one (August 5)

Fast Tuesday Morning

We spent the night off of Pittsfield Road.  Karl woke up early and had eggs and bacon again and was out the door by 5:00 AM. We expected to meet him at the next stop (US 20) between 7:30 and 8.  He showed up at 7:26, where he spent about 30 seconds at the RV, only long enough to ditch his headlamps and to tell us he was "Jamming" and was off again. Go SpeedGoat Go!

Monday Update

Cheryl and I refueled the RV and got directions from the wonderful people at H.A. George Fuel in North Adams, MA.  We then found our way to the trail crossing on Route 8 in Chesire.  Karl came in at 3:00 and left at 3:05.  In those 5 minutes he ate some food, refilled his water and said hello to Nathan his 10 month old nephew that he hasn't seen since Christmas.  He also gave us his trekking poles and told us about lightly jogging the last three miles; his first time running in a week.  Cheryl’s sisters, Jeanette and Barbara, are helping us crew today and are keeping us "stoked."

Karl Continues To Walk Late Into The Night

Sunday evening we left Vermont.  While Karl was on his second section of the day Cheryl and I resupplied at the grocery store in North Adams and then were able to find parking at the Greylock Community Club.  The Appalachian Trail is one of the best marked trails in the country, even when it goes through cities.  Since our parking spot was out of site of the trail Cheryl suggested I wait for Karl at the trailhead as it was now getting dark.

"It's Not The Feet!"

Karl, Cheryl and I spent the night under a beautiful, star studded Vermont Sky where I saw yet another shooting star. We set the alarms for 3:45 AM.  Karl ate a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, coffee, and First Endurance Ultragen.  He left the RV by 4:30 AM and said he loves the solace of the dark morning trail. 

17 Mile Test Day Complete

After refueling the RV with drinking water and then dumping its gray water at Jamaica State Park I continued on through Stratton until I found Karl and Cheryl at the trail crossing.  We set up the RV at a small parking area where we miraculously somehow get cell reception and data service.  According to Karl today's 17.8 mile section was easy with some great smooth single track.  The couple even had time to soak in a cold mountain stream.  Karl plans to do about 40 miles tomorrow.  A full day.  His leg does not feel ready for running but it is much, much better.

It looks like things are working as Karl is feeling great.  Tomorrow will be a big day with lots of miles and the first real test of his legs in a week.

HE MOVES

Hopefully all of the watchers of this blog woke up this morning to see that the little orange runner we call Spot has moved.  Karl is on the trail and hiking south.  He, Cheryl and I woke up this morning at 5 am.  They drank coffee, ate oatmeal, packed about 20 PowerBar Gels each (2 an hour) and some Nuun tablets.  By 6 am he had his Moeben arm sleeves on - fleece lined Moebens for Cheryl - and was out the door.  As he paced nervously back and forth waiting for Cheryl he kept repeating "This feels good, this feels real good."   Looks like the 4 miles of hiking yesterday with the R.I.C.E. last night has done wonders. 

On the go

Karl is hiking.

He and Cheryl took off this morning on the 17-mile segment of trail between VT 11/30 (base camp for the past four days) and Stratton. Karl asked Justin to hang out at the trailhead for a few hours just in case things go badly and he has to turn back. If Justin doesn't see them after a few hours, he's moving on to collect up the Meltzers at the day's terminus down the road.

Today is the litmus. How he feels today affects what he does tomorrow, i.e. how far he goes and how fast. But really, what Today doesn't affect the Tomorrow that comes after?

Here we go.

Adventure Edge Radio

Adventure Edge Radio included Karl in the latest podcast. Check it out.

Trench Foot in History

We all know about Karl's trench foot. Here's an interesting tidbit that I picked up in tenth grade U.S. History: 

During the Vietnam war, draftees who wanted out of the jungle would spray their feet with Deet and then lace them tightly in their combat boots.  This combination would produce instant trench foot.  Soldiers were then unable to march (or walk for that matter), and would be sent away from the front lines.

Stoke-Meter

Hey, I'm Justin, by the way. I came in last night and replaced Jonny A as Karl's crew person from Backcountry.com.