Date: 2004-05-08
From: Catawba Mt. Shelter

To: Troutville Interchange
Miles today: 17.6

"Hello Chris!   "I hope your travels are splendid. I've been reading your journal and feel like I've been there with you---well, not really. My knees aren't sore, my toes look normal, no sore back or anything else. I guess you're doing all the work for me. No Ramen noodles, snow, ice, and mice. The list could go on but since I have not experienced it, why bother?   "So, are you having the time of your life? I read your entry about the trail being romantic when viewed through our lens, but through yours and every other thru-hiker you see something that we don't. I am writing this because I wanted to say hello and encourage you to do what YOU WANT to be doing. If that means hiking the entire trail, pack on back, every white blaze---that's wonderful. If it means taking more zero days than you originally planned on, so what? Take a zero week or month if necessary. Remember, you are doing this for yourself and no one else. This is your journey, and you decide where it goes. I know that thru-hiking is unbelievably challenging; I also know how unbelievable it is. This is your experience and I am just so proud that you got off your tail and made it to Springer, never mind VA. You have done so much more than us 'dreamers' because you started. You are doing it. And just starting the trail is an accomplishment to be pretty damn proud of. The rest of the way is all bonus.   "I really do not have much to say. I've been reading your thoughts online, but I don't have much to say in return. I am eager to see you and your friends in NH in July/August, whenever you get here. The invitation has no expiration date. Just give me an idea or what you'd like for a menu. And out of respect for your relatives, I won't attempt anything Italian.   "Best of luck! Try to remember the fun and friends, rather than the rain and pains. Keep on truckin'. One foot in front of the other....a million times over!                           Mark   With the exception of a few sentences here and there telling me about news I've missed while being in the woods, that was the letter I received from my friend Mark Parsons when I picked up my mail at my maildrop today. I don't have to go on about how amazing the letter was; you just read it yourself. I'll be keeping this letter on me for the remainder of the journey and taking it out to read when the going gets tough. Mark, thank you.   I also received a surprise package from my dear friend Cara. It was a belated Easter package. Lots of candy. A wonderful card. A stuffed doll named Tabitha (with a post-it note introducing herself as my imaginary girlfriend), and a game called Ducks-in-a-row (which is basically a Connect 4 game, but in an Easter theme). Normally I would never consider carrying a connect 4 game and a stuffed doll, but I couldn't throw these things away and the post office is closed, so they're along for the ride until the next PO.    Other highlights of the day including hitting McAfee Knob. From all the research I did, I came across a lot of pictures of the trail online before starting out. The most common picture I saw was, of course, a person (or people) posing by the sign on top of Katahdin. The second most common picture was a person at McAfee Knob. It makes a hell of a picture. I'll see what I can do about getting that one online when I get home.   Hmmm...what else.    Tinker Cliffs was cool.   Saw a turtle, lizards, a black snake, and a deer.   Was fed a bacon & sausage biscuit by a few trail maintainers at a shelter for lunch.   Found Tinder and Camel at the Howard Johnson Inn, and I split a room with them. And Flora & Fauna. And Patrick.    And I also experienced what I believe is the most dangerous spot along the entire Appalachian Trail. Walking down the interstate from the hotel to the AYCE diner.    Sure we risked our lives, but it WAS all-you-can-eat.