This will be all jumbled up...so head's up!
First, he's in Hanover and told me his package didn't arrive in West Hartford...I didn't think I even sent it there and he has checked the po and it is in Hanover. He's as whacky as I am. He did not like the pack he recently bought and took it back, where I don't know, and exchanged it. We should receive a pkg from him soon-he thought yesterday---it will contain his old backpack, among other things. Ward mentioned that he may create a bounce box and send a few things forward....I probably sent way too much whey protein powder last time as well as some foods like Nutella, tuna, hummus (World Mkt-no refrigeration required!) and a few other small necessities.
Since Matt met friends and then didn't go to Jordan's lake house, he is now a little ahead of them, perhaps 2 days. Jordan has gone off the trail for his grandmother's or great grandmother's 100 bday and a 5 year college reunion. He plans to skip this section and do it after Katahdin and so may reconnect with these guys after these events. Of the other 2 guys (one named Paul, one named Ryan-both are 26 or 27ish- one went to college for awhile and joined Marines and is planning on returning to college soon (?) and the other went into the army and he plans to attend college later....)One of these guys had a bad fall in VT and his leg is really bothering him so he is taking it easy for a few days.... Therefore, in an attempt to not get too far ahead of him, Ward and the other fellow only hiked 15 yesterday, 5 early today and are stopping in Hanover for a night or two. I think they are staying at a shelter, not in town. ***Just talked to Ward - MAY wind up staying at a ladies' house tonight [Dad's editorial: Is she good looking and is she smart enough to attend Dartmouth?]... On the fall, Ward said he has disliked VT more than any other state because (1) it's so rocky and they have all fallen 4-5 times a day. They're all a little beaten up and sore (he's been sore during much of the trail and takes one or two advil every day...) and (2) because the entire trail in VT has been under about 5 inches of water due to these abnormal weather patterns. The flooded trail is not normal and it is unfortunate that they have had to experience it.
Another problem has been the black flies AND mosquitoes. Ward said they could scarcely sleep last night due to the mosquitoes....that even with his netting and he has broken down and gotten some bug spray, he probably has over 100 bites. The mosquitoes get thru the netting at night. He will be sleeping in his tent for awhile to help control some of that at night.
I think given all these situations, he is a little weary....ready to get home. Talked about heading to Sea Gull when he gets home (after some Rand R and good meals from mom!) to visit old counselor buddies. I think he will enjoy that and catching up with his college and local friends.
Ward says his little group of 5 (now separated) is in line to finish behind one other guy,...and they may catch him. Ward noted that being first wasn't a huge deal to them...they just are ready TO FINISH. The guy ahead is Trail Blazer. There is another guy who isn't too far behind and he started Mar 15....
Ward went to a library in Hanover today to cool off, play on his phone I suspect, and uploaded some photos to Walgreens. He and his pal are headed to the movies late afternoon to see Thor....(The Hangover II isn't playing there yet -bummer!) Ward and fellow hiker will take their packs into the movies as a precaution as they cannot afford to lose their homes!
Ward has given us a range of finish dates and now he thinks since the one fellow is slowing them up that maybe his finish time will be closer to the 20th which is about mid way in the range he provided.
***********Ward was on fb today and noticed that George was wearing Ward's Costa del Sol sunglasses at a social gathering in Gboro... I called George - he did, in fact, have them on.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Killington
Ward called around noon today. He was on or near Killington, a ski resort in VT. The top of Killington is the coldest place I've ever been. He said the spring-summer temperature was ok, but there was some leftover snow on the ground. The weather has been terrible - rain every day. We cannot pick up a Spot signal, so it's been difficult to follow his trek, but he indicated he is making a lot of miles each day. At this stage he just wants to finish, and he's pushing himself hard, doing 25-27 miles a day.
He's hiking with several other people now. One is the fellow from CT that Beth and I met in Damascus, VA. His name is Jordan. Jordan's family has a lake house either in NH or near there. They plan to make Hanover, NH on Monday, then stay a couple of nights at the house, with a zero on Tuesday. Good fortune! Hanover is home to Dartmouth, so it is easy to understand why they would want a layover in the area.
There are two other hikers whose names I did not recognize and then Matt. They expect Matt to fall a day behind by the end of today. I'm not sure if that's because he is slowing down, or if it is because of a planned visit with friends in the area. I'm sure they will get together again. It seems fitting that Ward and Matt finish at the same time, given the time they have had together.
I asked about wildlife, but he didn't recall seeing anything out of the ordinary. He did mention to Beth sometime during the week that Matt saw a moose.
We had to cut our conversation short (both of us were about to have lunch), but planned to talk again on Monday night when he makes his destination. Stay tuned . . .
He's hiking with several other people now. One is the fellow from CT that Beth and I met in Damascus, VA. His name is Jordan. Jordan's family has a lake house either in NH or near there. They plan to make Hanover, NH on Monday, then stay a couple of nights at the house, with a zero on Tuesday. Good fortune! Hanover is home to Dartmouth, so it is easy to understand why they would want a layover in the area.
There are two other hikers whose names I did not recognize and then Matt. They expect Matt to fall a day behind by the end of today. I'm not sure if that's because he is slowing down, or if it is because of a planned visit with friends in the area. I'm sure they will get together again. It seems fitting that Ward and Matt finish at the same time, given the time they have had together.
I asked about wildlife, but he didn't recall seeing anything out of the ordinary. He did mention to Beth sometime during the week that Matt saw a moose.
We had to cut our conversation short (both of us were about to have lunch), but planned to talk again on Monday night when he makes his destination. Stay tuned . . .
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Section 9 Complete!
First the stats:
Springer Mountain, GA to the southern border of Vermont.
Total miles hiked: 1584.4
Days on trail: 103 days minus 13 zeros = 90 hiking days
Average miles per day: 15.4 miles including zeros, 17.6 excluding zeros
Number of times cursing self for hiking in the rain, sleeping in the cold, eating the same food day after day, battling soreness and fatigue, and wondering why he traded his spring semester in college for a never-ending trail: Thousands, tens of thousands, and possibly hundreds of thousands.
He called home Friday night and again Sunday. He and Matt have been through lots of rainy weather and they are weary. They spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in hotels along the way. The orginal plan was to take a zero on Sunday, but they decided to keep moving - in the rain. I talked to him again today (Tuesday). He's taking a zero in Bennington, VT. More rain . . . and more to come. It's a good thing he's been saving his money, as even cheap hotels become costly, especially for a 20-year-old.
Ward was supposed to pick up a package we advance shipped to him as he passed through Dalton, MA. Unfortunately, he did not make it to Dalton before the post office closed at noon. As of Friday he was planning to call the post office to request a forward shipment to Bennington. I don't know if it was a phone call, or Carolina Kid's suggestion to leave a forwarding address card at the post office, but somehow the package made its way to Bennington where he picked it up today. He had to hike a long way from his hotel to the post office, and when he arrived he realized he didn't bring the gear that he planned to ship back home. He didn't want to walk to the post office again, so he will carry extra gear until he reaches the next drop point. Either that, or he'll wise up and find another solution. I suspect he'll find another alternative.
We always ask about wildlife and conditions. He saw a porcupine last Thursday or Friday. I jokingly asked if he touched it, and he said "no" in a somewhat serious tone (he would have touched it 10 years ago). The porcupine knew the drill. He treks to a particular shelter where sweaty hikers rest at the end of the day. The salt from their perspiration penetrates the edge of the shelter's wood decking, creating something like a salt-lick for the porcupine. When he talked to Beth on Sunday he brought up the fact that he saw a small bear near Fort Royal, VA. The bear was harmless and scampered off very quickly. It's funny he never brought up the bear before now. Matt also saw a bear . . . a large one . . . while hiking in PA. Ward and I are allergic to bears. We discovered this as the bears walked by us during Barnum & Bailey's circus parade at the Greensboro Coliseum when he was a child. Our reaction to the bear dander was so intense we had to move to the concourse. I wonder if he had an allergic reaction to the bear he saw in Fort Royal.
As mentioned earlier, they are exhausted - not only physically, but emotionally. As Ward described it, he "wakes every day and just walks. The trail looks the same day after day, and you know it will just keep going". Ward, who is fastidious about his grooming, hasn't shaved or had a hair cut since last January, and he's ready for a "clean up" (I wanted him to get a shave and cut his hair very short upon reaching the northeast, so that he could better find any ticks that might attach themselves to him, but he will not do so. He did find lots of ticks until the last week or so, but not more recently. I hope he's keeping an eye for signs of infection, as Lyme disease is a real risk for hikers.)
According to Smokestack, and their own calculations, they are about 5 weeks from Katahdin, which would mean a finish in late June. Of course, they are facing some of the most difficult terrain of the trail, they are exhausted, and they don't know what else they might run into. Carolina Kid knows the deal from his own experience, and passed on good info - it's tough going from here. Also, a lot can happen in the next 700 miles.
Springer Mountain, GA to the southern border of Vermont.
Total miles hiked: 1584.4
Days on trail: 103 days minus 13 zeros = 90 hiking days
Average miles per day: 15.4 miles including zeros, 17.6 excluding zeros
Number of times cursing self for hiking in the rain, sleeping in the cold, eating the same food day after day, battling soreness and fatigue, and wondering why he traded his spring semester in college for a never-ending trail: Thousands, tens of thousands, and possibly hundreds of thousands.
He called home Friday night and again Sunday. He and Matt have been through lots of rainy weather and they are weary. They spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in hotels along the way. The orginal plan was to take a zero on Sunday, but they decided to keep moving - in the rain. I talked to him again today (Tuesday). He's taking a zero in Bennington, VT. More rain . . . and more to come. It's a good thing he's been saving his money, as even cheap hotels become costly, especially for a 20-year-old.
Ward was supposed to pick up a package we advance shipped to him as he passed through Dalton, MA. Unfortunately, he did not make it to Dalton before the post office closed at noon. As of Friday he was planning to call the post office to request a forward shipment to Bennington. I don't know if it was a phone call, or Carolina Kid's suggestion to leave a forwarding address card at the post office, but somehow the package made its way to Bennington where he picked it up today. He had to hike a long way from his hotel to the post office, and when he arrived he realized he didn't bring the gear that he planned to ship back home. He didn't want to walk to the post office again, so he will carry extra gear until he reaches the next drop point. Either that, or he'll wise up and find another solution. I suspect he'll find another alternative.
We always ask about wildlife and conditions. He saw a porcupine last Thursday or Friday. I jokingly asked if he touched it, and he said "no" in a somewhat serious tone (he would have touched it 10 years ago). The porcupine knew the drill. He treks to a particular shelter where sweaty hikers rest at the end of the day. The salt from their perspiration penetrates the edge of the shelter's wood decking, creating something like a salt-lick for the porcupine. When he talked to Beth on Sunday he brought up the fact that he saw a small bear near Fort Royal, VA. The bear was harmless and scampered off very quickly. It's funny he never brought up the bear before now. Matt also saw a bear . . . a large one . . . while hiking in PA. Ward and I are allergic to bears. We discovered this as the bears walked by us during Barnum & Bailey's circus parade at the Greensboro Coliseum when he was a child. Our reaction to the bear dander was so intense we had to move to the concourse. I wonder if he had an allergic reaction to the bear he saw in Fort Royal.
As mentioned earlier, they are exhausted - not only physically, but emotionally. As Ward described it, he "wakes every day and just walks. The trail looks the same day after day, and you know it will just keep going". Ward, who is fastidious about his grooming, hasn't shaved or had a hair cut since last January, and he's ready for a "clean up" (I wanted him to get a shave and cut his hair very short upon reaching the northeast, so that he could better find any ticks that might attach themselves to him, but he will not do so. He did find lots of ticks until the last week or so, but not more recently. I hope he's keeping an eye for signs of infection, as Lyme disease is a real risk for hikers.)
According to Smokestack, and their own calculations, they are about 5 weeks from Katahdin, which would mean a finish in late June. Of course, they are facing some of the most difficult terrain of the trail, they are exhausted, and they don't know what else they might run into. Carolina Kid knows the deal from his own experience, and passed on good info - it's tough going from here. Also, a lot can happen in the next 700 miles.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Section 8 Complete!
Ward called home last Sunday from near Windale, NY to talk and to wish mom a happy Mother's Day. He spent the previous night in a nearby shelter then caught a train into New York City. Matt also went into the city to stay with friends. Ward spent part of the day there, then took the train back to the trail area where he found a hotel to enjoy some solitary down time.
Beth and I were astonished that he ate at a Subway in NYC, but understood when he explained the need to save cash. Interestingly, another jacket ($$$$ . . . even on sale . . . at least in my opinion) arrived in the mail from REI a couple of days after we spoke. This one looks like a modern-day version of a jacket Sir Edmund Hillary would have worn, and is apparently for next year at school. Winters are hell in Raleigh. No $ for good food, but plenty for the right gear. We each have our own priorities.
He's still working on gear swap outs. We shipped his old gas stove to him, along with a few other items, and he will send a shipment home, along with a memory card of pictures. Let's hope he includes people and places in some of these.
He hasn't seen interesting wildlife, but sees 10 - 15 black and water snakes a day - none of the poisonous variety so far. One day he was trying to refill his water bottles and everywhere he stopped he found a snake. He finally gave up and moved on without refilling.
We knew he would finish Section 8 on Monday morning, and confirmed this later by tracking him through the Spot, and through a text message exchange. By the time of this writing (Wednesday night) he is through Connecticut and 7 or 8 miles into Massachusetts. He mentioned on the phone that the terrain is becoming more varied after the relative flatness of New Jersey and New York. I can see from the map of his trek that he climbed a small- to medium-sized mountain today.
Here are the stats since Springer Mountain, GA through Section 8:
Total miles hiked - 1,446.9
Days on trail - 96 total - 13 zeros = 86 hiking days.
Average daily miles - 15.1 including zeros, 17.4 excluding zeros
He should finish Section 9, covering CT and MA by early next week.
End
Beth and I were astonished that he ate at a Subway in NYC, but understood when he explained the need to save cash. Interestingly, another jacket ($$$$ . . . even on sale . . . at least in my opinion) arrived in the mail from REI a couple of days after we spoke. This one looks like a modern-day version of a jacket Sir Edmund Hillary would have worn, and is apparently for next year at school. Winters are hell in Raleigh. No $ for good food, but plenty for the right gear. We each have our own priorities.
He's still working on gear swap outs. We shipped his old gas stove to him, along with a few other items, and he will send a shipment home, along with a memory card of pictures. Let's hope he includes people and places in some of these.
He hasn't seen interesting wildlife, but sees 10 - 15 black and water snakes a day - none of the poisonous variety so far. One day he was trying to refill his water bottles and everywhere he stopped he found a snake. He finally gave up and moved on without refilling.
We knew he would finish Section 8 on Monday morning, and confirmed this later by tracking him through the Spot, and through a text message exchange. By the time of this writing (Wednesday night) he is through Connecticut and 7 or 8 miles into Massachusetts. He mentioned on the phone that the terrain is becoming more varied after the relative flatness of New Jersey and New York. I can see from the map of his trek that he climbed a small- to medium-sized mountain today.
Here are the stats since Springer Mountain, GA through Section 8:
Total miles hiked - 1,446.9
Days on trail - 96 total - 13 zeros = 86 hiking days.
Average daily miles - 15.1 including zeros, 17.4 excluding zeros
He should finish Section 9, covering CT and MA by early next week.
End
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Checking In
Ward called tonight from Fort Montgomery, NY outside West Point. He's staying at a place called the Garrison House with Matt and someone else they met along the trail. They finished dinner earlier - barbecue . . . pork barbecue . . in New York. Hmmm . . . something doesn't mesh. The last several days have been good, despite what appears to be rainy weather. Yesterday was very cold and rainy, but the other days were simply overcast. Today's weather was very good. They routinely log 25 mile days now.
Smokestack, who is from New Jersey, and who left them in Virginia, met up with them again. They hiked together for a couple of days and then Smokestack's wife gave them rides to Harriman, NY last night and back to the trail this morning. They stayed in a hotel last night. It sounds as if he and Matt are happy to be back together, and that they very much enjoyed their reunion with Smokestack. There aren't a lot of people on the trail at this time. Perhaps they will meet some South-bounders soon.
The flies are particularly bad at this time of year - mostly mosquitos, but also some black flies. The mosquitos are the worst, such that they sleep in their tents (inside shelters) for protection. I asked about bug repellant with Deet, but that is apparently a no-no, as prolonged use is dangerous. Things have changed a lot in the past 40 years. When I was a kid we chased the mosquito truck through town as it dispersed a fog of DDT while driving up and down the streets of Richlands, NC. We had a blast doing this until Joe Matthews stuck his Frisbee on the blower's intake valve, ruining the motor. I don't remember the truck ever coming through town after that evening.
Ward says he can see the skyline of NY along the Pallisades Parkway. Matt is planning a trip into the city. Ward is considering a trip as well, but also thinks he may want a rest break. I'm encouraging him to go into the city. It's fun there - worth a double- or triple-zero.
We talked about supplies and such. He's switched his gas stove for an alcohol burner somewhere in Virginia. Now he wants the gas stove. He likes to switch gear. It must break the monotony. Whatever works . . .
I hope he spends some time in the city . . .
Smokestack, who is from New Jersey, and who left them in Virginia, met up with them again. They hiked together for a couple of days and then Smokestack's wife gave them rides to Harriman, NY last night and back to the trail this morning. They stayed in a hotel last night. It sounds as if he and Matt are happy to be back together, and that they very much enjoyed their reunion with Smokestack. There aren't a lot of people on the trail at this time. Perhaps they will meet some South-bounders soon.
The flies are particularly bad at this time of year - mostly mosquitos, but also some black flies. The mosquitos are the worst, such that they sleep in their tents (inside shelters) for protection. I asked about bug repellant with Deet, but that is apparently a no-no, as prolonged use is dangerous. Things have changed a lot in the past 40 years. When I was a kid we chased the mosquito truck through town as it dispersed a fog of DDT while driving up and down the streets of Richlands, NC. We had a blast doing this until Joe Matthews stuck his Frisbee on the blower's intake valve, ruining the motor. I don't remember the truck ever coming through town after that evening.
Ward says he can see the skyline of NY along the Pallisades Parkway. Matt is planning a trip into the city. Ward is considering a trip as well, but also thinks he may want a rest break. I'm encouraging him to go into the city. It's fun there - worth a double- or triple-zero.
We talked about supplies and such. He's switched his gas stove for an alcohol burner somewhere in Virginia. Now he wants the gas stove. He likes to switch gear. It must break the monotony. Whatever works . . .
I hope he spends some time in the city . . .
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Section 7 Complete!
Ward arrived in Delaware Water Gap, PA late Friday afternoon. He was fortunate to find a room at a local hotel, and even more fortunate they did not check his ID. Many hotels will not let rooms to anyone under age 21, and this particular hotel had signs all around the lobby emphasizing that very point. I do not know if this is the law or if it is simply hotel policy.
The hotel's online site showed a number of activities in The Pub, including a Country Dance on Saturday night. When I mentioned this to Ward, he was not at all interested. He had already purchased a pizza and planned to eat in his room watch Two and a Half Men, a real treat for him.
He and Matt plan to get together on Sunday morning, but it's possible Matt will not return until late Sunday. If the late scenario plays out, then they will be almost a day apart. In this case it sounds as if they have a plan to actually meet up in the next few days since Ward doesn't want to take another zero. I suspect Matt will log extra miles to catch up.
The numbers since Springer Mountain, GA:
Total Miles: 1,285.5
Days on Trail: 87 Total minus 12 Zeros = 75 Hiking Days
Average Daily Miles: 14.8 Including Zeros, 17.1 Excluding Zeros
The next section, covering New Jersey and New York is relatively short at 161.4 miles. He should be in Connecticut by May 10 or 11.
End
The hotel's online site showed a number of activities in The Pub, including a Country Dance on Saturday night. When I mentioned this to Ward, he was not at all interested. He had already purchased a pizza and planned to eat in his room watch Two and a Half Men, a real treat for him.
He and Matt plan to get together on Sunday morning, but it's possible Matt will not return until late Sunday. If the late scenario plays out, then they will be almost a day apart. In this case it sounds as if they have a plan to actually meet up in the next few days since Ward doesn't want to take another zero. I suspect Matt will log extra miles to catch up.
The numbers since Springer Mountain, GA:
Total Miles: 1,285.5
Days on Trail: 87 Total minus 12 Zeros = 75 Hiking Days
Average Daily Miles: 14.8 Including Zeros, 17.1 Excluding Zeros
The next section, covering New Jersey and New York is relatively short at 161.4 miles. He should be in Connecticut by May 10 or 11.
End
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