Sarabelle Doing The AT??? You Gotta Be.. .

“Whatta ya think? Doable? You bet!

Here. I'll copy and paste an email I sent yesterday to the website of the (Heritary) Spastic Paraplegia Foundation:

Hello,
My name is Joe Plymel. I live in Georgia . At 48 years of age, I am the youngest of six children. All of my siblings exhibit varying degrees of HSP. I have been spared to date from any outward sign of the terrible condition. I feel an obligation to help not just my family, but all that suffer similarly.

I am a backpacker. And like most of my ilk, I have often entertained the notion of an Appalachian Trail thruhike. That's from whence a crazy idea sprang.

I want to hike the trail in honor of all those who cannot. While doing so, I would like to use the opportunity to increase awareness of HSP, and also raise funds for research, etc. Awareness could be raised among anyone who would listen, especially among civic, social, and religious organizations that exist along the way. These might also be sources of financial donations. The more effective monetary source, I believe, would be for me to solicit pledges from any and all sources to donate monies based on the miles I cover.

The trail is approximately 2160 miles - depending on who you ask. If someone were to pledge five cents per mile, and I complete the five month journey, that pledger would donate $108.00. If 100 people made the same pledge, the total amount would be $10,800.00. That's a pretty nice chunk of change for a walk in the woods.

I honestly believe I can sell the idea. I honestly believe I can complete the hike. I honest believe that I can make a difference.

Thruhikes traditionally begin from mid March until mid May. I can be ready within that timeframe.

Please contact me as soon as possible with your thoughts and/or recommendations.

Thank you,
Joe

Their website:
http://www.sp-foundation.org/”

“Go for it.”

“Cool!”

“I'll be rooting for you Gojo.”

“Go for it -”

“WTF!
Are you people nuts?!
Do you realize what a huge undertaking this is?

Hey! Why don't YOU try it mister smarty zip-off-at-the-knees britches! lol!”

“WTF are you thinking GOJO?! DO you have any idea of the physical and mental rigors of a long distance through hike?










Well somebody had to play the devils advocate! LOL!
Ok, that said, I wish you nothing but the very best and keep us posted on the results. It sounds like a noble cause to me.”

“WTF!
Are you people nuts?!

do you realize just who your asking this of?

that's like the ultimate rhetorical question!”

“I hope they bite! I've seen my fair share of people running/walking/biking across the country and we give them press if we know about it.

You'd need to have the people at the organization set up a website, etc., to track you.

Wait, I'm thinking cross-country stuff by road. Of course, you'll be on the trail.

I'd still think media interviews along the way would do a lot (although might slow ya down due to getting to a town). I know I never knew about this disease....”

“DEAR SIR/MADAM I am Dr. Maximus Egosto, Chairman of the Tender Committee of the Nigerian National Application Trail Conservancy Corporation (NNATCC). My Committee is principally concerned with payment of all contract awarded from 1998 to date, in order of priority as regard capital projects of the NNATCC. The information we gathered from the Foreign Office of the Nigeria Chambers of Commerce and Industries is so positive as to convince us that you would provide us with solution to a money transfer deal valued at Thirty One Hundred United States Dollars and subsequently a joint business venture. In the course of our duties as values, and project inspectors for the on-going Application Trail Conservancy (ATC) project, we have over-invoiced the value of some jobs done by foreign contractors on the AT to the tune of US$.031M.

Our aim of over-invoicing this payment is to divert the excess amount to a discrete account abroad of Application Trail hikers. This fund is now floating in suspense account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This is the fund my colleagues and I have decided to transfer into your account since we, as civil servants are not allowed to operate or own foreign account.

The money will be shared as follows after transfer: 30% for you (Account Owner), 60% for me and my colleagues, 10% to off-set both local and international expenses that would be incurred in the course of this transaction. To be able to claim the funds, we will be purporting you to be the original contractor / beneficiary of the funds so all procedures for international transfer shall be strictly followed, as we have worked out all modalities for a swift and risk free transfer. If this proposal satisfies you, please contact me through donotmail@fuledawtnet or my direct fax line 1-866-FAQSMENOW with the following important information. Bank Name / Address Account Name, Account, NumberTel/Fax Telex of Bank Personal Phone / Fax Numbers for easy communication. This transaction will last for 14 working days from the time we submit the required information, as all modalities concerning this transaction have been worked out and it is completely risk free.
last edited: 1/12/07 6:38:20 PM”

“LOL!
I think you may be more bored than me Jim.”

“Whoo-Hoo! I awreddy got a TTer pledge - too late to turn back now!!!

lol Jimbo Sangwabe!

Hey Liz -
I've been contacted by the president of SPF. She's all for it. She touched on some of the things you mentioned. It's friday night, more to come during the next work week...

She asks "Aren't you kin to David Lewis?" Heh! He's my second cousin - who I saw just last weekend at my great-uncle's (his uncle) funeral. Small world'ers, them peeps.”

“Hay! What is all the motion aroun heer? Is a AT like a stinky BUTT? Then pensel me ther doin it baybeeee!
(o:3”

“Awsome! Go for it Gojo.”

“This is really shocking.

Cause really, you don't look a day over 47.

;)

Wish you the best with it, Joe!

And yes you want to do those interviews even though they will slow you down, because the public awareness is a major objective of the trip.”

“Fritz -
Aye, but I read at a 52 y/o level!

Still nothing from the SPF.

...tic

...toc

...tic

...toc”

“You thinking of starting this March Gojo?”

“That sounds great Joe. Go for it. Count me in for a pledge. Hey, if you can get pledges for you, Belle and the Giz, you'll rake in a fortune.”

“HPM - Early April(?) start...

Yeah Pennsy! Mebbe get SPCA, Humane Yadda Yadda, PETER, etc, involved! hmmmmmm...”

“I'll sponsor you, Sarabelle! Asherdawg and I might even rendezvous with you a spell and bring you some goodies on the trail.
:)”

“If you have a dream go for it (always).

Doug”

“Both dogs going?”

“Will yall leeve yer hubsand Gissmaeiuox byhind to live with kittykittys and prolly get tide to a tree at some buddys yard and starb like a aminal in the rane?"
~Stobey

Of cores Gissmaeioux will go walkin with us CRAZY MAN! - BOL!”

“Yay!”

“Gojo, how is Sarabelle at long distances? Sounds like it might be the best summer of your life. Go for it.”

“My only question is sweet Sarabelle up to it?
She's not as young as she used to be.

I swear, that is the calmest dang dog I have ever hiked with.

You'll need to skip the Smokies, no dogs allowed at all in the backcountry. I think there are other places with no dogs too.
last edited: 1/18/07 2:34:02 PM”

“Only other one I can think of with no dogs is Baxter SP.”

“smokies and baxter are the only no-dog areas i remember”

“Thanks for the "no dog" zones info. I knew about the Smokys, and was suspicious about Shenandoggie and B!tchxter SP - though we once did an overniter on the AT off Shenandoah Pkwy...

I figured to double-quick throuh the Smokys so's to complete it in one day - lol!

I think Belle will do fine. She has always been able out-pace me everywhere we've been.

She's in good shape, and could undoubtedly do double my limit in a days time. I figure she's no more than nine years old. I have no intention of having her wear her pack.

Gizmeaux is short legged, but typically energetic as per his breed. The Border Terrier was developed to run with the fox hunt, then follow his cousin "to earth", that is, fetch it from it's burrow.

I am aware that AT dogs are often poopooed by others. That's been the case on most TT hikes as well. Therefore, I will travel quasi-solo as always. That's how we hike...

I don't anticipate using shelters on a regular basis, though I will likely camp near them for water availability, tent-friendly terrain, etc.

Believe it or not, dog food has become a snack of choice for yours truly. Buying dried food in 10# quantities will replace many a handful of gorp...”

“gojo, the AT in the smokies have ridgerunners that will catch you, and with so many hikers having cell phones, I bet many will call the Rangers on you just because they couldn't bring their own dogs.

Skip the Smokies.

I'll hike with Sarabelle ANY time. (except the Smokies)
last edited: 1/18/07 4:00:19 PM”

“stomperboy speaks the truth. go around - or just start at Davenport Gap and head north.”

“Dayam! I was joking!”

“Sorry, the joking font didn't make it thru to my 'puter. ;-)”

“gojo, you set for a good alcohol stove?
Crash Bang used one of mine on his thru hike.
last edited: 1/18/07 4:05:50 PM”

“I have (retired!) friends in Bryson City - they'd be happy to shuttle us around the Private Park Service's stinking-a$$ mountains. They'd be glad to swing by their Mason jar distributor too. A couple quarts of "squeezins'" would prolly be good for a new pair of boots or a Whisperlite back on the trail - lol!”

“i didnt notice a poo-pooing of dogs on the AT, but as shelter space is usually limited, the dogs will always have to sleep outside or in your tent. as long as your dogs dont get into peoples stuff, especially food, there shouldnt be any conflicts, unless somebody is a real acehole”

“Not changing the subject, but...

Why doesn't the Park Service transfer some of them-there ridge runners to the NPS holdings that are being ravaged along the border with Mexico? Just curious...”

“Stovey I might be innersterd in a lil'stovey...”

“I need to make a couple. I've owed pedx one for a couple of years now.”

“I'm thinking of selling the Mighty Mighty Tacoma to help finance the gig - seein's how I won't get off me arse and get a job.

NADA.com figures she's worth nigh $7K.


Going once...”

“my rule is to never buy a vehicle from a relative or a friend - much better off cheating someone you won't see again”

“Free doggie hairs, HOI!!!! ;-)”

“Hmmmm...
SPF is asking about sponsorship, ie, REI, TNF, WTF, OU812, etc...

Anybody got an ear to that ground?”

“Okeefedokee -
It's nigh March - tic toc...

I'm getting pumped. Been reading. Gotta AT book from the libe just yesterday - copyright 1987. Read Bryson's a couple months back. Went to White Blaze for the first time yesterday.

Still figure on selling the truck to provide financing.

I can see a launch within the next several weeks. Much depends on truck sellage.

Kinda concerned about the dogs, frankly. I can see Belle wanting to bail after a few weeks - dunno, hafta see. Giz'd follow me to Hell, tho.”

“gosh gojo, if I had a backyard, I would offer to sit them for you :(

long distance can be very tough on dogs. I've known lots of PCT hikers that had to bail who broght them.”

“I wouldn't bail just because one of them wanted to. I might have to take a break de'resolution, but I wouldn't bail.
last edited: 2/22/07 10:20:19 AM”

“Gojo: I wonder if you posted any gear and equipment needs if you'd get some donations from TT'ers. I probably don't have any suitable gear to spare, but when you reach New England, I'll bring at least one resupply's worth of food. Maybe others will do the same, or committ to one mail drop.

You might even get together a network of people willing to pick up a dog or two for a while so they can rest up and heal.”

“Do you have a list of mail drops you will plan on? Maybe some people would be willing to committ to sending human and dog food to one or two drops. That might lighten your financial load.
last edited: 2/22/07 10:36:28 AM”

“hey gojo i am planning a mid march start myself,what gear are you needing?”

“Hey, hey, oo brett! you two have met! (I'm a poet, eh?? LOL)

I might have something to contribute if this is a go. Drop me a line if ya would, Joe. :-)”