"Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future." ~ Corrie Ten Boom
Looking back at my time on the Appalachian Trail in thanksgiving for 415 miles.
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| This man shared his salami, swiss cheese and French Bread at Charlie's Bunion |
“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” ~Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Road to Daybreak - A Spiritual Journey
Some of the incredible people I had the privilege to meet on the Appalachian Trail in approximately the order I met them. I consider each one a gift from God.
I didn't get pictures of everyone but I listed their names. I met so many great people and often I was exhausted at the end of the day and didn't remember to record their names so this is not a complete list.
Each one touched my life and left their indelible mark on my soul. Thank you.
and
Winkle
Winkle's Trail Journal
Ears - the 1st thru-hiker I met and I didn't even take his picture; I was too tired.
RV
^^^Frost
(Chris Gallaway)
the 2nd thru-hiker I met
His videos are a MUST SEE !
The AT Movie
Help Chris finish the movie. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is acting as a fiscal partner for The Long Start to the Journey film project. The ATC will receive donations in the name of the film allowing a portion of those donations to be tax-deductible.
The Long Start to the Journey Film
Frost
9-3-13
Snowman and Escargot
(this is their 3rd attempt at a thru-hike in four years. The first year Snowman had a foot injury, the 2nd time Escargot had a knee injury.)
Snowman completed a thru-hike in early 2000 (I think) but hoped to do it again with his wife.
Me
Woodman (across from me)
Silver Fox - Trail Journal
Dreamer, Socks and Charlie:
TNT Blog
Their fantastic video journal:
TNT Youtube Video Journal
Dixie Grit's Trail Journal
Sole Sister
Sole Sister's Trail Journal
Journey Trail Journal
Boy Scout Troop (trail magic) enroute to Tray Mountain
They do this every year for hikers serving grilled hot dogs, hamburgers and all the condiments along with chips, assorted snack foods, candy, and drinks. They also have a garbage bag for hikers to unload their trash.
What a treat !!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
^^^Snow Frog Blog
Snowfrog 8-19-13
Colette and Ryan - from Minnesota
Vernon Dixon
(trail magic - gave me a ride from the trail to Blueberry Patch Hostel so I didn't have to walk 2 extra miles)
^^^The Almighty D (Donny from NYC) aka The Hunger
Donny's Blog
The Hunger aka Donny
9-19-13
Travel Light (Andrew from Griffin, GA)
Woodman
Youtube video (Ron Haven drives the hiker bus); on board:
Socks
Silver Fox
Owl and Chickadee
Ken (trail angel) drives hiker bus - see: Video
^^^Old Goat
Connie & Tim Blackburn (trail angels - gave me a ride from St. Francis Church back to motel)
Coon Dog and Bear Bag in this video
^^^ Saber
Trail Journal
He told me he planned to reach Katahdin by July 4th; he reached that goal a few days early. Awesome !
June 30, 2013
^^^Patriot
Trail Journal
Irish
Owl and Chickadee
Patriot (on the right) 8-27-13
Chapinlara (on left)
^^^Chin Music
Trail Journal
Chin Music summited 9-17-13
Jeff from Georgia
Nails and Dirt Dog Trail Journal
Fresh Grounds (Trail Magic) see -- Video
Detour
Snowman
^^^Not It
^^^Can't Wait
Tekakwitha (from Canada)
2nd from left:
^^^Movie Star now Gonzo
green jacket - really nice guy - Patrick ?
^^^Rainbow Braid
Hermes
Detour
can't remember red shirt either (old age)
Rainbow Braid's Blog
Rainbow Braid & Gonzo
summited 8-22-13
Johnny Cash
Bean
Vice
^^^Broken Pack (BP)
Just Dan
Broken Pack (BP) 2nd from left
9-28-13
Just Dan
Kyle - see this: Video
Guard called me on 8/6/13; he summited
Katahdin on 8/3/13. He was #85 in the Class of 2013. WELL DONE !!!
Freight Train
Boon and Doc
^^^ Mack Griffin Trail Journal
(3rd from left - 8-19-2013
^^^Grim
^^^Oz
Jacob
^^^Maineiac
(I took a pic of this group atop Cheoah Bald with all of their phones/cameras but not for myself)
Boogie and Zooky
(resting mid way up
Jacob's Ladder)
^^^ Sinner - summited on 8-31-13
Conversation and Tritan (providing trail magic) see: Video
Hamster
John Wayne
Napalm
Bear Ninja
aka Bruce Cannon
Bojangles
Onyx
^^^ Morris the Cat
Trail Journal
flip flopped and summited. Morris' summit video
Catfish and his dog (hiking South to Alabama)
^^^Don's Brother
Trail Journal
Don's Brother 9-2-13
Don's Brother - A Hike of Hope on the Appalachian Trail
Mike wrote a book about his thru-hike which can be purchased on Amazon Don's Brother.
Staff
Me
Yukon
Patchouli
see: Video
A Portable Oasis in the Wilderness
^^^St. Croix - 1st person in video
Lucky - from Ireland
Smokes - from Germany
^^^Fatty - (Canadian who eats at least 5,000 cal. a day & does big miles)
Camel
Camel and Alfalfa's Journal
Capt. Dan and Tie Dye
Tie Dye:
Trail Journal
On Abol Bridge with Katahdin in view on 11-8-13. There was snow on Katahdin !
^^^ Tie at the summit
8-6-2014
Alfalfa
Capt. Dan
Bucket List Trail Journal
Tie Dye
Top
^^^Blue
59 and his buddy
Jolly's Blog
^^^ B-Rocket -
summited 8-23-13
Trail Journal
^^^ Professor - reached Katahdin 9-14-14
and
Zen Man
Wales
Circuit Rider & Sherlock
(8th time to walk the AT for their ministry)
Website
Mad Tom and Sponge (husband and wife from Michigan)
^^^Roadrunner and Pippin
Yedi and Squach (mother and daughter)
Baloo (aka Billy the Ridge Runner)
Completed a thru-hike many years ago
Video from Double Springs shelter
Canadian Students
Paige, Jake and Alec
Two Stix - Trail Journal
Frodo and Joanne
^^^Ash and Lobo from Indianapolis
(That's a diamond ring! Ash proposed
atop Mt. Katahdin)
^^^ Hipsy Gypsy and Oak
10-9-13
^^^Misery
not sure of date but he summited
White Russian
Walking Stick aka Snail
(3rd from Left)
10-9-13
and
^^^Canadian Bacon
(first two on bench)
Keith and Dina's Blog
Zen Man and Canadian Bacon
10-1-13
Yukon Cornelius
Two Stix
Libby
Daryl
Tin Man's back side
Libby (niece of Surry) and Daryl -
from Maine.
Libby gave me her phone number and said to call when I reached Maine.
^^^Clever Girl
Clever Girl's Blog -- she's a creative writer
Dumptruck's official photographer site
^^^Apollo
Dumptruck and Clever Girl
9-13-13
9-13-13
We are the Appalachian Trail video entry
Elwood - in this Video
Joe Cool also in the video
his Blog
Scarecrow (from Germany)
^^^Trigz in teal jacket
^^^Spoon
Youtube channel
^^^Acorn
Acorn Hikes
10-6-13
Rocky Top and Tom Foolery (father and son from Penn.)
^^^Shweasle
Shrek
Crate
Cisco Kid
Valkyrie
Meand
^^^Hikergurl
(a Warrior Hiker) aka Mama Goose
Trail Journal
Facebook Warrior Hike
Sharon's facebook link
Mama Goose aka Hiker Girl
9-13-2013
^^^Brown Squirrel aka Rosie - Warrior Hiker
Trail Journal
Rosie aka Brown Squirrel
9-13-2013
Warrior Hikers
9-13-13
The Patriot
(a Warrior Hiker)
War Cry
Scott aka Nice Shirt
Stump, Suzie Q and Whiskey Mike
Mud Puddle and Slickster
^^^Little Engine and her husband, Timber
Hitched Hike - youtube journal
Timber, Little Engine, Ambassador
9-10-13
Hitched Hiked on facebook
We are the Appalachian Trail Entry for video contest
Their video was the contest winner. Congrats !
Penguin (provided trail magic)
He hiked up a trail from his home and brought Cokes, chips, cheddar fish crackers, chocolate, strawberries, bananas, chocolate milk, candy and much more.
Thanks.
Erin Burke from Alexandia, VA
Tex
Kathy - trail angel
(drove me from the Holiday Inn,
Erwin, Tenn. to the Walmart for allergy medicine and back to the hotel)
^^^Road Runner (from Germany) 9-15-13
^^^Subaru - Trail Journal
^^^Pink Lady - Heather Hikes Blog
Slow n Steady
Subaru 9-14-13
Pink Lady 9-14-13
Wolverine
Krispy Kreme donut man - trail angel
(pulled over on highway and offered me a ride to Mt. Harbour B&B but I was within .2 mi., soaked/dirty and declined the ride but I did accept a donut) Thank you.
^^^Magic Scout
he walked to Overmountain Shelter, dropped his pack and came back about 1.5 miles to walk with me to make sure I made it to that shelter for the night.
Giggles, Magic Scout, Silent
9-4-13
Uncle Buck - interview in this Video @ the 5:55 min. mark:
also in this Video
He helped me on a very difficult day on the trail; a gentle soul.
^^^Jackalope
Crashua
^^^HoneyBun & Stinkbug
Paul from Chicago
Trail Journal
Clinker
9-30-13
^^^High Tide and Bladerunner
Class of 2013 thru-hiker list
G-4 (my husband, Nick)
G-4 is an Army term for logistics/supply. Without his support, I would not have been able to continue the journey through so many starts and stops ... he drove over 2,000 miles in the course of supporting me. PRICELESS !
“God made the world for the delight of human beings-- if we could see His goodness everywhere, His concern for us, His awareness of our needs: the phone call we've waited for, the ride we are offered, the letter in the mail, just the little things He does for us throughout the day. As we remember and notice His love for us, we just begin to fall in love with Him because He is so busy with us -- you just can't resist Him. I believe there's no such thing as luck in life, it's God's love, it's His.” ~Mother Teresa
