Hiking in the Smokies was a great experience. In 1977 I did a hike through the park, but that was in July. In 1980 I didn't expect the cold weather in late April! It was cold!! I put on every stitch of clothing I had and was still cold. I took extra wool socks and put them on my hands as improvised gloves. When I left on the trip I had one freeze-dried backpacker meal in my pack as an extra "emergency" food source. The package says "serves two", but the package lies. I ate my regular supper and that whole freeze-dried meal, just to get enough calories to stay warm. Did I mention there was also snow on the ground? I was up high, higher than 5,500 feet (which is higher than the tallest mountain in Georgia). The next day I would take on Clingman's Dome, the highest place on the entire Appalachian Trail at 6,643 feet. But for that night, I snuggled into my sleeping bag (fully dressed to keep off the cold) and tried to get some rest.
All this talk of eating reminds me of the rehearsal dinner last night. The food was sure good, but I weighed in at 182.6 pounds this morning. I will try to be good at the wedding as far as eating goes, but it is a special occasion for my nephew Drew and his bride Ellen. If I can just break even on weight for this weekend then I can keep working on losing more on Monday.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Judging Pete
One night in the Smokies I met Pete Montgomery from Pennsylvania. My first impression of Pete was how skinny he was. The second impression was how huge his pack was. Pete was carrying a camera, tripod, and a bunch of other photography gear (in addition to all the regular backpacking stuff). We met at a shelter and he was very discouraged. Pete misread a marker on the trail and accidentally followed a side trail that went down, down, down, down, down! By the time Pete realized his mistake, he had to turn around and hike up, up, up, up, up, up, up with that heavy pack! He had spent most of the day hiking hard and only made a few miles.
Pete was a really nice guy. I enjoyed talking with him and getting to know him. But I really thought to myself, "this guy is never going to make it to Maine." Of course I was of the wise old age of 18 which allowed me to come to this opinion. Judging people is not a good thing to do. I left Pete behind and pressed forward, but I didn't know something. I didn't know how wrong I was about Pete.
Losing weight can be a frustrating experience, kind of like Pete's side trip down the wrong trail. Some days you lose weight, some days you gain, some days you are even. I did get frustrated with my eating yesterday, there was just too much good stuff at the banquet (especially desserts). Do you know why "dessert" has the letter "s" twice? Because you always want to have two helpings of dessert (like I did last night). I went jogging this morning to try and redeem myself from splurging last night. Today I weighed in at 182.2 pounds which is a slight improvement over yesterday. How did that happen?
Pete was a really nice guy. I enjoyed talking with him and getting to know him. But I really thought to myself, "this guy is never going to make it to Maine." Of course I was of the wise old age of 18 which allowed me to come to this opinion. Judging people is not a good thing to do. I left Pete behind and pressed forward, but I didn't know something. I didn't know how wrong I was about Pete.
Losing weight can be a frustrating experience, kind of like Pete's side trip down the wrong trail. Some days you lose weight, some days you gain, some days you are even. I did get frustrated with my eating yesterday, there was just too much good stuff at the banquet (especially desserts). Do you know why "dessert" has the letter "s" twice? Because you always want to have two helpings of dessert (like I did last night). I went jogging this morning to try and redeem myself from splurging last night. Today I weighed in at 182.2 pounds which is a slight improvement over yesterday. How did that happen?
Bears?! Did you say Bears?!!
From Fontana Dam you can't just hike into the Smoky Mountains. First you have to stop and get a permit from the ranger on duty. He asks questions and checks your gear to make sure you have what it takes to make it through the mountains (and tells you about the rules to follow while in the park). I got my permit and started the long, long, long climb up to Shuckstack Lookout, the first mountain in the Smokies. After that it was more climbing, and more, and more.
I stayed in shelters every night in the Smokies because it's more comfortable, and because the park rules require it. The front of the shelters have chain link fence to keep the bears out. At one shelter (I think it was Spence Field shelter), several hikers were sitting outside on a log talking to another hiker who was sitting opposite from them cooking some food. Suddenly, the whole group got up and ran to the shelter. The guy cooking the food was wondering what happened. Then he turned and saw the bear! It didn't take him long to grab his stuff and dive into the shelter. The chain link door was shut and the bear came right up to the fence. Then the bear started to climb on the fence! He still couldn't get in, so he finally gave up. He wasn't trying to eat us, he was interested in our food! Hiking the Smokies was challenging, and difficult, but worth the extra effort. The views were beautiful. And one evening I saw two wild boar on the trail. How wonderful to experience God's creation in such a powerful way!
Today I weighed in at 182.6 pounds (which means I put on 0.6 pounds). Bad eating and not enough exercise is to blame. I wish I could say the rest of the day went well, but I ate way too much (especially at the banquet this evening). Oh well, I will keep on trying. Tomorrow is another day. I'm still about 4 pounds lighter than when I started. And hey, my pants are starting to fit looser than they usually do. Now that is progress!
I stayed in shelters every night in the Smokies because it's more comfortable, and because the park rules require it. The front of the shelters have chain link fence to keep the bears out. At one shelter (I think it was Spence Field shelter), several hikers were sitting outside on a log talking to another hiker who was sitting opposite from them cooking some food. Suddenly, the whole group got up and ran to the shelter. The guy cooking the food was wondering what happened. Then he turned and saw the bear! It didn't take him long to grab his stuff and dive into the shelter. The chain link door was shut and the bear came right up to the fence. Then the bear started to climb on the fence! He still couldn't get in, so he finally gave up. He wasn't trying to eat us, he was interested in our food! Hiking the Smokies was challenging, and difficult, but worth the extra effort. The views were beautiful. And one evening I saw two wild boar on the trail. How wonderful to experience God's creation in such a powerful way!
Today I weighed in at 182.6 pounds (which means I put on 0.6 pounds). Bad eating and not enough exercise is to blame. I wish I could say the rest of the day went well, but I ate way too much (especially at the banquet this evening). Oh well, I will keep on trying. Tomorrow is another day. I'm still about 4 pounds lighter than when I started. And hey, my pants are starting to fit looser than they usually do. Now that is progress!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
A Taste of Civilization!
At the end of two weeks of hiking I made it to Fontana Dam, a small resort community near a hydro-electric dam at the foot of the Smoky Mountains. It was time to get another box of supplies and rest up. One of the hikers rented a cabin for the night and invited several of us to come over and spend the night. We each pitched in a few dollars to help with the cost and had the opportunity to sleep on the living room floor of the cabin! But we had indoor bathrooms, and hot showers, and could wash our cooking pots in a real sink! After two weeks in the woods, it was a welcome break. We were all resting up for what lay ahead, the Smokies! The hikers who all started on April 12th began to drift apart. Some were hiking faster, some slower. Fontana was the last place I saw several of them. Either they were leaving when I arrived, or were arriving when I left. Though we were moving at different paces, we all were working toward the same goal.
Speaking of goals, I weighed in at 182.0 pounds again today (same as yesterday). That's ok, because I am maintaining my weight. The week ahead will be tough. I have a banquet tomorrow, a wedding rehearsal dinner the next day, and a wedding with a reception the next day. I know that fattening food will be in abundance. I will probably nibble some, but I hope to be "good" and not splurge. The journey continues!
Speaking of goals, I weighed in at 182.0 pounds again today (same as yesterday). That's ok, because I am maintaining my weight. The week ahead will be tough. I have a banquet tomorrow, a wedding rehearsal dinner the next day, and a wedding with a reception the next day. I know that fattening food will be in abundance. I will probably nibble some, but I hope to be "good" and not splurge. The journey continues!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Opposite of Love & Kindness
When I pulled into Wesser, NC there was a family hiking north (husband, wife, and 9 year-old son). They were hiking the trail as a publicity stunt, sending out press releases every time they got into a town. I heard that they published a book about the trip, but I never read it. After Sassafras Gap, I continued north and caught up with this family at another shelter. It was a strange encounter.
The dad bragged about the book they would write. Then he said the next stunt was for this son and another son (who wasn't on this trip for some reason) would ride a bicycle built for two across America. I have also biked across America, and I doubt that they ever did it. The dad seemed more interested in getting rich and famous than being a dad.
As light faded, the dad sent the 9 year-old to the spring to fetch water. He was treating his son more like a servant than a family member. Then it happened. The words that have stayed with me all these years. The dad looked at me, grinned, and said, "Watch this." Now speaking to the son he said, "watch out for bandits!" and burst into laughter. As the terrified son walked into the dark woods to fetch the water, the dad said to me, "he is scared of bandits."
It angers me to this day how poorly that man treated his child. It is always wrong to verbally abuse and frighten a child. How that poor child made it through that abuse, I don't know. I heard much later that the family with the son did finish the entire Appalachian Trail. But what was the cost? I hope and pray that the dad had a change of heart and quit abusing his child. That child would be about 40 years old today. So, if you are reading this now, know that what happened to you was wrong and it wasn't your fault. The adults in your life should have protected you, not terrorized you.
My little project of losing weight seems small in comparison to what happened 31 years ago. But for those of you keeping track, today I weighed in at 182.0 pounds which is more than a pound less than yesterday. Pray for all the children who are verbally abused by parents, family members, or others. Help as many as you can, show them true love and kindness every chance you get. It can make a difference!
The dad bragged about the book they would write. Then he said the next stunt was for this son and another son (who wasn't on this trip for some reason) would ride a bicycle built for two across America. I have also biked across America, and I doubt that they ever did it. The dad seemed more interested in getting rich and famous than being a dad.
As light faded, the dad sent the 9 year-old to the spring to fetch water. He was treating his son more like a servant than a family member. Then it happened. The words that have stayed with me all these years. The dad looked at me, grinned, and said, "Watch this." Now speaking to the son he said, "watch out for bandits!" and burst into laughter. As the terrified son walked into the dark woods to fetch the water, the dad said to me, "he is scared of bandits."
It angers me to this day how poorly that man treated his child. It is always wrong to verbally abuse and frighten a child. How that poor child made it through that abuse, I don't know. I heard much later that the family with the son did finish the entire Appalachian Trail. But what was the cost? I hope and pray that the dad had a change of heart and quit abusing his child. That child would be about 40 years old today. So, if you are reading this now, know that what happened to you was wrong and it wasn't your fault. The adults in your life should have protected you, not terrorized you.
My little project of losing weight seems small in comparison to what happened 31 years ago. But for those of you keeping track, today I weighed in at 182.0 pounds which is more than a pound less than yesterday. Pray for all the children who are verbally abused by parents, family members, or others. Help as many as you can, show them true love and kindness every chance you get. It can make a difference!
Monday, April 25, 2011
What do you have for blood, boy? Antifreeze?!!
By this time in 1980 I was passing through Wesser, North Carolina. It brought back memories. One of my first backpacking trips was in this particular area. I was in high school and went with Wall Woffard and one other friend from school. Those early trips helped me learn about backpacking and also inspired me to hike the entire trail.
Wesser is right on the Nantahala River. After crossing the river, the trail has a very steep climb. On my first trip that section of trail was called the "jump up" because it was so steep. By 1980 the trail was improved, but it was still a long, long climb up. I was trying to make it to Sassafras Gap shelter by nightfall. I was hiking in my shorts and stopped to put on my jacket. Daylight was fading by the time I finally rolled into Sassafras Gap. Two other hikers were there, all bundled up in heavy coats because of the cold. They took one look at me, hiking in shorts and said, "what do you have for blood, boy? Antifreeze?!!!"
That night I took a look at the register in the shelter (a simple spiral bound notebook where hikers would sign in). There I learned that the shelter had a lot of mice. One hiker a few nights ago set his mouse trap with a raisin coated in peanut butter. He killed about a dozen mice (most of them with the same raisin). I hung my pack from the rafters and prayed that the surviving mice didn't know how to climb!
I was happy to be making progress. I even wrote a song "If it is to be, it's up to me". I admit that it was probably one of the worst songs you have ever heard (the kind where you get kicked out of the auditions at American Idol!) But it was an expression of my determination. Most of the words are lost in my memory, but one phrase still sticks out "I'm going to walk it with God." I knew that I was not walking alone, that God was with me (which is a neat feeling).
I'm making progress in my current project. Easter dinner yesterday was huge and I ate too much. I had a big salad for supper. This morning I weighed in at 183.4 pounds = progress! I went for a jog this morning too, but didn't need any antifreeze!
Wesser is right on the Nantahala River. After crossing the river, the trail has a very steep climb. On my first trip that section of trail was called the "jump up" because it was so steep. By 1980 the trail was improved, but it was still a long, long climb up. I was trying to make it to Sassafras Gap shelter by nightfall. I was hiking in my shorts and stopped to put on my jacket. Daylight was fading by the time I finally rolled into Sassafras Gap. Two other hikers were there, all bundled up in heavy coats because of the cold. They took one look at me, hiking in shorts and said, "what do you have for blood, boy? Antifreeze?!!!"
That night I took a look at the register in the shelter (a simple spiral bound notebook where hikers would sign in). There I learned that the shelter had a lot of mice. One hiker a few nights ago set his mouse trap with a raisin coated in peanut butter. He killed about a dozen mice (most of them with the same raisin). I hung my pack from the rafters and prayed that the surviving mice didn't know how to climb!
I was happy to be making progress. I even wrote a song "If it is to be, it's up to me". I admit that it was probably one of the worst songs you have ever heard (the kind where you get kicked out of the auditions at American Idol!) But it was an expression of my determination. Most of the words are lost in my memory, but one phrase still sticks out "I'm going to walk it with God." I knew that I was not walking alone, that God was with me (which is a neat feeling).
I'm making progress in my current project. Easter dinner yesterday was huge and I ate too much. I had a big salad for supper. This morning I weighed in at 183.4 pounds = progress! I went for a jog this morning too, but didn't need any antifreeze!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Easter Blazes
I grew up going to church. It was a habit, a ritual that we went through every Sunday morning. It was not until I went to college that I realized that I was missing something. I was missing a close, personal relationship with God. That's the point where I totally surrendered my life to God and became a follower of Jesus. On the Appalachian Trail I carried a tiny New Testament that had been given to me by the Gideons. It was King James, which is not my favorite translation, but it was still very powerful. Every day I would read at least one chapter and think about it as I hiked along the trail. I learned a lot by reading the Bible regularly and thinking about what it meant. I had no idea that one day I would become a minister.
Following Jesus is like following the Appalachian Trail. The trail has white paint marks called "blazes" on trees that show the way to go. If the direction is getting ready to turn, there are two blazes on one tree as a warning. If you follow the blazes, you won't ever get lost.
If I were not a follower of Jesus then I would still be wandering through life completely lost. But because of Jesus, I have been able to stay on track. I just have to follow Him the same way I followed all those blazes on the trail. Today is Easter Sunday, the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. If it hadn't been for Jesus, my life would be completely different. He has helped me with so many struggles in life, and given me guidance to make wise decisions. Becoming a follower of Jesus is the best thing I have ever done. You can be a follower of Jesus too!
Today was another zero day, I weighed in at 184.0 But my focus is a little bit different today. I'm thankful for everything God has given me, and for His Son Jesus who rose from the grave on that first Easter Sunday.
Following Jesus is like following the Appalachian Trail. The trail has white paint marks called "blazes" on trees that show the way to go. If the direction is getting ready to turn, there are two blazes on one tree as a warning. If you follow the blazes, you won't ever get lost.
If I were not a follower of Jesus then I would still be wandering through life completely lost. But because of Jesus, I have been able to stay on track. I just have to follow Him the same way I followed all those blazes on the trail. Today is Easter Sunday, the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. If it hadn't been for Jesus, my life would be completely different. He has helped me with so many struggles in life, and given me guidance to make wise decisions. Becoming a follower of Jesus is the best thing I have ever done. You can be a follower of Jesus too!
Today was another zero day, I weighed in at 184.0 But my focus is a little bit different today. I'm thankful for everything God has given me, and for His Son Jesus who rose from the grave on that first Easter Sunday.
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