Date: 2016-05-21
From: Greenville, SC

To: home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I have written this journal entry many days ago and it has taken me a long time to post this. This is probably because it will be my last AT 2016 posting and I wanted to delay a long as possible. However, there is so much to be happy about my 2016 AT hike.   But first, let me reflect a bit on my 2009-2010 hike. One popular AT saying is ¢No Rain, No Pain, No Maine¢.   I found that a fairly accurate description. I recall a period of 7 days of solid rain, without a tent. I got a good case of trench foot and was looking to quit around day 5.   Out of nowhere appeared a trail angel, provided some outstanding trail magic and immediately got me over my blue mood. Later, I had a cyst on my shoulder ¢explode¢ and that led to some painful surgery at a ¢doc-in-the-box facility.   Fortunately, trail angel St Thomas helped me out of this situation. But the one pain I couldn¢t overcome was breaking two ribs, 40 miles into the 100 Mile Wilderness. I did hike another 20 miles but realized my helpless situation. I called for help and had a Maine Game Warden help me get off the trail. Other excitement included stepping over the largest timber rattlesnake I¢ve ever seen and almost ¢running¢ off a ledge over a 1000¢ drop, only to jump and land on a lone pine tree. So the challenges this year were not all that unexpected.   Rain, no problem, its going to happen. Pain, yes. My feet hurt and overall body takes much more time to recover from the exertion. I lost 21 lbs in less than 2 months on the trail; Berkeley lost 4. That¢s all part of the hike. However, two trips to the ER and persistent prostrate issues have caused me to return home. I see an urologist next week for treatment.But, here are some of positive takes from my 2016 hike:First, I was thrilled to see two hikers from 2009. First was Red Hat, who I met on my worst day in 2009, day 5 into 7 days of rain. She was from Brenham TX and recently moved close to the AT and was working at the Hiker¢s Ridge Ministries Resource Center in Hot Springs NC. She recognized me right away. Next was Geo, who I met at one of the shelters. I didn¢t remember him, but he remembered me from Shaw¢s Hiker Hostel in Monson, ME. He was with Tater Chip, who I remembered being from the Dallas areaNext, I was most pleased to stay at several places that I had previously visited and these really support AT hikers. The first was with Ron Haven¢s Budget Inn in Franklin NC. Besides Ron, I was also able to meet Baltimore Jack who was working at local outfitters there. Sadly, Jack recently passed away. Next, I stayed at the Greasy Creek Friendly Hostel with CeCe Pruitt. I had stayed there in 2010 and also took a picture of MissStep¢s (more on her later) floor tile. Finally, I stayed at Kincora¢s, owned by Bob Peoples. Bob has done more for the AT than probably the next 10 people combined. Bob has 17 cats, a couple of coons and a fox that he takes care of and doesn¢t want dogs at his hostel. He made an exception for Berkeley and me and we behaved nicely. Also, it was nice to see my 2010 ¢thank you¢ cards prominently displayed at Ron and Bob¢s places.I was 63 years old when I hiked the AT in 2009 and a favorite hiker was MissStep, nee Fluffy Bunny. She was special in that she was 21, 1/3 my age at the time. My goal this year was to find a hiker 14 my age, as I just recently turned 70. And that hiker was Beaver, who is 17. I feel pretty good keeping up with these youngsters. And a good friend complimented me on my graceful aging. To heck with that, I want to go out kicking and screaming!The hike this year was most satisfying. The weather was mostly favorable. The coldest night was barely a week into the hike at Tray Mtn. The temp got down to 14 deg with 55 mph winds. I also had several cold, snowy days with high winds in the Smokies as well. And only 2 days of rain until the last week of hiking. The rest of the hike was gorgeous. I enjoyed hiking with Berkeley and she was quite well behaved, despite numerous confrontations with ¢friendly, uncontrolled, loose dogs¢ There are a lot of hikers I met this year. Too many to identify by name, and many others, I either never learned their names or soon forgot. They will always be remembered fondly. And there were new hostels I visited this year: Top of Georgia and Vango Abby.And some final words of thanks. First, thanks to God for the beautiful creation! We did a lot of talking during this hike, and it was a lot more than ¢Help me over this next hill.¢ Thanks for watching over and protecting me. I¢m also thankful to be an American.   I can¢t say that I enjoy the current political situation; but there is no other place that I would rather be, enjoying all our freedoms. Thanks to the ATC and all the affiliate clubs that service and maintain the trails, for without them there would be no AT. Thanks to all the trail angels that provided trail magic, offered rides and all other assistance that make hiking a much more tolerable undertaking. Thanks to all the hikers I met who shared the trails and helped out each other. Thanks to Trail Journal readers, who supported me and hiked vicariously with me. Thanks to my prayer warriors at church and friends. Thanks to my neighbors for watching over my house and the ranch. And finally, thanks to B2 for all his Ground Control support, including my medevac, and Libra Lady for encouraging and supporting me in all my endeavors.It was a great hike and life is still good!