Trill and Roundhouse sent in a few pictures at their last break.
(use left and right arrow keys to navigate, esc to exit.)
Well we are in Waynesboro. 850 miles in and still trucking. We have recently picked up the mileage a little bit. In four days we did something like 88 miles (three of those days being in the rain). Out biggest day was 25 and half miles and we both made it before dark which is a good thing. The terrain is a little easier but almost everyday we make several climbs well over one or two thousand feet.
Waynesboro is a nice town and everything is within reasonable walking distance. (almost anything is reasonable to us now). No hostel so we don’t think we are going to pull a zero. Just stretch our time out in the Shennys. (not sure how to spell it so I used hiker slang).
We’ve met some cool people the last couple of days. Most of them being sectioners. I guess we are ahead of the pack. Not a bad thing. It is starting to heat up so we sent home our winter gear today. Lady said everything weighed 6 pounds so not to shabby. I also got some new insoles for my shoes.
We are excited about meeting my dad at Harpers Ferry, WV (that’s right WEST VIRGINIA. I guess we’ve been here a while). It will not only be a friendly face but also the unofficial halfway point. Unofficial being as it is only 60 miles or so from the halfway point and the biggest town near it. I would say we are seasoned hikers by now. People look at us on the trail and know we are thru hiking. (and yes our beards are very awesome). It could also be the smell because we went 14 days without a showers so naturally we don’t smell like flowers.
Thats all I can think of at this moment. We are just under 40% completed and still loving everyday. (Some mountains and bad weather we consider unnecessary but who doesn’t). If you would like to send us anything at Harpers Ferry if you can get it out Monday or Tuesday of next week it will be good. We plan on getting there the 4th. Thanks to all those following us and if we met you on the trail let us know where you are.
- Trill
(of yeah, I have a trail name and it is Trill.)
The guys checked in this weekend from near Apple Orchard Mountain, VA or 755 miles from Springer. This marks over 1/3 of the hike completed with only 1419 miles left to go!
They are still in great spirits and spent a good bit of the conversation telling me how great their beards look. I mentioned that we need pictures and they should be sending those to Ben to post pretty soon. They also mentioned that the weather was turning warm which meant their body musk has increased and they have been attracting mosquitoes.
They also requested a strange mail-drop be sent to Waynesboro, VA. Only 3 items were requested: mosquito repellant, SOFT toilet paper and naproxen for achy joints. I guess there are some comforts of home we
just take for granted sometimes. Brandon also said that Roundhouse had splurged for some $25 insoles for his shoes and that he would be following suit at the next WalMart. Brandon, the economist (Tightwad!) has decided some things are just worth the money!
I (Brandon’s Dad) will be meeting them May 5th in Harpers Ferry, WV and walk the Maryland section with them. If you want to send them a mail-drop, send it to Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 with their names, “AT Thru-hiker” and an ETA of May 5th. They would love to have any encouraging notes with news and junk food which they eat immediately so please limit those quantities.
Brandon still does not have a trail name and I plan to fix that before I leave them in PA. So, if you have any suggestions, leave them as a comment to this post and I will take them with me.
(right and left arrow keys to navigate, esc to exit)
624 Miles in. After a couple of big hiking days we made it into town for another little stop. Got to the post office before it closed and picked up our packages. Got packages from each of our grandparents, and each of our parents. Tons of snack food that we are enjoying this very minute.
Pearisburg is a nice sized town. (it only takes a Walmart to qualify) Got in Friday around noon and will probably leave a little later today. Yes it’s true that we ditched our tent. We have these hammocks but still haven’t used them. We are doing pretty good just shelter hopping and not having to set anything up. The terrain in Virginia has been a little easier. We do a lot of Ridge riding. Where you just hike straight up to the top of the ridge and follow it until you have to come down to a road and then it is right back up again.
After that week of bad weather it turned pretty hot. Staying in the 70’s and low 80’s. Just means more water breaks and much stinkier clothing. The last two days before town we hiked 47 miles so we aren’t doing too bad. Nothing hurts except the bottoms of our feet but we are going to get new soles for our shoes today.
The hostel we are staying at is located outside town and is this old barn they put bunks in. Its on top of this big hill with a pretty view and run by a Roman Catholic church right in front of it. Pretty neat and beats hotel room prices. We thought about pulling a zero but it will be kind of nice to get back on the trail.
People have been asking what it is like to hike the trail. It is hard to explain because it is more of a feeling than a task. You tend to think only day to day and not long term. It is hard to describe what it is like to wake up and hike all day long and do it again the next day. Hard to say what you feel. I came up with this little mental image and Ricky agrees that it is pretty close and probably the best we can do.
“When you hike, your lungs are trying to kill you, your legs are behind you, your feet have abandoned and it is ALWAYS uphill in the morning. But you follow the white blaze and find joy in your company and surroundings.”
I hope all is well with you and as always we enjoy reading everyone’s comments.
Our beards are thick and we continue to lose weight.
Yesterday, Saturday 4/5/08, we received a big box in the mail from Brandon and Roundhouse. The contents surprised us….. in it was their TENT, one of 2 cooking pots, gloves, and towels and a few articles of clothing. We already have been sent Ricky’s big coat, socks and more clothes. After what seemed like a long time of wondering…. we heard from the boys today. They are sleeping in hammocks with mosquito netting or staying in the shelters along the trail. They are cooking in one pot… with a spare dish for the other to eat from and showers are not necessary between hostels and guest housing that pops up along the way. Brandon and Ricky say thanks to Mama Nell and Daddy Bob’s cousins in Damascus who put them up and fed them well while there.
They left Damascus around noon on 4/3 and are hiking an average of 17-18 miles a day, some shorter, some longer. They have had rain 7 of the last 8 days but not downpours so they are hiking through it and sleeping dry. They are in Marion, VA at mile marker 523 today at noon. They were headed into town for food and planned to hike another 7 miles.
Mail Drops: They expect to get mail in Pearisburg and that needs to be mailed by Monday 4/7 if they are to receive it… Brandon McMath, AT Thru-Hiker ETA 4/11 , Pearisburg VA 24134. They are still hoping to meet up with Ricky’s uncle but asked that mail be sent to either to Pearisburg or Harper Ferry, WV 25425 , ETA May 1st.. John is still planning to meet them there but they have figured out it works well to send directly to the PO.
Some of the fun adventures they have enjoyed are Ricky feeding the wild ponies at Grayson Highlands, meeting all the hikers and rendezvousing with them back and forth, meeting AU folks along the way and the trail life in general. And Yes, your imagination of how Rat Sandwich got his name is correct! Both are well and having a great time. They will post again in Pearisburg so keep the comments coming, they enjoy reading them when they get to a computer.
(use right and left arrows to navigate through the pictures and ‘ESC’ to exit)
Bad news. For about two days now I’ve been pretty sure my ankle has been twisted and this morning I woke up and my ankle looked like I had half a grapefruit on each side. Ricky has struck bad luck as well and has several blisters on both feet that just won’t heal. After several days of rain our spirits are real low and we decided to just head back home. Maybe pick up the trail a little later for now thats it. Just kidding. Come on guys it is april fools. The only thing that was true was the rain. It has rained the last four nights and im so happy to say nights instead of days. We have stayed dry and put it some serious miles.
We are currently in Damascus, VIRGINIA. Thats right VIRGINIA. This is a pretty famous trail town and host of ‘Trail Days’ every year where thousands of people come to celebrate the trail and those who are hiking it and have hiked it. I think we are about 461 miles from Springer which puts us a little over 21%. Not too bad for a month and some pretty hard mountains. The last 50 miles or so have been pretty easy (comparitively). A lot of ridge walking. Where you just have to hike up one mountain and then stay atop the ridge and just do little (comparitively again) ups and downs. We did around 130 miles in 6 and half days. Having a blast and luckely staying dry. We are within a day or two of about 15 guys (and one girl) and hoping they will catch us here. Been hiking with Alex (aka Rat Sandwich) for a couple of days.
Ricky has a trail name now. Roundhouse it is. I guess that will get his family off our backs about the trail names and only pressure my family more. But like I’ve always said we are letting it come naturally. I mean come on, I could be Rat Sandwich and you can guess how he got his name. So be grateful. We stopped at a little hostel at Dennis Cove a few days ago and they get delivery service from a pizza joint. I ate an entire large BBQ Chicken pizza. The four other guys who got individual pizzas did not finish.
We will definately spend the night here tonight and maybe tomorrow. (Town is a little small and might get bored being around vehicles and so many people). Did almost 23 miles yesterday and only 10 today (done by noon though). Glad to finally be out of TN/NC but Virginia is over 500 miles so we will definately get tired of it.
I’ll check the Post Office but let us know if you sent anything here so we can be sure and get it. I think its 200 miles to our next mail drop so we should be there in 10-14 days. Anything is appreciated even if it is just news of what is new in your lives. Also leave a comment if I got you on the April Fools Joke.
Ben received a call today and the boys are in Roan Mountain, TN. That’s 385 miles or 17% of the trail, however you want to look at it. They said that they received and really appreciated the mail drops from us, Donna and Christy. If anyone else sent a package, it did not arrive in time. It was probably too late when Brandon last posted for them to get there by today. He had earlier predicted April 2nd but made better time. He’s a better hiker than scheduler.
Anyway, they would still like to get your letters and care packages. If you sent one to Roan Mountain, you can call the post office and they will be glad to forward it on to the next location which is Damascus, VA 24236. I estimate that they will be there around April 3rd so call quickly. You can also have it sent to or send another to Pearlisburg, VA 24134. They should be there around April 8th or 9th.
The telephone number to the Roan Mtn PO is (423) 772-3661.
They are doing fine and also appreciate your comments to the posts. It is really encouraging to them to see the following they are getting and all of us appreciate your continued prayers for them.
One thing Brandon forgot to mention last time he posted, is the fact that last time they were in town, the guys stopped and bought Crocks. As a long time Crocks wearer, and knowing how much Brandon despised them, I am glad to see that he has wised up. I’m not sure if Ricky was drawn to the good side of life, but I hope so.
Why the sudden change in their ways you ask? Turns out when it’s raining and wet outside, putting on dry socks and flip flops is not the greatest idea. Crocks are better suited for the task.
Just a little bit of information I thought some of you might enjoy.
