Date: 2003-11-23
To: Giving Thanks
Miles today: 0.0

Hikers like to think of themselves as a independent lot, but that'snot exactly the whole truth. The real truth is nobody hikes the ATalone. There may be significant home support, there is emotionalsupport (often from folks unknown), there are break-even hostels,hiker boxes, free rides into town (aka hitches), trail angels, trailmagic and friends galore. The "pay-if-forward" concept is alive andwell on the Appalachian Trail.I was grateful for all help received, but when I add it all up, thenumbers are astounding! I am so humbled by this in-your-face evidence,that in this season of giving thanks I wanted to post it all here. To everyone who played a part in my hike, I say thank you, and becauseonce doesn't seem enough, I'll say it yet again: thank you.Future thru-hikers, start your lists now. I almost didn't do thisbecause with my faulty memory, the inevitability of leaving someoneout is painful to me. (So if I have, jog my memory and I shall sorectify it here - it's strictly neural, not personal NOR a lack ofgratitude).In particular, extra special thanks to:- Once again, and up front: Ken Wescott, my utterly fantastic photosupport guy, who not only received, downloaded and mailed me back myprolific CF card offerings but also coached me on photo technique fromafar, never stopped encouraging me to shoot, and tinkered and builtthe beautiful collages on this site AND loaded them onto Trailjournals for everyone to see. I am in your debt, Ken! You made me feel like Ansel Adams.- And also once again, because I can't say it enough, thanks to Suz"spike" Buchanan for many, many things, but particularly for herenthusiasm, proof-reading, spell checking, deciphering ;-) andtimeliness in posting my journals. She made some great catches too,ha! Suz, when you do your hike, I am at your service. I only hope Ican be as cheerful and in synch.- This site! The terrific resource of Trailjournals.com has single-handed up-leveled the preparation of all hikers. Where else can you read real life (and sometimes real time) accounts of what worked, what didn't, how it really is? What a fabulous resuorce for the hiking community! Novices don't have to reinvent the wheel, they can stand on the backs of giants, and even "old hands" can pick up a tip or two. Those with no opportunities to hike at this time can escape into the ripping good adventures of others.Not only that, T.J.com has remained up (and has evolved) for a whole six years. What other site can claim that constancy?In addition, if they want to, today's hikers can also stay in touch with each other AS THEY HIKE - and after - and with family and friends back home. Via the wonderful function of The Guestbook, hikers can even gather support and energy from kindred strangers. I hope everyone who has enjoyed this site, in this season of giving thanks, has hit the "Support us" button at some point during the year. Thank you Leif and Zip-Drive! Trailjournals.com is a unique and much-appreciated resource. - Author Jean Deeds, for her courage in hiking the AT as a solofemale, and for writing her inspirational book (the spark that lit myAT fire) "There Are Mountains to Climb;"- Southern Pines neighbor Laura Gingerich, for hiking the AT the yearbefore I did, providing further inspiration and showing it could bedone- My brother, for being brave enough to "let me go" emotionallydespite worries about our elderly father and major personal misgivingsabout my sanity- And to my bro and his bride Terry for having a really great weddingon their Wisconsin farm, providing me with a fun, off-trail week offamily and non-stop EATING!- Mentors Wendy "PHILOSOPHY" Cronkite, Trail Trooper, Gnatcatcher,Sunny Riggs and many in situ thru-hikers who helped me prepare in theearliest stages of learning to backpack.- My Adventure Club, for such a great send-off and subsequent support- Steve, Carolyn and Kevin, true friends who showed up at the lastminute to help me pack and stuff my storage unit. They just turned upat a time I was truly overwhelmed. I could have NEVER started March 1without that physical help. Thanks also to Steve, who kept my pottedplants, and Carolyn, who served as my hometown support person while Ihiked, and soothed many an anxious moment with the reminder, "Jan,ultimately it's all perfect..."- Dot and Bob Greenleaf, and sister Trish, who gave my pets Rocket andPogo the only home they really wanted - to stay on the farm they werealready on - and loving care during and in the aftermath.- My dear buddy Diane Jones, who not only put me up and fed me thatnerve-wracking night before my hike but who also opened her stunningPinehurst home to me after the hike, giving me a soft landing - not tomention hosting a few strange thruhikers drifting through town. On topof that, she kept my car going, even housing it in her own garage!Diane, I can't thank you enough!- My other dear buddy Cricket who drove me to all day to SpringerMountain, GA, up muddy dirt roads in her shiny new 4x4, then spent achilly, wet, sleepless night with me in the shelter before drivinghome - and getting so lost even Onstar couldn't find her for awhile!- Trail Angels: Too many to list, but I will give it a stab - Swallowtail (Bett) at Gooch Gap and other places; Bett and -surprise! - Mudbutt (Anna) with goodies at Woody Gap; Ma and Pa Wench for thatgrub run and a ride to Atlanta; Pilgrim for shuttle and mailing;hikers Maize and Blue for ibuprofen; Dale America for hot dogs and aride toHiawassee for a new hat; And also special thanks to Kahley, my firsttranscriber.And that was just Georgia! In NC/TN, thanks to Mrs. Hotdog (Shari Ramer) for a ride all the wayto Gatlinburg; Pop-Pop for getting me through the Smokies; Dr.Walters the Erwin chiropractor who gave me a ride into town, thencracked my back; Valley Girl for yet another ride into Erwin thaticy, wet day; Pog for that grub run into Johnson City; Sunny and Frankfor the ride back to Hot Springs and the companionship; Spyro andZamboni for that Trail breakfast and coffee at Kincorra; thedelightful Dave Thomasof TN, who not only bailed me and my friends off the AT but reunitedthem with their car AND zeroed me the next day, all on Carolyn's word;and little Milo for the dachshund snuggles - and I'mnot even in Virginia! Then, in Virginia, there was Jason of the Konnorock Camp, sent onbehest of my white knight Dan Hammer after I lost my money and ID; thekindness of hikers Trail Name Pending, Notes, Bohemia Jack,Puff-Puff, Noll, the SOBO "180," and the extremely honestsouthbounding sectioners from New York who found my coat and carriedforward to Damascus; friend Sandy for obtaining it;   Jim Love of TheAtkins Diner; the most excellent George Fisher of Bland; Chief and hisnew truck which kept showing up in the South; the awesome Dave Hicks,gourmet cook and shuttler extrordinaire (Oh, that lamb! that bread!those biscuits!) and who also started my feet on the road torecovery; Dave's wife Carla, who got me a hair appointment to tame myunruly mane; SuperDave with his cooler of cold drinks placed right ontop of a long, hot hill; Southpaw and his cooler ofsandwiches; I'll put Chainsaw's friend orthotic maker Phil and alsothe Phil Oren/Superfeet people in here because they and "Roberto"truly saved my hike; Sandy and Tom for the bunk in Damascus; Hammerfor being Hammer; Mrs. Detective Friday (Donna) and daughter Laurenfor their Shenandoah trail magic; Kristen and Jack for burgerstrailside,and I'm just entering West Virginia! There, thanks to the outfitters in Harpers Ferry and their "Survivor'party; the kids from Baltimore Christian School; my wet-weatherangel Black and Blue (Dave Timm) in MD; Mary and Andrew in PA; Bag O'Tricks, king of the "pavilion", Elaine Wanabe" Rocket from Illinois;the Blue Mt. B&B for opening up for two wet chilled hikers who showedup on a day the B&B was closed; Spielberg's girlfriend Sara for thatride at Wind Gap, cheerful Eileen Brail of Kenai, Alaska at DWG; Walking Man and hisWorthington Bakery Run in NJ; Jim who runs the exquisite "secretshelter" in NJ; the Vernon, NJ parishioner who brought in ice cream(Breyers!), and that only takes us thru NJ. In New York, there is the unregenerate Curtis H. Balls to thank for anutterly memorable Bear Mountain pick-up and a wild Manhattan sidetrip; my beloved former editor Judy Bolch for wine and laughs;weatherman Al Roker for signing an autograph for my dad; Skeeter andthe Santa Fe Cafe run in Cold Springs; Itchyfoot and his family -Lupe, Derrick, Brandi and Bella in CT; Bear Bait and his cooler; theincredible Cosmo Catalano andthe Catalano family who, among MANY other things, got this afoot hiker"to the church on time" so I could see my brother wedding in WI, (oh!and that AARP discount! ;-) ; the free spirited Blue Jay Le Fey,Shorty and Alli and especially that Harley ride!; John Halamka and his "health" card, Dale and BeverlyKlipstein and those marvelous cookies, etc; MISS JULIE'S DAYCARE CENTER in MA for their cards and support; Matt in VT who found andcarried my bandana; Ian the Subaru owner and former hut caretaker in VT; Sabine, my Frenchaccented ride into Manchester Center, VT; the most excellent Mrs. Gorpand the pleasure of her hospitality; Firestarter (Tad) the 14-yr oldfrom Boston and his family; Ma Finch and her constant trail magic andangeling from Vermont onward, Matt the banana boy of West Hartford, In NH, I had the the thoughtful Suz-Ma-Gooz, who drug me aroundVermont in order to surprise Commander-In-Chief (we did!); good buddyArt "Gabby" Cloutman who will thruhike his own AT next year, and hiswife Susan; the Carey family at Flume Gorges Visitor Center atFranconia Notch; Suz, Suz and Suz, the "high priestess of trail magic;the generous Paul Stubbe; Ray at Gorham; Sherpas Number One (Deja Vu)and Two (Zapman); Turnbill with his treats and his dog therapy; PostMistress Marie in Caratunk; Notes and family in Monson; the ride fromDig, Homeless and Unemployed at a very wet, cold Abol Bridge; thenear-meeting with TJ; Ostrich's grandparents and John of NC, both ofwhom gave me rides out of Baxter Park; and Trooper, who got me halfwayhome to NC after. - "Mail" Angels - Pog (Karen Sousa), Amy from Indiana, the generousduo Chandler and Louisa Stewart, the indomitable Linda "eArThworm"Patton, winemaker Trooper, Wendy and her brownies, Chandler andLouisa, "eArThworm," goodies from horse friend Jackie Batson, asurprise Hot Springs package from Bumpkin, notes from Hammer,"eArThworm," Chandler andLouisa, fellow hiker Skeemer for all his missives from ahead on theTrail, "eArThworm again," goofy Chief and his "gourmet" ramens, theinnovative KellyGoVols and her friend Jerry for a unique assemblage,Chandler and Louisa again, the incredible care package from JoanColeman and the Hospice folks back home, my Long Trail partner ClydeDodge who knows a thing or two about lights, Beth Daum, Debby Sherman,Vicki Kiser, Dottie Greenleaf, David Addleton and his weather reports,Chandler and Louisa yet again, "eArThworm" yet again.... ;-), Suz"spike" Buchanan, the Rev. Marty Fors, Dale America and his gift of ahiking umbrella, Miss Julie and the kids ofMiss Julie's Day Care Center, my buddy Anna (Muddbutt) for herpocketmail doses of deep wisdom and honesty.   - Hosteliers - These folks provide some of the finest gathering spotsalong the trail, and cheaply; toss in great hospitality, and I amgrateful for: Gary and Lennie of The Blueberry Patch, Curtis and Maria of StandingBear Farms, Elmers in Hot Springs, Miss Janet's of Erwin, Bob and PatPeoples of the fabulous Kincorra hostel, The Place in Damascus, theTroutdale Baptist Church hostel, the gracious, tack-sharp Miss TillieWood and her homestead and breakfast, Joe Mitchell and the Four PinesHostel, Terrapin Station and Mike the Grateful Greenpeace Guy, Bear'sDen hostel, the Vernon, NJ church hostel, the Greymoor Friary, theEast Mt. Retreat Center, David and Anne of the Alpenrose Inn, andtheir incredible children Kierden and Aeran, the fantastic, food-ladenCabin of Andover,ably run by Honey and Bear, The Caratunk House and gentle host Paul, agreat cook; White House Landing;- Those Who Came Out and Hiked With Me - the kinetic Sloetoe in theSmokies, the game and sinus-challenged Chandler and Louisa in late TN,Catbert (Nancy) and Treadmill (Sara Jane) in WV and MD, Mary in PA,Trooper in PA and ME; Mrs. Gorp in VT, Art in NH, Turnbill and theamazing border collie Nell in Maine. - My five most constant and Big Fun traveling companions: Notes,Itchyfoot, Just Do It, Commander-In-Chief and Chief. Possibly even a sixth, Ted "Soleman" Anderson. Who knows about thesethings?- An untold number of volunteer Trail maintainers, whose countlesshours of work enabled me to walk FROM GEORGIA TO MAINE! Even now, thatconcept blows my mind. What a treasure we have running up the spine ofthe Appalachian Mountains.- Of course, Dan Hammer, cheerleader extrordinaire, who hiked everystep with me in spirit and has become part of my extended family. Wedid okay, Ham, eh? ;-)Well, if you're still here, you will be struck by how absolutelyinterconnected we are. Yes, YOU are the one who shoulders the pack andputs one foot in front of the other, day in and day out. But - youwill see - no one hikes the AT by themselves. We are ALL dependentupon the kindness of strangers, who are, after all, just friends andfamily we haven't met yet. Happy Thanksgiving all!Finally, a thru-hiker's wish for abundance for you: http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=0183913358