Date: 2015-05-10
From: Davis Hollow Campsite Mile 544.8

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: broken clouds

Master Yoda for Scout and Tumbles:Another milestone today: 1/4 of the AT completed! The hike has definitely not been all roses or all thorns; the last 59 days have been a real Adventure. The ups and downs, physically and emotionally have been intense. The weather and people have run the gamut. Scout told us that his first thought of quitting was about 7 days in. He said he had run short on food and did not feel like eating oatmeal, he hit a wall. All his energy was gone, it was raining again and it was all he could do to keep hiking. Down at Dicks Creek Gap he found Trail Magic that day. The Trail Magic providers had a Foot Long Subway sandwich just for him. We did not know that day that he was thinking of throwing in the towel, we just wanted to do something special for the hikers sharing the Trail with Scout and Tumbles; and we thought Scout and Tumbles would be hungry, so we brought Subway for them. The next day I asked Scout how it was going. He replied that there was no way to explain, so many emotions. Then he told me about the day before, the oddness of watching the pack thin down as people get off, the perpetual rain and hunger. I asked if he was going to quit. His response: ¢I am going to wait till Damascus to decide that.¢ That night he and Tumbles made their Epic Push to the North Carolina border as a Birthday gift to Tumbles. I have yet to hear anything from Tumbles about quitting (I am sure she knows her Mom and I would have a hard time not snatching her off the Trail at the slightest hint). She has had her bad days though, she reminded me today about losing her wallet just before Erwin. She was crying in the back of Ms Janet¢s van with Neon (I think) comforting her. In the front of the van was a couple from Memphis. They are hiking with that couple now; ¢And Dad, they have hiked the Fiery Gizzard Trail!¢ As you will recall, the wallet had been found in Ms Janet¢s van and Electric Blue was carrying it with her as she slackpacked, just in case she ran into Tumbles. Tumbles did not know it had been found, until Ms Janet mentioned it to her as she got out of the van that day. One thing I have noticed in the pictures, Tumbles is always smiling and exuberant, while Scout seems contemplative. I have suspected from the beginning, that while Scout has Tumbles beat physically, Tumbles has Scout beat mentally. The nice thing is they feed off each other, providing a needed element to the Team. Scout and I chatted today on the phone. He was having a bad day. He has developed bad Athletes foot, and even managed to have it transfer to one of his hands. Most likely via his trekking pole handles, after contact with his feet or socks. He had forgotten to pick up some Lamisil cream while resupplying in Marion (Thank you Dr. Kunse for the recommendation). His foot powder was gone and he was just feeling beat down. So I asked him what he had decided in Damascus, he knew what I was asking. Immediately, he responded, ¢I have deferred that decision until I get to Harpers Ferry.¢ We both laughed. Fortunately, Tumbles carries Tea Tree Oil, along with a few other essential oils, and that should work till Bland. Sanitation on the Trail is so important. While it is really hard to remain vigilant in all aspects, you really need to try. Last year, I met a Thru hiker at Hawk Mountain Shelter while taking my Boy Scouts backpacking. His name was LGB or Little Guy Brown. (I think he changed it eventually, but that is how I know him.) Later, we chatted after he got off the Trail in Northern Virginia and he reminded me of something I had told him. He mentioned that when we talked about staying healthy on the Trail, I told him, ¢Fist Bumps and lots Germx.¢ He said those words stuck with him during his hike and he thought it helped. I think it goes deeper than that. While you can¢t shower daily or have clean laundry all the time, washing your socks out and cleaning spots on your body is important. Do the best you can out there folks. Also, we hope Forrest is doing better, he was a little dehydrated and suffering from heat exhaustion. Scout and Tumbles stayed with him for a while today until another hiker took over helping. Stay hydrated everyone, it is warming up.This morning I got a delayed text from Scout and Tumbles. It contained a post they wanted in their Journal a few days ago (not sure what shelter they are at, but reading Papa Al¢s entry for the 10th I suspect we are on the correct day). It is as follows:Hey man this is Scout. My phone died. We are at the shelter tonight in our tent. Sounds of the Whip-Poor-Will fill the night. Please make a comment on the Journal that goes like this: When people prepare for the Trail they often think about getting in shape physically. Mentally and physically no amount of training will prepare you for the real deal. But, as a friend of mine says ¢Time in reconnaissance is seldom wasted.¢ This is true! Consider how it feels when people at home are telling you what they have been up to. Do not ignore them, instead remember the goal. I believe there is not a single person who has hiked the Trail that has not felt like getting off. The Boy Scouts Motto is ¢Be Prepared¢. You need to prepare mentally as well as physically for your Hike! I want to let everyone know, be ready for the conversations from back home, because they can be hard to listen to; and they can make you feel left out, almost like your life is out of sync. On another note, it was great to see Papa Al in camp tonight. Until the next entry, Scout signing out. Hey all, Tumbles here. I am feeling great! Thanks to Ms Janet my knees don¢t hurt as bad. These IT band knee braces are awesome! Also, thank you Pilgrim for the Trail Magic. Tumbles out.Sorry for such a long ramble, the intrepid Thru hikers asked me to pass on these thoughts. They think it may be beneficial to other people preparing for a hike. God Bless. Master Yoda.