Update- Closing in on Monson, Maine

Coach and the Professor will arrive in Monson, Maine tomorrow, leaving them LESS THAN 120 miles from the FINISH.

Photo courtesy of Manager Mike, taken June 21, 2011 somewhere in rural Maine.

From the Journals: DAY 77

Coach
Campsite - Kirkridge Shelter: 23.0 mi
After four straight days of draining our Zero Day Account, we finally banked some mileage. However, it came with a lot of pain. It was some tough terrain to make up miles on. I am looking forward to sleeping. Hopefully the pain in my heels won't be so intense in the morning. On another positive note, we will be leaving the rocks of Pennsylvania behind us. Today, I have come to the realization that pain will be my other companion for the rest of the Trail. Also, I really dislike snakes. Yet another reason PA stinks. It is snake country and we saw another one today. There is nothing more a snake loves than a hot rock that has been baking in the sun all day. Just more evidence that the sun is crafty and out to get me any way it can. Forgot to mention only one good water source all day.

Professor
I woke up at 2:30 or 3 in the morning with a giant centipede or millipede on my neck. Wide awake after that one...

Long day today, paying for it now, I wonder about my feet. I have a weird bump on the bottom of each one on the pad of my foot before my toes. It feels like a pebble permanently attached in the middle of my foot.

Staying with Fosters and Youngin tonight. Also, sipping on the bourbon Manager Mike left. It is definitely making the night easier. I forgot to mention that Manager Mike had hard boiled eggs waiting for us at the U-Haul before he left yesterday. I can't tell you how much I crave hard boiled eggs, or even better, deviled eggs. I could house like 30!

Slang terms:
Cameling up = drinking lots of water at springs
Letting your guard down = The realization that the day will end...things start to hurt
Hurty = pain
Poison = bugspray
House = eat

From the Journals: DAY 76, May 10

Coach

Bake Oven Knob Shelter - Campsite: 14.3mi

Today, we said goodbye to Manager Mike. After making a short 3mi hike from the worst shelter we have stayed in, we met Manager Mike for the final time and loaded up for Delaware Water Gap. The Professor's feet are still bothering him and I am sure this rough rocky terrain didn't help him at all. It was a tough day, physically and psychologically. First, we hit a 8 mi gap without water, which started the 2nd part of the day covering exposed rocky terrain that in some parts required us to climb and scramble. We also got to detour around a super fund site. This detour also led us through trek heaven.. a 3 mile stretch where between the Professor and I, we pulled off 32 ticks. Luckily, we cameled up at the last water source. Nothing like pounding a few liters of water back to back. At night we did have a fire, which is always awesome. I am also encouraged that the Professor was talking about hitting our average tomorrow. Just a friendly reminder that rationing water really sucks. We will both have about 1 liter to go 7.5 miles tomorrow morning.

Professor

Last day of slackpacking. Kind of makes me homesick. I miss seeing Hell Hound out front with his big orange doggy pack. It was sad to see Manager Mike off with his U-Haul trailer. Believe it or not, I felt a little nervous about going out unsupported with my feet the way they are right now. Saw a government superfund site: nothing grows and the trees are long dead. Reminds me of how I imagine the setting for Cormac McCarthy's "The Road." Between Coach and I we picked off a total of 32 ticks in a 3 mile stretch. Me: 11 ticks, Coach: 21 ticks.

Lots of crazy murder on your feet rocks today. I will officially say that with the exception of the first 75 miles or so, Pennsylvania has been a very difficult part of the Trail. Almost to NJ; thank goodness (never thought I'd say that).

Hell Hound in front with orange doggy pack:

Enjoying one last treat from Manager Mike:

From the Journals: DAY 75, May 9

Coach

Hawk Mountain Rd - Bake Oven Knob Shelter: 17.4mi

ROCKS !!!

Last day of slack packing. All I know is we wouldn't be where we are without Manager Mike and Hell Hound. Thank you.

Professor

Last day/night of slack packing. It has been very interesting since Duncannon... In no particular order, my summary:

-We hit the rocks finally

-Shoes totally broke down

-Feet ruined. Knocked me off the trail a day and a half.

-New shoes, very stiff, trying to break them in over rocks with ruined feet.

This would not be possible without Manager Mike, slack packing, and Hell Hound.

-I lost my trekking poles.

-Ate at Cracker Barrel 3 times in about 24 hours

-Drank scotch

-Drank bourbon

-Drank beer

Yum.

-Doyle Hotel was fun; delicious cheesesteaks; ate a deep fried cheeseburger

-Space Cowboy, Youngin, Fosters, and Victus caught up to us on our Zero Day

-Forced to take a Zero at Port Clinton

Thank god our logistics Manager was here to help us through the "ruined feet" time.

Saying goodbye to Manager Mike and Hell Hound at mile 1,245. Only 936 miles left.

From the Journals: DAY 73

Coach

Port Clinton, PA: 0mi

The Professor's feet are like they were coming into Damascus, VA. With shoes completely broken down and the upcoming terrain, we wisely decided we needed to take a Zero Day to fix this problem. Thankfully, Manager Mike is supporting us on this slack packing. If he wasn't here, we would have been in a big pinch and would have lost much more than a Zero Day. With some assistance from Lindsay, we were able to track down a store to get him some replacements. The closest retailer for the Professor's shoes was REI, 35 miles away. After 1200 miles and 3 different pairs of shoes and two brands later, I finally convinced the Professor to try on some MERRELLs. I am very interested to see if this is the solution to his feet issues. It also really helps to pull our uniforms together, since now we even have these same shoes.

From the Journals: DAY 71

Coach
Yellow Springs Campsite - Round Head Campsite: 25.0 mi
The terrain has become a little more rocky, but still not as bad as we feared. So far so good, but I keep thinking we will eventually run into nothing but rocks. We had initially planned on getting in a couple more miles to the next campsite, but it was hard to pass one up at the end of the day when someone already collected firewood for you next to the fire circle. Yet again, we were able to bank some Zero miles.

From the Journals: DAY 70, May 4

Coach

Duncannon, PA -Yellow Springs Campsite: 24.8mi

Today, we started our 2nd round of slack packing with Manager Mike. Although it was raining when we started, it cleared up and we made good time. There were some rocks, but not what we have been fearing. We had a strong day and were able to bank some Zero Day miles. I am really not looking forward to these Pennsylvania rocks we have been hearing about. Hopefully, we can build on this momentum during the rest of the slack packing.

Professor

Used by tent today at the end of the slack packing. It was really nice.

From the Journals: DAY 69

Coach

Duncannon, PA: 0mi

-Logistics for Manager Mike slack packing us

-Food

-More food

-Pancakes (blueberry)

Professor

Thank you Manager Mike (Dad) for making this possible. And thanks Hell Hound, for your support!

From the Journals: DAY 68, May 2

Coach
Darlington Shelter - Duncannon, PA: 11.3mi
Woke up extremely hungry. Breakfast didn't really help and we were slow to get up and start moving. The only thing motivating us today was the thought of town food and a Zero Day with Manager Mike. Manager Mike met us about a mile out of town with Hell Hound. It was great to see him and lucky for us he had a PAYDAY candy bar that he gave us. We then hiked to the infamous Doyle Hotel for food and rest. It was a great town day where Mike treated us to food, beer and a double feature at the movies.

Professor
We rationed food, that sucked, we were hungry. We hiked. It was great to get to Duncannon.

Hell Hound waiting for the hikers

Drinks at the Doyle Hotel Bar- the AT is just outside the door at Mile 1,138.5.

Sneak Peek- Conditions around Mt. Rogers (VA)

Manager Mike spent several days last week assisting Coach and Professor's efforts battling the elements between Damascus and Marion. He would drop them off in the morning where the trail crosses a roadway and pick them up at the end of the day at another crossing, then bring them back to a hotel where they could spend the night out of the weather and get a hot meal. Here is his report:

I've attached a couple of photos that show what the guys have been going through for over a week now. These were taken at one of the drop off points on a mountain pass near Mt Rogers. The first one is of Professor adjusting his protective clothing and gear. The other photo shows the conditions they faced that morning as they stood in front of the car. I took it through the front windshield of the car because I was not properly equipped to step out into this mess which probably would have instantly ruined the camera anyway. First of all we were suspended in a thick cloud that engulfed the higher elevations making it inky dark with a visibility of about 20 feet if your LED headlamp was on and about zero with it turned off. The wind was blowing at about 30-35 MPH and the temperature was around 35 degrees. It was raining and snowing and the wind was swirling. It was like standing in a freezing cold shower with a dozen nozzles showering you from every direction. From the comfort of my car I nervously watched the barely visible glow of their headlamps seek out the white blazes of the A.T. as they ascended a grassy bald called Elk Garden heading for Mt Rogers. In my mind I urged them to veer left up the slope for I had scoped out the path the day before while it was still daylight and knew it went in that direction. Then suddenly the glow of their headlamps vanished and I found myself staring into blackness wondering if striking out under these conditions had been a mistake. Then I put myself in their shoes and when envy pushed my fear aside I felt they would be OK. The second photo captures one of the many realities that hikers face when they take on the totality of what constitutes an A.T. through hike. They hiked 23 miles that day and 12 hours later near day's last light when I saw them pop out of a rain drenched laurel thicket at the planned rendezvous point, I couldn't have been more relieved...or proud. It was thrilling for me to walk with them that first mile in Georgia on February 24th and it was thrilling today to walk in and meet them at mile 549 then back out to the car at 551.6 where I will leave them tomorrow morning once again in the wind and rain and snow.