never seen the movie this is from, but apparently the resemblance is striking.
Brett had complained about his knee hurting. When I asked him about it again, Brett said that it is not bothering him anymore, but that it did take about a week for the pain to go away. Now his has a cramp in the bottom of the foot. He's not the only one who is feeling the aches and pains. He said everyone walks with the Hiker Hobble. Your body stiffens up after any kind of break. Brett did say that the hills are almost getting easier. Brett has consistently complaining about going uphill, so this was good new to hear.
Brett got some poison ivy. He said that is bothering him. When treated, it heals faster. But Brett said it would probably take a couple of weeks for the rash to completely clear up.
Brett said that he had a nice visit with his friend Don. Brett could have stayed longer, but he felt like he needed to get going. He didn't want to sit around too much. Brett and Don worked together on an out-of-town project in GA some years ago, but Don is friends with a dentist her in Niceville. Another case of It's a Small World.
Brett said that is was a nice day, the first nice day he had in over a week. He was enjoying an absolutely clear sky. It had cooled down to 60 degrees the previous night and was supposed to go down to the 50's that night. With a light breeze on the mountain, dry air, and a slightly wet shirt, Brett was almost chilly. He said he was looking forward to snuggling up in his sleeping bag instead of laying naked on top. The weather in Penn. has been unseasonably hot with high humidity. He said he was hearing locals complain about the weather, and didn't think they were used to is.
Brett said they got some of the tail winds of Albert, a tropical storm that came through. It rained for about a day and a half.
Brett woke up to a clear, bright sunny morning and started hiking early. He finished 10 miles by lunch and only had 6 more miles to go before his goal of reaching the 501 Shelter. The 501 Shelter is close to the road. You can order pizza there, and there is also a place to charge cell phones.
Brett said people easily recognize him as "The Dude". While I was on the phone with Brett another hiker said, "Oh, you must be 'The Dude'." I asked Brett how this hiker would know that if they had never met before. Brett said if the hiker had seen his name in a log, it would be easy for him to match the name with the right person. Recently another hiker said to Brett, "I sure hope your name is 'Lebowski' or something like that." When Brett told him that it was "The Dude", this hiker replied that Brett had one of the most fitting names. I have never seen the movie this is from, but apparently the resemblance is striking.
Brett had complained about his knee hurting. When I asked him about it again, Brett said that it is not bothering him anymore, but that it did take about a week for the pain to go away. Now his has a cramp in the bottom of the foot. He's not the only one who is feeling the aches and pains. He said everyone walks with the Hiker Hobble. Your body stiffens up after any kind of break. Brett did say that the hills are almost getting easier. Brett has consistently complaining about going uphill, so this was good new to hear.
Brett got some poison ivy. He said that is bothering him. When treated, it heals faster. But Brett said it would probably take a couple of weeks for the rash to completely clear up.
Brett said that he had a nice visit with his friend Don. Brett could have stayed longer, but he felt like he needed to get going. He didn't want to sit around too much. Brett and Don worked together on an out-of-town project in GA some years ago, but Don is friends with a dentist her in Niceville. Another case of It's a Small World.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
(Tue. 5/22/12) ?, PA - Becca/Brett Exchanges
5/22/12 Text from Becca to Brett:
Sitting at the ball field thinking of you. Will try to type our family news soon. Sorry it's been a while. Wrens left the nest today. Miss you when I watch them. Hope to talk to you soon. Love you!
5/22/12 Text from Brett to Becca:
Crossed into PA today and left the comfort of the south. I was also thinking that I really do miss you. The past two days have been solid rain. I want to dry out. Dry is a feeling that I take for granted when I am at home.
5/21/12 E-mail from Becca to Brett:
Sitting at the ball field thinking of you. Will try to type our family news soon. Sorry it's been a while. Wrens left the nest today. Miss you when I watch them. Hope to talk to you soon. Love you!
5/22/12 Text from Brett to Becca:
Crossed into PA today and left the comfort of the south. I was also thinking that I really do miss you. The past two days have been solid rain. I want to dry out. Dry is a feeling that I take for granted when I am at home.
5/21/12 E-mail from Becca to Brett:
Brett, I was just looking through the book and noticed this description of Pine Grove General Store (1095.6 mi., “home of the half gallon challenge”):
“open 7 days Labor day to Memorial Day….”
First of all, I think it is supposed to say “…Memorial Day to Labor Day….” My concern is this: are you going to get there before Memorial Day [next Monday, 5/29/12]? And will they be open?
5/22/12 Email from Brett to Becca:
I have heard that they are open. If not I will do my challenge at Don's house. I should be there this weekend. If you could, get a list of dentists around Carlisle PA that take our insurance. My tooth is beginning to hurt again. But not worse than my feet right now. Two days of rain and walking with soaked shoes makes all the feet soft and wore three or four blisters today. But I am a few days from hopefully getting everything clean and dry.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
(Thu. 4/26/12) Catawba, VA - Phone Update From Brett
After almost a week, I finally heard from Brett again. There hasn't been much cell phone service, especially in the valleys.
It was a tough week. In addition to raining almost all week, they got three inches of snow. Brett had a bad day the day before. He was freezing and tired. It's not fun and you start asking yourself "why?" He was staying at Four Pines Hostel, about 30 miles from Dalesville, VA. He felt a little better after showering, getting dry, and going out to eat. But he still hates going up hills. "You get sick of it."
Brett saw Ed a couple of days earlier. They stayed in a guy's backyard, hunkering down through the weather. However, he wasn't sure if he would see Ed again. Ed is pushing more, and Brett feels miserable hiking those long days.
It was a tough week. In addition to raining almost all week, they got three inches of snow. Brett had a bad day the day before. He was freezing and tired. It's not fun and you start asking yourself "why?" He was staying at Four Pines Hostel, about 30 miles from Dalesville, VA. He felt a little better after showering, getting dry, and going out to eat. But he still hates going up hills. "You get sick of it."
Brett saw Ed a couple of days earlier. They stayed in a guy's backyard, hunkering down through the weather. However, he wasn't sure if he would see Ed again. Ed is pushing more, and Brett feels miserable hiking those long days.
Friday, April 13, 2012
(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.
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.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
(Mon. 4/2/12) Roan Mountain, TN - Phone Update From Brett
Brett just got into Roan Mountain, TN, this morning after hiking 8 miles. They stayed at Overmountain Shelter last night, an old hay barn that has been converted to a shelter. Brett said it is huge and really neat.
They left the shelter this morning and had some of the worst weather so far. They were hiking in the pouring rain with 40mph winds. At some points they were essentially walking sideways down the trail to compensate for the wind. Brett said it was really tough.
What makes it sad is they were hiking from one high bald to another. They would have enjoyed some great views, had it not been for the nasty weather. ["bald", n. - (Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.) a treeless mountaintop or area near the top.]
Brett picked up his package in Roan Mountain, sent the "old" shoes home, and put the new shoes on his feet. They feel better than the old pair. He thinks his feet have grown (or swelled) some. His left foot has a big blister on his heel; his right foot has a blister between his big toe and the next toe over; and he has blisters on the tips of his toes from the Crocs. He wasn't able to get mole skin or anything else to stick to help with the blisters. Hopefully, he will adjust to the new shoes and recover from the old ones quickly.
The weather was bad, but not miserable. It helped having town to look forward to, knowing that he would be able to dry out later in the day and escape the wet.
He took an ibuprofin in the morning to help with a headache he woke up with. Aside from that, he hasn't had to take any "vitamin I" to alleviate hiking pains and sore muscles.
Spring has almost fully sprung in the mountains. The trees are still bare, but flowers are blooming and the grass is green. They have seen a lot of mountain salamanders. Brett said they look cool. They are orange and almost look like a fruit chew. Brett also saw some deer that were not scared off by people.
They were staying in a hostel in Roan Mountain (Mountain Harbour B&B/Hostel?), and Brett was petting a billy goat as we talked. He said he thinks the hostel owner keeps the goats on his steep hill just to mow the grass.
Brett said his "hiker hunger" has finally set in. He is starved all the time and is really losing weight. Brett thinks he is down 20 pounds at this point.
Brett expects to be in Damascus, Virginia, around Sunday. Brett said that Virginia should be flatter and faster. It should take him about six weeks to make it through Virginia, reaching the "half-way point" in Harper's Ferry. He will be hiking summer in Virginia and will go through the Shenendoah Mountains. He is hoping that his mom and dad will be able to meet up with him then. I think it helps Brett to have something to look forward to along the way.
Brett gave me a list of items to put in his next package and warned me to open the package from him outside. He would be sending wet, muddy shoes and a raincoat. Messy and stinky.
They left the shelter this morning and had some of the worst weather so far. They were hiking in the pouring rain with 40mph winds. At some points they were essentially walking sideways down the trail to compensate for the wind. Brett said it was really tough.
What makes it sad is they were hiking from one high bald to another. They would have enjoyed some great views, had it not been for the nasty weather. ["bald", n. - (Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.) a treeless mountaintop or area near the top.]
Brett picked up his package in Roan Mountain, sent the "old" shoes home, and put the new shoes on his feet. They feel better than the old pair. He thinks his feet have grown (or swelled) some. His left foot has a big blister on his heel; his right foot has a blister between his big toe and the next toe over; and he has blisters on the tips of his toes from the Crocs. He wasn't able to get mole skin or anything else to stick to help with the blisters. Hopefully, he will adjust to the new shoes and recover from the old ones quickly.
The weather was bad, but not miserable. It helped having town to look forward to, knowing that he would be able to dry out later in the day and escape the wet.
He took an ibuprofin in the morning to help with a headache he woke up with. Aside from that, he hasn't had to take any "vitamin I" to alleviate hiking pains and sore muscles.
Spring has almost fully sprung in the mountains. The trees are still bare, but flowers are blooming and the grass is green. They have seen a lot of mountain salamanders. Brett said they look cool. They are orange and almost look like a fruit chew. Brett also saw some deer that were not scared off by people.
They were staying in a hostel in Roan Mountain (Mountain Harbour B&B/Hostel?), and Brett was petting a billy goat as we talked. He said he thinks the hostel owner keeps the goats on his steep hill just to mow the grass.
Brett said his "hiker hunger" has finally set in. He is starved all the time and is really losing weight. Brett thinks he is down 20 pounds at this point.
Brett expects to be in Damascus, Virginia, around Sunday. Brett said that Virginia should be flatter and faster. It should take him about six weeks to make it through Virginia, reaching the "half-way point" in Harper's Ferry. He will be hiking summer in Virginia and will go through the Shenendoah Mountains. He is hoping that his mom and dad will be able to meet up with him then. I think it helps Brett to have something to look forward to along the way.
Brett gave me a list of items to put in his next package and warned me to open the package from him outside. He would be sending wet, muddy shoes and a raincoat. Messy and stinky.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
(3/1/12) Franklin, NC - Phone Update From Brett
Brett called me this afternoon from Franklin, North Carolina (another quick phone call). They hitched a ride into town this morning to do some resupply. Someone agreed to take them back to the trail tonight where they will camp.
Brett had been expecting that some bad weather might slow down their progress to Franklin. It did storm hard all night, but Brett said today was perfect. However, it is supposed to storm tonight and all day tomorrow. That storm will bring the temperatures down into the 20's (brrrrrrr!).
In about three days Brett expects to do some resupplying at Nantahala Outdoor Center. A few days after that he should be at a hostel near Fontana Dam where we hope to get a package from home to him. Brett game me a list of supplies to start putting together (toilet paper, a new journal, a golf pencil, nutella, homemade trail mix and a few dinners).
Brett had been expecting that some bad weather might slow down their progress to Franklin. It did storm hard all night, but Brett said today was perfect. However, it is supposed to storm tonight and all day tomorrow. That storm will bring the temperatures down into the 20's (brrrrrrr!).
In about three days Brett expects to do some resupplying at Nantahala Outdoor Center. A few days after that he should be at a hostel near Fontana Dam where we hope to get a package from home to him. Brett game me a list of supplies to start putting together (toilet paper, a new journal, a golf pencil, nutella, homemade trail mix and a few dinners).
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
(2/27/12) Bly Gap, NC - Phone Update From Brett
I missed a call from Brett on Saturday. I hadn't been expecting to hear from him so soon. Just the sound of his voice on the answering machine was nice. I was happy to hear from him again yesterday, though we were only able to talk for a few minutes.
Brett made it past his first state border on Monday (2/27/12), from Georgia into North Carolina. They set up camp (not by a shelter) about 0.1 mi past the border in Bly Gap, NC.
They planned a visit into town (Hiawassee, Georgia) at the end of last week. When they got to the road there was a "creepy guy" offering rides into town for $5. Brett and Ed opted to walk the 4 miles to Blueberry Patch Hostel instead, where they planned to stay. They were disappointed to see a sign telling them that the hostel was closed do to a family medical emergency. Luckily another hiker, one who had managed to score a ride with a "real, nice guy," showed up at the same time. This nice fellow gave all three hikers a ride to the Budget Inn in Hiawassee, another 7 miles down the road, even though it was out of his way.
Brett said that he hadn't had any blisters with all of the walking he has done on the trail. However, walking the four miles on the asphalt road was a different story.
They resupplied and ate in town, stayed at the hotel, and took a shuttle from the hotel back to the trail the next morning. Brett expects that in another 3-4 days they will be able to make it to Franklin, NC. The weather today was supposed to be good, however tomorrow's weather is supposed to be horrible. Brett is not sure how much that will slow them down.
Brett has been journaling quite a bit and is almost finished with his first notebook (single-sided handwritten pages). I have more here that I will have to send to him when we are able to coordinate a mail drop. So far Brett has been resupplying in town. It has been difficult to get the timing and the location right for the mail drops.
I had heard Brett mention that about 25% of the people don't even make it out of the first state. I'm proud of Brett, and I'm sure he also feels good about the milestone he reached today.
Brett made it past his first state border on Monday (2/27/12), from Georgia into North Carolina. They set up camp (not by a shelter) about 0.1 mi past the border in Bly Gap, NC.
They planned a visit into town (Hiawassee, Georgia) at the end of last week. When they got to the road there was a "creepy guy" offering rides into town for $5. Brett and Ed opted to walk the 4 miles to Blueberry Patch Hostel instead, where they planned to stay. They were disappointed to see a sign telling them that the hostel was closed do to a family medical emergency. Luckily another hiker, one who had managed to score a ride with a "real, nice guy," showed up at the same time. This nice fellow gave all three hikers a ride to the Budget Inn in Hiawassee, another 7 miles down the road, even though it was out of his way.
Brett said that he hadn't had any blisters with all of the walking he has done on the trail. However, walking the four miles on the asphalt road was a different story.
They resupplied and ate in town, stayed at the hotel, and took a shuttle from the hotel back to the trail the next morning. Brett expects that in another 3-4 days they will be able to make it to Franklin, NC. The weather today was supposed to be good, however tomorrow's weather is supposed to be horrible. Brett is not sure how much that will slow them down.
Brett has been journaling quite a bit and is almost finished with his first notebook (single-sided handwritten pages). I have more here that I will have to send to him when we are able to coordinate a mail drop. So far Brett has been resupplying in town. It has been difficult to get the timing and the location right for the mail drops.
I had heard Brett mention that about 25% of the people don't even make it out of the first state. I'm proud of Brett, and I'm sure he also feels good about the milestone he reached today.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
(2/23/12) - E-mail From Brett
Subject: Oh joy, what a day tomorrow
... WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 7 PM EST FRIDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 7 PM EST FRIDAY. * LOCATIONS... NORTH GEORGIA... ESPECIALLY HIGHER ELEVATIONS. * WINDS... WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH. * TIMING... BEGINNING MID MORNING ON FRIDAY LASTING THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY EVENING. * IMPACTS... HIGHEST GUSTS WILL BE ALONG RIDGELINES IN THE MOUNTAINS. WEAK TREES AND TREE LIMBS MAY BE DOWNED BY THE WINDS. ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES MAY OCCUR. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 20 MPH... OR GUSTS TO 35 MPH OR STRONGER ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT... ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.
... WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 7 PM EST FRIDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PEACHTREE CITY HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO 7 PM EST FRIDAY. * LOCATIONS... NORTH GEORGIA... ESPECIALLY HIGHER ELEVATIONS. * WINDS... WEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH. * TIMING... BEGINNING MID MORNING ON FRIDAY LASTING THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY EVENING. * IMPACTS... HIGHEST GUSTS WILL BE ALONG RIDGELINES IN THE MOUNTAINS. WEAK TREES AND TREE LIMBS MAY BE DOWNED BY THE WINDS. ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES MAY OCCUR. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 20 MPH... OR GUSTS TO 35 MPH OR STRONGER ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT... ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.
(2/22/12) Blood Mtn, Neels Gap - Phone Update From Brett
The call I had been waiting for! I finally got to hear from Brett last night. And already I'm looking forward to hearing from him again, in another few days or so.
After four full days hiking on the trail, Brett and Ed completed 33 miles, including a 12-mile day on Tuesday (2/21/12). The hiking they did on Saturday (2/18/12) didn't "count", since it was the approach trail and is not an official part of the Appalachian Trail. Still, Brett said the 8-plus-mile approach trail up to Springer Mountain was tough.
Brett said they have been averaging about one mile per hour. He said there are a lot of slooooow ["grandma"] steps goings up. The good news it that his feet are doing great, and his muscles are feeling good. His knees do get sore from going downhill, but they feel better after being rested.
Although he is in bed for almost 12 hours a night, Brett said he has probably been averaging only 7 hours of sleep, what with various interruptions.
There is almost no green in the forest, and Brett has essentially seen no wildlife. He might hear a crow's caw or a little bird's tweet from time to time, but apparently it's too cold for the wildlife to come out.
It rained on the guys all night on Tuesday (2/21/12). Brett said it was cold and the icy rain on the tent was so loud. He was listening to the rain when it stopped, instantly quiet. Snow. It only snowed for about 10 peaceful minutes before returning to loud, icy rain.
On Wednesday (2/22/12), Brett and Ed hiked four miles going over Blood Mountain, the highest point of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. They arrived at the peak while it was still sunny and were rewarded with an incredible view. Brett has naturally been emotional beginning this adventure. He was teary-eyed registering at the visitor's center and going through the gateway there. He understandably lost it when he got to the peak of Springer Mountain and saw the plaque marking the start of the trail. And saying good-bye to the family was not without tears. But even a few days later Brett said he was still emotional about this trip. The view at the top of Blood Mountain brought his feelings back to the surface.
They ended up at Neels Gap on Wednesday (2/22/12), the only point where the AT goes under a roof. The trail goes through a covered breezeway between two old buildings, one of which is an outfitter. This business offers pack "shake-downs" for hikers. Hikers empty everything out of their pack and employees help them reduce their pack weight. Brett unloaded about 5 pounds (some clothing and I'm not sure what else), which he will have shipped home.
Brett and Ed stayed at a hostel there that night (shower!). Ed has friends who live nearby. They picked up the two guys and took them into town to resupply and eat a good meal (big, juicy hamburger!).
Brett said some of his trail food has been good, some just okay. The trail mix we put together earned great reviews from Brett. The instant stuffing was also a winner. The Parmesan cheese that was in a pasta dish stuck to everything and was too much of a pain to have again.
Brett said that one of things he has really enjoyed is the relationships he is forming with the people on the trail. He said there is an almost instant bond of friendship made with these "strangers," fellow hikers, that will be remembered for life. He said it is a very trusting friendship. There is no judging. They are all equals.
Besides being cold and perhaps a little tired, Brett seems to be doing well.
After four full days hiking on the trail, Brett and Ed completed 33 miles, including a 12-mile day on Tuesday (2/21/12). The hiking they did on Saturday (2/18/12) didn't "count", since it was the approach trail and is not an official part of the Appalachian Trail. Still, Brett said the 8-plus-mile approach trail up to Springer Mountain was tough.
Brett said they have been averaging about one mile per hour. He said there are a lot of slooooow ["grandma"] steps goings up. The good news it that his feet are doing great, and his muscles are feeling good. His knees do get sore from going downhill, but they feel better after being rested.
Although he is in bed for almost 12 hours a night, Brett said he has probably been averaging only 7 hours of sleep, what with various interruptions.
There is almost no green in the forest, and Brett has essentially seen no wildlife. He might hear a crow's caw or a little bird's tweet from time to time, but apparently it's too cold for the wildlife to come out.
It rained on the guys all night on Tuesday (2/21/12). Brett said it was cold and the icy rain on the tent was so loud. He was listening to the rain when it stopped, instantly quiet. Snow. It only snowed for about 10 peaceful minutes before returning to loud, icy rain.
On Wednesday (2/22/12), Brett and Ed hiked four miles going over Blood Mountain, the highest point of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. They arrived at the peak while it was still sunny and were rewarded with an incredible view. Brett has naturally been emotional beginning this adventure. He was teary-eyed registering at the visitor's center and going through the gateway there. He understandably lost it when he got to the peak of Springer Mountain and saw the plaque marking the start of the trail. And saying good-bye to the family was not without tears. But even a few days later Brett said he was still emotional about this trip. The view at the top of Blood Mountain brought his feelings back to the surface.
They ended up at Neels Gap on Wednesday (2/22/12), the only point where the AT goes under a roof. The trail goes through a covered breezeway between two old buildings, one of which is an outfitter. This business offers pack "shake-downs" for hikers. Hikers empty everything out of their pack and employees help them reduce their pack weight. Brett unloaded about 5 pounds (some clothing and I'm not sure what else), which he will have shipped home.
Brett and Ed stayed at a hostel there that night (shower!). Ed has friends who live nearby. They picked up the two guys and took them into town to resupply and eat a good meal (big, juicy hamburger!).
Brett said some of his trail food has been good, some just okay. The trail mix we put together earned great reviews from Brett. The instant stuffing was also a winner. The Parmesan cheese that was in a pasta dish stuck to everything and was too much of a pain to have again.
Brett said that one of things he has really enjoyed is the relationships he is forming with the people on the trail. He said there is an almost instant bond of friendship made with these "strangers," fellow hikers, that will be remembered for life. He said it is a very trusting friendship. There is no judging. They are all equals.
Besides being cold and perhaps a little tired, Brett seems to be doing well.
Monday, February 20, 2012
(2/20/12) Amicalola Falls and (2/18/12) Saying Goodbye - Becca's Update
It's hard to believe that we just sent Brett off on the Appalachian Trail--estimated hiking time about six months. Brett has been preparing for this adventure for over a year, and it's finally here. Brett put in a huge amount of time preparing for the trail: reading books, blogs, forums, and equipment reviews; watching documentaries and more YouTube videos than you can count; gathering his equipment and supplies bit by bit (you better believe that the UPS driver knows our house!); packing and repacking all of said equipment; and making adjustments here and there to get everything just right for his needs. And now it has begun.
It will be an adventure for Brett as he faces the elements, pushes his body to the limit, and tests his endurance both physically and mentally on the trail.
It will also be an adventure for his family as we support him from home. We are used to leaning on Brett to take care of everything that breaks or goes wrong. He is our Can-Do-Anything Man around the house and we will miss that. I knew that I would have to keep up with mowing the yard while Brett is gone, but the day before he left Brett mentioned that I would have to clean out the gutters after the oak trees drop their leaves. I jokingly said, "Wait a minute! I never agreed to that!" There is so much that he does around the house that I am not aware of. It will be a good learning experience for me. I am also looking forward to tracking Brett's progress on the map and keeping up a journal (in the form of blog posts). It will be a fun challenge to document the happenings at home for Brett.
The adventure began with a Family Road Trip. We caravaned up to Cumming, Georgia, with Ed's family and stayed in a hotel Friday night. My boys had a blast with Ed's three kids all weekend. On Saturday we drove to Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia, and spent some time at the visitor's center. Brett and Ed weighed their packs and signed the A.T. thru-hiker register. We took photos, let the kids play on the playground a bit, and began the A.T. approach trail. The approach trail begins with 740 steps going up Amicola Falls. The waterfall was beautiful, and I seemed to be the only one who seriously struggled all the way up. It was a beautiful waterfall and park, but I don't think we fully appreciated it all because of the many emotions we were all feeling, anticipating the farewell that was soon to come. We almost lost Ryan and Noah, but our family's matching tie-dyed T-shirts helped us track them down. We continued walking with the men, but soon let them continue the 7-plus-mile approach trail as we made our way back down to the visitor's center where are cars were parked.
We let the kids play some more, then drove to Elijay to pick up some food for the evening. We had heard that there was a severe weather warning beginning at 7:00pm that evening. We decided that it would be best to say good-bye that night and stay in the hotel again, rather than camping at the top of the mountain with all the kids during the thunderstorm.
Having finished the approach trail to the official start of the Appalachian Trail at the summit of Springer Mountain, the guys continued the next mile to the parking lot. They beat us to our rendezvous point, and the weather quickly started deteriorating as it got dark. They had made a fire while waiting for us, and the kids had fun with that while the men raced to finish setting up their tents before the rain came in full force. They ate a quick dinner (while simultaneously setting up camp) and we said quick good-byes.
Kristie and I were anxious to get back down the mountain before the rain turned the 6.5-mile clay road into a dangerous slip-and-slide down the mountain. Brett was anxious to have the good-bye's over with, because he was already starting to get emotional and didn't want to be a blubbering fool in front of everyone. He hugged us all, we said good-bye, and we got back on the road. I got teary as we drove away from the two little tents in the rainy dark with our husbands and fathers. All of a sudden it hit me how vulnerable my big, strong, Can-Do-Anything Man will be on the trail. Todd got teary as well in the car. Of course, it didn't help that Ryan cried the entire drive back to the hotel. Ryan asked me to talk about something to distract him. Talking about the chicken farms and electric fences didn't distract him. And even playing some of his favorite songs, "Axel F", "Don't Worry, Be Happy", and even "Funky Town" did little good.
Some things Ryan said that nearly broke my heart:
"I feel like I'm never going to see Daddy again."
[Even though we've stayed in lots of hotels without Daddy] "This is different because last night Daddy was in this same hotel with us and tonight he's not."
"I don't want Daddy to hike the Appalachian Trail. I just want him to be home with us."
"Saying good-bye to Daddy was the hardest thing I've done in my whole life."
ouch.
I know that it was harder for Ryan because he was overtired from a busy and emotional traveling weekend. The next morning, after a good night's sleep and with the distracting help of some favorite friends, Ryan was feeling better. But back in the car he still missed Daddy. On the way home he said, "Raise your hand if you really miss Daddy."
Todd didn't raise his hand.
Ryan called him on it, and Todd replied that although he missed Daddy, he was "pretty much over it." Apparently Todd takes after the stoic Mitchell side of the family (including a little, his mom--though I certainly raised my hand).
Now that we are home I will attempt to distract myself with the mess and laundry left over from the trip. I will have baseball, homework, housework, piano lessons, chorus practices, and church responsibilities to keep me busy. I have a huge list of projects that I would love to tackle during this time. But right now I just find myself anxious for news. How is my man faring? How is he feeling? Is he cold and miserable and lonely? Or has the excitement of his adventure seeped back in, making the miserable parts only secondary? I can't wait to hear.
It will be an adventure for Brett as he faces the elements, pushes his body to the limit, and tests his endurance both physically and mentally on the trail.
It will also be an adventure for his family as we support him from home. We are used to leaning on Brett to take care of everything that breaks or goes wrong. He is our Can-Do-Anything Man around the house and we will miss that. I knew that I would have to keep up with mowing the yard while Brett is gone, but the day before he left Brett mentioned that I would have to clean out the gutters after the oak trees drop their leaves. I jokingly said, "Wait a minute! I never agreed to that!" There is so much that he does around the house that I am not aware of. It will be a good learning experience for me. I am also looking forward to tracking Brett's progress on the map and keeping up a journal (in the form of blog posts). It will be a fun challenge to document the happenings at home for Brett.
The adventure began with a Family Road Trip. We caravaned up to Cumming, Georgia, with Ed's family and stayed in a hotel Friday night. My boys had a blast with Ed's three kids all weekend. On Saturday we drove to Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia, and spent some time at the visitor's center. Brett and Ed weighed their packs and signed the A.T. thru-hiker register. We took photos, let the kids play on the playground a bit, and began the A.T. approach trail. The approach trail begins with 740 steps going up Amicola Falls. The waterfall was beautiful, and I seemed to be the only one who seriously struggled all the way up. It was a beautiful waterfall and park, but I don't think we fully appreciated it all because of the many emotions we were all feeling, anticipating the farewell that was soon to come. We almost lost Ryan and Noah, but our family's matching tie-dyed T-shirts helped us track them down. We continued walking with the men, but soon let them continue the 7-plus-mile approach trail as we made our way back down to the visitor's center where are cars were parked.
We let the kids play some more, then drove to Elijay to pick up some food for the evening. We had heard that there was a severe weather warning beginning at 7:00pm that evening. We decided that it would be best to say good-bye that night and stay in the hotel again, rather than camping at the top of the mountain with all the kids during the thunderstorm.
Having finished the approach trail to the official start of the Appalachian Trail at the summit of Springer Mountain, the guys continued the next mile to the parking lot. They beat us to our rendezvous point, and the weather quickly started deteriorating as it got dark. They had made a fire while waiting for us, and the kids had fun with that while the men raced to finish setting up their tents before the rain came in full force. They ate a quick dinner (while simultaneously setting up camp) and we said quick good-byes.
Kristie and I were anxious to get back down the mountain before the rain turned the 6.5-mile clay road into a dangerous slip-and-slide down the mountain. Brett was anxious to have the good-bye's over with, because he was already starting to get emotional and didn't want to be a blubbering fool in front of everyone. He hugged us all, we said good-bye, and we got back on the road. I got teary as we drove away from the two little tents in the rainy dark with our husbands and fathers. All of a sudden it hit me how vulnerable my big, strong, Can-Do-Anything Man will be on the trail. Todd got teary as well in the car. Of course, it didn't help that Ryan cried the entire drive back to the hotel. Ryan asked me to talk about something to distract him. Talking about the chicken farms and electric fences didn't distract him. And even playing some of his favorite songs, "Axel F", "Don't Worry, Be Happy", and even "Funky Town" did little good.
Some things Ryan said that nearly broke my heart:
"I feel like I'm never going to see Daddy again."
[Even though we've stayed in lots of hotels without Daddy] "This is different because last night Daddy was in this same hotel with us and tonight he's not."
"I don't want Daddy to hike the Appalachian Trail. I just want him to be home with us."
"Saying good-bye to Daddy was the hardest thing I've done in my whole life."
ouch.
I know that it was harder for Ryan because he was overtired from a busy and emotional traveling weekend. The next morning, after a good night's sleep and with the distracting help of some favorite friends, Ryan was feeling better. But back in the car he still missed Daddy. On the way home he said, "Raise your hand if you really miss Daddy."
Todd didn't raise his hand.
Ryan called him on it, and Todd replied that although he missed Daddy, he was "pretty much over it." Apparently Todd takes after the stoic Mitchell side of the family (including a little, his mom--though I certainly raised my hand).
Now that we are home I will attempt to distract myself with the mess and laundry left over from the trip. I will have baseball, homework, housework, piano lessons, chorus practices, and church responsibilities to keep me busy. I have a huge list of projects that I would love to tackle during this time. But right now I just find myself anxious for news. How is my man faring? How is he feeling? Is he cold and miserable and lonely? Or has the excitement of his adventure seeped back in, making the miserable parts only secondary? I can't wait to hear.
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