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Stupid time limites....

Well I've broke the 400 mile/ one month barrier. This has to be a quick update cause I've got folks waiting in line for the computer. I'm in Kent, CT currently after a somewhat slow week. I turned my ankle and had to take a zero day in Ft. Montgomery, NY. The rest was great and the ankle is back up to speed mostly. I learned something about myself as well. I can eat two 18 inch sausage pizzas within 6 hours of each other. Definitely have my full hiker appetite now. Hope all is well and thanks to everyone for sponsoring.

Dictionary

Trail Dictionary

I've been getting a lot of questions from family and friends about some of the terms that go along with the trail so here is a primer of trail slang for all the those that are not familiar with the trail.

Blaze: Trail marker. In the case of the AT it is a white 2in wide by 6in tall white rectangle painted on rocks, trees or anything else handy to mark the trail. i.e. White blazing is hiking the trail.

blue blazing: any side trail off of the AT is usually marked with a blue 2x6 rectangle. For purist it is not cool to use blue blazes as short cuts or to avoid tough terrain on the trail. Example El Jefe :"How the hell did Apple Juice beat us to the shelter?".  Beef stick: "The slacker blue blazed around the last two peaks."

pink blazing: chasing a girl. The trail has a lot more guys than girls so pink blazing is speeding up or slow down to spent time with a girl. Example: El Jefe: "Has anyone seen Apple Juice?" Grins: "Yea, he's hiking like 3 miles a day pink blazing with some Swedish chick"

Trail Angel: One who is responsible for Trail Magic (see below)

Trail Magic: Anything good that happens while on the trail. Mostly it's a former hiker or just someone who loves the trail leaving goodies on the trail like cold Gatorade or snacks. It can be so much more though. People have given me rides, food, drinks, a shower, place to stay, lots of food, beer, wine, even more food, and mostly a appreciation of just how nice most folks really are.

all i can think of right now but I'll add as more come up.

Current location....

Currently taking a zero day in NJ with my buddy Paul. Finally made it out of Rocksylvania and my feet are loving it. New Bearsey has lived up to it nick name. Saw 7 bears in the last few days. We are heading into Hoboken to watch a little World Cup and then maybe into NYC for a bit. It should be interesting to actually be in a metro area after having been in the woods for this long. Almost a month and 300 plus miles into the trip so far and it has been fantastic. My body has finally made it into trail shape and the pack keeps feeling lighter and lighter. Had to slow the mileage per day this last week in order to get together with Paul this weekend but it ended up being a real treat to just move at a slower pace. Long lunches and afternoon naps in the grass are great for morale. Rained for 3 days last week and had my first "Why the hell am I doing this?" moment. It was storming like crazy and the trail had turned into a foot deep stream. Lightning was crashing all over the place, my feet hurt and I was cold. Set my tent up in the rain and spent a cold, miserable night hope a tree wouldn't fall on me. Next morning was perfect and while I was having my oatmeal and letting my gear dry in the sun watching the birds all around me I knew that this was why I was doing this. It's cliched but you have to have a bad day to appreciate the good ones. Even a bad day on the trail is better then most other days working. No complaints from me.  

Dear Rocksylvania

Dear Pennsylvania,
You probably know by now that I'm gone. Our time together started out so smoothly without the crazy ups and downs of the last few weeks. Walking through the countryside and past all the farms was the way I wanted our time to be but things have just been too rocky lately. The way you treated me coming out of Neil's Gap was just to much. It's time for me to move on. I realize that it is just your nature and there is no way for you to change. My feet and I need a state that is going to treat us better, more gently, and with care. I've met her and she is named New Jersey. By the time you read this I'll be with her and will have moved on. I will always cherish the times we had together and I'm sure someone else will come down the trail for you soon. Thanks for the good times.
apple juice

Disclaimer: Apple Juice loves all sections of the trail equally. PA is a wonderful state and the people are extremely friendly and kind. There are a TON of rocks though.  

Yippee! A Dry Day

Just wanted to update you on my travels...I'm in Culvers Gap, New Jersey (close to Branchville, NJ) with nice DRY weather. It's been raining for the last day and a half. I decided to stop for a brief "refreshment" break at a nice little tavern just off the trail before I continue on to tonight's shelter and the end of the day. Here's to you all.

Some older stuff

Here are a few thoughts, scribbles, and ruminations from my first couple weeks on the trail. They are from my journal so please excuse the rambling nature of some. These were mostly written at the end of long trail day huddle in a shelter or my tent.

Day 1 May 23
     Only 7.6 miles to the Ed Garvey shelter after being dropped off by Lynn, Matt, Cole and Mahalia. Rained the whole way up the trail and feet are soaked through along with everything else. I did manage to get lost in the 1st two miles. The trail from the ATC goes down through Harper's Ferry, crosses the Potomac, and follows the C & O tow path. At the bottom of the path you can take a right or a left. After check the map and just assuming it was orientated N/S I took the left. After about a 1/2 mile a guy stops in the rain on the road next to the path and yells out his window at me. It's raining hard enough that I can't here him at all. He then jumps out in the rain a walks to the guard rail to tell me, "You're going the wrong way!" Laughed at myself and wandered back the way I had come. 1st lesson from the trail: Listen the advice of random strangers because they might be right. Finally on the right path I bumped into a older gentlemen walking along the tow path. He asked it I was doing a thru-hike, and feeling a bit sheepish considering I'd only put in 4 miles so far, I told him yes. After that we got to chatting and he spent the next few miles telling me all about the history of the C&O canal and the train the now runs parallel to where it used to be. His pace was a bit slower than mine but the conversation was too interesting to pass up. He walked me to where the trail crossed the road and wished me good luck. Lesson #2 Slowing down might make your day a little longer but it leads to very interesting conversations.

Day 3 20.2 miles May 26
      Out of Maryland today and into PA. Don't know what the hell I was thinking trying to do this many miles. I've been hiking with "El Jefe" for the last day and a half. After our failed off trail excursion for a burger and a beer yesterday I guess we felt like trying to get to civilisation sooner. They really should put the fact that the bar a mile off the trail is CLOSED on Mondays. Need to make the miles so that I can make it to Boiling Springs before the post office closes for the holiday weekend. If not then I'm stuck there for 2 zero days. Got my first blister today. Guess this means I'm a true hiker now... Stopped just over the border into PA and found a nice spot by a stream. Another big day tomorrow so off to bed at hiker midnight. (9:00 pm).

Day 5 18.5 miles May 28
     Too tired to write yesterday. Hiked from 6:30 to 8:30 yesterday. I now know why they call it Rocksylvania. Blisters on both of my feet now. I've named the one on my right foot "Sisyphus" because it's on the ball of foot and it is punishing as roll up the trail. This is what happens when you spend 14 hours in 85 degree heat hiking by yourself. Stay at the quarry rock shelter now. By far the nicest shelter yet. Flower boxes and a little stream past the front of the shelter. Looks like a nice night with no bugs so I think I'll cowboy camp it tonight. Still on schedule for making it to Boiling Springs for my food drop.

June 1st
In Duncannon, PA for the night tonight.  Got rescued from the thunderstorm/tornado warning tonight by Vicky at the Doyle Hotel. Was planning on staying at the campground but once the weather report came on Vicky offered me a room. $25 was not in the budget but she let me stay for the 7.50 extra person rate so how could I refuse! Just made me promise not to tell any of the other hikers. Still planning on my first zero day tomorrow. My feet need some rest and a chance to heal.

June 2nd
Half way through my first zero day and I'm going nuts. Thought that loneliness would be a problem but the hiker community is amazing. The folks on the trail and  in town are just fun, sweet, kind people. It feels a little like a wandering summer camp/party with periods of intense discomfort in between. Still with all that said I want to be moving again!? Nice to rest and chill with everyone here but the drive to see what's next, to make miles, and just keep going is strong. I am absolutely loving this!!!

FINALLY!! An update....

Currently in Palmerton, PA for all of you that are following along at home. Only have a few minutes to write today but the library opens again tomorrow so more details then. I'm almost done with PA then onto New Jersey and New York. The trail has been a bit of trial yet one of the best times of my live thus far and that is saying a lot. The body hurts but spending all day in nature's cathedral does amazing things for the soul if not for the soles. (sorry, bad hiking humor.) More updates soon and thanks for following the adventure. Pics should be coming soon once I find a new cable for my camera. Miss ya'll.
Happy Trails,
apple juice

I Need Your Help

I am asking friends and family to sponsor my hike for Breast Cancer to raise money for a good cause while keeping me motivated along the way. The full trail will take me over 2,000 miles, 6 months and approximately 5 million footsteps. Knowing every mile I cover will mean money for a good cause will keep me pushing ahead.  Funds raised will go directly to Breast Cancer prevention and treatment for migrant workers and uninsured women living locally in the Tampa area. 

The cause:  Breast Cancer Outreach, Prevention and Treatment at St. Joseph's Women’s Hospital Breast Center. The dollars I raise will support Breast Cancer Outreach, screening and treatment assistance for uninsured women, with a focus on providing services to migrant women and others facing financial need in the local Tampa Bay community. Services supported will include Spanish language outreach, mammography and other diagnostic procedures for uninsured women. St. Joseph's Breast Cancer Outreach will be working largely through the parish nurses they have serving migrant and poor communities in the Tampa area. 

Check out St. Joseph's Women’s Hospital Breast Center website here: 

http://www.sjbhealth.org/body_womens.cfm?id=774  

Whether you sponsor me for a nickel a mile or a dollar a mile, we’ll know that my steps and your support will be helping others.

Please check out the attached sponsor sheet and email me with your sponsored amount per mile.  At the end of my hike, I’ll let everyone know how many miles I completed along with donation amounts and how to send checks to St. Joseph’s.

Thanks for following along with me. I’ll have a trail update soon.

First 100 Miles Down.....

Here in the first update in while. I've made the first 100 miles!! The body is holding up well but the feet are giving me trouble. I've been trying all day to get on the computer but with 15 other people trying to update their blogs we all get about 20 minutes to check email etc.... Doesn't help that this is circa 1990 desk top.  Currently in Duncannon, PA having a zero day to let my blisters heal. Loving life on the trail and all the people I've met so far. I should have some more info about the fundraising and pictures soon. Hope everyone is well and happy trails.
Much love and respect to all,
apple juice