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

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!

Sunrise Mountain Pavillion.

View from the Pavillion.

Inside the Pavillion.

View.

Rutherford shelter.

Calories and fuel.

High Point State Park.

Wooden Tower overseeing highest point in New Jersey.

Tallest point in Jersey. 220' tower.

New Jersey bear.

I smell Smooth D!

What's up?

You always feel amazing when you scare the bear away!

Old rock walls.

Sunsetting.

A buck.

Sunset.

27 miles done with IHOP. Let's eat pizza!

Day 79, August 2, 2014

Mom and I hiked 14 AT miles, and 14.5 total miles. She did amazing and we completed in 7 hours. The weather was nice, but we thought it was going to pour rain before we started. Also, a big shout out to the local shuttle for AT hikers. Mr. Mike Dalton shuttled us yesterday and today free of charge. He would not take our money. There are still amazing people out there. If you aren't encountering them come out and hike some on the AT. The community is heartwarming.

Slackpacked again today and it was great. Slackpacking is basically only caring a daypack with stuff for the day.

We had salad, linguini Alfredo, fresh mozzarella, amazing bread my grandpa gave my mother and I had a wild caught salmon steak. We made it all on my camp stove.

Planning is exhausting and prepping out of a car is throwing me off. My organization seems slightly off. However, I am so grateful to have time with my mother and my backpack is ready for the north. I inventoried all my winter gear and will be ready to receive it I'm Hanover, New Hampshire. Thanks again mom for bringing all the supplies and food for my trip from home. I have been able to visualize what's left and prepare for my remaining AT thru hike.

New Jersey with moms.

NJ.

Mom bouldering.

Killed it.

55 and hiking.

Bog.

Bog takes 2.

Ridge line views.

From up above.

Happy to be hiking.

IHOP and mom.

IHOP and Smooth D.

They were amazing company!

Day 78, August 1, 2014

I got to walk the same beautiful 10 miles today and yesterday. Delaware Water Gap, PA to Mohican Outdoor Trail Center. Only one woman would be able to experience me walking the same ten miles twice and that is my beautiful mother. I am extremely proud of my mother who has hiked sections continuously from Springer, Mtn., GA to the Mohican Outdoor Center. She has 800+ miles left to hike on the AT and that is all I have completed :)! Go MOMS!

We ate wild blue berries, wine berries and raspberries.

We spent our evening enjoying homemade spaghetti sauce with some fellow Germans.

The AMC switched my byte headlamp out for a new one! Christmas comes twice a year. I have a new technology head lamp from black diamond and my byte head lamp had bit the dust! Now both headlamps are operable!!! Happy AT thru hiker for sure :)! I'll send one home to lighten my weight.

Bed at 12 a.m. after discussions from AT workers in New Hampshire. I'm ready for the challenge, no doubt!

Moms was out round 9 p.m. I completed dishes and had us ready with water for a 8:00 a.m. shuttle!

Delaware Water Gap, PA to Mohican Outdoor Center, NJ.

Moms!

She's happy to be out hiking!

Sunfish pond.

Love.

Wild blueberries.

Mom and our German friends. Muslee and his friend from NYC Christina.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Day 77, July 31, 2014

Yukon and I saw fifty or so turkey's, and a deer today. A friend of Yukon's, Stacy, slacked us 10 miles from Mohican Trail Center in New Jersey back to Delaware Water Gap, PA.

I got new shoes and was grateful to put them on at the Mohican Center. The last 70 miles I have had busted shoes and my feet were beat up! I bought the new Solomon speed cross 3. I love them! The traction is unbelievable.

We all got a milkshake and I headed back to The Mohican to see my mom :)! She arrived around 6 p.m. at The Mohican Trail Center. I arrived at 8:15 p.m.