one (August 5)

Where's Karl?

We don't know either.

By best estimates, we've left approximately 27 "where are you guys?" messages on both Sarah and Billy's cell phones. Though we're pretty confident they haven't fallen off the planet, we haven't been able to connect with them at all. We do know that they'll post something as soon as they can, though. Thanks for your patience.

Let the Love Grow

 Karl and Billy rolled into the RV this afternoon shirtless and ready to drop.  They finished the 20 mile stretch in the HEAT of the day.  Karl was in remarkably good spirits considering the beating they took under the sun.  If you are not familiar with the East Coast gnarl, the heat is humid as hell, not like the dry heat of Utah where Karl has been living the last years.  Billy rolled in and exclaimed, “Damn that was hard 20 miles, did you think that was a hard 20?  I thought that was a hard 20!”  Karl got out a, “...yeah, it is… HOT…” and that was that, refueling, hydrating, iced rags on the neck, and icing of the legs.  Rationing water when

The boys are off

Small World

A note from ground control:

Besides seeing Sarah's great post and hearing that things are going well out there today, this just made my morning. It's an email from John Wallace of Seattle, WA who won the "Guess Karl's Hours" contest last week.

"I probably won't send a message when each prize arrives but I broke in the shoes a little today and will hit the trails this weekend.  We are supposed to have some awesome weather in the Pacific NW and I'm going to take advantage of it!

And to show that the world is an incredibly connected and smaller place than expected, the little picture of David Horton that Karl pinned to his hat was designed by me for Horton's Mountain Masochist race a couple years ago. I helped Horton the last week he was on the PCT and ended up going out to his race a couple years in a row. Strange how things are interconnected!

Not sure if Karl would get a kick out of that but he was wearing my gear on that day and now I'll be wearing some of his!"

John Wallace
Seattle WA

Another Day

   The morning comes early on the AT. Most often the morning is quiet and task oriented.   Last night Karl hit the sack at 830 after a sturdy meal of: 4 pieces of pizza, curry rice with ginger chicken, potatoes, a third of a pie and a pint of French vanilla ice cream to sleep in until 515 this morning.  I don’t know if it was the few extra minutes of REM or the fact that the air conditioner was on for a few minutes last night, but Karl woke up in a good mood.  That’s right, I am telling you the man you is running more than a marathon everyday on one of the most rugged trails is happy to be here.  He was cracking jokes and out the door at 612.

James River Foot Bridge

Karl got out of the RV and hit the trail this morning at around 5:50am after a breakfast of biscuits and gravy, bacon, and some Ultragen. The first 10 miles will bring him to James River, where several folks are already here to meet him.

Crew to Ground Control: Update on Day 38

The crew has no Internet access today, and only spotty cell reception. So after five dropped calls and lots of Can You Hear Me Nows, here's the phoned-in update.

Good morning, again

Karl hiked 30ish miles yesterday. I'm sorry I don't have the exact number. We have calls in to the crew, and are anxiously awaiting their call back with all the beta. We will update the stats as soon as we know them.

The trail changed character again yesterday. As those of you who know it well know, the AT's a lady with a complicated personality. Each of her facets has its own character, its own beauty and its own challenges. Norther than now, in Shenadoah, she was smooth. Relatively easy going. Yesterday, she got technical again. Since Karl's a virgin thru-hiker, every day brings something new and unexpected and awesome to experience.

Start of a New Day

Yesterday was a tough day; Karl’s legs were in good shape, but the 60 miles the day before beat up on his feet a bit. After yesterday was all said and done, he had hiked 20 miles.

Good Morning from S. Shenandoah

Karl was strong the entire day yesterday from 4:40am all the way to the finish at 6:40pm. He completed 60 miles in 14 hours, putting him at a 4.29 mph pace.