tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20203608127350338752024-02-19T17:11:43.637-08:00T-Mello's Appalachian Trail Blog - Help Baltimore Free Farm sustain it's Food Hub efforts!Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-26937556604755107832014-12-02T10:16:00.000-08:002014-12-12T07:42:48.902-08:00Sometimes you gotta follow the Yellow Blaze to get back to the White
BlazeHere's a quick recap from my last post "Smiles Not Miles:" After crossing over
Saddleback Mountain, we stopped early due to my nagging knee injury. I spent
the night on Poplar Ridge and hiked out to the road with <i>Beans</i> the next day. We ended up in town of Stratton, Maine, where I iced my knee and made plans for the next day. <b> </b><br>
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<b>Thursday September 25th</b><br>
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Weather: terrific <br>Trail: Not much trail today, hitchhiking back to vehicle from Stratton to Andover, Maine <br>
<br>Beans and MacGuyver headed out for a hitch back to the trail for a steep climb over the Bigelow Range. Views from Avery peak and North and South Horn are awesome as I recall from my Southbound Thru-hike in 2011. They should have a great day of vistas over Flagstaff Lake. <div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I had already been there done that, and felt ok about taking the day off and resting the knee. But I still had somewhere to be. So as MacGuyver hitched east to the A.T., I hitched west towards Rangeley. I was going to try and make it back to vehicle in Andover, so I could stage it in the next town. Then the plan would be to spend the night on the shores of the Kennebec River and take the ferry southbound the next morning to meet up with my crew. So here's how I got to Andover with my magic thumb:</span><br><div><br>
1st hitch---- short ride about 4 miles to somewhere outside of Stratton. Cows kept me company at this pasture stop.<br><br></div><div>
2nd hitch---- Mickey picked me up and we rode together through the multicolor foliage talking about life's mysteries. This whimsical woman was living in Maine after many years in New York City. Her silver hair was crazy and her<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> New Age music played on the car stereo, as she shared some brief tidbits of her life with me. I shared with her my travel story of the past week or so. Then Mickey. dropped me off at a gas station outside of Rangeley.</span></div><div><br></div><div>
3rd hitch----George saw me getting out of Mickey's car and offered a ride. I rode with him to the job site where he was supervisor at a roof repair. I met his crew, shot some shit, and got back in the truck with him. He was headed further south to pick up materials for the job. So I got as far as the Maine Highway 17 overlook of Lake Mooselookmeguntic thanks to George.<br>
..... it turns out I had crossed this road via A.T. just four days prior. this location ended up taking me quite a while to get another ride, but it was not at all a bad place to be stranded. It was here that I had breakfast, talked with many motorists, met some trail angels heading the opposite direction, and ultimately waited for about 4 hours for a ride. </div><div><br></div><div>4th hitch----It was a 'leaf-peeping' couple from Concord, New Hampshire that were very familiar with the area. I offered to take their photograph in front of the lake, and then they offered me a ride. The couple knew just where to drop me off. They were headed to Mexico, Maine. But they crossed the Swift River a few miles early to drop me off for my final leg into Andover on Roxbury Notch Road. </div><div><br></div><div>5th hitch---- Angelo, an Andover native picked me up in a Crown Vic. The large trunk fit my pack easily. He was playing the most beautiful opera music on the stereo. He knew David at Pine Ellis Hostel quite well. And when I told him about my car window getting busted out at Grafton Norch, he said he'd been wondering what the story was with the minivan with plastic bag taped over it parked in David's front yard. Angelo had hiked the entire trail back in the 60's when the trail was just beginning to see annual pilgrims in small numbers. For many years since his experience on the Appalachian Trail he's lived in Maine.</div><div><br>
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Map showing my 'yellow blaze' route back to my vehicle in Andover.</div></div><div><br></div><div>So from Pine Ellis I drive to Caratunk, ME stopping along the way to pick up tiki fuel for <i>Beans</i>' torch. As I approached the Kennebec River, I thought about those three consecutive summers, probably '93-'96 I had enjoyed camping and paddling along its waterway with my Dad, Uncle, and Rogebo. I was a pilgrim revisiting the place of my spiritual origin. The rafting outfitter, now a brewery; the pizza joint, still a pizza joint; and the campsite alongside the Kennebec River where I saw my first meteor shower. As a 12 year old boy from the light polluted suburbs of Baltimore, the fantastic streams of light originating in the dark night sky's Perseus stirred a primal sense of spirit in me. I can confidently say that this was the most vivid early memory of feeling apart of something larger than myself. I still have a small quilt I made in middle school art depicting this scene: The camp fire, the tents, people large and small laying out in the grass gazing up in amazement, the river, the trees.</div><div><br></div><div>So I reached this spot with some daylight left and was extremely happy to see it had not changed much. The only difference was the presence of a few picnic tables and some steel campfire rings. I walked down to the river and looked across. Still the pristine river I remembered.</div><div><br></div><div>Next I drove a few miles down river to where the A.T. crosses. Parked the vehicle at the Post Office in Caratunk and walked down to the river to make camp in the pitch black. There were a few shooting stars, the sounds of the river, great horned owls asking "whooo's awake?" and the flicker of <i>Beans</i>' new torch fuel. I slept like a baby on a soft bed of pine needles. The next day would bring me across the river and traveling southbound once again to meet my friends at camp.</div>Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-69990864315627118962014-11-24T08:48:00.000-08:002014-12-02T09:30:06.959-08:00Smiles Not Miles<div>
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<b>Monday September 22nd</b><br />
Weather: 60's gusty winds partly Cloudy<br />
Trail: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to to Piazza Rock Lean-to<br />
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Breakfast of oatmeal with pumpkin seeds, almonds, powdered milk, and elderberry syrup was enjoyed from a rock overlooking Sabbath Pond. Once again, I'm admiring the industrious submarine birds known up in these parts as Loons. Behind me a fiery red foliage of a Maple tree ignites under a concentrated spot of sunlight through a window of clouds. Reflections of this off the water mix with ripples and lily pads to form an autumn mosaic of wonder.<br />
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I am sore today. The miles behind me are catching up. The tendons and ligaments in my feet are feeling over-stretched, my left hamstring and right quad muscles are sore. But today's plan does not hold a major challenge. It's 9 miles on relatively easy terrain to ME4. The plan is to get a ride at ME4 into the town of Rangeley for a P.O. stop, and another ride back to the trail.<br />
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The rainy weather from the night before made for a cozy shelter sleep. There is no rain this morning, only droplets of water being blown off the forest canopy above. It still makes for wet hiking as vegetation along sides of the path brushes water against your legs as you walk. I am probably due for a bath anyways. The fall color is really beginning to <i>pop</i> on this partly sunny day. As the sun burns through a thin veil of mist, the reds, oranges, and ambers are glowing in autumn glory. I come to a small lake with a canoe. I wait around for an hour to see if <i>Beans or MacGuyver</i> want to join me for a paddle. There's rain still dripping from the trees in the wind, so I put up a tarp and layer up for warmth.<br />
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After about an hour-long mid morning break, I decide to brave the wind out on Little Swift River Pond. The aluminum boat is probably about 11 foot in length; Not meant for one person to paddle very easily. I try it anyways. Once beyond the shore-side canopy, there is a tailwind that blows me out to the middle of the lake and beyond. I barely have to paddle except to keep the boat straight. This is an extremely vivid memory in my mind as the wind is blowing the bright colors of autumn into my brain. The trees and shrubs along the lakeshore seem to be more brightly colored than interior shrubs and understory trees. Perhaps the reflection of light off the water and ample sunlight to trigger color change has caused this phenomenon. The paddle back is strenuous, I stay close to the shore avoiding the countering gusts. This small pond has some charm, but the unrelenting wind is making it difficult to really take it all in. It's a mini adventure, and a chance to get off my feet and to exercise the upper body.<br />
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Eventually the gang shows up from behind me. <i>Rizza</i>, and <i>Beans</i> stop to view the lake. Then we take off and head the final two miles to Highway ME4. <i>Rizza </i>decides to check into a hostel outside of the town of Rangeley, that happens to be a quarter mile walk up the road. This way he can get a shuttle to town which apparently is included with a night's stay. <i>Beans</i> and I stick out our thumbs for half an hour until an older man and his wife in a pick up truck slowed down and pulled over. That was a breezy, chilling ride. It's always interesting moving at such a speed after traveling at 3 miles per hour all day for several days.</div>
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We were efficient with our time at the post office, grocery, and diner. Efficient enough to be back at the end of town to stick our thumbs out as the sun was setting. We got a lucky hitch back to the trailhead for a 2 mile night hike to Piazza Rock shelter.<br />
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<b>Tuesday September 23rd</b><br />
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Weather: cold, extremely windy, poor visibility on the Horn and Saddleback, clear views from Saddleback Junior.<br />
Trail: Piazza Rock Lean-to to Poplar Ridge Lean-to 8.8 miles<br />
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Breakfast over the fire!</div>
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We awoke to a pleasant morning day. I met some more thru-NOBO's<i> TwoPack</i> from Alberta<i>, Chosen</i> from Utah<i>, and Hudson</i> from Connecticut. Then, before beginning our big day over Saddleback, <i>Two Pack</i> and I did the short scramble without packs from the Lean-to up to Piazza Rock. No views from the top of this overhang, but the feature itself is very impressive!</div>
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Piazza Rock! <i>Two Pack</i> is doing the scramble to the top of this spectacular overhang boulder.<br />
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<i>Beans</i> and I headed out of camp around 9:30 that morning. We arrived at camp around 4:30. We only did 8.8 miles to Poplar Ridge Lean-to. <br />
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"Onwards and upwards!"</div>
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The environment atop Saddleback was very surreal. At times, when the gusts of wind fell silent and the fog hung still in the air, I felt as if I was snorkeling through coral reefs. There are all sorts of interesting life forms that find home in this extremely harsh, mostly winter environment. In the photo below, white Reindeer Lichen can be seen surrounded by what I think may be dwarf blueberry ground cover. The Lichen remind me of cauliflower florets. All the coniferous growth is stunted by constant harsh winds and heavy snowfall. </div>
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We thought we were going to have a 'good views' type of day over
Saddleback. A view to Rangeley lake and beyond would have been quite a
treat. But this was not the case!</div>
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Saddleback</div>
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Here is a vista from Saddleback Jr. looking back at the Horn and Saddleback. The visibility has begun to clear up now that we've crossed over the foul-weather-prone main Saddleback.</div>
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My knee is beginning to give me some trouble. The steep, technical downhills are painful on my right miniscus. I talk to <i>Beans</i> along the last few miles down. We decide to stop early at the Poplar Ridge Lean-to. I am glad we stopped early. The volunteer trail maintainer for this section of trail has left hikers a very entertaining, 18 page Q&A for our reading pleasure. Dave Meeser has maintained the section of Appalachian Trail from the Horn to Obert Stream Campground since 1957! For dinner I sauteed garlic in coconut oil, simmered dehydrated broccoli, carrot, spinach, and added chicken flavor Ramen noodles, StoveTop stuffing and sun-dried tomatoes. It was declicious!<br />
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<b>Wednesday September 24th</b><br />
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Weather: Spectacular sunny Autumn day!<br />
Trail: 2.7 miles on the White Blaze; 10 miles on the Yellow Blaze (road)</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);">My
friend Steph has <i>Smiles not Miles</i> for a trail name. She is an easy going type of
person who cares not about how many miles she hiked that day. I decided to adopt her trail mantra on the morning of September 24th.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);">I decided atop Poplar Ridge that the <i>fun factor </i>had decreased low enough to bail off the trail. My usable but painful <i>knee injury</i> that
had been gradually getting worse over a few days was bad on steep
technical down hills. And Saddleback had lots of those. Ibuprofen was
just not helping. Poplar Ridge was not an easy place to bail. The trail
at this location was miles from asphalt. Orbeton Stream was three steep
miles downhill first thing in the morning. A jeep trail near the stream
crossing took us (<i>Beans</i> left the trail with me) about a mile past an active
logging site helping us to realize the important role the A.T.
Conservancy plays in <i>corridor land preservation. </i>But Maine is big timber, and here we were walking on dirt roads used for snow machine travel in winter.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);">We
walked eight miles of dusty logging roads passing trout and Atlantic
salmon streams and homesteads and second summer homes. It wasn't the
flat road walking that hurt my knee one bit. The roads made for good
walking where one could achieve a nice rhythm. Finally we arrived at the
almighty super speed black top highway. Stratton, ME here we come! We hitched into town with three
rides. One ride was in a 1965 black Ford Mustang! Sweet ride.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);">We quickly found ourselves reconnecting with other thru-hikers that had been ahead of us on the trail. Four of us went into the White Wolf Lodge Inn for a hearty hiker meal. We all ordered and destroyed the Wolf Burger. <i>Hudson </i>insisted on being timed while eating his meal to the bare plate. I think his time was something like 3minutes 47 seconds to eat an entire plate of fries and a large beef patty stacked on top of a breakfast sausage patty stacked on top of 4 strips of bacon stacked on top of lettuce tomato and onion. I savored my Wolf Burger, and I was glad to be in the comforts of town and amongst good company.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3tm0e2Z6QyI_EM-SRtalEAX1oDPav2jdumu_aRFSifw3WbSkiQnOzRvYXhjE3X5h2t3w43-Iu4di4uOXLvJWtmSJDYtJdZGwGBNBONcS78aTMXZgp07vszcyRmFa0cxAgCtjoc-vDIk/s1600/IMG_0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3tm0e2Z6QyI_EM-SRtalEAX1oDPav2jdumu_aRFSifw3WbSkiQnOzRvYXhjE3X5h2t3w43-Iu4di4uOXLvJWtmSJDYtJdZGwGBNBONcS78aTMXZgp07vszcyRmFa0cxAgCtjoc-vDIk/s1600/IMG_0510.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);">Looking perplexed with this intimidating pile of meat on my plate. Four days of oatmeal and ramen noodles just doesn't compare with a meal like the Wolf Burger. </span><br />
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<span style="color: lime;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"> </span><b>Follow this link below to the PayPal page. Read the blog post below this one to learn exactly what we will do with your contributions!</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><span style="color: lime;"><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ZRKZ2KT9B7CKU" target="_blank"><b>Donation Station -- CLICK HERE</b></a></span> </span></div>
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Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-42929230561268590972014-11-12T05:33:00.000-08:002014-11-12T12:02:37.420-08:00Food Rescue Cornucopia<h3 style="text-align: center;">
This fall season has been a cornucopia of rescued food!</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNojw87FiihtyAeDpoXYrGL504r2o0WegWKNO-hNeMI0ZpqQe6ff5-K57OETxIrfgHr5_6fxkbJP2B7J68KqaNJzM3Tx2cvTZX-2R-6XBj2IlHHLWRzn84E1QfCdw6Iv2HyTBYzxw1VOw/s1600/IMG_1256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNojw87FiihtyAeDpoXYrGL504r2o0WegWKNO-hNeMI0ZpqQe6ff5-K57OETxIrfgHr5_6fxkbJP2B7J68KqaNJzM3Tx2cvTZX-2R-6XBj2IlHHLWRzn84E1QfCdw6Iv2HyTBYzxw1VOw/s1600/IMG_1256.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Reagan hands in a Fusion / BFF Tax ID form and a vendor at the Jessup Wholesale Distributor gets a tax write off for their donations.</div>
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October 1st, 2014, 9am Jessup, MD<br />
Reagan finds a cornucopia of fresh goods at produce distributor.<br />
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We're loading up the truck with fresh veggies and fruits.<br />
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October 1st, 2014, 11am Baltimore Free Farm<br />
Matt helps set up the tent at 3510 Ash Street.</div>
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October 1st, 2014, 12pm.... A happy customer!<br />
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Red Cabbage, tomatoes, limes, lemons...<br />
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Lemons, ginger, peppers...<br />
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11am Sunday October 5th, 2014 </div>
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Here's a photo showing the method to the madness of Food Not Bombs Baltimore chapter. Food Not Bombs prepares vegan meals to serve to the homeless downtown.</div>
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So I hope this inspires you to get involved with our Food Reclamation project here. This is a great time of year to jump in, as the harvest is providing a cornucopia, and there are many hungry people to feed. You can get involved in one of two ways: 1) come volunteer, we'd prefer if you would let us know ahead of time by calling 443-465-4261 or emailing collective@baltimorefreefarm.org </div>
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2) DONATE DOLLARS by visiting this link: </div>
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<a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ZRKZ2KT9B7CKU" target="_blank"><b>Donation Station -- CLICK HERE</b></a><br />
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We will be able to recoup the gas used for the food pickups, (gas is expensive!)</div>
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which
will help to continue to allow food to be distributed to the community
for free. Thank you all for your continued support!</div>
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<span id="goog_1328986891"></span><span id="goog_1328986892"></span><br />Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-85169685974707786872014-11-01T05:15:00.002-07:002014-11-01T05:26:46.027-07:00Trail Days... September 20th and September 21st<b>Saturday September 20th</b><br />
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Weather: cloudy and light spotty rain<br />
Trail: Grafton Notch State Park to Beamis Mountain ........... 11 miles<br />
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Jay and I made camp that night at a random location in the pines along the side
of the trail. Rain threatened. We were both dreading wet weather. I strung a tight line between two pines and hung my homemade tarp over it. After guying it out tight, I felt satisfied it would keep me dry even in a windy wet night. At one point I thought it was starting to rain, but that was the sound of pine needles falling on my tarp. It was both a relaxing sound and a relieving sound to know it was not rain. Luckily, the rain never came. There's nothing worse than breaking a wet camp in the morning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqLtNWJj7ylr0hCBpDBq4aaAa3bohS0YV3XZ0nj43E2YrzfHc-fxd-Hz3AYaYOl59665OVMKcuMZjA2DYzvGeYovrNCWn_iFrcsy3OlWteyuflukOjh1AHtJf6zZeMyW-VJ1o3lQTA8M/s1600/IMG_0338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqLtNWJj7ylr0hCBpDBq4aaAa3bohS0YV3XZ0nj43E2YrzfHc-fxd-Hz3AYaYOl59665OVMKcuMZjA2DYzvGeYovrNCWn_iFrcsy3OlWteyuflukOjh1AHtJf6zZeMyW-VJ1o3lQTA8M/s1600/IMG_0338.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's the simple rain shelter I made last year. It's homewrap, a light weight waterproof membrane used in postal envelopes, housing construction and bio-hazard suits. Loops were sewed along the perimeter of the tarp. I can 'guy-line' the tarp out taught like a drum so it holds in the wind. </div>
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MacGuyver had gone into town of Andover, ME to resupply,
and he got back on trail to follow us up the same trail a few hours later. He ended up camping alone about
100 yards short of <i>our </i><b>(</b>Beans and I's<b>)</b> camp near the water. Beamis is a dry mountain to cross this time of year. The water source was a tiny trickle of a
late summer, high altitude stream. There was one leaf folded over a rock to allow you to hold your bottle beneath and fill up on
clear mountain water. We watered up as soon as we made camp, so we ended up not seeing him that night. <br />
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<b>Sunday September 21st </b><br />
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Weather: sunny<br />
Trail: Beamis Mountain to Sabbath Day Pond Lean to ................ 11 miles<br />
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Today a warm, sunny breeze carries a sweet pine fragrance. A glorious
morning! I am not as stiff or sore as I had predicted I would be.
Stretching at my day's end last night must have helped. The next trail town is Rangely, where Beans and I are both expecting a mail drop at the post office.<br />
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After much of the green tunnel all morning, we are rewarded with our first view of <i>Mooselookmeguntic Lake</i> from <i>Beamis</i> Mountain. The autumn foliage is just beginning to pop! The amazing colorful panorama is absolutely gorgeous.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80jjpiuQgbf4GY0fLMSMF8K-AdZjg7OgfTMFfzo4jykxoTs0PTPhJCccku-gTbXdf9_C7IHJ3y5PnHdqVW7LvMxRuprRHpGw-KEywPJbNWHD1-bDoNzskoJmQudb_lqXeEGwFUcbiS08/s1600/IMG_0392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80jjpiuQgbf4GY0fLMSMF8K-AdZjg7OgfTMFfzo4jykxoTs0PTPhJCccku-gTbXdf9_C7IHJ3y5PnHdqVW7LvMxRuprRHpGw-KEywPJbNWHD1-bDoNzskoJmQudb_lqXeEGwFUcbiS08/s1600/IMG_0392.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a> </div>
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There was much speculation as to how this lake got it's name. One local
told the story like this: "there was a hunter who spotted a large Bull
Moose, he said 'Moose! Look!' then pulled the trigger of his gun, but
the gun failed to fire and made a 'tic' instead." The truth is that the
indigenous Abnaki gave the lake this name to mean "moose feeding place." </div>
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Beans on the way down Beamis Mountain.</div>
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My trail name is T-Mello. I have met many northbounders and some flip-flopers just in the few days I've been on the trail. So far I've met Thespian, Hardheaded, Guitarzan, Fuego Borego, Atlas, Wolf Kisses, Papa Shrimp, Shrimpette, Chosen, Rehab, Jukebox, Forager. Other entertaining trail names I've heard of are Smokey the Beard, Muffin Man, Twinkle Toes, Sparkle Feet, Blazing Sandals, Hippy Longstockings, and Laser Pussy. </div>
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Near the day's end, when MacGuyver, Beans and I reached Sabbath Day Pond, we came to a beach where I spotted my first Loon on the lake. There were two of them. They could stay under the water for minutes at a time, devouring the underwater grasses. Then they'd resurface 100 yards away from where they'd last been seen. They continued wailing their sad song into the night. </div>
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The shelter at Sabbath Day Pond is a 'Lean-to.' It's a simple three-sided shelter with a roof. And yes, we actually stayed there on a Sunday sabbath. We made camp there since it was most likely going to rain that night. Many hikers complain about shelter grafiti, and how it is<i> </i>disrespectful to other hikers and trail volunteers who built them. But MacGuyver's plan was to beautify the shelters with something less permanent. He drew vines and lizards creeping and crawling up the shetler posts with sidewalk chalk. I drew a picture of <a href="http://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/orange-hawkweed" target="_blank">hawkweed</a>, my new favorite plant, being bathed in rain and sunshine.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxY6Zg4Y2RSySQb3adlRbQ6OaYOUwCMcJDp7js0emVrEQ1QVhOnqvJ9qVDYTWuri3_K3_m_Puj9dyOxZHyZBA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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This video clip begins gazing at the orange <i>hawkweed</i> blooms blowing in the wind, then a sweeping panorama of <i>Beamis Mountain</i> then <i>Lake Mooselookmeguntic</i>.</div>
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Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-31076790136497528592014-09-25T05:48:00.001-07:002014-10-01T10:37:18.787-07:00The People's Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The Appalachian Trail experience </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">can</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> be a social experience for those who want it. Not quite on par with the European trail systems' cultural experience, this trail is for people who desire a <b><i>total immersion in wild nature</i></b>. The trail people, especially thru-hikers, want to exert themselves physically on </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>insanely technical</b> and <b>rugged terrain</b></i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>.</b> But most people say their favorite part of the experience is the friends they make along the way and the </span><b><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">commaraderie</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. This year, over 1,100 people attempting a </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">thru-hike passed thru the trail's halfway point in Harper's Ferry, WV. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Here are some the characters I have met so far...</span></div>
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<b><i>Beans</i></b>: first Appalachian Trail thru-hike attempt; so far so good. A 'thru-hike' means hiking the entire trail start to finish (Georgia to Maine typically). The average time people take to do this is 5-6 months.<br />
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<b><i>Grey Ghost</i></b>: began his thru-hike in March and halfway thru realized he had two broken bones in his foot. He got off trail for the 11week recovery and then began hiking southbound from the northern terminus on Mt Katahdin in Maine southbound. He decided to reverse directions to avoid severe winter weather up north.<br />
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<b><i>McGuyver</i></b>: got his trail name as he is pretty handy making useful things out of nothing. He made these really cool chainsaw carvings at the <a href="http://whitemountainslodgeandhostel.com/" target="_blank">white mountains lodge and hostel </a> in Gorham, NH.</div>
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<b><i>Hudson</i></b>: attempting his first thru-hike. But he's no stranger to the trail. Hudson operates a hiker hostel in Falls Village, CT. He's showing off his rad AT tattoo in photo below.<br />
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<b><i>Jo</i> <i>Cool</i></b> and <b><i>B</i>-<i>Man</i></b> from Pittsburg are out hiking a section NOBO.</div>
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<b><i>Poppy</i></b>: Waiting outside the Andover, Maine post office to mail unnecessary gear home. Shedding some extra pack weight will help his efforts over Maine's mountains.</div>
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<b><i>Rizza</i></b>: from Winston-Salem,NC. In this picture he is stoked to be in Monson, ME at the doorstep of the infamous <i>hundred mile wilderness</i>. This will be his final 6 days on a months-long journey north from Springer Mountain, Georgia. We got to hike with this energetic and positive hiker personality.<br />
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<b><i>Hillbilly Dave</i>:</b> not a thru-hiker but instead the legendary ferryman taking hikers safely across the trail's most formidable ford, the Kenebec River. Dave Fletcher has been running the ferry for the last eight years May-October six days a week!<br />
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Hillbilly Dave coming to pick up NOBO (northbound) thru-hiker Indy. <b><i>Indy</i></b> is another Marylander (from Cecil County).<br />
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Caratunk, ME September 27, 2014</div>
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(r to l) <b><i>Chewy</i>, <i>Tesla</i>, </b>and<b> <i>Rizza</i></b> in a frenzy around the hiker box in Caratunk. They are all becoming increasingly excited as they approach their final 150 mile crescendo atop Mt Katahdin.<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i><b>Marie</b>: </i>Caratunk, Maine post </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: normal;">master. She has helped hikers and other mail patrons for 25years and retires on the 30th.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Photo taken </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">b</span></span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">ack in Caratunk<i></i></span></i><i> </i>after my last leg of hiking to Monson on<span style="font-style: normal;"><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><i> </i>September 29th 2014</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i><b>Miss Janet</b>:</i> a legendary trail angel providing vehicle support and many others fabulous forms of trail magic. Hailing originally from Alabama, she is getting to know the strategic road crossings quite well from Dahlonega to Millinocket. She rode me back to my vehicle in Caratunk when I arrived in Monson, ME. Thanks Miss J!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">September 29th 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This gal/guy is not a person but it appears that (s)he spends a lot of time around people, so I am including him/ her in this post. Meet </span><b><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Theo</i></b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b><i>Sandy</i></b>: at White Wolf Inn and Cafe takes good care of hungry hikers. Here she presents the Wolf Burger!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b><i>Dawn</i></b>: owner and operator at Shaw's. A hiker hospitality since the '70s. Shaw's serves the heartiest hiker breakfast in Monson!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">A gathering at Shaw's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">September 29th 2014</span></div>
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<br />Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-44648423673607304672014-09-24T09:49:00.000-07:002014-09-24T09:49:10.736-07:00Food Rescue Day at Baltimore Free Farm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Another Food Rescue Day at Baltimore Free Farm </h4>
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Some of the goods we got today. We also had lots of volunteers to help sort the produce, yay!</h4>
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I'd like to tell you more about why we're passionate about Food Rescue:</h3>
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<b>A recent study from the USDA found that:</b></div>
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<b>"In
the United States, 31 percent—or 133 billion pounds—of the 430 billion
pounds of the available food supply at the retail and consumer levels in
2010 went uneaten. The estimated value of this food loss was $161.6
billion using retail prices. For the first time, ERS estimated the
calories associated with food loss: 141 trillion in 2010, or 1,249
calories per capita per day."</b></div>
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<b>- See more at: <a href="http://endhunger.org/food_waste.htm#sthash.vneApqjT.dpuf" target="_blank">http://endhunger.org/food_<wbr></wbr>waste.htm#sthash.vneApqjT.dpuf</a></b></div>
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That's just crazy. Why is it that people in this country go hungry when there is so much food going to waste?</div>
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<b>By intercepting the food from going into the landfill, we are helping the environment!</b><br />
Reducing the methane from landfills: when food is disposed in a landfill it rots and
becomes a significant source of methane - a potent greenhouse gas with
21 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. Landfills are a
major source of human-related methane in the United States, accounting
for more than 20 percent of all methane emissions. </div>
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<b>By wasting less food, we're wasting less resources:</b> There
are many resources needed to grow food, including water, fertilizers,
pesticides, and energy. By wasting food, you are also wasting the
resources that went into growing it.</div>
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<b>By donating HERE: </b></div>
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</form>
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<b>You will help to sustain this project:</b><br />
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We will be able to recoup the gas used for the food pickups, (gas is expensive!)</div>
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which will help to continue to allow food to be distributed to the community for free. Thank you all for your continued support!</div>
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Enjoying the bounty! Today we put out about 20lbs of Free Farm grown surplus produce!</h4>
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<br />Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-40127706248705289702014-09-23T08:26:00.001-07:002014-09-28T05:35:09.152-07:00Hiking into Autumn<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbTA-i-GJDaH7M7jJcoVQQdWEwlFWjfuI-NPqN74tMVEpO_Q2xtQCc02GorvZKJB3ie5ww_QpXyejrL3UvDbkdR0CTrgBGnkhrzDAva7Hbva1gooT5czt34O6JaZABgoTL4lUjFXVDr0/s640/blogger-image--1994741226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbTA-i-GJDaH7M7jJcoVQQdWEwlFWjfuI-NPqN74tMVEpO_Q2xtQCc02GorvZKJB3ie5ww_QpXyejrL3UvDbkdR0CTrgBGnkhrzDAva7Hbva1gooT5czt34O6JaZABgoTL4lUjFXVDr0/s640/blogger-image--1994741226.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Beans and T-Mello arguing about which direction to hike. I am a southbounder at heart, but I gave into Beans' northbound tendencies since he has come all the way from Georgia on foot beginning March 21st. Photo by McGuyver.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaTu06JS6g9aDlkQPH84ZOMphjAg1mUSVdwy1l_1gwV0tnlskB4E698bRvpxfWtHvVXoQYqb3agyGNdOhZdQgBFQ52LJWxtUhKhPlgyjtxsUKgT_IhSaOa7nGcfku2o8KkrZDUOxs_sk/s640/blogger-image-1323312056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaTu06JS6g9aDlkQPH84ZOMphjAg1mUSVdwy1l_1gwV0tnlskB4E698bRvpxfWtHvVXoQYqb3agyGNdOhZdQgBFQ52LJWxtUhKhPlgyjtxsUKgT_IhSaOa7nGcfku2o8KkrZDUOxs_sk/s640/blogger-image-1323312056.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56RZFeGA0kdOsDtyj4rgmseSfvQWqKlspszvaPbC-uAZ-G3_EoTi5-Cc7R1UXtELo3mSwX5ktyjbvnboGp-yfXrCTDEzfB3s8on5QV4RAvs_Oolo5KFaO6KgeACR_4fmX2n5UlEFIvoc/s640/blogger-image--732706704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56RZFeGA0kdOsDtyj4rgmseSfvQWqKlspszvaPbC-uAZ-G3_EoTi5-Cc7R1UXtELo3mSwX5ktyjbvnboGp-yfXrCTDEzfB3s8on5QV4RAvs_Oolo5KFaO6KgeACR_4fmX2n5UlEFIvoc/s640/blogger-image--732706704.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVHbNwLksozWwc054-xI_5_rGAnRL7DoRj8kqRmzLMUPf8eZvrpReLGU3AKmRNoXVse_ig_VLLk0kmUIUwz98PfkakFOrOUvn6jdJMS43KTYhgY6PP2hG07nvHzOPYK0y1AiFJPAq8Ag/s640/blogger-image-1633407090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVHbNwLksozWwc054-xI_5_rGAnRL7DoRj8kqRmzLMUPf8eZvrpReLGU3AKmRNoXVse_ig_VLLk0kmUIUwz98PfkakFOrOUvn6jdJMS43KTYhgY6PP2hG07nvHzOPYK0y1AiFJPAq8Ag/s640/blogger-image-1633407090.jpg"></a></div>Autumn is the best time for camp fires!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PJtMiekMDmt981D6v3EJZeVUcTI3KaK_seVwCk8K-6wgs6QWR40WnNMcKvt1-l9vd7geYyanAsuXSr9hYrDwwJrZZDM4x_KB61r3qtpsc59PKuwZ8X1zniRUQRRPea18-llPqtnDQ8k/s640/blogger-image-299529979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PJtMiekMDmt981D6v3EJZeVUcTI3KaK_seVwCk8K-6wgs6QWR40WnNMcKvt1-l9vd7geYyanAsuXSr9hYrDwwJrZZDM4x_KB61r3qtpsc59PKuwZ8X1zniRUQRRPea18-llPqtnDQ8k/s640/blogger-image-299529979.jpg"></a></div>Trail registers are often full of amusing stories, comics, poems, and nature observations. These public journals are also important means of communication for those hiking long distances on the trail. For example: "McGuyver, I'm headed to Frye Notch Shelter tonight. Hope you can make it." ---- Beans 9/20/2014</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've been seeing entries from another Maryland thru-hiker named Waldo. I've yet to meet him though....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlsw-cg1Z_ZOQzGOqfwI5zpvu8CM0a5fvrJjr2DjCUWZG2bGjqsB7PGgaAuMK01lTOKh26EWAjoe3r-KvifFOAecgZjDFMFCMMi-0FSIDeY6lP1Y-OggZw8MDkBHn9E39TbtvBFyurFY/s640/blogger-image--1880896133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlsw-cg1Z_ZOQzGOqfwI5zpvu8CM0a5fvrJjr2DjCUWZG2bGjqsB7PGgaAuMK01lTOKh26EWAjoe3r-KvifFOAecgZjDFMFCMMi-0FSIDeY6lP1Y-OggZw8MDkBHn9E39TbtvBFyurFY/s640/blogger-image--1880896133.jpg"></a></div>I've been collecting seed from this plant called Hawkweed. I bet it's in the aster group. It seems to like a rocky substrate in sunny locations, usually near road crossings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDHq-kMWwWAOEm6Z6iLRrDb5_ONkywatZ5sNt-NV-BxNlshJ8T93qzSzmAloAmGXTMZRC3BHSvavMN1Ctoc_P7YsEraa6QPzkVzif4QYPkq1LCJHnRg6n_wzTCSaNLd-2FRNHuNr2FzA/s640/blogger-image-1272260875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDHq-kMWwWAOEm6Z6iLRrDb5_ONkywatZ5sNt-NV-BxNlshJ8T93qzSzmAloAmGXTMZRC3BHSvavMN1Ctoc_P7YsEraa6QPzkVzif4QYPkq1LCJHnRg6n_wzTCSaNLd-2FRNHuNr2FzA/s640/blogger-image-1272260875.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Baltimore Free Farm is hosting the educational aspect of the second annual Mushroom City Arts festival from October 2nd thru October 4th. Check out their website for schedule of events.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://mushroomcityartfestival.org/schedule/">http://mushroomcityartfestival.org/schedule/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelP6IGcL72lydGXkOIDKkiut2ngRI-C5AKSLG1KywYmLmQub81-xgQ2dTdfoqVOLbtUbcY_0iOh8ZgiM8l72BeZw6qx2WVcvlrQB84WcLOpXPbhX0oEwl5y6NAyfBdNmIY2mwM0JXx6w/s640/blogger-image-507680790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelP6IGcL72lydGXkOIDKkiut2ngRI-C5AKSLG1KywYmLmQub81-xgQ2dTdfoqVOLbtUbcY_0iOh8ZgiM8l72BeZw6qx2WVcvlrQB84WcLOpXPbhX0oEwl5y6NAyfBdNmIY2mwM0JXx6w/s640/blogger-image-507680790.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Maine trail is notorious for it's rugged and often technical climbs and descents. The Maine A.T. Club even installs metal assists in rocky places where hikers shouldering packs would have trouble getting through.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKETGRTbI5cDA-PyXuJdW39l1xwFQkZZlISZ_ROKNkNagzOIeEPWO5AbYTUEdYFsvBZ3K-2FrhzjEC-jr4t3dXYHcHxmpFlSgl2IE_VXMpAOHkL6fvssFfqcF01EOPR0mYB0ii3HQGMNc/s640/blogger-image--1291705465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKETGRTbI5cDA-PyXuJdW39l1xwFQkZZlISZ_ROKNkNagzOIeEPWO5AbYTUEdYFsvBZ3K-2FrhzjEC-jr4t3dXYHcHxmpFlSgl2IE_VXMpAOHkL6fvssFfqcF01EOPR0mYB0ii3HQGMNc/s640/blogger-image--1291705465.jpg"></a></div>But the rewarding scenery makes the climb worth all the effort!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhse5uNjRcjEDhyphenhyphenwvgx-whSFnJ65lAkqx8irR8F26JdqYYW1Ssd6ubNjC5d8-R-xtDdO75Qlbr4MShOCHw-YtUUnmb5boEuxiCfFIB0Uw0NH3Dsy6wWTScg0dJ7t6910qDX0uj-D4jhA/s640/blogger-image--1774212725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhse5uNjRcjEDhyphenhyphenwvgx-whSFnJ65lAkqx8irR8F26JdqYYW1Ssd6ubNjC5d8-R-xtDdO75Qlbr4MShOCHw-YtUUnmb5boEuxiCfFIB0Uw0NH3Dsy6wWTScg0dJ7t6910qDX0uj-D4jhA/s640/blogger-image--1774212725.jpg"></a></div>Lake Mooselookmeguntic. Say that 5 times fast!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDZT8-e6dP3g-4KCN5bUgbkPsnHT66BKrUCSjbZlj80GIDpBtE7JuC3C0rqZcQkoS1hyphenhyphenOnifFxekMIR_dfaiOBs0Q_sy_abbDvv-lA3g4NC1ai783HXQl6DaRmLJE0pPwYPa-Mr3lFmQ/s640/blogger-image-1324638435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDZT8-e6dP3g-4KCN5bUgbkPsnHT66BKrUCSjbZlj80GIDpBtE7JuC3C0rqZcQkoS1hyphenhyphenOnifFxekMIR_dfaiOBs0Q_sy_abbDvv-lA3g4NC1ai783HXQl6DaRmLJE0pPwYPa-Mr3lFmQ/s640/blogger-image-1324638435.jpg"></a></div>Autumn colors are showing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today is the first day of Autumn and we are most fortunate to be crossing Saddleback Mountain. Here is the view!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIfl_UdFrV94n3io9Ecp7FfVtmeP5ZvGqldkPcB-kBdeyWK6UlO89kmPwDSW1jG5u3NPKwxUZXK1iZmgsd2Ateyz6I1EmD5iIrpgxodB03fW-8EK5CBZJi0ah9dr8sJ2U3qHUc1HwzgE/s640/blogger-image-1471122430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIfl_UdFrV94n3io9Ecp7FfVtmeP5ZvGqldkPcB-kBdeyWK6UlO89kmPwDSW1jG5u3NPKwxUZXK1iZmgsd2Ateyz6I1EmD5iIrpgxodB03fW-8EK5CBZJi0ah9dr8sJ2U3qHUc1HwzgE/s640/blogger-image-1471122430.jpg"></a></div>Not what we had hoped for but still beautiful in it's own way. It's gusty wet cloud weather but thankfully not too cold.</div><br></div></div></div>Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-77844721195236378862014-09-22T15:01:00.001-07:002014-09-22T15:01:14.523-07:00Gearing up for an overnight hike<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUxd7rGTQfyl69eZCFIxkwADDAxVbCDVtIn9aizcEMsiVNhuXOiOsJbBs8mnKOyz8BGAymCWvMk0qOLyUs7c56keyHX23I8q-Wa5bQUcoX1r-2tJdK0z-WT00rRedzSe8DhQrP_pSie8/s640/blogger-image--949204047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUxd7rGTQfyl69eZCFIxkwADDAxVbCDVtIn9aizcEMsiVNhuXOiOsJbBs8mnKOyz8BGAymCWvMk0qOLyUs7c56keyHX23I8q-Wa5bQUcoX1r-2tJdK0z-WT00rRedzSe8DhQrP_pSie8/s640/blogger-image--949204047.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">All of this stuff has to fit in my pack!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6fxbAP8ZCL7nswka5SvNE-CDPKGaRFe8tGRvvG36Vpl-L9lvBk08yEcC2Z9hNA_xi76rNE2Br4JOZaKDGO2ZvMT3_xGscf58zupmTLuk9k1jKlOs-Dnx0z5LNE6ZxbBZkLfoaFay0nk/s640/blogger-image-1866723089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6fxbAP8ZCL7nswka5SvNE-CDPKGaRFe8tGRvvG36Vpl-L9lvBk08yEcC2Z9hNA_xi76rNE2Br4JOZaKDGO2ZvMT3_xGscf58zupmTLuk9k1jKlOs-Dnx0z5LNE6ZxbBZkLfoaFay0nk/s640/blogger-image-1866723089.jpg"></a></div></div>Essential to any hiker's gear list is water treatment. This one has a hint of lemon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWpkdjezwudQUHJMVz0aupkps8URI0AeNStTyaINk97z6IyumNHFNWLowVBAEYEPWbEjKhByIBzUlYGQQklQKietsU2MPe9JjyoHWGYSAbv-UnYT4vGHzsFZrJ85GIxoAD54i444RnH0/s640/blogger-image-793387317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWpkdjezwudQUHJMVz0aupkps8URI0AeNStTyaINk97z6IyumNHFNWLowVBAEYEPWbEjKhByIBzUlYGQQklQKietsU2MPe9JjyoHWGYSAbv-UnYT4vGHzsFZrJ85GIxoAD54i444RnH0/s640/blogger-image-793387317.jpg"></a></div>Data book for seeing what's ahead and journal for notes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPsPZME3SHmgxq0JjwnssNJl2R3OxEcRBbxeK0hXM-Wv6o3LbS2vzuxAnWZ5vEPNT5WtjuzBRDG9LeYp11rDlpZShEhIqk3FuqTg96dzA_x4axhQHG1jvBZFruFtuJ0TR4Fh_HX8sjkA/s640/blogger-image-747352866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPsPZME3SHmgxq0JjwnssNJl2R3OxEcRBbxeK0hXM-Wv6o3LbS2vzuxAnWZ5vEPNT5WtjuzBRDG9LeYp11rDlpZShEhIqk3FuqTg96dzA_x4axhQHG1jvBZFruFtuJ0TR4Fh_HX8sjkA/s640/blogger-image-747352866.jpg"></a></div>There's nothing better than warm dry socks at the end of the day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUHPCxLv7qMEPICWeWqkB-TqZNATQtEr67k2xfkwCtzbBnmws8CBLQebaT6daqqRzUXpfQC0NC23Q7kfKGKvFYm40RRqBhVvOZqHMp-irVfoInI4sdm1oRRbMB3pn2jbqgDOkJFLboJg/s640/blogger-image--288294576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUHPCxLv7qMEPICWeWqkB-TqZNATQtEr67k2xfkwCtzbBnmws8CBLQebaT6daqqRzUXpfQC0NC23Q7kfKGKvFYm40RRqBhVvOZqHMp-irVfoInI4sdm1oRRbMB3pn2jbqgDOkJFLboJg/s640/blogger-image--288294576.jpg"></a></div>A patch printed at BFF. And a sewing kit given to me by Lady Sherpa. I will have something to do at camp.</div>Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-47401191736111281632014-09-18T14:16:00.001-07:002014-09-19T11:34:21.887-07:00Baltimore Free Farm -- a Social Justice and Sustainability 'Food Hub'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQxwK8DCG9gWj5-B9D3bMYi2HoBoSAPdZ-pxk2VCZHCNBj_o6bmdAdvMAOQ76uSgRKJZxQXwT78QVoaXse8N4-N0vZ_ZeI17IKCWMd2dq9Q_VtEhZeTY26lZQiHD14DMHKh8N4-1BgHA/s1600/tmello.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQxwK8DCG9gWj5-B9D3bMYi2HoBoSAPdZ-pxk2VCZHCNBj_o6bmdAdvMAOQ76uSgRKJZxQXwT78QVoaXse8N4-N0vZ_ZeI17IKCWMd2dq9Q_VtEhZeTY26lZQiHD14DMHKh8N4-1BgHA/s1600/tmello.jpg" /></a></div>
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T-Mello on 2011 Southbound Thru-Hike to Georgia </div>
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As most know, I am a collective member of <a href="http://www.baltimorefreefarm.org/" target="_blank">Baltimore Free Farm</a> a project of Fusion Partnerships.</div>
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Our Mission<br />
Baltimore Free Farm is committed to created ecologically sound alternatives by combining the best of age-old and modern technologies. We strive to promote urban agriculture, sustainability, and permaculture through the creation of green spaces and community sanctuaries which utilize reclaimed materials whenever possible. By providing entertainment, educational opportunities, and ethically produced food to local residents, we hope to instill a sense of pride in one's community and its ability to sustain itself.<br />
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Food Rescue Day<br />
Every Wednesday members of Baltimore Free Farm go to various produce distributors and grocers to rescue distressed goods <items too ripe to sell or just past their expiration date>. We drive the 300-500 lbs of produce, dry goods, and bread 30 miles back to Baltimore Free Farm for redistribution into the community. This is a direct action against the endemic food waste crisis that faces our society, which pushes 40% of food produced into landfills to rot with the plastics and other non-compostable goods while millions around the world starve. By simply giving perfectly edible food to people who will eat it, Food Rescue Day is the physical manifestation of a conservation about food waste on a local level. Food is given away at 12noon every Wednesday.<br />
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A happy family gets free food on Wednesday September 17th</div>
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Bread, Eggs, Dairy, Veggies, Fruit, and groceries! A whole week's worth to those in need for free!</div>
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September 17th 2014<br />
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Currently a two year old project, BFF volunteers work from 8am to 3pm making sure things run smoothly. Last winter was rough, but we only missed pick ups once or twice due to adverse road conditions.</div>
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September 17th 2014</div>
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A regular customer admires his new loaf of bread.</div>
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September 17th 2014</div>
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San Marzanos produced well this season. BFF also donates home grown veggies to Food Rescue Day.</div>
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September 6th 2014</div>
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My Proposal = Reason for this and the coming blog posts:</div>
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I have a two week window to go backpacking with my friend Jay in Maine. Jay is 'thru' hiking the entire 2185 mile Appalachian Trail. I dropped him off on Springer Mountain summit at the start of the trail in north Georgia on March 22nd. Jay, travelling by trail name 'Beans,' has been travelling on foot since then and just crossed into his final state. He has about 280 miles left to go. As the fall colors filter down from the mountain tops, I will be joining him for the journey.</div>
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I propose a 25 cent (that's a quarter of a dollar) donation for each mile I hike on the Appalachian Trail in Maine between now and October 1st. For example, if I begin tomorrow and hike 12 miles a day for 12 days, that's 144 miles x $0.25 = $36.00 Anyone is welcome to donate any amount at any time. Every little bit helps. If money is tight, you can email collective@baltimorefreefarm.org and pledge to volunteer on a Wednesday to help the Food Rescue and distribution efforts. Proceeds will go directly for fuel expenses required to transport hundreds of pounds of food to Baltimore Free Farm each week.</div>
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<b style="background-color: lime;">DONATION STATION</b><br />
Make a tax-deductable donation to Baltimore Free Farm via our 501(c)3 fiscal partner, Fusion Partnerships.<br />
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Reagan's rendition of a hitch hiking carrot.</div>
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May 2014</div>
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A sign I encountered in Wells River, Vermont en route to Appalachian Trail on </div>
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September 18th, 2014.</div>
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Dehydrated veggies for donation by Baltimore Free Farm.</div>
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Appalachian Trail hikers at White Mountains Lodge and Hiker Hostel in Gorham, NH will carry this light weight nutritious food over Maine's mountains!</div>
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September 18th 2014</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Tonight I camp with 'Beans' at Grafton Notch Maine. The photo above shows an elevation profile with Grafton Notch near the center of the image. We will be hiking Northbound (to the right in this image) to Katahdin tomorrow!</span></div>
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September 18th 2014</div>
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Wolf Kisses and Papa Shrimp at the trailhead after a quick ride from a gas station in Gorham, NH in the collective van. I made sure they stocked up on dehydrated veggies from Baltimore Free Farm before they left town. At the gas station where I met them, a police officer was initially suspicious when he saw them scooping into a 5 gallon bucket full of spinach flakes. But no worries; these two happen to be vegetarian, so they really appreciated the food.</div>
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September 18th 2014</div>
Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-26972209173413707192012-01-03T02:42:00.000-08:002012-02-03T12:30:39.676-08:00UNITED PLANT SAVERSHelp us <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Save</span> our most precious <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Native Plants</span>!<br />
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we can join together right now... to ensure that these plants continue to shape our culture....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEYZaPUybGaebYL37QknOftx0isSwK_Wv0Lhk2qZEnU3vl28CfH_MKkojKqDx5R7ZfVu_OekRRkydrIyck4Q4SoT1EwtDScmtSyxWO5JGf2XZXq8dm-1tvdHagVjx4Ao4GJ2iKOChYfQ/s1600/nettles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEYZaPUybGaebYL37QknOftx0isSwK_Wv0Lhk2qZEnU3vl28CfH_MKkojKqDx5R7ZfVu_OekRRkydrIyck4Q4SoT1EwtDScmtSyxWO5JGf2XZXq8dm-1tvdHagVjx4Ao4GJ2iKOChYfQ/s320/nettles.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Stinging Nettle</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">In 2005, while working for the Forest Service in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho, I would often try to use water from a stream to relieve the burning sensation on my legs after I had brushed by a stand of trail-side stinging nettles. The water did nothing to relieve my pain... and now 6 years later I have since cultivated a special relationship with this plant. The nettle plant is my teacher; my ally. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here in the above photograph, we can see the glass-like needles which protrude from the plant's surface. </div><div style="text-align: center;">These needles contain a collection of acids which cause the infamous sting. The needles feature something like a ball on the end, kind of like a ballpoint pen, that comes off when brushed against. This releases acids on the victim and can cause hives and discomfort for a day or two. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In May 2011, I spent time with the United Plant Savers at the Goldenseal Botanical Sanctuary. It was here that I learned that the Nettle plant isn't just a culprit to many a victim, but a source of medicine. Arthritic joints can be treated by whipping the joint with a branch of stinging nettles. In theory, this act of Urticating stimulates the adrenals which reduces swelling and pain in the joint. The knowledge definitely came to me this summer when my feet felt like they were going to fall off during the early stages of my 2181 mile walk along the Appalachian Trail. I would harvest woodland Nettles and begin thrashing my tingling feet and ankles. Shortly after the initial sting, I began to feel comfortably numb where the plant had made contact with my skin. </div><div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Little did I know back in my green years as a trail-bound nature seeker, that a plant called Jewel Weed was probably growing nearby the Nettles. And this would have been the perfect remedy for a stinging discomfort. The plant's aloe-like juices produce a cooling effect on the skin, Not to mention a beautiful yellow or orange flower in mid-late summer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">What a gorgeous design nature has planned for this rare vine called Wild Yam. Much research has examined the medicinal properties of Wild Yam.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">This plant was used during the civil war to slow bleeding at the solidier's open wounds.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yarrow also makes a tasty tea!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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I was delighted to see these pitcher plants growing in a high mountain bog atop the Barren-Chairback range in Maine this summer. I was accustomed to seeing this beauty while on paddling trips in the Great Okefenokee Swamp in south Georgia. But even parts of the A.T. lead hikers along boardwalks that float atop the swamp muck.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">These are but a small sample of the plants I have encountered while walking my forest journey. The protected lands which harbor the Appalachian Trail are truly pristine environments where plant lovers may find thriving populations of wild ramps, bergamot, and the rare gray's lily. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Today we are winning the public lands battle which must never end. With millions of acres designated for Wilderness status, never before have we seen in our government's policy such emphasis on the preservation of wild systems. This is our IDENTITY as a global nation. Plants thrive in wild systems. And humans and other animals thrive on wild plants. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">But what about the endangered plant communities found on America's <i><b>private</b></i> lands? How can we raise awareness and reach out to build a network of responsible land owners? Well, let us take a look at this here link.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.unitedplantsavers.org/content.php/217-A-Penny-a-Mile-for-the-United-Plant-Savers">DONATION STATION--- United Plant Savers </a></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
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</div></div>Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-35784943995668779812011-12-21T12:55:00.000-08:002012-02-01T20:24:15.130-08:00Wheww... that was a long walkback in <span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span>altimore,<br />
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The campfire smoke is still stuck in my hair, and that red Georgia clay is hiding underneath my fingernails. I find myself still waking up with the sun and lone bird call, tempted to turn in early at days' end. But <i>hiker midnight </i><9PM> is left in the dust with these newfangled light bulbs and friends to catch up with. The victory lap will continue through the holiday as I still need to catch up with my new hometown Trail friends <i>Bobwhite, Powder River, Happy Camper</i>...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BbPVqwD1FTAIUmdz_4IwKUPvEx2ZY7woGB7TYDeMbPsBeSEgcJbCIy90K3mgy52jXjNmF1y9fQwwqCJyUg6grjuasmbLsZIf205h19zMYJUf-AtZogt1w6fISus12WNwDv689-2pwDI/s1600/FH000005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BbPVqwD1FTAIUmdz_4IwKUPvEx2ZY7woGB7TYDeMbPsBeSEgcJbCIy90K3mgy52jXjNmF1y9fQwwqCJyUg6grjuasmbLsZIf205h19zMYJUf-AtZogt1w6fISus12WNwDv689-2pwDI/s320/FH000005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reunion back in Baltimore.. at the end of our lunch, we all got into our respective motor vehicles and drove away instead of tying our shoes and walking south on the single-track.... this was a novel experience amongst our group, but how cool is it that I have 'trail friends' in my hometown?</div><div style="text-align: center;">(l to r) <i>Powder River, Bobwhite, T-Mello, Happy Camper</i> on Dec 22, 2011</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pPFYDm7KHSWjTIbehyCbcdhLfY-pjxc_PraCVqtnrtlNiXoS2onnZ65Kr51OQXCmAkLEDEwQpHvdp5yTZQkRDv97NXFidsWVvuUrHyLUIwBzAXYPPCfSkgDUPQxOo61MdldG8XY2Xyc/s1600/FH000017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pPFYDm7KHSWjTIbehyCbcdhLfY-pjxc_PraCVqtnrtlNiXoS2onnZ65Kr51OQXCmAkLEDEwQpHvdp5yTZQkRDv97NXFidsWVvuUrHyLUIwBzAXYPPCfSkgDUPQxOo61MdldG8XY2Xyc/s320/FH000017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> it's a celebration on Springer Mountain on December 18</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>the "Bubs" <<i>Rogebo, Marbo, and Pistol Pete</i>> came down last Friday to meet me at Neel Gap where <i>Pirate</i> and <i>Lumpy</i> greeted us at the Walasi-Yi hiker center, the old stone-CCC-built hostel featuring the only breeze-way in a building through which the white blaze leads. The Bubs travelled 12 hours and 700 miles by rubber and asphalt on the same day I walked a largish 20 mile day from Helen, GA through the Mark Trail Wilderness and the Raven Cliffs Wilderness.<br />
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At this point I had been going since Hot Springs, NC without single day of rest. The final stretch helped me find consistent 16-18 mile walks each day. While I once lived the philosophy "don't let hiking get in the way of your hike" in the summer days of my walk, it was time to focus and find the rhythm to drive me home for Christmas jubilation. While rest days in town were joyful, the discipline of daily consistent excercise made the walking seem automatic and effortless.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRYBt72_J3alQfVBJNe7th6kMRlKApV4No-o1LDovKpJ-I-AJw_iah_GB13OkaSlJpUfkQL5ueXHjw5S6LKwfWmYSnFElF8mgvvrAo1BZyK28zwHoTXJwuC-BL8mCb3VXPLvONtZDleM/s1600/FH000007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRYBt72_J3alQfVBJNe7th6kMRlKApV4No-o1LDovKpJ-I-AJw_iah_GB13OkaSlJpUfkQL5ueXHjw5S6LKwfWmYSnFElF8mgvvrAo1BZyK28zwHoTXJwuC-BL8mCb3VXPLvONtZDleM/s320/FH000007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">back home with CousMike @ the start of my "24-hour couch challenge"<br />
December 19</div><br />
The family we had cultivated during the long, strange trip grew stronger. <i>Teenie</i> stepped in as an integral addition for the last leg. She had walked with all of us in Maine and New Hampshire, and then got off the trail to work a little and be at home with her man Dana in the Atlanta area. Then she found <i>Bobwhite's</i> phone number on her desk at home and decided to meet us at Cow Camp Gap, Virginia. <i>Teenie</i> and <i>Bobwhite</i> stayed ahead of us slackers for a good while. We <<i>Eddie, Bogart, Tag</i>>caught up to them in Damascus, VA and then fell behind once again until after Thanksgiving... When <i>Coach's</i> family had provided him with a personal turkey off-trail for yet another food challenge, <i>Eddie</i> and I rendered our own "TurDuckIn" at the best shelter on the trail... the old Red Barn at Overmountain pass. We didn't quite have all the ingredients, but stove top stuffing and turkey gravy served as a topping over our 'pigs in a turkey blanket.' The vegan <i>Bogart</i> stuck with his 'dusty bars' and healthy food.<br />
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Along top of the Smoky Mountains from Newfound Gap to Fontana Dam, foggy dream-like days led to identically designed stone shelters known as the <i>Nantahala</i> style with fireplace and transparent corrugated plastic roofing. Dusk blended with dawn as life in the clouds stagnated time and light with only space change as a constant. Then the weather turned foul, and I wasn't in the mood for walking in the wet. So I posted up in Mollie's Ridge shelter all day, knowing full well that I probably wouldn't catch up with the <i>Bogart and Teenie</i> unless I did some crazy miles or yellow blazed <see glossary for definition of yellow blaze ---- <a href="http://sobo2ga.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-07-27T21:59:00-07:00&max-results=7">Trail Talk</a>>.<br />
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A 175 day chapter in my life is complete. And it is sweet to be finished. My body is tired, it wants to sleep, but I'm still running on adrenaline from the journey. I've already applied for jobs at the grocery stores. Hmmm, maybe I want to be close to food <i>resupply</i> after starving in the wilderness for 6 months. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> had one last picture on that disposable camera to document <span style="font-size: large;">peak griz</span></div><br />
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I spent Christmas night at my sister's house, and practiced Math Skills with <i>Moj</i> my nephew who is in 2nd grade. <i>T-Mello </i>"So if I walked 3 miles per hour for 6 hours, how far did I walk?" <i>Moj</i> "Wow you walked 18 miles?" Good job <i>Moj</i>! He's always been a smart cookie.<br />
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The next morning I woke up and walked through the back yard and down the road towards the NCR trail. NCR is Baltimore County's premier "Rail Trail" providing opportunities for outdoor recreation. I walked about 7-8 miles south on the <b>N</b>orthern <b>C</b>entral<b> R</b>ail Trail to Monkton station. The "Natural Brothers" vegan deli was closed, and I didn't really feel like walking another 9 miles to the Light Rail commuter train, so I decided to try an experiment.... I tried Hitch-hiking in Maryland. This was an interesting study, as I positioned myself along the road crossing where the popular biking/hiking trail might be an appropriate location to examine the good will of motorists on the day after Christmas. The wait for a ride was the longest I had ever experienced in my life. I half expected this, remembering that I had to get down to that WholeFoods and put in a job app. But finally Dan Capozzi picked me up and dropped me off in Cockeysville, MD where I took the Light Rail from it's northern terminus.<br />
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So off I jumped from the train @ the Woodberry stop on the outskirts of Downtown Baltimore, and stopped by to see if anyone was stirring at cousin Peter's pad. Dylan lent me a vintage Raleigh bicycle which I rode southward along the final stretch of JonesFalls that sees daylight. Could I really live in a place where toxic water flows all around me after months of drinking straight from the soil source? Many questions stirred in my head, where to go from here, would it be time for a career change. Baltimore obviously lacks jobs in the way of trail building, a profession I have loved for 8 years. What the hell do I do next? There's a lead on a job in SC working on the "Palmetto Trail" with my buddies <i>Speaks Little</i> and <i>Scout</i>.<br />
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But I'm tempted to settle for living as a Baltimoron for a while. It is exciting to begin a new chapter, to turn the page.... but a bit overwhelming. Dark Star Orchestra is playing their annual new year's show tonight at the Rams Head Live venue downtown. The Baltimore Raven's NFL team better set the tone in Cincinatti on Sunday. A victory would promise a home playoff game for the murderous purple and black.<br />
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The Baltimore Ravens won their Christmas Eve home-game! I'm so glad I'm not stuck in a NASCAR bar outside of the Ravens network. Last week I got to go to my first Raven's game of 2011.... After the game I stepped out of Fielder's corner bar in Pigtown. Suddenly I heard "Ted!" I turned around just in time to see my head-banging truck-driving hollywood cousin Pete ride up the street in his buddy's car. <i>Irish Abe</i> and I had roosted pre-game in the Purple Sea with <i>Captain Offense </i>and the Barrett bros. I brought a WhitetaleDeer tenderloin maranadn in a ziplock bag and placed it on the grill. We met up with another friend of mine from high school and then walked towards the stadium. Looking for someone to give the rest of the cooked venison to, we walked during the "prime pan-handler's season" in search of the hungry and homeless... I met a man who looked like he could use it. "I want to visit the soup kitcken downtown, <i>Our Daily Bread</i>," I thought.... would be great to catch up with my friends down there and offer to volunteer in the future. The <i>Jeffster</i> aka W<i>aldo</i> and I used to go downtown to help serve the needy and less fortunate on Thursday mornings. To immerse in the spirit of caring for one another is good for the soul. After such a long time on trail having to take care of only myself, it sure would be nice to join forces with the charities once again. I now have a new understanding of what it means to be homeless and hungry.Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-26653295368472901542011-11-21T19:54:00.000-08:002014-09-18T12:20:36.276-07:00stove top stuffing makes good backpacking food<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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hello from Boone, NC<br />
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damascus to hampton to KINCORA to Boone to Erwin to Hot Springs to Smoky Mountains and beyond <423 miles to go. <br />
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Thanksgiving at KINCORA? Otto offerend to slack pack us to Roan Mountain/19E. Hike the Roan highlands next day after turkey dinner.... should hit davenport gap <north entrance of Smoky Mountains> by next friday... it's gonna be cold, looking forward to fireplaces in shelters, not the swarm of hungry black bears.<br />
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<span class="class6">In 1991, Virginia Tech learned that William Addison "Add" Caldwell <b><i>tramped </i></b>26 to 28 miles across two mountains to reportedly become the first student of Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (VAMC, today's Virginia Tech) </span><br />
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<span class="class6">Add grew up near the Appalachian Trail's crossing in Craig valley outside of Blacksburg, VA. </span><br />
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<span class="class6"> brush mountain / craig valley</span><br />
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<b>Abscission</b> (from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin" title="Latin">Latin</a> <i>ab</i> meaning <i>away</i> and <i>scindere</i> meaning <i>to cut</i>) is a term used in several areas of biology. In <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_science" title="Plant science">plant sciences</a> it most commonly refers to the process by which a plant drops one or more of its parts, such as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf" title="Leaf">leaf</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit" title="Fruit">fruit</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower" title="Flower">flower</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seed" title="Seed">seed</a>. </div>
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Tag running the ridge</div>
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falling leaf frozen in motion</div>
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coach sittin on the fence</div>
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Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-32264491084436416022011-11-03T14:07:00.000-07:002011-11-03T14:07:03.293-07:00Virginia is for LoversOctober 28<br />
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Punchbowl Shelter to Thunder Hill Shelter<br />
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<i>Bogart</i> "It's supposed to snow tomorrow," says the ThruHiker from Miami. Downwards to John's Hollow Shelter, a familiar place with a story....... stayed here during a 2 night backpacking trip with some friends from Blacksburg..... Johnny <i>Fight the Pants</i> Kilroy and Jeff <i>Mr Intense</i> Curtis in spring 2008. Here I watched Jeff eat Ramen noodles dry like a cracker, then he mixed flour and water with ramen spice packet 'O MSG. The previous night we had torrential downpours while camped atop the Devil's Marbleyard. JKilroy walked naked for a better part of the day. Buck wild in the BigW. This was a great shakedown trip and reality check for my obese pack weight.<br />
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Continuing downwards along a nice little stream with the <i>Bastards3</i> in single file up ahead with Coach leading the charge. We break out across road to the William T. Foot bridge. This is quite a coincidence....the foot bridge across the James river is named after Mr Foot himself. William Foot was a member of the Natural Bridge ATC and the first one to ThruHike the American Discovery trail from coast to coast in '98. Mr Foot worked tirelessly to acquire funding and permission to construct this bridge. Soon after, he died and never did get to see the finished product, but we remember him as we walk across. More memories here....Konnarock trail crew summer 2008....watched <i>Big Daddy Duck Tape</i> jump 30 vertical feet from the top of this bridge; a naked plunge into the James. <i>Big Daddy Duck Tape </i>sure brought the party.... hailing from Dundalk <a section of east Baltimore> he wears a NattyBoh tattoo rimed with the words "Charm City." A diehard Baltimoron through and through.<br />
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The next mile stretch takes us upstream along the James for about a mile before we follow Matt's Creek drainage to begin the big climb from the bottom. We reach the shelter for lunch where we meet section hiker <i>Nuge</i> from Pittsburg. Matt's Creek is a cool shelter because it has a wooden shingled roof. More Konnarock memories here.... yoga led by Blacksburg friend Elijah Morrison after our crew bailed off the high and dry ridge above during a mid-July heat wave. It was so hot we had to share the tiny swim hole with watersnakes and frogs....... lunch break over, onwards and upwards towards the Konnarock trail project site. This was great to see how our trail installations had held up to several seasons of tramping. Long, graded straightaway ascent ..... poor water drainage on this section of trail, so here our crew had attempted installing a few undulations to promote some off-trail watershed. This was a different strategy than the typical quick fix <i>waterbar</i>, you know those annoying slippery logs running diagonal across the trail? I reach the undulations.... it appears that foot traffic is confused at this location. Sorry to say that our efforts are not really benefiting the trail's drainage or aesthetic quality. Ahhh forget about it. Onwards to our durable Chestnut Oak steps. Large boulders placed across stream for stepping stones. It appears here that our work has served well to protect sensitive riparian areas from human feet.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDlSvQqj88LEjbXcByEs0YIqRVwQAmZZ30AEfySKzhVkXEWv_XtKskivYto1CCCBsKv6hnMHbNfKrbdB5LoWRNn0NSguOsPQIwtdcmZPkINVKXzWnjnXt5jwvgJxJ9m4tRE8MoS2n5eI/s1600/SAM_0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDlSvQqj88LEjbXcByEs0YIqRVwQAmZZ30AEfySKzhVkXEWv_XtKskivYto1CCCBsKv6hnMHbNfKrbdB5LoWRNn0NSguOsPQIwtdcmZPkINVKXzWnjnXt5jwvgJxJ9m4tRE8MoS2n5eI/s320/SAM_0375.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> PawPaw tree tunnel along the James</div><div style="text-align: center;">I still haven't found a fruit!</div><div style="text-align: center;">The native tree produces a fruit with a Banana/Mango flavor</div><br />
Next eleven switchbacks up to the ridge where Konnarock set up camp for several weeks. Here is where we learned the hard way that it's really tough to set up a backcountry camp for a large group of 15 where there is no running water. No room for crew to camp at worksite/watersource. There is no flat, previously denuded forest floor to be found near the water for two miles. This meant we had the pleasure of carrying ten gallons of water up eleven switchbacks at the end of each work day. On the brighter side of things, scenic vistas abounded 360 style. Starry domes and rainbows between sunset and sunrise made for an ongoing light show......Such are the trade-offs one has when camping dry. This ridge-top campsite we used had been created in 2001 when two wildfire-fighters got stranded high on a flaming ridge....they used chainsaws to cut trees and create an emergency helicopter landing.<br />
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The Heli-pad wore a different dress on this day the 28th of October 2011. Sleet and snow above 4000' elevation. Nothing to do but continue....keep the blood flowing and lean into the cold wind until the next shelter is reached. At this point I'm still 5 away and the hill climbing makes me huff and puff. The climb up High Cock Knob and down to Petite Gap was a thing of misery. Trail of slush makes my feet wet...I'm thinking about new gore-tex footwear and neoprene socks. I stayed relatively warm most of the day until camp was reached, but the 20 minute period of settling into shelter, dry clothing, and warm sleeping bag was a bit cold. Water was attained immediately following the walking excercise since I sure as hell wasn't going to fetch it after I curled up in that bag 'O goose feathers. Familiar voices coming from Thunder Hill Shelter....I hear the laughter of a Quail. <i>Bobwhite</i>, Vallerie, and <i>Daks</i> and <i>Spoons</i> are here already. <i>Bobwhite</i> on cell phone with <i>Powder River</i>... she turns to me "can I interest you in a warm hotel room for the night?" <b>Me</b>llo "That sounds pretty good right about now."<br />
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Well it turns out NO DICE. <i>Powder River</i> <NOBO 2008> is on his way, but the nearest road crossing .5 downhill is closed due to ice. Oh... well maybe we are in a Wilderness afterall. It turns out that we shared a cold night in the shelter with the best possible SOBO's on the trail this year. <i>Daks</i> from Ontario and <i>Spoons</i> from New Brunswick are used to the cold weather. Having spent time in the Northwest Territories, this wild couple KNEW THE COLD. They began their SOBO hike at the northern terminus of the International A.T. where the Appalachian mountain chains drops off into the Atlantic ocean. "Make sure to pee before bed. You'll sleep warmer," says <i>Spoons.</i> <i>Coach </i>and <i>Tag </i>used their tarps to block out the cold wind. <i>Nuge</i> pops his head in, "Can I come in?" Vallerie tells him to check out the privy: "The pit toilet actually has four walls." We make it work with a cozy 9 hikers inside of a 6-person shelter. The space was cramped, but the body warmth was appreciated.<br />
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October 29<br />
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Thunder Hill to Bryant Ridge Shelter <br />
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This one turns out to be the most spectacular day of the hike. Today is the most visually stimulating light since Katahdin. Icy Maple red and yellow forest. Cloud windows spotlight frosted ridges; below sepia slopes of copper forest lead my eyes still lower to warmer hayfields still vibrating verdant green. Large trees freshly uprooted and grounded under weight of ice. <I thought I heard some big ones crashing down last night, but this didn't top the large snag I watched tumble in the Shennie's.><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRcJq94-pDWYzZ3CmFGnn9YI8SUPEaR13vgw_O5KSdg52q0dN1_yutZgHy4eDU4lUV_WhYt4y7HwQc2x0I0EhoDDT3DR7ngVHMH_bdT7qm8iD6DRoTdQhkyvBuPp_-o_nBsWObcPhPeY/s1600/SAM_0397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRcJq94-pDWYzZ3CmFGnn9YI8SUPEaR13vgw_O5KSdg52q0dN1_yutZgHy4eDU4lUV_WhYt4y7HwQc2x0I0EhoDDT3DR7ngVHMH_bdT7qm8iD6DRoTdQhkyvBuPp_-o_nBsWObcPhPeY/s320/SAM_0397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Sassafrass and White Pine</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wxLmEu8mWp5Wyoatn1zjhAjkfu6O5WvmO8rorwh5Xi66t2PciY-yAyQEw8vqR3Uvq4h_dDDvp2vqPALiAUiMvkcNpFX-e7TnIdLDkJuEygjHkacuD5QUOpRmXMzx-AtYsQe8c4WBMlg/s1600/SAM_0382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wxLmEu8mWp5Wyoatn1zjhAjkfu6O5WvmO8rorwh5Xi66t2PciY-yAyQEw8vqR3Uvq4h_dDDvp2vqPALiAUiMvkcNpFX-e7TnIdLDkJuEygjHkacuD5QUOpRmXMzx-AtYsQe8c4WBMlg/s320/SAM_0382.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Here is <i>Bogart</i> from Miami, Florida popping his snow cherry</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5jBwkG8wSXFzd3gKPiDAFTmpW0WINeIkDzIcWlivW_q9Z-SfqTOi0-_QHfjlmArSCdVhDzveDSK1ZhuF1JflkyGG9iE5MHspk8wuMQzbuBXGZzbl1cc4tpxDswExbm144329kA1huss/s1600/SAM_0390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5jBwkG8wSXFzd3gKPiDAFTmpW0WINeIkDzIcWlivW_q9Z-SfqTOi0-_QHfjlmArSCdVhDzveDSK1ZhuF1JflkyGG9iE5MHspk8wuMQzbuBXGZzbl1cc4tpxDswExbm144329kA1huss/s320/SAM_0390.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many trees large and small just could not bear the icy weight</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Downwards through the sugar-coated multi-color forest that would inspire Willy Wonka to set up shop. Curving undulating trail freely forms a gentle downhill grade. <i>Powder River, Happy Camper</i> <Margot completed the 100 mile woods with <i>Quail</i>> and the Baltimore gang are coming up to meet us for Halloween. Today, <i>Powder River </i>is General Sherman of the Union Army. He comes charging up the hill at me with plastic sword in hand. <i>Happy Camper</i>: "Say 'trick or treat'!" Me: "Trick or treat?" Halloween has begun....Reese's and Little Debbie OH BOY! <i>Powder:</i> "<i>Tag</i> is already warming up in my car at the end of the blue blaze with Yuengling and Doritos." I run the remaining 1.5 downhill all giddy and sugared up like a pink power ranger at the start of her annual sugar binge. <i>Tag, Bogart, </i>and <i>T-Mello</i> ravin out to techno music in the Jetta blasting full heat.<br />
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Group trip to town for Cracker Barrel, Kroger resupply, and gear shop...Party back at Bryant Ridge Shelter later that night. <i>Happy Camper </i>gets her wish... I tell the Mafia Motel story 'round the campfire.<br />
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October 30<br />
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Bryant Ridge to Bobblet Gap Shelter<br />
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<i>Happy Camper</i> sweet talked our waiter for some free Maple syrup at Cracker Barrel yesterday. Goes great on campfire-cooked pancakes to start the day. But really I should be on my way if I want to catch the Kickoff. Eleven miles to go to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hitch a ride around 2pm. My driver "I hunt them mountains you come out of... plant ginseng too. That dark dirt on the north slope what we lookin for." Buchanan, VA at the Good Times Cafe where the local patrons walk behind the bar and serve themselves. NASCAR on the tube. Ravens/Cardinals NFL football not on the local network. Have to watch the ticker at the bottom of the screen: 27-27 with two minutes left. Boring Redskins game finally over....Ok here's my chance to at least watch the important part.... maybe the network will switch over to my game. NO DICE. Instead they change to a fresh game with 11 minutes left in the first quarter. Well maybe I'm just OK with NASCAR for now. I watch the bottom-screen-ticker change: Arizona 27 Baltimore 30 FINAL. "Wear your Orange on Saturday!" yells Darren as I head out the door. Virginia Muzzleloader Deer season is coming.<br />
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October 31<br />
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Bobblet Gap to HOJOHalloween <br />
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Twenty one miles mostly downhill to Daleville, VA. Howard Johnson where General Sherman has reserved us a room. We are all slack-packing today. I run a large portion of this trail. At the bottom, the trail breaks out of the woods and across a private-land-easement. I meet a Roanoke ATC trail maintainer fighting back the weeds. <b>Me</b>llo "Did you know Charles Perry?" Bill: "Oh yea you know we had our difference of opinion, but we were good friends. He always kidded me that he was older, yea only six months older." Mello: "How old are you?" Bill: 69 Me "How long have you been active with the trail club?" Bill: "Since 1987. I think about Charles a lot.We'll never have another Charles Perry." <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Dogwood delight, state tree of Virginia</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-45982251396764848632011-10-26T14:24:00.000-07:002011-10-26T14:24:38.869-07:00putting a shoulder to the wheel<span style="font-size: large;">the only thing blue in virginia is the ridge</span><br />
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Apparently NOBO hikers often pick up an unwanted case of the <em><strong>Virginia Blues</strong></em>. I could understand their trouble while crossing during the heat of the summer. Afterall, there are more than 500 miles of A.T. in VA, so the sense of accomplishment of crossing a state line is long gone for a while.<br />
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But Virginia in the fall-time is amazing! There's nothing blue about it! Autumn's peak foliage came around October 20th while passing over the rolling ridges of Shenandoah National Park. The higher elevations have since turned brown and wind-blown, while the drainages near the valley floors begin to display their fall color. Bob Ross would have a field day out here! The diversity of colors across a forest presents the viewer with a revealing landscape. I love it when I can spot a mono-culture of <strong>Tulip-polpars</strong> or even a single <strong>Maple</strong> tree from miles away! The golden hues of the <strong>Ash</strong> trees are speckled with burgundy <strong>Oak</strong>. Magenta stalks of <strong>pokeweed</strong> rise through red stripes of <strong>Virginia Creeper</strong>. Orange is best displayed by our beloved <strong>Sassafras</strong> tree. The ripe <strong>Spicebush</strong> buds have made nice flavor additions at the camp stove.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6N7GbBGUlZZ5lO0s4PjW6SL6RWHOFFtblsMjdmecaSj-TRv8ZKQKfB93TaMNgmazi51gM7mI8MRv42AN9cfLIP-w06LMx673Ux5oqFmgxMFn1v02bPFr9SLBj3RRliOYwESqsUxu7JuY/s1600/slack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6N7GbBGUlZZ5lO0s4PjW6SL6RWHOFFtblsMjdmecaSj-TRv8ZKQKfB93TaMNgmazi51gM7mI8MRv42AN9cfLIP-w06LMx673Ux5oqFmgxMFn1v02bPFr9SLBj3RRliOYwESqsUxu7JuY/s320/slack.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
Time for Tea<br />
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<u>Reunion with the BassTerds</u><br />
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On the morning of October 14, I woke up in Manasas Gap shelter with a wet sleeping bag. There was an electric storm the night before, but <em>Foxtrot</em> <NOBO '97> and I stayed mostly dry. But later as I fell asleep the <strong>drizzle-cloud-mist</strong> must have lightly blown in far enough to dampen my sleeping bag and extra clothing. So the <strong>pack weight</strong> to start out the day was uneccessarily <strong>4 pounds heavier</strong> just from water weight. Early in the afternoon I reach the road into Front Royal to find success hitch-hiking while donning a <strong>blaze-orange hat</strong> and <strong>bright-yellow rain jacket</strong>. It sure is nice to be visible on these high-speed corridors. Front Royal ended up serving my needs for <strong>laundry</strong> and <strong>cheap Mexican food</strong> at Jalisco's. <br />
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I hadn't seen the <em>Bastards3 </em>since parting at the Watermelon park on October 1st. Not only did they all successfully complete the <strong>Harper's Ferry marathon</strong>, but <em>Bogart </em>formerly known as <em>SpecialEffect</em> took 8th place overall. The <em>young bucks</em> had become the most popular people in Harper's Ferry overnight. While handing out awards and delivering final anouncements at the end of the marathon, the man behind the microphone brought attention to the boys from the A.T. "I want you all to know that these guys here are thru-hiking the whole Appalachian Trail and without any training for this race they decided to run... If you see them tonight be sure to buy them a beer!" sooo......Well let's just say that <em>Denim Chicken </em>and <em>Coach</em> got nice and '<strong>sauced up'</strong> that night. After the <strong>marathon</strong>, the <em>bastards3</em> retured to Port Clinton, PA to complete the missing gap in their thru-hike. Then, after reaching Caledonia SP near Gettysburg, <em>Powder River</em> provided the car ride back into Virginia where I eventually met up with them.<br />
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Outside Front Royal..... Back on trail on up to Floyd Shelter... "Is that T-Mello?" says <em>Coach</em>. I turn around to find the <em>3Bastards</em> climbing the hill below. <em>Tag</em> said "I knew it was you when I saw those crazy socks!" We exchanged hugs right on the trail, and there happened to be some trail magic just up the way. A <em>flip-flopper</em> by the name of <em>SweetTea</em> happened to live directly on the trail outside Front Royal. She left all hikers a cooler holding a pitcher of SweetTea and some other goodies. The next day we decided to take a 'zero day' at Floyd Shelter and wait up for our companion <em>Bobwhite</em>. This gave us some town time to run errands and reconnect with family and friends. I got to meet up with Susan, United Plant Savers coordinator, and talk about the "Penny a Mile for the Plant Savers" fund-raiser. Susan took her three kids, the three bastards and I to Spelunker's burger joint. I got a chocolate milkshake and french fries. Here we met up with trail angel <em>Mitch </em><NOBO '98>. She and Skylar dog hiked with us up to Floyd Shelter for the night. Next day <em>Mitch</em> slackpacked me into Shenandoah and made sure I wouldn't miss my weekly ritual of watching the Ravens play football on the TV.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xAED_I-xSYJs8xGOp24fqK1omzEzQiL5YXwXzV0xpK9EH4nIbctxnh7pREg6md7OrF5XGsbZZ4dco0v_t8oEcEVg4sMsBfrjmFQE6uNyXpHQ1EYGrAiYWeqsSmpdCbLLDQl0mH9rPCA/s1600/tmel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xAED_I-xSYJs8xGOp24fqK1omzEzQiL5YXwXzV0xpK9EH4nIbctxnh7pREg6md7OrF5XGsbZZ4dco0v_t8oEcEVg4sMsBfrjmFQE6uNyXpHQ1EYGrAiYWeqsSmpdCbLLDQl0mH9rPCA/s320/tmel.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here I am crossing into my home-state...the MD barefoot challenge was short lived</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(October 7th 2011 was 18 miles from Caledonia to PEN-MAR)</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GFHLgOMXQAR-VMXNmno2WhhyphenhyphenSk6hmjwPe_tis-MhAWBLt1EZqI3_wtGEb2GLffz0FDXwGcv_Cd_YWy8ANzRksRnpEXYXGxg5CieB8WTiN6c7fU_UHkmIl8BmgRBYDUWwAK_kof8tr3k/s1600/sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GFHLgOMXQAR-VMXNmno2WhhyphenhyphenSk6hmjwPe_tis-MhAWBLt1EZqI3_wtGEb2GLffz0FDXwGcv_Cd_YWy8ANzRksRnpEXYXGxg5CieB8WTiN6c7fU_UHkmIl8BmgRBYDUWwAK_kof8tr3k/s320/sun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A great sunset from PEN-MAR county park</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkinNpFY_Wcpm-ZM8LqZ9VI9nvf3ECCdWtN7Wcy-fmt_NkNwKGFJJmXc2eMQWSoMatnPnE7q69Db9BKThCjFZ0ZIfy5LLhbJXEfDQLSPTiWSn-DLT-Lx490h01FGLWI-LF8ZH0UjdCJE/s1600/maddie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkinNpFY_Wcpm-ZM8LqZ9VI9nvf3ECCdWtN7Wcy-fmt_NkNwKGFJJmXc2eMQWSoMatnPnE7q69Db9BKThCjFZ0ZIfy5LLhbJXEfDQLSPTiWSn-DLT-Lx490h01FGLWI-LF8ZH0UjdCJE/s320/maddie.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is Maddison aka <em>ChillsonWilson</em> signing into her first A.T. register</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9VPAX6IvWQG3VvCwx4xGuQXiPrlr1Qbl95XZz_uDdAYFhCsXWbpgjIOxVvws_y1dGgf3JZyDCXIIT2YHWNDPrYbkOVaqsPm-OazqsVmLL-zPbQD1swEh5JyIW9y2EgdV4OCm4tOF3yA/s1600/deb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9VPAX6IvWQG3VvCwx4xGuQXiPrlr1Qbl95XZz_uDdAYFhCsXWbpgjIOxVvws_y1dGgf3JZyDCXIIT2YHWNDPrYbkOVaqsPm-OazqsVmLL-zPbQD1swEh5JyIW9y2EgdV4OCm4tOF3yA/s320/deb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now that I am close to my hometown of Baltimore, I have been so lucky to have back-to-back days with visits from family. Big sister Debbie, niece Maddie, and nephew Reilly aka <em>TigerBlood</em> got to go hiking with their Uncle Ted. This photo was taken at <strong>P</strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">otomac</span><strong>ATC</strong>'s Blackburn Trail Center in Virginia on October 11th 2011.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">October 26th 2011</div><div style="text-align: left;">We <<em>Tag, Bogart, Coach, and Bobwhite and </em>I> have been cranking out the miles, averaging 18 a day. A walk through Shenandoah National Park took us 6 days. There is going to be a large gathering of hikers for the upcoming Halloween weekend. <em>Powder River</em> and more friends from Baltimore will join us for this festive weekend. Two days ago we all met trail ledgend Warren Doyle, who claims to have <strong>walked the entire A.T. 16 times</strong>. He is now a professor of the A.T. teaching at his AT Institute based in Mountain City, TN near Damascus, VA. With Warren Doyle was Jean, a prospective 2012 NOBO from Baltimore. She is learning the ropes from the master himself. Mr Doyle used the 5 of us seasoned SOBO's as teaching examples. "Notice Jean their footwear... running shoes, not boots" Warren had a well worn style about him. His hiking pole was a vintage 1980's white ski pole with dayglow splashings up and down its length. For water Warren carried only a small tin cup, not a plastic water bottle. I've seen the old black and white videos of Myron Avery and others using a similar dipping method for drinking water. This means they must "water up" at the source, instead of carrying the bottle with cap long distances for no reason. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The view off of Hanging Rock deserved a long hang-out session atop Three Ridges mountain. I hurried down the mountain switchbacks which included a Konnarock Trail Crew 2008-2009 relocation at the MauHar trail junction. I see a light at the bottom. It's gotta be them. My favorite drinking buddies. Rogebo and Marbo were waiting for me with a cooler of beer and a pack of cigars at the Tye River suspension bridge. Rogebo said he saw my headlight through the dark woods tracking left to right / right to left as I descended the switchbacks. And finally here I was hanging out with the Bubs about 30 minutes before kickoff.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Slackpacking is always a touchy subject for fellow thru-hikers. Generally, if one person in a group decides to slack-pack, then he or she should rightfully recieve a raft of shit from the rest of the group. Roegbo and Marbo offered slackpacking services the next day, Tuesday October 25, and this time all accepted the slackpack minus <em>Bobwhite. </em>Without a good map, I wrote down the A.T. road crossing on paper for the Bubs trusting they would get good directions from a local townsman. <em>Rogebo </em>and <em>Marbo </em>ended up going to the wrong crossing that day. When me and the <em>bastards</em> orginally laughed at <em>Bobwhite</em> for carrying a full pack up and over the Priest we didn't know that our packs including warm clothing and sleeping bags would not be recovered until we had all hovered around a campfire for 4 hours in the dark cold night. But all was recovered, and we will all think twice the next time someone offers to slack pack us. </div>Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-84117437927108131672011-10-15T12:30:00.000-07:002011-10-15T12:30:43.414-07:00COLORS!!<span style="font-size: x-large;">HEllo</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">A boardwalk stretch outside of Front Royal installed by Mid-Atlantic AT Crew in 2005</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgPMNLUBI1O0c5gSztwng3GZ99Ke3m-buEE8RmMTF6uG-qS6tPF5EVJGzSaX4Ddunvb-UBCHNA-2q-ezUfhKgT2UtlC_51PWLYw59zgcE5mXOloxER8xqXc-mWBb2hIOxa4Cc0DAqIqw/s1600/SAM_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgPMNLUBI1O0c5gSztwng3GZ99Ke3m-buEE8RmMTF6uG-qS6tPF5EVJGzSaX4Ddunvb-UBCHNA-2q-ezUfhKgT2UtlC_51PWLYw59zgcE5mXOloxER8xqXc-mWBb2hIOxa4Cc0DAqIqw/s320/SAM_0166.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Bastards hangin out in Central Park, NYC</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5HNBvmlvVIEc3nKbgXQle97Cwp7Wi3H40uef7gqeqqWg8ZzyurEK4Gs3Y_8Gm8QybxcE_pybxewewJfyv1yLJ-wEoZujXBaEgHdv6t9RFtaO3RfBPDr_QwAWRZyQiDSHu9B9utQ4E70/s1600/fireflags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5HNBvmlvVIEc3nKbgXQle97Cwp7Wi3H40uef7gqeqqWg8ZzyurEK4Gs3Y_8Gm8QybxcE_pybxewewJfyv1yLJ-wEoZujXBaEgHdv6t9RFtaO3RfBPDr_QwAWRZyQiDSHu9B9utQ4E70/s320/fireflags.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Prayer flags and flames</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCL1M8WjdUUiyit3Kvi49DR0qmNh2Awt2J_2o7Zxxroe3Rx6Ry0n424FtCpggecnvfj1ifa8rS_TN1klYwQx30cnLbgZ_-aHBFbHXLEA-hFVk70DRc0lTgD6X8nS60yqzBED5mTPXOIU/s1600/largegroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCL1M8WjdUUiyit3Kvi49DR0qmNh2Awt2J_2o7Zxxroe3Rx6Ry0n424FtCpggecnvfj1ifa8rS_TN1klYwQx30cnLbgZ_-aHBFbHXLEA-hFVk70DRc0lTgD6X8nS60yqzBED5mTPXOIU/s640/largegroup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I often get the question: "Are you alone on the trail?" Well this evening we weren't alone. Our neighbors last night were a high school group of 25 people from Alexandria, VA. That's Bogart and Tag in the front with group leader Dave holding up arms all the way in the back by the shelter. There were many a song sung around the campfire, and our 9pm "hiker-midnight" was not in effect. The thru-hikers sang Big Rock Candy Mountains</div><br />
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</div>Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-32447544252986946282011-10-11T23:14:00.000-07:002011-10-12T12:14:44.540-07:00ride da rainbow rollacosta<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqcSKZ2u7_JEcKyvlELRIeIF9LZ8TAys2fWCVtHRxjUZUbVCgFezyxZ8dGUOzVFr71iXiIBBMQ0xFXo7a4zacJqHdOG3S0Yefe_eUWkF4HwnMkEyqp-sy5AaB0EiJ2kkEVi2vxJYVISo/s1600/polespring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqcSKZ2u7_JEcKyvlELRIeIF9LZ8TAys2fWCVtHRxjUZUbVCgFezyxZ8dGUOzVFr71iXiIBBMQ0xFXo7a4zacJqHdOG3S0Yefe_eUWkF4HwnMkEyqp-sy5AaB0EiJ2kkEVi2vxJYVISo/s640/polespring.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>two <i>polesprings</i> under the pressure of a recent blowdown across the trail. this will certainly present a hazardous cleanup job for chain-sawyers with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club PATC. but I would just leave it be, since it looks cool.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM34VyGa3OI6TO4eGakqtMh2jXvdXyQybY7Zm_NpnTLZtgsSQSmAUgKq3XHDzcfiirtiYyolAnoqinugrhdBMEauBi3CjEphTAAMJ4dCAXfFmye7hVVq3A3prOgNesXhASNhSA9T4p5_I/s1600/SAM_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM34VyGa3OI6TO4eGakqtMh2jXvdXyQybY7Zm_NpnTLZtgsSQSmAUgKq3XHDzcfiirtiYyolAnoqinugrhdBMEauBi3CjEphTAAMJ4dCAXfFmye7hVVq3A3prOgNesXhASNhSA9T4p5_I/s400/SAM_0007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">October 11, 2011</div><div style="text-align: center;">great to be back in Virginia for a while</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Music on Mountaintop August 2010</span><br />
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</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">LtoR Scout aka El Crowster, T-Mello, Curly </span><br />
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<b>2008-2010 Trail Projects Revisited 2011</b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQCjy5PGWumQ6p88YcEm7wHKagb2peyyl6zD9Ee7n8g-e0_FTpGvl7gFYtQIS1ZTCpFHTZJl97k2qtb5uH5OSGhQLcMe_fQEn4DVrjJv8wiX0juMtHqkOGyhIUk_h8SjVsvQO22NCs0M/s1600/cvds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQCjy5PGWumQ6p88YcEm7wHKagb2peyyl6zD9Ee7n8g-e0_FTpGvl7gFYtQIS1ZTCpFHTZJl97k2qtb5uH5OSGhQLcMe_fQEn4DVrjJv8wiX0juMtHqkOGyhIUk_h8SjVsvQO22NCs0M/s640/cvds.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rGL52yxMg6o7LDNIiiTeg9vETa3SRWjqvJRpYnz0RubeSNIvdVOXAZXibzDKbhaj4F62K5DzRXvrcGo3eBxbbAXPiPbcHw_hdO6fGpfaNe6jSg92Esm-JppHtf45tpg-TZf5F6XAfLo/s1600/crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><b>konnarock trail crew</b> at Overmountain shelter, TN July 2010</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPbnN92UM8katiwq7V3qW8Nok5N7JtI7dQqQIaUFOfNUfv9djjHPoC33E49UyOq-htB4ZBGNWVHn6_LjF7ECo3-pHcXCyPLa7-dJO3gZSFKydmXHSgqnYwgHQtB8B1sHBgiyBHEYeDBo/s1600/boardwalk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPbnN92UM8katiwq7V3qW8Nok5N7JtI7dQqQIaUFOfNUfv9djjHPoC33E49UyOq-htB4ZBGNWVHn6_LjF7ECo3-pHcXCyPLa7-dJO3gZSFKydmXHSgqnYwgHQtB8B1sHBgiyBHEYeDBo/s320/boardwalk.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">In 2009 I got to be part of the crew to install this LLBean-funded <b>boardwalk </b>project in Pawling, NY</div><div style="text-align: center;">Chris and crew finished this project last week! Thank you Mid Atlantic Trail Crew!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSswp9lV5y7QfnCtrWhtEIZ904g-51TdvlhyCnlvL_YbPUVmtWdlI4G0GwzgB3WZwmwWQH5kLjFSoRf3071mrAK6J-P6WfuUaEn_TboipPx9R30dgPnS3SzyaPF2MkBIGjB8y7e5vLnJ4/s1600/boardwalk+revisited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSswp9lV5y7QfnCtrWhtEIZ904g-51TdvlhyCnlvL_YbPUVmtWdlI4G0GwzgB3WZwmwWQH5kLjFSoRf3071mrAK6J-P6WfuUaEn_TboipPx9R30dgPnS3SzyaPF2MkBIGjB8y7e5vLnJ4/s320/boardwalk+revisited.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had to take a moment and enjoy this unique trail experience. This photo was taken during my 2011 SOBO thru-hike after zeroing in Brooklyn with the <i>Young Bucks</i>. The <b>boardwalk meanders through 1/2 mile of phragmites, goldenrod, and loosestrife</b>. Every weekend when the weather is nice people from NYC take the commuter train to the Appalachian Trail stop in Pawling, NY. Here the boardwalk leads visitors southbound towards the Dover Oak "supposedly the largest Oak tree on the A.T. Hikers can now keep their feet dry and experience a wetland environment without trampling it. Thanks to hard work of AT Conservancy staff and volunteers, we now have a wheelchair accessible path for nature observation.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5ulHxJQP9M4eCHVnp4zTWt9MiTshOGZ3nBvCwwGyYui3M4XdQuuS9qjReNiABxm_PefcN_-7x7uPJE0AntagtCFI4_YTPDzENW2mnLMx0ZXTlOpgwA1a-BpeOBzfexzMPvmSe7YmlOE/s1600/cerw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5ulHxJQP9M4eCHVnp4zTWt9MiTshOGZ3nBvCwwGyYui3M4XdQuuS9qjReNiABxm_PefcN_-7x7uPJE0AntagtCFI4_YTPDzENW2mnLMx0ZXTlOpgwA1a-BpeOBzfexzMPvmSe7YmlOE/s640/cerw.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sand Spring, VA October 2009 </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>MidAtlanticTrailCrew</b> dug a newly relocated section of Appalachian Trail between Blackburn Trail Center and Bears Den Hostel. I got to walk this stretch today......I remembered the <b>white blaze</b> that Chiara SantaMaria painted on that tree, the <b>rock </b>that Chris Brunton <PATC> placed for a step, and the <b>gargoyle</b> that Katherine Kellerher <PATC> set along the path. I even got my Dad and Rogebo to volunteer one week at this location. So I also remembered the <b>stones moved by the Bubs</b>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfJAbI-84BiZxzgNUK3FjoPSbv6KfZDNj6DJchl1GbJhMxbQGOqfffk1Y3DkWuV7uR1OVn5iF9ESgPjrKMQocktGDavOJetBfO3roi4XCaHV0-T4kp0nDfFqgzfZ0VJSi9swIbgUBzGM/s1600/nolandmira.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfJAbI-84BiZxzgNUK3FjoPSbv6KfZDNj6DJchl1GbJhMxbQGOqfffk1Y3DkWuV7uR1OVn5iF9ESgPjrKMQocktGDavOJetBfO3roi4XCaHV0-T4kp0nDfFqgzfZ0VJSi9swIbgUBzGM/s400/nolandmira.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> Here we see Mira (left) Noland (center) +2 using Pick/Mattocks and Rockbars to set a stone (October 2009.) Today, October 11th, 2011 I hiked through this here <b>Sand Spring Relo</b>. and can tell you with much confidence that rock has not moved an inch since.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLrmvqS1zr_ClViLmlSmNcA5JTvIS4VQY8uOj8F3gAEutQu2IJHcQ6Crwh_gpXnIqyKK1ufn4JYKqt67PnpjCqHYaFnvaoWSY-ovU2Amb11hbnF6jN_UXlhFzGUGkYSyQ7OUzwkeg-rQ/s1600/grinder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLrmvqS1zr_ClViLmlSmNcA5JTvIS4VQY8uOj8F3gAEutQu2IJHcQ6Crwh_gpXnIqyKK1ufn4JYKqt67PnpjCqHYaFnvaoWSY-ovU2Amb11hbnF6jN_UXlhFzGUGkYSyQ7OUzwkeg-rQ/s400/grinder.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> <i>Johnny </i>the <i>Knife </i>aka <i>MarBo </i>knows that trail work doesn't come to an end when the tools are dull. Grinding a fresh 45 on the mattock blade will help the next trail digger.</div>Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-16948244886406313712011-10-11T22:12:00.000-07:002011-11-08T08:54:42.320-08:00Social Networking on the Appalachian Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jPnBskrkzNTN7k3MRQIhmrVOl9muQsJxGvQdLSuZL4mJ2ier_eDEIiML-L7cWncRJ0A4CaIpLuLRRzeeLEDdN_NGNX-Gdr6CZOcB1CYkvL72K8vb2jf-pPE-3jH9YpM4yrw7lXdWI_k/s1600/T-Mello.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jPnBskrkzNTN7k3MRQIhmrVOl9muQsJxGvQdLSuZL4mJ2ier_eDEIiML-L7cWncRJ0A4CaIpLuLRRzeeLEDdN_NGNX-Gdr6CZOcB1CYkvL72K8vb2jf-pPE-3jH9YpM4yrw7lXdWI_k/s320/T-Mello.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Hello again, its T-Mello</div><div style="text-align: center;">While I gotcha cornered....I want to plug in an <i>info-mercial....</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">I now have <b>1000 miles </b>of Appalachian Trail <b>remaining </b><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I have received an overwhelming, exciting # of pledges for the<br />
<i>"Penny a Mile for the United Plant Savers"</i> <br />
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Please consider JOINING my JOURNEY to SAVE THE PLANTS!<br />
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simply click the link below...<br />
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<a href="http://www.unitedplantsavers.org/content.php/216-help-tmellow?s=8e3a9b5b2a8950ef77c873c6cd17471d">http://www.unitedplantsavers.org/content.php/216-help-tmellow?s=8e3a9b5b2a8950ef77c873c6cd17471d</a><br />
so far I have walked 1,178 miles and raised 11dollars 78 cents to be received from each participant<br />
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i will make sure to determine the most up-to-date mileage of A.T. as this number changes every season<br />
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The official mileage is 2181 miles from Katahdin, ME to Springer Mountain, GA<br />
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<b>OR</b><br />
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Benefits of Becoming a Member of UpS:<br />
<ul><li>Receive your Membership Package</li>
<li>Receive annual Journal and biannual Bulletins</li>
<li>Opportunities to participate in Spring and Fall Give-away seeds/plants for replanting purposes</li>
<li>Receive a directory of nurseries, seed sources and farms that supply “at-risk” herbs</li>
<li>Receive discounted registration for <i>Planting the Future</i> conferences</li>
<li>Become eligible for Community Grants and other benefits.</li>
<li>Post messages and participate in any one of the <a href="http://www.unitedplantsavers.org/forum.php">UpS forums</a></li>
</ul></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">http://www.unitedplantsavers.org</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> SO WHERE WERE WE?</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>oh yeah social networking... </b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyZB0UBRScFa69zOxppVkg719FGuuKIfLwV9qYaMq7rR9qyLN7fhOAu63mZfSXQFwbFFJ-NReF1qiB80541vSFbZkzoFyLRctYp6wxcGktV_d7QcvzVpcJb6N_cVOQeguBk4VsWMUl7I/s1600/traillog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyZB0UBRScFa69zOxppVkg719FGuuKIfLwV9qYaMq7rR9qyLN7fhOAu63mZfSXQFwbFFJ-NReF1qiB80541vSFbZkzoFyLRctYp6wxcGktV_d7QcvzVpcJb6N_cVOQeguBk4VsWMUl7I/s320/traillog.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Aside from the <b>Trail Registers</b> at each shelter, there are other ways us hikers keep in touch....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Really there are quite a few <b>technology junkies </b>t<b></b>out here on the trail. We stay in touch via Text messaging or <b>Cellular telephone</b>. As signal fades <i>in and out</i> along the mountain ridge, the cell phones are usually kept turned off until we reach a clearing in the trees or a road crossing. Although <b>surprisingly the signal is sufficient</b> from most shelters in the deep forest. <b>3G cell phones:</b> stream internet radio, read digital trail maps in PDF, episodes of "Survivor Man," and provide mindless YouTube videos like "cake farts" and so forth. "Woooww dude it's a double rainbow! What does this mean?" <br />
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But the <b>trail registers</b> are a fun way to leave encouraging words for your friends behind you. Or to see when your friends ahead of you were at that location. For example, on October 2nd I reached <b>Darlington Shelter</b> <maintained by <b>M</b>ountain <b>C</b>lub <b>O</b>f <b>M</b>aryland> and the Trail Register inside the mailbox provided me with this information...the following are SOBO's whom I've met and are now ahead of me:<br />
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September-23 Carnivore and Purple<br />
9-24 Roarshack 9Lives and Framework<br />
9-25 Phenix<br />
9-26 Sponge and Splake<br />
9-28 Stickbug<br />
10-1 Pinch<br />
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The trail register at the Halfway Point near Pine Grove Furnace State Park, PA was a popular book to write in... my fellow SOBO's are pullin some ground!<br />
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8-31 Pilot<br />
9-20 CheapBastard<br />
9-22 Columbus<br />
9-25 Right Click<br />
9-26 Phenix<br />
9-26 Carnivore and Purple<br />
9-26 Framework<br />
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I phoned Zach the other day. He's with Achilles about 4 days behind. There's talk that he might get off and skip ahead to join us... <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1CcqQLLV8Rlj01tMl3cC9aE2FGmnwqvpcvjwbEVmeTE2cFlvp2f5beVboFem6AqFk5fiZ4suWATZ44kE_WBuKdPdGyiyyLeawuTLp0dJ3jqHRpr3Wy2Xy4_-_Y0cUjEwCkpLQuYk9SU/s1600/psuedoHP.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1CcqQLLV8Rlj01tMl3cC9aE2FGmnwqvpcvjwbEVmeTE2cFlvp2f5beVboFem6AqFk5fiZ4suWATZ44kE_WBuKdPdGyiyyLeawuTLp0dJ3jqHRpr3Wy2Xy4_-_Y0cUjEwCkpLQuYk9SU/s320/psuedoHP.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div> LtoR E<i>asy, Moose, T-Mello, Coach, </i>and <i>Tag </i>pointing to the <i>Pseudo </i><b>H</b>igh <b>P</b>oint of Connecticut<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><the peak of Bear Mtn Connecticut is the highest free-standing mountain in CT, but the actual <b>HP</b> along the CT/MASS border on the flank of a larger mountain ></div><br />
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A random trail register entry by Denim Chicken at Tagg Run Shelter: <br />
<i>10/?/2011 Denim makin haste towards Georgia! I watched 9Lives use up one of his lives last night, when he came off a rock ledge; his body entered the fetal position in mid air. When he landed he was twisted around with his face in the dirt and all he said was "I'm fine but I'm just gonna stay right here a while."</i><br />
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Tagg Run Shelter outside of Boiling Springs, PA was a party...<i><br />
</i>While talkin to brotha Marcus, a local family man and river runner, I learn Tagg Run sparks fond memories in Marcus' mind. Apparently many nites o' partynhardy were had up here. Well I guess <i>Possum</i>, <i>Hops</i> and I gotta carry on the torch.... Possum and I hike .5 down to the road and meet <i>Smiles Not Miles</i> aka <i>Mama Danks</i> <NOBO GAtoPA 1999>. Trail Angel <i>Mama Danks</i> hooked us up.... "Cheers, and Happy Halfway T-Mello" with bottles clinking in the dark forest. And would you guess the beer she hand selected happened to be Troegs "HopBack" Ale? <i>Possum</i> and I nite-hiked the .5 back up to Tagg Run to roust <i>Hops</i>. I said "Hey buddy wake up, you got some bottles 'O Hops to drink!"<i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq08KwCm8SBeo0n7mcwL9tuRum_7AxtXAOopDUvmDJaB0-_Jj8eVHTQsrLivXAEnavnGUHu_9ZuNssAHJUEulJz34znzw4cdn9Khr8wqf6kmV0REAfQ6I90GPP-fbPLr9Ev1-f_to5bt0/s1600/powderriver.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq08KwCm8SBeo0n7mcwL9tuRum_7AxtXAOopDUvmDJaB0-_Jj8eVHTQsrLivXAEnavnGUHu_9ZuNssAHJUEulJz34znzw4cdn9Khr8wqf6kmV0REAfQ6I90GPP-fbPLr9Ev1-f_to5bt0/s320/powderriver.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Powder River and Bobwhite...Baltimore Represent!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Got a text message from Bobwhite yesterday October 10 when she crossed MasonDixon line into PENMAR park.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope to catch up for the glorious fall victory lap</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Check out her <b><a href="http://mainetogeorgia.wordpress.com/">Stories from a Quail Blog</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZh6khJPLr9OwNBT-5dWQlhHZCCUHtRu4R9GxlZQOwKxb87eNIc1vbhENtK6ah-CddwsZzrqjTmpZAlyjadkwdq9fv_nGS5_tc7ICclVMxJHuanKpfKeMKgc8FqhoZynJfVKf3txQSbL0/s1600/3bastards.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZh6khJPLr9OwNBT-5dWQlhHZCCUHtRu4R9GxlZQOwKxb87eNIc1vbhENtK6ah-CddwsZzrqjTmpZAlyjadkwdq9fv_nGS5_tc7ICclVMxJHuanKpfKeMKgc8FqhoZynJfVKf3txQSbL0/s320/3bastards.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The 3 BassTerds (LtoR <i>Tag, Special Effect </i>aka <i>Bogart, Coach</i>)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I have not seen them since Ralph Stanley's bluegrass hoedown at Watermelon Park Sept 27th. After 3 days of music we said goodbye and Powder River dropped the BassTerds <Coach, Tag, Special Effect AKA Bogart> off in VA to hike north to Harpers Ferry for the marathon, Bogart took 8th place overall with no training other than shouldering a heavy pack at a swift walking pace for three months. I remember Coach saying "Well I'm in the best physical shape of my life now, so I might as well run a marathon." So <i>Tag</i>, <i>Effect</i>, <i>Coach </i>and <i>Denim Chicken</i> all finished the 26 miles in under 5 hours. They were the Town Heros! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SOBO PRIDE</b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b></b><br />
<b></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">While slack packing out of Scott Farm I met some new SOBO's (or new to me but not to them).... <i>Daks </i>and <i>Spoons </i>started their hike in Canada on the International A.T....... I met <i>Possum </i>and <i>Hops </i>outside of Duncannon and <i>Brothers 3</i> and <i>Captain </i>caught up with me in the Cumberland Valley. Scott Farm Caretaker <i>Mitch</i> <NOBO '98> and I were digging up Burdock root for a stir-fry dinner when we met <i>Brothers3</i> from Connecticut. <i>Bros3 </i>and <i>Captain</i> tried to get me to join their "4-state-challenge" which involves crossing 3 state lines in twentyfour hours. 41 miles from PA through MD across the Potomac into Harpers Ferry, WV and then across the Shenandoah into VA. I wanted to take some time in my home state. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The MD barefoot challenge would be insane by the way. I walked Maryland in TWO DAYS wearing shoes. I think I could walk Maryland in 4 days without shoes. But would have to build up a good callous over the summertime first. Maryland took me 23 miles to <b>Boonsboro </b>and Washington Mounument for glasses of wine with <i>Mitch </i>at South Mountain Inn. Day two took me 18 miles to <b>Harpers Ferry,WV</b>. At the end of day 2 I came running down the <b>C</b>hesapeake and <b>O</b>hio Canal Towpath to finish the final 3 along Potomac in <i><b>longstrides.</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-33322537912864714822011-09-12T10:55:00.000-07:002011-09-12T11:10:43.292-07:00Bear Mountain, New YorkSeptember 9th, 2011...Free lodging and shower for hikers is found at the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement. I get an ass-crack-of-dawn start from here... gearing up for a big day over Bear Mountain. Breakfast burrito at the deli, then 8 miles to the Hudson River.<br />
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Crossing the Bear Mountain Bridge I was ecstatic! I was shouting to the ship workers down below as I watched the huge barge float upriver towards West Point Academy. A big ol' American flag hung from the bridge tower. It was a glorious day, and views downstream to Peekskill and across to the Bear Mountain were amazing.<br />
I had been waiting for this day for quite a time. Another familiar place with fond memories of hard work <on the trail> and hard play <state park's Oktoberfest with fellow trail crew>. I get to climb the east face of Bear Mountain via a brand new trail relocation opened on National Trails day June 5th 2010. Working with the Mid Atlantic Appalachian Trail Crew, I had worked here for a total of 8 weeks over the fall seasons of 2008 and 2009. Reminiscent of the WPA's CCC construction projects of the 1930's, Bear Mountain's trail relocation is a modern marvel using some primitive technology with 800 hand-hewn granite steps and over one mile of "stonewall cribbing" that will last for generations. This project is still ongoing, but probably the most exciting one-mile stretch is fresh and open.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe3-2RGFNqw48SD3vO0pc_XP2WGOeslTVrpnamGbFE5gB-JBMrKjWUDdTaZakF029oXXp6Iy9a2a-WPssbdjgaMPO9ggO-9sYVxFY-NYjx_yzsS3vS85NZl2YnruCrFOnN4BeNY_IoIs/s1600/stiarschiara.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe3-2RGFNqw48SD3vO0pc_XP2WGOeslTVrpnamGbFE5gB-JBMrKjWUDdTaZakF029oXXp6Iy9a2a-WPssbdjgaMPO9ggO-9sYVxFY-NYjx_yzsS3vS85NZl2YnruCrFOnN4BeNY_IoIs/s320/stiarschiara.jpg" width="240" /></a>The magnificent granite boulder field through which path travels becomes the setting. During the construction, care was taken to do minimal damage to the surrounding environment by using a series of cables suspended upwards of 60 vertical feet in large trees to move the stone material. Tools, resources, and people power used to reach completion were many <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(see photos...)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DZ8fqsvu4R13zU3t-zAMDPmlnxm2tx2edeE0J85TfANAkynVBTyLtRihXpfHUnq2X8fL6LtdbtFQwov0jP-Y4fBAg95K1Xe4mtcciV7NWJYNcxO0XBy6PXhsg_dgXW94K9uaiOsXk7I/s1600/teamwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DZ8fqsvu4R13zU3t-zAMDPmlnxm2tx2edeE0J85TfANAkynVBTyLtRihXpfHUnq2X8fL6LtdbtFQwov0jP-Y4fBAg95K1Xe4mtcciV7NWJYNcxO0XBy6PXhsg_dgXW94K9uaiOsXk7I/s320/teamwork.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Eddie Walsh with NY/NY Trail Conference and Lester Kenway with the Maine Appalachian Trail Club were the master-minds behind the design process. The A.T. Conservancy in addition to hundreds of volunteers were called upon to do the work. This is how we get the work done = PEOPLE POWER!<br />
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Neal uses a sledge hammer to drive stone splitting wedges<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZd_vIvbVVF5jJeYaO5eYeexngno9lHfhmiQ1H7FnsAKU2CCm6mX6RMouKmXdSb6jH3nonNCKH0NSB9rRyvkayqvgB54mCMTvMBYRpCKDhduadZ6kSxmbI2JlQY8foH9pWFVq8YeumJ6I/s1600/tools.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZd_vIvbVVF5jJeYaO5eYeexngno9lHfhmiQ1H7FnsAKU2CCm6mX6RMouKmXdSb6jH3nonNCKH0NSB9rRyvkayqvgB54mCMTvMBYRpCKDhduadZ6kSxmbI2JlQY8foH9pWFVq8YeumJ6I/s320/tools.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Tools included: rock hammer drills with 7/8'' carbide drill bits, feathers and wedges to split stone into 'cube-like' wall material, sledge hammers, rock mashers, pick mattocks, snatch blocks, griphoist machines rated at 2 tons with 1 inch thick wire cabling, 18 lbs rock lever bars.....the list goes on.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCz2uPaGc7hSKuVCaJuceEZJKAy2iCXtHHa2-1stfjoj1-wltQLf1AO1dQQ0C6xnxUoztYblNNby4L7Qlixir0JjXy2Bq571S4vUPJcju7YbUv53XZHJ2kxcAPBIbsu2Kqzc2FmfRXZU/s1600/snatch+blocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCz2uPaGc7hSKuVCaJuceEZJKAy2iCXtHHa2-1stfjoj1-wltQLf1AO1dQQ0C6xnxUoztYblNNby4L7Qlixir0JjXy2Bq571S4vUPJcju7YbUv53XZHJ2kxcAPBIbsu2Kqzc2FmfRXZU/s320/snatch+blocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Snatch blocks, or pulleys, used to rig cables for rock moving<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREdUFL4RKDGxwzG5i3sVeLXy1nX2mtl-W53pCcc3ivE_KbVaUcmvv_Val-EZt0eyEZuPFPQ04Nbw5Kf0CyNk97Dr4hJNwIM-RSDDpYVM3gKrx0Ven_-iC3zlNxEW9yn4FqnVC8yhl0RQ/s1600/wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREdUFL4RKDGxwzG5i3sVeLXy1nX2mtl-W53pCcc3ivE_KbVaUcmvv_Val-EZt0eyEZuPFPQ04Nbw5Kf0CyNk97Dr4hJNwIM-RSDDpYVM3gKrx0Ven_-iC3zlNxEW9yn4FqnVC8yhl0RQ/s320/wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A final product sample</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> After crossing the Bear Mountain Bridge, I reach the trailside museum and zoo, officially the lowest elevation on the Appalachian Trail at 130ft above sea level. A nice girl in the visitor center mails my postcards for me. The white blaze actually goes right through the zoo, where visitors may have a peek at animals native to New York. So after saying hi to the black bears and porcupines, I continue past Bear Mountain Inn to the start of the new trail.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am standing on a boulder that weighs upwards of 2000 lbs which our crew moved and repositioned in 2008. This is part of the walking surface of the trail now. Onwards and upwards.... as I am nearing the site of 2009 work project, I see a large group being led by members of the NY/NJ trail conference. Here I see Chris, who is surprised to see me with backpack instead of sledge hammer, and he offers the group an introduction. All of a sudden I am speaking in front of a large group explaining how great this project is and how they should join forces to help along with the project's completion. Next I approach a family going up the mountain for a day hike with hopes to see the NYC skyline 35 miles away. There is a fresh-Irene-deposited blowdown across the trail. The family members must scramble along the steep hillside to avoid the fallen tree. It involves some trick manuevering for mom and dad, which brings about laughter and good fun. This is where I am overcome with emotion. I finally get to see first-hand the way people are benefiting from this nature walkway. Our hard work has indeed brought much enjoyment for the public. I am so happy I want to cry. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Chris told me below to look for the Mid Atlantic Crew up near the top of the mountain. I reach the "Danger DO ENTER CONSTRUCTION SITE" sign and continue past. Just around the corner are several familiar faces. I hear the familiar sound of hammer on stone. Some one is busting stone into gravel. Here they are! I get to see an old friend from Virginia Tech and assistant crew leader Jeff 'Mr. Intense'; crew leader Chris who just came down from a summer season on Saddleback Mountain, Maine; Neal and Pat, the dynamic stone-stackin duo and long time trail veterans, and other faces new to me. This was a real pleasure so see my trail people, even if it was just for a short minute. I thanked them all for their hard work on the trail, and told them what a great adventure I was having. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Onwards and upwards.... Perkins tower lunch and look to NYC Skyline through haze. Better get going, I still have 12 to camp and it's early afternoon. The rest of the day was spent walking and reflecting on my time working with these great people of the AT community. There was certainly a large measure of commarraderie involved when we were out there. And the physical structure left behind serves as a monument to our accomplishments. I hope so see some of these guys later on in Carlisle, Pennsylvania when I cross by their basecamp.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">12 miles later Fingerboard shelter reached well before dark. Full moon happenings: extremely friendly deer in hunting-free Harriman State Park, pilieated woodpecker searching for insects in down rotted log, racoon scurries and climbs the trailside tree looking back at me, pure black squirrels with pointy ears race to gather acorns, hawk sweeps low overhead and takes a nearby perch. The animals are not phased by my presence. They are enthralled in the waxing gravity of the moon's cycle. Did you know that it has been scientifically proven that the (number of times a cricket chirps in a 14 second period) + 40 = the current temperature? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</a></div>Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-76621950300605487342011-09-12T09:51:00.000-07:002011-10-11T23:45:39.826-07:00A long eventful day..Just walked into Kent, CT this morning. Phone call to Sandy....Shin splints still a bother. "what happens is your calf muscle gets stronger than your front tibial muscle and then it begins to pull away from your shinbone. I'll mail you some tape and some new insoles." Thanks Sandy! So with a bucket of ice for my leg and a hot yerba mate in my hand I sit on a park bench in Kent. Found a good article in the NY Times about Frederick Law Olmstead, grandaddy of Landscape Architecture and a promoter of the human need for natural spaces = quiet contemplation. An architect of community space, Olmstead used curved lines, irregular plantings, symmetrical courts with connecting pathways, secret hideaways and people-watching perches, canopied forest walks leading to grand overviews of land and water. Benchlined walkways converge at rollerskate park where music draws crowds. One can escape the noisy polluted streets and find respite with the turn of a foliated corner...The article talked about his lesser known midwest city park projects. I had travelled to see his famous NYC Central Park some years before.<br />
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This town of Kent is not exactly a hiker-friendly 'trail town.' The only thing I like about it here are the sweet sports cars that roll through. One hotrod pulls up at the light with the air intake projecting above the front hood, a racer red color, and a pair of wheelie bars. I was just hoping he would pop a wheely right there. But no dice.. <br />
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Back into the woods.. a long push today but the plans for tonite's stay are developing slowly. I don't have the mileage sheets on me, but I know I'm crossing into NY today so that must mean that an A.T. commuter train platform to NYC is within a day's walk. I catch up with the three bastards, Tag, Effect, & Coach. We pass a sign reading 734 miles from Katahdin. We are 1/3 of the way to Springer Mountain, Georgia. Rendezvous with NOBO section hiker "RedEyes" who happened to know Powder River from a 2008 hike. Stop and smoke with RedEyes: "Dude you could be in Times Square tonight if you reach the train stop by 7 tonight." Me "Really, what's that like 15 miles? OK so I got about 6 hours to cover that distance. That's doable." <br />
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Trail runs along the final stretches of the Housatonic River. Class 3+ rapids rolling nicely still after Irene. Kayakers hit chutes at about 8 mph. I jog along trying to match their speed and to see them surf the eddies. Next I hear some barbaric yelling and see Tag battle/axing Effect on the beach. They have stopped for a break and are both carrying foam-padded weapons for daily battles. I jump in the river for a quick swim. Then a rancid Odwalla bar from 2009 gives me a tummy ache. Better check the expiration next time I score some food from a hiker box. Wiley shelter is next, so at this point I know I'm close to the walk's end.<br />
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The trail breaks out of the woods for the final mile. While enjoying an open view across pastoral landscape for a change, I'm trying now to remember what the approach will look like... about to pass by a familiar place. We <Neal, Pat, Nolan, Ron, Alan, Aaron, Andy, Adam, and the rest of the crew> camped out for several weeks in a Tractor yard with the Mid Atlantic Trail Crew in 2009 during the boardwalk project.---------Meanwhile a Northern Harrier cruises low over the open pasture searching for rodents. The optimal light breeze blowing across the field providing just enough lift for silent glide with hope for a meal. No dice."Good luck to you Mr. Harrier. I've gotta train to catch."-----------<br />
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My memory serves me right. The trail drops down out of the upper field, jumps a fence via turnstyle, continues past the tractor yard where we camped, passes a corn crib in another open field, jumps another fence and on down to Pete's Native Landscaping business on Rt 22. Towards the end of a long day's walk, it was fun to walk this mile again and remember my time spent here. When I reach the train platform behind Pete's cages of Chinese pheasants there are 4 other hikers with very large packs. "Ah they must be section hikers" I think to myself. They are from the city. All of them are waiting for the return trip home after a wet weekend in the woods. Just as conversation crumbles... the bastards show up. Dylan invites me to stay with them at his brother's place in Brooklyn. Moose and Easy show up from the deli with sandwiches and beer in hand. Moose: "We're gonna stealth camp behind Pete's tonight."<br />
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Just on the other side of the train tracks is the boardwalk that I helped construct some years before. I have to run across the tracks and check the progress... Phragmites growing wildly over swampland that I only remember as a muddy construction site. The curved path of oak planking floats beautifully through the loostrife and goldenrod. I'm surprised to see how far the volunteers"the Boardwalk Crew" have progressed. Only about 100 ft to go and they will have completed a 1/2 mile , handicapped accessible boardwalk.<br />
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I turn back and run to not miss the train pick up for a trip to the Big Apple. FROM THE WOODS Two hours later to GRAND CENTRAL STATION. The four of us are tripping in awe of the marble stairways and lofty ceilings. We step out onto the street "Are we outside?" I wonder while leaning my head back to see the skyscrapers. Business everywhere! Jazz Saxophone player to my right and a scottish bagpiper to my left. What a trip!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAElXklqbpeS-16y0AqAt3NjF8Ns997JGbgf-e68aaK271wphKZ4Nqbs44yK_7sVGNc8VlWmlkBm7OYo1KGB1O37Re3JXc5dfbhnCGxrT_zihK1gJNiDwDfWGaoy4SW-RsxEm5IcY60c/s1600/recycleYUK.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAElXklqbpeS-16y0AqAt3NjF8Ns997JGbgf-e68aaK271wphKZ4Nqbs44yK_7sVGNc8VlWmlkBm7OYo1KGB1O37Re3JXc5dfbhnCGxrT_zihK1gJNiDwDfWGaoy4SW-RsxEm5IcY60c/s640/recycleYUK.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> RECYCLE MAN earns his living 5cents a can</div><div style="text-align: center;">Brooklyn, NY September 2011</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7OR0pIXXdAei8LMNLbWVl48t6qAef7SCk7oaYtjzh8aJ7K37OcKbo1cRmzU2qNGCveg69gSYjFAIyYZdyUcDLk1EIXQmzQJdhqY3yk42BQCGpxkHUnixqIJ0vLXilun-xpbaOxCrypY/s1600/centralparkbastards.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7OR0pIXXdAei8LMNLbWVl48t6qAef7SCk7oaYtjzh8aJ7K37OcKbo1cRmzU2qNGCveg69gSYjFAIyYZdyUcDLk1EIXQmzQJdhqY3yk42BQCGpxkHUnixqIJ0vLXilun-xpbaOxCrypY/s640/centralparkbastards.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">chilln in Central Park</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-80291555642210687952011-09-02T10:32:00.000-07:002011-09-02T10:32:50.004-07:00Aqua Blazing ... Anyone?It is rumored that the liquor store just around the cornern gives away free 40oz to thru hikers. Bobwhite, her family and friends have taken us <Moose, Easy, Coach, Tag, Effect, Powder River> in for a few nights of "Glamping" at the State Park here in Cornwall, CT. The boys and Bobwhite are slackpacking 20 miles today while I rest up my right shin splint.<br />
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I'm sitting here with Powder River in the library drawing up plans for an "Aqua Blaze" on the Housatonic River. That's right, I'm going to skip a section of trail in CT. The legs need rest, but I want to keep up with my crew, so while they slack pack today and tomorrow, Powder and I will be running the river at about 4500 cubic feet per second. The hurricane's effect here peaked at 11,500 cu ft/sec on the Housatonic. Arie at the canoe rental in town says the water should drop for safe travel tomorrow with class 1 and 2 rapids. While looking at this on the AT map, I noticed that the river parallels the trail for quite a distance <from Dalton, Mass to Kent, CT>. The southward flow of the Housatonic river is convenient for SOBO's while the Shenandoah river's northward flow in Virginia offers a 4 + day aqua blaze for NOBO's. Some NOBO's who are familiar with the Trail's history would Aqua Blaze the {Shenandoah National Park / SKyline-drive-paralleling section of A.T. <35 road crossings in 120 miles>} in rebellion. Benton McKaye was surely not wild about Skyline AutoDrive proposal in the 1930's especially since more access for motorists would compromise the Appalachian Trail's primitive setting. Other National Park officials saw this deal the other way around .... the Skyline drive as a huge development opportunity. So... therefore some NOBO hikers will skip the 120 miles in the national park and instead float along the river for a few days.<br />
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So I think this is now my best option if I want to stay with my friends... while also rest up a bit. The shin splint has been going on for 3 days now and the "fun-factor" is declining with this annoying-partially-useable-injury. What a convenient place to be debilitated! When Powder and I were looking at the maps, I started thinking "Huh, this makes a lot of sense, the river parallels the A.T!"<br />
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Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-71784678242967593152011-08-23T13:14:00.000-07:002011-09-12T11:50:46.312-07:00Rendevous in Hanover<div style="text-align: center;"> Hanover- A Trail Town</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This college town is a gem along the rural Appalachian Trail. The white blaze takes you right through town. There are young people everywhere with lots of nightlife, school is just underway, farmer's market is thriving, construction workers climb the roofs. Some good pickups at the hiker box in the community center: HoneyLemon Losenge, powdered milk, AquaMira for treating water-- Score! Gotta love the free stuff! Also there is an amazing food cooperative with dry bulk section. Free camping for thru hikers is found on the edge of Dartmouth college's soccer fields. We set up here for the night and walked to the Salt Hill pub for trivia night. </div>And what better way to celebrate than to stop in for a PBR with the old Men Of Action Team + Effect + Tag + Coach + Bobwhite! What a great crew we have. The owner at the all-you-can-eat-pizza-buffet screamed into the back of the kitchen..."CHOP CHOP We got hikers!" <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinWUjD8f06GNpVumJFNxv78FCZhXKU18bU9tTJKYoXR3newEskLHiz4vhU-bFkHiHmnvL4DkVSSKc9MUYqmQt71MGIuWTesHWpMHN5P7hiGbF63GvtrkpOYsHKu2omBCDPtla84VsUow/s1600/DSCN0167.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinWUjD8f06GNpVumJFNxv78FCZhXKU18bU9tTJKYoXR3newEskLHiz4vhU-bFkHiHmnvL4DkVSSKc9MUYqmQt71MGIuWTesHWpMHN5P7hiGbF63GvtrkpOYsHKu2omBCDPtla84VsUow/s320/DSCN0167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">our NOBO friends left to right: coyote, lady sherpa, T-Mello, Bobwhite, Tag in front of Hanover Town Hall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Wondering exactly where I would run into my fellow Konnarock Trail Crew alum "Lady Sherpa," I wanted to try and contact by phone, but then I figured that if we were destined to meet up then we will. Because everything on the trail happens word-of-mouth and there are frequent conincidents each day that throw you a little surprise.... right? I'd heard from other NOBO's that LadySherpa was closing in on Hanover. Of course I am travelling the opposite direction, and with the white blaze running right down the busy street of Hanover, there were many chances to miss each other. But sure enough I saw Danielle on the corner of main street by the bagel shop. Here she was having travelled afoot all the way from Georgia, and I from Maine.<br />
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This spring my friend Matteo 'Mufassa' Romanno and I did some Trail Angeling with car rides for Sherpa's band of gypsys including Shuffle, Dash, Truckin, Soul Slosher, Beans, Yinz or Uins? The destination in town was "BOB's DAIRYLAND." I came in and said "BOB fire up the grill, we got lotsa hungry hikers coming." <br />
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So anyways.. from this unplanned crossing of paths in downtown Hanover Lady Sherpa and Coyote and I proceeded to enjoy the benefits of being a hiker in a hiker friendly town.... Hanover is famous for handing out free stuff to hikers... as long as you leave your stinkin pack outside. The hiker-friendly tradition here makes us feel welcome and it brings in business... But a lot of them are kinda like "here's a free snicker's candy bar.... now get the hell outta here!" The bagel basement gave out free bagels, the gear shop handed out free snickers, the pizza joint gave out one free slice, the bookstore served free coffee. So as Lady Sherpa, Coyote, and T-Mello wandered the morning street, I had a thought...."That's funny I don't even drink coffee, but what the hell? ... It's free, so I'll take it" <br />
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The next day out of Hanover Tag, Effect, and I crossed the bridge over the Connecticut River (and we almost walked right past the sign for the VT/NH border without seeing it) We were headed for Happy Hill shelter just 3 miles out of town. A few day's travel found us camped across the highway from the Inn at the Long trail, where I got to meet up with a friend of mine from Virginia Tech lacrosse Ben Nachlas. There was an Irish Folk band from NY playing and the guiness was flowing smoothly. The bar tender "Owen" was a class act. He poured a half and half which consists of a Long Trail Ale (on the bottom) and a creamy Guiness pour to float the top. To top it off Owen streams the tap down to pencil thin while he creates a shamrock design in the foam of the beer. It was so nice to see him and catch up with my fellow hiking buddy. I reflect on the days when I had just met Ben... Ben had just returned from an Outward Bound backpacking session in Montana while I had just returned from a N.O.L.S. backpacking sesh in Alaska in the summer of 2004. We instantly hit it off the moment we met in Blacksburg. That night at the Pub both of us and the rest of the crew spent the remaining night in laughter and comaraderie. Thank you Ben the Trail Angel for making the visit!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXtwmpqS05MWZ1kvCKopOqn1S86GvKOcirSeMbkbvGiFZJKmjsqYhl6MvaOXoUkfxGTIS5mvbjXeXFbZiAYBNEjjQg0Nz-5Al7n_XXpak21UjN-GEUS2ekBz_LMrf6Vx2jbaS6pKmzq0/s1600/DSCN0177.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXtwmpqS05MWZ1kvCKopOqn1S86GvKOcirSeMbkbvGiFZJKmjsqYhl6MvaOXoUkfxGTIS5mvbjXeXFbZiAYBNEjjQg0Nz-5Al7n_XXpak21UjN-GEUS2ekBz_LMrf6Vx2jbaS6pKmzq0/s640/DSCN0177.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SOBO CREW ROLLIN DEEP </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Special Effect, Suge Knight, Denim Chicken, T-Mello, Tag, Aldo the Apache AKA Coach, Ben </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-71489620474074767102011-08-07T15:54:00.000-07:002011-08-11T05:09:26.827-07:00The People's Trail<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I've met so many wonderful people that the following text below only scratches the surface, but here's a tidbit or two on the characters I've had the pleasure to share the journey with.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chet West, proud hostel owner in Lincoln, NH sits in front row. From left we have Tag, T-Mello, Twisted Turtle, Effect<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgCIPW03WJpmaV_4ZvF9oV_7Dqq1-i9JjoI0Qceo5ef09dNrrYDCwkGdP_gRe0SyetR5ZU_-6QK8CT8rdNE0WBZ0v78spPCxK7X6VRzAtD9XGZf7LwW5Z1qYr0-H52m_u7St2Vofj7fg/s1600/IMG_0703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgCIPW03WJpmaV_4ZvF9oV_7Dqq1-i9JjoI0Qceo5ef09dNrrYDCwkGdP_gRe0SyetR5ZU_-6QK8CT8rdNE0WBZ0v78spPCxK7X6VRzAtD9XGZf7LwW5Z1qYr0-H52m_u7St2Vofj7fg/s320/IMG_0703.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two trail crews in one day... there's lots of work to be done on Saddleback. That's where the Maine Conservation Crew steps in... keep up the good work guys!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp09a9Lg5dmRS8TtflqEnY8vvqmZGl8kKG2JAr2CqFE98yjAtFYpP_F7k33sIXflbU7yqVNLHiFQAoSsehx_fDnmKdTu1v9uhinR_E_KvYP7wuZLw4tK9sbTc_HKfykKpj8i_myXgWEo8/s1600/IMG_0702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp09a9Lg5dmRS8TtflqEnY8vvqmZGl8kKG2JAr2CqFE98yjAtFYpP_F7k33sIXflbU7yqVNLHiFQAoSsehx_fDnmKdTu1v9uhinR_E_KvYP7wuZLw4tK9sbTc_HKfykKpj8i_myXgWEo8/s320/IMG_0702.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Here I am with crew leader Chris and Andy who worked Konnarock last year</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was stoked to see Maine AT Trail Crew hard at work on stone staircase up Saddleback<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKzRpKHoDYkGzxNJdkoZlLYPychUG-FElnI0Zw4ICB5kNR9AMvmdB-jTzxJHLrQ9thaDIopFAaBPWynTr4iGxf8mAEcLjPme_007Sv3huUZS4A4X_A0ENdIpIq2mkr41kdLvsKqCBQJ4/s1600/IMG_1602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKzRpKHoDYkGzxNJdkoZlLYPychUG-FElnI0Zw4ICB5kNR9AMvmdB-jTzxJHLrQ9thaDIopFAaBPWynTr4iGxf8mAEcLjPme_007Sv3huUZS4A4X_A0ENdIpIq2mkr41kdLvsKqCBQJ4/s400/IMG_1602.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wildcat perspective of Mt Washington two days before our foggy summit<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Zach atop the Horn of Saddleback Mountain... I lost my ballcap</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Zach </b>from Baltimore area is a recent Towson University grad, who had some art classes with my friends back home Teresa and Kevin. He claims to not need a trail name because “life on trail is the most real I’ve ever been, I don’t want to go by another identity.” A respectable philosophy I suppose. His two friends from back home had quit their jobs and spent loads of money on gear to do this journey with him. They both ended up quitting the trail partway through the 100 mile wilderness, only a few days in. But Zach spent a memorable first day on Katahdin with his father and grandfather, a Frederick, MD native in great shape for his older age. Zach uses a homemade collapsible twig-burning stove to cook meals and heat up tea water. An important element of this stove system is the rubber hose he uses to create a concentrated blast of oxygen for fire fuel. Anyways, Zach is a great guy whose company I’ve enjoyed much along the way. His morning account of last night’s dream involved a family-robot-butler who turns evil against them was one of the most interesting stories told thus far. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Skypilot </b>is a NOBO who flew helicopters in vietnam had to stop me when we crossed paths. “You're the 14th red beard I've met out here. I have to tell you this story… We rescued a POW who was locked up in a cage for 7 years and he came out lookin like you with golden red beard.” Well that's great I'm a P.O.W. now!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Pilot</b>, a doctor in Indiana, is attempting her 3rd Thru-hike. Met her husband on a winter Northbound hike some years back. First SOBO attempt completed in '98. I had the pleasure to taste Pilot's high flying pace for about 4 days over the Maine Mahoosuc range during that heat wave. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Headbutt</b> got his name after repeatedly headbutting several fallen trees. His open head wounds were doctored up by hiking partner Pilot. This determined duo was just the company I needed to go through Mahoosuc Notch. Headbutt was our pace setter. Having just finished grad school in Washington, his at home running regiment helped him achieve a nice steady 'one-speed' hiking style.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Rinee</b>- recent high school graduate from Germany, met him on Barren Mountain and shared shelter for a couple nights. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Twisted Turtle</b>- from Cincy, a Harry Potter fan who finally got to see the new film on his third attempt searching for cinema in a trail town. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Milk Carton</b>- when she started on Katahdin she was carrying a Spot Locator, a device that sends out your GPS coordinates with the push of a button. She was not using this device for the first 5 days while travelling in the 100 mile wilderness. Her parents became worried and began the long search. NOBO's who met her hysterical parents began poking fun at her: "Wait I recognize your face.... You're the girl on the Milk Carton aren't you?"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coach a graduate of Alderleaf Wilderness School, is from Georgia. A freshly turned legal drinker, makes sure to have his daily dosage of Pabst Blue Ribbon whenever possible. This guy is fun to be around and I look forward to hiking with him some more</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I met '<b>Bobwhite</b>' at Shaw's famous breakfast in Monson. A Maryland Institute College of Art graduate and Baltimore resident, Bobwhite helped launch a new parish community in Mount Vernon. Before trail life, she was most recently pouring concrete for custom table top designs, and she hopes to try ship sail fabrication when her journey on the A.T. is complete. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Effect with candy bar and Tag atop Saddleback mountain.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Suge Knight</b>- Assassin to Tupac Shakur, was inspired to hike the A.T. after the release of last year’s National Geographic special on the ‘People’s Trail.’ A loud mouthed Cape Cod character. Does a great Chris Farley, Frank Rizzo, Sol Rosenberg from the Jerky Boys, endless entertainment from this guy. Now traveling under the team name Men of Action including Stray Cat/Denim Chicken. MOAT must surround freedom. The Men Of Action Team are still on the trail while their third buddy when MIA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Stray Cat/ Denim Chicken</b>- originally from Erie, PA, now claims Savannah, GA to be home of the best St Patty’s day celebration. He never heard a thing about this Appalachian Trail until about a month before his Katahdin summit when SugeKnight came up with the idea. With experience as a welder for an oil company in Texas, Denim Chicken and SugeKnight dream of opening a bike shop after the hike.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I met <b>Lefty </b>at the Lakeshore House and shared a cold one with him first thing out of the 100 mile wilds. I was a bit confused when I see him wearing a red plume hat and a ladies dress telling me that he is an Iraq war veteran. So I guess there is such a thing as a militarized drag queen. Somewhere near Rangely, Lefty LEFT his team high and dry. Walking off and quitting his hike, he left with group gear that was shared between all three guys.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><b>Men Of Action Team</b> <M.O.A.T.></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">They were still a few days behind me when I heard the story of their infamous Kennebec River crossing. After spending a day in Caratunk waiting for the delivery of their new hiking boots, a night spent exchanging stories with some other war vets at the bar must have inspired them to cross the river that night. This is the river that hikers are asked kindly to wait for the daytime ferry service put on by Hillbilly Dave. Well they never met Dave, and with packs in trash bags, they forded the risen night river (upstream dams must have been releasing at night). A crossing of about 70 yards swept them downstream but all three made it across in one piece. Then somehow they realized they should have brought some more beer along with them. So SugeKnight and Stray Cat crossed back over to hitch another ride to the Wilderness Outfiter’s bar and retrieve three growlers full of beer. This time the Men of Action Team got dropped off by a Caratunk native at the 1986 crossing where sticks in the river used to show the way. This story did not surprise me one bit. Whenever you hang with this dynamic duo, you know something crazy is about to go down.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">As a temporary summation of the Men Of Action Team let’s just say you probably shouldn’t fuck with them…. And don’t ‘bring piss to a shit fight</span><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">Ó</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">’</span></div>Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-64495642026523399392011-07-27T23:21:00.000-07:002011-07-27T23:21:06.630-07:00My first Trail MagicIt was midday during that heat wave we had last week when I came down off a brutal descent of Old Blue Mountain. I noticed a blue cooler at the road crossing. The note read "Trail Magic from Baltimore. leave empties, no other trash please." Inside was a variety of icy cold sodas. I enjoyed my root beer while thinking "That's funny, this Trail Angel is from my home town." <br />
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The hitch into Andover, ME wasn't going so well. I waited for about half an hour, but everyone was headed out to the lake with their boats in tow. Before too long two things happened simultaneously: Pilot and Headbutt came down off the rocky slope, and David from Pine Ellis Hiker Hostel showed up with the shuttle. Pilot had made a mountaintop phone call to arrange pickup. I had chosen to hike without a cellphone and was trying to embrace the unfortunate situation while frying in the sun on the side of the road. David pulls out a small cooler from the car and pours the three of us lemonade. It was good to be on our way to town.<br />
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Later in the evening as things cooled down I walked to the one store in town to check voicemail at the payphone. "Teddy this is Jessica. We're on vacation in Rangely. Your Dad told us that you've probably already passed through but still not too far away. I hope we can meet up." <br />
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Well it turns out this was the most enjoyable of all trail magic. The way it all came together, you know? It was such a nice break from the trail to stop for some familiar company. The Mitchell family were the most generous hosts...they took me back to their camp alongside Rangely lake where little Annie and Wesley and Rees and I swam with the crawdads. Then the kids showed me their spaceship. I requested protein for dinner, and protein is what we had. Steak + potatoes + good company = a happy TMello with belly full. And we had the most amazing sunset over the lake!<br />
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The next morning Rees and I set out for the Aziscohos river in search of trout. After bitterly mailing home my fishing rod some days earlier, I thought I would never again get the chance to catch a Maine trout. Quick stop at the fly shop for some local advice and we were on our way. I wasn't planning on telling Rees that I had climbed a tree to retrieve stranded tackle. But word spreads quickly amongst the fishermen unless they've found a good hole to fish. I pulled in some tiny salmon fry which was better than nothing. Then eventually caught my first Maine brookie! Rees caught a few too and we both felt satisfied. <br />
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Later in the afternoon, Rees dropped me off. I can't say I was all that motivated, but I started walking with plans to stop for the night at the first shelter 5 miles in. I got in around 7 and dreaded the thought of being alone for the night. But who better to show up than 3 SOBO's from the Baltimore area. It was another pleasant surprise and made for a good night's sleep.<br />
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Thanks to all my Trail Angels out there! I'll be thinking about you and will not soon forget this stream of events!Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-18193070763187825352011-07-27T21:59:00.001-07:002011-09-12T11:17:50.556-07:00A Tribute to the Trail Volunteer<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtNURmp15CnitRusgWSYMpiu-q3lMsn7Im2Mgsch3CFwLorUrSjHeZ2-sYMP8rvtu3mjq2i-S5BY98C9B8s4g412aKmWoNjMQMUQiVzl4s8oie8DLUBaEgyIv0UqR_eMSzF9iyVfl2Ig/s1600/peoplepower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtNURmp15CnitRusgWSYMpiu-q3lMsn7Im2Mgsch3CFwLorUrSjHeZ2-sYMP8rvtu3mjq2i-S5BY98C9B8s4g412aKmWoNjMQMUQiVzl4s8oie8DLUBaEgyIv0UqR_eMSzF9iyVfl2Ig/s320/peoplepower.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Group shot of our crew in Sand Spring, VA.</div><br />
When I sign the trail register, I often like to express my gratitude for the hard work that thousands of volunteers put in on the trail every season. From impressive stone staircases to handcrafted log structures these trail workers have demonstrated some beautiful construction work. There are so many other jobs covered by the A.T. Volunteer: there are blazes to be painted, signs to replace, trail registers to collect, overloaded privies to tend, shelters to repair, fallen trees to cut... the list goes on.<br />
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From spring 2008 through summer 2011 I worked as a crew leader for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's Konnarock and Mid-Atlantic volunteer trail crews. Even before this I was an active member of the Outdoor Club of Virginia Tech going on day-long work trips. It was during these times that I came to appreciate the physical structures that help make this footpath passable and environmentally sustainable. It is easy to walk a short section of trail without realizing the immense task required to construct it. I will never look at a hiking trail the same again, and I plan on volunteering more of my time in the future.<br />
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Often a trail builder's goal is to create a final product that blends into its environment. (S)he makes use of raw materials immediately available. Timber or stone is harvested on site and set into the earth, ready to endure the foot tramping of many nature seekers to come. Simple hand tools are used to dig, chop, drag, crush, lever, and cut building materials. Water drainage and soil erosion are important factors if we want these trails to last through generations of use.<br />
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When a section of trail is beyond repair, a relocation is in order. The ATC or local trail club must contract a professional to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement along the proposed corridor. Local trail clubs along with the ATC then get to work recruiting volunteers. There are always multiple trail relocation projects ongoing along the corridor. Other reasons for relocations may include: to avoid beaver floodings and landslides, to eliminate dangerous roadwalks, to preserve the primitive or natural setting. Many projects take several years and thousands of volunteer hours to complete.<br />
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There are a total of 31 local trail clubs whose tireless efforts keep this trail alive. Many of these clubs are comprised of mostly retired folks with lots of free time. There are however two student based clubs, though turnover rate is quick. I say we need more young volunteers! There is great potential for bridge-building here!<br />
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The volunteer community is truly amazing. This long, thin line from ME to GA is the ultimate accomplishment! A concrete symbol of our great United States of America. These committed individuals have donated large chunks of their lives to the A.T.'s maintainance. So the next time you're out on the trail and you see someone coming with a mattock in on hand and rockbar in the other, please stop to show your thanks!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0-tJbf3JYSauboNDhqhOHYZI__M4JM_a3jc_yQMi4llRjmerFeP_P-413oSzJGV2lKS6lMxu4q7-fZOItYeZWbyfAW6hDBDF9GeT7RR8D9roAUAE5ikc_a4fhO70UAak_xqL-33STkg/s1600/fda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0-tJbf3JYSauboNDhqhOHYZI__M4JM_a3jc_yQMi4llRjmerFeP_P-413oSzJGV2lKS6lMxu4q7-fZOItYeZWbyfAW6hDBDF9GeT7RR8D9roAUAE5ikc_a4fhO70UAak_xqL-33STkg/s320/fda.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sean the stone splitterTed Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020360812735033875.post-51162921058324038562011-07-27T21:54:00.000-07:002011-12-30T08:40:00.958-08:00Trail NamesThis will be an ongoing list as I meet more trail characters along the way....<br />
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<i>Big Daddy Duck Tape, CocoaToeJoe, LardAss, Buzz, Pilot, Headbutt, Burly, RedBeard, TreeBeard, Mudflap, Pundit, Trapper, Slowjourner, Greenmile, TeenBean, Rock Monkeee, Moonpie, SmilesNotMiles, Molasses Dragon, RIP Van Winkle, Mitch, DejaThru, Flutterby, CrawlDawg, Hellhammer, Yetti, BagO'Tricks, Baltimore Jack, Stryder, Mufassa, SpeaksLittle, Scout, </i><i>Curly, MammaLush,</i><i> Little Elf, Deva, Powder River, Bobwhite, HappyCamper, Hotsauce, Riverdance, Leprechaun, Jasper, RightClick, FreeMan, D6, Twisted Turtle, Josie, Happy Camper, Seskimo Sam, Mr Z, Buzz Lightyear, High Life, Talkin Tent, Pleasure, LaLa, Daks, Spoons, Foxtrot, Sundowner, Nuge, SafteyOfficer, Bogart, Coach, T-Mello, DayGlow, RainWalker, Wiggles, SweetPea, Sage, Sensei, Goldfish, Brothers3, Captain, Possum, Hops, SugeKnight, StrayCat, DenimChicken, Lefty, Cimmarron, GoinHome, Bewildered, Peregrine, MotherShip, LadySherpa, Coyote, Moose, Easy, Phenix, Framework, 9Lives, Pinch, Stretch, KissimbaWarrior-of-the-Light....</i><br />
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So far the trail name T-Mello has stuck with me. A man named Robert in Monson suggested "Wilson" as he thought I looked like Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway.Ted Martellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16603495083251452084noreply@blogger.com0