THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS - COMPLETE. 459 Miles.

Many unposted entries from Trail journals. Most recent first.

3/31

GREETINGS FROM DAMASCUS VA! I cannot believe that I have been so blessed to have made it this far! What a victory. Such a milestone! And with Damascus comes a trip home for Easter week. Hawk and I are renting a car and taking 7 days to be with family for the holiday. I am having the time of my life, but I also recognize that this is the longest I've ever been away from home (exactly 6 weeks) and that home is the best place to recharge my heart, soul, and stomach.

The walk into Virginia is a beautiful ridge walk. Hawk and I ended up hitching in from 91 (we were really ready for some food/sleep), and are heading out tomorrow before we leave on Monday to do the last 19 miles to Damascus so we can feel good about having completed this section. I have walked past every single white blaze so far, and feel proud and right about finishing strong into VA. What is the point of walking the Trail if you don't do all of it?

Hitchhiking is a real adventure, and it is very crucial to be with a strong guy during the process. I would not hitch alone in the South. Or anywhere for that matter. A very wasted group of 20-somethings pulled over for us, and gave us 2 beers, after apologizing that they couldn't go our way. I said, DONT WORRY ABOUT IT. This trip is definitely eye-opening and wild some days. Here in Damascus live 900 people. In a month and a half, 25,000 will infiltrate this tiny town. Hard to imagine.

Last night we listened to some bluegrass and hung out at the Old Mill Restaurant with Tito, FedEx, Molasses, Coughdrop, KY Blue and Guthook. I have also caught up to Zero (who is as cool as his journal) here in town at the library. Awesome!

We'll be back on the Trail on Monday afternoon (the 9th I think). I can't wait to hit VA! Whoop! I have bought a hiking skirt, and am excited about my new outfit. Very comfortable and free! This retreat for a week feels ordained - a time to get rebooted and pumped for VA, be with my incredible family for a few, and gather my thoughts. (Sunrise I owe you a phonecall! Please keep on praying. God is moving in mysterious, "protective" ways. I am safe and at peace. Thinking of you daily - will call from NJ.)

This trail is shaking my core philosophies and I like it. At home I will update with several longer entries about my time out here. In excelsis deo!

"I can count a million times
People asking me how I can praise you
With all that I've been through.
The question just amazes me
COULD CIRCUMSTANCES POSSIBLE CHANGE
Who I forever am in You?

Bring me joy. Bring me peace.
Bring the chance to be Free.
Bring me anything that brings you glory.
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain...
But if that's what it takes to praise you
JESUS BRING THE RAIN."

(-Mercy Me)

PEACE FROM THIS ALLEYCAT

3/26

The first chapter of this journey is almost over. Soon begins Virginia, the great miles state, the mental challenge, the second step. Here we come! Hawk and I are together and having a great time hiking along this beaten path. The last few days have been entirely mind-blowing with the views from the balds and their ridges. I feel alive.

The heat was pretty oppressive the last few days, no joke. I know there is much worse to come, but 70/80 degree weather was a real shock for our bodies. I took a lot of care to hydrate. The great news is that not only is my body happy, but my back is very pleased as I seem to have dropped a lot of weight from my pack. I sent ahead a 10 pound maildrop to Damascus. Right now my food bag is just about empty and I think I'm weighing somewhere just under twenty pounds. Hooyah! As Boogie would say. What am I carrying now? Shoes, one socks, one wool socks, capilene pants, running shorts, sports top, 2 underwears, 2 long sleeve t-shirts, one raincoat, one wool hat, one pack, headband, ipod, emergency iodine, cold food, thermarest, sleeping bag no liner now, pen, wingfoot, wallet, cell, charger, small prayer lent leaflet, lighter, one water bottle, pack cover. That is literally it. Yay! Oh, and one hawk.

A crew of thruhikers are a day in front of us - about 8 of them, and I really enjoyed meeting them... I have a strong feeling our paths will cross again with most except the super speedies. Hawk and I have a TV show going in the registers full of crazy notes... its called "The Young and the Restless." We can be a little too dramatic sometimes. Giggle!

Looking forward to seeing Bob Peeples again - we ran into Juniper, Molasses, and Salamander on Saturday at the Iron Mountain Gap (yay!) as he brought like 50 people out for trail maintenance from Appalachian State and ETSU or something. Tonight we go to Kincora - random stop today at a new, quirky hostel after Mountaineer Falls called Abby's Place. Had a little Ben and Jerry's, a little pizza, a shower: what luxury! I am getting easier to please. Really REALLY REALLY REALLY!!!!! excited for Damascus this week! YES!! So exciting. Milestone!

"HOLD FAST"

God's peace,
ALLEYCAT

3/25

(Entry by ZipLoc): Life is a Subway!

AlleyCat called for a quick update. She & Hawk are at Roan Mountain, TN having real food at a Subway shop. They've had three 15 mile days, having stayed at Roan High Mountain last night. Hot and the bugs are beginning, although on hearing that Deet is on its way to her, she pooh poohed it. Getting tough enough for bugs, eh?

Sounds like all's well. "We're pretty dirty, but I think they've seen worse here" she reports. She misses Leland.

We miss her.

XOXO

ZipLoc

3/24

Entry by ZipLoc): Motoring along!

Motoring, yes, but not 87.1 miles in one day! That's just to catch her up to her actual mileage.

AlleyCat called (twice!) yesterday, checking in about her replacement shoes. Per her last posting, she has NO blisters, which is great. We've got new versions of the same shoe, without Goretex, that we're sending off to Damascus.

The weather sounds great, but the heat is building. In the 70's recently and heading for the 80's! Saturday should be a good day for covering territory and staying North of the pack of March 1'ers. Food is going well, friends are going well, life sounds like it's going well.

XOOX

ZipLoc

3/20

Made it to Erwin! Yahoo! I am sitting here at Miss Janets in some very comfortable, albeit baggy, clothes from a pile labeled "town clothes." What a bizarro week! My sweet brother is gone now, and the mileage days have been all over the charts. Yesterday we did 17, the day before 12, today 7 into Spivey Gap where we got a ride into Erwin. I am here with Mousetrap (reunited after a split when Leland, Hawk and I stayed at a Hemlock Hollow aka BOONIES when we realized hitting 212 was just going to be a bit too tough), KY Blue, Guthook, Hawk, Sticker, Turbo, and Jen.

Some amazing views and rugged terrain since Hot Springs. I am in great spirits, and loving what I see and learn. The trail is slowly becoming less about nature and more about people. It's nice to have some girls around, although it has been strange to have a lot of people catch up to me over the last week after my days off and time with my bro. I hope to keep moving so as to avoid the March 1st crowd, even though I'm sure they are very nice people. :0) I feel very rested after the family love, and the zero from Hot Springs.

It seems everyone I've met has pretty much remained on the trail, and I love reading the registers and keeping up with everyone's journies. God is present and protecting. I can barely believe I have no blisters, no major pain. (KNOCK ON WOOD. SERIOUSLY RIGHT NOW!)

I am sendin a maildrop ahead with some items - crocs, stove, others - to Damascus to test out the cold food theory for a few days and see how I do w/o some creature comforts. I need to get my weight down to about 25 from the 33 it seems to be.

Staying strong and giving thanks. Prayers flying around these hills, returning as guidance and discretion. My feet follow the path of the ones who have gone before.

3/19

Entry by ZipLoc): Ah, the meandering days of late winter!

AlleyCat ssssssssstreaks ahead with 4 miles under her belt today. It sounds like a wonderful, relaxing day, as she and the gang (Hawk, Turbo, and tonight Back Yard Boogie) are settling in for a nice dinner at the shelter and a night of slumbers under the beautiful Northern North Carolina mountains. Per whiteblaze.net, this shelter is at 3,500', so it's mountains, not hills.

Some good altitude in the next few days, as the troupe heads for 4,000+, 5,000+, and then over 6,000' at Roan High Knob shelter.

She's having an "awesome" time and couldn't seem to be happier out there - even though Leland has headed back to school. No steak dinners from DKR for a while, we reckon!

AlleyCat reports that part of her trek today was over a razorback, with the trees covered in ice and scattering ice pellets every time the wind blew. Sounds cold but beautiful.

Stay warm, dear AlleyCat!

XOXOX

ZipLoc

3/17

Update by ZipLoc): ONE MONTH ON THE AT! YAHOO!

Well, big update from AlleyCat and Leland. Today is AlleyCat's first month anniversary on the trail. On St. Patty's day no less!

This week has been wonderful, with Leland joining her and realizing how strong and sure she is. Today was a little slow, with 3 miles done in order to meet up with DKR tomorrow. If they'd gone further it would have been something like a 15 mile day and Leland's knees are bothering him.

They're staying at Hemlock Hollow (near Greeneville, TN) at a wonderful place (an inn or hostel) with the most generous hosts imaginable. Kudos to them!

They also reported that a few days ago they came across a house near the trail that had a standing invite to thru-hikers. They stopped in for a great meal and wonderful companionship. It's amazing how many nice people are on the trail!

AlleyCat's shoes continue to be a little problem. Solomon has graciously agreed to send a new pair (old one's had a grommet/eyelet failure right away) to an outfitter a few days ahead of them. When that can get coordinated I'll give them a call. The customer service is appreciated!

More tomorrow after DKR meets up with them. He's planning to bring steaks for lunch!

Limp in love,

ZipLoc

3/17

(Entry by ZipLoc): Closing in on the big 300!

AlleyCat and Balsy Palsy are, we believe, closing in on Jerry Cabin, near mile 300. They are supposed to meet DKR tomorrow and hopefully there'll be more to report then.

Weather seems pretty good, with little rain (unlike the weather that grounded 5200 flights in the Northern part of the country).

If this is right, they're almost at Tennesseee, which is remarkable. Last word was that AlleyCat is on top of the world and Balsy Palsy is having a great time despite more aches and pains than he's had since last summer's broken arm. It's terrific that he's recovered from what would have been a permanent disability for many with enough strength and drive to head for the AT. Good on ya!

Enjoy the great weather!

XOXOX

ZipLoc & Co.

3/13

Taking a zero day unexpectedly in Hot Springs, NC. It's easy to forget how demanding the trail is when you've been on it for a few weeks! Chilling and enjoying the hot springs, good food, and great company.

God is very present and bringing beautiful people into my life around here! Holler Sunny. Staying at Elmer's incredible victorian house, and chilling with Hawk, Mousetrap, BBoogie, and Leland aka Balsy Palsy. WHERE ARE THE WOMEN!?!?! please catch on up! So much to write about...will update very soon! Right now = Naptime!

3/12

(Entry by ZipLoc): 252 Miles! Wow!

AlleyCat took 2 days off when she reached the top of the Smokies in order to visit with her aunt and nieces near Asheville. Leland joined her and they returned to where AlleyCat left off. Now they're hiking together with several other thru-hikers.

She is healthy and happy - albeit with some shoe trouble that required repairs to keep her heading north. No blisters, a happy tummy, and a strong constitution. Having Leland with her must be a great treat. He wasn't sure about heading to Costa Rica for Spring Break or heading to the AT. He couldn't refuse the offer of being outside with Alice, Mother Nature, and new friends.

Four steps for the price of one!

XOXOX

ZipLoc

Mile 236.8 = TLC

I am taking a zero today and tomorrow here at my wonderful wonderful aunt's house outside Hendersonville. Getting some TLC, fam time, a bed, sweet cousins and an uncle full of AT stories! I love my family. So, yes! My first days off. I am more tired than I thought I would be. Weird to be in clothes, not walking.
Sorry for the lack of updates. I have generally forgotten about the existence of my cell phone, and have been very much living in the moment. The Appalachian Trail took me up and down up and down many miles through the Smokies, and I am falling head over heels in love with the path. I feel alive, and outside. I have many new nicknames... 1)Drowned Rat - Osprey calls me this after a crazy rainstorm from the NOC to Sassafras where I literally lost purpose and sense of what "dry" meant. Hysterical day! 2)Big Tough Dog - a name for this cat who needs to be more intense when the two hawks - osprey and hawk- think they can take an Alleycat. 3)Half-plate - sigh. Mom, I guess I am still a comparatively tiny tummy. This I am working on.
Oh the Smokies! They were not red, and they did not kill me, but instead filled me up with amazing views and a few new friendships. Pretty crowded in some parts, but we really were so blessed with perfect weather (minus an inch of snow on the first morning). Wild amounts of ice after Clingman's and up Newfound gap. Could have sent some tapes into America's Funniest Home Videos! I laugh all day long. My sweet grandfather brought me, Osprey and Hawk a real feast at Newfound Gap, and we grilled up Omaha steaks that night! I loveeee you Gramps. Love love love love !!!
I can't wait to hit the trail again. I'm pretty tired and feeling inarticulate as I write this, but just to let yall know, I am so happy, very healthy, and resting up. Leland, my dear brother, is coming out from Monday to Sunday/Monday, and this only increases my joy of what is to come. I think often of Psalm 24.
"The mountains are calling, and I must go." -John Muir

Nantahala!!

Hey all! Here I am in Bryson City just catchin up on internet, et c. Wow... what an amazing last couple of days. The trail just gets more and more gorgeous. From Albert Mountain to last night's sunset under the Wasser Bald firetower to the Nantahala River...I feel like I'm growing and growing out here, like I wouldn't be anywhere else! We've definitely caught up with some of the NOBO community. Lots of characters out here.
Juniper and I are making great headway - we somehow ended up doing a 20-miler two days ago (Hawk and I hitched into Franklin mid-afternoon, got a milkshake - met Little Moon who worked at McD's who gave us candied walnuts!! - and got back on the trail :0), and I accidentally did 17 yesterday after I couldn't find Juniper's tent on Copper Ridge Bald, and somehow ended up at Tellico Gap. But I did get to meet a Yoyo'er named WMD (Weapon of Mouse Destruction) who carried mousetraps. Cracked me up! My body feels great and alive. No pains or aches really, aside from some sore feetsies. Also, I wished I had gone to the Scottish Tartans Museum in Franklin! Mom and Grams, its a date!
Delicious trail magic at the Wesser Bald shelter this morning! Yum! We're here with Osprey who will hang with us until at least Fontana. He is such a gearhead! Then to the Smokies! We're really crusing, and speaking for myself, I feel just great. The only frustration right now is that I haven't been very warm at night, so I bought a silk liner for my bag (half the weight, twice the warmth of a coolmax). Hopefully that will help a lot. I'm forcing myself to eat as well... the weight is falling off! One day at a time.
Walking by faith, not by sight. I feel free out here.

Hiawassee on 2/23

Made it to Hiawassee safe and sound. Juniper and I have picked up a third NOBO'er named Dan (we dubbed him Salamander). I've reverted to calling Juniper J and Salamander Sal. Trying to be ultralite! Coming to the Bpatch was a great decision - I am getting the faithful conversations I need for motivation. What an incredible couple.
I am officially clean and now in the public library. The last three days from Neels have been great... we went Neels-Low Gap-Tray Mtn-Hiawassee. I have become an extremely hungry young woman. Out of Neels we had a "pack shakedown" by a very nice man-Alpine-who could only get rid of a deoderant from my pack! I was pretty proud of myself. Juniper had to get new boots, however, so we left at about 12:15. About a mile out of Walasi-Yi, feeling refreshed and glad to be back on the trail, we met two SOBO's who were only 2 more hiking days away from their completed trip! Iceman and Tundra Wookie looked like warriors, and were incredibly kind for our brief interchange. Meeting them was so motivating - it was strange, I didn't want to be finishing, because I haven't had the journey, but I prayed fiercely that I will have the opportunity to finish what I've started. As two end, many others begin. I have to own my journey... got a long way to go. Carolina here we come!
The last two days I've been jumping out of my sleeping bag and walking alone with the Lord for the morning hours, just singing along the trail, praying, and being. Today I was really involved in "Country Roads" and two Emory guys came around the corner. Whoops! Dang summer camp... I can barely separate walking and singin! My body's holding up pretty well. My right knee is pretty darn sore, and my right achilles tendon is also a bit swollen. But nothing (I pray) that will stop me from hitting the NOC! Tomorrow we are taking a "pseudo-zero" day - less than 5 miles to our next shelter to let our bodies recover from the shock of the initial week.
"Give me singleness of purpose, strength to lift the burden of my fellow man, and realization of the privelege that is mine, so I may rely on You with the simple faith of a child."

Neels Gap

Hello friends!

This is Alice checking in from the Blairsville Public Library. Juniper and I just came from an "all you can eat" pizza buffet at Papa Joe's two blocks away. Alpine at Walasi-Yi let us take the crazy beat up green hiker van to town for a run. Wow! Neels Gap. Swwweet. The trail's first major stop. We did it!

I'm having such a good time. The mountains are incredible and the air is super crisp. On the first day walk from Amicalola to Springer I stopped for a water break and noticed that the red thorny stems all around me, the blue mountains, and white (looming snow!) sky were extremely "red, white, and blue." This walk is American to the core. The only miserable thing so far has been the mice at the shelters. They make me extremely paranoid and I have trouble sleeping as they scuffle around my head. Yikes! I'm having a hard time turning this problem into a spritual matter.

Blood mountain this morning was actually not as bad as I had imagined. J and I are in pretty good shape - biggest problems yet = sore knees/feet (given) and J's blister (ew!). My metabolism is taking it up a notch literally every day! Last night at Woods Hole (BEWARE it is .4 off trail) I managed to eat a whole Lipton dinner! If you know me, you'd know that was a big deal. ;0)

We haven't met a single thru-hiker yet, and hope to have the community catch up or us catch them one of these days. According to the WYi NOBO book, there are 39 people in front of us. There is a sign here at Mtn Crossings that says: "Welcome Thru-hikers: YOUR JOURNEY HAS BEGUN." That pretty much summed up how I feel! Begun! My body is holding up remarkably well. I overpacked food, but that's about it.

All day we hear no sounds except perhaps a passing plane or day hikers walking through. The first I don't mind: heck! I'm a private pilot! I l-o-v-e planes. secondly, I also love passing people. IE this morning, three very handsome rangers passed us on top of Blood. I took a giggly picture. For grandpa, of course...

Mostly my thoughts revolve around just pure gratefulness. I feel like such a guest on these hills, privileged everyday. How lucky am I to be walking so purposefully! I often feel largely unworthy of these mountains, not physically, but just by being a person. Amazing that God knows us so well, loves us so much that he cares for us more than the sparrows, the lilies. My mentor in high school told me once that the greatest problem some spiritual people she knew faced were not the chains of addiction, violence, or self-destruction, but the inability, the stubborness, to accept the grace of God. I long for these ancient mountains to sink into me, allow myself to feel like the part of creation that I am.

Whenever there is a hard hill, I just stop. Breathe. Look around- and that so far has always been enough motivation to keep my spirits high and feet moving. Sometimes if I get negative going uphill, I look down and see my feet are still movin and tell myself to stop being so hard on myself! Juniper is much faster than I, but I lead in the AM, she in the PM. She'll bound off and wait as I plod along in God's glory. Hike your own hike? We're making a good team. What a way to understand the metaphor of life's mountains - to walk them! I'm glad to be clean and fed today. Georgia will be over all too soon. For my first time in this state, it's really been a pleasure. The trail is really unfolding to us... two nights away to Hiawassee. Then a couple more to NOC. Craziness.

It is strange that in these hills of peace that one could imagine not being medatative. One thing that I have learned is that no matter where you are in the world, you STILL must be deliberate about giving space to God. Even after 4 days, I can see myself getting into a routine - wake up, eat, pack, hike, eat, drink, joke, look around, enjoy, hike, shelter, eat, bear bag, sleep... We must make the space.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the true beginning of Lent. I can't think of a better way to prepare for Easter than to be out here, simplifying my life and getting read to walk to road to Golgatha this annum.

"Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." -Rumi

Livin in Love.

Almost There

I spent the day with friends in NYC, and boy is the weather crazy up here! Lots of snow, and freezing weather. I wore my salomon's and they hold up incredibly well in snow/slush. Tomorrow is my final day at home. I'll run around a bit to the drug store for a small toothpaste, make sure everythin is together.

I feel quiet... I'm prepared for this journey, but I am really feeling the weight of leaving these comforts, these loving faces around me. A serious time. My heart is heavy. "Give me singleness of purpose..."

Being Still, and Knowing.

I've spent a lot of time thinking lately about how I've been launched into the present - the real world of the word. Where people bend and choose moralities, where success is less of an equation, and more of a question - what are you going to do with your life? Are you going to pick up extra tables? Will you work for pennies? Or are you waiting for twenties to fall into your lap? What was so different about the way I viewed the world at Lawrenceville? I still believe in my values, ideals, and my faith, still growing in ideas, academics, and friendships. What feels so fresh about the world lately?

I just have a very new sense of reality. It's pretty crazy how little I knew about people all around me - I didn't need to travel to learn that the spirit Christ left with us doesn't need to be impressed. I didn't need to see exotic things to learn that the world turns on love and love alone, that love governs the physics of space and time, that love dominates the thoughts and hearts of any person on Earth, no matter how twisted, ugly or pure a form.

Experiencing, glimpsing adulthood this year is shocking at times. The idea that people actually believe that I could be married, have a child seemed absurd to me... but now that I have placed myself with peers of older situation or who are done with school, high school has shot from 8 months to light-years away. The biggest thing I am concerned with right now is becoming more and more real. More in tune with God's idea of "reality" through experience and experiencin his testaments and miracles in word and life. The struggles of adulthood are less defined as well - what is right and wrong.

The world is such a very large place - my mind runs circles between studies and cultures that I long to explore. The more I learn, travel, serve, and grow, the smaller I become. For some reason, this makes me feel incredibly light - a feather, ballerina in God's plan for this crazy-huge universe. What a relief I've discovered this year, that I can do anything, but not EVERYTHING. Grams and I talked about this idea a lot in North Carolina. If my heart soars to the skies, then I should follow that passion and fly. If my mind takes joy in the glory of the human condition replicating God's image through classics, I should follow that joy, be surprised by it continually in a serious academic program. If my body longs to be in motion, then I should head to the hills.

Working has made me more independent than I have been before - I understand that word 'independence' in a whole new way as well. Watching older peers try and exert themselves into true careers and independence from the service industry proves that independence must be tempered at a young age - without parents proper, kids so easily think of independence as quick cash, and adult decisions about their bodies and minds. Independence, really, is being able to set up a foundation of mind, body and spirit, so that you can fulfill God's true purpose for your life. To educate yourself so you know what you love, so you can free yourself to truly run the experience of your life. To be independent from the obstacles that lacking self-awareness presents. (Sorry for all these infinitive clauses. Tacky.)

I want so much to be independent. Winberies has motivated me even more than ever to work diligently at Yale, and for better reasons than the treadmill ever presented. God's glory, self-fufillment, love, independence, the joy of lifting another's burdens - these reasons are becoming so real this year, so much more than the rhetoric I throw around so often. I find myself drawn into silence, into reflection, into pausing, so much more. How can I be more me? How can I be more the person God created me to be? Accepting the humbling fact that the Spirit will never stop coming to me, no matter how great or pathetic I may be, has freed me these last months. The bridge that Jesus created between the misled, the unperfected us, and the incredulity who is the laws of life has allowed me to be here, be still and know.

Beauty for ashes - out of one comes the other. For the beauty of creation, I will be ashes on a lot of the trail. By taking my roles as ashes with responsibility, I allow myself to become beautiful. "I delight myself in the richest of pearls - trading all that I have for all that is better... a garment of praise for my happiness. You are the greatest of riches of faith. Take this heart of stone, and make it yours."(Shane Barnard). Will I have the strength to rise up, rise up. There is so much time to know this answer. Sometimes the answer will be yes! YES! and sometimes. No no no.

I was listening to Star 99.1 FM the other day, and a song came on - the lyrics saying - "Would you take the place of this man? Would take the nails from his hand?" And I was struck - no I would not. Not for the sake of the world, but for the humiliating fact that striking nails through my hands and feet terrifies me. A spear, a crown of thorns. The pain overwhelms my logical sense of my body... what strength to rise again from that. Jesus took three days to rise, three days overcoming death - in whatever world he was in, he took three days to be the Word, the word became flesh, flesh became word for three, word became flesh ascended. Will my flesh withstand this journey? Will I be reduced to word? To Spirit? The light of the world stepped down into darkness... open my eyes let me see beauty that made this heart adore you.

As my thoughts probably show, I am in many different places- I am going from peaceful to anxious lately. My bags are packed, I'm ready to go.

On the verge of the Appalachian Trail, my heart is fluttering with ideas of situations and gear questions that have yet to reveal themselves. More and more things keep appearing to make this trip fall into God's will - my brother coming out instead of Costa Rica, my newly active parents, the trail community. Still prayin' on. As the psalmist wrote:


ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME

Retired, Thank You

Well, I'm officially all done at Winberies Restaurant and Bar for the time being. After making over 2000 dollars, I am done with debt, done with work, ready for my next adventure. Life is really good, and full of anticipation! Heading to Atlanta in less than 3 days. Yes!

Trail Journals

Hey all - I'm leaving on Friday for the AT. The following are my entries from my Trail Journal. - they describe pretty well what I'm feeling lately.

feb 10

Exactly one week from today I will be fast asleep in the Springer Mtn Shelter! One week! What more can I say right now... After my last Saturday at the restaurant, I am exhausted but thrilled at what the future holds.

Dad and I walked to the grocery store today (me in all my backpacking gear), testing out my trail shoes - solomons. After 3 miles today, plus a run and hike yesterday, they still feel great! More testing to come in the next few, but I'm pretty happy with them. The Masai montrails just weren't going to last. Sigh. I really loved those runners... A little more on my gear - I am starting out with about 5 pounds of food (mostly lipton dinners and some form of chocolate or mac/cheese), 3/4 thermarest, wonderful sleeping bag, a msr pocket rocket stove, crocs, solomon trail runners, winter clothes (more detail later), and other necessities - mostly tinies not worth mentioning. Bookwise: journal, bible, wingfoot's thru-hikers companion, and probably 'Endurance', which I'm in the middle of reading. Brining iPod Nano and an FM tuner. About 24 pounds altogether! Weather.com says I should make at least the first few days of my trip without freezing to death! Some blogs are up discussing how darn cold it is! What won't kill us makes us stronger? :0)

Gotta hit the hay. Who am I kidding? I can't sleep!

Alleycat

Live in love.

Feb 9

Another day floats by... tables turn, dishes served, apron on, apron off. Tidbit: Tony Shalhoub came and ate at my restaurant yesterday! The Monk writers back in today. How quirky. Everyday I grow in the knowledge that the trail is where I'm supposed to be right now... but even still, lately I am very careful where I walk, lest I sprain an ankle!

I thought today of what it meant to take another step, what my journey meant in the scheme of life. Five to six months when I'm 25 will seem like a flash. This past fall I spent some time in the mystery that is Nepal, and my thoughts drift back constantly to the incredible people, hills, and lifestyle I saw there. To me, my greatest challenge will be to walk forward with 25 pounds. It will be full of obstacles, and I will struggle on some level constantly. Have you ever seen a porter walking 20 miles in a day with 100 lbs. of meat on his back? Sometimes I'm scared by how blessed so many of us are. Am I actually living a life that is human, or am I just pretending?

Everyone's lives present different physical, emotional, and mental challenges we must each overcome. We must live the hand that is dealt to us, that calls to us. In the presence of permanent small agonies, I pray for the mindset of perspective and empowerment. Make no mistake, me, this trip is your choice. Accepting responsibility... wow... can I handle it?? Everything I am resounds - yes. It is time.

Sponsorship is something I have carefully set up for myself. My sister, my best friends... they have strict orders to say what I need to hear to take the next step, take this journey in bits. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by this whole sheer mass of trail. Tonight my sister noted - Magellen sailed the whole world port by port. (How did my baby sis get so wise??) I must think in these terms. First, the approach trail. Check, I will say. Then to Neel's. Check, again I'll say. And slowly pennies will add up into bills. Peace...

-The Alleycat

Live in love.

feb 8

A week from today will be my last day at work waitressing. I must remember the monotony of work when my mind wanders to the 'comforts' of home. Mr. Happy says today was a bit warm on the trail! Hoorah. 10-day countdown!! Anything will seem warm to this biting NJ weather.

I unpacked and redid my backpack today. I have a great new Atmos 50, and everything fits! Success! My winter gear/food/water/gas included I weigh 25 lbs. Base weight: 15. I'm wary of the household scale, however, and may take my pack to UPS tomorrow. I think I could shed a few (2-3)pounds, but I am not too worried. I'm going to repackage some canned goods, but other than that, I'm pretty OK. I am so sure that I am over/underpacking certain things. The trail will let me know after a few days.

I am as ready as I can be. I am ready. I've put on about 7 pounds, have been working out as much as the double-shift schedule and my serious bedhead will allow, and have spent great time in prayer. Financially speaking, I would greatly benefit from another month of working, but college stands strong as a firm September deadline. Must get to New Haven on time! Hiker boxes here we come :0).

The Alleycat

Live in love.

feb 7

Time is slipping into the future up here in rural Jersey. My 10 day countdown to the trail has begun, and I am anxiously awake (again), running many details of my trip through my mind - wingfoot mileage, food calories, shoes, etc - that have, as I stumble across them, been already very thought out. Sigh - I am in a strange place of - will it ever come? and it's coming so quickly!

Welcome to my journal! My name is Alice, and I am a (newly) 19-year-old high school graduate who has elected to take this gap year out of boarding school before college to recharge my batteries and follow some dreams. I can't even describe how much I've learned this year about myself, people, and the world. My sense of life - it's beauty and fragility - has been utterly warped, and as the AT smiles around the next bend, I am thrilled, nervous, and open to experience whatever it has to teach me. I am flying down to Atlanta next Friday, and beginning the great journey toward home on the 17th of February.

A thru-hiker wrote once - everyone on the trail is looking for something. While I am not entirely sure where my motivations stem from, I am sure that I am being called right now to Georgia, and that things will be revealed with each footstep closer to five million strides complete. My parents are apprehensive, my friends are excited and sad to say goodbye, and I am on some crazy brink of epiphany and excitement that I have trouble going to sleep! These journals have given me great hope for and knowledge of what is to come... I hope to add my own little drop in the bucket with my own thoughts, worries, and joys. God will always provide mercy and strength as we need it - I pray for the determination and protection to complete this journey, for the fellowship of the trail, and the understanding it will take to push forward, push deeper into the heart of the creation. -The Alleycat

Live in love.