We have "the official ATC Registered" sign-in information now....
"Zombie" Andrew is SoBo Hiker # 36.
Since it was 10:30 Wednesday night when Zombie and Root beer Float hiked through Harpers Ferry, WV, they had to go back to be able to "officially register", and get their pictures taken at the AT Headquarters.
"Ground Support" Kelly met "Zombie" late Thursday (Sept. 10th) as he came out at Snickers Gap, VA, just outside Winchester, VA. He's taken several zero days, and will get back on the trail mid-afternoon (Tuesday the 15th). Trail friend, Root beer Float, stayed at the Bears Den Hostel, right near the trail crossing. Root beer signed in at the ATC office on Friday, a couple numbers ahead of Andrew, so he is probably several days ahead of Zombie (Andrew) by now. Kelly took Andrew to the ATC office Saturday. She's been an important support to his hike, so she wanted to see the Headquarters with him.
Andrew has tried to get on the computer, but hasn't had one available for over a month, and he wasn't able to access the one at the Shenandoah Univ. Computer lab like he'd hoped, when Kelly was in class. He still has both digital photo cards so we have no new pictures yet. He also said there are no new journal pages... he kept meaning to add to his journal, but he'd been so tired at night, he didn't write any more... Sorry folks, you just have my retelling of his tales for now. I hope he'll mail the photo card today, there are over 300 more pictures to see :-)
Technical tidbits:
Andrew said they actually walked more than 51.4 miles Wednesday-Thursday, because a few times they walked extra when they lost the trail markings crossing the roads during the night. The white blazes are sometimes tricky to find in the day time, and much harder to locate with only a head lamp for light.
He said he'd put the tracking system on the Spot when he set out that morning just inside the PA line. That explains why I didn't get and e-mail that long day until he was at the shelter 22 hours later... We could see where they stopped for dinner and where they got lost, because the transmission signals are close together... (click the link at the top "where am I?")
When I asked Andrew how did he feel after the 50+ miles? He said "40 miles wasn't bad, your feet are pretty much numb, and they just keep going... but the last 10 miles was pretty bad." He said "he wasn't sure which was worse, being up so long without sleep or that the last 10 miles of walking at night was all up hill - probably both." Their headlamps worked well (yes, he had put in new batteries!). He said at times they hiked almost together, so they had a fair amount of lighting. Sometimes they were up to a 100 yards apart. Andrew said there is no way he'd done the 4-states-stretch alone. He was glad Root beer Float was there, because it was one of the things he'd really wanted to do "for the sport of it."
If you look on The Spot - the signal makes it look like they crossed the river (thru the water) at Harpers Ferry, WV, but they did use the two bridges :-). I had guessed correctly, they did stop at the David Lester Memorial Shelter. He said it was an answer to prayer, no one else was there, it was a big shelter, had 4 walls, door, a nice front porch, there was a big pavilion with picnic tables. They were able to hang their hammocks up inside the shelter and nothing disturbed their sleep. They only had a 10 miles hike to Snickers Gap, where they both took time for zero day(s) and re-supply.
Andrew said his shoes are holding out, and look remarkably well after 450 miles. They are just like the first pair that only went 250 miles... but we are speculating 1) soil vs rocky ground conditions and 2) normal weather vs 22/24 days of continual rain and walking through mud was a positive factor to the extended life of this pair vs the first pair.
He's only lost one more pound since the beginning when he lost all of his "fluff" he worked so hard to gain (~ 172 lbs). He's at 155 lbs now unless Kelly was really successful in getting him to add a few pounds on these few zero days. He was happy to report that he succeeded to eat a second pint of Ben and Jerry's (1,200 cal. per pint) the other day... some really weird space-name-of-a-flavor I haven't heard of. Ha! Ha! I suggested he have another pint of B&J's with lunch today.
Our Zombie has been sleeping in his hammock for the last month, but may ship it home at the next mail drop since nights are cooler now. He's asked me to mail his inflatable mattress, so he can stay warmer sleeping on the shelter floors vs being suspended in the air in his hammock.
Andrew saw his first bear about a week before he hopped off... a mama and a year old. He just stayed back and let them cross the trail up ahead. He wasn't concerned, they didn't care he was up the trail....
His hand grips have worn out on his walking sticks, so he's hoping to find replacements at the outfitters today. He's worn a place on his wrist - one of Kelly's professors (in Physical Therapy) said it is a "_? forgot the name?__ cyst", from over use... (maybe from the wrist strap not fitting correctly too?) The cyst is not a problem, and she said "it can be left alone, surgically removed, or hit it with a big book - as that's how they use to get rid of them..." Mom is suggesting to please leave it alone till he gets off the trail :-)
Andrew sounds happy, feels great, expects to make 20 miles a day or so... Plans to be in Blacksburg by Oct. 2 to see friends, professors and maybe catch a concert at Va Tech on Oct. 4. He said this part of the trail is some of his favorite, since he and the Va. Tech. Outdoor Club have hiked the area around Blacksburg so often.
Few folks know that Andrew was the VT Outdoor Club President for two years... you may remember, VA Tech. is one of two colleges that officially maintain the trail. Dartmoth College in Hanover, NH is the other one.
After Va Tech, Andrew should be crossing into TN about 9 days later, mid October. I'll post his mail towns, so feel free to drop him a note. He'd appreciate even a quick "hello." Not sure if there are any SoBo hikers behind him or not... so he may be hiking SoBo alone unless he meets some more section hikers. He says he doesn't mind hiking alone, but that it is nicer when there are trail friends to meet at the shelter when each evening. He said he'd never done the 4 state trek without Root beer Float. They'd enjoyed hiking together, alas, one has a schedule to meet, and one had a gal to see.... Andrew's got his contact number, one never knows, they may meet back up before their destination at, Springer Mountain. in November.
Back at the AT Office, he said while he was SoBo #36, there were 700 NoBo hikers that have registered (and I think he said 80 section hikers ?) that have come through this year as of September 12th any way. Amazing. I still say, Andrew is very brave! His Dad and I are thrilled he's doing what he's waited so long to do. Thank you all for your continual interest and support. You have no idea how much it means to us, and how encouraging it is for Andrew... I mean, Zombie.
Virginia is the longest state... 25% of the AT total miles are in Virginia.
10 states down, only 4 states or 991.6 miles left to go! It's now on the count down ...
Mom/ Harriet
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