Aqua-blazing the Shenandoah

It has been an amazing week off the trail back home in VA. We have all enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and new friends too! But it is time for our northward bound traveling adventures to continue.

While Dylan has returned to the northeast to hike Katahdin with his family, and James has returned to Nashville, Low Profile, Houdini, and I will continue our journey north. 

There are so many people to thank at this point in time. I would like to thank my parents for hosting us this past week and for feeding us endlessly! I would also like to thank Meghan Norred, Miles Kimbrough, and Stephanie Marino for their hospitality and for showing us such fun times in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA!

It was also so great to see some CZC family, Myk, Kevin, and Clay, at the Avett Brothers show last week! 

To the Jay-bird- you know how hard this is for me to put into words. And I know that my words cannot do justice to all that we have seen and experienced in the past three months. I am going to miss traveling with you very much. But I am so happy that we shared these incredible adventures on and off the AT.

To Dylan and Crazy Beard- I can’t wait to regroup and continue hiking with you guys when we make it to Connecticut!

Tomorrow, Houdini, Low Profile, and I will set out on an aqua-blaze on the Shenandoah River from Port Republic to Harpers Ferry. We expect the 150 mile canoe trip to take anywhere from 7-10 days depending on the water levels. Special thank you to Jon Waldron for letting us borrow his canoe and for providing us with the opportunity for new experiences on the river.

AT for CZC continues!

-Ewok

Pictures from the Trail

As Matt's time off the Trail winds down over the next couple of days, I wanted to quickly pass along the second series of pictures that he mailed my way.

Some breathtaking pictures in this album. Varied landscapes, great views, and diverse hiking conditions.

Click here for a link to pictures taken on the Trail from May 12th through July 10th.

The reprieve from the Trail has done the hikers a great deal of good over the past week, as Matt reports that he is feeling rested, stronger and more motivated to continue his journey than ever before.

The current plan is to Aqua-Blaze through the Shenandoah Valley and up to Harper's Ferry, W.V. This promises to be a great adventure for the hikers as well as a chance to continue resting their legs. Here's hoping that the river isn't too low. Nothing like carrying a canoe a couple of hundred miles through ankle-deep water to ruin morale...

Looking ahead, I hope to catch up with Matt once or twice more before he sets out for the Shenandoah Valley. Will definitely be in touch with more posts as they begin Part 2 of this great journey.

AT for CZC continues!

Home Sweet Home

     After a strenuous 10 days on the trail, Houdini, Jay-bird, and I arrived at Reeds Gap mp 837, and are taking some time off at my parents’ house to plan our next move.

    Thank you so much to my brother Mike who has been updating the blog since we left from Springer Mtn. nearly 3 months ago. Words cannot express my gratitude for keeping everyone informed of our whereabouts and for putting my thoughts into words. I would also like to thank my parents for their constant support of the hike and for all the food and supplies that have been sent in mail drops. Thank you Danny for your sense of humor, and I hope you can find the time to join me for a day or two on the trail.

     I would also like to thank my Comfort Zone family for all of the support, motivation, and inspiration to keep hiking north! Whenever the going gets tough on the trail, I am able to remind myself of why I came out in the first place. Spreading word about Comfort Zone Camp always gives me the strength and will to keep going and I couldn’t ask for anything more than that.

     Thank you James and Manuel (Jay-bird and Houdini) for being the best two hiking buddies and friends one could ask for. I can’t imagine going through this journey without either one of you. I can’t remember ever being as happy or content with my life and where it is going, even when that is completely unknown. Thank you Crazy Beard, Low Profile, Too Tall, and Dylan for all of the good times and tough times- I hope the trail finds us all together again soon.

     I would also like to thank everyone who has given us rides to and from the trail, to everyone who supplies Trail Magic, and to all the volunteers who maintain the trails. The further this journey continues, I have come to realize just how many people are there to help a thru-hiker on his or her journey and quite simply, a thru-hike would not be possible without all of the support and help provided by everyone along the way.

     I have gained so much from this journey. Following a passion for Comfort Zone and wanting to make a difference is what brought me to the mountains. I didn’t expect to change physically or mentally as much as I have already but it’s great! And I can’t wait for what is to come around the bend and for the unknown ends for which the trail will take us. There is nothing more fulfilling in life than following your passions. The personal growth and reconnection with the natural world that I have experienced on the AT is unparalleled by any other experience, and the relationships created along the way have been some of the purest and truest that I have ever felt.

     Our plan from here: While Dylan and Low Profile will be testing the water levels on a float down the Shenandoah River this week, Houdini, Jay-bird, and I will be busy looking into purchasing or renting canoes for a potential Aqua-blaze through the Shenandoah to Harpers Ferry, WV. We are anticipating the arrival of Crazy Beard in Richmond on Friday and look forward to reuniting with him since our last departure nearly 400 miles ago in Damascus, VA.

Until then, Peace and Love to all hikers in the Land of Plenty! We’ll be back soon!

-Ewok

July 10th Check-In

Hope all is well for everyone on this rainy, humid Tuesday evening. The blessed break from the heat has unfortunately brought with it some rainy conditions that will more than likely continue over the next week. Ewok and J-Bird continue north through Southeastern Virginia and are here as of 9:25pm this evening.

Hoping to hear from Matt later this week or sometime this weekend. The hikers are currently debating whether or not they will continue north once they reach our family's home in Central Virginia. An alternative plan has been proposed to take a bus to Maine and hike south. In doing so, they will simultaneously get a reprieve from the heat wave that has been hammering the Southeast while also giving them more time to complete their hike once the temperatures begin to cool later this fall.

Check back in soon for important developments regarding their hike.

A Week of R&R at Monteagle

AT For CZC celebrated the 4th of July in style at the Fuqua family home in Monteagle, Tennessee. Upon arriving in Roanoke last weekend, J-Bird, Ewok and Houdini promptly rented a car and drove back south to James' mountain home for a week of rest and relaxation. Lots to report on this Saturday morning.

The hikers spent a few days enjoying the air-conditioning after the blistering heat of the past couple of weeks. While they continue to love their time on the Trail, it sounds as if they took full advantage of their "zero days." James' mother, Karen, writes:

They were fine. Ate everything in sight, slept a lot, fell in with the young folks at Monteagle, went rock climbing, played croquet, went swimming at the Monteagle pool (the oldest swimming pool in TN), rode in the 4^th of July parade in Gil’s old car. In all, a good break I think, complete with AIR CONDITIONING and REAL MATRESSES.

Additionally, James' father Gil, whom hiked with the guys several weeks back, added:

Gil's Rolls Royce is ready for the 4th of July parade.

Matt, James and Houdini, rode with me in the parade. They pitched candy out to the crowd and had a grand time... I know they enjoyed the rest, food, showers and clean beds. We have a big house in Monteagle and they were no trouble to add to the party... James drove them back in the rental car and dropped them off at the trail near Catawba. He then returned the car to the airport in Roanoke and then headed out to meet them. They are headed your way.

We finally had an opportunity to catch up with Matt for more than a few minutes over the holiday. He informed us that all is well and that he was thrilled to have the time off the Trail. He really enjoyed the rock climbing and was amazed at how difficult it was. While he typically does not like heights, he acknowledged that "you are so busy watching where to put your feet and holding on, that you don't even think about looking down."

Yesterday evening, the three hikers drove back to the Roanoke area and began their hike again at Catawba, mile marker #702 from Springer Mountain. They hiked a few miles last night and ended up "cowboy camping" here at McAfee Knob, a famous rock formation with phenomenal views. Matt informed me this morning that the sunset and sunrise from McAfee might very well be the most beautiful views he has ever seen.

Additionally, Matt had this to say during our call this morning:

We've been through a lot of new experiences over the past few weeks... It's hard to put into words; there isn't much time to reflect... we're always in the moment of things... First, thanks to Gil and Karen for putting us up for the week in Monteagle... We had a great time relaxing, getting out of the heat, and had a blast in the parade... Thanks as well to Tyler for taking us rock climbing at Foster Falls...

We just got back on last night and camped out at McAfee Knob, probably one of the most popular rocks on the AT. It was great to get off the Trail and relax, but it's good to be back... We're about 150 miles from Shenandoah National Park where Mom and Dad will pick us up... From there, we plan to figure out how to get to Maine and hike south... We're thinking it will be wise to avoid the Virginia to New York section right now, which is flat and hot...

Dehydration and heat are our most common concerns. It's common to carry over a gallon of water each right now. We don't really know when water source will be dry due to the drought... We're all feeling really good though... That should do it for right now. I'll call you in a few days... Thank you so much for doing all this... Talk to you in a few days.

Looking ahead, they plan to arrive in Troutville within the next couple of days and finish restocking before continuing on to Buchanan, where Matt's tent will be waiting for him. He plans to be in touch again soon and suggested that he'll be sending me the second round of pictures from his camera within the next week. Check back in soon for more updates on AT For CZC!