My Feet

I lay in bed this morning as I was waking examining my feet. Noticing the increased toughness. Not like in the calluses sort of tough, yet an internal toughness where my feet can take walking outside on uneven ground and not be cut or hurt--maybe eventually. I can feel the effects of our walking now with weight on our backs. It's different from just walking or walking with the small weight of a day pack, as the added weight of a full backpack with 30 extra pounds in it pushes the foot out into the boot with forces that they are not accustomed to yet. The muscles must work harder to retain balance and propel you forward. These are not things they do without complaint.

The other day, as we were on the last mile of an eight plus mile hike around Huntsville, I was starting to feel the warmth of the skin around my right little toe. That familiar feeling of a blister forming. This is when I should have stopped and cared for it, but instead I just slowed my pace a bit to make it home without hopefully too much damage. This morning, I was feeling the itchiness of that skin healing and the skin forming a callus in that vulnerable spot where my little toe curves under the next toe due to the design of my foot.

"The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art." ~Leonardo da Vinci 

I was told by a podiatrist once that I should give up on the idea of hiking or backpacking, as my feet were not shaped for it. My little toes would always be susceptible to blisters, as with each step they would slip under the next toe and be squirted out as I stepped down on it. And, that there was no way to change it. I can say from past backpacking trips, his assessment was correct. By the end of the first day of these backpacking trips, which was always ended up being a hard day, the little toes on each foot had developed a blister that had engulfed the entire toe. By the end of the second day, the skin on those toes had been completely worn off and I was left with bloody little stumps. Bloody painful little stumps.

Instead of just taking off hard and creating a problem that will not end well, this time we are working our body up to the desired level of toughness where we might be able to avoid some of the injuries and pain that would surely come if we didn't. This is not happening without pain, more than just spreading the pain out over a longer period of time to give the body time to adjust and toughen.

This explanation of toughness from the Wikipedia entry is appropriate: "In materials science and metallurgy, toughness is the ability of a material to absorb energy and plastically deform without fracturing.^[1] One definition of material toughness is the amount of energy per unit volume that a material can absorb before rupturing. It is also defined as a material's resistance to fracture when stressed.
Toughness requires a balance of strength and ductility.<sup>[1]"
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toughness</sup> 

I have read in several of the forums, writings and books about the need to toughen the feet. Even Ray Jardine says that he and his wife Jenny will walk the trail barefoot a little bit each day to give their feet time to dry out and also to feel the trail toughen their feet. Given this advice, I have begun to go around with bare feet whenever possible. I don't think I'll get to the point of my old neighbor, whom I called with respect "The Barefoot Hippie", where I almost never where shoes, but I can feel the difference already in these short few weeks.

I want our walk to be a successful one and I don't want my feet being so torn up damaged that it threatens to take me off the trail. I am feeling the pain of my efforts now in hopes that it pays off in my feet being tough enough to make the journey.

Logistics for a Modified Cool Breeze Hike of the AT

From The Appalachian Trail Conservancy's web site:

modified cool breeze

Hike the Trail in three ​sections. Start with the middle third of the Trail southbound, followed by the northern third northbound, ending with the southern third southbound.

 As we were reviewing the options on the ATC's web site, we liked the way this option sounded. Neither Pam or I deal well with the heat. Even when I lived in California, the heat would take me down if I didn't listen to my body. After living in the NW, where 60 degrees is considered a nice, warm day, I am now conditioned to avoid heat where I can. The heat along the East coast, combined with the humidity can and does kill people. 

We have been listening to a very good podcast presented by a hiker from the Class of 2014. We decided to wrote to Steve (Mighty Blue was his trail name) about his take on our idea to do this alternate hike configuration. His advice was to finish at Mt. Katahdin, as the culmination of the energy of the hike really made the hike up Katahdin magical. We gave Steve's suggestion a lot of thought and discussion, but in the end we decided to stick with our original plan. 

Having a good excuse to visit our friends ,John and Sue, in NJ was up there on the list of reasons. We would get to see them before heading off on the trail going south and then again when we were about to head north. The AT is about a 1/2 hour from their home. Also, if Bob and Terri haven't already moved to Texas by November, I might be able to convince these friends in Georgia to share a couple of congratulatory beers with us when/if we reach Springer Mountain. 

There are a few legs of this off-trail journey that have to be worked out. Getting from Huntsville, Texas (we are visiting Nedra here) to NJ is the first issue. John and Sue have generously agreed to drive us to the trail head after our visit. Once we hike to Troutville, Virgina, we have to get back to NJ or Bear Mountain area to hike the second leg north. Then, once we finish Mount Katahdin, ME, we'll have to get back down to Troutville to hike south. Then, then, the real question is what do we do with our life after the terminus at Springer Mountain???  Take one day at a time, I guess. Below logistics are we have figured out so far.

Huntsville, TX to Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Huntsville, TX to New Orleans, LA
Use Greyhound to get to New Orleans  $50/ea with one checked bag ($56/ea on weekends)

7:05am to 8:30pm with a 5-hour layover in downtown Houston

 AirB&B in NOLA
1 night stay in a home,  $63

New Orleans, LA to Penn Station, NYC

Amtrak ($260 for 2)  30-hour duration
20 Crescent Route

7:00am to 1:46pm the next day

Penn Station NYC to Westwood, NJ 
via bus--about an hour and half ride
Walk or use subway to bus station

Stay in Westwood, NJ
Visit good friends, share a few meals, play some music

Westwood, NJ to Bear Mountain State Park, New York
about a half-hour drive
Sunday, April 30th John and Sue have kindly offered to drive us to the trail head

Hiking
Once on the trail, we head south for 673.3 miles to Troutville, Virgina. Figure two months of travel as a rough estimate. May and June.

Troutville, VA to Bear Mountain State Park, NY
Troutville, VA to Roanoke, VA
 is 13 miles. There doesn't seem to be any public transit available.  Possibly set up an Uber account or the shuttle in Roanoke (Homer Witcher, witchers4@juno.com)

Amtrak Roanake, VA to Penn Station, NY 
$330 for 2

Roanoke, VA - Civic Center Bus Stop (RNK) to

New York, NY - Penn Station (NYP) 

Bus to Westwood, NJ

Westwood, NJ to Bear Mountain State Park, New York
John and Sue may take us or bus to Peekskill, NY, which is about four miles from where we started our walk--3-hour bus ride up the east side of the Hudson River.

Hiking
 While we may have to back track a few miles to make sure we cover the whole trail (if that's important to us), we head north from Bear Mountain State park to the northern terminus of Mount Katahdin. This is reported to be the toughest section of the trail, which contains the White Mountains of Vermont and Maine's 100-mile Wilderness. The 786.9 miles from Bear Mtn. SP to Mt. Katahdin could take as long as three months to get through. July, August and September.

Mount Katahdin State Park, Maine to Troutville, VI

Mount Katahdin SP to Millinocket
The Appalachian Trail Lodge (207-723-4321) (www.appachaintraillodge.com) in Millinocket has a shuttle service
Check Whiteblaze.net for other options
With lodging at the Lodge and shuttle services from Katahdin to Medway, $70-100

Millinocket to Medway
Appalachian Trail Lodge shuttle service--see above

Medway to Bangor 
Cyr Bus Lines 800.244.2335 <http://johntcyrandsons.com/daily-service/> One-way routes 7D $12. Cash & CC accepted. Routes below are to Concord Hub near airport; bus also stops at Greyhound station 20 min later on arrival

Medway 9:30am (station at Irving store) to Bangor 10:50

Bangor, ME to Boston, MA (South Station)
Concord Coach Lines  $43/each
https://concordcoachlines.com/route/bangor-augusta-boston-logan-airport/
Terminal located at Bangor Transportation Center, 1039 Union Street (1.5 miles from Bangor Airport)
Leaves Bangon 7:00am; Arrives Boston South Station 11:25am

Hotel in Boston 
Club Quarters Hotel in Boston $109/night
161 Devonshire St, Boston, MA 02110
7 minute walk from South Station

Boston, Mass. (South Station) to Roanoke, VA (Roanoke - Civic Center Bus Stop, VA (RNK))
Amtrak $230 for 2  Duration around 14 hours
Leaves 8:15am from Boston South Station
Arrives in Roanoke 10:25pm

Hotel in Roanoke
Hampton Inn & Suites Roanoke-Downtown
27 Church Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24011
14 minute walk from Civic Center Bus Stop
 
Roanoke, VA to Troutville, VA
Shuttle in Roanoke (Homer Witcher, witchers4@juno.com)

Hiking
We resume hiking south from Troutville, VA and hike 729.6 miles to Springer Mountain in Georgia.

Post Springer Mountain

It's eight miles from the terminus at the top of Springer Mountain to the Amicalola Falls State Park. Whether we stay the night at the park or get a shuttle to Dahlonega or hitch a ride to Calhoun to have a beer with some friends or...it all really depends on where we're going after the trail, which has not been determined yet.

The Hiker's Bubble

Along the Appalachian Trail and other long trails too, hikers tend to clump together in small groups called "a bubble" as they move along they trail. These bubbles can stay together for months or just a few hours depending on a lot of factors such as the hikers' compatibility, goals, pace, etc. Right now, I think Pam and I are in a different kind of hiker's bubble. Our bubble is a mental one.

Every part of our day, it seems, is consumed with some activity surrounding our upcoming walk. What kind of tee-shirt should I purchase? Is our tent too heavy at 7.2 lbs. or should we break out $400-500 for one that is 3 lbs. lighter? Will our packs hold it all? If they can, will we be able to carry them? Will be in good enough shape when we start? Is it better to prepare food boxes to be shipped to us while we are on the trail or just purchase food in the towns along the trail? Was that nine and half foot rattle snake from Georgia I saw on Facebook real or Photoshopped? The questions are endless, as is the advice from every perspective.

There is a saying on the trail to Hike Your Own Hike (HYOH), which is definitely something I think we should do. Now, figuring out what your HYOH is going to look like creates a bit of anxiety at the least and will drive to not want to continue at the extreme. There are a great deal of unknowns. Trail guides, and there are a lot of them, can only cover so much. So, like anything else, you take the advice that makes sense to you run with it. You take someone else's list and begin modifying it to make it your own, such as the one I got from a guy named "Griz" and is now my list. The process of refinement is endless and fluid as your information grows as your education gets deeper. At some point, either dictated by time or money, we will stop refining and just go. I have a feeling we're going to run out of both.

Back to the bubble.

The Problem with Being Adventurous

Today, we are on workout #9. A "workout" is counted when you actually make it to the gym and move your body in strange and painful ways for at least an hour so that you emerge with your clothes fully soaked from sweat and you're breathing like someone with chronic emphysema. All eight so far have been successful. Today's workout also coincides with our session with Brandi. Brandi has a last name, but only using her first name makes her sound like she's a bubbly, little thing that entertains you as you move from machine to machine. This is only an illusion that allows you to go back to the next session. A hand-written note on her white board sums it up nicely, "Brandi, we love you, but you are brutal". Our last 45 minute session left Pam almost in tears and both of us feeling the effects four days later. And, that was a session using a couple of small hand weights and an exercise ball.

Our preparations also include walking--a lot. We walk to the grocery story or to a highway down the road a ways. We walk anywhere we can. The other day I had the bright idea to get a couple of cases of water at the grocery store, which is a convenient two miles away. Even though I had brought our pocket scale with me, I wasn't smart enough to weight the cases before I purchased them. I mean, really, how heavy could they be? Well, after I coaxed one full case into my pack along with the remaining heavy food, I squirreled away as many bottles from the second case into empty corners of the pack. The rest I put into Pam's pack once she was finished with her teeth cleaning at the dentist. Yet another hint to martial bliss--don't put things in your wife's pack. That was a long two miles and the 60 pounds in my pack was the easiest part.

Our bodies are going through the frustrating part of rearranging right now. Frustrating, because you feel stronger--and are stronger--but the scale says that you might as well have that cup of ice cream. We are not dropping a pound no matter how many times we reset the scale. We realize that the trail will deliver the weight loss in due time, but we are hoping for a little relief to help avoid injuries where we can. Stress fractures from over-exertion are common in this endeavor and force many folks off the trail early into their trip. Having too much weight on your back, being unprepared for that weight, and trying to move too fast are a sure ticket to getting stress fractures.

We are committed to putting our best foot forward on this walk, every day we walk down the small hill to the Brandi's Hard Body Studio and try and emulate the intensity she or her assistant Cory put us through in the previous session. We fail at the intensity part, because, I think, your body has a natural ability it to protect itself from things that are painful. Yet, we are there making some progress. The end of April is going to come a lot sooner than we think, but I'm glad that we are doing this now and not trying to do it on the trail.