Will finally called this morning around 8 am. It was great to hear his voice and enthusiasm after a few days without contact. He explained the weather may have prevented reception and prohibited his "Spot" from transmitting his coordinates. After leaving the Nantahala Outdoor Center Monday they managed to trek to the Fontana Dam by Tuesday evening. According to Will the terrain was rough and even the downhills presented challenges.

Will was saddened by the injury sustained by one of the "elder" hikers his trail family had hiked with off and on. A seventy-six year old hiker had fallen and broken an ankle. He told the others he wished he had hike the trail earlier, for now he's OK and rescued safely from the trail. Perhaps next year he will make the trip.

The amusing part of our talk today was going over Will's supply wish list items. Will called out a litany of things he wants us to bring him next week as follows;

1. His black running shorts
2. His Red Mizzuno Running Shoes
3. The Blue Back Pack he just mailed home last week

So what's so funny about that list? For one, he wants the back pack he sent home to lend to one of his trail friends. I told him he is so much like his mom, always looking out for others. But the funny part was just visualizing what he will look like with Red shoes, black shorts and a back pack strapped on! Hopefully I can post pictures of that later.

Will is absolutely loving his experience. His passion for the outdoors and God's creation is totally being fed in abundance. He appreciates the opportunity that's be afforded him. He appreciates everyone's care and concern and prayers.

Looking at Will's location on the "SPOT" link you can see they are in Tennessee. The trail traverses back and forth over the Tn & NC line for a while as they cross through the Great Smokies. Will spent some time on this part of the trail back in January. THe area should be fresh on his mind however I am sure the landscape has changed as winter has given way to spring. ***Update*** Beth just listened to a AT podcast and heard snow is on the ground with more coming for the Smokies.

Our family is eagerly awaiting our time to see Will next week! I anticipate great stories. I look forward to the scenic pictures. But most of all I I can hardly wait to see our son and and give him a big hug! (After we get him a shower!)

Mo News

We've all heard the saying that no news is good news, right? Well I pray that is true in Will's case. I am sure that Will is experiencing a bit of deja vu as he hikes through areas he has visited as a child. We will see him Wednesday and he hopes to be through the Smokies before we arrive, That looks like a long way! Hopefully we will here something today

ZERO Day!

WIll called Saturday excited about the ZERO day he had coming on Sunday! A ZERO day is a day of rest for the hikers, a day to heal sore feet, tend to blisters, allow the knees to rest and re-group and re-pack for the next segment. Will says his "hiking family" will all take the day of rest and relaxation, everyone agrees it is much needed. If you are following along on his "Spot" track you will see no movement today. But there are some days Will shows no movement as he seems to be conserving his "Spot" batteries. Clicking on Brian's "Spot" location will give you a better idea of where the boys are. Brian has been faithful in clicking on his "Spot" location.

They reached the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) yesterday afternoon. This is an outdoor adventure center that is friendly to the hikers and offers outdoor excursions to visitors who come. I am not sure if the boys will decide to white water raft today, we wait to hear. I am watching Will's banking account closely as the NOC has a "Gear" store with lots of shinny stuff. I am trying to preach conservatism but I know my son!

We are estimating the guys have about 140 miles in now. Will spoke of the challenging terrain they faced yesterday. He spoke of the deep gaps and some tough downhills they traversed. This was interesting because earlier in the morning I pointed out to Tanner on the Topography map the guys faced some tough downhill terrain. Back home we are enjoying plotting their trek on a map, something I think Will will enjoy seeing once he returns.

Will continues to talk about his "trail family." As Brain's blog mentions they seem to enjoy "Stickerbush" and "Danger Mouse" and "Caveman" and their company. Their trail friendship seems to be a mutual benefit to everyone. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to meet these characters when we meet up in Tennessee in 10 days. I can hardly wait to trade photo cards with Will so we can share his pictures with you followers SOON!

For me............I am needing an appointment with my financial advisor and building up our 401k so Beth and I can do this SOON! If I disappear with Will 10 days from now I promise I am on the AT and not in Argentina!

Insights

Well - 100 miles down and oh the lessons Will has already learned. The first hundred seem to be driven by pure adrenaline and anticipation of what is to come. Rex and I were both privileged to phone conversations today as well as Nannie and Papa Kirk, Grandma Rhyne, and Great Nannie Free and probably anyone else Will could get a hold of. The boys have made it to Franklin, NC and I am sure it was a little bittersweet for Will. He had one of his best buds with him for the past few days and Jimmy had to return to Milledgeville and his real world today. Jimmy called once he was entering ATL and he reports Will is great and definitely finishing his trek. Jimmy loved the adventure and is already planning to hit the trail himself as he nears finishing school. The thing Rex and I enjoy the most during our phone conversations with Will is hearing his tales about the people he meets. Today he shared a hitch on the back of a pick up truck with a deaf hiker. They communicated by writing notes on a pad. We can see growth in his appreciation of people. I don't think Will ever thought he would meet so many old folks on the trail. We can sense a new passion in his voice as he describes each trail encounter. He told Rex today, "I love the people". The trail definitely sounds like it brings out the best in people I pray that remains true throughout the rest of Will's journey.

Will was able to get his first mail drop in Franklin. He missed one box he requested us to send a little too late to receive today but the PO is forwarding it to the next location. Pretty sweet huh? We will see Will over Spring Break somewhere near NC and TN. Future mail drops will be discussed and I will post addresses so others can send words of encouragement.

Sounds like they are still eating good. The weather sounds pretty wet for the next couple of days but they were able to enjoy some sunshine today. Still taking lots of pictures of the scenery - so we will have tons of pictures to post after we see one another.

Continue to keep the boys in your prayers and thanks for following along on this journey.

Spoke with Will today via phone! He said they got in around 10 miles today. They are close enough to civilization to go into town. Will and 5 others have rented a hotel for the evening. Everyone chipped in for $12 a piece. He said he was looking forward to an all you can eat Chinese Buffet. Will said the weather has been rough. He said it seemed as if they were in a weather cloud since yesterday. The temps have dropped and it is snowing. A good time to get a room! Their current location is Hiwassee, Ga. I am worried these boys are going to gain weight over these next few months. I guess there will be sections where food is not as plentiful.

When I asked Will if he was taking enough pictures to share with us he said "yea, but not of scenery.......I am taking pictures of the culture of the trail....the people......that's what I find most interesting." I can't wait to see!

Walk on Guys!

Joined by Friends

The weekend has past and there have been friends joining in for section hikes with Will and Brian. Brian had two friends join them for the weekend and now Will's, friend Jimmy is with the thru-hiking pair. Rex and I are amazed at how everything seems to come together. The boys are able to orchestrate hookups with friends and arrange the friends to ride together from point a to point b and even shuttle one another around. I wonder how many paths will cross for people who would have never met if Will and Brian hadn't started this journey together. We believe God has brought the pair together and is walking with them every step.

Plans are to make Franklin by Thursday night. Will talked today about rain and cold temperatures. No snow yet.

Mail goes out today to Will. Contents;

1. Journal book

2. NC Map

3. 2 bandanas

4. 2 packs of instant Starbucks coffee

5. 2 packs of sugar

6. Mom's special trail mix

7. Letter from Grandma

Sending to Franklin , NC Post Office

Spoke with Will yesterday......he said he has his pack down to around 25lbs now! That's good.....if you look ahead into NC there are elevations that exceed 6600 feet. The lighter the better!

Trail magic - Gotta Love it!

A phone call!!! Finally connected to Will via phone today. He is still so excited and super pumped. He and Brian were hanging out waiting to meet up with some more hikers for the weekend. As luck would have, a methodist church group was there at the shelter grilling burgers for hikers. Will talked about eating three already. I tried to remind him he had only been on the trial for 2 days. What will it be like when he hasn't seen civilization for a week? Thank you to all for the support and prayers. We are getting his first mail drop together for Franklin, NC. I think he has mailed something back for us in hopes of shedding a few pounds. Can't wait to see what he thinks he can live without.

Day 2 - 12.4 miles today/27.5 miles total

Borrowing from Brian's page, I will keep you updated to their daily mileage and the total miles. Sounds like the guys are making great time and meeting some pretty interested characters. Who know they would all be so old???? Guess those hope for Rex and myself. Will did get his spot working so I was able to link it to this blog. Pretty amazing piece of technology. Click the Where is Will link and it will draw a map for you showing his trail on the trail. The boys will have a short day of hiking tomorrow and their first re-supply. Hoping that means a phone call.

Day 1

Wow - Will was able to get in about 15.1 miles for the first day. I know this because of Brain's blog. Rex thinks that is good since they really didn't get started until around noon. Will's Spot doesn't appear to be on or working at the moment hopefully it hasn't falling off somewhere. I am beginning to wonder if it didn't get cut due to weight? I hope to here from Will in a day or two at least to ask him about it. Very happy to hear there were so many hikers at their first shelter. Brian reported it was full with at least at 10 or so tents around it.

Tracking Will

Will's fellow hiker has a blog and he also has a Spot Tracker. You can check their progress on the trail by clicking the link Where is Brian on his page. The blog is linked to my page - it is called Through HIS Feet.

The Beginning 3/17/2010

The Beginning - Of what you may ask? A 2,000 plus mile hike. My son, Will Rhyne, has begun his journey on the Appalachian Trail. For those of you who know Will you know this has been a long time coming. He was so excited today as his dad took him to Springer Mountain, GA to begin his adventure. My intent with this blog is to keep family, friends, and those interested in adventure informed of his journey.

Will set off today with a fellow hiker he met through a Thru-Hikers seminar sponsored by REI of ATL. Will and Brian seem to be good traveling companions. Brian is 27 years old and is taking a sabbatical from work to hike.

Will weighed in his pack at the Amicalola Falls Ranger Station and came in right around 32lbs. At the start of the AT, Will and Brian were greeted by a "guardian" of the trail. He is 80 years old and spends 10 straight weeks each year greeting and registering North Bound Hikers as they start their journey. He was a thru-hiker himself at age 68. What a cool old dude!