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.
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.
(3/29/12) Erwin, TN - Email/Phone Update From Brett
Email Update From Brett:
I am in Erwin today. Just got in and have errands to run. It feels good to be clean. Can't wait for the new shoes. I have two new blisters from the Crocs. Love you.
Phone Update:
Brett called from a hostel in Erwin, TN. He's doing okay, hanging in there, but he needs his shoes. Four to five more days until Roan Mountain (and new shoes).
I am in Erwin today. Just got in and have errands to run. It feels good to be clean. Can't wait for the new shoes. I have two new blisters from the Crocs. Love you.
Phone Update:
Brett called from a hostel in Erwin, TN. He's doing okay, hanging in there, but he needs his shoes. Four to five more days until Roan Mountain (and new shoes).
(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.
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.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
(3/27/12) - E-mail From Brett
From Brett to Becca:
From Becca to Brett:
> Looks like a beautiful night. I'm glad you got to camp on a mountain
> field since you missed Max Patch.
> Love you!
From Brett to Becca;
There is a better bald higher, but four miles down the trail. I just did not have it in me to make it there, but this is good enough. Absolutely perfect. No rain fly on the tent, so I will be looking at the stars all night.
Love you, wish you were here. You would like this.
> Looks like a beautiful night. I'm glad you got to camp on a mountain
> field since you missed Max Patch.
> Love you!
From Brett to Becca;
There is a better bald higher, but four miles down the trail. I just did not have it in me to make it there, but this is good enough. Absolutely perfect. No rain fly on the tent, so I will be looking at the stars all night.
Love you, wish you were here. You would like this.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
(3/14/12) Great Smoky Mountains N.P., NC - Phone Update From Brett
Apparently, I have had a hard time keeping up with everything. Let me assure you that Brett is doing very well. He just made it out of Great Smoky Mountain National Park (NC). He had his longest day yesterday, hiking 18 miles before stopping at the hostel at Standing Bear Farm. They had planned on taking a "zero day" today, but were feeling good and decided to get back on the trail.
I was able to send my first box to him last week. I sent him everything he requested, only to have about a quarter of it come back to me. Apparently those ten pounds were a little more than he had expected. It does make me worry about him getting enough to eat. He also sent back his first filled journal, which arrived today. I am looking forward to reading it and will try to share some of his writing with you when I get a chance after Spring Break.
The families will be meeting up with the guys this weekend. I am not sure that Brett will be able to make a week of zero days after being on the trail for a month. I am also not sure how he is going to handle sharing living quarters with five kids, even if those living quarters are a spacious four-bedroom cabin. Brett has been away from the loud noises of a family for a while, and I worry that it may be an adjustment.
Brett has had some cold nights and some wet days, but I think he has been able to stay warm enough. He gets cold at the end of the day, after he stops hiking. But after he changes into his dry clothes and gets into his sleeping bag, his little "apartment" keeps him cozy at night.
Brett said that Spring is creeping into the mountains. The trees are just starting to bud. Brett has had his fair share of rain, but really hasn't had to endure much in the way of snow. He has had some beautiful days as well, including some beautiful days when it counted--at the top of a mountain with panoramic views. I can't wait to see the photos. I promise to post some of those when I get them.
Brett's trail name has morphed again. He was named "Big B" by Ed. But other hikers have separately named him "The Dude" and Brett said he just can't seem to get away from it.
It's hard to type up the main points from our phone conversations. We have so little time to talk that we end up bouncing around from topic to topic trying to catch up on things at home, where Brett has been, where is heading, how he feels about the trail, what I need to gather up to send him, plans for meeting with him, what the weather has been like, etc. I look forward to sitting with him for a while hearing about all of the little things that get overlooked on the phone.
I am grateful for modern technology. It is so nice to be able to talk with him every few days. He has been able to make his phone battery last between charging sessions by keeping it off all day, turning it on in the evening just long enough to check for messages (assuming he has a signal), and maybe make a quick phone call home.
I was able to send my first box to him last week. I sent him everything he requested, only to have about a quarter of it come back to me. Apparently those ten pounds were a little more than he had expected. It does make me worry about him getting enough to eat. He also sent back his first filled journal, which arrived today. I am looking forward to reading it and will try to share some of his writing with you when I get a chance after Spring Break.
The families will be meeting up with the guys this weekend. I am not sure that Brett will be able to make a week of zero days after being on the trail for a month. I am also not sure how he is going to handle sharing living quarters with five kids, even if those living quarters are a spacious four-bedroom cabin. Brett has been away from the loud noises of a family for a while, and I worry that it may be an adjustment.
Brett has had some cold nights and some wet days, but I think he has been able to stay warm enough. He gets cold at the end of the day, after he stops hiking. But after he changes into his dry clothes and gets into his sleeping bag, his little "apartment" keeps him cozy at night.
Brett said that Spring is creeping into the mountains. The trees are just starting to bud. Brett has had his fair share of rain, but really hasn't had to endure much in the way of snow. He has had some beautiful days as well, including some beautiful days when it counted--at the top of a mountain with panoramic views. I can't wait to see the photos. I promise to post some of those when I get them.
Brett's trail name has morphed again. He was named "Big B" by Ed. But other hikers have separately named him "The Dude" and Brett said he just can't seem to get away from it.
It's hard to type up the main points from our phone conversations. We have so little time to talk that we end up bouncing around from topic to topic trying to catch up on things at home, where Brett has been, where is heading, how he feels about the trail, what I need to gather up to send him, plans for meeting with him, what the weather has been like, etc. I look forward to sitting with him for a while hearing about all of the little things that get overlooked on the phone.
I am grateful for modern technology. It is so nice to be able to talk with him every few days. He has been able to make his phone battery last between charging sessions by keeping it off all day, turning it on in the evening just long enough to check for messages (assuming he has a signal), and maybe make a quick phone call home.
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).
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