Date: 2006-08-06
From: Duncannon, Pa.

To: Duncannon, Pa.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Sunday, August 6, 2006Every year an adventureGOOD SPORTSBY COLLEEN KANE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITERMary Jablonski ran marathons when she was younger, even qualifying for and running in the Boston Marathon in 1988. But those treks seem like strolls compared to the super-hike the Mount Orab woman is making this summer.Mary and her husband Jeff, both 53, are hiking a 920-mile portion of the 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail this summer. The trip began June 5 in Damascus, Va., and is slated to end Aug. 22 in Bear Mountain, N.Y. When finished, Mary and Jeff will have crossed through six states and hiked what amounts to about 35 marathons."I think my kids all secretly had a bet that Mom wouldn't last long," Mary said Wednesday from Duncannon, Pa. "There have been a lot of times I wanted to come home because it's too hard, but then my husband said, 'One day at a time,' or I called my family and they'd offer support. ... You set a goal so you can say, 'I did it.' You can't quit."ADVERTISEMENTThe Jablonskis decided to make the hike as part of their "one adventure a year" plan, starting when Jeff retired from being an emergency room doctor and Mary retired from being a substitute teacher this year. The pair had done some hiking before, including a trek in Colorado when they were in their 20s - when they got lost for eight hours without food and water.This time, they were more prepared.They received maps and books from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, from which they planned their routes around shelters that had water they could filter and drink. Mary prepared food for each day, drying out vegetables and fruit, and gave the packages to a friend to send to different post office boxes along the trail. They loaded their backpacks - Jeff's (35 pounds) and Mary's (25 pounds) - with water, food, a sleeping bag and pad, tent and rain cover, stove, water filter, clothes and medical supplies.It has taken awhile for Mary's body to adjust to the new hiking regimen, which ranges from 8-21 miles a day. While Jeff boasted of having no blisters and few aches, Mary wore knee braces until her legs got used to the climbing, and she finally is getting over foot blisters."Hiking is so different (than running) because of the terrain," Mary said. "It's different than being on the road because of the rocks and the different routes. You always have to watch your footing."The sweltering heat hasn't helped their travels."The heat's been a little tough, especially when we're trying to sleep," Jeff said. "On the trail, you expect to sweat from start to finish, but you don't want to sweat after you stop for the night."But it hasn't all been rough.Their online trail journal has daily records of the new friends they make. They try to hitchhike into towns along the route once or twice a week for showers, phone calls home, updates of their online journal and occasional rest in a hotel bed. And they are helped along the way by "trail angels," local people who offer free services to hikers.They've had their share of wildlife excitement. They've seen rattlesnakes, and Jeff nearly stepped on a copperhead snake. And one night, while camping in Pennsylvania, Mary got a surprise when she awoke during the night: A bear was 10 feet from their tent. As Jeff scrambled to put in his contacts, the bear ambled off.The duo has a little more than 200 miles remaining on its trip. The two have hiked through Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania and will hit New Jersey before ending in New York on their 31st wedding anniversary.Then it will be on to the next adventure of the year. Mary said she might even try another marathon.