Fast Forward: Hiking with Kids, AT outside Dublin, VA, May 2015 (13 miles)

One of my favorite things about my kids growing up is that they've grown to love the outdoors, and they are strong and healthy enough to hike.  Neither of those was guaranteed so many years ago, and any parent knows how fragile is each person's life (especially, young life).  When I look at these pictures, I burst with joy, laughter, and the headshake-of-disbelief.  "Who is the young person in front of exhibiting such exuberance about the outdoors?"  Answer: someone who shares my last name.  Amazing!

Greyson on AT, Waipiti, VA, APR 2015

I enjoyed hiking with my 2 of my kids Anna Clare and Boone, but the reality is that I shared an overnight with all of my kids over the past year (AUG 2014 - May 2015).  It is good to get alone with our kids, away from the normal routines and usual distractions.  It has also been fun to talk and walk the AT, since both AC and Boone have recently read books about the Appalachian Trail.  Much of our spring has revolved around the AT, with reading and teaching and talking about the ribbon of protected land from GA to ME.  It's fairly surreal to hear them talking about doing a thru-hike, so I won't hold them to their pinky-swear promises.  As my kids grow older, I grow in admiration of their lives, their dreams, and their commitments.  I want to help them in their dreams, but I often feel the need to help them understand what it takes to hold their commitments.  These two days in May, the three of spent some time discussing the magnitude of the commitment regarding an AT thru-hike.  Amidst our giggles and amazement with the forest around us, I felt a strong, relational connection with my kids; a relational connection that signifies they are growing up to become their own individually-distinct person.  It's overwhelming (pause... headshake-of-disbelief). 

Dismal Creek on AT, MAY 2015

  With Eliza and Boone at the Apple Orchard Falls Trail in AUG 2014.  This was Lizzy's first backpacking trip, and she handled it like everything else- with toughness and deter-
mination.  Way to go, Girl!

Day 15 (14.7 mi) Eagle's Nest Shelter, SAT, 11 MAY 2013

Eagle's Nest Shelter, PA

Pink Lady Slipper

Arose early to beat the rain and read some Elias as the final raindrops fell (Be alert, Be transparent, Be useful, and Use your time well).  I thought I made good time to Port Clinton to pick up my package.  Everything went well until I asked, "Where can I get a good meal around here?"  Really, I just should have asked, "Will you please charge my phone?"  Three hours later, and one (lunch) meal later (with Rob, the retired pilot), I am climbing out of Port Clinton (which is a hole in more than one way).  It always happens with trail town.  Maybe I shouldn't even bother?  The walk up to the shelter seemed long and monotonous.  I kept waiting for some sorta view but nothing.  It was nice to meet Middlebury and Sky Watcher, and to be invited to join their section hiking band.  The full ++ shelter was daunting (a family had rendezvoused with their thru-hiking daughter), but I slept well.  Finally the rain was gone ... but the cold was coming.

Day 14 (16.5 mi) Windsor Furnace Shelter, FRI, 10 MAY 2013

Maybe I rely too heavily on weather forecasts and a great disdain for walking in the rain.  I have reordered my schedule so I don't have to tent in the rain (a thought, which turned out to come true the next morning).  Sometimes an over-dependence on technology (Weatherbug on iPhone) seems like a really terrible thing.

This is in someone's backyard- water, electricity, and toilet.

The view in PA are just OK; it seems crazy that one could get excited about being 2200 feet above sea level (for the record, the BOTTOM of Nantahala Gorge is 1700 feet).  However, I am thankful for any view at this point in PA.  There is little reward for the amount of rocks that one walks on in a given day. I wanted to stay at the Eckville "Shelter", someone's converted work building out back.  It has running water, and there is an electrical outlet and such.  It is fairly amazing the extent that some folks will go to help others who hike the AT.  Unfortunately, I had only hiked 5 miles by the time I arrived, and I couldn't take that short of a day.