Call from Cold Mountain - 6/16

Minutes after completing the last post Ryan called.  He and Kipper were atop Cold Mountain and were taking a break after the first real hard climb in several days.  They completed a 26 mile day yesterday .  He said he’s doing real well.  His ankle has settled down and the new hiking shoes have made a big difference.  In his last package he was sent an ankle brace. He said it fit well and really helped if only from a psychological perspective.  He was thrilled to have a water bladder back that didn’t leak.  One thing he asked for in his next mail drop is books.  I got his list and placed an order on Amazon.  The reading list includes:  Last American Man, Eiger Dreams, and Cactus Eater.  All three of these are adventure based, man against nature, books.  Single purpose, single minded.  He specifically asked for paperback due to weight and their emergency recycled use as toilet paper.  Toilet paper was second on his list of wants.  He said you’d be surprised at some of the awesome places he’s found to sit and read.  I don’t think I would be. 

He told me that last week he and Kipper had been as much as 5 days behind the group of Beerburger, Fish and Lemon but had closed the gap to 7 miles.  Trail logs at the shelters allow the hikers to pinpoint people up and down the trail pretty well.  They estimated catching up to them by this afternoon.  Ryan and Kipper encountered a case of trail magic yesterday by an older “country” couple who had set up a table on the trail and was making white bread, cheese and mayonnaise sandwich with hardboiled eggs.  The couple said the group had passed through the previous morning.   Two nights ago they camped near  a mountaintop air traffic control station.  The next morning a guy from the station invited them in and gave them a tour of the facility and some food. Ryan said the bear encounter was just after Pearisburg.  They later discovered it was a big female with cubs off in the brush.  He said she checked them out closely but made no advances.

He talked a bit about the wildlife he had seen this week.  He sat and watched a group of wild mink play along a riverbank.  I looked up the weather for him while he was on the phone and to my surprise they were hoping for rain.  He’s seen very little rain in the past two weeks.  Currently the weather was in the 70’s but will be headed back up in the coming week.   Rain is forecast off and on for the next week.  They were looking forward to getting to Waynesboro to resupply and enter the AT trail pancake eating contest at some restaurant that caters to hikers.  As with ever call, I always feel good about his frame of mind, physical health, desire, and true enjoyment of the adventure.  The best word I can find to describe it is – grit.