The Hiker

I finally have a picture of Lyle to post. This was taken on Day 2 in the morning just before he headed out on the trail. This was taken just beyond the parking lot on Springer Mountain. He has shed at least 12 pounds from his pack by eating the food and mailing things home, but this still looks like an awful lot to carry with you every day. I can't even imagine hiking up and down the mountain slopes with this on my back, can you? Okay, some of you reading this think hiking the AT and suffering through all of this is a really cool thing...it's a good thing that there are a few of us sane ones around to balance things out! :)