Date: 2012-05-13
From: 501 shelter

To: Eckville shelter
Miles today: 38.9
Weather: clear sky

Today was a big mile day and great weather. However, that is not going to be the talk of this post. I want to thank the person who made it possible for me to be here today. Mom this is for you.For the past 24 years I have been a pain in the butt. Ever since I could walk I would find mischief... like the sugar bowl, scissors (gave myself a hair cut when I was like four), film real in the checkout line.... the list goes on. To say the very least I was a handful for my mom. That does not even take into account for my brother. One thing you really pushed to do with us though is camping. For as long as I can remember you were always taking us on some adventure. And the best part is every night we got a Quest before bed! So not only was it a adventure during the day but in our sleep to. That was a bonus! I can remember camping at sugercreek Glen, we would stay in the camper... until one day it came loose from the van while driving and we chased it down the hill... its all good though. We soon were old enough for bigger adventures, we got to explore the streams. How fun, even when Bryan caught the water snake! We even made our own song about toilet paper. A few years later we started going to the Adirondack mountains. We stayed at eighth lake and had a whole new place to explore. I loved canoeing out to the island and sleeping there, even when it rained. Our trips soon escalated again though. You took us to the mountains! I believe it was blue mtn, the tallest of the low peaks. How cool! Of coarse I was a bundle of energy and ran up the mountain. Now only if you knew the beast you had made. Moving on we started to go hiking more and more. You even let Bryan and I play on the big boy mountains, cascade, porter, big slide, giant, Rocky, Marshall... the list kept growing. Of coarse we cant forget the crazy group of old ladies and one young one... you, Carol, Carolyn, and Laura. You guys went on to hike all 46 high peaks in the Adirondack mountains, way to go! I would be off at beaver camp caving, mountain biking, or earlier on camp sabbatis. Finally I managed to become old enough to drive, oh dear. Let the mountain trips begin, after I learned to drive of coarse. I got my own clan of hikers to. Joe, Jeff, Owen, and of coarse me. We were the all stars! But you still had that pesky 46 er patch and i did not....hmmNow we know I could not settle with matching you so I started them in the winter, you loaning me gear and giving tips. I decided to go bigger though so Owen and i got the great idea to go to Argentina and hike aconcagua , the second tallest of the worlds seven summits. You were immediately supportive and willing to let me go. You were not to happy about us going unguided but you got over it. Ha. Sure enough, Christmas day of 2009 I called you from the summit at 22,851feet. All I can say is BEAT THAT MOM! I even got a patch!My 48 state road trip was epic but no patches. We did drive 14000 miles though. You thought I was insane. Then you had to go and hike the northville placid trail. And of coarse you got a patch for your 120 mile hike. My grand Teton and Gannett peak climb did not count since it was not a long trail. And now your working on the long trail. Well finally I got those beat! I am hiking the Appalachian trail, all of it. That is right folks I am here simply to one up my mom... I suppose there are a few other reasons. The point of all this is that you have allowed me to become who I am. You raised me to reach for the impossible, to do the impossible. Your support is strong and never bends no matter how nervous you may be or how dangerous the hike may be. Your simply always there, it is great to know. I can call on a bad day and be encouraged always.Well I can keep going with examples about how your the best mom ever, but unfortunately its late, and this touch phone is cramping my fingers. And most importantly I have miles tomorrow to do!In conclusion mom... THANK YOU! I would not be here without you. Happy Mother's Day Mom!Love Bomber : )