Knobstone 0-25 Hike
October 21-23, 2005
Our group backpacked the first 25 miles of the Knobstone Trail in
southern Indiana for our hike. We
left Marion at 7AM and started hiking at mile zero Friday morning about 11AM
and walked in the damp fog until it started raining strongly about the time we
camped at mile 10. We went to bed at
5:30 and slept until 7AM the next morning. It rained all night but by morning it
cleared and we had a wonderfully clear day all Saturday and that evening the
highlight of the trip—a long campfire evening (we stayed up until nine
o’clock—“hiker midnight”!) It started
raining again all night and the next day was sopping wet and cold (40 degrees)
and we hiked to mile 25 where we got picked up by pre-arrangement. (However two
of our girls decided to hike on the 6 more miles to Elk Creek Lake—a HARD
section of trail). Wonderful trip but oh
my—the Knobstone Trail is a killer!
Renee Dalbey
I. MY PREVIOUS HIKING EXPERIENCE:
-- None—besides a few day hikes with
my family.
II. THE TRAIL I HIKED
The
Knobstone trail which is in the beautiful part of Indiana (not flat at all).
Got on at mile 0 the south end of the trail and began hiking north until mile
31.5. The Knobstone is a beautifully challenging trail that is especially
beautiful in the fall with all the colorful trees. October 21-23
II THREE PIECES OF ADVICE TO NEXT YEAR’S HIKERS:
1. Sleep dry. My first night was a very
cold night because I was still wet from sweat and rain. Save at least one shirt
to be dry and wear it at night, even if it is thinner, it will be way better
than a wet one. I learned that lesson and had a much better second night.
2.
Protect your feet. Walk like you are barefoot,
especially on the downhill treks. If you step lighter and try to avoid the
acorns and stumps, your feet will greatly appreciate it. And always air out
your feet at the rest stops, taking the extra time to care for your feet is
definitely worth it.
3.
Don’t always rush. Take some time to go slow and
observe everything around you. Enjoy God’s creation and clear your mind.
Concentrate on all of God’s natural beauty he has given you.
III. SEVEN SNAPSHOT MEMORIES—THINGS
I’LL NEVER FORGET
1. Sleeping out by the
campfire. I’ll never forget the second night
when we slept out under the trees next to the campfire. It was the first time I
had ever slept outside without a tent or tarp. It was very cozy and warm until
it started raining and Chad left us without warning us it was raining. Luckily
the rest of us felt the drops and snuck into our tarps before it began to pore.
2. The last 6 miles with
Belonn. These were the most challenging miles
for me. They were both physically and mentally challenging. I was tired, cold,
and hungry, but I loved the physical challenge it was.
3. The colors of the
trees. The trees were so beautiful. One of
the best moments was when we came up to the power lines around mile 28 and
there was a break in the trees. This was the first break all weekend and you
could see the peaks of other “knobs” and see steam rising around you on 
both sides. It was so beautiful and
worth the extra miles that had to be hiked.
4. Coach D’s stories about hitchhiking. I especially loved the story about riding in the boat! Coach D has some awesome stories, so be sure to ask him about his experiences.
5. All the talk about bowel movements. I learned that hiker’s poop is like “rabbits”, like plop plop plop. Also, I enjoyed learning about a new game called fart tennis. Too bad we never got to play. Chad was killing us all with all his aces. Well done Chad.
6. Sharing snacks at the rest stops. It always seems what other people have is better than what you have. I enjoyed sharing snacks, even with Belonn who was “organic”. Those beef jerky sticks were fabulous by the fire (thanks Kelly).
7. Pizza. I will never forget how warm and tasty that Pizza Hut pizza was. After talking about the tradition all weekend it made it even better to eat. Not to mention we got a free meatlovers pizza and free cinnamon sticks. People are extra nice to you once they hear you have been hiking for three days straight without real food.
IV. KUDOS TO OTHER HIKERS
1. To Belonn… way to continue
hiking with me even when you felt nauseous. You continued to push me up and
down every “knob”. I enjoyed getting to know you better as we talked on the
trail and in our tarp. You are a great tarp buddy. Thanks for letting me
snuggle up to keep warm.
2. To Coach D… for teaching
me how to tie a tarp up much more successfully. I am so thankful for your
expertise and your willingness to allow me to make some mistakes and learn some
lessons through my own experience. Your stories make the campfire more
enjoyable.
3. To Lesley… for continuing
to hike even when you got soaking wet from the night before. It was encouraging
to see you continuing to push through even though you had a rough night.
4. To Sharon… for driving all
the way down to pick us up and only get in a little hiking! That was so amazing
of you and I am very grateful for it. I enjoyed the warm car ride home. Thanks!
5. To Seth… for leading us
down the trails and putting up wonderful tripods (I especially liked the huge
one made out of logs) so that we would not get lost. Your stories were
wonderful to listen to (especially about your Dad’s cooking).
6. To Chad… for kicking our
butts at fart tennis. Also for leading us down the trails and marking the
tricky spots so we would not get lost. Thanks for keeping the fire blazing
Saturday night.
7. To Kelly… for bringing a
knife! That came in handy many times. You did a very good job of continuing
along at a steady pace, your positive attitude was an encouragement. It was fun
hiking with you and attempting to make tripods (how come ours would never stay
standing up?)
V. FINAL NOTE ON THIS TREK
--Going into this trip I tried to prepare myself physically and mentally. I am very glad that I did because it was still very challenging. There were many times (especially the third day) when I had to completely trust God to get me through because I was so exhausted. At one point I was not for sure if I was going the right way or not and it was difficult not to become very frustrated. I ended up having to backtrack up a hill and discovered I had taken a wrong turn. God helped me continually find joy in him and his creation even when I was tired and frustrated. I plan on doing much more backpacking. This was my first experience, but definitely not my last. I love the outdoors and the challenge that it brings.
Lesley Jamieson
I. MY PREVIOUS HIKING EXPERIENCE:
None...And carrying around my
anatomy and physiology book didn’t help as much as I had hoped.
II. THE TRAIL I HIKED
The
Knobstone Trail from mile 0 to 25. I
started late Friday morning and finished Sunday morning.
II THREE PIECES OF ADVICE TO NEXT YEAR’S HIKERS:
1. Prepare, prepare, prepare. I can’t say it enough. Prepare your body, prepare your mind, prepare
for any and all weather conditions, prepare to take care of your feet, and buy
the right gear and clothing. Oh yeah,
and don’t forget to bring enough water.
Whoops.
2. Bring a variety of food…I wish I had brought more to
choose from. It got really boring eating
trail mix and granola bars.
3. It’s ok to be last.
I spent a majority of the weekend bringing up the rear…sorry anyone who
got sick of waiting for me…but it was better than killing myself just for the
sake of making good time.
III. SEVEN SNAPSHOT MEMORIES—THINGS
I’LL NEVER FORGET
1. Our
campfire. The only thing that would have
made it even more perfect was if we had hot dogs and s’mores to go with it.
2. Passing around
the salmon packet. Yes, it was just like
communion.
3. Waking up in the middle of the night and realizing I was outside. I’m not sure how it happened, but I looked up and saw the sky instead of my tarp…I think Kelly was trying to tell me something.
4. My tiny gear. Seriously, everything I had was too small. I was miserable at night under my tiny tarp inside my tiny sleeping bag made for an 8 year old, but hey, less weight for me to carry.
5. Pizza. Never has it tasted so good. By the way, Renee and Belonn, I still owe you money…
6. Finishing. I still can’t believe I did it. The feeling of coming off the trail at the end and knowing I had accomplished something I never thought I would do was just incredible.
7. Aging 70 years in one weekend. I went from 21 to 90 in a matter of days. At least that’s how I felt every time I tried to stand up. Anyone else think they walk like a penguin now?
IV. KUDOS TO OTHER HIKERS
1. To Kelly… for being my
tarp mate putting up with me all weekend.
I think we failed the tarp making section…too bad we didn’t have a clue
what we were doing. And for passing
around the beef jerky. I’ve never had
any before…it’s amazing what you’ll eat when you’re that desperate for food.
2. To Seth… for encouraging
me that first day when I didn’t think I could take another step…those up-hills
are really a killer.
3. To Chad… for keeping us
entertained around the campfire…and for aiming it the other direction. After all, it’s not healthy to keep it in is
it?
4. To Belonn… for bring
organic peanut butter and who knows what else.
You made me laugh and kept my spirits up all weekend.
5. To Renee… for drying your
undergarments by the fire…you had a very clever system set up there. (To you and Belonn for doing the extra
six. You two are heroes in my book.)
6. To Sharon… for picking us
up so early on Sunday. You saved my
life, and thanks for pulling the car over…that was a close one.
7. To Coach… for getting my
name right eventually…don’t call me Lindsay and I won’t call you Wilbur
Williams.
V. FINAL NOTE ON THIS TREK
--Well, I can honestly say I wouldn’t have done this if it weren’t required for me, but I’m just proud to be able to say I’ve backpacked at least once. Even though the weather was absolutely terrible, It was a good experience for me. I just kept telling myself I could do it, and that every step I took was one closer to the end. That was especially important while going up those steep hills. There was nothing more depressing than looking up and realizing I still had a long ways to go before I was at the top. But it was encouraging to know that God was with me every step. I had a lot of time to think this weekend and most of the time was spent asking Him to give me strength and endurance. There’s no way I could have done it on my own.
Kelly Heiple
I. MY PREVIOUS HIKING EXPERIENCE:
-- None. A couple of hour walks through the woods is about the extent of my ‘hiking experience’.
II. THE TRAIL I HIKED
Hiked the 24.6 miles of the KT (Knobstone Trail) in southern Indiana. We started at Deam Lake Trailhead and finished at the Leota Trailhead.
II THREE PIECES OF ADVICE TO NEXT YEAR’S HIKERS:
1. Don’t Race & Keep Mental Sanity. There is so much of Gods creation to enjoy why rush it? Plus if you do you will get wiped out in no time, it doesn’t matter what shape you are in. Think about the children’s story of the ‘Turtle and the Hare’ slow and steady, slow and steady. Walk yourself through the miles say “ok I just passed mile 22 one more till mile 23” keep a shorter goal in your mind and just keep at it, if you don’t have the right mind set the KT will kick your butt, chew you up swallow and then spit you back up at the nearest road making you done before you really are.
2. Keep Dry. This means everything! Keep socks and sneakers as dry as you can and air them out on breaks. If you get a nice sunny day tie anything you can to the outside of your pack, let it dry and that way you’ll always have something dry to wear, walking in the rain in already wet clothes is more miserable then starting out dry and getting wet. Another thing I didn’t do, but should have was to take an extra set of clothes to leave in the vehicle, that way is you are soaked coming off the trail you can put the dry ones on and be warm all the way home instead of wet like me.
3. Food = weight. I usually eat quite a bit, but when you are on the trail you just don’t eat that much. I took more then I needed and had to carry the extra weight. I would recommend a few pieces of beef jerky, 1-2 zone perfect protein bars for each day, a few pudding packs are great for supper and if you are not going out for more then two-three days I would suggest one apple per night. The extra weight is well worth it once you have had a long day and bite into a juicy filled piece of fresh fruit!
III. SEVEN SNAPSHOT MEMORIES—THINGS I’LL NEVER FORGET
1. Campfire. Everything about it was wonderful, the conversation, drying our clothes on twigs and melting them.
2. Walking the ridge. One of the most beautiful places I have been is way up on the Knobstone ridges spanning about 3 or more miles, it was absolutely beautiful with the sun shinning and the view, I will never forget that.
3. Thanksgiving Dinner. One of the most talked about subjects on breaks seemed to be food especially in relation to Thanksgiving dinner. Talking about turkey, and mashed potatoes and chocolate covered candy, ok that’s not Thanksgiving food but it sure was nice to think of.
4. Spiders. Chad finding a humongous spider on his Nalgene, almost everyone went to see it except for me and Lesley. Yuck!
5. Mating dogs. All of us sitting around the campfire trying to imagine how a black lab and wiener dog would mate.
6. I’m soaked. Brrr. Lesley and I shared the smallest tarp out of the group, and we survived but it was not without getting soaked two nights in a row.
7. “Go grab ‘em”. Chad trying to urge me into grabbing him some of the meatballs off of a leftover pizza platter when we were at pizza hut.
IV. KUDOS TO OTHER HIKERS
1 To Renee… The fact that you did the extra six miles in that weather through those knobs makes you worthy of double kudos.
2. To Belonn… Double kudos to you too for hitting that extra six miles, as well as for the Thanksgiving food chats; I could taste those mashed potatoes.
3. To Lesley… Great tarp mate, you were a good sport through it all and did a great job. It was also nice to walk with you during quite a bit of the knob, nice job.
4. To Chad… The enlightenment you gave us all on fart ping-pong will be very useful in the future I’m sure. Your story’s were also a good laugh and kept us all smiling.
5. To Seth… The story’s you told were great and helped keep us all laughing and our morale up.
6. To Coach D… Thanks for sticking by when you could have charged by and left me in the dust, showing me the right way when I was heading off in another direction and for teaching us all the ways of the backpacker.
7. To Sharon… Thanks for bringing the hot coffee, even though it was for coach I appreciated it too. It was really nice to meet you and get to know you a little better.
V. FINAL NOTE ON THIS TREK
--I have never done anything like this in my entire life. Coming in I had many hesitations if I could really do something like this with bad knees, asthma and not really liking to walk with my mom at home I thought I was going to die, but I decided that if I wanted to do it I could so I set my mind to it and headed forward. I accomplished it with many hard times and great times, praising God throughout the whole trip that He had let me come and experience this part of His creation, it was amazing. I wanted to quit but didn’t and can now say I hiked part of the KT. I also met six other great people. I really wish we would have been able to get to know one another sooner and a little better, but it was great having you all experiencing this with me. The conversations, stories, and things that were done and said will always be a memory I take away with me. Thanks everyone!
Seth Wyncott
I. MY PREVIOUS HIKING EXPERIENCE:
Three weeklong trips in the Smokey Mountains on the AT, one week at Isle Royale
II. THE TRAIL I HIKED
Twenty-five miles on the Knobstone Trail in Southern Indiana. This is a great trail for those who can’t travel far west or east to get out to some mountains. A great weekend trip.
II THREE PIECES OF ADVICE TO NEXT YEAR’S HIKERS:
1. Take care of your feet. It starts with footwear; make sure you wear a good pair of shoes, especially a pair with good traction for some of the climbs and descents (I wore New Balances and loved them!), Socks are also very important, I wore a pair of Smartwool hikers the whole weekend and they were great.
2. Its all mental. While walking just focus on one step at a time, and just keep pushing. The greatest part of the battle is getting the right mentality, once you get that down you’ll enjoy every moment of the trip.
3. Pack light. I did my best to lighten my load by taking just enough for this weekend and it was so helpful. Ray Jardine is genius. Pack light and your body will thank you.
III. SEVEN SNAPSHOT MEMORIES—THINGS I’LL NEVER FORGET
1. Seeing the lights of the city at night – from underneath our tarp. It was refreshing to be far away from all the commotion and look at it all from the outside in.
2. Hiking in the rain – I don’t know if anyone else really enjoyed this experience (I managed to keep pretty dry and warm). Backpacking in the rain is pretty much never fun, but knowing it was the last day, and I would be out of it in a matter of hours helped me to mentally put it behind me and focus on enjoying the woods in a different light. The rain was very cleansing as it washed away the last signs of summer and marked the beginning of a new season: fall.
3. Pizza Hut – cheap, fast pizza never tastes as good as it does when finishing a weekend living off of Powerbars and tuna packets.
4. Building a fire – I love building fires.
5. Sleeping outside around the fire – up until it started to drizzle I slept like a baby in the open air underneath the stars. There is nothing else like it.
6. The big spider – oh yes, everyone loves are beautiful, long-legged, hairy arachnid friends.
7. Building big tripods – just to make sure no one got lost we built some tripods taller than we were to signal the correct trail.
IV. KUDOS TO OTHER HIKERS
1. Coach D – thank you so much for the great conversation, the funny stories, and the experience you brought to this trip. You have helped to deepen my passion for backpacking and I cannot thank you enough for that.
2. Belonn
– great job finishing out the last 6 miles of the Knobstone, and I don’t think
any of us will forget about your organic peanut butter; that stuff was good.
3. Renee – again, way to go with knocking out the 31 miles over the weekend. You really pushed hard through all the mud and rain.
4. Lesley – you were a trooper out there dealing with some short tarps and rain, but you kept pushing through no matter what the situation and finished out well never complaining.
5. Sharon – thanks for keeping the car nice and hot for us.
6. Chad – it was good talking to you over the weekend and getting to know you as a person a little bit better. I think you beat us all in fart tennis. Good job.
7. Kelley – it was good walking with you for the last few miles on our last day. Thanks for sharing all your food with us, I loved the beef jerky; it was wonderful.
V. FINAL NOTE ON THIS TREK
--Going into this trip I wasn’t really sure what to think, I was excited about backpacking again but I wasn’t quite sure if I was ready to get into the rain again, but talking to Coach on the ride there really got me excited to start hiking. I even surprised myself and ended up enjoying the rain. Overall it was a great trip and a refreshing getaway from all the hectic goings-on of school. I absolutely love backpacking and walking away from this trip after listening to Coach D. and being out in nature again, I am ready to go again. I am already planning my next trip. Thanks Coach! Hopefully I can do another trip with you someday soon.
Belonn Scheuerell
I. MY PREVIOUS HIKING EXPERIENCE:
--Backpacked the Grand Canyon over spring
break 05’, and many day hikes in Wisconsin at Devil’s Lake State Park,
Gibralter Rock, and Pewit’s nest.
II.
THE TRAIL I HIKED
The Knobstone
Trail of sounthern Indiana is full of ups and downs. This trail is not flat as
one may think being in Indiana, it is challenging and beautiful, especially in
the fall with all the amazing leaves. The trail changes scenery so often that
it feels as though you’re in the woods one minute, then in a beautiful valley,
and even into a rainforest. We began hiking the trail at mile 0, heading north
to mile 31.5.
II THREE PIECES OF ADVICE TO NEXT YEAR’S
HIKERS:
1. Pack Light. Remember as you are packing for this
trip that you are going to live simply for a few days, so pack that way. The
only clothes you need are the ones you’re wearing, plus a rain jacket (trust
me, a very smart idea since almost our entire trip was wet), two pairs of
socks, a hat, and gloves. Don’t worry about getting dirty, smelly, or sweaty,
everyone does and that is the fun of the trip. You can always take off a
sweater or jacket if need be. In addition, don’t forget the food, all you’ll
really need is a large plastic Ziploc bag full of yummy munchies.
2.
Take care of your feet. Walk as though you are
barefoot, especially when going downhill. It may be easier to step hard with
all your weight initially, but your feet will pay later. Also, at every break
time make sure to air out your feet or elevate them. Try to keep weight off of
them whenever possible. Remember that you need your feet to take you everywhere
and through everything, so they need to be strong and ready for the challenge!
3.
Breathe and pace yourself. When hiking, remember to
pace yourself and observe everything around you. See God’s beauty, observe,
enjoy. In addition, when hiking at a faster pace you may find yourself slowing
down dramatically when going up hill, resulting in loss of breath control.
Hiking up the knobs are challenging and it is important to make sure you
maintain good steady breathing in order to accomplish the climbs.
III. SEVEN SNAPSHOT MEMORIES—THINGS I’LL
NEVER FORGET
1. The excitement of the
trail. I was so exited and motivated to hike the
Knobstone, and with new people I could get to know, talk with, and encourage
along the trip. With my pack on my back and my first steps on the trail
underway, I was ready.
2. The beauty. I could not believe how beautiful Indiana could be. The trees were
absolutely breath-taking. Throughout all the different areas I hiked there were
trees of all different heights and colors. Going up and down the knobs provided
so many different environments of beauty and wonder. While hiking the Knobstone
it was obvious how amazing our Creator is.
3. Breaks. Every set of 3 mile breaks when we all slowly met each other for a
food and foot break were always full of enjoyment. Whether from each other’s
stories, from eating, or just plain resting, the breaks were great times with
the entire group and to sit and thank God for the beauty and for getting you
through the last few miles.
4. First night. I’ll never forget the first night when we set up camp around four
o’clock. Not only was it interesting and funny to see all of us try to figure
out the best way to set up our tarps with it raining, but it was hilarious that
within an hour or so, everyone was almost asleep. I’ll never forget when Renee
went to see what everyone was doing and then came back and said everyone was
asleep at 5:30pm. In addition, everyone seemed to either not sleep well or to
wake up at 9:30pm thinking it was almost morning. It was the longest night of
my life.
5. Time around the campfire. With much anticipation and determination to have a campfire the
second night and to stay up until at least eight o’clock, we made sure to keep
that campfire going and dry all our wet clothes in the process. Thanks to the
stick and twig work of the guys we had a great fire, were Renee and I dried out
pretty much every piece of clothing we had. In addition, all the conversations
and stories that night were the most enjoyable. We loved that campfire so much
that four of us stayed out and slept around it with the commitment to fuel the
fire anytime throughout the night if any of us awoke. It was great fun and
comfortable, until it began to rain. The funniest thing was Chad leaving the
rest of us sleeping in the rain. Thank the Lord I heard him get up so we could
also be saved from the wetness at two in the morning. Oh yeah, good times!
6. Coach D’s stories. What a funny man! The time around the fire especially was when
Coach D let loose with the stories. I love stories and his were both hilarious
and interesting. Talk about a man who knows a lot about hiking; anyone can
learn a lot from him. All of his hitchhiking stories were hilarious, and yet I
hope they never happen to me.
7. The extra 6 miles with
Renee. Wow, what can I say, I couldn’t have had
a better person to hike the most challenging part of the trail with, on the
most miserable and exhausting day. These last six miles were intense
and full of constant ups and downs. It was a great adventure for both
of us to make sure we were following the trail, keeping a good pace, and
encouraging each other the whole time. In addition, it was even more humbling
for me to be in a role change and have to be encouraged when I started for feel
nauseous. But the best was the feeling that we did it in the cold, rain, and
mud. It felt great to accomplish!
IV. KUDOS TO OTHER HIKERS
1. To Renee… the best tent and
hiking buddy I could ask for. It was great laughing with you, cuddling next to
you in the night, hiking with you throughout the weekend, and overall getting
to know you better. Thanks for that last six miles, the talks, fun, and
encouragement. That Dan is a lucky man!
2. To Seth… you are a very smart
hiker, I learned a lot from you. I loved the stories of your father’s cooking,
they were so hilarious! You are the best tripod builder and campfire starter.
I’m glad you wanted to sleep around the fire, it was great.
3. To Kelly… What a trooper! It
was fun to hike with you on the one section of trail that we made all those fun
tripods. You and I are going to have to swap food recipes! Yum!
4. To Lesley… way to always be
positive and never give up! You always finished the hikes strong, especially
when you awoke wet after the last nights rain. What an encouragement you are!
5. To Chad… your fear of spiders,
and the fact that the biggest one I’d ever seen had to be on your Nalgene. And
yes, I have to say that your fart tennis stories were hilarious and very
memorable.
6. To Coach D… for all of your
stories and knowledge. I just love to listen to all of your experiences and
advice that you have to give. You taught me how to appropriately set up a tarp,
how and where to hike and hitchhike and more. I feel blessed to have had you as
a hiking leader. I’ve learned things from you that will benefit me for the rest
of my life.
7. To Sharon… for your willingness
to drive three hours out of your way to pick us up and without even being able
to hike. Thank you for keeping Renee and I warm on the way home and for
the great conversations.
V. FINAL NOTE ON THIS TREK
--This was this best spring break yet! Not only was this
fun, but it was challenging. This isn’t something that I just recommend going
on for the heck of it, without preparation. I can’t stress enough how important
it is to prepare yourself mentally and physically for a hiking trip. On this
trip you hike up and down hills, all day long with a pack on your back. It is
great to physically train for a trip like this one by doing squats, lungs,
walking on an incline on the treadmill, etc. In addition, the mental aspect of
this trip is just as important as the physical, if not more. Through all the
challenges during the hike, a positive attitude is essential. Being able to
encourage yourself mentally when you physically feel like giving up, will help
you accomplish anything. In addition, taking the time to seek the Lord
throughout the hike, whether challenging or not, will make anything negative
turn positive. This was not my first experience backpacking and will definitely
not be my last. If you try to get everything out of the trip you can, than you
will. This trip allowed me to grow more as a smart and prepared hiker. I loved
the Knobstone trail and the group I was with. In the future I look forward to
hiking in the Cascades in Washington state and other longer trails.
Your first-last name here
this size/color
I. MY PREVIOUS HIKING EXPERIENCE:
-- Not much. I hiked part of the Colorado Trail in the San
Juan Mountains.
II. THE TRAIL I HIKED
We hiked
25 miles on the Knobstone Trail. We got
on at the first trailhead. We hiked to
the top of hills, to the bottom of valleys, through dried up creeks, and
through beautiful trails (the leaves had already fallen because of autumn).
THREE PIECES OF ADVICE TO NEXT YEAR’S HIKERS:
1. Advice. Eat decently before you go to
sleep so you can rest comfortably.
2.
Advice. Stretch when you have the opportunity. Most people aren’t used to hiking a lot and
need to stretch to keep from cramping.
3.
Advice. Don’t take too much food. I took just enough for a good meal and some
snacks and I was fine.
III. SEVEN SNAPSHOT MEMORIES—THINGS
I’LL NEVER FORGET (no order)
1. The campfire chatting the
second night. We stayed up and talked and then
arranged the fire in a line so that we could lay next to it as we fell
asleep. It was amazing looking at the
stars, the smoke, and the trees with crickets in the background singing us to
sleep.
2. Talks about Thanksgiving
dinner. The thing
we talked about most was food and regarding food, we talked about Thanksgiving
and the feast.
3. The rainforest look of the
trail. At the end
of the trail there was a lot of green hanging down in our faces as we were
walking the trail and it was wet from the rain, and the sun was shining down
through the trees at times.
4. Seeing the beauty of the fall season. The leaves were all different colors scattered all over the trail.
5. Everything being sopping
wet from the rain. When we
set out on Sun. it had been raining through the night and still raining when we
started out so we were walking wet.
6. The fellowship. As we walked and took breaks, we
took opportunities to have conversations and enjoy each others company. We were able to learn about each other when
we were only together for a couple of days.
7. PIZZA!!! I don’t think any of us could have been more ready to eat a Meat Lover’s pizza from Pizza Hut after we finished on Sun. The pizza could have been the worst pizza that Pizza Hut has ever made, but we ate it like we hadn’t eaten a meal in months.
IV. KUDOS TO OTHER HIKERS
1. To Seth… for your experience with backpacking and the
humble spirit you have that came out in your helping out with things and in our
semi-deep conversations.
2. To Belonn… you have a great attitude and such an encouraging
spirit. Your laugh is so contagious and
makes the moment enjoyable.
3. To Renee… you seem to
always be giving your attention to others and the things they care about or are
concerned about. Your caring is very
appreciated.
4. To Kelly… you seemed to
have a “look on the bright side” kind of attitude no matter what was going on. That was a big encouragement.
5. To Leslie… you’re quiet
but very strong willed too. You gave a
lot and were willing to sacrifice.
6. To Coach… your stories of
hikes really gave us some good knowledge about what to expect and how to handle
things. You seem to have an attitude
where you work hard and have fun doing it and it helps others when they get
tired or want to let circumstances get them down.
V. FINAL NOTE ON THIS TREK
I have only had a little bit of backpacking experience before I went on the trip. I love the idea of backpacking and love doing it, I just never make the time to actually do it much. The whole time I was hiking I was thinking about how I wanted to do it more often and make it more of a hobby. I loved hearing others talk about other trails they had hiked and the unique things about them. I wanted to set up trips to go on these other trails and get more experience. I want to go on more trips and allow myself to enjoy God’s creation in nature. This trip kind of helped me to regain that desire and I know I will continue with a love for the outdoors and make it a point to get more involved in backpacking trips. I am thankful for the people who were on the trip and how well we were able to encourage each other and work together. I think we made a great team and feel privileged to have gone on the trip with the people that I did. They are amazing people and they helped be a part of the blessing that the trip was to me.
