Date: 2007-03-15
From: Miss Janet's House, TN

To: Miss Janet's House, TN
Miles today: 0.0

Taking a zero at Miss Janet's."Slog Hound" asks how I met Joe Green ? Well, here goes. First off Joe is a very private person. We became fairly close in the late summer of 2005; so, I believe that he will not care if I tell you about him. If you do not know: Joe was a long time Helicopter pilot/Traffic reporter in the sky in the Boston area for many years. He retired in the mid 1990's. I was hanging out at The Fontana Shelter in NC. I had just finished a 3 month long hike through the lower Smokies in the summer. A story all by itself. I had just finished being interrogated by a park ranger about what I was doing in the Smokies for that long. I did not know it was against regulations. This is a whole other story as well. Well, this older gentleman kept coming down to the shelter and looking around; looking at the trail register; and asking me if I had seen a pack of older woman? I told him that I had not. I did ask him what he was up to because there was obviously something concerning him. He looked at me with "knowing eyes" and figured he could tell me what was up. He said that he had been trying to finish the AT in pieces for 30 years and he only had about 300 miles left in the south. He said that he had answered an add to hike with about 5 older woman who were going into the Smokies. He said that he did not know where they were. They were to be at the shelter days ago. He said that he did not know about hiking with that many woman because at his age; "he was all business on the trail." He said that he was all prepared to go up into the Smokies; but, he did not want to go up there all alone. Now, I am a sucker for people needing help; especially older folks, young children, and ladies in distress. I told him that I would go with him. I told him that there was one condition. I told him that I was kind of on "the do not fly list" in the Smokies right now. I explained my summer and my park ranger incident. I told him to go call in to the reservation center and tell them he had a party of 2, using only his name. I also had to work an itenerary that would fit his obvious venerability. I was concerned with his schedule. He wanted to do too many miles a day. He also did not want to re-supply in Gatlinburg. So we figured 10 days to go the 70 or so miles through the park. We wrote it down and he called in and got reservations. I was all excited. Back through the Smokies, yeah! I had my jeep there and packed up my pack. He packed his and it weighed 45 pounds, mine was at 50 pounds. Now, Joe does not like me telling his age; but, I was a little concerned with going up Shuckstack Mtn and this guy passing out on me. This would be a test of my leadership ability. If you do not know: I was once a drill sargent & also ran a boys camp for many years. In these roles, I often lead young men and occasionally young women on long trips/adventures. With young folks, motivation is more about physical challenges(food, opposite sex, sleep, toughness). I knew that with Joe, it was going to be different. Well, we went up Shuckstack and I was surprised! This guy could hike; not fast, but steady. I tried to get our trail names to be "Rough"(me) and "Steady Joe". He would have none of it. Some people will not take trail names no matter what. Joe was an old time "fly boy" and I learned this when I rode with him on backwoods country roads. I thought we would be going over the edge. I would say, "Joe, your scaring me to death!" He would smile and say; "It's all about momentum". I was like, whatever man, slow down! Now Joe has lower back problems; so, he does not fasten his hip belt. 45 pounds with no hip belt, at his age, how does he do it? Eventually, on our hike: I learned that I could run up a mountain and prepare camp, do some excercises, or sun bathe and Joe would come plugging along about an hour later. At first, I would stay with him all the time. I could go on and on about Joe; but, he did finish his thru-hike. I have several other stories with him; but, will save them for later(The Cherokee Maiden from the hurricane Katrina mist, the 20 mile day, his tales and limericks) Oh, and Joe did not start hiking until he was 40 and carried 100 pounds with a canoe over the Klondike Pass in the Yukon @ 60 years.