Reunion Just 3 Days Away - Monson, ME

In just 3 short days I will be meeting up with Adam and Dori in Monson, ME. I will fly to Portland, ME on Thursday morning, 7-30-09, catch a bus for a 3 hour ride to Bangor and then catch a ride with Buddy Ward, aka Appalachian Trail taxi, to Monson...hopefully arriving around 7:30pm. I will hike up a short side trail to where the side trail and the Appalachian Trail intersect, and campout for the night very near the 'Monson' sign, where the picture of Adam and I was taken almost 1 year ago today.

Needless to say, I am very excited and can't wait to see them hiking up the trail on Friday morning. They will hike about 4 miles to meet me, then we'll hike about 4 more miles to Maine Rt 15. From there we will hitch a ride into Monson, pick up our food for the first 4 days, arrange a food drop for the last 5 days (with our good friend, Buddy Ward), grab a bite to eat and head back up the road and hike about 3 miles for our first night together!

Adam and Dori are doing well and pressing on. Adam has fully recovered from his stomach parasite, and the nice weather the past 2 days has certainly lifted there spirits. Tonight they are staying at Pierce Pond Lean-to (photo) which is a short hike from a beautiful lake with a great little beach for swimming (photo from last year).

Over the next several days Adam and Dori will have some great hiking and awesome views. Here are a few pictures that Adam and I took last year when we hiked through this area.

Please keep them in your prayers over the next several days, and please pray for all three of us as we begin the final 119 miles together on Friday. We plan to summit Mt Katahdin on Sunday, August 9th, and will have a wonderful blessing once we descend back to the campground - Marion, Katy, Sara and Dori's Mom, Step-dad, and sisters will be anxiously awaiting our arrival. Then it's on to some relaxation at a cabin on a lake with Mt Katahdin in the background. What a way to celebrate two dreams coming true!

Marion will keep you updated over the next week or so. Thank you so much for your encouragement and support, it means the world to all of us!

The Final State and 258 Miles to Go!

After 4 1/2 long months and 1,917 miles completed so far, Adam and Dori are well into Maine and looking forward to completing their hike. This week has provided some significant challenges for them, so we ask for your prayers and ongoing support to encourage them till the end.

On Monday Adam became very sick with multiple stomach issues throughout the day, and finally ended his day after hiking what is called the most difficult mile on the Appalachian Trail - Mahoosuc Notch. Here are a few pictures of boulders in the Notch that are the size of cars, your garage, and even a small house that hikers must navigate through to get to the other side. Even in July you can find ice in deep caves in the bottom of the Notch!












Once he finished the Notch, he set up his tent and went to sleep at 5pm minutes after laying down (see picture, this was the same place he and I camped last year after we hiked through the Notch).

He didn't wake up until 7:30am the next morning - 14.5 hours later. Feeling very sick, he continued to hike the next morning and threw-up about 3-4 times, and realized he needed to see a doctor soon. Long story longer, he called us and we arranged for him to see a doctor 20 miles away, so he left Dori a message to meet him in Bethel, ME later that day.

God provided a ride within minutes of reaching the road (after hiking another 4 miles) and after seeing the doctor, she concluded he had giardia (to learn more, check the link: http://gorp.away.com/gorp/activity/hiking/medical/giardia.htm) and gave him a mega antibiotic for one day and a 5 day supply of another antibotic. Adam and Dori decided that rest was definitely needed, so they stayed in Bethel for Wednesday, and left this morning to get back up on the trail. Despite the illness, they are both tired, both emotionally and physically after a long, hard journey, so please keep them in your prayers over the next several days as they press on to Monson where they will be meeting Bob next Friday to begin the final 110 miles together. Just to remind you, here's a picture of Dori and our little boy!

Maine - 2 Days Away!

Adam, Dori and crew are less than 20 miles from the New Hampshire-Maine border, and should be crossing into the final state in the next day or two. Life on the trail continues to be good, with a number of days of nice weather, some great trail magic, free stays at the AMC Huts along the way in the White Mountains, and knowing that the final state is just around the corner. In 10 days Bob will meet up with them in Monson, ME, something I think he dreams about almost every hour of every day.

Adam sent his media card home so we could save his pictures, so here are a few you can enjoy from Bear Mountain State Park in NY, just 34 miles from New York City. These pictures are of the Bear Mountain Bridge over the Hudson River, and some nice views from the bridge.









Once in Connecticut, they hiked along the western border of CT. One of Bob’s favorite areas was Great Falls, CT. Here is a picture when Adam and Bob hiked through in 2003, as you can see, it’s a giant rock formation with no water flowing over it.


Now take a look at the same location just a few weeks ago, and the impact of all the rain this year while hiking through NY, CT, and MA.









Check out the power of the water in the video below.

On a very sad note, the day before Adam was at the falls, a group of local high school students were at the falls, enjoying the first day of summer, and decided to do some swimming below the falls, and tragically, one of the students drown. Rescue personnel were still at the falls when Adam arrived; it was all very, very sad.

The trail is full of numerous varieties of trees. Further up the trail in CT, Adam found another giant oak tree. Here’s Adam in 2003 hugging the giant tree, and here he is in 2009 at the same place, in the same pose. At least he wasn’t in the top of this one!












Finally, some of you might be wondering about the Appalachian Mountain Club’s ‘Huts’ along the trail in the White Mountains. Well, they aren’t the kind of huts you might the thinking about.









These are 3 of the many AMC Huts:









Historically, the hut systems began in 1916, to learn more, check out several articles at this link: http://www.outdoors.org/publications/outdoors/2000/features/huts-history.cfm The AMC is in charge of the hut system and they earn a pretty penny for each night’s stay – like $90/night/person. Fortunately, if you are a thru-hiker, and one of the first two to arrive at the hut for the evening, you can lay claim to a ‘work for stay’ privilege, which means you have some minor chores to do in the evening or morning, get a free dinner and breakfast, and don’t have to pay a dime. Unfortunately, for those that aren’t #1 or #2, they have three choices: pay the $90, hike to the next ‘campsite’ and pay $8/night, or hike down off the ridge about a mile until you are below the treeline and find a nice hiding place to camp.

Adam said he was finally reaping the benefits of being an early riser and fast hiker. He enjoyed 3 work for stay nights so far. Two nights he did some clean up work, and one night he was asked to do a 30 minute presentation for the guests on what it is like to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Good thing he had 4 months to prepare for his talk. He said it was a really awesome time and enjoyed every minute of it.

Please continue to keep Adam and Dori in your thoughts and prayers. And keep checking the blog for updates. Thanks!

Now This Is Nice Weather!

Adam, Dori and the group they are now hiking with have actually had a few days of nice, sunny weather, and for that they are very thankful. Several weeks ago Adam shot this early morning video from a fire tower near Culver's Lake, NJ which is in northern NJ. Take in the view with your morning coffee.

Adam is also sporting a new hair do...the Samuari Knot, check it out:

The hikers entered New Hampshire a few days ago, and will hike over the southern most peak of the White Mountains - Mt Moosilauke. According to Dartmouth College website, this mountain has been the spiritual home of Dartmouth’s out-of-doors program for over 100 years. Through the generosity of numerous individuals, most notably Pennington Haile, Class of 1924, the College owns 4,600 acres on this 4,802 foot peak (about a third of the mountain above 2000 feet). It is the tenth highest peak in NH, with a summit many claim has the best view in the White Mountains.

Just before the climb to the top, hikers find a welcome site - Welcome Hikers Hostel in Glencliff, NH. Here are a few pics of the place:








Here's a picture of Adam hiking up to the peak, and then Adam, Greybear and I on this peak in 2005.











The next 2 weeks will be the most difficult sections of the trail since the Smoky Mountains in GA/NC/TN so please continue to pray for good health, safety, and strong minds as they hike. I will be meeting up with Adam & Dori in 20 days, something I am definitely looking forward to! Enjoy and thank you!

Rain, rain, and more rain!!!

In their 4 month journey, Adam and Dori have experienced absolutely fantastic weather, and absolutely lousy weather. In particular, they have had an unusual amount of rain, and despite Bob's famous words of encouragement for wet weather hiking, which goes like this, "hiking in the rain can be fun, look how different the forest looks, hey, once you're wet, your wet, so make the most of it", the rain has been very trying for both of them. Over the past 125 days of hiking, Adam and Dori have had over 55 days of rain, now that's a challenge. Please pray for more sunny weather for them.

Enjoy this video clip of rainy weather along the trail from a thru-hiker's perspective, and say of word of thanks for the warm and dry comforts of your home!

Oh Vermont, Is the mud real?

So as you may know, the state of Vermont is also referred to as "Vermud." We have been trudging in this rain from just out of North Adams, Mass to enter Vermont on the Long Trail and have been following it through the state and should be exiting into New Hampshire on Tuesday. Oh how the excitement of walking through mud and rain in Vermont has not destroyed the morale, but instead it has added a new level of excitement and entertainment to the journey. If it were all so easy and nice all the time, it would not be such an amazing adventure and we would not be so thankful for days like today. It feels like a fall day outside today as we sit inside the Mountain Meadows Lodge and use this unique device known as a computer. As a celebration for the 4th of July, a group of about 9 of us stayed in Gifford Woods state park at a rentable lean-to. It was fun to celebrate with a trail magician named Paddy-O and we escaped the rain. Today is sunny and nice and hopefully it is a sign of things to come. Looking forward to a 30.3 mile day tomorrow with the Stunned Mullet, one of the most well traveled and cultured New Zealander on the trail, and we will be in Hanover, NH soooo soon. Come tuesday, we will be in our second to last state and terrified of the world to come, but its time take in the White Mountains and leave these puny Green Mountains, and soon and very soon tackle the great state of Maine. Thanks to everyone for thinking about me and faithfully following this blog, and be assured, it is greatly appreciated. The woods are calling and we must return, this internet thing is so absurd. Singing off and advancing north....
- Topo

11 States Down, 3 To Go!

Adam and Dori completed their 4th month on the trail yesterday, and also completed their 11th state on their 2,175 mile journey. Hiking through NJ, NY, CT and MA, a total of 302 miles in about 19 days, was a great accomplishment and as Adam mentioned in his June 14th post, the relatives took great care of both of them and of course Mosey too.

Here are a few pictures from northern NJ (Culver’s Lake) and a picture Adam and I there in July 2001.











Just near the NJ/NY border is a stile that goes over a barbed wire fence (typical along the trail, and Marion asked Adam to take a picture of himself at it because it is the same place she took a picture of Adam in the summer of 1993, 16 years ago - check it out.












The Washington Monument look-a-like is actually High Point Monument marking the highest point in NJ at 1,803 feet. It was build in 1930 to honor the war heroes of New Jersey, and is 6 miles from Bob and Marion’s home town of Port Jervis, NY.


Adam also saw a turtle laying some eggs near a pond, and took these pictures, pretty cool!




















Adam was able to visit with both of his grandmothers, Marion’s mom Marilyn, here with Adam and Dori,


and Bob’s mom Betty and step dad Claude here with Adam. Both Adam and Dori enjoyed time with the families, and of course, the food was awesome!


In NJ, Adam visited a doctor to have is tailbone checked out (which is much improved as of yesterday), and in MA, Dori and Adam took a two day rest compliments of Dori’s family as Dori was not feeling well, due to the flu, or possibly Lyme’s Disease. With some strong antibiotics, Dori is feeling much better and hiking some big days (21 miles on Sunday!). As most of you know, the Big Ol’ Mosey returned to Charlotte on Saturday, June 27th and he is resting quite comfortably and getting used to his new home (sorry Mosey).


Many thanks to Aunt Mindy and Uncle Ronnie for all their travels to pick Mosey up in MA and deliver him to Bob and Marion in Harrisburg, PA!












Over the next week, Adam and Dori will hike both the Appalachian Trail and Vermont’s famous Long Trail. The Long Trail goes from the MA/VT border northward to the VT/Canada border. Near the middle of the state, the Appalachian Trail turns right and heads due east into New Hampshire, and the Long Trail continues north. Once into New Hampshire, Adam and Dori will hike through the White Mountain Range and over the second highest peak on the AT, Mt. Washington (6,288 feet). Then it will be on to the final state – Maine – where Bob will meet Adam and Dori in Monson, Maine, and the three of them will hike the final 110 miles to Mt. Katahdin, where two hikes will be completed, Bob & Adam’s 18 year section hike of the AT and Adam and Dori’s 5 month thru-hike. Wow, how exciting!

Over the next several weeks, the trail transitions to a much more ‘wilderness’ environment, with limited trail towns, limited cell coverage, and limited people (except 4th of July weekend!). Please continue to pray for them over the next 4 weeks, for safety, sure footing, mental and physical strength, and sunny weather. Happy 4th of July!