All posts tagged appalachian trail

  • Buffalo River Trail Hike (Boxley to Kyles Landing): May 22-24, 2015

    2015-05-22 19.00.20

    The Buffalo River Trail (BRT) is a 36.5 mile hiking trail in Northern Arkansas about an hour or so East of Springdale. The Buffalo River is a National River running 135 miles through Arkansas. It is a popular destination for float trips. There are a lot of trails in this area, but the BRT is considered the best hiking trail in the area and some of the best hiking in the Ozarks. The entire BRT runs from Boxley to Pruitt. We ended up doing just over half of the trail from Boxley to Kyles Landing. My oldest son Wesley and I were hiking this trail for his 16th birthday. We talked about maybe coming back for his 18th birthday and doing a float trip down the river.

    For our hike we used Tim Ernst’s trail guide. It had some good maps and descent descriptions of the trail, but it was written primarily for day hikers. There was no mention of campsites in the guide, making finding a campsite at night a bit of a challenge. While there was an ongoing description of the trail, it was written in paragraph form separate from the map, making it difficult to read and hike at the same time. With that said, we only lost the trail once and found the guide helpful in making our way down the trail.

    DAY 1

    We left St. Jo at 6:40 a.m. in order to get to Springdale, Arkansas by lunch time to eat at where else, but Zaxby’s, our favorite chicken place.

    2015-05-22 11.22.05 HDR-1

    We drove another hour and half to Ponca and made it to the Buffalo Outdoor Center (BOC) by 1 p.m. When we dropped into the river valley we lost cell phone signal and never got service again. Grant at the BOC said there is no service along the trail, but that there are courtesy phones at the campgrounds which we would be hiking through and we could get a call out there to the ranger’s station or to the BOC. We dropped off a spare key and signed forms for them to shuttle our car to the end of the trail. We had a good experience at the BOC. As a river and hiking outfitter, they are fully stocked with whatever you need (last minute) for the trail. Their shuttle service is a bit pricey. It works like a valet service. They pick up our car from the trail head, keep it at their facility, and then drop it off at our desired location. After leaving the BOC we drove on to the Boxley trail head and locked up our car. We snapped a quick picture by the first sign and blaze and we were off at 1:30 p.m.

    2015-05-22 13.44.12 HDR

    We crossed the road (Hwy 21) and immediately had to stop and take off our shoes and socks to cross Smith Creek. Thanks to my brother’s wise advice, I packed my camp shoes which made it easy to cross the creek. To do it again, I would have put on my camp shoes at the trail head and worn them across the road and across the creek. We passed two women who were going the opposite direction and we headed on around a field.

    We began hiking up some small ascents and we were both surprised how thick the undergrowth was. It had been raining pretty steady in the area the last few weeks which meant streams were full, but it also meant undergrowth and grass with high. After walking through a grassy area Wesley starting counting the number of ticks he was knocking off his legs. He was up to three in the first two miles of the hike. At one point the grass was five feet high. No joke. I should have packed my weed eater.

    2015-05-22 14.50.20

    We caught a nice bluff view, before walking on a country road for a half mile or so. The trail jetted off the road and back down into the woods. We crossed a few streams along the way. As expected every stream and runoff had water moving. We were able to cross most streams without getting our feet wet for the most part. Some runoffs had rock beds that were slick, but we crossed through with no problems. We took a break at one creek running down the bluff. It has a nice cascading waterfall down it.

    2015-05-22 15.30.35

    We crossed Arrington Creek at about the 3-mile mark. It had a nice campsite, but we were wanting to make more miles before making camp. We passed a number of blow downs along the way. Some looked recent. At one blow down over a large, rocky runoff we lost the trail. We looked around for a bit, before we saw a blaze on the other side of the runoff. According to the guide book we were using, the trail is not blazed, which is true…sorta. We did find either a blaze or a wooden sign of some sort anytime there was a sharp turn or intersection on the trail. The signs were helpful.

    We continued to climb up the trail after Arrington Creek and Wesley continued to knock off more ticks. I had to pull three off his legs. By 6 miles in, Wesley already counted 12 ticks. I really regretted not spraying down our gear and clothes with Permethrin. We stopped for a break and Wesley put moleskin on two hot spots on the balls of his feet. They weren’t blisters, but they were getting red and sore. We crossed Dry Creek, which wasn’t dry and then crossed into a private property. When we arrived at Running Creek, we looked for a camping spot, but it looked like the creek and surrounding area was on private property. When we crossed the creek, we found goats!

    2015-05-22 19.22.45 HDR

    Apparently, whoever owns the land around this area is a goat farmer. We saw two fire rings near the creek, but it looked like those spots were all on private property. Bummer. We hiked back across the creek and looked for trees off the trail to hang our hammocks from. The challenge was to find trees near the creek, off the trail, and NOT on private property. We looked for a while and finally found four trees that would work even through the ground was on an incline. The good thing about hammocks is that you do not need level ground, but a step incline makes for a tough first step in the morning. I set up our hammocks while Wesley gathered fire wood. We were set up in the woods just on the other side of the property line, but still close to the creek.

    2015-05-23 06.29.54

    We had finished setting up around 8:30 p.m., just as it was getting dark. We chose a flat spot near the creek to cook supper and build a fire, even though it was on private property. We ate mash potatoes and Turkey sausage bites and Wesley stretched out his pad next to the fire.

    We both went to bed by 10 p.m. I stretched out in my hammock and fell a sleeping listening to the sound of the creek.

    DAY 2

    I woke up at 6:15 a.m. to light rain falling on my tarp. It was a cool morning. I couldn’t see my breath but I shivered a bit as I changed into my hiking clothes. I warmed up as I gathered water and grabbed my food bag. The rain picked up some so I sat on a rock under my tarp as I boiled water for coffee and oatmeal. Breakfast hit the spot. I was ready to hike. I woke Wesley up at 8. We were hiking by 9.

    2015-05-22 19.15.54

    We had to cross Running Creek again which meant we had to stop dry our feet and put our socks and shoes back on after crossing the creek in our camp shoes. The trail began to ascend up out of the Running Creek, I am glad I didn’t wear my rain jacket even though it started raining a bit. We began to make some miles in the ran, hiking on a pretty muddy trail. In crossing a draining stream running down the bluff, I stepped stepped too quickly on the slick open rock face and fell on my right side. I fell on my right arm and shoulder with a quick THUD. I hiked nearly 100 miles last year on the AT and didn’t fall once. I am out here two days and I fall in the first 10 miles. Lessons learned. Step slowly on slick rocks. We kept walking and as the rain let up, I shot a quick video.

    We made it to the Ponca landing and saw a number of people with canoes and kayaks getting ready to put in. We thought we might eat lunch there, but there wasn’t a picnic table on anything. This was not a campground, just a landing. The Buffalo River looks like great destination for a float trip. Wesley and I talked about coming back down here with some guys and doing a float trip, maybe for his 18th birthday. We went under the bridge (Hwy 74) and hiked on.

    2015-05-23 12.43.15We made it to the Steel Creek Campground at 12:15 and the sun came out! We set up by the restrooms and laid out our gear dry. We ate lunch and enjoyed the sunshine before heading back down the trail at 1:30.

    The terrain was rocky and steep in places, but we were rewarded with a great view of the river and surrounding bluffs a couples miles outside of The Steel Creek Campground. This was the best view of the hike. Parts of the Buffalo River Trail here in Arkansas reminds me of the Appalachian Trial in Georgia.

    2015-05-23 14.43.04 HDR

    2015-05-23 14.49.20 HDR

    As we continued to climb, Wesley’s knee began to give him trouble. His knee really started to hurt on the downhill towards Beech Creek. As we were making our biggest climb of the day, a 700 foot ascent over 2 miles towards the Slaty Place, Wesley really started slowing down. The knee along with some pretty bad chaffing began to wear him down. He powered through, refusing to switch packs with me. This section of the hike was really similar to the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail (AT). The AT had higher climbs, but the terrain on this section of the Buffalo River Trail was just as steep and rocky as parts of the AT.

    2015-05-23 17.05.58

    He was in pain and I knew it, but he continued to say he didn’t want to quit. We talked it out and made the decision to get off the trail at Kyles Landing tomorrow. The only solution for a bum knee and chaffing is rest. So the decision was an easy one. I am in pretty decent shape and I could tell this trail was taking a toll on my feet in legs. It felt like I was getting a blister on the bottom of my right toe, probably from hiking with wet feet most of the day. The descent down from the Slaty Place to Indian Creek was wet and muddy. We made it to Indian Creek at 7:15 and found a great spot to make camp!

    2015-05-24 09.51.35

    Wesley collected firewood and I set up the hammocks. A group of hikers we saw at the river overlook hiked joined us at our camping spot. I cooked supper near the fire ring. Ramen and beef jerky were on the menu for tonight. I do not eat Ramen back home, but I crave it on the trail. I talked with the other hikers who were a part of a hiking club in the area. A girl who hiked in after us built the fire. Another one had an interest in the AT. I told stories from my section hike on the AT last year and they had a lot of gear questions. Wesley went to bed a little before 10. I stayed up yawning until about 10:30 p.m. It is hard to pull me away from gear conversations. One of hikers had girl scout cookies, which she shared, and we all enjoyed sitting around the fire, eating cookies, and telling hiking stories. I got into my hammock and was again lulled to sleep by the sound of running water.

    DAY 32015-05-24 08.46.10

    I slept great last night. Fell asleep fast and only woke up twice. We camped again by a creek with a little waterfall, which made for an excellent backdrop for good sleep. I woke up once to rain hitting my tarp at 4 a.m., but fell back asleep until 6:30. It was light rain so I grabbed my food bag and water and started breakfast. I enjoyed my coffee and oatmeal while listening to the new Mumford and Sons on my phone, all from the comfort of my warm and dry hammock. The rain stopped and our camp started waking up about 8 a.m. It looks like nine of us made camp here last night. Wesley was awake, but stayed in his hammock resting his knee. I walked down to Kyles Landing at about 8:30. It was a short walk as we camped only 1/2 mile from Kyles. I found the courtesy phone that Grant told me about. I called the Buffalo Outdoor Center and they said they would bring the car to Kyles Landing but it may be early afternoon before they could get there.

    2015-05-24 09.56.44I walked back to camp and told Wesley. We decided to lounge around camp and enjoy this creek-side camping spot while the sun tried to peak through the trees. I caught up on blogging and enjoyed the sound of the water and the birds overhead before we packed up and hiked out at 11 a.m.

    We got to the registration area at Kyles Landing where I made the call to the BOC early that morning and there was our car! We changed clothes and drove out. As we got a cell phone signal, I noticed I had a text from my brother saying a big storm was coming through our area. As we drove to Springdale the rain started coming down hard. I did want to hike on today, but I knew we made the right decision. Hiking in the rain with a knee issue and chaffing would have only made those two issues worse. Sometimes you have to listen to your body and make the right decision even if your heart wants to press on.

    All in all it was a great hike. Moments of suffering. Moments of discomfort. But a lot of fun and a memorable experience for Wesley and me.

    2015-05-23 11.14.13

    2015-05-23 11.48.30

    2015-05-23 11.50.50-1

    2015-05-24 08.59.01 HDR

    2015-05-23 06.52.50

  • Thoughts Gathered from Hiking on the Appalachian Trail

    2014-06-12 09.51.51I finished my 8-day section hike on the AT just eight days ago. People have asked me about my experience and I have answered in a variety of ways: “epic,” “an adventure of a life time,” “totally fulfilling,”  “an incredible experience.” I spent over 18-months dreaming, talking, and learning about hiking the Appalachian Trail. I tried to manage my expectations, so I didn’t start my hike with romantic notions about trail life. For the most part I did fairly well. I knew the trail was going to be hard; it was. I knew we would get rained on; we did. I knew I would have trouble sleeping some nights; I did. I knew I would run into interesting people; I did. I knew I would be overwhelmed by the views; I was. I knew I would be sweaty; I was. I did NOT expect it to be so cool at night. Most nights were fine, but I did get cold in my hammock one night. I used every piece of gear I took, so I felt really good about my gear choices. I got ZERO blisters, making me very happy in my decision to hike in trail runners and not boots. Would I do another section again? Absolutely.

    I am not sure if I could do a thru hike or not. A thru hike is a complete hike of the entire 2, 185-mile trail from Georgia to Maine (or the other way around) completed in one hiking season. My brother and I discussed this topic a couple of times. I know I could physically do the hike. They say if you can make it through Georgia then you can make it to Maine. The Georgia section may not be as difficult as the White Mountains in New Hampshire or the rugged terrain of Maine, but the Georgia section is no walk in the woods. It is littered with rocks and roots; it is constantly going up and down. We completed the Georgia section plus the Approach Trail and 5- 6 miles in North Carolina in 8 days and I could have done it in 6 days. I know for sure I could do a thru hike physically, but I do not know if I could do it emotionally. On my 8-day trip I was still in the honeymoon of hiking. I hadn’t been out there long enough to hit the wall of monotony. I was out there long enough to miss home and that subtle homesickness would be the one thing to keep me from attempting a thru hike. I am blessed with a great wife and great kids and even though they drive me crazy sometime, I love them. I love being with them and leaving for a 5-6 month hike would be a daunting task.

    This hike however was doable. I was only gone for a week and a half or so. Now that I have been home for a week and have looked back, here are my big takeaways from the hike. I did not learn anything new. I did not have any mind-blowing epiphanies. Rather the trail reminded me of a few simple things I already new.

    #1 Technology is not the enemy of simplicity

    There are a number of debates in the hiking community. One debate is over electronics on the trail. Do you carry the electronic comforts from home with you or do you try to “unplug” and soak in all nature has to offer? Another debate is pack weight. Do you worry about the weight of your pack? Are you a lightweight hiker? An ultra lightweight hiker? An extreme lightweight hiker??? These debates are somewhat connected because they are related to gear. To weigh in on the second debate, I would say I am a lightweight hiker. My base weight before food, water, and fuel for my stove is right at 14 lbs. With food for three days, water, and fuel my pack was 25.5 lbs. I am 200 lbs and a 25 lb. pack was very comfortable.  I met a guy on the trail, Hobbit, who was about 5’6″ and 130 lbs and he was carrying a 55 lbs. pack! Crazy talk!

    Over the last 18 months, I have enjoyed learning how to hike lighter. I have learned how to weigh all my gear, choose certain gear according to weight, and figure out what I could leave behind. I number of hikers have experienced the freedom of simplicity on the trail, learning to live on just the essentials. I too share the love of the freedom of simplicity, but on the trail I did carry my iPhone, an iPod shuffle, and an external battery charger. The iPhone may be the best piece of technology ever invented for the hiking community. (I am sure Steve Jobs was thinking about hikers when he created the iPhone, right?) My iPhone, case, charger, and ear buds weigh in at 8 oz. and it may had been the most important 8 oz. I carried. My iPhone served as my camera, video camera, journal, communication device, music player, and video player. (I had the movie Tombstone on my phone. We watched the first hour of it one night in the shelter.) It was a piece of technology that did indeed make my life simpler. I was able to document our hike and carry a little entertainment we me as well. I enjoyed listening to music when I had trouble sleeping or when I was tired and was facing a tough uphill climb. You can be a lightweight hiker and still carry key pieces of technology. In the “real world” we all need to simplify our lives and possessions, but simplifying does not mean throwing everything out.

    #2 I am my brother’s keeper

    Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote: “We are all responsible for everyone else—but I am more responsible than all the others.” Never did I find these words to be MORE true than on the trail. There exists an unspoken ethic on the trail that everyone is responsible for everyone else. Whether it is warnings about bears or rattlesnakes or directions to the water source or warnings about the weather, it seems like the hiking community understands we all need to watch out for each other. Such an ethic flies in the face of a culture dominated by rugged individualism and yes, such stubborn individualism can be found on the trail. You hear it behind the condescending and over-used-trail-phrase: “Hike your own hike.” I refuse to use the phrase because it is just a way to dismiss other people. Obviously, each person is going to decided what is the best way to hike the trail and we will not always do things the same, but “hike your own hike” sounds like a way to tell people off. It sounds like there should be an expletive at the end of the phrase: “HIKE YOUR OWN HIKE, @#$%# !!!” We do not need to judge one another on the trail. If Hobbit wants to hike with a 55 lb. pack, then so be it; I say nothing.

    But…we should watch out for each other. This thought became clear in my encounter with Paul. I have reported on Paul in my previous blogs, but we stayed with him on our first night. He was hiking in flip-flops and carrying a gym bag. We shared food with him and boiled water for him. We later learned that he is a mission person who may be suicidal. When I first met Paul, I knew he was strange. I was not surprised to learn he was suffering from a metal illness and was off his medication. We shared gear and food with Paul because he was hiking the trail and he was in need. I felt responsible for him as I felt responsible for everyone I met on the trail. I understand how deep bonds are formed among thru hikers. It doesn’t take long for that sense of responsibility to carry over into a solidified emotional bonds. I have heard more than one thru hiker on the AT speak of their “trail family.” I understand why. On the trail we look out for each other and we form a bond; we begin to love each other in the way I hear Jesus calling us to love one another. I wonder if such love for neighbor can really happen in the real world?

    #3 Community is not only necessary for human existence; it makes life better

    We cannot survive on our own because we were designed by our Creator for each other. We were created to live in community, to go through life living interdependently with other people. I could not have hiked the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail if it had not been blazed and maintained by other people. I could not have got off the trail in rainstorm and taken into town if it were not for other people. I would not have a backpack or gear to put in it if it were not for other people. I would not have had delicious freeze-dried trail food if it were not for other people. Yes community (other people) are necessary for human survival, but other people also make life better.

    I loved hiking with my brother Jeff and our friend John. My brother and I had not spent that much time together since we were kids. I loved it, even when Jeff got impatient like our dad. I enjoyed calling him “Ed Vreeland.” John cracked me up constantly. I will never look at a purple shirt again and not think of John (sorry…inside joke)! I also enjoyed meeting so many interesting people at the shelter at night. Our first night it was Paul. Enough said. The second night was Senator, Amanda, and Kendall. Kendall had a can of bear spray proudly displayed on her hip. I think it was creepy-guy spray as much as bear spray. She was not wearing it the next morning. I guess she figured we were harmless. They were all great fun. The third night we were in town. No interesting people in town. Night #4 was the best night at camp. We slept in the shelter with Colin, Jason, Sampson, and Hobbit. Too many stories. Too many laughs. Those guys were great. Night #5 we camped alone. Night #6 we stayed the night in a cabin at Neel Gap. Night #7 was the most crowded night at the shelter, maybe 13 of us. Most of us tented. I did enjoy talking with Carrie and her husband from Atlanta. We were hoping to stay the night with them on the eighth night at the Springer Mountain Shelter, but we hiked out on the eighth day. These people were really a major highlight of the trip. I love hiking, but walking into camp always felt like a downer, except for the people we encountered.

    #4 Everyone needs a little kindness

    This need for kindness is connected to the idea that people make life better. Philo of Alexandria said: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.” The trail is an adventure and, in some ways, it is a kind of battle. You are battling the weather or the terrain or the ascents OR the descents (we would say that going downhill is just a different kind of pain). Sometime you are battling your body or mind. I love hiking, but it includes some degree of suffering. Everyone is fighting something. A small act of kindness goes a long way. After shivering in my hammock one night I was looking to sleep in the shelter the next night on the trail when we expected a thunderstorm. I did not have a sleeping pad, but Hobbit loaned me his. He wasn’t using it and it was just a small act of kindness but it went a long way.

    We never know what small acts of kindness do for other people. I included Paul in our morning prayer before we left the shelter. He said, “Thanks for the prayer.” Who knows, maybe that prayer saved his life? Maybe Paul was ready to take his life that night at the shelter, but he found some kind of hope in the prayer from a stranger. By the way, we have received word that Paul is still on the trail. His girlfriend is concerned about his well-being. I hope he can find his way home.

    #5 Physical health is a part of the good life

    I worked hard to get in good physical shape for the hike. I turned 40 years old while on the trail and I believe I am as fit as I have been since college. I lost 12 lbs before the hike (and lost another 5-6 lbs while hiking). I ran hard during the winter and spring months and it really paid off. It is true; you do not need to be in shape to hike on the Appalachian Trail. If you start with low mileage days and then build up, you can get into trail shape. You do not HAVE TO be in shape to hike the trail, but it sure makes hiking much more enjoyable. John was…how shall I say…the least fit hiker in our group. He was a trooper though. He never complained, but I can tell he was struggle up some of those mountains. (We did find out John lost 18 lbs while hiking on the trail!) I found the climbs to be difficult at times, but not strenuous. I was easily able to set a pace and then hike 30-45 minutes up the mountain without a break.

    As I enter my 40s, I am more convinced of the importance of good physical health. I do not want to go back to the laziness of my early 30s. I started running about five years ago. I loss over 30 lbs. and I feel great. I am thankful for good health and I want to treat it as a gift. I know our human bodies are a part of God’s good creation and I know God is a healer, but I have to participate with him. I cannot choose a sedimentary lifestyle and eat junk food every day and then expect a miracle when my body begins to fall apart. I want to live the good life, the life God has designed for us and a part of the good life is staying in shape.

    #6 The God of the trail is the provider for and sustainer of his good and beautiful creation

    I have often heard the popular saying on the AT: “The trail will provide.” The thought is whatever a person needs they can find on the trail. Very often the trail provides through the kindness of other hikers. Other times provision comes through trail angels, people close to the trail who provide food or rides or some form of “trail magic.” We did not experience “trail magic,” but Jason at Mountain Crossings did give me a piece of foam that kept me warm in my hammock. I understanding the saying, but every time I hear it I want to rephrase it to say, “The God of the trail will provide.” The God of the trail did provide for us at every turn. He provided everything we needed including the occasional encounter with his beautiful creation.

    The very first overlook view I saw was, in my mind, the best. I described it in my Day 2 blog post. We had been hiking for two days in the green tunnel, under a constant canopy of green leafy trees. We followed a blue-blazed trail .2 miles off the AT to a vista and we were reward with a breathtaking view. It was a God-encounter. I brushed up against the finger prints of God. I do believe in Natural Theology, the idea that the attributes of God can be seen (in a reduced way) in creation. As the Psalmist declares, “The heavens declare the handiwork of God.” Well the mountain declare his handiwork too! Seeing the mountains from that overlook took me by surprise. It took me to a place of gut-instinct primal faith, where I could look at creation and see the work of the Creator. God not only creates things like this, but he sustains it. Encounters like this one remind me that life is such a gift. Humanity has such a way of screwing things up…myself included! The only thing holding us together is the gracious hands of a loving God.

  • Appalachian Trail Georgia Section Hike: Day 6

    Friday, June 13, 2014
    7.4 miles to Lance Creek Campsite

    I tried to stay up last night but I was falling asleep watching the game. It was nice to sleep in a bed in my own room. I did have a chance to talk to Jenni and the boys las night even though the cell service is week at the Blood Mountain Cabin. It was good to hear their voices. As much as I am loving the trail I do miss the family. I was asleep by 10:45 PM and awake by 6:30.

    I checked the weather on my phone before I got out of bed and they are calling for rain again today.

    We checked out and made it to Mountain Crossings by 10:30 AM. John and Jeff shipped some gear home. I talked to Jason at Mountain Crossings about my lack of insulation in mu hammock. He showed me some foam pad but I didn’t want to spend the $15 just for three nights. He went to the back of the store and came out with two foam pads about 4 foot long. He said I could have one because they were donated. I chose the blue pad. I had to put it in my pack because it would take on water. It fit perfectly in my pack. We weighed our gear before we left:

    Derek: 25.5
    Jeff: 26.5
    John: 38

    The climb up Blood Mountain was enjoyable. It was the highest climb but not the hardest. There were stone steps and a couple of steep switchbacks but I took my time and enjoyed it. Jeff caught up with and we reached the summit together. We passed a really nice view south of the summit, but we hiked on. Jeff took my picture on top of a large rock on the summit. The view was amazing even with the approaching clouds. We dropped our packs in the shelter located right on the top of the mountain and walked back to the spot we saw south and took some more pictures.

    We walked back up to the top and ate lunch on the steps going up into the shelter. We had a good conversation with Grong and Lallygag, an older couple hiking North to Damascus, VA. We finished up lunch and I started talking to another hiker, Ronnie, a super fit 51 year-old guy from Florida. We asked him if he had heard about Paul, the missing person we stayed with Sunday night. He knew all about it. He had been a Neel Gap when the authorities were searching for Paul. He also heard Paul was found in North Carolina and returned to his family. It was good news. Ronnie said, “O so you are the guys who made the call.” Apparently we were the only ones to have seen Paul and called in a tip. It is strange how news travels on the trail.

    We were going to hike down Blood Mountain when it started to rain. We stayed in the shelter to wait out the storm. We were joined by Adam a day hiker and 4-5 young guys looking to camp out on Blood Mountain. We chatted about our hiking adventures and talked football too. The temperature dropped whole it was raining. I felt like grabbing my rain jacket just to warm up, but the rain stopped and the sun came out. We wishes Adam and the boys well and then we were gone.

    The trail down blood mountain was slick but we made our way down without a fall. We continued hiking down to the blue blaze trail for the Wood Hole Shelter. We thought it was .2 off the trail but it turned out to be .5. We turned around before going to far and stopped at the water source for the shelter to fill up on water. When leaving to get back on the AT Jeff slipped while trying to step over a log. He went to his knee and the fell on his shoulder and rolled. He stood up and I asked if everything was still working. He said yes. John waited about 10 seconds before saying, “I watched that in slow motion. It was like a Jeff-alanche!” We all busted out laughing. Jeff included.

    We hiked on passing a couple other hikers on our way to Lance Creek. We arrived about 5:00 or so. Jeff and John pitched their tents and I hung my hammock. I drive the last stale into the ground when it started raining. I pulled my pack and all my gear in under the tarp and I laid back in the comfort of my hammock as the rain fell until 6 PM or so. We stayed dry during two rain storms tonight which is a real plus. Hiking in the rain is no fun. John fell asleep in his tent while it was raining.

    When the rain stopped, Jeff and rolled out and walked down to the creek and checked out our campsite. We wanted to build a fire but everything is wet at camp. We started cooking supper at 7 PM. I are the gumbo Jeff had given me from Pak-it Gourmet. It had a lot of flavor. I would definitely eat it again. John made banana pudding, also from Pak-it Gourmet and shared some. We talked about our day tomorrow and agreed to hike a 16-mile day to Gooch Mountain Shelter. This will our biggest day.

    John went to bed at 9 and Jeff and I stayed up talking until 10 PM.

  • Appalachian Trail Georgia Section Hike: Day 5

    Thursday, June 12, 2014
    11.4 miles to Neel Gap

    It rained off and on all night. I stayed dry and warm but I did not sleep so well on the yoga mat in the shelter. I listened to music until well after midnight. I took out my earbuds and dozed off listening to the sound of the rain fall on the shelter roof. I tossed and turned until about 5:30 AM. I am ready to sleep in my hammock again!

    I sat up at 5:45 and finished up my blog entry from yesterday. I thought about the rest of my trip, knowing that day five is the halfway point. I am still trying to live in the present moment. This has been such a great adventure, even with the rough sleep last night.

    By 6:20 our misty camp was waking up to the sound of birds, dripping ran, and hikers ready for breakfast. We ate and packed up and hit the trail by 8 AM. Our first climb was 600 feet up Poor Mountain. A good way to start the day. We made it to Hogpen Gap by 10 AM. Four miles in two hours. We crossed the road to get back on the trail and we saw a posting from the Union County Sheriff’s Office regarding a missing person who was suicidal. Jeff looked at the picture and it was Paul, the strange guy we stayed with at Plumborchard Gap on Day 1. John called the sheriff’s department and reported our encounter with Paul. Looking back I am glad we showed him kindness. I even included Paul in our morning prayer when we were leaving Plumborchard on Sunday. When I said “Amen” and opened my eyes, I watched as he crossed himself and said, “Thanks for the prayer.” Who knows, maybe that prayer saved his life.

    We made a quick ascent up Wildcat Mountain and took pictures of the view. We had a tough 700 font climb up to Cowrock Mountain. We ate lunch on the open rock face on the summit and had the opportunity to dry out our shoes, clothes, and some of our gear. It felt good to get our sweat-soaked shirts and water logged shoes dry. It was short lived. 30 minutes down Cowrock it started raining. It rained for the next hour and a half. The trail became a river in spots. We tried to walk along the edge of the trail but we gave in and walked through the muddy, sloppy trail.

    It finally let up as we hiked the numerous switchbacks up Levelland Mountain. I walked passed the view on the way to the summit. I saw a nice view but didn’t take pictures. I assumed there would be a view at the top, but I was wrong. We made it to the top of Levelland and the trees blocked the view. We were drenched and getting cold as the wind whipped through the trees. We made a quick descent down to Neel Gap. The sun came out and we warmed up.

    We made our way to the historic Mountain Crossings at Neel Gap. We walked through the breezeway and I signed the register. We walked on to the Blood Mountain Cabins which were farther away than we expected. We checked into the Mountain Lion Cabin, got our camp shoes on and returned to Mountain Crossings. We bought T-shirts, snacks and some gear, and picked up our mail drop boxes. We talked to the owners about Paul. They said Paul’s pack was found a half mile from Neel Gap with $3,000 in cash and expensive gear. He was presumed dead. They searched in the woods around Neel Gap searching for him…such a tragic story. They were happy to hear he was alive.

    We returned to the cabin with our boxes with resupply food in it. My mom sent me a box with cards, snack cakes, and candles for my birthday Very kind. I went through my food and pulled out all the food I didn’t need. I sent myself some extra food but I am going to leave it in the hiker box at Mountain Crossings. We got a pizza and spaghetti from the general store and cooked it at the cabin. We took showers and are planning to watch Game 4 of the NBA finals before going to bed.

  • Appalachian Trail Georgia Section Hike: Day 4

    Wednesday, June 11, 2014
    9.2 miles to Low Gap Shelter

    Today was, without a doubt, wildlife Wednesday. I saw a deer, an orange salamander, a black salamander, a snake, and bears! O yes…I saw a bear on the Appalachian Trail!

    Before I get to the bear encounter let me back up and review the day. We slept good last night at the Budget Inn in Hiawassee. We fell asleep watching Game three between the Heat and Spurs. I woke up at about 7:30 AM. I uploaded videos, ate cold pizza, and had gas station coffee for breakfast. We got picked up at 10:30 and hit the trail by 11.

    The hike up Blue Mountain was easier than the previous climbs. We started at Unicoi Gap at 2949 feet and hiked up 1.5 miles to the summit of Blue Mountain at 4025 feet. It had rained in the morning before we got on trail and parts of the trail were covered in a light mist. It was magical, made me think of the Dylan line: “I stumbled along side twelve misty mountains.” As I hiked up I heard a crash in the woods, up the mountain on my left. I turned and I saw my first deer, a doe who made her way quickly up the mountain before I could take a picture. A little bit later I saw an orange salamander standing on a leaf on the tree. I took a picture and picked it up to take a picture of it in my hand.

    A short while longer I made it up to the Blue Mountain shelter, a nice shelter with a covered porch. We ate lunch there, used the privy, and checked for a signal. I had three bars and 4G, so I sent some texts home and uploaded a picture of the misty trail. We packed up and headed down the mountain.

    Ten minutes down the trail we heard a crash up the mountain. We all instantly froze. We looked up the mountain and I yelled, “Bear!!!” My heart was racing as I watched the cub gallop up the mountain and stop to get a look at me. I was hiking behind John and Jeff and they saw another cub further up the mountain, but I only saw the one.

    I was breathing quickly in utter disbelief and I quickly scanned the mountain looking for the mama bear. I wasn’t afraid; I was too excited. When the bear stopped to look at me, I could see its brown snout and black nose. When I didn’t see the mama bear, I frantically searched for my phone. I took a couple pictures but they all looked like those pictures people take of Bigfoot! The bear looks like a blurry black splotch in the picture.

    We hiked on, talking about how lucky we are to have seen a bear on the trail in Georgia. We hadn’t seen anyone on the trail that morning, so I think the lack of people prevented the bears from scampering off into the woods.

    The rest of the day was easy hiking. I have enjoyed hiking on my own on some of the climbs but it was nice hiking as a group. We told stories and laughed and hiked the day away. It started raining on us at about 4:30, just before we arrived at Low Gap Shelter. We hiked down to the shelter on the blue-blazed trail that had turned into a river.

    The shelter was filled with Boy Scouts and two northbound section hikers, Jason and Colin, all hiding out in the shelter to avoid the rain. I shared my bear encounter with them only to find that Jason and Colin had seen both a bear cub and an adult size bear on two different occasions. I guess bear sightings are not so rare after all.

    The rain stopped and the Boy Scouts pumped water by the stream at camp and started cooking outside the shelter. Two more guys showed up. Thomas (aka Hobbit) and Bret (aka Samson) both are northbound hikers trying to see how far they can go up the trail. Thomas wants to get to Maine, but I am not sure that he will get there with a 55 lb. pack on his tiny frame. He looks to be 5’6″ and about 130 lbs.

    We cooked supper and I tried to hang my hammock in the shelter. We are expecting thunderstorms tonight and I would like to avoid another shivering cold night. I couldn’t get my hammock high enough in the shelter so I decided to join John, Jeff, Jason, Colin, and Bret in the shelter. Thomas was setting up his hammock and loaned me his yoga mat to sleep on.

    I turned on the movie Tombstone (that I had downloaded on my phone) at 9 PM as everybody was getting in their sleeping bags. Jason who was on my right and I continued to quote lines from the movie, which I found funny. At 10, I called Jenni and got caught up on her day. Again I had a good cell phone signal. I returned to my sleeping bag at 10:30 PM.

    I put in my earbuds and listened to Dylan’s Tell Tale Signs. I am hoping for a good night sleep in the shelter.

  • Appalachian Trail Georgia Section Hike: Day 2

    Monday, June 9, 2014
    8.1 miles to Deep Gap Shelter

    Woke up this morning at 8 AM to the voice of my brother saying, “Derek, you up?” He had already got up and pulled down our food bags from the bear cables. There are black bears in this area so people hang their food from a high branch or from cables if they have been installed at the shelter. We didn’t see any bear activity, which is to be expected.

    I got up and ate a typical hikers’ breakfast: pop tarts, oatmeal, and coffee. I started packing up when nature called. I had the wonderful opportunity of visiting the privy behind the shelter. Most shelters have a composting privy which, despite the way you may imagine it, is a bit of a luxury on the trail.

    We started hiking at 10 AM. We stopped for a break at Cowart Gap and I reached into my front pouch hanging from my shoulder straps on my pack looking for a Snikers bar. My to my dismay I discovered a mouse had a midnight snack in my pouch last night. I left my pack hanging in the shelter and I forgot to take my snacks out of the pouch. A mouse had eat quite a bit out of the top of my Snikers. Lesson learned. Keep food out of the shelter.

    We hiked on to Dick’s Creek Gap passing a Boy Scout troop on their way to Deep Gap where we started a yesterday. We filled up on water and then ate lunch on the stone picnic tables at Dick’s Creek. We did get a cell phone signal (I have an AT&T iPhone 5S) even though AWOL’s guide said there was no signal there. I sent a few texts home and then searched for a trash can but none was found.

    With our bellies full we hiked up the 1200 foot climb up Powell Mountain. This was the hardest climb of the hike so far. The ascent was 1200 feet over 1.8 miles. I tend to hike faster than the other guys so I took lead. I suggested we meet at the Moreland Gap but for whatever reason I missed the gap. Once I got to the top of Powell Mountain I started leaving arrows made of sticks on the trail hoping they would see them and know that I was hiking on. I made it to the Vista campsite (.1 mile off the trail) and followed the blue blaze to the vista. The Appalachian Trail (AT) is marked with a white blaze, a 2 inch by 6 inch white rectangle painted on trees or rocks or whatever trail maintainers can find. I blue blaze is the same size and shape but it marks a side trail off the AT.

    As I made my way along the blue blaze trail, I passed the campsite and a little further down the trail, I could see the clearing through the trees. I could feel my heart racing. I turned the corner and saw the massive view. After hiking in the “green tunnel” for two days, it was an overwhelming sight. I literally got chill bumps and I whispered a spontaneous prayer, “O my God…this is incredible.”

    I sat for a moment, enjoying the view and then I hiked the back to the AT to make sure John and Jeff didn’t miss it. Once we all made it to the vista we sat for a while enjoying the view. We then hiked the 1 mile hike to the Deep Gap Shelter. We spent the night with three other section hikers. Kendall and Amanda who are on a two month hike and Sentor, a guy hiking from Spring Mountain in Georgia to Hot Springs, North Carolina. They’re hiking North. They were all very talkative and friendly. We enjoyed eating supper with them, laughing and talking about our hiking adventures.

    We collected wood and made a fire. We sat by the fire as the sun was going down. I had another good cell signal so I was able to talk to Jenni and upload some pictures.

    It was a great day. We only did eight miles but we had a tough climb, but we enjoyed a great view and good company at the shelter.

  • Food List: Appalachian Trail Section Hike

    I am ten days away from hiking the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trial. I am trying to contain my excitement, but it is becoming difficult. In between responsibilities at church and home, every other thought these days seems to be focused on the hike. I have completed my food list for the hike and I thought I may share it with you.

     

    This is an example of four days worth of food. (The only thing not in video is pepperoni slices and summer sausage.) I hope to complete the Georgia section (from Deep Gap in North Carolina to Amicalola State Park) in nine days. I will be carrying five days worth of food. I will mail the food I need for the final four days to Mountain Crossings, an outfitter on the trail at Neel’s Gap. The great people at Mountain Crossing will hold on to my “mail drop” until I arrive there.

    I have experimented with different kinds of trail food over the last year or so and I have figured out what I like. I am always paying attention to calorie density, trying to the get the most calories for the least amount of weight. My goal is to eat at least 4,000 calories a day, which is TWICE the average calorie intake by the average person on an average day. But hiking is not “average.” From what I hear, hiking in the North Georgia mountains is more strenuous than most people think, so I want to make sure I have plenty of fuel for my body. It is a high carb diet and yes a lot of junk food. I plan on taking a multivitamin every morning, which I am sure will cancel out all toxins in the poptart I will be eating everyday!

    This is pretty standard hiking food, the only thing unique about my food is my gorp. One bag is over 1000 calories! It is a simple recipe:

    • 1/4 cup peanut butter M&Ms
    • 1/4 cup honey roasted peanuts
    • 1/2 cup of yogurt covered raisins

    It is pretty sweet, but I like it a lot. I will not eat a full bag everyday. I am bringing three bags for the first five days. Here is my complete food list with calorie amounts per item.

    MEAL ITEM CALORIES MEAL TOTAL
    Breakfast
    2 poptarts 400
    2 pks rasin & spice oatmeal 320
    Folders coffee/splenda 0
    720
    Lunch
    2 med tortillias 280
    2 Peanut Butter cups to go 500
    4 honey packs 200
    1/4 cup dried blueberries 140
    1120
    2 med tortillias 280
    2 tuna pouches 120
    4 mayo pks 140
    28 cheez its 150
    1 snickers 250
    940
    2 med tortillias 280
    4 cheese sticks 320
    32 peporoni slices 280
    2/3 cup dried pineapple 315
    1195
    Supper
    Mountain House 550 550
    instant mashpotatoes 440
    12 summer sausage bites 200
    Nekot cookies 240
    880
    2 med tortillias 280
    spanish rice 600
    4 cheese sticks 320
    2 Taco Bell hot sause packs 20
    1220
    2 packs ramen 760
    56 cheezits (hot & spice) 300
    1/2 oz of olive oil 125
    1185
    1/2 box stove top stuffing 330
    12 summer sausage bites 200
    2/3 cup dried pineapple 315
    Nekot cookies 240
    1085
    Snacks
    Gatorade mix 50 50
    Cliff bar 260 260
    Snikers 240 240
    misc. candy 100 100
    1/4 yougurt covered rasins 300 300
    Great Value beef jerkey 10 oz 800 800
    1/4 cup pb M&Ms 220
    1/4 cup honey roasted peanuts 190
    1/2 cup yougurt covered rasins 600
    1010

     

  • My Gear List: Appalachian Trail Section Hike

    With less than three weeks before my section hike on the Appalachian Trail, I have (finally!) finished gathering all the gear I will need for the hike. I may have some last minute additions or deletions, but I feel good with the gear I have for THE BIG hike. I have learned so much from watching other gear videos that I am submitting my own. I am passing on what I have learned from others and adding a few tips I have come up with on my own. My complete gear list is below the video.

    My base weight (minus food and water) is just under 14 lbs. Much of the work that has gone into gear selection for this hike has been learning how to pack lighter. When I started hiking six years ago I was carrying a 40 lb. pack. I have enjoyed the challenge of learning how to get my pack lighter without spending thousands of dollars and without giving up too many comforts. After three shakedown hikes this Spring covering 51 miles, I am confident my gear will get me through the Georgia section.

    Here is the video:

    Here is the complete gear list:

    ITEM WEIGHT (oz) TOTAL
    ULA Circuit 43
    trashbag liner 5.2
    BIAS Weight Weenie Hammock 9
    BIAS suspension 4.6
    Tarp & stakes 24.6
    Coleman 40 deg sleeping bag 35.6
    32 oz Coloman solo max pot 5.8
    alcohol stove & measuring cup 1
    MSR folding spoon 0.4
    MSR folding spoon fork 0.4
    windscreen & paper clip 0.4
    camp soap & scrubbing pad 0.8
    2 oz olive oil bottle 2.2
    knife, lighter, lanyard 1.4
    bowl 1.2
    aluminum foil lid 0
    Zpacks pack towl & elastic band 1
    Smartwool socks 1 pair 1.4
    Long sleeve cotton t-shirt 9.5
    Nike running shorts 5.2
    Frogg Toggs rain jacket 6
    Knee brace 3.2
    Stick Pic and phone holder 0.8
    Sawyer Mini water filter 1.8
    1 Liter Sawyer bag 1.2
    1 Liter Platypus 0.8
    Sawyer backwash syringe 1
    headnet 0.8
    iPhone, case, charger, earbuds 8
    iPod shuffle and charger 0.8
    id, insurance & debt card, cash 1
    Nite Ize 50′ 2.4 mm cord 2.4
    10′ paracord & carabiner 0.8
    50′ paracord 3.2
    matches 0.1
    headlamp 3.4
    trail maps 1.6
    deck of cards 3.2
    iTorch external battery & cord 5.4
    4 gallon size ziplocks 1.2
    zip ties 0.2
    plastic rain kilt 2.6
    Outdoor Research food bag 2.6
    First aid kit 2.2
    Colman biodegradable wipes 3.2
    face wipes 0.2
    mirror 0.8
    hand sanitizer 1.2
    toothbrush and toothpaste 0.8
    Chapstick 0.2
    sunscreen 2.2
    insect repellent 1.4
    Body glide 2.2
    Gold bond 1.2
    blue stuff sack 0.8
    TOTAL 221.2 13 lbs 13.2 ozs
  • Hiking in the Rain

    My long-awaited section hike on the Appalachian Trail is almost here. I have less than a month to go. If you have read my other hiking-related blogs you know that I am a fanatical planner. I have literally been planning this 9 (or 10) day hike for more than a year. I enjoy the planning. I enjoy the learning. I enjoy thinking through various scenarios and working out a plan in my head. I enjoy the details. I especially enjoy talking about the hike with anyone who asks!

    One of the final tasks in preparation for my section hike was hiking in the rain. I can now check that off my list. I had a chance to hike 3.5 miles in the rain today at a local mountain bike/running trail.

    20140512-151618.jpg

    It rained last night and continued raining this morning until about 7:30 AM. I watched the weather all morning waiting for it to rain. I could see on the weather app on my phone that a storm cell was heading in my direction. I started hiking about 12:50 PM and it started raining within the first 30 minutes. It was a slow, but steady, rain. I heard thunder in the distance, but nothing close to me. It has been raining a good amount this Spring, so the trail was lush and green.

    20140512-152104.jpg

    The entire trail is 2 miles end-to-end. I stopped before the end and turned back, in order to hike the trail as an out-and-back. On the first half of the trail I tried to stay out of the mud puddles. By the time I turned around and was on the second half, my feet were soaked so I said “What the heck!” I stomped through the puddles no matter how deep, splashing around in the mud like a 5-year old after a rainstorm.

    20140512-152547.jpg

    The bill of my hat kept rain off my face and my Dri-Ducks Frogg Toggs jacket kept my upper body dry. The only moisture on my shirt was from sweat. I don’t know how “breathable” this jacket is. It was humid today but not too hot. Any hotter and I would have been wet from sweat. My shoes and socks were soaked but my feet were fine. I did have to stop twice to get debris out of my right shoe. Maybe I should look into gaiters before the hike? My shorts were soaked. I did not apply Body Glide and I am lucky I did not start chaffing. If I had to hike all day in rain like that WITHOUT Body Glide, I would have been in trouble.

    Pulling out my phone to shoot video and take pictures was a bit of a hassle in then rain. I shot video when the rain stopped for a couple minutes. I pulled out my phone to catch a few pictures of the trail and the obligatory hiking selfie.

    20140512-153526.jpg

    It worked well keeping my phone in a ziplock bag in my front pouch. I did have to take it out of the ziplock to get a good picture. I will NOT try to do that in heavy rain.

    My pack got wet but the contractor’s trash bag on the inside kept everything dry. I feel confident with going with the trash bag instead of a pack cover.

    Overall, I give myself a passing grade for hiking in the rain. I feel ready for rain on the AT next month. I plan on blogging on my gear and food before the hike. I have learned so much from watching gear videos from other hikers, I am eager to submit my own.

    Here is a short video from today’s rainy hike:

  • A new adventure begins…in 120 days

    I am thrilled to announce the 120-day countdown to a new adventure has begun, an adventure that I would like to document on my blog.

    I have been blogging for 8 years, since March 2006, primarily on topics related to theology and Christian ministry. These twin topics occupy most of my time, energy, effort, focus, work, reading, education, conversations, etc., but I do have a few other hobbies. The first would be my undying devotion to the Kansas City Chiefs. I have been a Chiefs fan since High School and I remained loyal to the Chiefs Kingdom even while living in Oklahoma and Georgia. I AM a Chiefs fan, which means I am constantly frustrated..well…to be honest…both frustrated and optimistic. In addition to my seasonal pre-occupation with football, my only other real hobby is hiking in general, and the Appalachian Trail in particular.

    pine mountain trail 2008

    Hiking with the fellas from Cornerstone Church on the Pine Mountain Trail (Georgia) in May 2008

    My love for hiking began in 2008, when I went with a group of guys from my church in Georgia on a weekend hike on the Pine Mountain Trail, just outside of Columbus, Georgia. I had hiked often in the Boy Scouts when I was a teenager, but I had not done much hiking/backpacking as an adult. The hike in 2008 changed all that. This overnight trip awakened not only my love for the outdoors, but also a love for the freedom (and struggle) of strapping everything you need on your back and heading out into the woods.

    This trip became the first of many hiking trips in Georgia, Alabama, Colorado, Nebraska, and Missouri (see pictures of past trips below). I lived, and hiked in South Georgia for a number of years and while I had heard of the Appalachian Trail (AT), I new very little about it.

    During Christmas 2011 I had a one-hour conversation with my wife’s uncle, Lyle “Burro” Pettijohn. Lyle completed a thru hike of the AT in 2008. (A “thru hike” is a complete hike of the entire trail.) He told me about his adventure and said if I was interested in learning more about the AT to Google “Appalachian Trail.” I followed his advice, which lead me to online forums, blogs, YouTube Channels, and countless books by current and former AT hikers. The more I read about the AT, the more fascinated I became. (Speaking of books I am currently reading Becoming Odyssa, by thru hike record-breaker Jennifer Pharr Davis.)

    at trail mapThe AT is a continuous 2,180 mile footpath through the Appalachian Mountain range across 14 states. It’s Southern terminus is on Springer Mountain in North Georgia an it’s  Northern terminus is on Mt. Katahdin in Maine. Every year thousands of people attempt to hike the entire length of the AT in one hiking season. On average only 1 out of 4 succeed in hiking the entire trail. (More info on the AT is here.)

    So here comes the announcement about my new adventure

    No I am not attempting a thru hike, but I am planning on hiking the Georgia section of the AT this summer for my 40th birthday.

    My goal is to start hiking on June 8, Pentecost Sunday, and complete the Georgia section in nine days. Yeah I know, a section hike is not as exciting as thru hike, but with family and church responsibilities there is no way at the phase of my life that I could get a way for five to six months to hike the whole trail. (Maybe when I retire?) My section hike will begin in North Carolina, about 7 trail miles North of the Georgia border. Once I hike southbound into Georgia and complete the Georgia section of the AT, I will continue to hike down the Approach Trail into Amicalola State Park. The total distance will be 95 miles. I am not doing this alone. I am glad that I have three friends who have found away to take a couple of weeks away from their work and families to hike with me.

    I want to use my blog as a way to document the hike itself with pictures and video ( I did this for a two-day trip last March). I also want to use the blog to document the preparation for the hike for anyone who is interested. With 120 days away before my section hike, there is still a lot to do. I have been planning this hike for over a year, so I have already spend a lot of time trying out new gear, learning to back lighter, learning about the North Georgia mountains, and figuring out a good plan to accomplish the Georgia section. I know, I know…eighteen months of planning for a 9-day trip seems like over-kill. I am a planner, and for me the planning is almost as fun as the trip itself!

    Here are some pictures of my past hiking trips:

    pine mountain june 2008

    On the Pine Mountain Trail (Georgia) in June 2008

     

    Pine Mountain Trail day hike 2008

    Me, Wesley, and Taylor on the Pine Mountain Trail (Georgia) in July 2008

     

    Pine Mountain Trail (Georgia) June 2009

    Me & Gabe Theiss on the Pine Mountain Trail (Georgia) in June 2009 (Gabe is hiking with me this summer.)

     

    Dowdell Knob: Pine Mountain Trail (Georgia) March 2010

    Wesley & me at the Dowdell Knob on the Pine Mountain Trail (Georgia) in March 2010

     

    Twin Sisters Summit (Colorado) September 2010

    On the summit of Twin Sisters (Colorado) in September 2010

     

    Oak Mountain State Park (Alabama) 2010

    At Oak Mountain State Park (Alabama) in November 2010

     

    Odie Overlook: Pine Mountain Trail (Georgia) March 2011

    Me, my brother Jeff, & Wesley on the Pine Mountain Trail (Georgia) in March 2011 (Jeff is hiking with me this summer.)

     

    Twin Sisters Trail (Colorado) September 2011

    Me & Santosh Ninan on the Twin Sisters Trail (Colorado) in September 2011

     

    Indian Cave State Park (Nebraska) June 2011

    Wesley & Me at Indian Cave State Park (Nebraska) in June 2012

     

    Big Piney Trail (Missouri) March 2013

    On the Big Piney Trail (Missouri) in March 2013

     

    Big Piney Trail (Missouri) May 2013

    Adventurers from Word of Life Church on the Big Piney Trail (Missouri) in May 2013

     

    Indian Cave State Park (Nebraska) June 2013

    Wesley & Me at Indian Cave State Park (Nebraska) in June 2013