Well Friends, Its been a long 2 and a half months since I've talked to most of you. And believe me when I say, I've missed you all. And then I think to myself that I will see most of you all again in just a short while, approx. 25 days. It seems like I've been out here for so long testing my grit and proving to myself what I am made of. I feel like I have learned so much since I started; matured, toughened up, grown smarter, hopefully more compassionate and I've certainly learned the value of being patient. Well, now comes the real test. It will be more physically, mentally and definitely more emotionally challenging for me than I have ever experienced in my life. The test: to complete 440 miles of the toughest part of the Appalachian Trail in 25 days so that I can climb Mt. Katahdin in Maine, the northern Terminus of the AT with my father on the 20th of August. I honestly do not know if I can handle the schedule before me, but I will try damn hard to complete this and give it my sincerest all to finish up before I have to head back to Gainesville for my Senior Year. But up still ahead of me are the White Mountains, many peaking at over 4500 feet, The Presidential Mountains, Mt. Washington, a mountain infamous for having weather rivaling Everest, the bogs and rivers I will need to ford in Western Maine and then finally the One Hundred Mile Wilderness before I reach Katahdin. This will probably be my last post before I get back as any forms of civilization will be far from reach where I'm going but hopefully my Dad will be able to represent me while I push through this wilderness adventure. I'll leave you all with some photos since its been so long since I've updated those but until I see you all again,
Happy Trails, HULK
p.s. Pics are at the bottom of the page. Some of my favorites.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
On the heights
The Hulk is now in Vermont! Weather has been varied, cool/cold nights but nice right now. He stayed at Kid Gore Shelter on Sunday and called from Mt. Stratton where he had a view of 7 mountains. His 2nd pair of shoes is breaking up after 500 miles and he keeps wearing out 'lifetime' guaranty socks. The plan is to reach Rutland by Thursday for resupply. After hearing about the lightning we are praying more fervently for his safety across this adventure. (Dad)
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Mass.
Well hey there again readers,
Sorry its been so long since I've last written. There hasnt been much internet available lately, nor the time to write. Im in Dalton Massachusetts right now after a couple of short easy days. I spent one of those days working at Moon in the Pond Organic Farm where Im sure I was plenty of help tending the crops( I say sarcastically). Well I dont know if I was much help weeding and mulching but it was a bit dissapointing as Angry Beaver, Prarie Dog, Hellbender, and myself didnt really learn anything about farming and we're not treated with the most respect or gratitude, but oh well, cant win them all. The next day Angry Beaver had a big fall off of a ledge and fell about 10 feet down the mountain and into a tree, badly scratching up her legs. So we hitched into town for pizza and beer. It was a nice way to end my hike with them since they decided to take a zero day in Great Barrington and I have to hike on to make my deadline. Today I did 28 miles into Dalton where Tom Levardi is graciously letting me share his home for the night and tomorrow night while I slack pack. Today I also had another close call and glimse of my own mortality as a storm hit and a lightning bolt struck within ten feet of me. Scary stuff. I could just see a blinding column of light striking the ground near me and the sound of it was deafening. The force of it almost knocked me off of my feet too. Was it trying to hit me with my metal ten poles and cooking gear? Who knows? Well hopefully the weather will improve as it has been this month. It still rains plenty but the nice days really make the trip! I will try and post pictures tomorrow if I can. Hope everyone is well,
-HULK
Sorry its been so long since I've last written. There hasnt been much internet available lately, nor the time to write. Im in Dalton Massachusetts right now after a couple of short easy days. I spent one of those days working at Moon in the Pond Organic Farm where Im sure I was plenty of help tending the crops( I say sarcastically). Well I dont know if I was much help weeding and mulching but it was a bit dissapointing as Angry Beaver, Prarie Dog, Hellbender, and myself didnt really learn anything about farming and we're not treated with the most respect or gratitude, but oh well, cant win them all. The next day Angry Beaver had a big fall off of a ledge and fell about 10 feet down the mountain and into a tree, badly scratching up her legs. So we hitched into town for pizza and beer. It was a nice way to end my hike with them since they decided to take a zero day in Great Barrington and I have to hike on to make my deadline. Today I did 28 miles into Dalton where Tom Levardi is graciously letting me share his home for the night and tomorrow night while I slack pack. Today I also had another close call and glimse of my own mortality as a storm hit and a lightning bolt struck within ten feet of me. Scary stuff. I could just see a blinding column of light striking the ground near me and the sound of it was deafening. The force of it almost knocked me off of my feet too. Was it trying to hit me with my metal ten poles and cooking gear? Who knows? Well hopefully the weather will improve as it has been this month. It still rains plenty but the nice days really make the trip! I will try and post pictures tomorrow if I can. Hope everyone is well,
-HULK
Monday, July 13, 2009
Massachusetts
Hulk is in Massachusetts with over a 1030 miles completed this summer. Hiking again with Gaspar and Tinman, Apache caught up too. Enjoying the fresh blueberries and raspberries. Rained Saturday, so only made about 8 miles and spent night at Mt. Prospect. Sunday should end up at Hemlocks / 675 miles left. Monday will get to Barrington / Moon in the Pond organic farm, where you work to stay and eat. The push is on after that....
Friday, July 10, 2009
Hailstorm
Spoke to the Hulk today.
Tuesday night was terrible all around. They got to Telephone Pioneer Shelter and it looked like the shelter was full so camped nearby. Around 10 there was a heavy rain that turned to hail. Completely soaked and cold, Hulk moved into the shelter with a few dry clothes and one of those foil emergency blankets trying to warm up. Of course it makes a lot of noise everytime he shifted around, waking everybody in the shelter up. Around 3 am one woman had had it and got up and night hiked to Pawling, but she was nice and left her sleeping bag for Hulk to climb in and finally warm up. He was very sorry to bother the group and carried the bag to her the next day. Thank you sleeping bag lady.
Anyway, He, AB, PD spent night at Duchess Hotel in Wingdale, Connecticut on Wednesday for a full recovery. They are in Kent right now, doing laundry and resupply. Kent is very New Englandly nice. Hulk is a little sad because he has enjoyed the company of Angry Beaver and Prairie Dog, but they are taking it easy today, and he still has 15-17 miles to go.
Goal is to be in Mass. by Sunday.
Tuesday night was terrible all around. They got to Telephone Pioneer Shelter and it looked like the shelter was full so camped nearby. Around 10 there was a heavy rain that turned to hail. Completely soaked and cold, Hulk moved into the shelter with a few dry clothes and one of those foil emergency blankets trying to warm up. Of course it makes a lot of noise everytime he shifted around, waking everybody in the shelter up. Around 3 am one woman had had it and got up and night hiked to Pawling, but she was nice and left her sleeping bag for Hulk to climb in and finally warm up. He was very sorry to bother the group and carried the bag to her the next day. Thank you sleeping bag lady.
Anyway, He, AB, PD spent night at Duchess Hotel in Wingdale, Connecticut on Wednesday for a full recovery. They are in Kent right now, doing laundry and resupply. Kent is very New Englandly nice. Hulk is a little sad because he has enjoyed the company of Angry Beaver and Prairie Dog, but they are taking it easy today, and he still has 15-17 miles to go.
Goal is to be in Mass. by Sunday.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
New York - City View
After watching Transformers II in Delaware Water Gap (mi 894), Hulk has been pretty busy hiking again. He made it through New York and should be through New Jersey by lunchtime tomorrow. While resting at Blue Mountain Camp, a bear came up to his pack, but he says he was pretty calm as he huffed and clapped to scare the bear away. It was a rainy hike to Gyps Tavern but nice views from Fire Tower campsite. They swam in Sunfish Pond, saw another bear, and made it to Unionville. He stayed in the Mayor's basement for a couple days, with some slackpacking thrown in (Warwick Turnpike back to Unionville. The mayor remembered Atrip4steve (Ben and Spencer). Then dropped off again at Warwick and hiked to Wildcat Shelter (814). Had hoped to see some fireworks on the 4th, oh well - they had a great view of the NYC skyline / Empire State building, about 30 miles away the next day on the way to Graymoor, a monastery where they spent the night. 3 days of great weather, hiking with and enjoying Braid's music and song, Prairie Dog (not really a dog), the lovely Angry Beaver, FrankNStien, Brave Little Toaster and Pork (the dog). Some fresh blueberries, enjoying lunch in Stormville, a passing rain shower, hoping to make Telephone Pioneer shelter (743 to go) for the night and into Conneticutt tomorrow. Hulk's Dad.
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