On The Trail Again

The Hiker Returns Home!

2006-06-21T18:24:00.000-07:00

This is a 6-7 foot Black Racer
common in the
Southern states. It eats rodents
and leaves the hikers alone--
althouth this hiker was
being a pest! He claims it's
because he's
never seen a snake climb a tree
before so
he had to study it up close
and personal!

Good bye Virginia and hello
West Virginia. This was the
marker for the dividing line....
cross another state off of the list!
That makes a total of 5 states
in the 1009 mile hike, whew!

I can't believe he isn't
leaning against the pole
after 1,000 miles! Oh,
it was wet paint according
to Lyle (it really was wet
'cause this post replaced
a rock that used to be
the marker!).
What a great and uplifting
feeling it was to be
standing here!

Lyle returned to Appleton on Tuesday, June 20, after a 23 1/2 hour ride on the Amtrak train from Harpers Ferry to Milwaukee and then a coach bus from Milwaukee to Appleton. When he stepped off the bus, my first thoughts were he looked very thin and about ready to fall over from exhaustion. But he is home safe and sound thank God! And the stories he has to tell. The next few sentences are his as he wanted to say a few words to his audience :)

Hi everyone, Thanks for showing an interest in following me on my "walk in the woods". A great feeling for me as I walked into Harpers Ferry, WV knowing that I had accomplished what I had set out to do--hike 1,000 miles. The truth is my feet really did hurt (and still do)! But at that time I didn't even notice. If you didn't look at the photos real close, you may not have realized that from GA to WV I had lost something. A couple of inches around the waist and #20 of extra weight. I feel really good right now...like I did in high school...except for a few grey hairs. I'll try to put a few more photos on in the next couple of weeks, so you can check back one more time. For me, the photo opportunity along the trail was never ending. I'm glad I didn't have to keep loading rolls of film. Modern digital is good for something. "No Lines" (Lyle)

The Bears Den

2006-06-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

Lyle called me this morning following a "surprise" thru-hiker breakfast at the Bears Den just outside of the Shenandoah National Park. The Bears Den is a hostel supported by the ATC. They started on the trail early this morning to beat the heat and when they saw the sign for this shelter Lyle remembered that an ex-KCer (retired) was volunteering here. So they decided to stop in and see if Dave Appel was working. Sure enough, there he was! He spends Memorial Day to Labor Day volunteering on the trail and has for the past 8 years. It was a nice way to start the day for Lyle. They were setting off on the trail again when Lyle called this morning and the South hikers said the stretch today will be difficult. They are very glad they are slack packing again today!

I'm adding a link to this entry because it helps you understand the lodging hikers have on the Trail. And it has a nice description of the Bears Den which is really nice! Follow the links to the Cabins, Huts and Hostels section by clicking on "Hike the Trail" and scrolling to the bottom of the page and clicking on "Camping and Shelters." Scroll to the bottom again and click on the link in the "Can I stay in a hostel or inn?" paragraph. The Bears Den is called a Trail Center and it has quite a few activities.

http://appalachiantrail.org

The Home Stretch

2006-06-16T19:04:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe it! Lyle will be starting mile 975 tommorw and will finish up in Harpers Ferry on Sunday afternoon. He can't think of a better day to end his journey than Father's Day. It will be a day to remember for him and the rest of us!

Lyle and Plugger have been slack packing the past two days. Slack packing is carrying a day pack with just enough supplies for the day. Lyle has some very dear and considerate friends near the Trail that picked him and Plugger up Wednesday evening. They are staying with the Hetherman's evenings and then they take Lyle and Plugger to the trail each morning and pick them up at the end of the day too! This is how they are finishing up the 50+ miles of the Trail into Harpers Ferry--one day at a time.

What a joy it is to return to a house, a bed, a cocktail and a hot meal! It is making the last section a real treat. This section of the Trail has been challenging, with tomorrow being the most difficult day. And it's been hot and humid so the day packs have made the difference between a pleasant finish and a miserable time.

Lyle and Plugger will finish up in Harpers Ferry Sunday afternoon. The Hetherman's will drop them off in the morning and then when they are done hiking they will go back to the house in Plugger's truck. The truck was "hopped" to Harpers Ferry by some other hikers a few weeks ago. That way they can finish up the hike on Sunday, and then go back to the AT Conference office on Monday and get their picture taken and sign in without being in a rush. Then Plugger will head home in his truck and Lyle will hop the Amtrak in the afternoon. He will be home in Appleton on Tuesday evening.

Lyle can't believe how different Shanandoah Park is when you hike it rather than driving through it on Skyline Drive. It's beautiful and it's the first time on the Trail that he saw bears. He saw two bears, but as soon as they saw him they took off in the other direction. I'm hoping he was able to get a picture or two.

Lyle has lost 20+ pounds on the hike. This is an okay thing for him but it had a drastic impact on another hiker. The hiker walked into a store that Lyle was in and sat down. Then a few more from his party came in and they realized the fella was "out of it" when he wouldn't respond and his eyes were glazed over. They couldn't really wake him up so they called 911. It seems that his blood pressure medication was too strong because he had lost over 40 pounds but hadn't re-adjusted his medication. The EMT's said it was a good thing it happened in town and not out on the trail because he may not have made it. I'm not sure many people on meds would think about this when getting through each day consumes most of the brain power!

1,009 miles in 3 months....what an adventure!

Mile 875

2006-06-10T16:21:00.000-07:00

These photos are from somewhere early in Virgina. That's Lyle standing next to the bridge over the fence. The red barn was a shelter where Lyle actually set up his tent to help keep warm. I have to admit that it is really beyond my comprehension how someone can hike all day and then crawl into a sleeping bag thrown down on a cot in a 3-sided rustic building. How can you really get a good night's sleep?

Tonight's campground somewhere north of Waynesboro marks 875 miles. Needless to say, Lyle and Plugger are very proud of their accomplishment! They are ahead of their timeline so Lyle is planning to be home in Appleton on the 22nd. He will hop the Amtrak in Harpers Ferry on the 21st and ride the train into Milwaukee via Chicago. Then he hops a bus from Milwaukee to Appleton.

It was a 22 mile day today. "Free" camping in prohibited in the Shenandoah Park so they have to stay at a shelter or in a park campsite. Unfortunately the spacing is such that if they want to stay at the shelters (the less expensive route) they have to put in long days to make it from shelter to shelter. Today didn't work out quite right, so they are spending the $14 per person for a tent site. But they have a small store where they found fresh fruit so there is a silver lining in every cloud!

They have been told to be on the lookout for bear again...this park is plagued more than the others they've been in. That is why they prohibit setting up tents outside of the controlled, designate areas. So far they haven't seen any sign so that makes me very happy! They were expecting a 3rd hiker to join them but plans fell through so it's just the two of them for the remainder of trip except for the other hikers they see along the way.

Lyle had another experience that proves how small the world really is. Plugger and Lyle stayed in hostel in Waynesboro VA sponsored by a local church. The doors closed at 10 p.m. and no alchohol was allowed so this fit them to a tee! They were really looking forward to a peaceful night's sleep. And, as extra precaution when hikers are staying at the hostel, the pastor comes and spends the night. They were talking and getting acquanited and come to find out the pastor grew up in Wild Rose Wisconsin! The two of them could hardly believe it. Kinda of spooky, you know?

Message for Journey

2006-06-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

Thank you for sending the package. It arrived in good shape although I haven't had the time to sit and watch the film yet. I've tried to send you an email, but I must not be entering your email address correctly. I hope you are following the blog so you know that the mail arrived.

Pics from Virginia

2006-06-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos from the latest shipment. The parade is from Trail Days in Damascus. Not sure where the other scenery photos were taken. Plugger is on the far right, and of course Lyle is on the left (wow is he thin!). I'm not sure who the fella is in the middle. Follow-up note (6/13): After talking with Lyle I realized that this is Maple Leaf (three guesses where he is from and the first two don't count!).

Time for a Swim

2006-06-02T18:21:00.000-07:00

It's been so hot and the water looked so inviting so Lyle and Plugger went in for a swim. It was a nice stream with a swimming hole under the bridge. After they had finished their swim and they were drying off on the bank, a few of the "locals" showed up. Their first question to the boys was "Have you seen any copperheads?" Lyle's heart seized up and immediately he remembered where he was. Sure enough they started to look around more carefully and there they were! They killed a few and chased the rest away...boy their guardian angels were working overtime! They met a few hikers down the path and they also commented about the swimming hole. They said they had looked it over and saw the snakes and kept on going. It makes my skin crawl!

They have finished 760 miles. They crossed over the Skyline about 6 times today but they ended the night about 5 miles away from the highway. Lyle and Plugger are camping out tonight. They are with 2 other hikers--one is named Catch Up--but I don't know who the other one is. The heat and humidity is almost unbearable now. And they battled biting bugs at the last shelter. Lyle thinks it will be better sleeping in the tent tonight. Actually he ate his supper in the tent tonight too as it opened up on them about that time. After he finished eating the rain had stopped so he was actually standing outside of the tent as we were talking.

They will be getting into Montebello VA Monday. They plan to spend the night at a hostel and rest up. They can also do laundry and shop for supplies. It's so hard to believe that they are so far into the hike! What an accomplishment!

Catskill Eagle

2006-05-27T07:56:00.000-07:00

Bad news for Lyle's buddy Catskill Eagle. He is off the trail with a foot injury and won't know until next week how long it will take before he can go back on. Catskill Eagle, if you are reading this I'm sorry for your injury and for the delay in your journey. Lyle left me a phone message this morning that I should check up on you so the news that you are off the trail is traveling the AT grapevine. I'll pass along the comments from your on-line journal so he can bring everybody up to speed on your situation. I hope that your recovery goes well and that you do practice your plan of being a good patient so your "vacation" is as short as possible.

Over 600 miles!

2006-05-24T17:32:00.000-07:00

Wow! Lyle has over 600 miles done. They left Pearisburg this morning and are camping on a ridge this evening. It was a beautiful day for hiking with clear skies and lots of sun. What a joy after all of the rain. Although Lyle did see his breath the other morning in the tent--they've been having unusually low temps overnight but there is a warming trend heading their way.

Lyle and Plugger are hiking with Lone Star now. She is from Texas and took some time away from nursing to hike the AT. They met a few days ago and they will plan to stay together as long as possible. Lyle found a place to download his chip in Pearisburg and I have 4 cd's of photos heading my way. Pictures from Hot Springs through the hike into Pearisburg. I can't remember how many it turned out to be but I'll have lots to choose from to load on the blog! He plans to be in to Troutville in 5-6 days and that is the next "big" stop. Lyle found out that when Neil (Lyle's son) lived in Radford he hiked this portion of the trail. Neil told Lyle that there are a lot of really neat things coming up so Lyle is really looking forward to the next few weeks. I hope they continue to have good weather and manageable grades!

Trail Days in Damascus

2006-05-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

I have no idea where these pictures were taken, but they came off of the most recent CD of photos from Lyle.

Trail days in Damascus turned out to be a lot of fun. Lyle estimates that there were 5,000-7,000 hikers in town. There was free food, games, slide shows, vendors, and lots of sharing of stories. One of the bonuses was a free medical exam. They weighed in, listened to heart and lungs, checked over the feet and tested blood. Lyle has lost 17 pounds since he started the hike and his "numbers" are excellent. He is good to go for another 50,000 miles! :)

Lyle enjoyed the three days of resting, eating and talking with other hikers. He's met a lot of new people. And he had an opportunity to call Ken at home (mentioned earlier in the blog). He did come back to the trail after his rest at home but it just wasn't right. His body wasn't really ready and he didn't find any other hikers that he bonded with like he had with Lyle and company. So he finally left the trail and went back home. It seems that he didn't have an actual heart attack, but his calcium was critically low. This causes your muscles and system to do strange things so I guess you could say his system started to shut down on him and it felt like a heart attack. He is confident that he has the problem stabilized now and wants to get back on the trail next summer. Good luck Ken if you are reading this. We're all glad that you are well.

Lyle is leaving Damascus today and will ride back to where he left the trail (120 miles north of Damascus). Once they get to the launch point, there are only a few miles to the next shelter so they don't expect to leave town until around noon today. They want to take advantage of the free food and fun for as long as possible!

Plugger will be staying with Lyle until Harpers Ferry. I didn't realize that he had been planning to leave the trail about now but when he met Lyle he wanted to continue to Harpers Ferry. Originally he was planning to come back to the trail with a couple of buddies in September and finish the hike to Harpers Ferry. But, he decided that it would be better to stay and finish now because it might fall through in September. So he called his very loving and understanding wife and pleaded to stay on the trail for another month. Well, she agreed and now they are heading off together. This is great because they are very compatible and enjoy each other's company.

They had some rain during the trail days but because Lyle and Plugger were in a hostel it didn't matter much to them. They were really glad they weren't in tent city! They are hoping that the rain will go away now but who knows? The rest of the trail should be very scenic and less difficult. They've been told that they can make about 20-25 miles each day but I guess that really depends upon how much Lyle stops to take pictures! He has a chip full of pictures to send home but can't find anywhere to download them. He's not sure what he is going to do, but hopefully I'll get some pictures before long.

Judy, Tom, and Leon--Lyle really appreciated your letters! They caught up to him in Damascus. I guess when the mail service knows you are a thru hiker, they forward the mail until it catches up to the hiker. The next mail drop is Troutville, VA 24175. He expects to be there in two weeks (approximately June 2).

That's all for today.

Boy, Do I Like Virginia

2006-05-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

These pictures are from the most recent CD I received from Lyle. The pictures are from GA and TN and maybe a few from VA...I can't really remember what he said about the cutoff. Now I know why he keeps asking for more duct tape :(

It's been awhile since I've updated the site because our communications have been sporatic and short. The trail is going through some very remote areas and cell service isn't all that great. But, we have spoken and that's the main thing.

Lyle and Plugger have gone over 600 miles! Virginia is a much "easier" hike than Georgia or TN. There are ups and downs, but not like what they've gone through. Now Lyle understands when people say if you can get to Damascus you can finish. Many of his trail buddies have left the trail unexpectedly. Word travels fast up and down the line...kinda like the old telephone game. The grapevine is alive and well on the AT! Plugger's buddy Scrubs was forced off the trail because of a broken bone in his leg. He stepped on a rock wrong and that was the end of his hike this year.

They have been walking through the Graceland Highlands and the big thing is the wild ponies. They are everywhere. Once a year they round them up to thin out the herd but otherwise they roam free. They are very jumpy and nervous but Lyle has a few pictures of them (of course!). They should be coming on the next CD whenever he finds a town that offers the service of downloading pictures from cameras. He said he is really enjoying the hike and scenery in VA. Some is due to the state, but he is also getting into better shape. His feet are not as blistered and sore, and that really makes a difference in how you feel!

They have had a lot of rain yet so they have been staying in as many shelters as possible. And they have been catching rides into towns which Lyle had not planned on. But, when you are wet, cold and miserable the schedule become much less important. And, hot meals and a place to dry off climb right to the top of the list.

They plan to go back to Damascus for trail days next weekend. Plugger has a friend that is going to pick them up, take them back to Damascus for the celebration, and then take them back to where they left off. And, I guess he is going to hike a spell with them too. He has a trail name but I don't have it in front of me right now. Part of the celebration is a parade with all of the hikers that are in town. They parade through town and the locals fire water guns and water balloons at them. I find this hysterical! It sounds like a good time and Lyle may be getting some new gear. He really wants a backpack that is lighter and maybe a lighter tent. It's hard to believe that a tent can be lighter than what he has, but they are out there. He says it all depends upon on how much it will cost.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly where they are, but I know he has crossed Mt Rogers and Marion. If you want to send any mail, you can drop it in first class and possibly get it to Damascus before he returns. The next mail drop will by Pearisburg I think but we need to discuss this and confirm it. He thinks he will buy provisions on the trail from now on so I'm not sure I'll be sending another box.

That's all for now. Happy Mother's Day for all you mothers that may be reading this! :)

What...the blue blaze?

2006-05-05T17:47:00.000-07:00

Over 400 hundred miles and almost out of Tennessee! Once Lyle passes the Hard Core Cascades around 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning (Saturday May 6), he will be moving into Virginia. That means he will have walked through 3 of the 5 states he will be in this summer.

The days have been getting longer and Lyle is usually covering more miles each day. His normal day is now ranging from 14-20 miles depending upon the elevation that needs to be covered. The fact that the days are getting longer helps, but his legs are beginning to get in shape too. The other day he had an extended day because he didn't read his map. He has been hiking with two other guys and they decided to go into town to resupply. The next shelter was about 3 miles down the trail so Lyle was going to walk slow and meet the fellas at the shelter in the evening. He came to a fork in the trail and one was marked with a blue blaze and the other with white. They have been following the white unless they need water--blue marks the route to water. The sign also said bad weather route, but since the day was nice he went down the trail with the white blaze. He went past a waterfall, and came back to a spot on the trail where he could see the blue blaze down aways. He decided to continue on the white and off he went. The day was sunny and warm (for a change) so he was enjoying the hike.

Well, as time passed and he started up elevation it occured to him that he was well past three miles. So he finally stopped and took out his map to figure out where he was. He found his location and realized he was now closer to the next shelter than the shelter he was supposed to be going to. Apparently this section of the AT is one of the very few where you do want to follow the blue even if you don't need water. At this point in time, it made more sense to go on, so he did. He ended up doing 22 miles that day. Needless to say he was one tired pup at the end of the day. When he called me he was dangling his very sore and tired feet in the lake near the camp site. He was going to leave a note for Plugger at the shelter to let him know he was going on and that eventually they would meet up again.

Plugger is picking up his car in Damascus and "hopping" it ahead and then coming back to Damascus to pick up the trail again. Lyle hasn't decided if he wants to wait an extra day for Plugger to come back to Damascus or if he should keep going after his 0 day. I haven't spoken much with Lyle this past week since he has been in very remote country. What few calls we've had have been short with lots of interference. We hope to have a longer conversation tomorrow evening when he is in town and we should have better cell service.

I found a note that I had scribbled one evening when talking with Lyle. He said his mantra is "If you can think it you can dream it, and if you can dream it you can do it." Words for all of us to live by.

There is One in Every Crowd

2006-05-01T17:50:00.000-07:00

Rain, rain and more rain! And cold too! Good bye NC and hello Tennessee! Lyle crossed the state line today and is extremely happy to be out of North Carolina. He is staying in another hostel for the evening. It's next to Hwy 19 and it will be warm, dry and quiet this evening. It's a smaller hostel than what he has been in, and these owners stick to a limit of how many people can stay. Lyle's heard a rumor that breakfast is terrific too!

It was a beautiful day following a chilly start in the morning. Last night the shelter was an old barn, and Lyle had set up his tent in the loft. The extra protection helped him stay warm on the coldest night of the trip. The others thought he was crazy setting up the tent, but they understood the next morning when he said how warm and comfortable he had been.

The unfortunate experience recently was a theft. At the last hostel Lyle left some travelers checks in a plastic bag unattended. With others leaving cash and other valuables laying around, he didn't think it would be a problem, but when he picked up the bag before bedtime the checks were gone. Needless to say he was disgusted and upset. His words were "It's too bad that there is one in every crowd." So, he set off on the trail the next morning thinking he was $80 poorer. But, later that morning a hiker was making a bee-line for him. The hiker asked Lyle if he was No Lines. When Lyle responded yes, the hiker said he had something for him. Since Lyle had never met him before, he couldn't imagine what it could be. Well, the hiker took out his wallet and produced the 4 checks. They were found crumpled up under some things in one of the bedrooms. Whoever took them must have realized they couldn't use them and decided to leave them. Thankfully someone recognized Lyle's name and was able to give this hiker enough of a description to get the checks returned. Lyle is being much more careful with his things now. Too bad but it's a fact of life.

He plans to be in Damascus (TN) by the end of the week. He'll probably take at least one 0 day to rest and re-pack. He was a bit shocked by the quantity of food I mailed to him in Elk Park--it was my turn to pack the box this time. I didn't think I was packing too much but I guess he nearly had a heart attack when he lifted the box! So following a frantic phone call to me, we decided the best thing to do would be to mail what he didn't need ahead to Damascus. Then I won't have to mail a package to him for awhile. Now all I need to mail are the articles on the Packer's draft picks! He hasn't heard too much about the NFL draft so he said he would enjoy some of the paper to catch up.

He estimates that he has lost at least 10 pounds but he hasn't come across a scale yet. When he tells me what he eats when he gets into town, it's hard to believe he wouldn't gain weight! But I know how hard he is working...especially when he tells me he is sleeping 10-12 hours each night. That's almost unheard of for him...he always found it difficult to sleep in on Saturday's!

385 miles finished and counting. That's all for now. Enoy the pictures!

Enough Already!

2006-04-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

If every day were like this the hike would be a blast! Okay, maybe that is stretching it a bit, but it would be more enjoyable than hiking in the rain. Lately they haven't seen weather like this. The rain finally wore Lyle and Plugger down. It rained all day (again) and they were chilled to the bone. So when they came out on a road, they decided to hitch into Erwin (TN) and get a room for the night. They ended up in a hostel filled with other hikers that had the same idea. They are packed in like cord wood, but Janet of Miss Janet's Hostel knows what she is doing. She had stacks of spare clothes so the hikers could peel out of their wet clothes and she has washers and dryers and even boot dryers!

After laundry they headed into town to get supplies and a hot meal. Janet's even provides shuttle service to places in town free of charge for the hikers, although she does charge a few extra bucks to get a lift back to the trail.

So, Lyle and Plugger are going to take a day pack tomorrow and catch a ride back to where they left the trail (about 15 miles out of Erwin) and hike back to the hostel. Then they are going to probably stay at Miss Janet's again Thursday night and get back on the trail Friday. This is providing the rain decides to give them a break! Some of the hikers (crazy???) decided to pitch a tent and stay on the trail, but Lyle said the rain is of torrential proportions and I believe him after looking at the weather map. I think Lyle made a very wise decision...who wants to get sick 300 miles into the trip?

Tomorrow marks one month on the trail and yes, he will have hiked over 300 miles since leaving Springer Mtn. Wow, what an accomplishment!

Thank you to No Falls for sending me the package with the CD of pictures. I guess No Falls is a few days behind Lyle right now, but will probably catch up now that Lyle has a few more 0 days. I'll drop in a few here and there, but I don't know the stories behind them. I guess we'll have to wait for Lyle's memoirs!

More Trail Magic!

2006-04-26T03:54:00.000-07:00

I am in awe of these people that set up portable kitchens to feed the weary hikers. Lyle has been hiking alone since his group split up in Hot Springs. He was heading for a shelter the other night but didn't quite make it before he decided he had to "pull over" for the night. So he found a spot near a highway and set up camp the mandatory 100 yards off the trail. After a restful night he came out on the highway (crossroads of NC 208 and TN 70) and low and behold there was a small sign stuck in the ground that said "Trail Magic" with an arrow pointing toward a house. Sure enough a couple has set up their garage as a make-shift kitchen and were serving up belgian waffles, beverages, TEA! (which Lyle said was very good) and pear pie. Come to find out it's a couple that thru-hiked the trail the year he retired from work (1999 I think) and decided to relocate to an area where they could be connected with the trail. Every year they open up their house to hikers for 6 weeks in the Spring to catch the northbounders and six weeks in the fall to catch the southbounders. And they do this about every day! It is amazing to me, but I have a much better understanding of how important trail magic is. We heard a lot about it, but until you experience the trail first hand you have no idea how much it lifts the spirits. Lyle said they do a bit of spreading the Gospel as well, but in a loving and positive way. What a wonderful thing they do!

Even though Lyle is not hiking with a group he talks about the hikers he's meeting who have names like Plugger, Skeeter, Outlaw and Good Time Charlie (Outlaw and GTC are a couple). And he most recently mentioned sitting down to a meal with Model T who has written several books about his hikes on the AT. This time (can you believe someone would do this more than once!) he is not planning a book but you never know. According to Lyle Model T said he never plans the books--the ideas just come to him.

He has passed Camp Creek Bald and Big Butt which stands at 4,750 feet. He really thought he was out of the woods (no pun intended) and would experience more even ground but not yet. Phone calls have been more erratic because even on the peaks he is not getting service. I think we need to have a talk with Verizon soon! He's also had some rain every day. I noticed on the weather map this morning that the AT is covered in rain again so I'm sure it was another wet night. That has made the hiking slow going but as Lyle says it's part of the experience.

He was planning on camping at Hog Back Shelter last night and is heading toward Devil Fork Gap (near Hwy 212). He has been staying in as many shelters as possible but there are still nights in the tent. He expects to be in Erwin by the end of the week if he is able to stay on the same pace as he has been. He is enjoying the freedom hiking alone allows and with company almost every night in the shelters, there is a good balance of solitude and conversation. And he has been snapping pictures! He is sending home about 800 pictures on two different CD's that he managed to burn during his stay in Hot Springs, so I should have lots to choose from to add to the site.

His next mail drop will be Elk Park, NC, 28622 in case you want to send something to him. The mailing label looks like this:

Lyle Buettner
Post Office
Elk Park, NC 28622

with a note under your return address to "Hold for Thru Hiker Lyle Buettner". I should think anything sent first class this week will get to him in Elk Park. If you want to send something to his next mail drop, it's Damascus VA.

That's all for now!

A Day of Rest

2006-04-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

Lyle is in Hot Springs, NC. They group of 4 made it on Friday as planned but it was a very difficult two days. It rained Thursday and Friday, with a lightning strike about 200 yards away on Friday. They rounded the crest of the mountain and saw where the strike split and burned a tree. Lyle said they were very glad to be in the trees rather than on a bald spot--not that either choice is optimum in a thunderstorm! If they would have been crossing a bald spot, they would have been the tallest points so needless to say they were very lucky. The rain and wind buffeted them both days and each day was a minimum of 15 miles. So they arrived in Hot Springs soggy and tired. Unfortunately the hotel room Hank and Lyle had reserved had no heat and no electricity and it couldn't be fixed until Monday. So they canceled their reservation, got their money back and moved on. They went down the street to the next potential lodging site but all that was left was one small double bed. So, Hank and Lyle moved on to a B&B and this worked out for them. Lodging is tight in Hot Springs because it's Trail Fest and Hot Springs is a hotbed of white water rafting. The bed and shower were wonderful so it ended up all right for them. Hank was moving on today (Saturday) so I'm not sure who will be heading out with Lyle tomorrow. He mentioned a number of new hikers he has met already in Hot Springs. I guess it depends upon who is on the trail when Lyle gets there. He has picked up his next mail drop and is sending a CD back with pictures. I'll load some pictures as soon as I can...I probably won't get the box back until the first week of May. That's all for now.

Smoky Mountains

2006-04-19T17:14:00.000-07:00

Whew! Lyle and company are now out of the Smoky Mountains National Park. They started out on the day after the bear attack which took place 20 miles SW of their location. More bear warnings were posted but no sightings--thank God!

They had expectations that the hike was going to be less difficult than it had been so far, but that was not the case--miles of wilderness and continuous ups and downs (again!). The difference on this stretch was that there were no towns to visit to replenish supplies and rest. The shelters were full with day hikers so they spent the nights on what little even ground they could find in their tents. I don't mind telling you that this meant big time concern for me after the bear news! Unfortunately, even ground was in short supply so in most cases the night was spent sliding to the lower end of the tent. The bright spot was the day after Easter. They emerged from the forest on to Hwy 441 to trail magic! A group of 3 women from the area (Gatlinburg) got up early and cooked a full meal to serve to the hikers. They set up tables and passed out hot roast pork, potato salad, fresh fruit, soda and homemade pie! The hikers were more than surprised and very appreciative. Lyle asked why they picked the day after Easter and it was the only day that they could all get the time off together. The women have been doing this for the past 17 years but next year is uncertain. The U.S. government has decided that they need to purchase a permit to serve next year! I can't believe that they don't have more important things to worry about! :(

Today they stopped at Mountain Mama's for hamburgers at mid day. They were wonderful and just the fuel to keep going--back up the mountain again. They've had good weather for the most part until today (Wednesday). They hiked over 3 hours in the rain and gusty winds. They figure some of the winds were up to 50 and 60 mph. The saying for the day is "When you're walking in the rain you only get wet once!" Then it blew on through and turned hot and steamy. When I talked with Lyle tonight he said that they had everything hanging out to dry. The weather is warm and sunny so it shouldn't take too long to dry out. And, the bonus was that they found a beautiful flat spot surrounded by water to camp. It was warm enough to take a full bath! And, there is just enough flat ground for each of the 4 to have a good tent site. Lyle expects that this will be the best night's sleep in 3 days! They have just passed Interstate 40 and Crosby Shelter. They will be able to reach Hot Springs easily on Friday which is the plan. That is the next big stopping spot to find comfortable lodging, hot food, showers...you know the simple pleasures of life! :)

Hot Springs (NC) is where Lyle's informal group will be splitting up. He is planning to stay two nights, one of the fellas is leaving the trail as planned (he is done with his hike for the year), and the other two are through hikers. They will probably be pushing on again early Saturday. So Lyle will be hooking up with a new group. He mentioned "No Falls" who has been hiking a similar pace lately. He might be a new trail buddy, but it depends upon who heads out on Sunday morning at the same time as Lyle.

This has been a long entry but I haven't had a chance to post an update lately. I looked over all of my notes from our various conversations, and I think I've mentioned all of the highlights. Lyle has said several times that this has been more difficult than he expected because of the demands on his body day-after-day. He is happy that he decided to do half this year and half next year, and that he is not trying to keep up with the through hikers. He has been able to take some pictures along the way lately so that means he is getting some breaks. Easter was a bit tough being away from family, but it was a real gift for him that when he got through to me on the cell phone that he was able to talk with some of his brothers and sisters too. That helped him get over the hump (no pun intended!).

I'll post again in a few days. Thank you so much for visiting the site and for your prayers for Lyle and gang.

What a Relief

2006-04-12T18:55:00.000-07:00

Well Lyle and his fellow hikers have reached Fontana Dam. What a relief! They have a real hotel room with a shower and a nice bed. Quite an improvement over their last night off of the trail. It's so inviting they are taking a 0 day tomorrow (Thursday) to get caught up on laundry, eating and sleeping! Then it's off again early Friday to head into the Great Smokey National Park. The past few days have been very difficult--when they weren't hiking up they were hiking down. Each day was well over 10 miles to make it to good camping spots. They feel as though they have earned a day's rest. They have passed mile 147 now.

The weather has been great so they feel very fortunate. And they have heard they can make it through the Great Smokey's in 10 days without too much trouble. This should be a nice change of pace for these folks! The inclines are supposedly not as steep but the weather can be treacherous. They are looking forward to the scenery as Spring is beginning to make itself known in the high country.

Lyle has received his second mail drop. He had plans to mail more stuff home and says he's going to have to mail some of the food from the drop back home tioo. He is learning what he can live with and what he can live without. One of the things his group agrees on is that they have been packing too much food. So, he is going to weed through what he packed before he left and send home what he doesn't want. He is also sending home his D-50 Nikon digital camera and lens. He really wanted to carry it but has decided the inconveniece of the extra weight is greater than the possibility of missing a great shot. He just can't carry everything so it's making the trip back to Wisconsin. It's going to be very interesting opening that box when it gets here.

One of Lyle's group of 4--Hank--is dictating his experience and the commentary can be found on a website. I'm including a link to his site since he is going along at the same pace and experiencing the same things as Lyle right now. Hank's trail name is Catskill Eagle. Lyle's trail name--No Lines-- is becoming obsolete as he is getting tan lines around his tee shirt. We're thinking that he will be getting a different trail name before long! That's all for now. :)

http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=4205

Here is another site with more information about the AT. In case you are a "dig into the details" kind of person this might be a fun way to pass away some time!

http://http://whiteblaze.net/forum/links/index.php?

The Hiker

2006-04-09T16:33:00.000-07:00

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! :)

No Room in the Inn

2006-04-09T05:31:00.000-07:00

Thankfully there have been no more emergency issues the past few days. However, Friday was a very long day for Lyle and his small band of hikers (3-4 I think). He has referred to "us" in the last few conversations but I don't know how many are hiking together. They hiked 12 miles to the shelter expecting to stop for the night but the shelter was full and there were no camping spots. His planner said there were no camping spots but they didn't realize it meant "not even any land mass to camp on." Lyle said the shelter was built on the only small spot of flat land and there was not even any place to put up a tent if they wanted to. So, they had to keep going. They ended up hiking over 16 miles to get to a highway. They were tempted to try to hitch into the nearest town, but decided to camp along a logging road in the vicinity. That ended up working well for them as they had a good night's rest.

Saturday was 12 miles with major inclines but not nearly what they have encountered already. They have hiked up inclines where Lyle had to pull his pant leg up to his knee so he could reach the next "step" and we're not talking a short distance, we are talking over an hour to get to the top carrying a 50-lb pack. No wonder he sounds so tired every night when he calls! I can't even imagine the "down" on the other side--you must have to go down dragging your rump to stay on your feet. I think he is going to have to demonstrate that for me!

They expect to be in Wesser, NC, tonight. Lyle will call me on a land line while he is charging his cell battery so we can review the schedule and change the mail drops to match his progress. I hope they decide to take a 0 day (no hiking) to stay in town and rest. He mentioned doing laundry which makes it sound like he is planning a day. He has already worn out one pair of sock liners so I think we'll be investing in additional pairs before this is over.

By the way, if any of you readers want to send a note or a bit of "trail magic" just get it to me, and I'll put it in one of the boxes that I send. You can send an email and I'll print it and put it in the box.

I see on the weather this morning that nasty storms went through the SE states. I hope they didn't get hit with any of the severe storms that ripped through TN and are now heading toward FL. I'll find out tonight I'm sure!

Good News

2006-04-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

A quick update on Ken. He was taken down the trail and put on a helicopter. He was taken to the hospital in Asheville, NC, and the last thing Lyle heard is that he is in stable condition.

And They Say This is Fun?

2006-04-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been very difficult for Lyle and the other hikers. The trail has been steep and the nights cold. Lyle has the right sleeping bag and has been warm enough but several other hikers are cold during the night. The saving grace is that the days have been sunny and pleasant. Last night (Tuesday 4/4) he thought he had the ridge to himself but as we were saying goodnight he saw three other hikers heading his way. He was disappointed that he would have company but I have to say I was relieved! I think there is safety in numbers when considering the local wildlife! The scenery has been terrific so that helps them look beyone the difficult hiking. Lyle says he understands why so many people drop out after the first week...it is definitely a challenge. He sounds so tired every night.

This evening the call was filled with sadness. He was sitting by the side of a fellow hiker who had collapsed on the trail of a heart attack. He has been talking about this particular hiker alot because they have been keeping the same pace for the past 4-5 days. Lyle had told me Ken had gone into town Tuesday night to celebrate his 58th birthday and Lyle decided to keep going to cross over the NC border. When he didn't show up in camp tonight Lyle started to backtrack to find him. About 1/2 hour back on the trail on the last incline he found Ken with two other hikers. Ken was too weak to take back to camp so they had to administer first aid there on the trail. They tried several attempts to call search and rescue before they were successful. There was some confusion on the part of the 911 operator about the exact location on the trail and which state they were actually in--GA or NC--and who should be sent. It took the EMT's one and 1/2 hours after the call to reach them by 4-wheelers. The EMT's were able to stabilize him and were transporting him to a hospital in a nearby NC community. The EMT's said they had never been that deep into the trail and had no idea it went so far. They credit Lyle and the others for saving Ken's life because they gave him aspirin and kept him warm during the wait. Thank God Ken was in the habit of taking an aspirin each day so they were in his pack. It appears that Ken will pull through, but we won't really know until we hear from him again.

Needless to say it is going to be difficult for Lyle and others in camp to get to sleep tonight (and me too). I'm not sure what makes people attempt this hike in the first place or what keeps them going. I think it's the Buettner in Lyle :) but I'm not sure about the others. I would ask that you keep Ken and his family in your prayers.

Here is a link to an AT map if you want to see the trail. Based on what Lyle told me tonight, I think he is somewhere near Standing Indian (5,499 ft). He said he would be in a town in the next 3-4 days, and I think that he means Wesser, NC.

http://www.rhodesmill.org/thefox/maps/at5.jpg

The First Week

2006-04-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

Well, Lyle has been on the trail since Tuesday, March 28. It was quite a production to send him off! Note to all who want to drive to Springer Mountain--none of the printed directions are exact! Be prepared to navigate by guess and by gosh! :)

Monday afternoon we went up to Springer Mountain to check things out--which was a good thing based on the directions we had (hence my comment above). The final leg to the top involved driving 6.5 miles on a mountain gravel path with pull off areas in case you met another vehicle. We parked in the lot a mile below the summit and hiked up to the summit so Lyle could sign in at at the start, and we could see the view and take pictures. What a spectacular view--well worth the white knuckle drive! We met 8 hikers that were preparing to through hike--all ages, shapes and sizes. Then we went into Ellijay to spend the night in a hotel and eat pizza (Lyle's choice)! Because he hiked up to the summit and signed in the day before, he left from the parking lot on Springer Mountain on Tuesday morning. He had one mile of hiking the AT without carrying his pack! What a wonderful suggestion by an experienced AT hiker (Thanks Hiker Bob!) There were almost as many hikers starting Tuesday as we saw on Monday afternoon. Lyle hiked off into the mist and fog at 9:10 a.m. EST. I drove down the mountain trail in the mist which matched my mood! Tears of joy and sadness mingled together most of the morning. I made it back to Appleton late Wednesday afternoon after an uneventful 2-day drive.

I've spoken with Lyle every day so far (thanks to a good cell service). He is hiking with about 4-6 "regulars" so he is developing a circle of support. Rain and mist have been constant companions with periods of sun, but Lyle says that it's better than the heat and humidity of St. John's! He has hiked at least 7 miles each day--today (Monday April 3)--was 7.6 miles with a 1-mile straight up and then a 1-mile straight down section as part of the journey. He feels as though he is training for a marathon every day!

He has slept in the tent most nights but tried a shelter last night. He woke up twice after a mouse (or mice?) ran over his hands...yuck! However, when the sheets of rain, thunder and lightning hit in the middle of the night, he forgave the rodents! There have been many reminders to be careful of bears but no sightings yet thank goodness!

He has passed Blood Mountain and Neels Gap, and is heading toward Tray Mountain. I'll post a picture or two soon and add an update later this week. Please keep Lyle and the other hikers in your prayers.

The Future Looks Bright

2006-03-11T12:24:00.000-08:00

The first thing we need to do is to say thank you to "The Blog Guy" (What about Bob?). He is helping us technically-challenged folks develop this communication channel to make it easier for you to keep up with Lyle's 2006 adventure. Lyle's first day on the Appalachian Trail will be March 27. He is hoping for sunny skies and cool temperatures!