Date: 2009-05-05
From: Montebello, Virginia

To: Alaska
Miles today: 0.0

Friends and Trail Followers:On Saturday, May 2 I got off the trail after 64 days. My buddy, Mike Mason was up in Charlottesville, running a trail race. He made a detour through Montebello, Virginia to pick me up and drive me back to Charlotte. Thanks again, Mike.By Saturday I had completed 813.4 miles (37%) of the AT. I have been gone 64 days total (since February 28). I have taken seven 'zero' days. My average mileage for the 57 days I have hiked has been 14.27 miles/day. For the full 64 days, I have averaged 12.71 miles/day. Using 12.71 miles/day it would take me 107 days to complete the remaining 1,360 miles, arriving on Katahdin, August 31.As planned, Kate and I will take our 7-day cruise to Alaska starting tomorrow. Immediately following the cruise, I will ease back into the Hiker scene by going to Damascus, Virginia for the Annual Trail Days festival with some college buddies. By Sunday, May 17, I will be ready to resume my role as thru-hiker again. Sounds like alot of work, huh?My last week on the trail included two 85-90 degree days. Those days were brutal. I ended in Montebello, which is famous on the trail for the Dutch Haus hostel which provides free lunch to thru-hikers - whether you stay with them or not! And to top that; they come and pick you up, saving you two miles of road walking! Lois and Earl Arnold, you get my vote for the AT Hall of Fame!Some of you have asked me if I'm torn about leaving the trail. I can honestly say that going to Alaska makes the trail separation easier. But I am missing my walk already. I find that as a thru-hiker, you typically hike within a band of hikers (some ahead of you, some behind). One benefit of this is that you are part of an extended family and the AT telegraph keeps you apprised of the band's well being. Unfortunately, I will probably lose contact with some of my band, as they continue north during my R&R. The upside is that I get to fall in with a whole new extended family of hikers!My plan is to go back on the trail lighter (my equipment, not necessarily me) and to hike more miles daily. Luckily, I will no longer be carrying winter clothing. I will switch out to a lighter, summer sleeping bag, a smaller one-person tent and I will experiment with a 'no hot meals' nutrition plan. I will see if I can maintain my calorie intake with dinners consisting of tuna, salami and hard cheeses. As a safety valve, my stove will be mailed ahead in my bounce box; which will never be too many days ahead of me on the trail.My weight on May 2 was 178 pounds, down a few pounds since Easter and 23 pounds lighter since the start of my hike. Given what I experienced during those 85-90 degree days, I will need to maintain adequate caloric intake and drink alot of water and Gatorade. Wait a second. Have you ever heard of a Daileader complaining about keeping their weight up? Good thing I will have a chance to bulk up during my Alaskan cruise. I have promised a variety of people that I will work up some estimated dates related to arriving at certain towns/locations along the trail. I will share this with all of you in a future journal entry. Having the chance to meet up with some of you along the trail would be great motivation for me.By popular demand, I will be posting our Alaskan pictures to my Appalachian Trail Journal blog. While Benton Mackaye and Earl Shaffer might roll over in their graves, most people just want a picture of a damn bear! I look forward to reporting back to you.