Mail from the Trail

I was thinking it may be fun to share a letter we received from Will today. The mail truck has brought 2 items from the trail this week.. The first was a box containing his down jacket and finger shoes. He switched over to crocs when he was in Damascus having the blister crisis. The second came to day and it looked like it almost didn't make it. Will sent an envelope with a letter and a camera media card inside a plastic case. The envelope was ripped in half with one half totally missing. The camera card and case was in tack. I am waiting til Rex gets home to check the pictures. It looks ok.

So here's the letter:

Dear Family,

I hope all is well on the home front. The changing of seasons is probably the coolest part of hiking out here. You literally wake up to greener woods than you went to sleep in. on the camera card you will notice the change, I just wish you could get the same feeling I get when I take these beautiful shots. We are supposed to be getting nasty weather this weekend so I'll have to really try to stay dry. My feet still need some healing but I think sometimes that they forget who is in charge in this relationship. They should just do what they are told. Hey I love and miss yal everyday and I hate I can't mow the grass for yal this summer.

Love,

Darkstar AT 2010

The weather he mention was last weekend and I think he was pretty wet and cold. I am glad to see that his sense of humor hasn't changes. I will try to get those pics posted soon.

Waiting in Damascus

Hello to all - Here's the latest - Will has spent the last three days in Damascus, VA with terrible blisters. He completed a 40 mile trek into Damascus on Tuesday only to wake up Wednesday in agony. Red and swollen his feet were screaming, "Give us a break!!!" So, that is just what he has done.

He saw a doctor on Thursday and she suggested taking a hiatus. That did not settle well with Will. So, he has spent three days in Damascus and Rex and I are wondering if he has found a second home. He called tonight to report going to a local auction. What a great small town experience! I don't think he bought anything.

He did receive a package today after couple of trips to the Post Office and a local Outfitters shop. Here's what he received:

1 pair of new socks

letter from grandma

dehydrated fruit

trail mix

8 Q-tips that may last him 2-3 days, now he can stop re-using the ones he had

1 Cigar - from his father

1 book of JR matches

letter from mom

4 pictures of Tanner invading his "space" while he is on the trail

Starbucks, splenda, and coffeemate singles

new water-proof Verizon phone

New media card for camera

1 new trail shirt

He seems to be recuperating and plans to hit the trail tomorrow for Atkins. His plan is to do at least 15 miles tomorrow so let's hope his feet hold up.

The rest of his trail family has moved on, they do have plans to re-connect up the trail at some point. Will has others who have filled the gap he mentioned a couple of new names tonight and his spirits still remain high. Rex and I are so thankful this set back occurred in Damascus where the local churches are acting as true Home Missionaries. He is staying in a hostel provided by a Methodist church and Rex was able to make contact with several First Baptist Church members who personally checked on Will and got back in touch with him. We both found this to be comforting since we are not able to be there ourselves.

Damascus, VA

It's been a while again - sorry but now that Will's phone is broken the help dates are much harder to get but here is what I know right now.....

The group seems to be hanging together for the most part. Will may be pushing a little harder that necessary but he has always only known one speed - wide open! He may be feeling the effects of that today. Yesterday he completed a 40 mile trek to get to Damascus, VA. So that means GA, NC and TN are now complete. But, I got a phone call this morning from Will who reported that the blisters are bad and maybe infected. He even used the "D" word ... Doctor. Still waiting to hear if he did get to see one today. Rex has told Will to get another pair of shoes and hopefully that may help. He switched over from boots to running shoes two weeks ago when we were together but now those shoes are too small. I think I heard your feet will change sizes after completing the trail so I guess it is already happening.

Anybody got any great remedies for blisters?

I will keep you posted ~ Beth

330 miles down

Spring has hit the trail and all creatures are starting to move around. Will has been able to catch a few snakes this week, tried a little fishing and caught a newt or two. The others in his family are referring to him as Steve Irwin's replacement but I am sure Bindi has that spot locked up.

The group has made it to Erwin, TN and are making good time. Brian's shins and Will's blisters seem ok now. I am just praying that they both continue to heal and grow stronger.

The group is really looking forward to hitting Damascus, VA. They say that is the spot to change over winter to summer gear. That may mean the packs get a little lighter. Damascus is also a good place to send mail to Will if anyone wants to do that. You can find directions on whiteblaze.net as well as lots of other interesting info.

Will's story today was of his frugalness. Instead of spending $6 to stay in the hostile he decided to sleep under a bridge near a road. He was awaken by a fly fisherman wading in the Nolichucky. He also found it amusing when he and Skywalker bathed with soap in the river and looked up to find a group of research students from ETSU wading in the river collecting water samples. Probably going to be some interesting test tubes in that laboratory!

I received an email from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy which stated that there have been 644 hikers have started the trail from the South Terminus - Springer Mountain. Can't wait to see how many of those actually finish. I think I know of at least 7 that will!

The Smelly Ride

There we were all packed in our truck with the 4 hikers sharing the back seat. They told us "trail tales" about their shelter stays, prepared meals and individuals they have met on the trail. My favorite was of "Dr. Evil" I don't know if that was his trail name or just what the kids were calling him. He is a lawyer who is "Slack Packing" the trail. We saw him in Hot Springs carrying a garbage bag. Slack Packing is carrying just bare necessities and moving from hostel to hostel and having supplies mailed in. It is more expensive to slack pack but remember he is a lawyer so money must not be an issue.

Once at the cabin the hikers were able to shower and I along with my 8 year old niece Kari went to do laundry in town while Rex and Mom went to the grocery store. Rex was determined these guys and girls would not go hungry. At first I thought they bought too much but you would be surprised how much food they consumed. The first night was hamburgers, hotdogs, beans, chips. That was the first dinner. The hikers were able to get one more in before bed.

So Friday morning was Breakfast by Rex. He loved cooking for us and I loved letting him. Between him and mom I hardly had to do a thing. It was a great vacation. After breakfast we headed back to Hot Springs with Super Mike, he was meeting his girlfriend who was joining him for some hiking time before she leaves for school in Hong Kong or Japan (Rex and I are disareeing on which it is). We enjoyed listening to Super Mike's phone conversations in Russian. We were also meeting Bowtie, Danger Mouse and Stickerbush and bringing them back to the cabin.

Hot Springs is such a quaint town, I highly recommend a visit if you have never been there. the French Broad runs right through town and on main street you will find an outfitters, laundromat, post office, hardware, dinner, library, and Sweet Imaginations. This place has amazing milkshakes according to the hikers. both Rex and I were too full from breakfast to induldge. Bowtie had entered town and stopped at the very first diner for a hamburger - I just realized that is what he had for lunch and dinner that day, oh well, I don't think he minded. Danger Mouse and Sticker Bush were at Sweet Imaginations. SB had just received a package from his mom with tons of food and other supplies so they were happily going through mail and sipping shakes. I think SB consumed two.

I forgot to give you the details for the new hikers - Bowtie, aka Brian, is healing from shin splints so he has compression socks and shorts on. His beard is really getting long and full. He is the hiker that Will has been with the longest. Sticker Bush, SB, is Jake from Park City, Utah. His family owns a couple of restaurants in Park City and he has a degree in Film. Go ahead ask him any movie and he has probably seen it plus he was a regular at Sundance. Danger Mouse, Nora, is so super cute and has a killer giggle! She is originally from New Jersey but is in Utah now for school. She talked Jake into the hiking. Now we have officially met the "trail family" and I think it is safe to say I totally approve.

We are heading home today so I must get off this blog and get busy or Rex is going to kill me. More to come later!

The Visit

I know it has been a while since we blogged but we were having so much visiting we couldn't make ourselves write. We picked Will, Super Mike, Gilly, and Skywalker up Wed, afternoon in Hot Springs, NC. It was a feeling that is pretty indescribable when I first saw him walking down the sidewalk. The AT passes right through the small town so we were parked at the library just waiting for Will to arrive. A couple of hikers came into view but as they got closer I could tell it wasn't Will. Then a shirtless hiker came into view and I knew it was him. I ran up to meet him with tears in my eyes. Great! That's all I can say about that.

Will introduced us to a few of the members of his new family. First, Super Mike. Tall, born in the Ukraine, moved to NY in 1991, 1 younger sister. Gilly and Skywalker are brother and sister from New Hampshire. Gillian is Will's age and Skyler is 22. Both went to a private boarding school but were day students and both work at a restaurant. The other members of the family were a day behind due to going to Knoxville but we met them the next day - more to come about them.

We loaded the four hikers into our truck and started out for Johnson City, TN to meet up with my parents at the cabin. You can't imagine the aroma of four hikers in a closed truck for an hour. I had to crack the window a couple of times! They smelled pretty bad.

Here's the truth about the Wildlife Encouter

That was all Rex and it was an April Fools prank. I am just glad that this years prank didn't include me! Will has talked of deer on the trail and moving through the shelter areas. They awoke the other morning to a herd that just hung around while everyone was waking up and getting breakfast.

Yesterday was a pretty tough hike through waist high snow! The group made it up to Clingmans Dome. It is one of the highest points on the trail. The air temperature was warm so that was good. The snow was hard packed in some areas but Will said he would sometimes sink in up to his chest.

After the Clingmans Dome summit they went down and caught a shuttle to Gatlinburg to re-supply. It was great yesterday afternoon when we talked on the phone but not so good later in the night. In the afternoon they had a great shuttle provided by a new Outfitters store and they even took the group to an area where they could shower. Somehow they missed the shuttle back to the trail and had to spend the night. They had to find an affordable room and found that not everyone is as welcoming to hikers once they get off the trail.

Will called this morning and they were waiting on the shuttle to get on the trail ASAP. He said there may be bad weather coming so they want to get a jump on it. More to come later!

First Wildlife Encounter!

Over the past two weeks it has been easy to understand the excitement in Will's voice each time we have talked with him. The calls are becoming fewer and farther between as he gets more comfortable on the trail. This morning's conversation was by far the most thrilling and one that I am thankful I was able to even have with my son!

Last night as Will and his hiking companions ended their day they were all tired. Too tired in fact to spend much time setting up camp. The bad weather looked imminent. As a group they agreed to nestled themselves inside a cave and out of the exposure to the elements. THis would save them valuable time and energy as they were able to just bed down, stay warm without unpacking. THeir morning would be easy. All they would need to do in the morning was roll out.

Everyone slept well. Probably because of the exhaustion from the hike that day. Will estimates Wednesday's hike to be around 16 to 17 miles. Early this morning before the sun rose, one of the other hikers was awaken by a noise in the cave. THe first thought was one of the other hikers had a terrible snore. As he continued to listen closely, he quickly discovered the sound was not a snore, nor was it human! He woke the other hikers, who by the way were sound asleep, and they were startled to find they had shared a cave that night with a BEAR!

The Bear obviously was moving slowly, quite possibly in a hibernation state. It moved slow enough for the hikers to get out quickly with incident or injury.

I have never heard the kind of excitement in anyone's voice as I did in Will's, as he called me shortly after 6 this morning to tell his story. I am thankful for their safety. But I am also thankful Will had the experience..... one he will never forget!