Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012-Day55 mile 741.1 (19)

After spending a day in a town, eating town food, sleeping in a bed, access to running water and a hot shower it was hard self motivating to head back out on the trail. Daleville, VA has been the best town up to this point in my opinion.
The trail was really well graded making the hiking easier than expected. The heat kicked in though making me feel more fatigued than usual and having to stop for water several times. My water filter started acting up for the first time on this trip of all days (86 degrees on my thermometer).
Meet some nice folks today. One of them was actually born in the same hospital as me and has a birthday 4 days from mine (7 years age difference though :) ).
Laying in my tent now with the odor of my rank shoes either fogging up my tent or making me dizzy :)

AT Hike

I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to follow my jouney. I have had so many people make comments and shoot me emails that it has really touched me deeply. I apologize for not being able to respond to everyones questions and comment (unfortunately I do not have a smart phone or have had computer access to respond). Please do not take it personally! Whenever this trip comes to a conclusion I will definately look back over all the comments and questions and make the effort to respond to everyone. Thanks again to everyone! Happy trails to all! "Keep your eyes on the skyline and nose into the wind!" - ROVIOUS
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Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012-Day 54

Been having a nice relaxing zero day in Daleville, VA. Staying at the Howard Johnson which is right next to the trail and located near an outfitter and plenty of restaraunts. I actually think I may have put a few pounds back on :).
We've been hiking with a nice young chap from England (Chez11) for the past few days. Basically we had 3 generations of hikers in our group. He will be heading on ahead of us after tomorrow since we will be heading into Roanoke on Saturday so I can spend a night with my wife and dogs. Hopefully we can catch back up with him in the future as he made a nice addition to our hiking party.

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike-Day 53 mile 722.5 (9.4)

Rained again last night. Comanchie pulled the dog into the shelter fortunately (he was against the wall so it didn't bother any of the other hikers). I woke up early and headed out at 6:30 to get into Daleville and hopefully reunite the dog with her owner.
The trail was pretty easy going so I moved at an ok pace. We ran into a retarded turkey who ran back and forth in front of me 4 or 5 times making the dog go crazy. Finally it ran off and I calmed the dog down so we could move on.
We made it to town aat 10:30. Just before getting off trail we ran into an older gentleman who had a dog that looked just like Babe. I explained the dogs story and we moved on to the vets. When I arrived to drop the dog off they seemed reluctant to hold her until the owner could be located. The gentlman that we met on the trail had called the vet while we were there and said he was going to pay for the boarding (this was unknown to us until after we left-heck of a nice gesture and just the type of
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Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012-Day 22 mile 510.5 (16.3)

Woke up early after a noisy night, but the rain was short lived making it ok. Hit the trail by 7am and hiked most of the morning with overcast sky. This was a good thing because it kept the temps at a reasonable level.
Made it to McAfee Knob for lunch and took a few iconics photos. The sky had cleared just for us and we had great views.
Just after leaving the knob I found a lost dog from a section hiker we met earlier. I leashed it up with my line and headed down the trail. We spent a good while trying to track the owner down with no luck. We are staying in the shelter due to expected rain tonight and because of the dog. I will take him into the vets in Daleville tomorrow.
I have a new respect for people who hike with their dogs. I fed the dog half of my food and carried extra water for it making for a heavy pack and an empty belly :) - all worth it though!
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Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012 - Day 51 mile 696.8 (16.8)

Got an early start and was hiking before 7am. The weather was actually pretty good and the temps were moderate. The day started off with a pretty descent climb, but the grade was very good.
By 1pm it started heating up quite a bit and there was no water. The climb up/over/down Dragons Tooth was brutal. Nothing but rocks which really took its toll on my already hurting foot.
I ran out of water 2 miles out of the road where we decided to stop and hitch to a grocery and hostel (Four Pines Hostel). We loaded up on Gatorade and hamburgers and headed to the hostel. There was a group of younger hikers drunk out of there mind who took over the place a chased the rest of us out. We are now in our tents in the rain. The owner of the place is a nice guy but did nothing to stop the problems. There are about a dozen of us who are pretty P.O'd because we have to pay for their inconsiderate behavior. The trail crowd is definately different this year and not for the better. On to better days!
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Appalachian Trail Thru Hike-Day 50 mile 680ish

Let me get my bitchin out of the way first:
1. My foot is killing me!
2. My camera drowned due to all the rain-had to bu new camera
3. Got a nice gash on my forhead (not a scratch) from the van door hitting me in the head.
4. Did I mention my foot is killing me? :)
Ok....now that's out of the way! Todays hiking was pretty good. A lot of ups and downs, but it was clear sky and even had a few pretty views. Ran into a guy who I met heading into Bland and thought would be so far up the trail I wouldn't see him again. He took 1-2 days off in Pearisburg to wait on new shoes (which unfortunatley didn't come in). We chatted for a few by the Giant Keffer Oak Tree (one of the largest if the largest tree on the trail). Left him there and made my way to Niday Shelter. I walk up to the shelter and who do I find sitting there? HILL Hiker and Chez11! Finally some familiar faces. We chatted for a while around the table catching up. I am now in my tent hopefully to SLEEP! Got a big day tomorrow! Trying to get to Daleville by Tueday.
HAPPY TRAILS! Rovious

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012 - Update and video....

First here are a couple videos....





Heading into Pearisburg, VA.  I am going a little slow lately due to an injury to my right foot.  At the end of last year I did a long section hike over a weekend and sustained a stress fracture. Everything has been going fine up until a couple of days ago. I have had swelling and sharp shooting pain in the same location as before.  With this being said I slowed down the pace a bit....at around 12ish miles in a day my feet start swelling and getting sore so I backed off my mileage to around 10-12 miles a day to try and keep that at bay.  I actually started taking Ibuprofin to help keep the swelling down as well.  I have tried to stop at streams to soak my feet a couple times a day as a makeshift natures icepack.  The pain is still there, but it seems to have subsided a little. As they say "No Pain...No Maine!!!" :)

Been going solo since Marion.  Hill Hiker had pressed on and with my foot problems I haven't been able to do bigger miles to catch up. We have been in contact and may eventually meet up along the trail.

Hope everyone is doing well and thanks for taking the time to keep tabs on me!!

Happy Trails!!!!

Rovious

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012-Day 45 mile 586.9 (11.7)

Slept in a little today (or should I say rested in).Hit the trail by 7:45 with clouds in the sky,but no rain!
Actually had a pretty easy hike into Bland, VA. Had a real hand time getting a hitch though. I hiked out of the woods with another couple who had a dog which may have been a limiting factor. No worries though. They were good company and we shared stories on the walk into town. About 1/4 mile out of town someone stopped and picked us up (better late than never). Made it to Subway then went down to DQ for dessert.
Resting now at The Big Walker Motel where I picked up a mail drop.

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012-day 44 mile 575.2 (19.1)

I actaully stayed in a shelter last night. Usually i would prefer tenting, but having nothing but rain for what has seemed like forever I just did not want to pack a soaking wet tent up. Luckily there was only one person there and he didn't snore!
I rolled out at 7am once again in the rain. Most of the morning was spent getting soaked on a 2000 foot climb up to Chestnut Knob shelter for lunch. Just before the shelter I walked through a giant field while it only drizzled. The scene actually lifted my spirits a bit.
I spent around 40 minutes for lunch and during that time the rain stopped and the sun made its appearance. I was able to take the rain gear off for the first time in a couple days and let my clothes dry as I walked.
The weather only held out for a while and I was forced back into my wet suit just before making it to Jenkins Shelter. Once again fed up with the rain I made a nest in the shelter, ate dinner and layed down for a nights rest filled with snoring (unfortunately not mine).
The attached picture is of a couple hiking pups I have seen a couple of times - Keep going Mojo and Sky! :)
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Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012 - day 43 mile 556.1 (13.9)

First Happy Mothers day to my Mom, Mother-in-law and wife (yes dogs count as kids too :) ).
I had a nice weekend with my wife in Marion, VA while at the General Francis Marion Hotel. A very nice place with an excellent restaraunt.
Headed back to Atkins and was on the trail by 11:30. There were quite a few PUDS (pointless Ups and Downs) which made the elevation profile look a little daunting at first look, but the grade wound up being ok.
Made it to Knot Maul Shelter by 4:45. The rain started around 4 (cant seem to stay dry) and the forcast is calling for rain until Tuesday. I might even sleep in the shelter tonight as I am the only one here now.

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012 - Marion,VA Zero Day (Day 42)

I really don't like taking multiple zero days, but I arrived in Atkins, VA a day early and had no way of adapting my schedule where my wife could pick me up on the weekend.  I stayed in a motel/inn in Atkins, VA for an extra day to accomodate our schedule. It just so happened that the weather had eased up and would have been perfect for hiking. Oh well....a small trade off to see my wife.
I have Virginia ahead of me and although the longest state on the trail does not seem daunting to me at all.  After Troutdale, VA (which I have recently come through) the trail is completely virgin territory to me. This makes me feel like I am really just starting the trail so where the newness that most hikers have experienced is starting to wear off the beginning just seems to be starting for me.
My body feels really good and I feel in the best cardio shape that I have in years.
I can't wait to see what Virginia has in store for me.....hopefully not as much rain as I have been seeing lately :)

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012 - Day 40 mile 542.2 (11.6)

Last nights stay in the shelter was trying to say the least. Out of the 8 of us that were on the lower level 7 were severe snorers (I was not one of them as I am still having a lot of difficulty getting any sleep and spend most of the night awake). I was on the trail at 7am and finally had a day that would not rain on me!!!! It was a little chilly early which is what I really enjoy when hiking.

I traveled through farm land and traveled back in time to a little bit of history.  I passed by an old one room school building which was open to hikers and completely restored and maintained.  I stayed there for a short while taking pics/videos and tending to a few tender spots on my feet.

I made it to Atkins by 11:30 and checked into the Relax Inn.  Little did I know what I was in for. Although cheap, right on the trail and close to a restaraunt it was lacking in cleanliness.  The bugs truely had "Bed Bugs" and I felt itchy all night long. Not complaining though as I was not wet, had a shower, bed and a full belly.

Since I got here a day early and was going to meet my wife here on Saturday I had to stay in Atkins for an additional day. She is going to pick me up Saturday morning and we will be heading into Marion to stay at a much nicer hotel (The General Francis Marion Hotel).

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012 - Day 39 mile 530.6 (19.7)

It only sprinkled last night for about 30 minutes so I figured the bad weather may finally be moving through, but I was wrong. The rain toyed with me most of the day requiring me to put on and take off the rain gear multiple times.
I decided to press on past Troutdale since word on the trail was the restaraunt had closed down and the idea of real food was the only reason I was going to stop.
I made it to Partnership shelter around 4pm. This shelter was not a typical AT shelter by any means. It had a shower and you can also have pizza delivered to it. Hill Hiker and I split one making the longer day worth it. Sleeping in the shelter tonight (which is not something I really like doing - like the solitude of my tent).

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012-Day 38 mile 510.9 (16.4)

downpoored all night long. My tent actually folded in on me 2 times during the night but sprang right back up (fortunately).
rained most of the morning and on and off the rest of the afternoon. It did clear up a little as i was leaving Grayson Highland SP and i got to see the wild ponies. My camera may be ruined due to getting soaked
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Appalachian Trail thru hike 2012 -Day 37 mile (18.65)

Started off hiking around 7am. Had a pretty good group of people at Saunders shelter, but they were some snorers :)
Most of the day was pretty good weather and although it was warm it wasnt extremely hot for hiking.
Made it to Elk Garden around 2:30 just in time. It started to downpour! We waited there until 4pm, but it just wasnt letting up. I finally decided to head out and take my chances. Needless to say I was soaked and the trail was a river! Made it just past Thomas Knob shelter and set up camp. We wanted to stay in the shelter, but a group of section hikers werent going to make room. (There are just as many Buttholes on the AT as in towns :( )
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Appalachian Trail Thru Hike - Day 36 mile 476.3 (9.65)

No folks I did not give up! :)
I still have some things weighing on my mind , but overall I feel much better about things. Leaving Damascus today and having Virginia ahead of me doesn't feel that daunting. Since I will finally be hitting trail that I haven't actually hiked before (after Troutdale) seems like things are being renewed a bit.
I rejoined Hill Hiker today which helps things out. Even though we dont hike together during the day we usually camp at the same location so we always have a familiar face at the end of the day.
The trail was very good to me today. The weather was nice (although getting much warmer) and the grade was moderate.
I am now at Saunders Shelter with Hill Hiker, our tents set up and about to get water for cooking and such.
Thanks to everyone for the concern, comments and emails.
Happy Trails! ROVIOUS
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AT Thru Hike 2012

Just a quick update to let everyone know things are ok. I decided to take the week off from blogging (for personal reasons). I only decided to not post for the week, but will start posting once i get to Damascus this weekend. Just needed some time to reflect. Thanks again for following and stay tuned!
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Finally....some video!!

I finally got a chance to get a few videos up.  It takes quite a while to download even the short clips so I was only able to get a few posted.  Thanks to everyone who has been following along!! I hope to be in Damascus this coming weekend and rejoining Hill Hiker. Take care and Happy Trails!! - Rovious

AT Thru Hike 2012 - Day 26 mile 342 (6.3)

Last night was better weather wise. The rain that we were supposed to get didn't happen. That all changed after 20 minutes of hiking.
I had just put my rain gear on when the sky opened up. Lightning and thunder was all around me. Extreme wind followed along with hale. Since i was on an exposed piece of trail i stepped up the pace. The wind increased even more and trees started falling around in the woods by me. I immediately started jogging to get to lower elevation. Just then a large tree fell within 5 feet of me. If i would have been 2 steps faster I wouldnt be posting this. My life literally flashed before my eyes! Childhood memories and just about everything from my life. By the time I realized I was not dead and came back to concious I noticed myself in a full sprint heading down the trail. Almost 40 years of memories flashed before my eyes in less than 30 seconds (not in any order and all vivid as they were just happening). Things like riding an elephant in Florida when i was about 3-5, memories of trips with my family when I was a child and on and on.
It's amazing how one event like that can pur your whole life in perspective.
I am now in a Super 8 motel. All I can say is "what a day!" A little rattled, but alive and well. Life will never look the same again to me. Almost leaving my wife a widow will forever change me. Never take the ones you love and the ones who love you for granted!

AT Thru Hike - Day 25 mile 335.7 (20.7)

Rained all night last night and i didnt get a wink of sleep. All my gear was wet and muddy this am.
Left camp around 7:45 and hike in thick fog and cold for most of the am.
When i crossed over both Big and Little Balds (missed the views) the sky cleared up, the sun came out and it actually got pretty warm. Made it the 20.7 miles by 5:45 and cleaned the mud from my tent and let it air out.
Tomorrow i will be in Erwin, TN after a short day.

AT Thru Hike - Day 24 mile 315 (14.7)

Woke up to another chilly morning. I warmed up quickly after i started hiking. The sun came out and i had i really nice time hiking. Meet a man named Pops who sounds exactly like my father inlaw even with the same mannerisms. Snowed a couple times today as well.
The pic is for my mother - yes I am eating the jerky you bought me :)

AT Thru Hike 2012 -Day 23 mile 300.3 (15.4)

woke up to snow this am. Froze my tail off last night and thought i would have hypothermia as all my clothes were soaked from yesterdays hike. Snowed in the early am with high winds, but was just mostly cloudy and cold the rest of the day. Walked/climbed along an exposed ridge this afternoon with some pretty cool views. Made it to Jerry Cabin shelter at 5, ate dinner and am now tucked in my tent trying to stay warm.

AT Thru Hike 2012 - Day 22 mile 284.9 (11)

Today was another hard day! Not because of the trail or anything physical, but emotionally. The one thing that I thought might get me off trail before I left was missing my wife and dogs too much. Having to say goodbye again today was almost too much. My wife has been a real trooper through all this and really helped to get me back on trail. Thanks Babe!
It rained all day and by the time I made it to Spring Mtn shelter I was drenched and frozen (40 degrees right now). I got into dry clothes after setting up my tent and am already in the sleeping bag to keep warm. It will definately be a long night!

AT Thru Hike 2012 - Day 21 mile 273.9 (3.2)

Did a short 3.2 miles into Hot Spring, NC. Trail Fest was taking place and i got a chance to visit with one of my hiking friends. She was there selling her tents that she makes. I would highly recommend checking out her products at www.LightHeartGear.com if you are looking for an excellent UL tent.
Got to our cabin around 1 and spent the day relaxing, watching some tube and of course EATING!!!

AT Thru Hike 2012 - Day 20 mile 270.7 (14.8)

This morning was a little colder than it's been for a little while. It warmed up quickly though and i was soon drenched in sweat and my hiker stench.
Had a few big climbs to start the day off, but it was mostly downhill once i hit the top of Bluff Mountain.
The pic of me is where i cooked my lunch. I had a spectacular view and since it was quite and I was all alone I relaxed for about 1.5 hours to let my feet rest and dry out.
I now have my tent set up at Deer Mtn shelter to avoid heading into the youngin's and the party of Trail Fest. I have 3.2 miles tomorrow into Hot Spring to meet my wife, dogs and resupply.

AT Thru Hike 2012 - mile 255.9 (15)

DAY 19
Today started off with less than perfect weather. When I arrived at the top of Snowbird Mtn I could hardly see the aviation tower from the trail due to the heavy cloud cover.
There was a huge amount of elevation gain and descent today which tired me out a bit, but Max Patch had 360 degree views so I layed down in the field on top for 2 hours. The views were spectacular so I didn't mind staying put for a bit. I am at Roaring Fork shelter for the evening (tenting).

AT Thru Hike 2012 - day 18 mile 240 (11)

Made it to Standing Bear hostel today. It rained all night last night and poored all day today. Hiked the 11 miles in record time (for me) today mainly because i ate on the run due to the rain. I started hiking at 7:30 and arrived at the hostel at 11:30. I was a little nervous of the crowd when i arrived, but they moved out soon after i arrived and the older crowd moved in shortly after. I have about 15 miles to do tomorrow to set me up for an early arrival at Hot Springs on Saturday.

AT Thru Hike - Day 17 mile 230.1 (13.3)

Didnt get much sleep last night. The shelter was full and i pitched my tent on a slope.
I made pretty good time today doing 13 miles in 6 hours with an hour lunch break and another 20 minute break. I was hoping to stretch the day out, but obviously was moving quicker than i thought. Tomorrow is a short 11 mile day into Standing Bear Hostel to resupply and hopefully get a bed!

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012 - Day 16 mile 217.2 (10.8)

I had a very nice visit outside Gatlinburg with my wife, parents and dogs. Thanks to everybody for coming to visit me!
The Smokey's have been great! The weather cooperated today and although a little warm the views wered excellent. The thing i like the most about the park is that the trail follows the ridgeline so you can see in all directions on clear days.
A nice short 13 mile day tomorrow!

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012 - day 14

I am in Gatlinburg, TN with a new phone, taxes done (long painfull story) and crisis avoided.
I am spending tomorrow with my wife, parents and dogs before heading back out on Monday. Thanks to everyone who has been following! I really appreciate the comments - keep them coming as they are good motivation! I should be able to keep this blogh going now that i have my new phone!

Everything is going ok!!

Seth walked me through the process to get this information to you.

He has been having a problem with his phone and hasn't been able to update this journal.  We will be working on getting him a new phone and he should be able to get back online when we meet in Gatlinburg.  Otherwise he is doing well and should be into North Carolina tomorrow!!

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012 - Approach Trail

I'm not sure how many videos I will be able to post :(  The resolution on my camera uses up a lot of memory taking a while to upload on a computer (time which I unfortunately do no have and quality I am not willing to sacrifice). I will try to figure something out!!  No worries.

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike - Day 3

Another hot day.  Really did not expect this type of heat the first week of April, but I think it will cool off a bit towards the end of the week.  Blood Mountain was just as hard as the last time I did it. Looking forward to some cooler weather. 

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike - Day 2 (15.6) 15.8

Today was a long and hot day! Started off ok but reached 90 degrees by lunch time. I thought by starting early i would be able to avoid the heat for a while but i was obviously wrong!
Really haven't meet a lot of people to hike with at this point but have meet some good people.
Had my first trail magic today on springer mtn but had to turn it down because i have no appetite and been having to force food down up until this point.
Tomorrow is going to be a hard day!
Rovious

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Day 1 - Springer Mtn Shelter - .2 miles (9.0)

Today starts the journey!
Hiked the Approach Trail from Amicalola state park. The weather was clear but the 84 degree weather made the 9 miles tougher than they should have been. I am out of shape to boot.
Time to go fill the water bottles up and get ready for day 2!
Rovious

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Appalachian Trail 2012 - Prep - First Drop Box

I have had several people ask recently "what will you be eating while you are out in the woods?".  The above video is what I placed into my first drop box.  This will obviously adapt and change as I progress, but it should give a little understanding into what I will survive on.

More Trail Food - Black Beans, Spicy Sausage and Rice

 The above video will give you an idea of my latest concoction that I adapted from a soup recipe that I had found and tried at home.  It tastes very good!!

Dehydrated Trail Food - Chili Mac

As time quickly approaches for my departure on my AT thru hike attempt I am spending more and more time dehydrating meals to save money as well as provide me with meals that I know I will enjoy.

This is my version of Chili Mac.  I have adapted my previous recipe that I use at home for chili to accommodate a larger amount of servings and to also kick up the heat a notch (which my wife would not enjoy if I was just making it for us at home).   You can dial the heat down by cutting out the red pepper flakes and adjusting the amount of cayenne pepper and jalapenos that you use.

I hope this helps out in creating your own backpacking meals!!

Rovious

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike - Prep...More Food Stuff!!

Over the weekend I spent a lot of time preparing ground meat products for my upcoming trip.  Cooking, washing, dehydrating and preparing this type of food made me wonder how my diet is going to treat my body over the course of the next several months.

Here are a few photos of the process I used to make gravel.

Brown Lean Ground Beef/Turkey/Chicken

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012 - Gear

I have finally gotten around to doing the video of my gear for this years adventure.  Sorry that it has taken so long!!

Dehydrated Backpacking Food - Creole Shrimp

I have been busy getting other Appalachian Trail meal ready and I thought I would give dehydrating sea food a try.  The flavor in this meals was amazing (and very spicy so you may want to tone down the tobasco if you don't like your food hot), but the texture of the shrimp came out a little chewy.  I wish I could find freeze dried shrimp to add the the meal after the sauce has been dehydrated as I think this would fix the problem.

Happy Trails!

Rovious

Food?

Getting closer and closer to my departure date and my biggest dilemma to this point is FOOD!!!! You would think gear, logistics, missing family and friends would be the biggest questions on my mind (and don't worry they are big ones), but what to eat while away has me a little nervous.

For the most part I eat a pretty healthy diet at home. Usually a high protein, low fat combination with the occasional fast food binge to satisfy my emotional cravings on high stress days. With that being said I really haven't seen a lot of salad bars in the woods during my hiking adventures.  So what is a person to do?

I usually manage while hiking over a few days on dehydrated or freeze dried meals, but my cravings for vegetables, grilled chicken or steaks and strangely enough salads start calling after the first day.

So with all this being said here is what I have deduced for my menu up to this point:
     *  Dehydrate meals to eat healthier and save money!!
     *  Utilize store bought sides (such as Knorr meals, etc) with added veggies and proteins
     * Add in a few Mountain House meals.
     *  Stop at every restaurant that I can find along the way.

I am hoping that the one or two people who may check in on this blog can help me out a bit.....If you have any good recipes that you may have tested out and are willing to share please do so!!!! The more variety I have the better off I will be.  There is no doubt I will come back much lighter than my couch potato body has become, but I would like to avoid hitting the 2/3 point on the trail and feel like bailing (like so many others) due to lack of nutrition and poor heath.

I appreciate any help/recipes that you may have to offer.  Please leave them in the comment section below this post if you have the time.  I will try to add entries and videos of what I have come up with under the "Food Labs" tab of this blog for anyone interested.

As always...Thanks for tuning in and your support!!!

Rovious

Dehydrated Trail Food - Spaghetti with meat sauce, mushrooms and peas

This is my version of pasta with meat sauce, mushrooms and peas.  I apologize for the blurry video during some sections.  This recipe can be adjusted to suit your personal needs and also used with a store bought pasta sauce. I spent under $20 to make a batch which produced 16 5.5oz servings.  I hope you enjoy the recipe and please feel free to leave comments about your modifications.  Thanks for taking the time to watch and I hope this helps in planning meals for your future hikes.

Cell Phones for the Appalachian Trail!!!

This post is mainly for anyone that may be considering taking  a cell phone with them while hiking the Appalachian Trail......

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012 - Introduction

This is just a short introduction video for my upcoming Appalachian Trail Thru Hike attempt.  I hope to follow this with a series of videos and journal entries that encompass the Preparation Stages for this endeavor.  Thanks for taking the time to follow my adventure and if you have any questions or comments I will do my best to address them.

Happy Trails!!

Rovious

Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2012

 (Arch at the Approach Trail to Springer Mountain)

FYI....

I will be posting a series of videos and blog entries that have to do with the preparation that I will be doing in order to pull off this great adventure.

Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2 - Preparation - Gear
Part 3 - Preparation -Planning
Part 4 - Preparation - Food
Part 5 - Preparation - Conditioning

If there are questions or topics that you would like me to discuss further please post a comment and I will try to address as many as I can before I leave.  I also will be posting video and journal entries from the trail to keep friends and family up to date with my progress as well as providing any information that may help future hikers follow there dreams.

As always...thanks for taking the time to watch and read my blog!!!!

Happy Trails

Rovious

Benton Mackaye Trail - Section 4

I have finally got my video editing software working and have started compiling videos of trips that I have taken since our West Highland Way adventure.  This is a section of the Benton Mackaye Trail that I completed after returning.  This is also the trip that gave me a stress fracture in my right foot that will hopefully be healed enough for my AT trip this spring.  Hope you enjoy the videos and thanks for taking the time to watch!!!

2012 Appalachian Trail Thru Hike

I have been pondering this decision for quite some time. I have told a few people of my intentions, but have still been debating if I should really go through with it. I have finally come to the decision that there will be no perfect time to complete such an endeavor and that putting it off is exactly that - Putting it Off!! With that being said I am officially announcing my intention to walk from Springer Mountain in GA to Mt. Katahdin in Maine along the Appalachian Trail.

I will be posting videos and journal entries in an attempt to not only keep my family and friends updated as to my progress, but also to assist others in there planning for such a trip. Please feel free to post comments regarding the topics I address so others can learn from your experiences. I have spent a lot of time doing research via videos and websites throughout the years as well as practicing my back country skills (while hiking large portions of the southern AT) and hope to put as much information in one place as I can.

Some videos and journals have made more of an impact than others and I hope that this will motivate you in the same way that they motivated me to get out and live life!!!

I thank everyone who takes the time to read my blog and watch my videos!!

Happy Trails!!!

Rovious

West Highland Way - Scotland Day 7 - Kinlochleven to Fort Williams

West Highland Way - Scotland

Day 7 - Kinlochleven to Fort Williams(17.25 miles)



We woke up to beautiful weather once again at our usual time. There wasn't really even a cloud in the sky and the temperature was rather warm (not the usual scotish weather from what we've been told).

I over indulged in a huge Scotish breakfast which could have easily fed two pe0ple. I at so much that I actually felt worse than the previous morning after drinking 11 pints in Kingshouse.

We headed out a little after 9am. The first mile or so climbed steeply out of Kinlochleven which we took slowly through the woods. This was the first day that we really started to notice the midges and flies. They are ferocious little buggers with nastly bites!

Once out of the woods we connected with another old military road which wound through a peaceful valley. The sun was bright without a cloud in the sky, but a nice swift breeze kept us cool, but not from getting a little red around the face, neck and arms. We passed two ruins which were very interesting to see.

After six miles or so we hit trail again which took us through pine forests. The woods were spectacular and filled with moss, ferns and clover which Lisa and I spent a bit looking for 4 leafs. There was a small section at the end of the woods that had been logged which was a little depressing, but the sites were still beautiful.

At the end of the trail section we hit the logging road which would take us to Fort William. We could see the town off in the distance which made us feel a sense of accomplishment as well as a bit of sadness that our journey was coming to a close.

Several miles of road walking along with the heat and the sun started to take its toll on Lisa, but she was a trooper and marched on to the end without complaining.

Once in town the trail became a bit confusing. We were unaware that the end of the WHW had changed since last year and that the statue had been removed. We took our picture and the "Original End" of the trail (95 miles) then followed the markers through Fort Williams streets to the new end where we once again took our photos.

We headed back to the Grog and Gruel to get our completion certificate and celebratory Guiness. We had officially had walked the 97 mile West Highland Way trail and over 100 miles with trips into towns and B&B's. I was extremely proud of Lisa for pushing herself to achieve such an accomplishment.

We headed to our guest house to clean up and then headed back into town for dinner at The Tavern. While sitting enjoying our soup and appetizers we were surprised by our old friend Jack who just happened by. We chatted a bit and he was on his way.

After dinner we headed back towards our B&B making one final stop for a drink and then off to bed like the elderly folk we are by 9:30 :)

West Highland Way - Scotland Day 6 - Kingshouse to Kinlochleven

West Highland Way - Scotland

Day 6 - Kingshouse to Kinlochleven (9 miles)



Waking up this morning I felt the effects of last nights beer tasting binge. I'm not as young as I used to be :).

We woke up a little later than usual today and finally made our way to breakfast around 8:30. We ate a little lighter today than usual, but we only had a 9 mile day ahead of us.

Even though we got up a little late we were still on the trail by a little after 9. We took the first few miles slow even though it was pretty flat.

We arrived at the base of the Devil's Staircase by 10am. The name was much more fierce than the actual climb. The mile to mile and half climb was a little challenging considering I was sweating out about a beer every quarter mile.

I arrived at the top around 10:45 and found myself a rock to sit on while I waited for Lisa to reach the top. I took some pics, videos and caught up on my journal. The view was absolutely breathtaking and brought tears to my eyes.

Lisa arrived around 11:10 and we sat together enjoying a snack and the beauty of the Highlands. We placed our rock on top of the cairn, since this was the highest point on the WHW and were again on our way.

The rest of the hike was all downhill and since we couldn't check in to our B&B until 3pm we took our time.

We arrived in Kinlochleven around 2pm and stopped at the Tailrace Inn for lunch. Lisa had a very tasty lentil soup and I had a burger. We both had salads as well.

By 3:15 we were at the Edencoille Guest House and greeted by the proprietor. We were given a family suite which was amazing.

We did our usual routine of showering and changing into our street clothes and then relaxed for a bit while watching what happened in Norway on tv.

Shortly before 6pm we headed back to Tailrace Inn for dinner. Lisa had a big bowl of pasta and I had a ribeye steak. We sat around watching Harry Potter until the locals started pooring in to get their "drink-on". We hung around a bit then headed back to our B&B around 8pm.

West Highland Way - Scotland Day 5 - Tyndrum to Kingshouse

West Highland Way - Scotland

Day 5 - Tyndrum to Kingshouse (20 miles)



Knowing we had a long 20 mile day we woke up early (6:30am). The owner of the B&B was nice enough to have our breakfast ready by 7:30 so we could be on the trail by 8am (rather than our normal 9am start). I had fresh trout that her husband caught the day before and Lisa had muselli and cheese toast.

For the most part the trail followed old military roads which made walking fast and easy. We were easily doing 3mph pace which kept us on course for finishing too late in the day. The views were magnificant and the weather was once again on our side.

We made it to the Bridge of Orchy by 10:30. I found out that this is one of the places that they filmed Harry Potter.

We arrived at the Inveroran Hotel by 12:00 where we decided to stop and have lunch. Lisa was hurting pretty bad at this point (10 miles in) so it was nice to take a break and let her heal up a bit. She took a nice bath in "Icy/Hot" before we headed back out around 12:50.

The next section of trail just kept getting better. We followed the military road for the next 10 miles to Kingshouse Hotel where we would be staying for the night.

Arriving around 4:45 we immediately jumped into the shower to get refreshed before heading down to the hotel pub for dinner. Lisa had a goat cheese salad and I the Steak and Ale pie with vegetables and potatoes. We both had a bowl of vegetable coriandor soup to start.

I was asked to have a pint of beer by several people for them while in Scotland and I believe I had enough this night to cover everyone :) (11 pints total = next morning headache). So here is one for you: Dad, Mom, Ronnie, Bruce, Cindy, Jennifer, Jill, Kristin, Tom and any other friends that needed one :)

West Highland Way - Scotland Day 4 - Inverarnan to Tyndrum

West Highland Way - Scotland

Day 4 - Inverarnan to Tyndrum (12 miles)



Todays routine was similar to our last several. Wake up at 7am, get things together, head down for our scotish breakfast at 8am and on the trail by 9.

The day started off a little overcast, but we were fortunate enough to avoid any rain.

The trail was really beautiful. This seemed where the true highlands began. We followed the River Fillan for the first half of the day between two mountain ridges. It was pretty cloudy so my picture quality was a little off, but it kept the temperature down which made for an enjoyable hike.

Shortly after navagating away from the river we stopped for lunch. Unfortunately our sandwiches were not that great, but I ate them anyway. Lisa could only eat the ham & tomato relish (? on what it really was) half down, but could not eat more than a bite of the other (which I really couldn't tell you what was on it other than the colour was deep brown and had shredded cheese). After finishing lunch and packing up we stepped back to the trail at which point I looked down and found a British Pound ($). The fact that I found a coin in the middle of a field made me feel pretty lucky for the day.

We then proceeded on climbing over the hill and through a wooded area. Here we ran into trail maintenance. This was very different from what I have seen while hiking in the past. The group (4) had a bobcat and were all dressed in "business casual" attire. A far cry from various aged volunteers with pic axes, shovels and looking like they were bathed in dirt that I recall.

After descending through the forest we came to what I felt was some of the most spectacular sections yet. The sun had come out ong enough for us to come through a sheep ranch area. The place was covered with sheep and the backdrop was breathtaking.

The last bit of the hike into Tyndrum was relatively easy. When I say easy I mean Lisa didn't have to climb any hills :)

When we arrived at our B&B we immediately showered up and set upon the task of filling our bellies. We found a local restaurant and loaded up. Lisa had 2 fish cakes, chips and a bowl of fish soup. I had fish and chips, mashed green peas and a side salad. The portions were huge and more than satisfied our hungry appetites.

We lumbered down to the local filling station and bought supplies for the next day and then stopped at the Tyndrum Hotel to get our stamp (I'll expain later) and a drink.

Back at our room we made P,B & J Sandwiches and fell into bed to rest up for our long 20 mile day.

West Highland Way - Scotland Day 3- Rowardennan to Inverarnan

West Highland Way - Scotland

Day 3- Rowardennan to Inverarnan (13.25 miles)



Rise and shine at 7:00am, showers and another good scotish breakfast (which unfortunately took quite a while to get to the table).

We were on the trail a little after 9am and experienced our first almost full day of rain.

For the first 5 miles we walked along old dirt road beds until ariving at a true trail. This made for a nice easy grade which was mostly uphill.

The trail for the next few miles was rocky, but not all that bad. The rain and cloud cover kept the temperature cool, but for the most part was only drizzling.

When we reached Inversnaid we were once again surprised to find an exquisite hotel situation right on the lake. Since we were waterlogged and covered in mud from the knees down we opted to sit outside at some picnic tables and enjoyed our packed lunches (Beef and mustard and bread with a paper this slice of meat, chips, banana, cookies and juice).

As we were getting ready to leave Jack popped out of the hotel. He arrived at the hotel in the rain so decided to head inside and get a bowl of soup and eat his packed lunch. He headed on up ahead of us and we all made our way northward.

The next several miles of trail were very slow going. The trail was exrtremely muddy and we had to scramble over rocks which were slippery. The area around Rob Roy's Cave (which really isn't a cave, but a large crack in the rocks) was extremely difficult. A little after the Doune Bothy the rain finally subsided and we were able to take off the rain gear. The views began to open and we enjoyed our final views of Loch Lomond.

We arrived in Inverarnan around 4:40 and headed to our B&B - Roses Cottage - which was just a short walk to the Drovers Inn.

Lisa immediately hopped in the shower and I sat in the room listening to her enjoying the water soothe the aches and pains from the day (quite comical, but you had to be there :) ).

We headed over to the Drovers Inn aroudn 5:45 for dinner. There we met up with Jack for what would most likely be our last time together (he has an 18 miles day tomorrow and we only have 12). It will be strange not having him around for meals as he has been with us since our first stop at the Hillview Inn. Lisa had a hamburger and I had the Hunters Chicken. We had a few beers together, share a few more stories and said our goodbyes.

Hopefully tonight we will get a goodnight sleep and rest for a short 12ish mile day tomorrow.

West Highland Way - Scotland Day 2 - Drymen to Rowardennan

West Highland Way - Scotland

Day 2 - Drymen to Rowardennan (13.5 miles)



Once again we awoke at 7:00am (the sun had already been up for hours) and down in the dining room by 8:00 for another great Scotish breakfast.

We hit the trail around 8:45 after a 1/2 mile of road walking out of Drymen. The morning started off misty, but soon cleared up.

The first part of the hike was through pine forests that made me think of Little Red Riding Hood walking on her way to Grandma's House. The only dissappointing part of this section was all the logging that was going on in the area and the sections of clear cutting. We followed old road beds through most of this section of the Garadhban Forest.

Once through the woods it was now time to conquer Conic Hill. This was the first real climb we had and Lisa's first real test. Once again she made me very proud. Although a little slow on the climb and descent she hung in like a trooper. We had lunch of ham, turkey and cheese sandwiches (we made the night before) at the top while enjoying our first "REAL" views of Loch Lomond (the view was breathtaking!!).

We made our way to Balmaha which was a very nice lakeside town right on the shore. We decided to stop at the local restaurant for an Italian Coffee to get a little rest break and some caffeine to keep us moving.

After the short stop we were on our way. For the most part we skirted the shore on our way to Rowardennan.

Everything about this section was incredible. We had fabulous weather (we have yet to truelly experience the fabled Scotish weather - Rain :) ), beautiful views and really no sign of midges. I took plenty of photos and videos and just enjoyed looking out over the Loch most of the day.

Just before reaching our destination we met a woman who had hiked the WHW a couple times before and gave us loads of information about the trail as well as other things to see and do before leaving Scotland.

Entering Rowardennan was another wonderful surprise. The hotel was situated right on the lake which our room conveniently overlooked. We showered up and headed down to the restaurant where we once again met up with Jack for dinner. Lisa enjoyed the Fish and Chips while Jack and I had the Sea Trout all with rounds of Guiness (which really taste much better than back home!!). Then it was off to bed. We dozed off to the sounds of Sudden Impact (Dirty Harry) coming from the flat screen tv.

West Highland Way - Scotland Day 1 - Milingavie to Drymen

The morning started off with a breakfast fit for a king! A full Scotish breakfast for both which I had trouble finishing and Lisa could only get half of hers down. There was sausage, ham, hashbrowns, fried eggs, beans with tomatoes, mushrooms and black pudding.

After stuffing our faces we were off to the start of the West Highland Way (WHW) at 9:10am. Our idea of getting something for lunch at the local market did not work out as planned. The signs at the door stated an opening of 8:30, but at 9:10 the doors were still locked. We decided to take our chances with eating in Dumgoyne which our map showed had food.

The hiking today was very easy and passed through farm land and countryside. The trail was more like a smooth dirt/rock/gravel road than the typical AT trail I am use to from back home. No real elevation changes allowed for us to make good time and truelly enjoy the scenery. We only had on slight sprinkle of rain that lasted about 15 minutes, a far cry from what the weather report stated the night before.

We stopped for lunch around 12:00 and were very impressed with what we found. The Beech Tree Inn - Restaraunt and Bar was right on the trail and had spectacular fresh food. Lisa had a bean burger with fries and slaw and I had a Greek Salad with a St. Andrews beer (had to make sure I stayed hydrated :) ).

After an hour we decided to hit the trail. The next five miles went by pretty quick (the last 2 miles were road walking). Once again more beautiful countryside and NO rain!!

We made it to the Hillview Inn a little after 3pm. We were greated by the proprietor who immediately made us fresh coffee and tea with cookies.

We then met another hiker who joined us for snacks - Jack, who was from the States as well. He has been hiking a compelation of trails that will take him approximately 1,200 miles covering the length of Great Britain.

We took showers to wipe the stank off so we could head out and get food for the next day before dinner.

We went to the local store across from our B&B. We got a couple of buns, chicken and ham slices and some cheese to make some rather thin , but expensive sandwiches.

After taking our edibles back to the fridge we took a quick trip around town to see what Drymen had to offer. We found a nice overlook to get our first real glimpse of Loch Lomond and the surrounding hills. Absolutely beautiful country which pictures really don't do enough justice.

Returning to the Crachin for dinner was a perfect way to end the day. Lisa had half of a chicken with vegetables and a glass of Pinot Noir with an apple pie and ice cream for desert. I had a Ribeye with fried mushrooms, peas, carrots and chips (french fries) with a few beers to wash it down. We were fortunate to be joined by Jack for dinner and we shared stories and the company.

Back at the B&B, by 7:30, we got things organized and ready for the next day. Lisa made sandwiches and then we watched a little tv while waiting for our clothes to dry.

We were both very tired from the jet-lag and Lisa was little sore from the hike. I was very proud of her for the way she handled herself and kept up a good pace.

Hiking Gear

I have attached a video of the current gear that I use when I head up to the mountains for overnight and multiday hikes. This is just a general gear list and I don't go into reviews of any of the gear that's included (if there is something you would like me to go into more detail on let me know and I will see what I can do). Please be aware that some of the weights or product names mentioned may not be exact. You will have to excuse the video as James Cameron was not available to direct and edit :).

Opening Statements.........
I have been hiking for a couple of years in the hobby/sport/etc. that has been termed as light-weight backpacking and have been asked numerous questions regarding this passion for the outdoors. I finally decided to create a space where people could visit and gather information on my personal adventures as well as try and post informative information on questions that I have had along the way hopefully allowing people to learn from my experiences (both good and bad). I will not claim to be an expert on any area, but will try to provide information that I have gathered through my experiences and research.
The most important advice that I can give to anyone when breaking into this incredibly gratifying and rewarding sport is to "Hike YOUR Own Hike". What does this phrase mean?.......You and only you can select your method and way of hiking! My personal experience and trends fall towards that of lightweight backpacking. This is not to be confused with Ultralight backpacking which is something slightly different....but that is a topic for another post.
During my posts I will update you on my adventures as well as try to post tips and tricks that I have learned and found useful during my never ending growth with gear, food selection, preparation and other things that I have had questions about when trying to find my personal way of hiking.
If anyone has questions for me regarding anything related to backpacking I will do my best to try and answer them within my posts in hopes that others may learn. When I first broke into this I had numerous questions and was fortunate enough to find individuals that were more than willing to help me out (these individuals know who they are and I thank you for all your help). Over the years I have adapted my gear, packing and food selections to meet my needs and have finally found a happy medium that works for me. This "evolution" is just that and I'm sure things will morph as new gear is designed and my ever growing appetite on the trail changes as well.
I hope you find this blog helpful and informative.

Until later......"Keep your eyes on the skyline and nose into the wind"

Hike your own Hike!!!

Rovious