one (August 5)

32.6 miles and still going

Marit just finished up running a leg with Karl, tired as she is, she was a little bummed there was no internet connection to be had, so she phoned in an update. Karl has done 32.6 mile so far today, after dropping Marit off at the RV and picking up some food, Karl headed back out to experience another leg (about 8.4 miles) of the AT.   Marit wanted me to mention how grueling the climbs were in the last section (death march were the words she used), but the pay off, four miles of beautiful downhill single-track made it all worthwhile.

Gem Eggs for 41.7 miles

4:45 came early this morning. We’re all tired. And it’s cold. The inside of the RV feels like a walk-in cooler. Karl had the usual eggs and bacon for breakfast, but it was different today. The eggs were some that Mark and Erin gave us yesterday, bigger than store-bought, in shells of light gem green and creamy peach and milk chocolate brown, with the yellowest yellow yokes I’ve ever seen.

39

I'm in Erwin, TN, about to drive up to pick Karl and Billy up at Indian Grave Gap. Thirty nine miles today. Forty something tomorrow. And then the entire north end of the Smokies (50+) on Tuesday.

Here we go...

Don't let the bastards get you down

After Karl gets off the trail today, he will have only eight more days left in his adventure. And he's not slowing down. The record is out of reach, but Karl is moving along the trail at a fast pace, as fast as he can, right through to the finish. He hasn't quit, he's not going to quit, and he still has some hard miles left to run.

Cheers to Andrew Thompson

Tonight at 8:39 p.m. marks 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes since Karl started his quest for the Appalachian Trail speed record on Mt. Katahdin – the exact amount of time it took Andrew Thompson to finish his fastest-ever hike of the AT in 2005.

As you all know, Andrew Thompson's record will stand. It is a strong record, a solid achievement, a venerable mark. Andy deserves a huge hats off for the bar he has set.

We hope that tonight at 8:39 p.m., Andy will be popping the cork on some bubbly, or at least having a beer with some friends. We hope that he'll be feeling good and celebrating the fact that the record he set three years ago will remain on the books as the fastest supported thru-hike of the AT.

Hell, you all should raise a glass too.

Lord knows that 8:39 tonight, Billy and Karl and I will be toasting the man whose record is the inspiration for all of this.

Cheers, Andy Thompson.

On to Beauty Spot

Billy and I are at Pine Root Pottery, at the home of Mark and Erin Peters. Mark picked us up at Hughes Gap and offered his home as a resting spot for us, with Wifi, apples, fresh eggs and two beautiful hand-tossed white blaze mugs that he made. It's a beautiful little place.

Lost Camera. Lost Memories.

Please help if you can.

I ran the first 15 miles with Karl this morning, up from TN 19 E, over Roan Mountain to Carver's Gap. We had a great morning, starting in the dark at 6:20 am. Somewhere on the southbound descent between Little Hump and Yellow Mountain Gap, I lost my camera. I didn't notice until we were about two miles from the parking area. I left Karl to keep hiking and ran as fast as I could back along the trail to find it but I had no luck. I ran until I knew that I would be cutting it close to meet back up with Billy before we had to drive to the next stop. Please, if you find it, email the "media contact" link above and I'll help you get it back to me.

I lost pictures of everything from yesterday and today. Kinkara, the fruit stand, the Tennessee roads, the sunrise, running with Karl this morning. I'm sorry. I really wanted to share.

I'll work on finding another way to share this journey with you. I'll find another camera.

Day 47 Recap

Karl stepped off the trail at Wautaga Lake after a strong 17 miles. He ran most of the way on relatively easy terrain. He said it was a nice, mostly downhill section. I had crepes ready for him at that support stop, which were a big hit – still warm and dipped in Vermont maple. He sipped some coffee, grabbed some gels and was off again. He was moving fast. He had a lot of miles to cover.

DATA

I see that the data chart went back to Day One. We're on it...

Out early

Billy's loading Karl's pack right now: a map, two roast beef sandwiches, a PBJ, 15 gels, 70 oz of nuun. Karl's headed out for an early morning 20 to Wautuga Dam, 20 miles of gradual overall downhill. His first landmark is Iron Mountain Shelter, about 5 miles down the trail.

"I'll give them a wake up call as I run by this morning."

54 today. In going over maps last night, there was a 47-mile option as well. "No. 54. There's no other option but 54," he said.