Date: 2007-06-01
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Miles today: 0.0

Pootz wanted everyone to know that he is on pace to finish in mid September and will be at the halfway point by mid June which will be his 3 month anniversary. I just spoke with Pootz and he gave me his updates from where we left off til tonight:May 12th - Stayed at the Big Walker Motel in Bland VA.May 13th - Hiked 18.6 miles today and camped out at Trent's Grocery Store and          Camp ground. He saw three deer and two turkeys. This was mile            597.5 on the A.T.May 14th - Hiked to Doc's Knob Shelter and stayed there alone. Mile 613.9 May 15th - Hiked to Pearisburg VA. Pootz resupplied and stayed at the Plaza          Motel. Also staying there were: Swampfoot, Couch, Steven, &            Thunder.   Mile 622.1 on the A.T.May 16th - Hiked to Rick Field Shelter which is mile 628.8 on the trail. It          rained today. Also staying at the shelter were: Snowplow, Couch,          Steven, Halfstep, and 5 Section Hikers. May 17th - Today Pootz hiked 25 miles, his longest day yet, to War Spur          Shelter. Mile 653.8. He saw 2 deer and 2 Opossums. He tented in          the rain there along with: Sheepshead, Dealer, Zardoz, and 3          Section Hikers.May 18th - Hiked today to Sarver Hollow Shelter. It was a very nice shelter          that he shared with: Whiskey Joe, Lark, Inchworm, & Slow Roller.          Sarver Hollow Shelter is at mile 666.0 on the A.T.May 19th - Pootz hiked to VA 620 Trout Creek and camped out at the camp site          there along with: Slow Roller, Crutch, and Rutabaga. The weather          was perfect for hiking. He made it to the top of a 1500 foot hill          and found a park bench sitting there in the middle of the woods.          This put him at mile 680.9 on the A.T.May 20th - Today Pootz hiked to Catawba MTN Shelter which is mile 696.5. Had          the shelter to himself. He walked to a store that was close and          resupplied and had pizza and a cheeseburger. May 21st - Pootz walked over Mcafee Know and Tinker Cliffs today into          Daleville VA. He is now at mile 714.3. May 22nd - Pootz took a zero day today to rest.May 23rd - Pootz was able to slack pack today back to Daleville. He hiked          21.6 miles today.May 24th - Hiked to Cornelius Creek Shelter which is mile 750.5 on the A.T.          Staying with Pootz there is: Lowbranch, Barry Manilow, & Tom.May 25th - Pootz had a long day hiking 19.9 miles to James River where I met          him to spend Memorial day weekend. We went into Lynchburg VA to          stay. Pootz has hike 771.0 miles to date.May 26th - Zero day in Lynchburg relaxing by the hotel pool and eating good          food.May 27th - Another zero day. We went to see a ballgame by a Pirates affiliate          called the Lynchburg Hillcats. It was a lot of fun. May 28th - I dropped Pootz off back at the James River to start hiking again          after a much needed break. He hiked to the Punchbowl Shelter which          is mile 781.5 on the A.T. Also staying there were Earthquake and          Hungus.May 29th - Today's hike was 17.6 miles to Hog Camp Gap. Pootz is now at mile          799.1 on the trail. He tented out tonight and wanted to thank          Flash and Hotflash, two previous thru hikers, for some trail          magic. Also camping tonight are: Blue Sky and her husband Swampfox.          Pootz said this was the best night of sleep that he has had so far          on the trail. It was nice and quiet and he tented under a big tree          that had a rope swing.May 30th - Pootz hiked into Montebello VA, mile 809.1, and stayed at the Dutch          House which was absolutely beautiful. Staying there too is:          Stealth, Jed,Burner, Bluesky & Swampfox, Trailblazer and his          father, HalfStep, Lemon Pepper, and Evil Eye.May 31st - Pootz and Evil Eye did a 20 mile Slack Pack today back to the Dutch          House in Montebello. It was a hard hike which took them over a 3200          foot peak while it was thundering, lightening and pouring down          rain. Also staying tongight at the Dutch House: Evil Eye, Tarapin          Flyer, Ishmael, Thunder, Grasshopper, BlueSky & Swampfox, M&M,          Blue, Yellow Shoes, & 501.June 1st - Well, Pootz has made it 843.1 miles so far. I am so proud of him.          He and Evil Eye hiked 15 miles today to Paul C. Wolfe Shelter. With          them at the shelter tonight are: Little Red, Nads, Feather, Yellow          Shoes, Halfstep, & Lemon Pepper.