Notes from the Trail - May 11th

Yesterday afternoon, I received an unexpected letter from Matt. While his letters have typically been preceded by a phone call a few days in advance, yesterday's communication was an unexpected treat. Here is an excerpt from his letter, dated May 11th:

Trail Journal, 5/11/2012

From Fontana Dam, N.C.

Just got to Fontana Dam at the southern end of the Smokies. I'm doing really well, we all are. We've met up with some great people out here... I can't remember ever feeling as happy or accomplished as after a long day of hiking!

We reached the Smokies and are taking a "zero day" at the Fontana Hilton (the nicest shelter on the AT). I will be hiking through the Smokies in honor of my little buddies! James and I have rejoined with Crazy Beard, Low Profile and Too Tall. Met The Bard last night and think he will be traveling with us.

Resting the ankle for a day. We plan to eat some ice-cream and swim in the dam this afternoon. We will send more news from Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Another project we are working on: our group now carries a banjo and guitar. I would like to pick up a djembe, possibly in Asheville. We are creating a band on our way to Maine! It is a traveling band, playing music and building friendships and fires all the way.

Matt also mailed me a memory card from his camera. Click here to view the rest of the pictures taken on the Trail so far. Be sure to check back soon for more updates regarding their progress through the Smoky Mountains!

Notes from the Trail - May 8th

Trail Journal, 5/8/2012

From Nantahala Outdoor Center, NC

James and I made it to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, about 30 miles from Fontana Dam.

Last night, we camped out on the Nantahala River with a bunch of friends we have met on the Trail - Crazy Beard, Low Profile, Too Tall & Blue. Have been walking every day on a high ankle sprain. Just hoping that will heal soon.

Crazy Beard has a banjo so every night we camp with the "posse," or what I like to call the Wolfpack, and play music around the fire. With every day the hiking gets easier. I am loving everything about this experience.

The sheer vastness and beauty from the mountain tops, the strenuous and exhausting climbs, the simplicity of food and life on the Trail. Most of all, I enjoy the good people that we have met.

Our friends on the Trail so far: Crazy Beard, Low Profile, Too Tall, Blue, Pac-Man, Gunny & Wooly, Mr. Coffee, Eagle Eye, Take 5, Sandals.

James is now J-Bird. I'm still trying to figure out a good name.

James and I have been getting earlier starts and hiking more miles daily. We saw Fontana Dam and Clingman's Dome from an observation tower a few miles ago. It was great to see a different perspective of what we're about to climb.

A few more days now and we'll be at the base of the Smokies.

Click here to see their location as of 8:40pm this evening. Looks as if they've made it to Fontana Dam, meaning they've hiked the 30 miles in the past two days. They're definitely picking up pace and covering more ground now than they were a few weeks ago! I can only imagine the view from camp tonight...

Notes from the Trail - April 27th

I received my first letter from Matt from the Trail this afternoon. His note reads as follows:

Trail Journal, 4/27/2012

From Helen, GA

James and I arrived in Helen, GA yesterday after we made it off Blue Mountain.

We've spent the past two days re-supplying our food and cutting our pack weight. Pack weight is an interesting topic for conversation on the Trail. You typically want to carry less than 1/4 of your body weight. As we have learned from our experience on the Trail so far, minimizing pack weight is essential to making the miles and keeping morale up.

We have heard of a thru-hiker before us who started with a 97 pound pack! And we have seen everything on the Trail from 60+ pound packs to "slack packers" who only carry their food and water for a day. James and I are carrying roughly the same weight - between 35-45 pound packs.

We will be carrying roughly 3-5 days worth of food. The closer we get to towns to re-supply, the lighter our packs become and the going gets easier. To carry minimal weight in our packs, James and I have condensed and re-packaged everything. Food has been removed from boxes, de-labeled and repackaged in zip lock bags.

Something I have been thinking about a lot as we have condensed our packs is just how little you really need to survive, how little you need in life. Food, warmth, shelter and water are all you truly need to survive on a mountain trail. If an item we carry does not serve the purpose of these four most basic elements in life, it has probably been cut. The only luxury we carry is paper, pens and a deck of playing cards.

As we plan our departure from Helen, we carry 1 tent, 1 1st aid kit, and 1 cooking kit between the two of us. We will send more news from Franklin, NC, our next stop!