Almost There!!!

Good ole Nance-ito Burrito (my mom, Nancy) informed me that we will be leaving the house at 5am for Georgia on Wednesday (3/31/10).  We will be driving from Maryland to Georgia which will take approximately 11 hours where she is going to be dropping me off.  I just can not believe that it is almost here.  Seriously, wow!!!

So, I had to make a trusty old decision about the trail today.  I could not find out if there is a suitable road that leads to the top of Springer Mountain.  I saw that there is a dirt road that may or may not be closed but nothing of the tourist variety.  Arrrgh!!  I guess I’ll be humpin’ it from Amicalola Falls State Park.  For those that do not know, AFSP is the 8 mile approach trail to the start of the Appalachian Trail.  From all accounts of this trail, this is not a leisurely stroll in the park.  The worst part is, the part that I could not grasp, that it doesn’t count on the total mileage of the AT.  So, most people do the approach trail, stay the night on Springer, and THEN “start” the trail.  Is it just me or does this seem weird?  It’s like pre-season NFL football.  The first game is great but by game 4 of the preseason you’re like “come on already.”  After mile one you realize it doesn’t even count on your total mileage. 

I make no apologies to the AT purists.  Guys, lets make Amicalola the start of the trail!  Any who, that’s where I’m starting…I think.  If you’re reading this and I don’t have your phone number and you want to be a part of the text updates I will be sending, shoot me an email with your phone number.  I promise I will only send texts every couple of weeks and not blow up your phone.

Lastly, I just wanted to say that I am sooooo happy with the amount of support I have received.  I am still in awe with how people are reaching out to me and saying “good luck” and stuff.  That really means the world to me.  Please please please please don’t forget me after this week.  I’m the kind of person that thrives off of simple things like a guest book entry, email, or text.  Please remember me in a few months and I promise I will think of you.

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

One Life

9 Days

Well, 9 days until the big journey.  My friend said to me “wow, this has really gone by quickly.”  False, not for me.  I feel like a chained up pit-bull who sees a piece of steak just outside of its reach.  Every day is just dragging.

Friday was my last day at work.  Kind of sad.  I’m going to miss my team at COAF.  I really enjoyed working there and I got along with everyone in my department.  I was sad to see them go but this walk is just bigger than working right now.  My guess is that 99% of all people don’t understand this concept but that a small 1% does. It is kind of scary knowing I don’t have another paycheck coming my way but I have a faith that God will take care of me in one way or another.  There might be some hungry days ahead but I’m ok with that.  Nothing will take my faith away. 

I got to meet The Fugitive today.  That’s Dave’s trail name from when he thru hiked the AT in 1997.  He was a great source of information regarding the trail.  I explained to him my fears and my perceptions and he gave me advice.  I think the best advice he gave me was to not focus on getting to Maine everyday but focus on that particular day’s goal.  It’s easy to lose focus when you’ve walked 100 miles but it only shows that you’ve walked an inch on a map.  My goal will not to be thinking of Maine but thinking of what that day’s journey will bring me. 

I snapped a few pictures of my gear spread out.  I’ll post them up here.  This is minus a few items such as some toiletries and all my food.  It’s too early to buy food especially when I have to drive to MD from TX on Friday. 

“For nothing is impossible with God.” –Luke 1:37

One Life 

Dear AT

Dear AT,

You are all I think about.  Am I ready for you?  I think I am but who can ever be sure until I’m on your beautiful path.  Do I have all of my gear for you?  I am pretty sure I am going to be well equipped for whatever you throw at me.  In fact, I have a feeling that I’ll be over equipped to traverse your mighty trail but I’ll just send stuff home in that case.  Are you totally distracting me in all aspects of my life?  You sure are.  I don’t think I have had an AT-less thought in like 6 months.  You’re in my every waking moments and I just need to be on your mountains.  This anticipation is killing me! 

Also, AT, take it easy on me at first.  Yeah, I spent all of 2009 playing football and baseball for teams around Dallas but I have since let up on my over all training.  I’m fearing that that is a mistake but maybe if I ask you nicely you’ll go easy on me.  No?  Not the plan?  Oh well, I guess I’ll go through it like everyone else.  Also, could you possibly hold off on lots of rain?  I mean, at least at first let me get some miles and experience under my belt before you go showering on me.  I guess I shouldn’t tell you that I am a big wuss when rained on. 

Well alrighty, AT, that’s all for now.  I’ll see you April 1^st. 

Stay beautiful,

One Life

"I command you- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Less than a Month

Well, the last two weeks have been crazy and at times overwhelming. Today is the first day in almost two weeks I have not felt sick. Yay, no headaches! I got sick last Monday night and proceeded to miss the entire week of work. I never felt like I was getting better nor did I feel like I was worse. Just feeling real crappy. Anyways, I had to move out of my apartment last weekend so I never got a chance to just rest. I officially moved out of my apartment and onto a friend’s floor. If this journey is not real now then I don’t think it ever will be.


I can’t believe in 29 days I will be setting foot on Springer Mountain. Who knows what the weather will be like too. The east coast has been bombed by snowmageddon this year so I have no idea what to expect. I have been reading some hikers who have already left and it doesn’t seem like an enjoyable walk they are on. Their journals are filled with snow stories and coldness. Ick! Not fun to me. I figure once I clear the Smokies I’ll be “ok” in terms of dangerous weather.

This weekend I was going to plan another hike at the North Shore Trail but I am going to take some more rest time. I can still feel something in my chest that hasn’t gone away so I don’t want to push things. I am going to make one of my last trips to REI to get some of the last of the gear.

Influenza

Remember several months ago when the Flu was in style and the thing to have? Everybody had to get it. If you weren’t touched by the old Flu you were a nobody, apparently. Facebook lit up with status updates about who had the Swine Flu and how a particular person felt about their ordeal. Yeah, well, I finally got it. They don’t know if it’s the Swine Flu or just regular Flu because they said it doesn’t matter because they treat it the same. It also costs $300 to determine what kind so I opted for just knowing I have Influenza.




Seriously body, why couldn’t you have contracted this little virus when it was cool? Instead, I had to be the marvel and the worry maker at the doctor’s office because I was Influenza case #2 for the month. Now, everyone at the doctor’s office is in a panic about the next pandemic I am apparently starting. Seriously, it’s like I’m the one who was still wearing a fanny pack in 2000 when it was the super cool fad of 1991. The Flu is totally out of style in almost March, 2010. Now, because I got it a lot later I can’t go into work because I work with mostly moms and none of them want to get sick.



I got to be honest though. The only reason I went into the doctor’s office is because of my AT trek. Otherwise, I would have just assumed I had a cold and moved on. However, two years ago almost to the day I had the same symptoms when I was playing arena football. Instead of taking care of the problem I just thought I’d “tough” it out. Well, I knew I was in trouble when I couldn’t make it through calling a play in the huddle without gasping for breath and hacking up my lungs. Apparently, I had a slight case of both Bronchitis and Pneumonia (let it be known I didn’t miss one practice or game). So, I wanted to make sure I was on top of this before I got on the trail and couldn’t make it after three days. Doc said I would be fine by April 1st.



On a side note, I weighed in, at the doctor’s, at 218 lbs. It’s better than my 230 lbs I was when I started the 300 Mile Challenge on my website in December. I don’t know though. I feel differently because I have spent the last several years weight training for football so now I don’t do that and I feel weird. Oh well, I’ll prolly be a stick figure when I get back from the Trail.

Refocused and Refreshed

Yaaaay, I’m focused and refreshed. Per the prior blog, I opted to take a step back from my constant trip planning and internet research and just kind of re-shift my complete focus back to God. Well, it worked. You see, I do not want to suffer burn-out of my AT trip before I even leave so I had to go back to what I was used…daily knowledge attainment. I had become overwhelmed with planning my trip and gear purchasing and needing some relief. It was very easy to lose focus but once I dedicated myself to getting back on track and staying focused it was just as easy to get back in the swing of things. I strongly suggest that you should do this too!!


I still had some trials last week to which I can apply the lessons learned to my AT thru-hike. I opted to drive from Dallas to Atlanta on Friday for a wedding. I started the 820 mile trek at 6am on Friday morning of last week. When I got to Louisiana, my AT day-dreaming was rudely interrupted by a flat tire (please note that I was listening to A Walk in the Woods on CD). How dare my car have a blow out without my permission!!! Anywho, instead of being filled with a lot of anxiety, anger, and stress I just promptly changed the tire and continued my journey east all the while thanking God that I was safe and me or another person were not hurt. I think that had I not had the refocus session last week there could have been more anger and anxiety involved. Anyways, to answer most people’s questions…yes, driving is cheaper than flying. No, driving is not cheaper than flying when having a blowout and finding out you need to buy two new tires for an additional $273 on top of gas. What can I learn from this? Well, I will face adversity while on the trail but I will always keep God as my number one! Because I kept a positive attitude I had the best time at the wedding and I did not allow it to ruin my time even if I can’t afford new tires. Yay for Faith!!

With my priorities back on track and my stress levels down, I will now be able to start the next leg of my AT preparation. I will be moving from my apartment this weekend to the floor of a friend’s living room for about 3 ½ weeks. I thank God everyday for the friends I have and I am very appreciative of the things they do for me. This move is a little different though. I am basically throwing away or donating all of the momentos from the past…stuff I have kept for endless moves and now its all going bubye. Sad in a way, especially when you are sorting through a box and come across a picture or two. Oh well. The memories in my brain will have to suffice.

So, the moral of this journal is: yay God, yay getting back in His word, yay refocusing, yay great wedding, yay two new tires, yay I am alive, yay for friends, yay for moving, yay for tossing or donating a lot of stuff, yay for AT planning, and yay for the chest cold I now have. Ok, kidding about the chest cold. Just seeing if you were paying attention.

GEAR UPDATE: So, last week I received my University of Texas (couldn’t find UK ones) crocs. Yup, they will officially be my camp shoes. So light indeed. I also got my Marmot Sawtooth 15 degree sleeping bag. Seems light and easy to pack. Havent tried it out yet. Also received my Tuli’s cups. These are heel inserts that go in my shoes. They have worked wonders on my for football and baseball in the last few years so a new pair are taking the trek with me. Google them if you don’t know what they are. I also got my Marmot Precip rain jacket. I’ve worn it every day so far. Love it.

On a side note…I went to the Coke Museum in Atlanta. Pretty cool but the taste testing at the end should come with a warning. There are 64 flavors of coke but they don’t taste like any of the Coke that you buy here in America. There was Banana/Mint from Zimbabwe and other fruity tasting Cokes. There were also bitter tasting ones from like Germany and stuff. I walked out pretty sick so I suggest not trying all 64 flavors.

God Bless,

One Life

Refocusing on Him

I guess when you plan something as enormous and life changing as an Appalachian Trail thru hike you are not aware of the tiny little details that need attention on top of the obvious big ones. I knew I would be buying gear, planning routes, deliberating over what I’m going to eat and all of that jazz but I had no idea of the other stresses associated with this such as moving, where stuff and dogs are going to go, bills, and all the while working a full time job. Last week, I guess I thought it was all on my shoulders to make decisions for my future and on top of everything I had a presentation at work that needed my care and dedication to. Besides that I spent over $600 dollars on all sorts of stuff related to my hike. Spending large amounts of money always makes me nervous. With all of that, I guess I just lost focus on what I really need to focus on…God.


This week, I’m taking a hiatus from the computer, hiking gear, internet, updating websites, moving, and anything that gets my focus away from my true purpose…God. I am dedicating the next 5 days to refocusing on God so that I can stay on track when things get stressful again. Instead of spending countless hours on the internet searching for gear, reading equipment reviews, worrying about this or that bill, how am I going to get to point A to point B, and distressing about work presentations, I am just simply going to be with God. How, you might ask? Simple, I’m just going to dive into His word, pray, and simply just relax. I’ll start eating right and not just “quick” meals that end up providing my body with no nutrition and I need to start sleeping at least 8 hours again.

I guaranty when you give your worries to God, He will take care of you. As a Christ follower I fervently believe that God will take care of my needs and show me ways that I did not think about. I guess for those non believers out there this might not make sense but I challenge you, who do not believe, to give your heart to Him and you will see life in a whole other beautiful way. You can’t say it’s not for you until you try it.

So, with that being said, I am dedicating this week to putting my priorities back in place with God and taking a vacation or hiatus from planning and worrying. I leave you with my favorite verse:

Proverbs 3:5-6

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

The Big 4

As I write this the snow is falling quite continuously. Not so normal for the Dallas area. Anyways, lately I’ve been extremely stressed out. Funny enough, most of it has little to do directly with preparation for my April 1st start date. No, the majority of it is life related and the stuff I have to do before I take the fateful step off of Springer Mountain. I have four what I call major events happening between now and April 1st. These four events are causing me anxiety, stress, and a general nervousness. Thankfully, God is watching over me and guiding my every move which is lessening the stress and making able to cope with all of this.


Big 4 #1- Next weekend one of my best buddies from the University of Kentucky (go Cats!) is getting married right outside of Atlanta, GA next weekend (Feb 20th to be exact). My initial plans were to fly in but then I realized most of the other buddies attending this wedding are flying in too so being transported around would have been more of an ordeal. So, with it being cheaper and more accessible to drive, I will be making the 12 ½ hour drive early next Friday morning and then driving back Sunday afternoon. I plan on stopping halfway on my way back, maybe in Mississippi or something, and then finishing the drive on Monday. The wedding itself is not stressful to me but it’s the prep and driving that can seem a bit long.

Big 4 #2- The very next weekend, February 27-28, my roommate and I have to move out of our apartment due to the end of the lease. Again, very stressful. I am trying to get rid of most of my stuff but its harder said then done. Another buddy offered to let me use a storage unit as he owns a storage facility so I am thinking of taking him up on that. However, from Feb 28-Mar 25 I will be homeless. Now, I will not be sleeping on the streets but I will be on couches and floors. I think I am staying with one friend who has graciously offered me the couch and is cool with having my dog stay there as well. Anyways, you know how it is when you feel like you’re imposing on someone’s life…Yeah, that’s how I feel.

Big 4 #3- I think I have set the date to drive back to MD (where my parents live) from TX as March 25. It will take me 2 days with small breaks in between. My sister might be joining my dog and I which would be totally fun. Plus, if I can find a home for my car and its payments here in TX it might be done in a rental car as well. Anyways, according to Mapquest.com its going to take 21 hour 11 minutes to drive the 1338.61 miles. Its kind of a long drive. Plus, I’ll have to stop to let my dog go to the bathroom and have my favorite travel snacks of Red Bull and Combos.

Big 4 #4- I’ll get to Maryland around March 26th where I will hang out for a few days and tie up some loose ends regarding gear and stuff. Then, on Wednesday March 31st, my mom and I will be driving the 10 hour 52 minute 650.79 mile drive to Amicalola Falls so I can be on the mountain by April 1.

That raps up the Big 4. I didn’t even mention the little stuff I will be doing with my continual purchasing of gear, finishing my job, and working with the Cornerstone Crossroads Academy students. To add to the stress I have to find a home for my car and see if I can put my college loans on hold for the time I’m gone. Also, last thing, I have to take several days to wean myself off of my beloved coffee. Yeah, I don’t want to just quit cold turkey the first day on the trail. I want to be good and ready for the trail coffee-free.

Gear Update: Got my Patagonia Nano Micropuff jacket yesterday. Since it is snowing and crappy outside I have been wearing it while walking my dog. Seems super warm. Now, I’m thinking about getting the Marmot Precip as an outer layer and a rain jacket. Decisions decisions decisions. I also got my 2010 Thru Hiker Companion book yesterday so I can start logistical planning. I have been using the 2009 but, you know, you want the most up to date version. Lastly, I got the confirmation that my lovely University of Texas burnt orange Crocs were shipped. Yay, I’ll have camp shoes.

God bless you.

One Life

North Shore Trail Prep Hike

Last Saturday I finally got the chance to do some “actual” hiking. Finally! Seriously, it’s tough to just “get away” on a trail when you live in Texas. There’s not exactly a trail at every stop here in the Dallas area so you have to just make due with what you got, feel me? However, I did do some research and found the North Shore Trail on the banks of Lake Grapevine. Nice little trail. From one end to the other it’s approximately 9 miles. It was built in the 1930’s as a public works project (quiz: who was the President during that time period? Answer at the bottom) and is now maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
When my friend Kristin and I set out it was overcast and about 43 degrees. I had a few main reasons for wanting to do an actual hike. First, I had to test my shoes (Vasque Blur). Second, I had to test my endurance as I have only been doing my daily walks of 4 miles or less a day. Third, I wanted to get out and into the woods.
We had a good time. It was great to get back into the woods. I brought a backpack with about half of the weight I am going to be carrying on the AT. I have to get used to carrying weight but I didn’t want to overdo it for this trip. Anyways, we walked about 11 miles in all.
The shoes: I am so very impressed with my Vasque trail runners so far. After 11 miles with beginner ascents and descents my feet did not even have a hot spot let alone any blisters. My feet were in great shape and I am sooooo happy about that. I am probably going to stick with trail runners. The only variance I have yet to test out is the weather and how the shoes hold up in the rain or muddy conditions. That will come while I am on AT because I will not be testing my Vasque’s in rain beforehand.
My endurance: So-so. Nothing awesome. Only walking 3-4 miles a day due to working full time and being a single father (to Charlie the Black Pug) I can’t walk a ton each day. I am more relying on the weekends for more distancy type walks. Anywho, I was pretty tired at the end. I was also starved. I don’t really appreciate my stomach having a hikers appetite after only 3 hours of hiking. That’s supposed to happen weeks into a hiking trip, not hours. Also, the place on my foot where my heel and ankle come together was quite sore on my left foot. Two years ago I sprained my ankle in the exact spot (at least I think I did) while playing against the DFW Doom in arena football. It never seemed to heel and I had to get it taped a lot for last season. I hope that it’s just a soreness thing and not a damage/foot needs to be amputated thing.
Into the Woods: Yaaaaaay, it was awesome….aside from the 757’s that were flying over head constantly due to the DFW International Airport being right next to Lake Grapevine. Other than the occasional jet, it was quite peaceful.
On another note: CALLING ALL APPALACHIAN TRAIL THRU HIKERS. I’m about to buy a down sleeping bag. Yes, I am aware of the effects of when it gets wet. Hear me out though. I hate being cold at night. I absolutely hate losing sleep due to being chilly. Am I taking a well calculated risk or is this foolhardy and I should stick to synthetic? I need your input.

Gear Update: After several hours of intensive research on Trailjournals.com I decided to buy the Patagonia Micropuff Nano Jacket. This will be my warmth or at least some of it. I also bought the 2010 Thru Hikers Companion book. Oh, and I purchased some University of Texas Crocs. I looked for University of Kentucky, my alma mater but they didn’t have any so I figured I would have my crocs be the piece of Texas I carry for this trip…TX being the state I currently reside in I feel obligated to bring something from the Longhorn state short of a TX flag. I think I’m gonna wear my favorite Red Sox hat as I grew up in NH and I am a die hard New England all around sports fan. Now, I need some ideas on what I can carry as a piece of KY on this trip.

(Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt)

http://www.awalkforthefuture.com/

One Life

T-minus 56 Days and Counting

56 days seems like an eternity right now. I really feel like that little kid that’s sitting in bed waiting for Christmas morning to arrive…only I have 55 more Christmas Eves to go. To say the least I am very excited about taking that step off of Springer Mountain in Georgia on my journey to Maine. I have been asked how prepared am I and how I am coming along so I thought I would write an update on everything on my preparedness for A Walk for the Future.


The last few weeks have seen many changes to my lifestyle and all of it is in preparation for my trek. The month of March not only sees me getting ready for my hike but also is the time when I am quitting my job and moving out of my apartment. Actually to be honest with you, my lease is up here at my apartment in Frisco, TX on February 28. My plan is to stay on floors or couches with friends while I finish out work. However, being out of this apartment by the end of February is the cause of some stress. I have a lot of stuff I need to get rid of. I have to decide what needs to be kept and what needs to be tossed. Most of my stuff is either being tossed, donated, sold, or given away. The only real stuff I want to keep is my book collection (mostly Civil War and spiritual books), clothes, hiking equipment, and various other loose odds and ends. Everything else is gone. It’s tough going from being in a settled environment to a nomadic life. I think that once I get rid of my stuff and I have that piece of mind that I will be alright with this nomadic lifestyle.
A couple of weeks ago, I made it official at work that I was leaving. I picked the date of Friday, March 19. That will give me time to spend some days at Cornerstone Crossroads Academy before I go to Maryland. I will be leaving Texas on Thursday March 25 and hopefully getting to the Old Line State (MD) on Friday, March 26. I’m not quite sure how this will go because I will have the little Choochsters (my dog) with me on the drive to MD. He has never been in the car for more than an hour and he seems uneasy with riding. Tough, get used to it pal is all I can tell him. Anyways, my boss has been really supportive with me leaving to follow my dreams and has been working with me to keep all my doors open. That means she wants me to be able to at least try to get my job back when I come back. I’m not sure about that but I don’t want to close any doors. You never know. All I know is that March 19 is my last day…I’m quitting my job. After that, I am in the Lord’s grace to spread His message. Like I have stated before I want to start an outreach ministry when I come back so hopefully it will all go great.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank class of ’07 AT thru hiker Diesel for his generous gift to me. Because of his generosity I will be able to get some of the supplies and equipment that I thought that I would have to skimp out on. I had never met him before but I reached out to him via email after reading his trail journal (which can be found at http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=5323) seeking advice. He’s been awesome with the advice and is a very generous guy. Anyways, because of his bigheartedness I can now buy some warmer clothes for the cooler nights (anyone that knows me personally knows that I am the world’s biggest wuss with being cold…weird for a guy that grew up in NH). Thanks Diesel.

Lets see, other updates…well, I have my pack and my hiking footwear as stated in previous blogs. I’ve decided that I’m going to not mail my food and supplies in advance to be held at the post offices but instead I’m just going to get stuff when I get to the various towns. I decided to do this after I realized that I could not possibly know what food I would want several weeks into a trip. You try eating noodles every night…not exactly something you want to open in a box of supplies 3 months into the trip. Therefore, to save myself the money of shipping stuff I won’t use I am just going to buy my supplies at town stops along the way. I can always change my mind when I get to Harpers Ferry. That’s where I am leaving the trail for several days to rest at my parent’s house before I start the second half.

Oh, I think I have solved the question on how I am going to be able to update my blog while I’m gone. Diesel told me he got the internet on a great portion of the trail so I’ll just update my blog via the internet on my phone. I think it will truly be neat as all get out for my friends to read about what I did that same exact day instead of like a week or two later. Plus, it will give me something to do at night.

Well, that’s it for this update. I know, not the most entertaining of blogs or updates but I thought I would just get it down on paper. I started writing my journals back in September when I official “came out of the AT closet” so to speak with my desire to hike the trail. I wanted to capture my thoughts and emotions with everything involved in this process so that maybe one day I could look back and read about it. If you’re interested you can read it at www.awalkforforthefuture.com in the travel blog section. Starting from journal 1 back in September to now you can see the evolution of everything that has transpired since I made this decision.

God bless,

One Life
http://www.awalkforthefuture.com/

Vasque-ing in the Glory

This weekend could easily be considered the most crucial of all when planning a trip that consists of traversing a large array of mountains. Why you might ask?? Simple. Footwear. Footwear is the most vital part of all hiking. If you don’t have good footwear and take care of your feet you trip will end prematurely. What you have on your feet can determine the outcome of your trip and your experience. If not taken properly care of your, your feet can cause you to be in utter pain. If you do not size your shoe correctly and plan for feet swelling then you are going to make an ill advised buy.


Before I go any further I would just like to give a shout out to Kevin from REI. This sales associate fetched me shoe after shoe for two straight days. Wait, two days, you ask? Yup, I’ll explain in a sec. However, Kevin listened to all my needs and repeatedly went back and grabbed more shoes. Did I want a boot? Did I want a trail runner (sneaker like)? Not only did he have to run to the back for almost every model of hiking shoe but he also had to grab both 11 ½ and 12’s. So Kevin, thanks buddy for your patience and your help.

Now, back to my shoe selection. After nearly an hour of trying on shoes and walking on the rock incline/decline platform (it’s supposed to simulate steep inclines and declines you might face on a mountain) I settled on a shoe called the Garmont Eclipse 3. This is not a boot but not a trail runner either. It’s more or less a tweener (in between), almost like a cross trainer. It seemed to fit my narrow foot well enough so I paid the $125 and raced home. The first thing I did was go online and start reading the reviews. The first review I read said something like “too rough on my foot.” The second review was along the lines of “gave me blisters.” The third review said “felt good in the store but did not do so well on the hike.” Well, this could not be good, I thought to myself. So, I went to trailjournals.com and did a search for these shoes to see who used them in their AT (remember what AT is boys and girls?) hike. The first five or so journals I read that had these shoes in them went as follows: “fell apart,” “got rid of them as soon as possible,” “fell apart,” “poorly put together,” “gave my feet blisters.” Uh oh, it doesn’t look like I made a good choice. But, since I just paid the money I wanted to see for myself so I loaded up ole Chooch (my dog, Charlie) and we tested out the shoes. Yeah, um, I made it .75 miles. That’s right ¾ of a mile and my feet were hurting. Yeah, not gonna work for me. Thanks Garmont but no thanks.

So, whatever do I do in such a situation??? Easy, I went back today and returned them. This is the great part of being in Texas and trying to plan an AT hike. If you’re a member of REI, which I am, then you can return whatever you buy without a receipt for a full refund. You can try out your new kicks (shoes) and if you don’t like them you can return….which is promptly what I did. So, meeting Kevin again at the shoe area I was determined that I wanted trail runners. After several hours of intensive research on the internet last night I came to the conclusion that I am better suited for trail runners. You see, I have had boots before for various other hiking trips but I do not think my feet and boots get along. I have done a lot of walking recently in my regular sneakers (New England word..that’s where I’m from…in Texas they call them Tennis Shoes but since I don’t play Tennis and I am from New England they are going to be called sneakers) and my feet are fine. After another exhaustive hour of trying on shoes I decided on a pair.

And the pair I settled on are called the Vasque Blur. Now, I’m sure there is a veteran thru hiker who is reading this that is either rolling their eyes because of my choice of the Vasque Blur or the fact that I went with trail runners at all. Tough, it’s my feet not yours. If I suffer, you can read all about it on my blog hahahaha. Anywho, they have passed the initial same .75 mile test and nothing to really complain about. I don’t want to wear them out so I am going to only do minimal training with them. However, I plan on heading out to Grapevine next Saturday and hitting the North Shore Trail which is supposed to be 9 miles of woodsy trail. For anyone reading this who is not from Texas doesn’t really understand that a “woodsy” trail is almost non-existent here in the DFW area. I guess I’ll wait until then to make my final decision on all of the footwear shenanigans.

On another note, it’s 59 days until I leave on the Appalachian Trail. In six weeks, I will be jobless and in 7 weeks I will be heading to MD to bring some stuff home to my parents (like Choochie Poochie my dog). This is all happening toooo quickly. By the way, I tried to cancel my cable yesterday. Good ole Direct TV. I feel like I am being scammed. My two year agreement ended last May so I just kept it going month to month thinking I could end it at anytime. Well, my roommate got an HD box which was added to my account of course. Well unbeknownst to us, that puts you in another two year agreement. Boooooooo. On top of that, the dude I was talking to did not believe me that I was going to be in an area where I don’t need cable for six months. He even offered me a portable briefcase satellite dish. Dude, seriously? Ah, no thanks.

Well, that’s all I got. I am starting to see that it’s not as easy as just packing up and leaving town. There’s all this red tape and stuff you gotta do before you can hike. However, once I am done with all of this and on the trail it will be the greatest relief in the world. Then, when I get back on the trail I will marry rich or I will marry a girl that has the same nomadic tendencies. Hahahaha.

As always, I am so blessed by God to be able to do all of this. Remember, live The Example...even when no one is looking. Live for God. One Life is all it takes.

http://www.awalkforthefuture.com/

One Life

It's Getting Real

Wow, with roughly 62 days, 4 hours, 6 minutes, and 11 seconds (not that I’m counting) left before my life changing journey I just wanted to take a minute to catch my breathe and finally grasp how real this is getting. I had a dream last week where I found myself on the trail on the first day. As I was walking it hit me that I was on THE Appalachian Trail. For some reason, in my dream, I fell to my knees and wanted to cry because I was so happy. It was an awesome feeling. As each day goes by, the realism of this journey becomes more and more of a reality to me. Idealism is now becoming practicality and with that a few truths have really stuck out to me.


First, wow, the gear and its expenses. Yeah, I am blown away by the technology of today’s equipment but with that come the prices. I really don’t know how I am going to overcome this. I have a very small budget so I am really picking and choosing what I am buying. Since I am on a limited budget I am totally prioritizing the gear. My main priority is my feet. I can not skimp on footwear. If you don’t take care of your feet while on the trail, well, that’s all folks. You can’t walk. Then, you gotta have clothing that does not stay wet for very long so you have to get shirts and jackets that dry quickly. Again, with that come the prices. I’m really hoping to be able to get the main essentials, which I should but all of the extra stuff will have be remain on the shelves because I ain’t buyin’. I’m hoping that I can borrow anything from anyone and I know I will give it back. It’s just tough because no one I know actually has hiking stuff. Most people I know don’t even know what a pack is. Oh well. I really wish I could borrow a good jacket and an awesome hiking tent. If I could borrow a warm hiking jacket and tent then that would save me tons.

Second, again wow, I am totally getting rid of most of my possessions. TV, bed, couches, kitchen ware, washer and dryer, a lot of my clothes, various other stuff….all gone. If anyone wants anything please let me know soon. Hahaha I guess since I am the only one who really reads this stuff it’s not very effective advertising now is it. Oh well. But yeah, I am going to be driving to Maryland from Texas around March 26th and I fully intend on having only my beloved Civil War books and smaller other stuff. When I decided to hike the trail last September I remember thinking, “Yeah, I’ll get rid of most of my stuff but I don’t have to think about it now because that is such a long way off.” Well, now is that time. Not to mention, I have to be out of my apartment February 28th and I’m not leaving ole Texas until March 26th. There’s a little over a 3 week gap there of staying on couches and floors.

Thirdly, another thing I haven’t figured out as of yet is what I am going to do with my car. Could anyone use a car for a few months???? (Again with the ineffective advertising) Seriously, I can’t just let the payments go. On top of that, I have my college loan payments that are more than my car. Oh well, if I can’t find anyone to take this over then I will make due with the situation. I will find a way. Through God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).

At the waaaaaay bottom of my list is fourthly (is that even a word?). My situation after the end of the trail is not very clear. That is where my faith in God will be truly a beautiful sight to see. I have no idea what I am going to do after the trail but I do know that I want to serve him and help others serve him. With that, I do not get stressed about money, jobs, this, and that. A sense of ease comes over me that I know I will be taken care of. I truly believe that God will take care of. Does that mean I will have a mansion, have lots of money, and have a beautiful model wife waiting for me when I get off of the trail? Absolutely not, in fact, I might have to endure a little “suffering” from the worldly things but I will be ok. I will be taken care of.

So there you have it. Those are the things that have stuck out at me as I get ever so close to my dream. I really don’t know where this is going to take me. I don’t know how it will end and who it will bring me near. I do know that I will embrace every second of this journey and I will always be thankful to God that he has given me this opportunity no matter what happens, good or bad.

One Life

My Website

And the Trail Name is....

For most people that don’t know anything about the Appalachian Trail and the small culture that surrounds it, having a special identity or pseudonym would seem quite meaningless. When you are born you are given a name by your parents and you have absolutely no choice in that decision process. However, on the AT (remember what AT means boys and girls? Correct, the Appalachian Trail) you are born again in one sense or another. On the trail you are not simply Greg, Bob from accounting, Sally the waitress, or Cletus the farmer but you are who you want to be. Simply, you have the choice to pick your identity and on the AT, trail names are how people know you. You might hike 6 months with the same person and never know what their real name is. You sign every shelter registry and introduce yourself to all new faces with this moniker. Pretty soon, you no longer refer to yourself as Bill or Randy but as Raindrop, Horse Droppings, Diesel, or Moonshine.


With that being said, its time to introduce everyone to my trail name. This name isn’t something that makes people laugh or describe a specific amusing incident. It isn’t an old nickname that my college buddies used to call me and it also has little to do with the rigors or experience of hiking. However, it is something very dear to my heart that I want people to know about. This name is my whole purpose for this trip.

One Life- my trail name is One Life. I picked this name because it also my motto. One Life is all it takes to make this journey successful. One Life who finds a path to God will make my journey a success no matter what happens with me. While the world experiences more change than ever and we are caught up in a rat race of technology and money it is very easy to forget those who fall by the wayside. Those who aren’t given a chance by society are who I am walking for. Those people that the public forgets or turns away from are who I have dedicated the rest of my life to helping. I want to always let those “One Life” people know that they do matter no matter what predicament they are in. We are all equal and loved by God no matter who we are. Imagine if each one of us helped at least one stranger in need. Who is the One Life you can help?

So I guess since I have introduced my trail name I also just want to briefly describe what I am going to do with One Life. When my trail days are over and I am back in the real world it is my intention to start an outreach ministry called One Life. No, not my own church or anything but a place to gather during the week that will serve the community in some capacity through God. I get asked all of the time about how I’m going to make money and have a successful “career.” I don’t know, I really don’t know but I do know that sometimes God calls people to live outside of the money and career box to serve. Maybe I’m that guy but all I know is that every community has a need and so I intend on providing a way for people to serve those needs. It might just be a few friends and I running One Life or it could be bigger but the number of people doesn’t matter..what matters is that One Life will be helped.

One Life
http://www.awalkforthefuture.com/

The Pack

Overwhelmed would be a simple way of putting it. Why, you might ask my little grasshoppers? Simply stated, no two people or “experts” have the same intelligible thing to agree on anything Appalachian Trail related. Finding any two people that see eye to eye on anything from gear to preparation is like asking me to figure skate instead of playing football…it just aint gonna happen.


I went to REI (an outfitter store for hiking gear) today and I wanted to cry. There, I said it…I am a grown man and I wanted to cry. And by the way, this was my second attempt in a week to buy a pack at REI. The first attempt left me running out of the store crying like a school girl who had just got her new banana seat bike stolen. In this first attempt, I had frozen like a deer in the headlights when approached by an REI “pack” specialist. As I stood there looking at the wall of endless packs I didn’t even know where to start. What size was I, I repeated to myself after the specialist asked me? Well, I don’t know. What kind of special pockets would I need? How would I know!!!! How do I put this thing on….What does this strap do…Why are there so many zippers and strappy do’s and thingamajigs….What if I pull this strap…What’s my name….Where do I live…I CAN’T TAKE THIS…GET ME OUTTA HERE. And off I went in the most un-manliest, high pitched squeeling and crying ever heard this side of the Mississippi River.

As I walked into the same REI store (yeah, I’ve got courage), I had a little more pack knowledge under my belt. After taking three days to recover from such trauma I had started my internet research on the right pack I was going to need….or at least I thought. Standing there looking at that same daunting wall-o-packs from the week before, I knew what size I wanted, how to wear it, and what most of the straps and belts were used for. I had flashbacks from college; I felt like I had studied for my final and I just wanted to get it out of the way. When REI associate Doug asked me if I needed help I proudly boasted “Yes, I want to try on the Osprey Aether 70,” while cracking my knuckles with a sense of accomplishment. “Great choice” he said while continuing on with all of the facts of my new found pack. I felt like a little kid who had just received an A on his report card and his proud dad was pinching his cheeks while giving the proverbial ‘atta boy.’ I was on top of the world…I knew what I was doing….

…that was until 10 minutes later when a much older, more life experienced REI associate, Gene, asked me what I needed such a big pack for. You see, when I chose the Osprey from Doug, I was allowed to load it up with 30 lbs of weight and wear it around the store to get a feel and to see if I liked the way it fit. As I had been looking at the hiking shoes while wearing my pack, I was approached by the much older and seasoned Gene. And that is precisely when my heart sank. “What? What do you mean? I’m going on the Appalachian Trail” I said. “Well, young man, I just don’t see you needing that big of a pack for the trail” he said with a fatherly tone. My initial thought was that this was bogus man. 10 minutes before Doug was pinching my cheeks and being proud of my choice of packs. Now, I was left right back where I started….confused, lonely, scared, crying, mystified, and quivering. How could getting a pack be so emotionally trying on one man’s soul???

You know what I did? I sat on the nearest REI bench and I gathered myself. I thought, you know what? These guys live in Texas. How could they know what I need to have on the Appalachian Trail? So what if I pick the wrong pack? It’s not going to kill me. So I have a too much pack…big deal. They don’t make these packs to sit on a shelf. They make them to be used. And you know what I did?? I bought the darn thing and haven’t looked back since approximately 3:14pm (Central time) today. Right or wrong, this is my pack of choice. The rest of the world can just get over it.

I did learn something about buying a pack that can be related to everyday life. Sometimes, you just need to go with your instincts. No two experts gave the same opinion on the Osprey Aether 70. But just like in real life, I gave it a shot and liked it..so I went with it. Sometimes, people are going to tell you different things. In my case, some tell me that I am crazy for hiking the trail while others think it’s such a great cause that I am walking for. But in the end, it comes down to where my heart is and that is what I need to follow. With God guiding my heart, I can not go wrong in life….especially when buying the Osprey Aether 70 pack for $283.17.

The Glue

Today I had the honor and privilege to go in and visit Cornerstone Crossroads Academy in south Dallas. I gotta tell you, it was really something that made me have faith and believe in the good of people for many reasons and also to know that God uses everyone differently. I guess I didn’t know what to expect when I went in. I think deep down inside I expected that “token” inner city school with disrespectful students who have their backs to the teachers and not listening. I might have subconsciously wondered if the school’s staff that I would meet would be like the kind that only did this because it was a job. Would the school be run down and would I have to fear for my life? Plus, how would these kids from the inner city respond to a white guy who grew up in a seemingly unrelatable background? Not to mention, would they care less about the message I was going to deliver and about my hike and applying Proverbs 3:5 to every aspect of their life? I had no idea. I guess I walked through those school doors needing to learn as much from these students as they need to learn from me…


As I walked through the doors I was greeted with respectful handshakes from each student. I saw students who were actively learning and engaging in their work and not sitting on their desks paying no attention to their teachers. I saw them being focused and not speaking out of turn and with an eagerness to complete the next math question. I was blown away by the respect they had for their teachers. I saw kids that when I asked them questions they answered the best they could instead of ignoring me. When it was time to learn about the Korean War I watched as students volunteered to read out loud and although they made mistakes they were not chastised by their peers. They just kept reading and pushing through even though it was difficult. I saw students who answered the teacher’s questions when asked about General Macarthur and the brave Americans who fought at a heroic battle called Inchon. All of this while being actively engaged in all aspects of the classroom.

I got a chance to hang out with the kids during their break. We threw the football around and shot hoops. It was a great time to get to talk to the kids one on one and see their very unique personalities on display. Its amazing how something so easy as tossing the football around can really bring out the best in someone. I can’t describe it to you. The smile on their faces was priceless. Watching how they interacted with each other you could sense there wasn’t anything to worry about with them and they had each other’s backs. I never once received a smart aleck type retort back from any of the kids. I didn’t sense any of them not wanting to be there. They just seemed happy to be at school.

I got the privilege of meeting Jim Beckett, one of the cofounders of this great school. In getting to talk to him I could see that he has devoted his life to this and that he has done something great for these kids. Without him or his wife, Jane, none of this would have been possible. I think that God put something great in the Becketts to want to start such a great school.

Pastor Chris Simmons, whose church owns the property where this school is located, came out and it was an honor to meet him. His down to earth personality made me feel like these kids are totally blessed to have such a great church and pastor to care for them. It is quite apparent that these kids have someone so great who they can reach out to and who’s leadership can really inspire these students.

Most importantly, I saw the glue of this school. These two people really hold this place together and who are in these children’s lives not because it’s a job but because they care. Kristi and Jill, the two teachers at CCA, really do a phenomenal job with the students. They have really accomplished something so awesome and they should be very proud of who they are and how they can reach these kids. You can tell that they really make a difference in these kids’ lives. They really do. Not only are they teaching these kids classroom material but also giving them the gift of God. These two wonderful ladies instill in these students a sense of pride that they really are going to make something of their young lives. Students who come to CCA with nothing else in life and leave the school with a sense of accomplishment and purpose. It is my true belief that these students are truly blessed to have Kristi and Jill as their teachers. I really think that these two ladies are really making an impact on these students. They should be very proud of what they have done.

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to go to Cornerstone Crossroads Academy today. And wouldn’t you know it??? They don’t mind if I come back too!!!! WOOHOOOO. I’m there guys! I would like to say thank you to the students, Kristi and Jill, Pastor Chris Simmons, and the Becketts for having me come to their school. I really appreciate this opportunity.