2008 in Review

Wow-what a year. Didn't think it could get any crazier than 2007 but I think 2008 proved me wrong! Here's a little insight into how it went!

January-James came up with the idea to hike the Appalachian Trail and easily convinced me that we could do it! We spent the month discussing all the details of being gone for 5 1/2 months.

February-This month was packed with planning for the actual trip. Dehydrating over 150 meals (dinner, breakfast, snacks). Planning our itinerary for the trail-how long it would take us to get done, how many miles in between mail drops, researching gear, and reading all things Appalachian Trail.

March-Like February, every day was filled with planning. Jessica came out the last week of March to help with food preparation. It was great to have her out and for her to see all the work that went into our food drops. As the end of March approached we weren't sure if we were ready for an April 1st start, but we kept working every day until March 30. To top off planning for the trip, we packed and moved out all of our furniture and stuff from my dad's and moved it into storage.

April-By the 1st we were ready to be out in the woods finally doing what we had planned for. April 1st we started out at Springer Mountain, the terminus for the A.T., with much anticipation for what was ahead. We weren't sure if we were going to be able to do the whole trail but we decided all we could do was take one day at a time. The first month was by far the most exhilarating time on the trail. I remember calling my friend, Natalie, at Neels Gap (only 30 miles in) and telling her that I would thru-hike the trail with her whenever if she wanted to in the future. We didn't comprehend how far Georgia to Maine really was at that time...but it's a good thing!

May thru September- was all time on the trail. We went thru 14 states and saw so much of the country you would miss by driving in a car. We met so many wonderful people-people who helped restore my confidence in the goodness of humanity. We were in tune with nature-the smells-of evergreen woods with such subtle sweetness, of dayhikers who had the strong scent of clean laundry, of wildflowers, of super smelly thru-hikers. Sounds-the quietness of the woods, of the trees creaking as if they were opening their doors welcoming us into their home, of rustling wildlife in search of food, of birds singing their songs, and of cars which sounded so loud to our ears, when entering trail towns from the reasonable quiet of the woods. Of taste- the taste of clean cool spring water, of town food with such flavor, of wild berries & ramps. Of sight-the pictures of course capture snapshots of life on the trail. I have never seen such beauty-in early spring, the wildflowers were gorgeous. Summer approached and the forest with all of its leaves shaded us from the hot sun. New England was coming into fall as we ended-with incredible hues of red orange calling to close our hike. It was absolutely stunning! Physically our bodies felt the effects of hiking for 5 months. They became very lean and strong-muscles and balance became greater. When we didn't have our pack on we felt a bit "off-balance". We craved sugars and fat and did our best to eat as much as we could while in town. We weren't ever sick on the trail; although we were physically tired after each day from hiking so much-our minds were never tired. We always felt good getting up and getting back out into the woods. Our minds were allowed so much time to be free-free from the usual worries of the day and free to not have to think about anything at all. It was a beautiful experience-one that awakened all of our senses and made us happy to be alive. Made us sad that we are still ruining the planet by our over consumption. The experience moved us to stand up for the forest who continues to lose a vast amount of trees due to acid rain/smog and air pollution. We came to appreciate the natural world in ways we hadn't before and made us grateful that this experience exists for those who seek it.

September-December-We finished on the 14th of September and made our way home with a ride from a fellow thru-hiker from Maryland. We returned to VA with much excitement as well as sadness-that we were done with the hike. We came back to VA with the intent to live and work on a dairy farm, and to possibly start gardening for a CSA. Unfortunately, these plans didn't end up working out & we had to decide what we were going to do. It was a difficult decision but we ended up packing up our car & our 2 doggies and driving out to Tempe AZ. We are here "regrouping" and doing our best to take the next step. We miss the trail, the country life and friends, but are enjoying our time with all of my family & friends. I learned a few things on the trail but one I can't forget is the idea of being "flexible". So I try-I am learning to bend without breaking. Learning to see things through different lens & accepting the things I can't change.

Peace-Holly

Mile 2176.2

Yep that's right we've completed the Appalachian Trail. James & I summitted with about 10 other hikers on the afternoon of September 14th. Mt. Katahdin was quite a hike-a 5.2 mile hike up to the mountain with an elevation gain of 4,000 feet. There was a lot of rock climbing on the way up with most above tree line. So the hike in of itself was difficult but the weather added to the difficulty. It was going to rain that afternoon...so lots of clouds & the wind was at about 40 m.p.h. with the temperatures in the 40's. We left the base of the mountain at 7:00 a.m. and got to the top at 10:20 a.m. We only stayed for a few pictures & had to head back down. I was feeling a bit weird descending...but I kicked it into high gear to get down more quickly. We officially got done at 12:50 p.m. We were welcomed by a fellow hikers family with hot stew, rolls, and drinks. We were so happy to finish and we got a ride out of Baxter State Park by the A.T. Lodge out of Millinocket, ME. We got our calorie fix in town, stayed at the Lodge and got to enjoy one last day with our trail friends. We are slowly on our way home to Virginia-currently in Baltimore, MD. We will be meeting a college roommate of James's today & then either getting a ride from friends or taking public transportation down to Richmond. We aren't sure how we feel yet about civilization but I guess we better adapt soon! Thanks again for the support along our journey!

The Unwashed Meet the Upper Crust

Here's a link to an article that I am quoted in, in the New York Times...kinda fun! :)

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/08/29/travel/escapes/29ConnHike.html?pagewanted=1

Andover, Maine

Hey everybody today is August 28th & we are currently in the town of Andover, ME. Yep that's right we are in our last state of the A.T. Woo-hoo! :) With only 250 miles left we are slowly making our way thru Maine and trying to soak up the last few weeks. It has been such a journey & it will be bittersweet to be done. We made it through the hardest & most scenic part of the trail-the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Lots of steep rock climbs with spectacular views....many above tree-line. Maine has been beautiful so far as well. We just passed over the Baldpate Mountain on a sunny day. It was such a view & we have been blessed with fantastic weather the past week. Maine has proven to be difficult though...but we press on with the end so close in sight! :) We anticipate finishing around September 15th. Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, & comments throughout this whole process. We have felt so loved & supported! :) This actually might be the last time I get to post before finishing...so until Katahdin- Share

Rutland, VT

Today is Wednesday Aug. 6th and we are taking a zero day in Rutland Vermont. We only have about 488 miles to go and we are looking forward to being done. Although we keep remembering to take it slow...since this is something we will probably never do again. So we enjoy each day we have in the woods. To be honest, the "real" world is not that enjoyable...too much stimulation, light, noise, and "unnatural" distractions. Anyhow we are trucking along and will be in Hanover, NH on Saturday. The weather has been really rainy & the trails have been muddy to say the least. We anticipate finishing somewhere around Sept. 12th or so and then will be heading back to Virginia to resume life as we know it! :) I have 9 minutes left on the interenet so I should go...but just thought I would share a few details..

Oh and by the way you have to do a little searching to find that picture of us...sorry! Just hit the previous button until you see our picture :)

Until next time...Share

Link to Recent Picture

Since I can't download photos from my camera...here is a link to a picture of a group of us at the Green Mountain House in Manchester, Vermont. Yep that's right we are hiking thru Vermont right now...and should be in New Hampshire within a week or so.

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http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=7240

Dalton, Mass.

Hi all...James & I are currently in Dalton, MA around mile 1560. Wow...I can't believe we have made it this far! :) It has been an incredible journey. One of my friends commented to ask a few questions about what an average day on the trail is like, what I have learned or how have I changed. So here is my attempt to answer them.



We usually wake up to when the sun rises around 6:00 or so. We deflate our mats, put our sleeping bags in our stuff sacks, & get dressed.. all inside our tent. We pack our bags & take down the tent. James or I will go untie our "bear-bag"- (you have to hang your bag high in a tree to keep it away from possible bears) and cook breakfast. We then have to clean our dishes, get water for the day from a stream & treat it...and finally we are ready to get the pack on and start hiking. All of this takes about 1 hour or so. I am usually the first one ready and the person that stays out in front. Most of the day we hike alone (within a half mile or so of each other) and I stop every hour or so to wait and take a break with James. It works out good...we are able to have time to ourselves but still see each other a good portion of the day.

Hiking all day you have a lot of time to "daydream". I spend a lot of time thinking of things I would like to cook & eat :) and also time recalling memories from my past. There is so much time to think without any obstructions...it is quite a sweet experience. I often think of family & friends (time spent with them) and many hours are spent dreaming of what life holds.

The trail has taught me I can do without many things & has given me an appreciation for the small things. I am becoming more "flexible" with different people and ideas. Learning to appreciate & understand many perspectives. The trail has done away with many pre-conceived notions of certain types of people..basically I am learning to accept and love people a little bit better :) There are many other things I am learning but I don't have a lot of time to articulate them all...but hopefully that provides a little insight on how this experience is shaping who I am.

Whew...maybe more than you cared to know...Until next time : Share

Harpers Ferry...we are half-way!

June 23, 2008 & we are in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. We are out of the VA...yeah! Harpers Ferry is the psychological half-way point of the A.T. & is where the Appalachian Trail Conservancy headquarters is. We are picking up a maildrop, eating breakfast, & heading on today...through Maryland (40 miles) & into PA. There are around 230 miles of PA...and it's supposed to be quite rocky :( I will be picking up my second pair of shoes at the local outfitter...which I am excited to retire my Asolo Atlantis...they have served me well, but are definetly through! :) Keeping it brief as we are hungry and going to go get some much needed breakfast...by the way James has lost 6 pounds & I have lost 13 pounds! Try to picture it because I can't download any photos :) Until next time...Share

Mile 850.5

Whew!...it is June 11th and we currently have 850 miles under our belts. That's right...we are almost half-way done with the A.T. We hiked 21 miles today to get into the town of Waynesboro, VA, where we are staying at a hostel run by Grace Lutheran Church. It is a fantastic place with free internet, showers, food, and a place to sleep. Can't beat that! :) Last Wednesday, James & I got off the trail for 5 days in order to rest a slightly bothered ankle of James's. We got off in the town of Buena Vista...only 2 hours northwest of where we were living prior to the trail. Our good friends, Paul & Helen Brenneman, picked us up & where gracious enough to let us stay in an extra bedroom at their house. Let me just say it was a much needed rest. A great time of tasty food, lots of laughs, cuddles with the doggies, & catching up the friends & my dad. One of the days off, I spent in the Grooming Salon with Susie...which was great...just like old times! :) We helped Paul buy a computer one day & another day we (Susie & I) made 33 pints of strawberry freezer jam! Yeah...we jumped right back into civilization full force! :) But honestly, it was a great 5 days off...what I like to call "mental-health" days! :) So with a bit of reluctancy, we got back on the trail this past Sunday & have been back to our old ways...waking up, eating, cleaning, hiking, eating, setting up camp, sleeping. Repeat many times over :) Hope all is well with all you readers & please feel free to post any comments!
Peace...Share

Mile 624

Today is May 21st & we just got into the town of Pearisburg, VA. I know, I know...it's been awhile since I have checked in with friends & family...but I have had very limited cell phone service & while trying to search for service my battery was drained! :( So here I am relaxing at a coffee shop in Pearisburg. The past week has been quite crazy-first of all while, we were in Damascus, there were tornado warnings-so we spent a few extra days waiting out the storm. We hiked for several days, picked up a mail drop in Sugar Grove, VA...and then had a crazy day of hiking 24 miles. Yea...the 24 mile day wasn't exactly planned-rather we (James, Equinox, & I) had hiked 17 miles to a nice creek & campsite & met a fellow hiker at the site. We all three didn't have a very good feeling about the guy so we said our code "Should we wait for Betsy" (which is code for either "lets not stay here or let's not take this ride") & we all replied "Yes". By this time it was already 7:20 p.m. so we hiked out...but we weren't coming across any water or campsites. So we ended up hiking until 10:15 p.m. with our headlamps, through many miles, seven to be exact, of cow fields. Mind you there were cows everywhere & we were literally dodging cow patties in the dark. It was crazy! We finally found a spot & ended up in bed by 11:30 p.m. The next few days we hiked light, but the weather was miserable. We were a bit grouchy until we came on some unexpected "Trail Magic". A Methodist Church in Bastian, VA makes breakfast for hikers every Monday morning. So we had a fantastic breakfast & got a free ride into town for our mail drop. It really made our day! :) The past few days we hiked 23 & 21 miles...so we are taking a zero tomorrow...where we will relax & catch up on everything that's going on in the world. I think that's a brief version of what's going on...and I will do my best to update this as soon as possible. Until then...peace-Share

Mile 461

Yes that's right we have hiked 461 miles as of May 10th. We hiked into Damascus, Virginia this morning...waking up at 5:30 a.m. to hike 10 miles in 3 hours. The day before we hiked a record 22.7 miles in one day! Quite a day...but it felt like a real accomplishment! Hiking & being out in the woods has been amazing, but James & I both feel like we could do with a little less people contact. Although you wouldn't think that would be a problem...there are actually a lot of people out on the trail. So we are doing our best to stay out of towns & camping away from large groups. Another small detail of the trail is I cut off all of my hair...that's right. It's what some might consider a "pixie cut". I was tired of all my hair getting so hot & greasy on the trail...so I went into a hair salon in Hot Springs, NC & told the lady to chop it all off...and she did! :) It's practical & am told that's its cute...but I'm still getting used to looking at myself in the mirror. Well my time at the internet cafe is running out...so I guess that's it...until next time!
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Mile 196

Today is April 20th & James & I are taking a "zero" day...which means we are hiking zero miles! :) Anyhow we are 196 miles into the A.T. and we just hiked to the highest point of the entire trail: Clingman's Dome in Tennessee...around 6,643 feet. We started in the Smoky Mountains several days ago; beginning at Fontana Dam, NC & ending (in a few days) at Davenport Gap. The Smokies have been fantastic; a mix of steep inclines & declines with breath-taking views. We got off the trail for a few days at Clingman's Dome due to a mix of bad weather (crazy wind & rain) & a wonderful friend we met on the trail, Equinox, had a place to stay in the nearby town of Sylva, NC. So we are currently at Western Carolina University Library checking our email & catching up on my blog! :) We have had a great past few days...lots of tasty food (pizza, salad, burritos), laughs, and great rest! Equinox (Lindsay) is a fantastic person...little bio: her & her boyfriend Solstace (Joe) started the trail in March. Solstace hurt his foot & had to get off the trail...but is staying at his grandmothers house in Sylva. Equinox is continuing the hike & will be joined by Solstace when his foot recovers...and did I mention what cool people they are? They are awesome...very like-minded & we have lots to talk about even though we hardly know each other! Very fun...oh...and Equinox totally reminds me of a mix between Courtney Craig & Anastasia Brewster...seriously a perfect mix of both of them!:) Lots of fun stories...hard to explain to all of you at home but when you're on the trail it's this automatic bond! And for those of you who haven't heard...our trail names are Sunny (James) & Share (Holly). I think that's it...we will be back on the trail on the 21st & will be stopping in at Standing Bear Farm to pick up a mail drop & birthday cake & will be heading on to Hot Springs, NC by the 25th or 26th. Until next time.... Share

A.T. Update

So it has been quite some time since I last blogged, but due to limited internet access I haven't been able to blog as much as I have wanted to!

Anyhow...today is April 10th & we are hiking the A.T. We started March 31st with the Approach Trail to Springer Mtn (the beg. of the A.T.). We have hiked over 100 miles and are currently in Franklin, NC...where we are enjoying a day of rest at a local motel.

We are loving the trail! The scenery has been absolutely amazing & the people on the trail are equally amazing! We are all in the same boat so there is a lot of camaraderie & helping each other out. My knee has been holding up just fine with minimal swelling, which is to be expected since we are averaging 15 miles a day. We have already had two 20 mile days! Yikes...but we are holding up well. The hardest part of this has been sleeping in the tent. James & I have yet to have a real good night of sleep, but I guess that goes with camping! Waking up each day is difficult, but once we are up & packed, we do well! We just get in the groove of hiking & can do some serious miles if we have to.

Every once in awhile, we happen across "Trail Magic", which is usually an alumni A.T. hiker who sits out at a road crossing & hands out sodas & treats to hikers. It is such a fun thing to come across...and of course the Mtn. Dews & Oatmeal Pies are a delight! Our appetites are finally catching up with us & we are eating everything in sight. Believe it or not, we crave food like McDonalds...weird I know, but burgers & fries are all we can think about while we are out in the mountains! :)

I am updating my voicemail messages as frequently as possible, so those of you who know my cell phone number please feel free to call anytime if you want to know where we are at. It's a much more reliable & up-t0-date way of keeping up with us.

I think that's it..I will post pictures when we are done with this adventure. Hopefully that will be after we summit Mt. Katahdin! :)

Blessings...

2008 Adventure

Most of you who read my blog probably have already heard about our 2008 adventure, so this is for those of you who haven't heard yet!

Around April 1st, James & I are going to attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail or the A.T. The idea arose while in NC for the holidays and several conversations about what we were going to do with our lives. The idea originated from James & I quickly took to it. His first thought was to do a few months but after we read about it, we realized that we have the time to attempt the whole thing...which by the way is 2,175 miles-so that's the plan. We are currently researching gear & I am working toward dehydrating meals for the trip. It's actually quite complicated but I won't bore you with details...just keep in mind it's food planning for at least 5 1/2 months. :) We will be starting in Georgia (Springer Mountain) & hopefully making it to Maine (Mt. Katahdin) by the end of September or before. Who knows what will happen but it will be an adventure for sure. Until next time...

Special Guest Posting

I post the following information compliments of my husband, James, who like me, enjoys writing and unlike me, is patient enough to jot down specific details. This post details a hike that he, my dad, & I took on Monday.

Enjoy!

Last week we had temperatures in the teens and today it reached nearly 70 degrees. With such beautiful weather in January we decided to drive up to the mountains for a hike. From our house we drove west about an hour and a half through Lynchburg, north of Bedford, to the Peaks of Otter, right on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

As we pulled up to the base of Sharp Top Trail, we could tell it was going to be a steep climb. Even though it was a beautiful day, it appeared we had the mountain to ourselves. As we started up the north side of the mountain we immediately noticed the beautiful mature hardwoods, most noticeably the tall, majestic Chestnut Oaks. Not receiving a lot of sun in the winter, this northern side of the trail was cool and damp, with the fragrant aroma of decomposing leaves. Ferns, patches of moss, and the lichen covered rocks encompassed both sides of the trail. We soon noticed the evergreen Mountain Laurel. It's bright green leaves and clustering under the winter-bare hardwoods was a nice addition to the trail. We all agreed that the small, multiple thin crooked trunks of the Mountain Laurel reminded us a little of the Manzanita out in Arizona.

The trail proved to be pretty tough. It was a mile and a half straight up hike, seeming longer because of it's elevation climb. We eventually made it over to the warm southern side of the mountain as we neared the top, quite a change from the cool, damp northern side. After about an hour or so of hiking we reached the top. At the top there were giant rock formations and a stone shelter with wooden shuttered windows. At 3875 feet there was a 360 degree view of the other Peaks of Otter, the Piedmont to the East, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley with the Allegheny Mountains to the West.
Sharp Top, with it's incredible views, was once believed to be the highest point in Virginia and possibly all of North America by the early colonists. That was obviously proved to be incorrect on both fronts. After enjoying the views for a little while we headed back down the mountain. Down at the bottom, we were pleased with our hike and ready for some grub that we had packed-ham & cheese sandwiches, hard-boiled eggs & tangerines. We enjoyed the company of a yellow-bellied sapsucker and a couple of white-breasted nuthatches in a nearby oak.

On our way back home we decided to stop in Lynchburg, venturing into the historic district. We found a great little coffee/food/bookstore called the White Heart. We enjoyed some strong, but delicious, coffee along with very good homemade cookies. The books did not disappoint either- tons of Wendell Berry, Annie Dillard, Lee Smith, Eudora Welty, Faulkner, Walker Pearcy, and other great Southern and non-Southern literature. Back in the car, headed home, we agreed it had been a very good day, time well spent in the dead of winter.