Chipmunk's Solo AT Thru Hike Update
Day 148 on the Appalachian Trail Miles Hiked to Date: 1606 Hiked yesterday: 19 Trail Miles, Miles left to hike: 578
First, Hi, Kara! Glad to hear from you again!
Second ... Aunt Janice: I'm sorry I was late getting yesterday's blog posted. Not all days are equal. On my way to the coffee shop, I got a phone call from an old trail friend, Uke!. When we discovered we were in the same town, we changed up our day's plans so that we could hang out and catch up. It was great seeing him and I lost all track of time ... and, er ... commitments. My apologies to our other readers, too. But it was really great to spend some time with him.
Day 148 on the Appalachian Trail Miles Hiked to Date: 1606 Hiked yesterday: 19 Trail Miles, Miles left to hike: 578
First, Hi, Kara! Glad to hear from you again!
Second ... Aunt Janice: I'm sorry I was late getting yesterday's blog posted. Not all days are equal. On my way to the coffee shop, I got a phone call from an old trail friend, Uke!. When we discovered we were in the same town, we changed up our day's plans so that we could hang out and catch up. It was great seeing him and I lost all track of time ... and, er ... commitments. My apologies to our other readers, too. But it was really great to spend some time with him.
In the morning, we met up with Amy at the same Friendly's restaurant parking lot as we had the day before and then Papa Chip jumped into Amy's car and I drove the Chip Mobile toward the trailhead where Chipmunk had ended just the day before. Amy told Papa Chip the ins and outs of her car and then handed the keys over to him, so that he could drive it up to the end of day trailhead.
Chipmunk and Amy had decided they would hike 19 miles, a big day, skip a shelter stay and then meet us where the trail crosses Vermont 9. Amy laced up her boots (Vasque, by the way) and got ready to hike.
Chipmunk and Amy had decided they would hike 19 miles, a big day, skip a shelter stay and then meet us where the trail crosses Vermont 9. Amy laced up her boots (Vasque, by the way) and got ready to hike.
The elastic on Amy's visor had gotten stretched out and didn't fit properly so Chipmunk offered to let Amy borrow her orange hiking hat. Amy liked it and so after pulling on their packs, they headed toward the trail. Papa Chip and I gave Chipmunk hugs and kisses and then they headed across the walkway and started hiking towards the Massachusetts/Vermont Border.
Papa Chip and I drove the vehicles into town and stopped for Wifi and coffee at the Bennington, VT Dunkin Donuts. They had easily accessible outlets and lots of tables and chairs ... over half were occupied by computer users, like myself.
Papa Chip and I drove the vehicles into town and stopped for Wifi and coffee at the Bennington, VT Dunkin Donuts. They had easily accessible outlets and lots of tables and chairs ... over half were occupied by computer users, like myself.
In a few hours, we received text messages from Chipmunk, indicating they had made it to the Vermont border. Here's a pic of Amy in front of the "Welcome to Vermont/Long Trail" sign. According to the A.T. Guide, the Appalachian Trail and the Long Trail are concurrent northbound for the next 105 miles. Then, the LT continues onto Canada. (Hmm, if Chipmunk forgets to turn right, maybe we can visit Sheena and Phil!)
Chipmunk sent this pic giving herself "thumbs up" for entering her 12th state on the Appalachian Trail. Wow! It's almost hard to believe that she has walked all the way from Georgia to Vermont.
While we received her messages, we were enjoying the beautiful state of Vermont. There are lots of quaint towns with older wooden houses on tree lined streets. There are big mountains all around and it just feels wonderful to be here. It is quintessential New England.
While we received her messages, we were enjoying the beautiful state of Vermont. There are lots of quaint towns with older wooden houses on tree lined streets. There are big mountains all around and it just feels wonderful to be here. It is quintessential New England.
Amy snapped this pic of Chipmunk reading thru the trail registry entries to see when her friends passed thru where she now sat. Chipmunk signs just about every trail registry unless there is one at a shelter more than two to three tenths of a mile off the trail. She told us that she is opposed to adding a half mile or more to her hiking day just for the trail register.
They came across this amazing mushroom formation which stood about knee high to them. It was right along the trail and I was glad to see that no one had disturbed it. I could imagine a little family of "Smurfs" living there; it's like a giant apartment complex for them!
When they came across this fat green worm/caterpillar kind of creature, they each challenged the other to eat it. I was glad to hear they each declined the other's invitation to do so. Ewww.
Chipmunk called us and said that the trail was really muddy. I visualized a path with a few mud puddles and maybe some mud slicks ... I didn't visualize the pics you see to the left and below. The mud was up to a knee deep in some spots and they both slipped and slid around quite a bit. From the looks of it, there weren't enough rocks close enough together to avoid the muddy mess.
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While they hiked in the mud, Papa Chip and I ran errands, returned calls and emails, etc. Papa Chip pulled over when he spotted this "World's Tallest Ladderback Chair" and of course, I had to have my pic taken with it. Papa Chip swears I'm obsessed with chairs. Years ago, when we bought our 2nd home together, we spent days testing out chairs at countless furniture stores before purchasing a chaise lounge for me and a leather recliner for him. I loved my chair!
Unfortunately, so did the 3 dogs we had at that time. About 6 months after we bought it, while we were out at a BMX race, the 3 dogs decided to find out what was beneath the fabric covering on my chaise. When we arrived home, we were greeted by shreds of fabric, tufts of foam and polyfil stuffing when we opened the door. Ugh! They had completely destroyed the chaise lounge I painstakingly chose and had made for me. I cried and was upset for a few days but my dog, Petey, kept trying to comfort me and I suppose, in her own way, apologize.
Later that same year, I had an episode of depression that hit me hard and I spent more than a few weeks in my bed. Petey laid at my side every day, leaving only to eat and go outside. She was such a non-intrusive comfort to me that didn't need an answer as to why I was depressed; nor did she need to know when I'd be back to normal. It was a particularly difficult time that I finally made my way out of; I went back to running our event business and being with the family I so loved.
Once I was back into my usual routine, Petey went back to playing with the other two dogs. I remember thinking that it would be so nice if we all could be so intuitive and non-demanding when we recognize or know that someone is dealing with a mental health issue. Unfortunately, even now, it's still such an uncomfortable subject that leaves many of us feeling helpless, without the tools to help or even the words to talk about it.
When Chipmunk decided to partner with www.hikeformentalhealth.org and raise awareness about this very subject, I was so proud of her. I can only hope that we continue to grow as a society and find a way to see it and treat it with the ease and skill that we treat common fractures, sprains, etc. I am so glad that I occasionally see strides in that direction; it gives me hope.
Unfortunately, so did the 3 dogs we had at that time. About 6 months after we bought it, while we were out at a BMX race, the 3 dogs decided to find out what was beneath the fabric covering on my chaise. When we arrived home, we were greeted by shreds of fabric, tufts of foam and polyfil stuffing when we opened the door. Ugh! They had completely destroyed the chaise lounge I painstakingly chose and had made for me. I cried and was upset for a few days but my dog, Petey, kept trying to comfort me and I suppose, in her own way, apologize.
Later that same year, I had an episode of depression that hit me hard and I spent more than a few weeks in my bed. Petey laid at my side every day, leaving only to eat and go outside. She was such a non-intrusive comfort to me that didn't need an answer as to why I was depressed; nor did she need to know when I'd be back to normal. It was a particularly difficult time that I finally made my way out of; I went back to running our event business and being with the family I so loved.
Once I was back into my usual routine, Petey went back to playing with the other two dogs. I remember thinking that it would be so nice if we all could be so intuitive and non-demanding when we recognize or know that someone is dealing with a mental health issue. Unfortunately, even now, it's still such an uncomfortable subject that leaves many of us feeling helpless, without the tools to help or even the words to talk about it.
When Chipmunk decided to partner with www.hikeformentalhealth.org and raise awareness about this very subject, I was so proud of her. I can only hope that we continue to grow as a society and find a way to see it and treat it with the ease and skill that we treat common fractures, sprains, etc. I am so glad that I occasionally see strides in that direction; it gives me hope.
Papa Chip and I finished up our in town errands and drove to the end of day meet up spot. While we waited for Chipmunk and Amy to complete the day's hike, we met a young couple whose trail names were "Ukraine" (he's Ukrainian) and "Sheila" (she's Austrailian). They were charming and fun to talk with so I asked them the question I often ask couples, "How did you meet?" Sheila explained that they both were on work visas in Canada at the same place and were instantly attracted to one another. They are married now and he's teaching her his native tongue while they section hike the AT for about a month.
When they were searching for a place to stay in town, I offered my AT Guide and Sheila called a local motel. While they waited for their shuttle, I offered them some Paramount Fit Foods jerky. In return, they gave me a beer from some trail magic that a friend left for them at the trailhead. Niiiiiiice!
When they were searching for a place to stay in town, I offered my AT Guide and Sheila called a local motel. While they waited for their shuttle, I offered them some Paramount Fit Foods jerky. In return, they gave me a beer from some trail magic that a friend left for them at the trailhead. Niiiiiiice!
When we first arrived at the parking area, we wandered back into the woods to where we heard voices. We met up with "A-O" and "River" and a couple southbound hikers. At first, the southbounders were building a fire that after quite a few attempts, they couldn't get burning ... even after one of them declared that he was a "10" at building campfires.
I noticed that A-O was watching the process and kind of looked like he wanted to intervene but didn't want to "step on the toes" of the south bounder, who continued to talk about what an amazing outdoorsman he was. A while later, I wandered back to the camp area to see if any of them wanted a cold drink. I saw the fire was roaring and I said, "Oh, the campfire looks great!" The southbounder barely registered that I spoke but I saw a small smile form on the lips of A-O. As I walked back towards the parking area, River joined me and said that A-O finally jumped in and within moments had the fire lit. She smiled with pride and I said, "Cool."
I noticed that A-O was watching the process and kind of looked like he wanted to intervene but didn't want to "step on the toes" of the south bounder, who continued to talk about what an amazing outdoorsman he was. A while later, I wandered back to the camp area to see if any of them wanted a cold drink. I saw the fire was roaring and I said, "Oh, the campfire looks great!" The southbounder barely registered that I spoke but I saw a small smile form on the lips of A-O. As I walked back towards the parking area, River joined me and said that A-O finally jumped in and within moments had the fire lit. She smiled with pride and I said, "Cool."
When I returned to the parking area, a vehicle pulled in and dropped off two Northbounders I hadn't yet met: "Stretch" and "Little Bear". Stretch was glad to sign her trail name on the camper, saying that she was glad to finally have caught up to us at a trailhead. She asked how Chipmunk was doing and we exchanged trail gossip and news. It was a good way to pass the time while we waited for Chipmunk and Amy.
Little Bear was glad to sign his trail name in one of the higher clear spaces on the po' white trash truck camper. It was soon obvious that he and Stretch were a couple and I asked if they had started the trail together or if they'd met along the way. They told me that they met in Duncannon, PA and had been hiking together ever since. They also have a German Shepherd dog as a hiking companion. Chocolate Chip was glad to see a fellow four legger and they did circles around one another doing the "butt sniffin' boogie" as we all talked. After a while, Stretch and Little Bear decided to head to the first shelter North before it got too dark. We wished them well and told them that Chipmunk would possibly catch up with them the next day. They said they'd watch for her; eager to meet her.
Around 8 pm, as it was getting increasingly dark, I heard Chipmunk holler down to us from the very steep descent into the trailhead. Papa Chip and I jumped out of the truck and crossed the street to watch them come down. I snapped this pic as Chipmunk struck a pose. When they both made it down to the flat section of road shoulder, I noticed that Amy was favoring one side. At some point during the day, her knee began bothering her and by the end of the day, it was quite sore.
We crossed the road to the truck and as they dropped packs and removed boots, Papa Chip made up a tray of Pepperoni, Cheese and Triscuits. I offered them cold drinks and we all munched and talked about their hiking day. While we talked, I realized that it had been an almost worry free day for me. I knew Chipmunk was with a strong, smart woman who is probably one of the most physically fit and capable people I've ever personally known.
I asked Amy if she thought she'd be able to hike the next day and she said that she planned to ice her knee and them see how it was in the morning. By 9pm, Amy had driven away and we were in the camper fixing an easy dinner. Chipmunk told us a little about her hiking day before chowing down and going to sleep. She had hiked 19 miles and was tired. It was nice to go to sleep to the sound of her quiet snoring and the nearby stream.
If you enjoy reading the story of our adventure, and you’d like to send some “Trail Magic” to Chipmunk, click on the “Donate” button at the upper right corner of today’s blog post. Chipmunk maintains a twitter account: @openlymtngoat where a common hashtag is #GoChipmunk . She (or we) will try to answer any questions you may have about her hike and this family adventure.
Thanks again for all your support,
Mama Chip, Papa Chip, Chipmunk and her dog, Chocolate Chip
(Tammy, Jay, Neva and Coco)
We crossed the road to the truck and as they dropped packs and removed boots, Papa Chip made up a tray of Pepperoni, Cheese and Triscuits. I offered them cold drinks and we all munched and talked about their hiking day. While we talked, I realized that it had been an almost worry free day for me. I knew Chipmunk was with a strong, smart woman who is probably one of the most physically fit and capable people I've ever personally known.
I asked Amy if she thought she'd be able to hike the next day and she said that she planned to ice her knee and them see how it was in the morning. By 9pm, Amy had driven away and we were in the camper fixing an easy dinner. Chipmunk told us a little about her hiking day before chowing down and going to sleep. She had hiked 19 miles and was tired. It was nice to go to sleep to the sound of her quiet snoring and the nearby stream.
If you enjoy reading the story of our adventure, and you’d like to send some “Trail Magic” to Chipmunk, click on the “Donate” button at the upper right corner of today’s blog post. Chipmunk maintains a twitter account: @openlymtngoat where a common hashtag is #GoChipmunk . She (or we) will try to answer any questions you may have about her hike and this family adventure.
Thanks again for all your support,
Mama Chip, Papa Chip, Chipmunk and her dog, Chocolate Chip
(Tammy, Jay, Neva and Coco)
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