I was hiking the trail when I pulled up short - spotting something moving between two logs, directly on the trail. This little fellow was just sunning himself until I began to bother him. Eventually he showed his displeasure and made a hasty departure.
http://youtu.be/6NDr9HoVGaA
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Hanging out with the wild ponies of Grayson Highlands. Unexpectedly, this herd was not afraid of people. In fact, what they wanted most was salt - from our arms, our pack straps, and our hiking pole handles. They were all around us, licking and pushing their way to us. The two other herds that I encountered were not nearly as comfortable around people.
I had my GoPro on my hiking pole mount already, so I jammed the pole in the ground and started the video. That left me free to take more pictures with my Olympus. Here's what my GoPro caught while I was busy elsewhere:
Hanging out with the Wild Ponies of Grayson Highlands
I had my GoPro on my hiking pole mount already, so I jammed the pole in the ground and started the video. That left me free to take more pictures with my Olympus. Here's what my GoPro caught while I was busy elsewhere:
Blogspot has been fighting me as I try to upload videos. My work-around is to upload to YouTube and to post a link here. Enjoy - there will be lots more videos soon.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Well I confirmed at both the gym and my doctor's office that I have lost about 35 or 36 pounds since beginning my Appalachian Trail adventure.
I am still nursing my sore foot, but I think it's getting better. I am stretching the Plantar Fascia regularly and have rolled my foot over the frozen water bottle so much my foot is numb and the ice has melted. I think it does help.
I am starting to work on the photos and videos. Here's just a sample slide show to wet your appetite for the good stuff to come later.
I am still nursing my sore foot, but I think it's getting better. I am stretching the Plantar Fascia regularly and have rolled my foot over the frozen water bottle so much my foot is numb and the ice has melted. I think it does help.
I am starting to work on the photos and videos. Here's just a sample slide show to wet your appetite for the good stuff to come later.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Hi everyone -
Sorry it has been so long since my last blog post, but I have been facing a few issues. I am off the trail again, this time due to an injury to my left foot. I have developed Plantar Fasciitis. It's been coming on for a while but I thought it was just a bruise on my heel. On Thursday, June 14th, I was hiking well, picking wild blueberries and hurrying to Glasgow to pick up my next mail drop box of food and supplies. Things were going just fine when I tripped over a rock with my right foot. I reached out my left foot to catch myself and stepped on a sharp rock, exactly where the pain from the 'bruise' was. It all brought tears to my eyes and I jumped and hobbled and limped to catch my balance. This was at 11:00 AM. I still had 6 miles to go to get down the mountain and to the road to Glasgow, Va. Those six miles were full of pain and disappointment as I contemplated the end of my AT hiking adventure. I imagined everything including a broken heel bone. I managed to limp down the mountain, get to the road, and hitchhike to town. There was a hometown doctor there and I made plans to visit the next day if the pain and swelling were no better. I settled into the town shelter for hikers ( a free service including a hot shower and porta-potty). The local Baptist Church had scheduled a 'hiker feed' for that evening, so I ate pretty well - hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, slaw, corn on the cob, cake and pie and sodas. One of the ladies from the church played Mother Hen and insisted that I sit and soak my foot in icy water while she hovered over me. The next morning started well as I limped to the nearby restaurant for breakfast. My foot felt better until I went to visit the restroom. The floor had a raised lip at the door that I didn't see. Of course I caught it with the toes of my left foot, stretching the arch, and the pain shot up my leg all the way to my eyes again. It was then that I decided this was more serious than expected and I made plans to visit the local MD to confirm what I was now thinking - I had Plantar Fasciitis. I spoke with the doctor briefly to confirm my suspicions. Being a doctor in a hiking town, he had seen this many many times and didn't even charge me for the visit. He advised me to give my foot plenty of rest and if I was headed home suggested that I visit my personal physician. So here I am, back in the Triad, resting my sore foot and hoping that I caught it in time for a quick healing process. I have a series of exercises to do as well as regular ice packs and NSAIDs. I check with my orthotics store and got a heel insert to keep me from overcompensating and causing additional problems. If I can get this problem healed quickly, I can return to the trail and continue my journey north. If it takes longer then I can possibly travel to Maine and hike southbound to where I dropped off. If the healing takes too long then my attempt at a single-season thru-hike will be over.
There you have it - it's now a waiting and hoping game until I either return or time runs out for any option.
On a positive note, I now have time to work on all the fantastic videos I have collected from my 2.5 months of hiking more than 700 miles of the trail.
Oh - I visited the Rush Gym today to compare my before and after weight loss on a scale that I could depend on. As I left for the trail I weighed 254 pounds. Today on the same scales I weighed 219 - a loss of 35 pounds in 75 days! That's the weight of my backpack! So I did accomplish the goal of getting in better shape and losing some unneeded pounds.
Look for a lot of video updates in the next few days. One in particular includes a Copperhead Snake making a closeup strike at the camera lens. It's pretty exciting to watch.
I promise to keep you informed of my healing progress and my plans to return to the trail.
Sorry it has been so long since my last blog post, but I have been facing a few issues. I am off the trail again, this time due to an injury to my left foot. I have developed Plantar Fasciitis. It's been coming on for a while but I thought it was just a bruise on my heel. On Thursday, June 14th, I was hiking well, picking wild blueberries and hurrying to Glasgow to pick up my next mail drop box of food and supplies. Things were going just fine when I tripped over a rock with my right foot. I reached out my left foot to catch myself and stepped on a sharp rock, exactly where the pain from the 'bruise' was. It all brought tears to my eyes and I jumped and hobbled and limped to catch my balance. This was at 11:00 AM. I still had 6 miles to go to get down the mountain and to the road to Glasgow, Va. Those six miles were full of pain and disappointment as I contemplated the end of my AT hiking adventure. I imagined everything including a broken heel bone. I managed to limp down the mountain, get to the road, and hitchhike to town. There was a hometown doctor there and I made plans to visit the next day if the pain and swelling were no better. I settled into the town shelter for hikers ( a free service including a hot shower and porta-potty). The local Baptist Church had scheduled a 'hiker feed' for that evening, so I ate pretty well - hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, slaw, corn on the cob, cake and pie and sodas. One of the ladies from the church played Mother Hen and insisted that I sit and soak my foot in icy water while she hovered over me. The next morning started well as I limped to the nearby restaurant for breakfast. My foot felt better until I went to visit the restroom. The floor had a raised lip at the door that I didn't see. Of course I caught it with the toes of my left foot, stretching the arch, and the pain shot up my leg all the way to my eyes again. It was then that I decided this was more serious than expected and I made plans to visit the local MD to confirm what I was now thinking - I had Plantar Fasciitis. I spoke with the doctor briefly to confirm my suspicions. Being a doctor in a hiking town, he had seen this many many times and didn't even charge me for the visit. He advised me to give my foot plenty of rest and if I was headed home suggested that I visit my personal physician. So here I am, back in the Triad, resting my sore foot and hoping that I caught it in time for a quick healing process. I have a series of exercises to do as well as regular ice packs and NSAIDs. I check with my orthotics store and got a heel insert to keep me from overcompensating and causing additional problems. If I can get this problem healed quickly, I can return to the trail and continue my journey north. If it takes longer then I can possibly travel to Maine and hike southbound to where I dropped off. If the healing takes too long then my attempt at a single-season thru-hike will be over.
There you have it - it's now a waiting and hoping game until I either return or time runs out for any option.
On a positive note, I now have time to work on all the fantastic videos I have collected from my 2.5 months of hiking more than 700 miles of the trail.
Oh - I visited the Rush Gym today to compare my before and after weight loss on a scale that I could depend on. As I left for the trail I weighed 254 pounds. Today on the same scales I weighed 219 - a loss of 35 pounds in 75 days! That's the weight of my backpack! So I did accomplish the goal of getting in better shape and losing some unneeded pounds.
Look for a lot of video updates in the next few days. One in particular includes a Copperhead Snake making a closeup strike at the camera lens. It's pretty exciting to watch.
I promise to keep you informed of my healing progress and my plans to return to the trail.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Daleville - 6/10
Sunday, June 10, resting in Daleville.
After a week of hiking more miles per day than I was used to, I made it to Daleville by Friday to meet Susan. An added surprise - Jenna, John and little Max were able to come along and visit for the weekend too. I sure needed the visit and my body did need the rest too.
Let me catch you up.
Last week I left Pearisburg - at least I tried to. Bill and Joy let me off where the trail left town, but I made a wrong turn and accidentally made a one-mile circle back to where we had turned into the parking lot. So, an extra mile and a little bit of time later and I was headed in the right direction again. Smooth move! Over the river bridge, across the highway, and up the wooded hill out of town - ahhh - back home in the forest again.
I did about 10 miles, passing the Rice Field Shelter in order to camp in the woods where it was quieter and cooler. It was quieter until just after 9p when a couple of late arrivals decided to camp right next to me. It took them until 10:30 to finish setup and cook their dinner. Oh well, so much for an early bedtime.
The next day was pretty straight forward - about 10 miles of PUDS (pointless ups and downs) before one decent climb from Dickenson Gap. I passed the Pine Swamp Branch Shelter and visited "The Captain's" place. It's a well-known hiker friendly house that allows hikers to sleep on the porch, camp in the yard, play games, rest, eat, drink and relax. No charge - just likes hikers around. And, to get there, you need to sit on the zip-line seat and get pulled across the small river. I have video but that has to wait to get posted. I didn't stay long - just about an hour - and hiked on to Bailey Gap Shelter where I hammocked in a quiet hollow down the hill from the shelter. I've learned how far I need to be NOT to have to hear the snoring in the shelter itself.
I know I need to do some more daily miles in order to meet Susan by Friday - I need to average 14 per day - instead of my usual 10-12. And to make sure, I am pushing to 15 whenever possible.
On Monday the 4th it rained all night. I do love my hammock and oversized tarp. I stayed warm and dry, but the humidity still gets my gear damp. I am about to begin the section that I hiked 7 years ago that convinced me that I like the AT and can actually do this sort of hiking. 50+ miles to go to Daleville!
I passed Keifer Oak - the largest oak tree on the AT in the southern section - over 300 years old and more than 18 feet around. 10 more miles to the Niday shelter. Hiked on for another couple of miles and camped in a cove just before a climb up the hill. It rained again all night and then again just after I started hiking - it's all part of the adventure I guess.
I made it to a little hostel by the end of the day - mile 696 - the Four Pines Hostell - I got to hammock in the barn - dry, warm and noisy with snoring and crackling on sleeping pads.
Then came one of the longest and worst days on the trail - a hard hike over several peaks and a place called the Dragon's Tooth. The trail wound around thru and over dozens of large rocks and the hiking was difficult and more dangerous than anywhere else so far. There were parts where i had to slide down the rock face and hope my feet caught the next ledge. But it went okay - and others had done it before - so I got it done too. It just wasn't the most enjoyable ride of the month.
Then next day was one of the best - a return to McAfee Knob - it's the flat rock that allows you to sit on the edge and dangle over the valley below. I love that place. Several of us hikers enjoyed the view and took each other's pictures for more than an hour.
One more day to Daleville and a Zero day - Just a 9 mile hike over the last few ridges and down hill into town. I got there just an hour before Susan arrived. I got registered, cleaned up, and was finishing lunch at the local mexican restaurant (and my second Dos XX Dark) when John called to say they had arrived.
This weekend has been wonderful, visiting, resting and doing town chores. And, I got my new Gregory Pack. It's the same model, but the newer version - I like the upgrades. More on that next week after i hike a while in it.
So, today is Sunday and I am about to get back on the trail, while Susan, John, Jenna and Max get ready to head for home. I am getting further and further away from family and friends, so I might be a while before I get another visit like this.
Here are some photos from the last week. Got to hit the trail!
After a week of hiking more miles per day than I was used to, I made it to Daleville by Friday to meet Susan. An added surprise - Jenna, John and little Max were able to come along and visit for the weekend too. I sure needed the visit and my body did need the rest too.
Let me catch you up.
Last week I left Pearisburg - at least I tried to. Bill and Joy let me off where the trail left town, but I made a wrong turn and accidentally made a one-mile circle back to where we had turned into the parking lot. So, an extra mile and a little bit of time later and I was headed in the right direction again. Smooth move! Over the river bridge, across the highway, and up the wooded hill out of town - ahhh - back home in the forest again.
I did about 10 miles, passing the Rice Field Shelter in order to camp in the woods where it was quieter and cooler. It was quieter until just after 9p when a couple of late arrivals decided to camp right next to me. It took them until 10:30 to finish setup and cook their dinner. Oh well, so much for an early bedtime.
The next day was pretty straight forward - about 10 miles of PUDS (pointless ups and downs) before one decent climb from Dickenson Gap. I passed the Pine Swamp Branch Shelter and visited "The Captain's" place. It's a well-known hiker friendly house that allows hikers to sleep on the porch, camp in the yard, play games, rest, eat, drink and relax. No charge - just likes hikers around. And, to get there, you need to sit on the zip-line seat and get pulled across the small river. I have video but that has to wait to get posted. I didn't stay long - just about an hour - and hiked on to Bailey Gap Shelter where I hammocked in a quiet hollow down the hill from the shelter. I've learned how far I need to be NOT to have to hear the snoring in the shelter itself.
I know I need to do some more daily miles in order to meet Susan by Friday - I need to average 14 per day - instead of my usual 10-12. And to make sure, I am pushing to 15 whenever possible.
On Monday the 4th it rained all night. I do love my hammock and oversized tarp. I stayed warm and dry, but the humidity still gets my gear damp. I am about to begin the section that I hiked 7 years ago that convinced me that I like the AT and can actually do this sort of hiking. 50+ miles to go to Daleville!
I passed Keifer Oak - the largest oak tree on the AT in the southern section - over 300 years old and more than 18 feet around. 10 more miles to the Niday shelter. Hiked on for another couple of miles and camped in a cove just before a climb up the hill. It rained again all night and then again just after I started hiking - it's all part of the adventure I guess.
I made it to a little hostel by the end of the day - mile 696 - the Four Pines Hostell - I got to hammock in the barn - dry, warm and noisy with snoring and crackling on sleeping pads.
Then came one of the longest and worst days on the trail - a hard hike over several peaks and a place called the Dragon's Tooth. The trail wound around thru and over dozens of large rocks and the hiking was difficult and more dangerous than anywhere else so far. There were parts where i had to slide down the rock face and hope my feet caught the next ledge. But it went okay - and others had done it before - so I got it done too. It just wasn't the most enjoyable ride of the month.
Then next day was one of the best - a return to McAfee Knob - it's the flat rock that allows you to sit on the edge and dangle over the valley below. I love that place. Several of us hikers enjoyed the view and took each other's pictures for more than an hour.
One more day to Daleville and a Zero day - Just a 9 mile hike over the last few ridges and down hill into town. I got there just an hour before Susan arrived. I got registered, cleaned up, and was finishing lunch at the local mexican restaurant (and my second Dos XX Dark) when John called to say they had arrived.
This weekend has been wonderful, visiting, resting and doing town chores. And, I got my new Gregory Pack. It's the same model, but the newer version - I like the upgrades. More on that next week after i hike a while in it.
So, today is Sunday and I am about to get back on the trail, while Susan, John, Jenna and Max get ready to head for home. I am getting further and further away from family and friends, so I might be a while before I get another visit like this.
Here are some photos from the last week. Got to hit the trail!
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