04/14/2011 View from big Cedar Mountain, The 4th mountain today.

Springer Mountian

Here we are at the starting point. We had to drive on a bumpy mountian road for about 45 minutes, then hike a mile up the mountian just to get to the starting point. My mom and grandma went to the top with us to check out the view and take photos. The rocks had a sparkle in them that was beautiful, especially on our way down because they were reflecting the light from our head lamps. Tonight we are staying in a hotel for one more good night's sleep and because there are tornado warnings here.

So one mile down- 2,174 left to go.

Elliott and Dan's first sight of the AT. I saw it in PA when I went on a road trip with my sister.

Rain Gear Test

All of our gear worked great! Check out the video on Dan Brunner's facebook page.

The shower test is very important :)

Elliott learned that his gear will keep him dry even though it feels wet because it is very thin.

Dan's gear may rip easily, but it is pretty light, cheap and it keeps him dry.

Karen's coat was awesome, but she was nervous about the open pockets.

(later that week elliott duct taped and super glued karen's pockets)

Well that was fast

This last week went by super fast. I can hardly believe March 29th was my last day of work and now i am in a hotel somewhere in Indiana trying to sleep and ready to get to Georgia tomorrow! Tomorrow we will most likely check out the top of Spinger Mountian, the AT Trailhead, take our begining photos, be sillly and then stay in the town one last night before we become one with nature.

Lets review what happened the last 12 days...
Quit my job, moved from MI to WI, went to two birthday parties, packed everything Elliott and I own, except our backpacks and hiking gear, into boxes, put those boxes in closets and corners, went through gear, hiked with nephews, dehydrated food, seperated food, packed food, hated to look at so much food, tested our rain gear, treated the tent, tried hanging out with what ever friends we could, sorry nikki, patti, erik and emery that i got sick and couldn't make it, figured out bills, figured out bank accounts, bought gear, realized getting gear is really expensive, weighed our packs, unpacked, repacked, hung out with family, went to pool with my brothers, sold Elliott's car- thanks Bork, had a going away party (thank you to everyone that could come elliott and i really appreciated seeing you all), went to church, got in a car and started to drive.... what a busy couple of days! I am really ready to slow down and smell the flowers... although after a couple of days with no showers i will probably just be smelling body oder - yuck.

Springer Mountian watch out! Here come Elliott, Dan and Karen ; ) 

Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Planner

This is a pretty great book. I would suggest getting it more than a month before your anticipated departure, but that's not how Elliott and I roll.  I am about half way through it and so far so good we are right on track as far as gear, food and finances are concerned. There are plenty of good tips and trail knowledge that we wouldn't have learned until we were on the trail. The book also contains plenty of worksheets to help you prepare. Worksheets include a financial spread, suggested mail drops, calendars, mileage, gear list, towns, inns, post offices and restaurants.

Elliott and I highly recommend this book to anyone planning to hike some or all of the AT.

     

Huffing and Puffing Thoughts

So while Elliott and I were hiking up Mount Marquette tonight I started huffing and puffing. The first thought that always comes to mind is "why the heck am I going to do this?" Why in the world would I commit to hiking 2,175 mile for fun? Not to mention all we have had to give up while saving and training for the trail. Missed opportunities to hang out with friends, go on ski weekends, go out to eat, get ski passes, go to the movies, trips home to visit family ect. Things we wanted to buy like new clothes, play station 3 (elliott), wii (elliott), kayaking gear, other outdoor gear, books, movies, new shoes ect. All the extra things we had to do late nights working, extra hours at work, plan meals for the trail, train, research, coordinate with Dan ect.

This morning Elliott came across this thought on facebook from Lecrae's page.  

"Prepare your heart now to embrace today's difficulties. God uses those to refine us and save us from worshiping comfort."

None of the things we sacrificed caused harm to us or threaten our beings. This has been a great lesson in not "worshiping comfort," but to appreciate them as gifts from God. There will be plenty of difficulty on the trail as well as throughout the rest of our lives. My hope is that God always guides me to see more than the comforts around me and to look to him.

Karen

What I will miss the most...

Driving to Wisconsin last night I started to think about what I will miss while I am on the AT.

From Marquette I will miss my Youth Center kids the most hands down, next the friends I've made and finally all the great recreational areas. There are so many places in and around Marquette that are absolutely beautiful.

From Wisconsin I will miss our families, especially our nephews and our friends. We are very blessed to have such great friends and family.

 In general I will probably miss toilets, face wash, sweatpants, a bed to sleep in, not being in physical pain, and showers....

Then I started to think about after we hike I am sure I will miss the trail. Peaceful nights in the forest, feeling tired and accomplished at the end of the day, the closeness to God one feels when they are far from society, endless days of adventure, spectacular sights, meeting new people and living simply.

Billy Joel lyrics come to mind when I think about all this

'Say Goodbye to Hollywood'


"So many faces in and out of my life
Some will last
Some will just be now and then
Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes
I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again"