Day 32 - Day 51 of Reed's AT Adventure

In this issue from the field, I finally got Reed to send back his first movie. In celebration of reaching 1/4 of his journey he decided to become a performing artist. I must say it may not be on par with the new movie that George Lucas just released, I think 'Phantom Menace' is what they called it, but as a directorial/acting debut, it is pretty good. If you would like to view it you must either save it to disk and use a MPEG viewer (MS Windows Media Player) , or you can use a browser plugin like Quicktime. Here is the movie itself:  Reed's Movie  If you need any help, please email me with your problem, and I will see what I can do.

I have finally discovered my trail name!!! It is a tradition among thru-hikers to adopt a "trail name" by which they are known to other hikers throughout their journey. Some hikers choose a trail name before they begin, others decide upon one as they hike, while others are dubbed a particular name by other hikers. I had been in no rush to decide upon a trail name, and figured when the time was right, I would know. Along the way, I also had to reject some horrid suggestions, including "Little Boy Blue", because all of my clothes and gear is blue. At any rate, I am now "The Peaceful Warrior."  The term comes from two books by Dan millman, and, I think, embodies the way I am trying to approach the trail. The name also has a Jedi ring to it, which I like, and gives an appropriate nod to my old roommate, Marc Waxman, who introduced me to the Millman books.
 
 

On 5/16 I went by a former tenting area that had been so heavily impacted by hiker use(and misuse) that the trail maintainers closed the area to camping. It really was a shame to see this small section of the woods so scarred - all the small plant life had been trampled, remnants from fire pits and old camp fires were strewn about, and little pieces of trash were everywhere undefoot, despite the maintainers obviously attempts to clean the area(5/16/99 12:49pm)

About 2/3 of all the shelters have a privy(also called toilet, outhouse, latrine). The styles vary greatly, but this one at Thomas Knob Shelter is definitely my favorite so far. Not only does this beautifully constructed privy offer a view of Mt. Rogers, VA the highest mountain (5,729ft.) but it is also has a solar-powered, self composting system. Cool!! I didn't stay at the near by shelter, but I sure enjoyed the privy. (5/16/99 2:46pm)

A view from the side of Mt. Rogers (5/16/99 2:48pm)

In VA, I've crossed through a number of cow fields, some of them high on the side of the mountains. These particular cows were very curious and came right up to me. (5/16/99 3:04pm)

 

Old betsy here, wanted to make sure that the photographer got her good side. MOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!  (5/16/99 3:04pm)

As I have been getting used to the camera I am becoming an expert at self-timing. This is probably the most difficult self-timer of all time. This picture of a bridge over Fox Creek took me 4 attempts of sprinting from the camera to the middle of the bridge in under 8 seconds. The WHS track team should be proud. Congratulations WHS Girls Track #1 State Class C Champions and Boys #2 finish(5/17/99 10:16am)

Where the trail crossed Comers Creek, The Captain, took a break on a log. (5/17/99 1:06pm)

I laid my socks out to dry under the watchful eye of this toad (5/17/99 3:30pm)

 

Another angled shot of Kermit (5/17/99 3:30pm)

On 5/18, I cam upon about a dozen horses in the middle of the trail. Although there was a farm nearby, these horses were not within an enclosed area, so I'm not sure what kept them from running off. They were initially startled by me, but soon approached me and I was able to pat several of them. (5/18/99 8:15am)

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Cuckoo for Coco! Coconuts that is. I reached Partnership Shelter, one of the newest structures on the trail, late in the morning on 5/18. unbelievably, I found that the shelter had a shower with hot water! I stopped long enough for a shower with the coconut essence shampoo someone had left. (5/18/99 11:36am)

Partnership Shelter, which is located a few hundred yards from the Nt. Roger's national Recreation Area Headquarters and Visitor Center (5/18/99 11:38am)

A huge beaver dam just north of Atkins, VA (5/19/99 10:47am)

A classic view of the beaver's handiwork. (5/19/99 10:48am)

 

The long footbridge made necessary by the beaver dam. (5/19/99 10:49)

I don't know who this crazy nut is, but he decided to get in the middle of my picture from Chestnut Ridge. He must be signaling for aliens or other signs of life, but it can't be for intelligence :-) (10/20/99 10:28am)

On the summit of Garden Mtn (4,052ft) I enjoyed the view of Burke's Garden. Known locally as "God's Thumbprint", Burke's Garden is a large, natural geological depression with many beautiful farms surrounded by high ridges. (5/20/99 2:47pm)

That's right this chump is "The Trail Boss" (In My(Vance)  Humble Opinion, Reed has already been on the trail too long, he know thinks he has some given power) (5/21/99 7:18am)

 

Every shelter has a register in which hikers can write about how their hike is going, share reflections about just about any topic, or leave message for other hikers. When registers become full, they are often replaced with notebooks left by hikers, who request that the notebook be mailed to them once it is full. To leave a notebook and then later have it returned once it is full of hiker's comments is one of the most coveted souvenirs on the trail. At the Helveys Mill Shelter, north of Bland, VA, I was lucky enough to find that the register was full, so I left an empty notebook. With any luck, over it's full I'll get it back. (5/21/99 1:30pm)

Black snakes are fairly common on the trail. This one, which was at least 5 feet long, crossed the trail in front of me on 5/21. I followed it into the side-brush to get these shots. (5/21/99 2:26pm)

Here snakey, snakey. Another shot of the devilish creature. (5/21/99 2:30pm)

A really cool suspension bridge crossed over Kimberly Creek. (5/21/99 9:31am)

 

The same cool bridge, different perspective. (5/21/99 9:33am)

This section of the trail seemed like a cathedral to me. (5/21/99 12:27pm)

A view from Sugar Run Mtn. (5/22/99 4:03pm)

Reed, here presenting the view himself. (5/22/99 4:04pm)

 

On 5/22, I stayed at the Wood's Hole, which is a been converted to a bunk house. The only fee for staying in the hostel was that we were to each asked to add a rock to the rock wall, which has been built over the last 13 years by hiker's adding one rock at a time.(5/22/99 8:11pm)

Hikers relax on the porch of the bunkhouse. to the right is the original log farmhouse, built in the 1980's, where Tillie Wood, who bought the land with her husband in the 1940's, serves a home-cooked breakfast each morning to the hikers. (5/22/99 8:12pm)

With Mrs. Wood looking on, we enjoy her wonderful breakfast buffet. Thanks Mrs. Wood. (5/23/99 7:35am)

The group who stayed at the hostel the night I was there:  Back Row: Casseopia(with Freak dog), Angus, Mayo, Satari Middle Row: Bipolar Disorder, The Captain, Arrowhead Front Row: Bear Chest, Peaceful Warrior, Szen the Flycatcher(Arrowhead's Dog) (5/23/99 8:15am)

 

The Peaceful Warrior is rendition of "The Thinker". I have no idea what I was supposed to learn from this map. (5/25/99 8:48am)

My college roommate Jeff Puglielli flew into Blacksburg, VA, to pick me up for our fifth year reunion at Princeton. I spent 5/27-5/30 in Princeton catching up with old friends and increasing my calorie intake. (5/27/99 11:07am)

The view of the mountains I'll need to walk over from Jeff's plane. (5/30/99 3:15pm)

Jeff, my pilot, brings the plane back down in Blacksburg, and I am forced to return to the woods.(5/30/99 3:39pm)