Flight 220

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So I’m starting a new trend. Every September I subconsciously put myself in unique situations that tests my knowledge, mental state and physical alertness. Last year it was a 7.6 magnitude earthquack in the costal regions of Costa Rica (http://www.helpingturtles.com/2012/09/day-67-day-earth-stood-still.html).

This year it’s being a passenger on a plane which makes an emergency landing with one engine.

This past week I joined some friends in the OBX (Outer Banks, North Carolina). After an extended weekend of various pool activities, building sand mermaids on the beach, stuffing my face with crabs, it was time to head home – or at least back to the Midwest.

 

My best friend and I head to Raleigh/Durham International Airport (RDU) where we have an evening flight to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). The skies are clear and the outside air is humid. Inside the airplane’s cabin, the cold, dry non-circulated air hits the top of my head. Like any other flight, once the flight doors are closed, and the cabin pressure is equalized, my sleepiness kicks in. As we taxi to the runway, I fall in and out of a neck snapping napping state.

The take off for me is always the best part. Like my high school friends that had the tuned up, faster cars, the feeling of acceleration always was a unique, welcomed experience. The engines are in full thrust, and the brakes have been released. Your  head is being thrown back into the plane’s seat as you use your neck muscles pry your face around the person sitting next to the window, just so you can get a glimpse and perspective on how fast you are actually going.

BAM……GLUNK…GLUNK….GLUNK…..half way down the runway with the front wheels now off the ground. Smell of engine smoke (without the sight of it) fills the plane’s cabin. Like a horribly tuned choir, a single high note escapes out of most mouths and everyone looks around to see what has happened. The plane is now fully in flight with this awful repetitive loud “GLUNK” sound being felt on the floor boards. For the most part everyone remains calm. The sound finally stops and the plane slowly increases in altitude.

After what seems like a half an hour (more like 3 minutes), a flight attendance comes over the PA and announces a very unreassuringly statement of how the pilots are currently looking into something’s and will give us an update when they have things settled. Finally a pilot comes over the PA and announces that he believes a bird flew into one of our engines (pilots side – left side sitting in the cabin) and we are now currently flying on one engine. The next step is to prepare an emergency landing back at RDU. The pilot was very calm, professional and confident in their abilities to perform such a task as they have trained for this type of scenario.

Shortly after the flight attendants go over the emergency procedures and prepare for the landing. We circle back to the airport and begin the descent. They instruct us that as we land, we should put our heads in our laps and brace ourselves if there should be any type of impact. Right before landing the crew chants “HEAD DOWN, STAY DOWN, HEAD DOWN, STAY DOWN, HEAD DOWN, STAY DOWN, HEAD DOWN, STAY DOWN, HEAD DOWN, STAY DOWN, HEAD DOWN, STAY DOWN, HEAD DOWN, STAY DOWN, HEAD DOWN, STAY DOWN, HEAD DOWN, STAY DOWN, HEAD DOWN, STAY DOWN, HEAD DOWN, STAY DOWN, HEAD DOWN, STAY DOWN, HEAD DOWN, STAY DOWN”

We land.

This had to be one of the smoothest landings ever, even with only 1 engine. Props to the pilots. Fire trucks come and check out the plane. After no immediate threat was detected we taxied over to the gate, where we deed and waited to hear what was next.

WOW. What an experience. One can often day dream about the “what if” scenarios as you lead your day to day life. Anything can happen at anytime. Most think events are inevitable while others blame luck. However, it’s not the problem that defines the moment, it’s how you and everyone else reacts. Clearly in this situation I had no way of changing the odds. It was up to greater powers to determine my fate.

When I was smelling the smoke, listening to that GLUNK and feeling that repetitive vibrations come from below, like everyone else’s, my mind was playing out the most obscure, theatrical scenarios that could come of this. This would only continue to play out as we were updated with our actual scenario and possible outcomes as the plane attempts to make an emergency landing. I feel that during these moments, you have your “reflection time” with yourself and really have that one-on-one talk to catch up. Are you happy with your life? Did you accomplish what you wanted? Do you have regrets?  You can see it on everyone’s face as they are gazing out the window, praying in their laps, attempting to text their loved ones, hiding their tears or just starring blankly at the seat in front of them.

Me? I’m happy. Knowing that I made some life changing moves over the last couple years and really followed my heart, has been exciting. Granted I’m on the brink of having a zero balance in the bank, I have learned and experienced so much that there really has not been enough room for regret or FOMO (fear of missing out) to set in. This especially stands true as I already have future plans for “epic-ness”. Now I’m not just talking about one day I want or plan on doing X, Y and  Z. No, I mean I actually am in the middle of hiking the Appalachian Trail and perusing my next adventure at the same time. Life is wonderful! So much to look forward to: great relationships with family/friends, promising career and excellent health!

So I leave you with this…very fitting.

State of Mountain Address

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Hello followers, fans and fanatics of BackpackingAT. As you have noticed over the past couple weeks, there has been a lack of updates, uploads and uplifting photos and quirky comments. Well it's all my fault (Victor aka Pundit)...here's why

To give you an unfortunate update and statistic - there are no representatives of BackpackingAT currently on the Appalachian Trail. As we speak Bo (Comfy) is hopping on a plane to Africa where he will be meeting his family to help out with some mission work and do a little site seeing. Bo, known to be hiking a very different hike, originally got off the trail to pursue his future entrepreneurs - I'll let him explain that in the near future. However, if we are lucky, the AT might see him one last time this year...

Eric (Rango/Hangry) and Lauren (successfully did not receive a trail name) are now back in Redondo Beach after seeing most of the highlighted parts of AT in the Northern section of the trail. They made a wise/smart decision to jump off the trail before their finances completely diminished and are now trying to figure out what path they should take next.

Then there is me... I secretly (for the most part) got off the trail a couple weeks ago and ended up in Chicago. I decided not to rush the last 400 miles of my hike, in order to make the deadline of finishing the trail by September 1st so I could attend the Wedding I am standing up in Sept 7th. After hearing about the beauty of the "Whites", tales of Mount Washington and the epic 100 mile stretch of wilderness, since Georgia, I knew I did not want to blaze past some of the most iconic sections. Since getting off the trail I have been a recluse. Healing my sore body, over indulging on non trail food (even though I still love my Instant Carnation in the morning), and setting up my next EPIC adventure. For as much as I would LOVE to elude to what's next, I have to keep this one close to chest for reason you will understand later. Fear not I will make sure to keep ALL of you informed as I plan to include you in my futures adventures.

What is next? Well the trail has not seen the last of me! I have my flight booked for the middle of September, back to Manchester, NH. I will jump on a shuttle (or perhaps hitch a ride) to Hanover NH and pick up where I left off on the Appalachian Trail. With a month left before Baxter State Park (Mt. Katahdin) closes, I will be able to complete the 400+ miles remaining of my hike. Granted the weather will drastically be different (cold and perhaps some snow), and the miles ahead of me are no easy walk in the park (elevations peak at 5-6,000 and dip back down to the 1,000ft in the coarse of a day) there will be many challenges ahead of me. Luckily for you, this shall be entertaining. For me I suppose I would describe it as something different. I'll let you know when I get there.

SOOO until I get back on the trail, I will continue to enjoy the rest of a Chicago/Detroit (where I will be spending my time) summer. I'll keep myself in semi-shape by walking steps and runs every now and then. I'll update some of my equipment, and hopefully gain a couple more followers as my BackpackingAT stamper finds it way around the city. I'll also be sharing some information on other hikers/adventurers I have been following all along and who have been providing some awesome advice. And of course, strategically continue to plan my next adventure.

Thanks again for your patience during this intermittence. I appreciate all your comments, likes and support as this past 1800 miles have truly been life changing!

Love,
Pundit

Day 129 - The Plot Thickens

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I'm gonna let you in on a marketing secret... Like the middle child (myself excluded) no one really remembers what happens in the middle. As with our our adventure there has been lacking of some posts during this middle portion. But I tell myself that's okay. People will remember your story as they recall you preparing for your hike by purchasing and posting pictures of you huddling up in a sleeping bag in the middle of REI for that epic picture you took naked at the top of Mt. Katahdin..

.

So now begins our last couple legs of our trip. With one month to go and 500 miles to hike, one can soon realize the plot that starting to take shape. Ohh yeah every good story needs a plot, so here is how things are shaping up. 

 Fact 1) I'm a loner. With Eric and Lauren now South bounding (skipping to Mt. Katahdin and walking south) there is no chance of them meeting up with me, except for that single day hen we pass each other on the trail granted. Bo on the other hand has left the trail for a while to pursue an Africa Safari adventure with his family and hopefully returning to the trail in order to see Baxter State Park before the summit closes October 15. 

Fact 2) I'm on a Time Crunch. The entire reason for me to finish by September 1st is so that I can get to Detroit in time in order to stand up in one of my best friends (since elementary school) wedding. Should I not finish the trail by this time, I fear I will not make it back to Maine to finish as my lack of funds and real world glutinous ways would have got me too "comfy" to head back out for a couple of weeks. 

Fact 3) at this moment we need to hike an average of 16 miles a day for the next 31 days in order to make this work to finish on time. Now keeping in mind there this calculation does not include any "zero days" ( days where you do not hike any miles) nor accounts for the harder sections of the trail where we are forced to hike only 10 miles in a day due to great elevations we will have to climb and descend. 

There you have it. We shall see what everything pans out. But dont worry as long as i have my health to keep me hiking, food to keep me energized and a Verizon Wireless Signal to keep posting everything should work out just fine! Now back to hiking...

Day 90 - Changes, Updates & Reflections

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Instead of looking back on the last 1000+ miles, I am taking a different perspective. I am looking down. Remembering an early picture I took from the begging of this hike,  I look at my shoes, feet and all the other surrounding characteristics and detail from the picture . In the picture you can see me shorts, legs, socks, shoes, trekking poles and the trail.

Now when compared to my recent photo I took today, you see many of the same objects. However if you look closer you the differences in details tell a story all by themselves. Legs: thick and more muscular. I didn't think it was possible. Socks: little did I know that I wore my socks inside out for the first couple of weeks. Gators: Dirty Girls is the name brand and keeping dirt out is the plan. Who would have thought that you kick up so much dirt inside your own shoe! Shoes: yes they are different. My last pair just "blew out"from walking so much and grappling rocks. I just hope the wears in process of these new shoes don't kill my feet. Trekking Poles: the bottom halves have been replaced  (due to a trail running incident) and are now adorned with Ken and Barbie decapitated heads. Trail: sure it looks the same but you notice many of the old leaves are now in smaller pieces and there is a couple greenish brown newer leaves scattered about .

So what does this mean? Well I see it as just a state of progression, like most things in life. You obviously learn from your simple mistakes (socks). You see growth in your strengths (legs). You replace the limiting factors of your success (shoes). You repair things you damage along the way (poles). You update your tools to protect yourself (gators). You display knick-knacks to keep memories and promote conversation (heads).You witness seasons change (leaves). Ohhh yeah you also learn to double knot your shoes! 

P.s. all of ththis was written from my Verizon Wireless phone... god bless the speech to text feature!

Day 88 - 2nd Semester

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Remember that first day of college when your parents drop you off at the dorms with all your stuff and you don't know anyone, you feel like your in a foreign land and you have faintest remembrance of how to academically study... Well that's what I feel like for me right now. Especially when my parents (BackpackingAT friends : Eric, Lauren and Bo), foreign land (new part of the Appalachian Trail) and study (general hiking practices and  mindset) are all preparing me for what's to come. Not to mention it costs too much to drop out half way through!

After a SOLID week of male bonding, acting silly and floating down a river (winter/summer break) its time to get back into the groove for my second semester as freshman on the trail. 

With a couple heart warming "see you soon" exchanged, I am dropped back off on the trail. 

Slowly warming my thought process to nothing less of Bear Grylls, I realize that i need to be cautious of my new shoes, where I reorganized my belongings in my backpack and.....ohhhh shit.... I forgot to get gas for my stove! 

Walking a mile into the trail, I mentally calm myself down knowing that I will be passing through a town within the next couple of days that should have gas for me. Meanwhile I just have to build a small fire like I would have, had I not brought my gas burner. No Big Deal.

But what is that? A hot sensation coming from the left side of my left foot. Is my pinky toe already being irritated by the new shoes? Perhaps I should walk on it a little bit further as the shoe has time to loosen up.... Right? Well after a stopping every couple miles to readjust, I think I might be able to live with it. 

Now it's getting dark...I'm in between shelters and not looking to hike in the dark. I hear the tops of the trees move in the distance like static on a broken TV getting louder and louder. With the sudden drop in temperature and the smell of humidity in the air, you know it's about to rain. So I find a small open area (with minimal rocks covering the flat spots) and set up my tent as fast possible. As soon as my last stake was forced into the rooty soil, rain drops start bouncing off my tensioned vestibules walls. Enter the thunderstorm which sets the tone for a mental horror story...

Now here I am; Alone, Without gas and friends. 

Luckily It's not that dramatic (but it is when your in my shoes and not behind a computer in your house/work) and I have my good friend Mr. Technology to keep me company. All of a sudden being sent to my room by Mother Nature is not so bad. Having all the Verizon 4G service my phone's battery can use, I pass the time writing thoughts out like this (or actually being lazy and using the speaking-2-text feature), uploading the days pictures and catching up for a hot minute with friends and family. I'm no longer alone. It's nice to know that even in the absence of most comforts, technology somehow has/is a remedy. GenY for life.

Day 74 - Breakfast and Entertainment

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Both of these areas are very important to me simply because I love to eat and I constantly have to be entertained. 

Breakfast

I know that most people out there do not share my same opinions but, I dislike breakfast foods. If I had it my way, I would eat lunch and dinner items for every meal! Regardless, I know that there is some importance in eating a healthy breakfast. So as a hiker, trying to make the most of my morning before rushing out of the camp site, I have gotten into a new routine. Boil 2 cups of water and add 2 packets of oatmeal and pouch of Carnation Instant Breakfast. This powdered packet is the key ingredient to my breakfast in which I attribute my first 10 miles of hiking each day. What's so good about them? Well they provide a poop load of nutrition which I believe your body is craving after making it hike a marathon each day. Secondly they come in 3 different flavors (chocolate, vanilla and strawberry). I like to think of the vanilla packets as my milk powder substitute. It makes my oatmeal (any flavor) taste that much creamier. Chocolate I add to my Starbucks Via Packets when I want to spoil myself in the morning. As for strawberry... It's a wild card. It goes well with many of the oatmeals (blueberry, banana, original, strawberry and even apply) but just have to plan ahead. That's all. To be honest I plan on carrying on this Carnation Instant Breakfast habit to "my real life" once I get of the trail . I am that stoked this goodness!

Entertainment

Listening to nature is great, don't get me wrong... but I do get bored starring at the same scenery sometime. Coming from a very active childhood and even busier adolescent, I sometimes feel that I am wasting my time as I am not efficiently using my time wisely.  Enter "Ted Talks". Ted Talks are informational speeches from leaders in their prospective fields. These talks are usually in regards to new technology or ideas that are slightly radical at first, but once they explain the process you end up saying to yourself, " that makes to much sense ". Listening to these 12 minute lectures really gets your brain thinking. In my case, I reflect on the conversation and have a mental brainstorm to see if this concept or adjacent ideas applies to anything in my life/future. Right now my favorite talk was from a person who turned his curb into a garden for people in his community to pick in hopes to combats bad diets and fast foods. He is making gardening "gangster" to appeal to  new demographics. 

Day 71 - Trail Days & Technology

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Alright I know it's been a while... Well almost a month to be exact. However i have been updating Facebook on the regular.  In fact i am outsourcing some amazing talent to help me redesign the flow of the website in order be more reader friendly. Luckily for you I have decided to get back on the hoarse and bring you updates in various aspects of our adventure... Piece by piece. Today's topic: Trail Days and Technology!

Trail Days

What happens when 15,000 hikers enter a small town of nearly 1000 people for a weekend? Trail Days.

For those of you that don't know Trail Days is a weekend festival for hikers and the community of Damascus. Throughout the town, church groups, vendors and the local vendors provide (cheap to free)'services for hikers. All the while, the hikers invade this small town and enjoy all the pleasures of a town (restaurants, bars and grocery stores) while wearing loud thrift shift clothes as their own clothes are being washed 2x in hopes to get the 2 month hiker funk smell out. 

Unfortunately a tragic event occurred this weekend as well. During the hiker parade (current and previous hikers walk in succession of the years they hiked) a gentlemen in his car parked on a side road, had a heart attack and ran over 5-6 people. In the end no one was severally injured ( just a couple broken bones and scrapes) but you can imagine at that point in time everyone was going crazy - even from 100ft away (where we were walking).

On a lighter note... BackpackingAT had a huge presence at this festival mostly due to our very own Bo Comfy. He was able to secure a 40x40 ft tent near tent village, where 75% of the hikers hang for the weekend. Underneath our tent we were able to provide free wifi (Thanks to Verizon Wireless), entertain hikers with a folk band ( again thanks to Bo), and provide a safe heaven for those sweet enough to melt in the rain. In fact we even held a wedding underneath our tent on Saturday - who would have thought! During the evening hours next to our tent, an uber large fire was built in which hundreds of hikers would dance around  the fire and engage in a drum circle. This would last late into the night, far past my time. 

Technology

America's most reliable 4G network is my backbone for our BackpackingAT adventure. From pictures to video to uploading to blogging to responding to logistics to talking to loved ones, Verizon Wireless makes all this possible. I am fortunate enough to have been chosen to be an official Verizon Wireless Blogger throughout my 6 months on the Appalachian Trail. My area, of course,  is fitness centric. Hiking 2184 miles is no easy task. Nearly hiking up and down a marathon of trail each day is a very physical demanding activity. 

Sure it helps that I have spent the last 4 years of my life helping to develop and market for Verizon Wireless. Using this technology and array of devices, this is nothing foreign to me. So when it comes to incorporating the newest technology into an otherwise minimalistic environment I am able to share so much of my everyday experiences with the rest of the world. Who knows, this may encourage those on the edge to fall off their seats and strap on some boots - I could only hope! 

Not to be tutting the horn more than I should, but I really enjoy ( for whatever reason ) love when people as to use my phone at shelters. I always ask, "What service do you have ? Ohhhh I see, well I have Verizon and I have service....". Granted there are some dead zones, but more often than not, I am able to continue walking a quarter mile and get at least 3G signal. 

Day 39

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5/6/13 - By Vic (Pundit)

Since I last have wrote, I have taken a bit of alone time on the trail and have really gotten some miles under my boots. Here's what I got...


Thoughts while Walking Alone:
- When someone says "Go for a walk, and clear your head." I found this to be the exact opposite. To be honest I don't even think it's possible to think of nothing. So in the absence of thinking about the things that stress you out ( which these days it's the terrain, weather and food supply) I have had some time to reflect on more creative aspects of my life and other random ideas. Z

- "I have everything, because I own nothing." Granted I do own some things; a backpack, some boxes of clothing, a couple bikes, a computer and a round bed. However when your belongings are limited, responsibilities minimal, and emotional unattached to most, it's easy to enjoy the simplicity in almost anything. From the smallest comfort (soft ground for sleeping) to the biggest luxury (dry clothing) it's amazing how your perception and senses have changed. Knowing that I am a product of the Gen-Y, I will savor this feeling while it lasts.
PERCEPTION: I have been leading a fairly non conventional life for the last year. Housing with friends, sleeping in hammocks, and living out of a duffel bag. Now I'm housing in the forest, sleeping in a tent and living out my backpack. With that said, all of my amenities are all around me (water source: stream, housing: flat ground, entertainment: environment). And with a little bit of planning you are able to get anything you want. All of sudden the enjoyment you would have received at the end your day from an ice cold beer, is as enjoyable, if not more, than a hot cocoa. Your medium-rare, slightly salted and peppered, steak is now replaced with instant mashed potatoes and beef jerky.
SENSES: I kinda feel like a super hero. Only in the sense that my senses have been heightened for better or worse. Eyes: I am now looking for particular angles of rocks as I step on them, leaves floating in the streams I grab water, imprints in the mud as my friends hike ahead of me and eyes glowing in the dark as I night hike (to be explained later). Smell: not only walking behind smelly hiker (including myself at times) can turn a head, but also the smell of trees blooming, camp fires in the distance and exhaust as we approach roads. Most of these smells certainly bring joy and comfort to whom are in the trail and would probably not be as recognizable had they all not have some sort of significant meaning (food, people, town, etc). Sound: trickling water in the distance, the gushing of wind coming down the mountain, murmur of chatter as you near a group of people and creaking of trees against each other and red squirrels squeaking at each other as they fight in the branches. Taste: I don't care how bad you cook, I bet your worst attempt at ramen noodles would taste like a $10 meal given 2 days on the trail - especially when food literately runs through your family's veins. Touch: every pointy rocks you step on towards the end of the day, the temperature of the wind when your dropping trow in the middle of the woods, to the twigs you set your tent above.

Marathon Hiking:
In running a marathon is 26.21875 miles. In television, a marathon is typically the sequential broadcast of a single or a number of related television programs. Well in hiking, it's carrying your house, water, food, clothing and other amenities on your on your back for over 26 miles. In my over achieving situation I went the extra mile... or extra 6 miles. My hiking day started at 10:30am. The intent of today's hike was to get as far as possible as the promise of rain was likely. So, Sno (a friend within our hiking group) and I started out with full packs, energized bodies and music blaring (Sno is famous for hiking playing 80's rock on his portable speaker). Well before you know it we were 18 miles in and stopped at a shelter to gather some water. A this point in time we checked in with each others mental and physical states and decided we would attempt to go another 8 miles to the next shelter and earn our "marathon badge". Fast forward, to 11pm and we were just outside the shelter with our headlights on and we're eating dinner on the leeward side of a mountain (where the 30mph, cold wind, was not blowing). We were eating here because at this point we decided to go an additional 6 miles - crazy, I know . P.s. never buy the 89 cent can of Buffalo Chicken Spread at a dollar store - not worth it.

So we hike on in the dark. Note that we just hiked 26 miles (the farthest I have ever hiked yet) and are about to night hike (the first time I would ever hike not during the day). So as we walk along the Appalachian Trail, approaching the base of Roan Mountain we are still rocking out to 80's music. Sno walking in front and me behind him, I occasional check the surrounding area to see what the landscape is like. Well on one of those scenery glances I see two large eyes, glowing in the dark several, several feet tall... Over the sound of the radio, I shout to Sno "eyes left, eyes left". Saying this while walking forward and looking left, Sno stops and looks at me puzzled. Once he realizes that I am looking at something of significance, he also glances over. Not saying, but I am pretty sure it was a bear. Regardless of whatever animal it was, we started singing whatever song was on the radio, LOUD, and started walking a little faster. Meanwhile I am checking behind us every couple of seconds. Needless to say I saw nothing. However, this same occurrence happens another 3 more times. Lets just say there is a fine line between "ignorance is bliss" and "knowledge is power".

Adding to the story, we have had 3 miles to go when reached the big incline to the top of Roan Mountain. With every step we take, the wind increases and the temperature decreases. At this point the the switch backs (trails that constantly crosses back and forth in order to minimize the the steepness going up the mountain) are becoming nothing but connecting boulders. The sound of Sno's radio is now masked by the whooshing of the wind and every inch of our bodies are sore and cold. Finally we reach the camping area (flat small area) by 2:30am, set up our individual tents and pass out from one long ass day.

How do you top this experience? Well easy enough for us we did not have to wait long. We slept for 3.5 hours and got back up on our feet. With the wind still gushing and temperature we set forth for 18 miles. Why? Cause at the end of the tunnel was a hostel... And it's a place that harbors warmth and dryness. Anywho, we summit Roan Mountain within the first couple miles of our hike and begin what we thought was the descent. Little Did we know, we had 2 more ascents to go, before our hike for the day was over. Not to go into much of the details this is what we faced. Wind gusts on top of a grassy bald (no trees) up to 50 mph with a constant 30mph wind, 35 degree temperature, 99 percent humidity as we were walking through a cloud/fog, sore feet/bodies from the 32 miles the day previous and to top it off, a full intestinal track... Let's just say this was the worst weather I have ever EVER encountered in my life and may be just be most epic I may ever encounter on the trail (or I would like to think).

Ok enough story time for me. Back to getting some midday sleep for me as I enjoy my zero, in my tent as it's raining and will continue to rain for the next 48 hours - and thus why we decided to hike 50 miles in two days (to avoid walking in the rain on top of the horrible conditions we were already in). Sometimes there is method to the madness.

Day 30

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4/27/13 by Vic

So it's been a while since I've updated y'all on whats going on. So here it is.

Trail Names:
"Comfy" : This name was given to Bo as this was the word he used to describe how he prefers to live. Now yellow blazing the trail (Yellow Blaze: hiking sections of the Appalachian Trail), Bo has become a great asset in the logistical aspect of our adventure. Before we get into a town for a resupply, he will befriend everyone in the community, set up a room for the night and most often do the research on transportation to and from the city. This has been working out great because he is spreading BackpackingAT's love and allows us to be very efficient with our time off the trail.

"Pundit" : This was the name given to me just as we crossed into the North Carolina, from Georgia. By definition, it's an expert in particular subject or field who is frequently called on to give opinions about it to the public. Thus when it comes to describing our BackpackingAT campaign, I usually speak for the group. This name also just happens to have the word "pun" in it. This is most noteworthy as I have been particularly quiet around the camp fires in the beginning in order to gauge what this hiking culture is all about. Well every now and then I would chime into a conversation, humoring anyone within earshot with a witty pun that currently relates to the conversation. After a while, people around the fire would say "The pundit strikes again" once a pun has been released. Good stuff.

Eric and Lauren: these two have evaded being given names for now. But don't you worry I have a feeling that should change here in the near future.

The Group: We are going strong and have found ourselves at different paces. As mentioned before Comfy, is usually one city ahead of us waiting for us to resupply, while slack packing throughout the day. I believe he plans to get some solid trail time in after the smokies as you have to pay $20 to stay overnight (1 week permit) and plus there is only 1 road, which makes logistics for him not so comfy. Eric and Lauren are about 1.5 days behind the bubble of people we are hiking with. However after being well rested I know they catch up in no time- it will be great to have them back. Me, we'll I am kinda taking advantages of both aspects. I hike fast and cover many miles in order to get to town early and rest up. This ratio of hiking/miles to rest has kept me with a pretty even pace with our hiking bubble. Keeping in mind there is no right or wrong pace to hike at, I am just referring to the bubble as the majority of the people we started with on our first day.

Terminology:
Hikers Midnight- this is usually 9pm. By this time it's completely dark out and everyone has moved to their tents

Nearo- the 24 hour virus that people have been getting in our current area. This entails in tense vomiting and diarrhea.

Fuck-me-stick - this is a smaller stick on the trails path that ends up getting kicked up high enough that it makes you trip over your own feet

Mustang - for males, pulling your shorts up to urinate

Bald - a mountain/hill top that has little to no vegetation other than grass.

Something I don't want to admit: while in Franklin NC, we got shuttled to a Walmart for a resupply after a days hike. Wearing the only clean clothes I had (leggings with shorts and a button down shirt) I was standing in the cereal isle deciding on what type of granola I was going to choose. Along comes a father and his teenage daughter walking down the isle and eventually passes me. Well after about 10 steps of passing me, they both look at each other cringe their faces and fan the air in front of their face. Yes I was a "people of Walmart". Sorry for being a dirty hiker.

Something I learned : don't have ropes hanging loosely from yourself or your backpack. They get caught on branches very easily and make you almost fall down the side of mountains.

Scary Moment: So I acquired this awesome large knife. However in the spirit of trying to cut down weight I sent it back home. Well later that day (after my little trail run) I loose my favorite little pocket knife. So now I am knife-less until I can pick up a knew one.

Audio Book: I had just finished "the adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and about to finish Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales. Let me tell you ... It weird learning That little red ridding hood was actually named little red cap. Plus I hope Disney payed these brothers lots of money because it is sooooo weird listening to the original versions of these stories.

Moment in Time Entry: At this point in time I am writing to you from a log cabin like bathroom in the parking lot of Clingmans dome. Its dry, chilly and smells urinal cakes. But he it could be worse. So this morning we woke up to the hard rain on the tin roof and the wind smacking the makeshift wall of our shelter against itself. Hearing this the other 5 people in the shelter where fairly determined to take a zero day in shelter. This was confirmed after they saw their breath in front of them once the sun was up high enough. I dress in all my layers and set out not really knowing what to expect, except rain, wind and 10ft of visibility. Of course the others in the cabin heed warning, but bull-headed and clinging to my youth and physical ability I set foot onto the trail. Needless to say I made it and I am glad I did!

Birthday: Wooo I'm physically 28, mentally 30, emotionally 22 and looking 24. Life is great. For my birthday, I preformed the "three S's" inside, used the Internet for 3 hours, washed my clothes in a machine, and cooked for 15+ people over a metal grill. I received a bed to sleep in from Bo, a mini pocket knife from "cat", cold beer from other hikers and red velvet piece of cake. To top of the day, I soaked in a hot mineral hot springs for an hour. Success. Thanks to all of you for your calls, texts, posts and thoughts from afar. Miss ya! XO

Day 20

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By Bo

Had such an amazing time in franklin and met Memphis aka colin and spencer aka papa smurf played disc golf with them and saw an amazing river. Met some locals named eric who drove us back into town he was a chill ass dude that had been living there for a few years. The thunder storm hit right as we walked into the hotel and we posted up and enjoyed being out of the nasty grasp of nature. Met up with homeward bound and his buddy so we shared a room and at 9 the cali crew hit the shuttle to winding stair gap hit 13 miles in to liglog camp site. Met up with spence and colin and planned out noc and Fontana that night I'm chilln at noc now with Jimmy Johnson aka Florida and machete and pac man enjoying the river and meeting new peeps cat and I saw 22 and push up at the general store. Got a lift into Fontana dam and met a few locals at the restaurant that told me about the tail of the dragon which is a road that turns 300 times in 13 miles. People come from all over to drive it and ride it.

Day 19

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By Lauren

Time hangs in the air like a hammock. It offers rest and rejuvenation OR a stuff sack in your pack and a good long climb to the next camp site. It is indifferent to your choices. You may add another 5 miles to your trek and reach the next shelter, or you may take that time and that hammock to stand still and take a 'Nearo Day'.. Let hedonism get the best of you. Granted, hedonism on the trail is what most enjoy daily where I'm from. A warm shower, a bed with pillows, the choice to NOT walking 15 miles today... And that choice is not an easy one to make when you are not used to being sweaty, filthy, hungry, and frankly sick and tired of walking all-day-long. Ive actually grown accustomed to sleeping-in in my tent (though sleeping-in on the trail is only around 8:30am) just to add more rest time to my day. Time, though.. Time is a tricky illusion. When hiking;  it seems to just hang there.. Like an endless hike, like an eternity of the decision made. When hiking there is no waiting for the next road, the next shelter, the next hill, the next tree even. Everything takes place in the moment. As tiring, sweaty, and filthy a moment it may be.. ;) it's still in the moment... and because of this I have noticed I am happiest on the trail where the satisfaction lies in sticking to plan, of moving forward. The time will move forward regardless. It's your choice what to do with it. 

In saying this I have still opted to finish the day in this lovely cabin that Bo has rented for us. LOL! Well you can't have the sweet without the sour, right?! In this case which is the sweet? The trail with all of its sweat, tears, yet fulfillment and beauty.. OR the warm and comfy cabin complete with a full kitchen and steamy shower? I suppose both our equally lovely and equally essential to our growth and contentment, at least in moderation. Is this even making sense? Hah!  Perhaps the trail is getting to me. Have I mentioned it's only been two weeks and three days? Oh dear.. Anyways.. On with my day. 

As I am writing a thru-hiker just passed me of name of Bubblehead (I THINK that was his name.. trail names are a little harder for me to remember than names that we've grown up with and are accustomed to learning). I covered my mouth as we said our hellos, as I was in the middle of consuming a hand full of dried fruit. He laughed and said, "Don't worry, there ain't no use for manners out here." Goodness, he's right. There happens to be about 10-15 men to every woman. I suppose that in the mind of a man this means that he can behave as if he is a sailor or in a fraternity or whatever all-men organizations that tend to bring out the BOY in the man. Suddenly there is no "excuse me" after burps, farts, really any disgusting habit that boys are actually weirdly proud of. Not only do they not say "excuse me" but they have little fart games and have found clever ways to actually ANNOUNCE the fact that they just did whatever gross thing they just did. Forgive me.. I did not grow up with brothers so I am learned a great deal (too much) now. Strangely when you throw a man out into the wilderness suddenly social norms seem to have all but entirely disappeared in this regard. Not that this specifically bothers me.. I just thought it weird enough to mention. Lol! The eating habits of most of these men has been one habit that HAS affected me negatively. Perhaps I shouldn't blame the guys. It should not be there concern how their choices are effecting my diet.. Certainly not! It is actually my poor will power and to be fair, there simply is not many healthy options for health conscious individuals on the trail. At the very most you may find an apple and banana in the local general store. Other than that the healthiest option I found today while purchasing food for the next three days on the trail was V-8 juice and strawberry flavored pop-tarts. Eric, however, had no problem finding a frozen pizza and cheerwine (similar to cherry coke) for dinner in the cabin tonight. It's true that we need to keep our calorie intake incredibly high, as we are burning an ungodly number of calories per day.. And pizza and soda really does sound AMAZING after trekking up 17 miles (okay-we happened to slack-pack today- which means hiking without our full packs) but still.. 17 miles is 17 miles no matter which way you slice it. Even with the poor diet I am losing weight like crazy. I have not seen my tummy this small since I was 15 years old and my clothes seem to be hanging on me. I realize this could just be my active imagination since its been a mere 2 1/2 weeks on the trail.. But I notice a difference in Eric as well. So I suppose.. Bring on the pizza?? ...but I must be conscious of finding healthy options as well.. Perhaps order food from an outside source? Still debating. I've never felt better than when I was drinking fresh vegetable juice very morning. I wish there was a way to make that happen. 

Oh dear.. I smell pizza! :D

-Memorable creature sightings from the last couple of days: 6-foot dark snake (didn't look dangerous), chipmunk eating a nut, 4-5 squirrels, 2 lizards, MANY prehistoric size insects and bees