Derrick Earls, More Heart than Scars tackle the AT together and in Spirit!: 2014

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Day 83, August 6, 2014

16.7 AT miles.

Mom brought us omelets and toast for breakfast. We enjoyed The Lemon Squeezer but it would have been difficult with a pack on.

The day was beautiful and we were able to see the skyline of NYC 34 miles away.

We received trail magic of beer, chips and brownies/cookies.

We enjoyed Texas BBQ and met the owner Bill. Yukon had brisket, ribs and sausage. I ordered a brisket sandwich and enjoyed a beer with Mom and Yukon. Mom grabbed a BBQ chicken sandwich.

We grabbed showers and got some rest.

Swamp.

Happy hiker.

Yukon.

AT signage.

Mother Nature at its best.

Lemon Squeezer.

Lemon Squeezer take 2.

Smooth D!

Yukon trying to avoid getting squeezed.

Yukon figuring it out.

Yukon bouldering.

Yukon bouldering take 2.

Beautiful day in NY.

Smooth D peter panning it.

AT signage.

Sunsetting.

Hudson River valley.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Day 82, August 5, 2014

The sleep was great and I was ready for the Stairway to Heaven. We crushed 22.1 AT miles to W Mombasha Rd.

The hike was amazing and the Creamery in Belville Splendid. We also had some New York hot dogs from a vendor on the street. They were delicious.

Mom picked us up around 7 p.m. and we had an hour drive to Clarence Fahnestock State Park. We stopped at an outlet mall and had dinner. Man did we look out of place. Everyone was wearing upscale designer clothes and we were hiker trash. We ate well and headed to the campground.

We tried to scope out the Greymore Spiritual Life Center to get a closer approach the next day. We couldn't find it around 9 p.m. We finally decided to head back to the campsite. Yukon and I got rained on while putting up his tent and mom had already pitched ours. We drove to the showers and cleaned up. Bed time around 12 a.m.

Continuing to enjoy both NY and NJ.

Taking a picture of Yukon taking a picture.

Ladder in the woods.

Ladder climbing.

Boom! Did it!

NY hot dog man. Had to get a yoohoo.

The Bellvale Farms creamery. The chocolate milkshake was superb.

Waterfall.

Hello NY with mom and Yukon.

Yukon being hiker trash in NY.

Day 81, August 4, 2014

I felt a little rough when I woke up at 8 a.m. Yukon and I asked how mom slept and she said she heard the flute from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. Whoops sorry mom, we were just having too much fun!

I began my hike out of Lott rd and completed a mile to catch mom and Yukon. Yukon had hiked a mile further and I completed it quickly so he wouldn't have to do it again. Mom and Yukon were waiting when I arrived then we began our hike for the day.

The hike thru the marsh and seeing tons of swans reminded me of Africa! We hiked a beautiful board walk and the views were indescribable.

...And then my body said BOOM! No more. I was completely exhausted and worn out. I could go no further mentally and physically. Combining a 27 mile day, 5 hours of sleep, and a night of partying all were contributors. I felt bad for my hiking partner Yukon because he had taken a zero day the day before to allow me to catch up. Today we had only gone 11 miles and I was done. I laid on the grass to rest up, but it did no good.

Yukon encouraged me to hike .5 miles further to Heavenly Hill Farms. I was able to. I got a watermelon slice, vitamin water and nesquik chocolate milk. I went Im the back and slept on a picnic table under a huge tent they had for hikers.

I woke up an hour later at 5:30 p.m. and broke the news to Yukon that I was officially done for the day. Ahead of me was a 900 ft climb called the staircase to heaven. I definitely could not take that challenge on.

I called mom and she came and got us. Yukon was flexible and understanding. I am extremely grateful to have a perfect hiking partner. We counter each other's weaknesses and are extremely understanding. We also push one another to the max.

We arrived to the St. Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel. I stopped and got ice prior to our arrival. I iced my knees, ankles and feet. The 27 mile day had it's way with me today. My body was pushed to the max. I showered and got horizontal at 7 p.m. Mom went and got me a whopper meal my favorite from Burger King. I slept well and the fellowship hall was air conditioned. We had about 15 hikers there.

Even though we started the day in Unionville, NY we hiked most of the day in New Jersey. The episcopal church was located in Vernon, New Jersey.

Unionville NY.

Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge.

Yukon overlooking the marsh.

Beautiful day.

Boardwalk.

Boardwalk over the marsh.

Boardwalk.

Boardwalk bridge.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Day 80, August 3, 2014

Planning for slack packing was crazy, but it's great to work with a veteran on the AT my mother.

We scouted out a side road to Brink Shelter. Mike Dalton took us there the day before and we hiked south to Mohican. I used my iPhone and dropped a pin for the address. Again, I am thankful and blessed for technology. Past thru hikers decades ago definitely had it harder.

We drove to Sunrise Mountain State Park. The night before mom realized she needed nine more consecutive miles to connect Springer Mountain GA thru New Jersey. She dropped me off at Sunrise Mountain, gave me a spare key and drove back to Brink Shelter. The goal was for me to hike nine miles to the car and move it back to Sunrise Mountain. I completed approximately 5.5 miles and met her 3.5 miles into the nine mile hike. She was beasting the trail and we stopped for a ten minute break. We shared information on the upcoming terrain and I definitely got the easy hike. She had some several short inclines before her day would be complete. I finished my 9 miles and drove the car to Sunrise Mountain. I arrived around 2 and made some hearty avocado, salami, pepper jack cheese and heavy mayo wraps. I smashed protein bars and drank plenty of water.

My next goal 18 miles by night fall to arrive in Unionville, NY. This would total a 27 AT mile day and allow me to make up the 10 mile day I did twice with mom. If you think about it, it was basically a zero mile day as far as forward progression for me when I rehiked it with mom. Again, I would do it 3 days in a row if I had to for my mom!

I smashed the total 27 AT miles and arrived at Unionville, NY at 9 p.m.

I saw deer, rabbits, a few garter snakes and had an amazing encounter with a bear. I caught up with my hiking group and partner Yukon. I had to catch up due to my extra day with mom that I lost.

Mom and I had a large specialty pizza and a tossed salad at the restaurant in Unionville. Thank you mom for dinner.

We went to the bar, had a few drinks and played pool to celebrate my long day. My buddy Monkey Man and Redfoot played the yuk allele and flutes all night till 3 a.m. What an amazing experience that was. Monkey man even played two flutes at a time!