'05 AT Thru Hike

“say hi to miss janet for me!”

“yo nimblefoot, you're getting ready to go over the first section of the AT i ever hiked - Nolichucky River to Iron Mountain gap. Beauty Spot is aptly named but it can be touristy. Unaka Mountain has a gorgeous forest on top.

Good Luck, Have fun”

“Nimblefoot was kind enough to email me his latest journal entries, and I have dutifully added them to his Trail Journal. Hie thee to the preceding link and peruse them with the utmost celerity.”

“"posting drunk," bit?

either that or that's some language I sure don't know!!! lol”

“Just use your imagination Lizs. ;)

Thanks Bit!”

“Nimblefoot, I asked some of the thru hikers Sat if they knew you. I think a few of them did. Others said no they didn't want to meet or hang with an old fart ;)

The ones we met were Rawhide, David and his sister Swan, Hawkeye(you would remember him), Rabbit, Jax, Rashberry, Colorado and Marshmellow

Good luck and keep it up.

I so wanted to go with those guys Sunday morning.”

“Rashberry? Wow, that name conjured some bad images.”

“Just dropped my brother, Stork, and his friend, Andy, off at Springer Mt. on Friday. The summit was pretty crowed and I spotted several more people starting out the next day on my way out. It was definetely beautiful up there though. A great place to start the AT.

On my way out I pretty much ran and covered the approach trail back in 3 hours. (I was only carrying a daypack) I ran into an older gentlemen with a full load of gear about 2 hours into my hike out and he asked me how long it had taken me. Knowing he wanted to know how much longer he had to summit, I told him it took about 6 hours to hike in. He then acted annoyed and asked how long it took me today. I told him I had been hiking for two hours and he said, "Oh good!" I feel bad for not trying to warn him, but I think he's fairly new to bp'ing and wasn't going to listen to a damn thing I had to say. That much was obvious from the fact he wasn't willing to consider the sign at the beginning of the trail was dead on when it said 6.5 hours. I just hope he was smart enough to set up camp for the day and take Springer the next morning. I had ran into some people who were younger, and probably more experienced, who I believe had done just that considering how early in the day it was when I ran into them.

Anyway, that's my confession for the day. Not helping old people that are biting off more than they can chew.”

“LOL! I like it. :-)”

“That approach trail is a mother f&^$#^# especially if you are from the coast living at sea level. You're also usually way overpacked.”

“I hear ya on that, Hyway.”

“Hi,

I'm in Damascus and have been since Friday. It snowed Saturday and Sunday so I used it as an excuse to lay low and drink beer. No saving money on this trip. Bought a new pack, Osprey Atmos 50 (2 lb 11 oz), Hennessey hammock and am leaving town lighter than when I came in. Tonight I'll dine on the chili that Treebeard sent me (thanks, Tree)...I'm stopping to pick up some maalox before hitting the trail, just in case. Still having fun and talking trash.”

“Oops I forgot, I'm looking for a marathon to run while I'm on my thru hike (an integral part of the old fart trifecta). Would someone post if they know of one in the next couple of months, preferably in Virginia. Not talking about speed, just finishing. Thanks.”

“Good to hear from ya! I was getting concerned. Also, apparently other hikers don't see fit to mention you in their trail journals. Are they missing you or something?”

“http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?ID=94761

He is mentioned here”

“lol, I had been reading Chubby Knuckles' journal looking for info, but his entries usually run to the "It was wet. And cold. Tired." variety.”

“I have been reading Trail Journals trying to follow some of the people I met on my Section Hike. Most of them don't have journals so I have been reading the journals watching for their names pop up as people meet them on the trail. Its tough because most of them didn't have trail names when I met them, now they go by things like Goatboy LOL. I have to check out the pics to try to put faces to names.”

“So, how was the chili, Ray? Did you need the Maalox?”

“Hey Nimblefoot! I've been asked to ask when you think you'll be in Pearisburg. So, when? Huh? Huh?”

“pearisburg was nice. someone paid for my meal at the ayce chinese”

“I've gotten another wad of journal updates from Nimblefoot. I've only gotten three of them typed up so far (he's getting to be a wordy cuss!) but I thought I'd give y'all a link so the real addicts can sate their appetites.

Go read them now.”

“Get on it, ya deadbeat!”

“My wrists are achin'!”

“Carpal tunnel?”

“Nah, my wrists just hurt from typing so much stuff in. I have to be careful how I angle my hands when I'm touch-typing.”

“The price you pay for being the 'froemost purveyor of crap' on the board! :)”

“hey crash, I wish the hikers we feed that weekend had journals going. I sent Colorado & Marshmallow a pic of them on top of Max Patch. I got a reply back saying they were doing great, liked the picture and thanks for all we did.”

“I've entered a few more entries since yesterday...go read 'em.”

“I've seen pics of marshmellow and colorada on trailjournals. They get mentioned from time to time.”

“hyway, I looked but couldn't find anything on them or the others we meet.”

“http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=93861

Trail Characters of the Day: Marshmellow and Colorado
This young couple from Colorado started out together in late February. Colorado walks a lot faster than Marshmellow. Marshmellow is about 100 lbs soaking wet, but carries a 45 lb pack! Colorado got to camp fairly early. It was dark before Marshmellow got in. After she cooked dinner, she pulled out a bag of marshmellows to roast. We climbed out of bed to join in the fun. It is one of my favorite nights on the trail so far!
last edited: 4/29/05 4:14:25 PM”

“I just finished posting Nimblefoot's journal entries for April 21-24. Go read 'em!”

“thanks hyway”

“Hi all,

Sitting in the Library in Bland (aptly named), Va and getting ready to head toward Pearisburg. I could be there in 2 1/2 days but will probably shoot for Monday because I need to do some journalling. I've done essentially none since Damascus, shooting instead for bigger miles. Stu, yes, your meals were tasty but did blow my butt apart. Some of the most terrific flatulence I (and fellow shelter inhabitants) have ever experienced. I've given them all your phone number. Things are going quite well. My weight loss is such that I am acquiring lots of loose skin. Anyone need a lamp shade? I sort of thought that a younger slimmer me would emerge from the fat. Instead all I see is an older refugee from Auschwitz. My whole denial system is being shot to hell. Time to hit the trail. Adios”

“lmao, NF! Glad you enjoyed the meals!”

“NF, you hooked up a ride back to traildays yet?”

“LMAO! But (butt) I figured he was talking the fabulous explosive poop! NOT flatulence!
last edited: 5/05/05 1:27:23 PM”

“Nimblefoot, is this you?

”

“I hope you get a chance to stop and read your thread here. My folks have offered to give you any assistance if needed once you get around the Delaware Water Gap area. They figure you may need a ride to town, a hot lunch or whatever. My Dad's a Coast Guard man too and they are great people. You can email me at theloraxpa at Yahoo.com and I'll get you thier phone number.”

“Hyway: BWAHAHAHAHA!”

“crap, I think that was me”

“NF, I printed out a good deal of your journals and took them in Mark-O's car on the way to Boston this weekend. I read them aloud to Mark and my son to pass some time away on the last hour on the way up the Cape. You had us howling. Especially the story about getting the bathroom key and doing the crab-walk "over yonder"! Man, that was hysterical.

To anyone who hasn't read this stuff, you are missing out on some good material...”

“Hi. Me again. I'm taking zero's in Pearlisburg. Shin splints. I did a bunch of running on a 7 mile section going into Bland and, evidently, it didn't agree with me. Talked to CB yesterday and he's going to pick me up at an undetermined location for a ride to TrailDays. My leg's getting better but I figured out that I better let it heal...although I really want to keep walking, or running, or something. Gotta go. Oh, Steve, I'll get hold of you when I get closer to Delaware. It's a great offer and thanks.”

“Nimblefoot, when you get into Maryland I can scoot over yonder and lend a hand if you like.

E-mail me for a phone number.

I'm about 70 miles from the AT.

Your story is a lot of fun..........and Treebeard reeds reel good.”

“Scoot and hand... sounds like something you want no part of, Nimblefoot!!!”

“Marko,

I'll do that if I can keep my decrepit assed body somewhat functional. Thanks.”

“Yo liz!!!

"lend a hand" is a sort of pun, hon.”

“Just posted a couple more of Nimblefoot's journal entries...they can be read here.

There is a little gap in the entries between Damascus and Troutdale. I don't know if those entries are in the mail to me or if Nimblefoot hasn't written them yet. The last ones he sent to me via email.”

“Good stuff. Glad you're doing well.

Here's a link to the Erwin Elephant story -

http://mirrors.meepzorp.com/blueridgecountry.com/elephant/”