2005 Backpacking class walks Knobstone in the rain…
…and
breaks another record
IWUs Spring 2005 Backpacking class broke another school record on their Easter weekend hike on the 45 mile Knobstone hike in Southern Indiana. Every student made the entire 45+ mile hike splashing the muddy trail and slipping down hillsides in the rain—one even limped the final 15 miles with a messed up knee. Two records fell to the 2005 class: fastest completion and the longest mileage day. Seven students with full packs hiked the entire trail in 39 hours carrying full packs. They accomplished this by following up a moderate 14 mile day on Friday with a whopping 31-mile day on Saturday! The group included five guys and two girls and they simply waited all day Sunday for the rest of us to catch up. While the backpacking class is not designed on a competitive basis it is designed to “stretch students to their limit.” For some students that limit arrives at 15 mile days—for these seven it did not come until almost 30 miles. Once again friendships were the greatest outcome of the hike.
Student reflections ‘05:
Kevin Wright
I. MY PREVIOUS HIKING
EXPERIENCE:
-- The Pinhoti Trail
(110 miles through AL and GA), Small section of the AT, the Knobstone
II THREE PIECES OF
ADVICE TO NEXT YEAR’S HIKERS:
1. Once you have
your food ready to pack, take away a 1/4 of it- This is a generally
good rule of thumb for combating the tendency to take way more food than you
will actually need. I found that I packed what I considered "light"
and still had a good portion of food left by the end of the trail. Other people
who packed much heavier food supplies were unfortunate to have to carry that
much more extra weight.
2. Feel the trail-
When
we hiked at night, often times the best way to deal with the lack of visual
clarity was to simply trust our feet. You can feel how the grade, consistency
and texture of the trail after a while. Trust your feet, they become your
second pair of eyes when things get dark outside.
3. New Balance
407's- I have worn various brands of shoes on the trail but I have never
been happier with any show other than New Balances. I work a "broken
in" pair of New Balance 407's on this trail and was amazed at how well
they performed. Not only did I avoid blisters, I hardly had any "hot
spots" on my feet. 407's might not work for your feet but a good pair of
NB shoes are perfect for any trail. Also, I tend to have heel problems and need
extra cushioning. Gel pad inserts can be bought at Wal-Mart, only cost 4
dollars, and will add miles to your feet-life.
III. SEVEN SNAPSHOT
MEMORIES—THINGS I’LL NEVER FORGET
1. Hiking a 31+
mile day with packs- I've hiked a 50 mile day with no pack on but to hike 31+
miles with a 18-20 lb pack is almost unheard of...especially on the Knobstone!
I had wonderful company comprised of 6 other guys/girls who were equally as
adventurous and brave.
2. Troy's
equipment- I have never seen such an impressive array of backpacking
equipment. Troy showed me that you do not always need the most expensive
equipment, simply take whatever works for you.
3. Papa John's- I know that everyone
writes this but it really was a great experience. It was meaningful to break
our hiking "fast" all at the same time. Celebrating over hot pizza
with people you have just hiked 45 miles with is a wonderful thing.
4. Begging for
food- I had the opportunity to walk up to a stranger's house (at the
prodding of Coach) and ask for any food they could spare. I walked away with a
half loaf of bread and a almost full bottle of peanut butter! Strangers are
still hospitable!
5. Bear Skat- Bear skat had two uses
on this trip. First, it scared those of us who saw it at night and were fearful
of how fresh it appeared. Second, it encouraged hikers who saw it on the second
day to increase their pace and finish the trail before dark. Who would have
thought that bear scat would have been so useful?
6. Easter
Campfire- I had the wonderful opportunity to spend Easter around a campfire
with 6 other people originally and then more as the day went on as we waited
for everyone to finish. It was fun to relax, reflect and toast whatever food
left that we had.
7. Lauren's
singing- This guy is a literal jukebox (although he might not finish every
song). Lauren's singing helped to keep us going through the night and provided
some entertaining music. Everyone should have a personal jukebox like Lauren!
IV. KUDOS TO OTHER
HIKERS
1. To Coach- Thanks for driving, buying
pizza, providing excellent conversation...etc. The list could go on forever.
You are consistently an inspiration, source of wisdom and wonderful friend.
Thank you for teaching an amazing class like this.
2. To Dave- No adventure would be
complete without a friend like you. You provided me with private jokes,
hilarious moments and wonderful tarp-company.
3. Kara and Juli- Okay, I had to put you
two together because you always were together! You gals stuck with it and
impressed me with your stamina. Have a great time hiking this summer!
4. To Lauren- WOW! What a great hiker!
You have the stamina of a bull. Keep backpacking because it suits you well. You
were a great hiking companion, rescue searcher and fun person I had the
privilege of getting to know.
5. To the 31+ club- Are you kidding
me?!?!! 31+ miles on the Knobstone in one day! All of you are tough tough
tough! Great job and even greater endurance. All of you deserve a medal. Thanks
for helping me find hidden blazes at night too!
6. To Adam- Thanks for hiking with me
the second day and talking about everything from marriage life to ministry. You
are someone I'm glad I got to know over the past few years. One day we can
merge the Wesleyans and Free Methodists right?
7. To Squirrel, Emily, & Christy-
Injuries or stamina problems? Yeah right! All of you did outstanding and
deserve a standing ovation for your hard work. I am proud of all of you for
overcoming weariness and knee injuries. Great job!
8. To everyone else- Great times on the
Knobstone! For those of you who experienced backpacking for the first time, I
hope you enjoyed it. For those of you for whom this was simply another
"walk in the park," I'm glad you were able to come along. I sensed a
positive attitude throughout the entire group. I am proud of everyone.
V. FINAL NOTE ON THIS
TREK
--Every time I go hiking, I fear for my feet and my
endurance. This trip, however, confirmed in my mind that I do have what it
takes to conquer larger hikes such as the PCT and AT. In the future, I hope to
be able to hike these trails and enjoy more of God's creation. Taking each hill
slow and steady, telling yourself that you can do it and making yourself enjoy
every minute of a hike is so crucial for me to remember. I enjoyed this hike
immensely and hope to be able to head out into the wilderness again sometime
soon. Thank you to everyone who talked to me on the trail, made me laugh with a
hilarious comment or helped push me that one extra mile!
David Mierau
I. MY PREVIOUS HIKING EXPERIENCE:
-- None
II. THREE PIECES OF ADVICE TO NEXT YEAR’S HIKERS:
1. Rest when your
feet tell you to, not the mile markers. I didn’t get the whole concept of
resting every four miles, or whatever particular number 
people had in their
head. If your body is telling you to rest, then just sit down for a little
while and take a break. It’s not a trail sin, and it doesn’t mean you’re a
wimp. I promise.
2. Pack light. This one is pretty obvious, but so crucial to an enjoyable hike. Ray Jardine does a way better job of explaining the “why’s” and “how’s” then I ever could in his book Beyond Backpacking. Read it. Do it.
3. Keep it simple. Bring equipment that is easy to set up and easy to put away. Bring food that is easy to make and not a hassle to clean up after. Better yet, just bring pre-made dry food like trail mix or string cheese that takes little to no effort to enjoy.
III. SEVEN SNAPSHOT MEMORIES—THINGS I’LL NEVER FORGET
1. Proverbs walk with Nicole. Getting to know Nicole as we went through Proverbs together was a real honor, and a great reminder of the power of reading and discussing God’s Word in community.
2. Coach’s “Temple Justice”. For Jesus it was the money changers. For Coach it was the dirt bikes. When he told us to pick up sticks we thought he was kidding. When he grabbed a huge one and started defending the trail, we all sat in stunned silence; unsure if what we were seeing was really taking place. Looking back brings a smile to my face.
3. The completely inappropriate comments made by Troy.
Just when we thought he wouldn’t go there, he did. It was hilarious. I think it’s safe to say that we were all taken off-guard, and perhaps scarred for life.
4. Finishing the last 11 miles with Frodo Baggins.
The burden was great, the road to Mordor was perilous, and there were numerous opportunities to abandon the fellowship. But Squirrel and I finally made it to Mt. Doom (the last knob) and back to the shire (the campfire). This was epic stuff.
5. Hearing Nicole and Emily’s timid “Hello?” from the woods. We weren’t sure they were going to make it, but they did, and there was great rejoicing.
6. Rediscovering the joy of creativity. When you hike alone your mind tends to wander. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as I discovered. We often spend so much time being rational and task-oriented (especially in school) that it can be easy to forget that God has given us incredible imaginations if we would just use them.
7. Papa John’s Pizza. It was good in my belly.
IV. KUDOS TO OTHER HIKERS
1. To Kevin… What an honor to be your friend (ferhind)! Thanks for all your help before and during the hike - you were a great source of encouragement. The unexpected encounters with our mentor on various knobs were truly momentous... our knowledge of real estate and divorce is now unsurpassed.
2. To Squirrel (Justin Bell) … I had so much fun finishing the hike with you! Your passion for all things Middle Earth shone through on this hike. Don't forget to bring your Gandalf outfit next time you hit the trail ;)
3. To Nicole… I haven't known you for very long, but your quiet strength and humble faith were made clearly evident in the few hours that we talked while traversing the knobstone. Your willingness to wait for and encourage Emily was a true testimony to your character. Have fun in Michigan!
4. To Julie… It was refreshing to meet someone who cared so much about being a good steward of the Earth. I'm sure you'll do just fine this summer on your three week hike with Coach D. By the end of the weekend, I don't think that anyone dared underestimate you! And by the way, you still owe me a ride in your Ford Focus.
5. To Adam… Ah yes, the quest for the ultimate hiking stick - and the inevitable exchange for a better one. Thanks for sharing your tarp with me and Squirrel Saturday night. If you ever want to see it again, pay me 500 dollars. I’m serious.
6. To Eric… Hola Dubach! 'Nuff said.
7. To Kara… Thanks for the much needed back massages! Your positive attitude really lifted up those around you, and I'm sure that you will continue to be a blessing to those you come in contact with.
8. To Coach... one of the wisest men I've ever met. Thanks for making this class possible and not treating us like junior high kids. Keep defending the trail and beware of the scary lady who roams the woods with her lumberjack cronies.
8. To everyone else... What an awesome group of peers to hike with! A large part of my motivation to take this class was hearing that a lot of you had signed up.
V. FINAL NOTE ON THIS TREK
-- Hiking the Knobstone wasn't personally "life changing" but it was a great opportunity to spend time alone with God as well as interact with others on a deeper level. After taking this class, I really do feel equipped and encouraged to tackle another (hopefully more scenic) trail sometime down the road.
“Justin 'Squirrel' Bell”
I. MY PREVIOUS HIKING EXPERIENCE:
-- A few day hikes in the past, nothing to this degree.
II THREE PIECES OF ADVICE TO NEXT YEAR’S HIKERS:
1. Light is right. I don't care what some people say, a few extra pounds may not feel like much when you first put on your pack, but by the time you have hiked 14 miles, every once counts. I made the mistake of bringing WAY too much food, I needed about a quarter of what I brought, and I had to carry a lot of it the whole time. If other people wouldn't have ate most my food, I would have really been hurting.
2. Bring ibuprofen. Many of you probably don't think you will need it, but it is something you very well may want to have before you are done. If you twist an ankle or a knee, or just plain get sore, you will want something to take the edge off, I promise. There is a reason it is sometimes called "vitamin I".
3. Don't be afraid to hike alone. Other than the fact that I walked a little over a mile in a giant circle because I got "lost," the times when I hiked alone were the most rewarding. It allows you to focus on things that you don't always get to focus on when you are in the grind at school. God's creation is beautiful, and it lets you see his magnificent work more clearly when you aren't distracted. Don't avoid others, but don't worry if you are going to be left behind for a few hours.
III. SEVEN SNAPSHOT MEMORIES—THINGS I’LL NEVER FORGET
1. Coach D chasing dirtbikes I’ll never forget seeing Coach take the law in his own hands, and enforcing the no bike policy. If the Department of Natural Resources would hire you to enforce the laws, I am sure there would never be a bike on the Knobstone ever again.
2. Troy’s equipment. How somebody is able to walk over 31 miles without any equipment but a middle school backpack and a garbage bag to cover a sleeping bag still boggles my mind. You my friend are made of steel.
3. The stick in my back, night 1. I will never forget laying down the first night on my pad and realizing that there was stick under me. I was so tired, I didn't want to mess with it. I woke up the next morning to realize it was stabbing through my pad, into my back... I guess I was pretty tired.
4. The 31ers. You guys and girls have more in you than I. How you walked that far in a day is beyond me. Everyone one of you deserves my admiration.
5. Hobbling to the end. There was a time I wanted to quit, but I am glad I didn't. I have more respect now for people with serious knee problems than ever before. The pain associated with bad knees is hard to put into words.
6. Seeing the same place twice. I don't think anything is as disheartening as going in a giant circle after climbing up the side of a knob to get there. That will teach me to watch for white paint, not trails.
7. My pantry. I didn't realize that the amount of food I brought was going to be a running joke. So I was hungry when I was packing, maybe that was my first mistake. None the less, everyone got to eat seconds off of my back, literally.
IV. KUDOS TO OTHER HIKERS
1. To Chris… My roommate turned tarpmate. So the tarp was a little short for the 2 of us. Congratulations on going 31.
2. To Emily… So I saw you limp to political parties today. You have strength that I admire just for finishing. I thought I was in pain, but I think you had me beat.
3. To Kevin… You had experience that was very useful. Plus, who else would walk to a house and beg for food.
4. To Dave… Dave, you truly were my Samwise. You could have finished the Knobstone hours before we did, if you didn't bear me as your burden. Thank you for being there, and lifting me up. You care about people more than nearly anyone I have met, and that means a lot.
5. To Troy… You are a giant among mere men.. what else can be said.
6. To Eric… I heard you forgot to pack TP, oh, by the way, I had extra in my bag, I think it may have come from yours.
7. To Joel and Drew… I can't believe you passed us so soon on Sunday, you were cruising. THANKS FOR THE DRUGS!
8. To Adam… You are a devoted husband. I can't believe you got up before the sun was up on Sunday to hike back to see your wife for Easter. Thanks for letting me stay in your tarp Saturday night, and being a great guy all around.
9. To Coach… I didn't really
know you at all before the trip, but I wish I would have. It was a great
time, you treated everyone with respect as adults, and gave of yourself.
Thanks for spending Easter with a bunch of students rather than your family,
for what it's worth. Also, it was very nice of you to buy pizza at the
end, it was an unexpected treat, thanks for everything.
10. To everybody else… I wish I could write something for everyone, but
that would go on forever. I actually think I could write something about
all of you, after just one weekend. This truly was a bonding
experience. If I didn't say something, it doesn't mean I didn't remember,
everyone of you had a place in my mind and prayers. You made the trip
worthwhile.
V. FINAL NOTE ON THIS TREK
--This is the first multi-day backpacking trip I have been on, and it won't be my last. It was painful at times, and I had to limp across the finish, but it was worth it. I have never not gone to church on Easter, and it was odd, but I think I was closer to God in the company of such strong Christians than I normally am in Church. The sharing I had with Dave was special that morning. Thank you all for everything you did to keep me going, and for the memories. I will never forget this one.
Troy Young
I. MY PREVIOUS HIKING EXPERIENCE:
-- None- I’ve just went camping a few times before but never much hiking involved.
II Four PIECES OF ADVICE
TO NEXT YEAR’S HIKERS:
1. The most important thing to do is pray. I prayed a whole lot while on the trail for every need. I prayed for pure water cause I didn’t use bleach or any other purifier, I prayed for energy when I had none, I prayed for healing cause pretty much every joint in my body has been messed up from high school football, and I prayed for safety cause I’m very accident prone and get hurt doing anything. I’m very grateful for God answering all my prayers and enabling me to do what I’ve never expected to do in my life and I know I couldn’t do that on my own strength.
2. Want to do it. If you’re not excited about going then it’s going to be a lot harder but if you’re excited it will be fun no matter what happens such as if it rains or if you have to hike for about 19 hours in one day and cover about 32 miles.
3. Don’t worry about having the best equipment make the best of what you have and have a good time with it. You’ll learn how to make do with what you have or don’t have.
4. Take care of your body. Try to eat a lot to get the energy you need and when you stop sit down and rest cause even if you’re not tired and you’ll be glad toward the end.
III. SEVEN SNAPSHOT MEMORIES—THINGS I’LL NEVER FORGET
1. Hiking for about 19 hours, covering about 32 miles and hiking the last almost 17 miles in the dark in only about 6.5 hours all in one long and hard day.
2. Coach chasing the dirt bike up the hill. I would have helped but I was in shock that he was actually picking a fight with them and won by them riding away.
3. Squirrel with his loud voice and all his extra food which I really enjoyed.
4. After hiking about 32 miles walking up on Kevin, Kara, and Julie and them thinking I was a bear. Kevin hiding behind the girls made that extra nice.
5. Seeing everyone limp around and try to sit down and stand up once they finished the trail.
6. Sleeping with 3 other guys the last night under a tarp I’d consider small if I were in it alone. We were pretty much on top of each other the tarp was so low it was pretty much just laying directly on us and when I tried to move my head under the tarp so I wouldn’t get rained on I found out my feet were sticking out the other end getting wet. But Kevin gave a great sacrifice by volunteering to sleep in the tarp with the two girls.
7. Seeing everyone make it to the end no matter what. We didn’t have the best equipment, most of us didn’t have much experience, and we weren’t in the best physical shape but everyone of us made it to the end and that says a lot.
IV. KUDOS TO OTHER HIKERS
1. To God… He was definitely there every step of the way and there is no way I could have made it without Him healing me in many ways so that I could go on. I couldn’t believe even for a minute that Jesus may not have really risen from the dead or that there isn’t a God cause on this trip God was more real to me than anything else on that trail.
2. To Coach… Thank you so much for teaching this class. I learned so much that I would have never thought about otherwise. I now have a passion to get out on more trails with more people. You made this hiking experience possible and I grew mentally, physically, and best of all spiritually. I’m very glad to have you as a coach and to have fun with you on the trail. Sorry I didn’t help you catch those dirt bikes but if you caught one you know I’d have your back. You did a good job of chasing them away and giving them a piece of your mind and I was very impressed.
3. To Eric… Thanks for the encouragement through the very long day of hiking and for the Easter sermon.
4. To Justin… Thanks for making the hike more interesting by the things you said giving me something to smile about and for all the extra food you shared. You made the hike a lot more interesting.
5. To Kevin… Thanks for leading the way in the dark and not getting us lost much and for encouraging everyone the whole way. You were a good leader.
6. To Kara and Julie… You proved you could hike that trail as well as any guy out there. Sorry for making you put up with a bunch of guys for a while and the things we said that you probably would rather not have heard.
7. To Lauren… Thanks for your free spirit of singing and jumping around all night while we were hiking. I wish I had your energy. The fire you made was also nice to have on Easter.
8. To everyone… I am very happy to have hiked with every one of you. I didn’t really know any of you before but now I have good memories of my time spent with you. You all helped make the experience better in some way.
V. FINAL NOTE ON THIS TREK
--This was a great class. Even though it was just one credit and just one weekend together overall I probably learned more that I will actually use in the future, grew more spiritually then in probably any other class, and definitely was stretched more physically than any other class I’ve ever had. I learned many great life long lessons on this hike and I now have many more stories to share with others. For all the people that will take this class you can either make this one of the best experiences you’ve ever had (definitely one of the best classes) or this can be one of the worst experiences and worst class of your life. It’s what you make of it. It has amazing potential and I hope no one will ever be disappointed about taking this class no matter how difficult/crazy it might seem at times. It was a great way to spend an Easter weekend.
Chris Nei
I. MY PREVIOUS HIKING EXPERIENCE:
-- About 20 miles on the AT as well as many day hikes.
II THREE PIECES OF ADVICE TO NEXT YEAR’S HIKERS:
1. Bring TP. By the way Eric, Squirrel and I stole yours. How were the leaves? Revenge is sweet!
2. Attitude is everything. It is going to be a challenging hike, but if you keep a good attitude it makes it a lot more fun for everyone, including yourself.
3. Get to know your fellow hikers. I wish I would have done more of this, but I did get to know some great people better.
III. SEVEN SNAPSHOT MEMORIES—THINGS I’LL NEVER FORGET
1. Coach D chasing the bikers. Seeing Coach single handedly chase off three dirt bikers with a rotten stick was definitely memorable. He must have had more energy than the rest of us.
2. Walking 31 miles in a day. It was probably the most fatigued I have ever been in my life. After already hiking 17 miles that day I didn't really expect to finish. I'm still not sure how I made it.
3. Hiking by moonlight. I had never hiked at night before, but it was such a neat experience to finish the trail by moonlight. I started out using a flashlight, but once I got used to the moonlight I didn't need it.
4. Justin's bag rolling down the hill. After he came limping in at mile 31 and declaring to everyone that he wasn't taking another step. He proceeded to sit himself and his bag on a small hill that his bag promptly rolled down. He was too tired and sore to stop it so he just groaned and watched it roll. At least it was a small hill. Come to think of it, I'm not sure how he got his bag back because I don't remember seeing him move for a while after that.
5. Hanging out around the fire on Sunday. It was a restful and relaxing time waiting around the fire while the others finished the hike. We all deserved the break.
6. Losing the trail. I'm still not sure how it happened, but Eric, Loren, Troy and myself missed the trail so we ended up hiking straight up the side of a hill to a road in order to find the trail again. It didn't take us too much extra time, but we probably would have been better off if we had turned around and tried to find it again instead of going on.
7. The pine forests. My favorite hiking terrain were the pine forests. I love the scent of pine trees and the softness of the needles as you walk on them. Plus they remind me of my grandpa's house when I was little. Oh yeah, pine trees look really cool if you look up at them in the moonlight.
IV. KUDOS TO OTHER HIKERS
1. To Eric…You are a great hiking hiking companion and an even better friend, but it was funny to see you get up and leave for the hike three hours early thinking you were late. I hope to go on many more hikes with you in the future. Once again you challenged me spiritually with your actions. Wherever you end up pastoring will be a very blessed congregation.
2. To Squirrel... I have to mention you here. You provided endless comic relief throughout the trip, although sometimes unintentionally. It definitely wouldn't have been as exciting without you there. I know your knee was killing you, but you really gutted it out. I knew you would, but it was impressive none the less. Oh yeah, it was amazing that you slept an entire night on part of a tree that was poked all the way through your sleeping pad.
3. To Coach D… For sharing your wisdom about backpacking and beyond with us. Thanks for giving us freedom and treating us like adults.
4. To Troy… I definitely have to mention Troy. You are the most unconventional backpacker I have ever seen. I can still see you walking through the woods carrying your sleeping bag in a garbage bag that has been ripped to shreds by the green briars and it makes me laugh. You also have some interesting stories about your past injuries.
5. To the 31ers… It was amazing that seven of us hiked thirty one miles in one day. There were times when I wanted to quit, but I saw that you all were still walking so I knew that I could stick it out too. Thanks for bringing something out of me I didn't know I had.
6. To Juli and Kara… Everyone on the trip had a great attitude, but you two were always so pleasant and encouraging even when I was too tired to talk. As Forest Gump would say, you two "go together like peas and carrots." It was a pleasure hiking with you two. Kara, I'll try not to scare you with scary animal stories if we ever hike in the dark again.
7. To Loren… You have way to much energy. I still have no idea how you were belting out songs when the rest of us were almost too tired to talk.
V. FINAL NOTE ON THIS TREK
--This was an awesome experience with a great group of people. I would gladly hike with any of you again. This was a great hike and I know that it is the beginning of many hikes to come for me. The next time my fiancé from Vermont makes fun of Indiana for being so flat I'll have to tell her, once again, about the Knobstone Trail.
Joel Baker
I. MY PREVIOUS HIKING
EXPERIENCE:
-- 30 miles Shenandoah National Park, 20 miles Manastee National Forest, 35 miles Smoky Mts, various day hikes
II THREE PIECES OF ADVICE TO NEXT YEAR’S HIKERS:
1. Energy first. Bring food that will supply you enough energy to get through a full day of hiking. Trail mix, granola and peanut butter are good staple foods. I also highly recommend breakfast shakes from slimfast or carnation. And bring chocolate because it’s a huge moral booster.
2. Feet second. Invest in a good pair of sneaks or at the very least, new insoles. If your feet aren’t hurting the trip will actually be enjoyable instead of “how many more miles.”
3. Positive attitude third. Stay positive going up knob after knob and going down trails that don’t lead anywhere. Never say can’t or won’t and you will get there.
III. SEVEN SNAPSHOT MEMORIES—THINGS I’LL NEVER FORGET
1. Troy. The man was a real live urban legend. If I had not seen it myself I would have trouble believing this man hiked the entire trail in only sandals and dress socks while carry his military sleeping bag and Jansport book bag. Troy was a giant among men.
2. Dr Drury picking fights. I’ll never forget Coach throwing sticks at dirt bikers and then chasing them off the trail they weren’t supposed to be on.
3. Bear dookie highway. Never have I seen so much bear crap on one trail. This bear either had IBS or had eaten a previous hiker considering the number of piles left by the creature.
4. Campfire with the girls. Glad to provide a fire for you girls that night. You deserved it after hiking so hard that day.
5. Justin Bell’s pantry. Thanks for the supply of laughs and food. Although they came at your expense they were appreciated.
6. Papa John’s. Simply the best pineapple pizza I’ve ever had. Thank you Papa for letting us dirty up your floor and Coach for buying!
7. The end. Laying around the campfire after finishing 15 miles in 6 hours and feeling completely exhausted, but proud that we made it. Then wondering and waiting for the girls to finish or if they would. (they did)
IV. KUDOS TO OTHER HIKERS