Franklin, NC

We've hiked 2068 miles (plus) and have 107 miles (plus) to finish! We'll be in GA in 2 days. We're pushing to do 16-18 miles to finish but GA is suppose to be another tough hike. We'll hike up and down one mountain just to hike up and down the next and that's how it'll be throughout GA-that's what we're being told. We're hoping to be done by the end of next week! Continue to keep us in your prayers that we'll finish strong! We're getting tired and yes, our feet still hurt! Just one more week!

We hiked back and forth between TN and NC. Part of the trail is the TN and NC line. We could tell we were in a TN shelter because they don't have privies. You have to be careful where you walk and dig your hole!

In the Smoky Mts the shelters all used to have human "cages" to keep the bears out but some people are dumb. They aggravated and fed the bears through the "cage" links. So the shelters are all being updated by taking down the "cages" and extending the roofs to include a "cooking and eating" area in front. The updated ones are really nice. They've also included bear cables to hang our food bags.

We met a ranger on the trail and he told us that the bears are hungry and are going into the shelters to take packs and food bags. They're being more aggressive because they're not finding enough food. There were 2 shelters and a campsite that were closed due to aggressive bear activity at those places. One of the closed shelters was one that still had the "cage" and hikers woke to a bear trying to get through the roof in search of food/bags. The hikers fought it off with their hiking poles. We've been lucky in that we had not seen any bears-saw the scat but not the bears while we hiked through the Smokies!

The Smokies are a popular place for people to hike! We thought we'd have shelters to ourselves as everyone else would be back to school and work after the summer. But through the Smokies the shelters were very busy and one was full! Guess this is really a good time to hike and backpack. It's cooler and less busy! It's still been dark in the mornings till about 7:30 or 8:00 am.

We had a hiker friend that we met and hiked with in NH come to the Smokies (with another friend) and hiked with us for 2 days. They brought us lots of treats! We hiked to his truck and ate breakfast one day! Yum, yum! He liked to have campfires! Thru-thinker is the one in the blue shirt. He's actually one of the hikers that we gave our talk with at the NH huts! We had fun with him and his friend, Herb! Great guys! (Lucky is the one with the red/white/blue bandana hat.)

A peakcock-a resident of Icewater Springs Shelter in the Smokies! A surprise wildlife animal to say the least. She was not afraid of us and even tried to sneak food when one wasn't looking! Guess that's how she survives in the Smokies!

Some pictures from TN and NC.

One of the hostels that we stayed in TN-they had a wonderful huge breakfast! They also have farm animals and host a B&B. Very nice home and people!

Thanks again for all your prayers, support, donations to CHF and comments and emails! We're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!

Erwin, TN

We got back on the trail again at Marion, VA. (We have hiked Marion, VA to Mount Katahdin, ME as NoBos. Now we're hiking from Marion, VA to Springer Mtn, GA as SoBos. Actually, we're considered flip-flop thru-hikers.) The ground down here is very hard. It's been dry and we feel it on the trail and on our feet. It's like when we first started the trail! Our feet haven't hurt this much in a long time. The ground up north was much softer-maybe because of all the mud, wet and rain? Also there has been a concern about getting water. When we first got back on the trail we were hearing that the streams and water sources were dry and to carry as much water as we can. We did that a couple times (carry lots of water) that's about 6-8 lbs extra weight. That's probably another reason our feet hurt-extra weight. But we've been asking ahead to see where we need to carry extra and where there is water. It did rain for about 3 days and we had hoped that would help soften the ground and help with the water sources but it didn't. The water sources at some of the shelters were dry or were just dripping-took about 45 minutes to get enough water. Hoping it'll get better but probably not.

Since getting back on the trail in Marion, VA we've been hiking with another hiker, Lucky. He is a flip-flop thru-hiker as well but he started in Bland, VA about 50 miles north of where we started. We met in ME and he summited Katahdin the day before us and then got back on the trail in Bland 4-5 days before us and was waiting for us at the shelter where we got back on. He's actually one of the hikers that was with us when I got swept down the river by the current in ME and he almost got swept down in another river.

Scenes from our journey so far in VA and TN. When we left ME some of the trees were already changing to their fall colors-saw some reds and oranges. Think the fall foliage will be early this year because of the cooler weather and rains! There are fall colors already here in the south, too. Leaves on the ground and trail! I love the fall colors and am glad to be seeing some already!

We heard about a little boy getting attacked by a bear on the trail. Don't know all the details but he got a lot of stitches and otherwise okay but they did end up killing the bear. When we got back on the trail we were told that there has been bear activity and to be careful. The bears in the Smoky Mountains we're told are very smart and aren't afraid of people like the bears in the other parts of the trail. We'll definitely have to hang our food which is something we've always done on the trail but we'll be extra sure to get the food bags high enough and between the trees enough to deter those smart bears and pray all goes well through those 70 some miles of the Smoky Mtns. We were also told about the poisonous snakes being sighted on the trail when we got back on, too. So I had many concerns about getting back on the trail down here-water, bears, and snakes but on we go.

Lots of mushrooms growing everywhere! Very interesting shapes and colors-all colors of the rainbow! I didn't know there were purple mushrooms, too! They're really pretty ones, too!

There were fields of blackberry bushes! Enjoyed and ate a lot of these! There have also been blueberry bushes and trees here! Up north the blueberries were harder to pick since they were growing as mostly ground cover-hard to pick while you've got your pack on! Enjoying these wild free berries mucho much!

Near the fields of blackberry bushes were feral ponies! We saw 8! These 3 came across the trail as we were approaching to greet us! Guess there are about 30 some feral ponies that wander the Grayson Highlands in VA.


Some of the flowers we've seen down here in the south!

Our next stops:

Dan and Debbie McMonigle

c/o Standing Bear Farm Hostel

4255 Green Corner Rd.

Hartford, TN 37753

Please hold for AT Thru-hiker

Est. date arrival: Sept. 8

Dan and Debbie McMonigle

c/o General Delivery

Fontana Dam, NC 28733

Please hold for AT Thru-hiker

Est. date arrival: Sept. 15

We're almost done! We've hiked 1835 miles and 339 miles more to hike! I still don't understand how the miles to get off Mount Katahdin and the miles to get to Springer Mtn. aren't included in the total miles for the AT. That would add another 13 miles to the total, but then again there have been so many more miles that could be added when we consider the miles we go to towns to resupply and the other miles we have to go on a side trail to get to shelters or camping sites. So we'll actually have hiked a lot more miles than the 2175 that is the AT on this journey. But again it's all for a great cause, right? Thanks to all of you who have donated to Children's Hunger Fund for our Hike for Hunger Relief efforts! You all are a blessing to us and the children we are helping! We appreciate you all! God Bless you all and thank you for your support and prayers.

Boston Globe Article

On our way driving from ME to VA we picked up the Sunday newspaper in MA. There was an article in the Boston Globe magazine about the White Mountains! Thought it was interesting and you might want to read it to see some of what we came across!

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2008/08/17/a_beautiful_place_to_die?s_campaign=8315

Alexandria, VA

We're in Alexandria, VA for a couple days with my brother and sister-in-law while we're resting, eating and getting reorganized for the last 1/4 of our trek. We've hiked 1650 miles and have 523 to do. We drove from Bangor, ME to Pepperell, MA. We stayed with our friends Bob and Dana again for a night (they're the ones who made the lobster and clam feast for us). They fed us wonderful, filling meals again and we sure appreciate their friendship and hospitality! We left their home stuffed and rested. We drove down here-it was a loooong drive. Don't know which is better-hurting hikers feet/legs or hurting rear end from sitting for 10 hours! Anyway, we're here till Wednesday when we'll get back on the trail in Marion, VA and hike south to Springer, GA. We hope to finish by the end of September.


Pictures from our 100 mile wilderness trek!

If you zoom in on this picture you'll see the only moose we saw! It's in the middle of the picture across the lake!

This is the sign they have posted before going into the 100 mile wilderness!

So the 100 mile wilderness wasn't so wild after all. There were some easy rode accesses from some other trails crossing the AT. Within the first 10 miles we came across telephone poles and a railroad. There were lots of people in the wilderness doing day hikes and section hikes, too, that's how easy it is to get to. These college age young men had thru-hiked the AT in 2006. They were so touched by the number of trail angels they came across that fed them during their trek that they decide to do the same. We were near the end of our day when we came upon them. We still had a ford and 5 miles uphill to go. "Sunshine" and "Helium" had a tarp and a grill set up and fed us dinner! Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, soda, fruit, and twizzlers! That gave us the energy to finish our day and we didn't have to cook our dinner which was great as we rolled into a camping spot around 8 pm as it was getting dark.

We had 2-3 times as many river fords as was listed in our book because of all the rains ME has received this summer. Most of the rivers were running higher and current faster and hard. We had another scary experience doing 2 fords. In one rainy day we had 3 river fords that we had to do within 1 mile! The first one was like most of the others-water about mid-thigh to me. At the second crossing I was swept downstream about 20 feet by the strong currents. Dan was near and had tried to stop me but couldn't. He has bruises on both his inner thighs from stretching and straining to reach me. Fortunately I was stopped by a big rock in the river. I was able to compose myself and get up. Dan came down and we linked wrists and was able to get across; we were both wet as well as our packs! When we got to the other side the two hikers we were with had had a rope to throw for me but really it would have been too late. Just 50 feet more and I would have been down the falls that were there! But I was thankful for their being there and their support in case something drastic did happen. I said that I lost one of my hiking poles to the river and Dan just said, "but we still have you!" One of the hikers said, "Good answer!" One hiker found me a big stick that I'm now using to hike with! When we got to the third ford for that day, we could see the water was high and current was even faster! One hiker barely made it. He was most of the way across when he fell but he dove across to a big rock and held on. He was able to get to the other side and yelled for us to stay put and wait it out. Only problem is that the forecast was for rain for the next 2-3 days! (It's amazing how one day of rain or no rain affects the level and current of the rivers!) There was a rope tied across the river on two trees. I told Dan and the other hiker with us that I was going to climb across the rope rather than try to ford and then would could set up a pulley to get our packs across. They didn't like that idea. (You all know that I'm a monkey!) So Dan put a rope around my waist for the pulley and I pulled my legs over the rope and pulled myself across. No problem! Then they sent over my pack. I had to pull it across and get it off the pulley ropes-no easy feat! I put my gloves on to pull Dan's pack across-it hurt! I couldn't get his pack off the pulley because it was just too heavy for me. The other hiker, Burro, didn't want to climb the rope. He didn't think he could do it and tried to ford. He went back and said he couldn't do it. He decided to camp and wait it out. Dan didn't want to climb the rope but did. He was dragging in the water. He said he hoped he wouldn't get giardia since he was taking in water. Said he wouldn't do that again if he didn't have to and I said that I'd rather cross the rivers that way! Just so glad that we're done with fording rivers...I hope.

We had a beautiful day when we hiked Mt. Katahdin. It was sunny and clear and we had good views the whole time! We had some rock scrambling to do as well as climbing big boulders for part of the climb. Guess we're in pretty good hiking condition! It's said that the average time for climbing and descending Mt. Katahdin is 8-10 hours and we did it in 7 hours! It really helped to have good weather. We were able to have lunch and take in the views!

Mt. Katahdin

Some scenes from on top of Mt. Katahdin.

One area on Mt. Katahdin we could use this rope to climb a long steep boulder.

After climbing Katahdin, thru-hikers are seen in the parking lot hitching a ride to the next town which is 24 miles away. We ultimately needed to get to Bangor, ME which is another 50 miles to get a rental car at the airport. The ranger told us that it's not a problem to hitch to any of the towns as people are always heading out of the park that way. We really lucked out. We had met a father and son that were hiking part of the 100 mile wilderness and Mt Katahdin. We met them as they were starting their trek. The father had thru-hiked the AT 20-some years ago and was sharing parts of the trail with his teenage son over a period of summers. They are from NJ and we were summiting Katahdin the same day. They were heading home to NJ after their summit and gave us a ride all the way to Bangor since they were heading down that way anyway! Trail angels! We didn't have to do the begging for rides like we thought we would have to do! Thank you Rod!

Good things about the rain:

-keeps the bugs away, at least when it's raining

-keeps us cool

-feeds all the wonderful trees and plants

-we're having no problems finding our water for our daily needs

Some "tree art"

Zebra Swallowtail

Anyone know what this is?

Thank you all for your prayers! I know that we are being protected and appreciate all your support! We can see some light at the end of the tunnel! We're getting there!

Monson, ME

We are in Monson, ME to do our usual "chores"-resupply, EAT, shower, and do laundry and get a warm dry bed for a night! The hostel we're staying in is very busy once again it's raining. Does that seem like a broken record? We did have a couple nice days and two nights of no rain but guess we're in for another round of rain. ME has been getting an unusual amount of rain this summer! We're definitely seeing it on the trail! There is no end to the mud, puddles and water on the trail. One SoBo forewarned us of an upcoming mud pit to be careful. He slipped off the plank and was covered with mud to his knees! Yikes! Some hikers will just walk through the mud and puddles but we try to avoid them as much as we can although sometimes there's just no way to do that! One time I sunk down to my ankles in the mud and it almost pulled off my shoes! One hiker told us about meeting someone who said they sunk up to their hips in the mud and almost could not get out. It's like quicksand!

We are heading into the 100 mile wilderness. Supposedly they say there's no roads, no towns, no city noise! But there are lots of bogs and swamps! SoBos have said the mud and puddles were nothing compared to what we're about to come upon in the 100 mile wilderness! So we were hoping for no rain during this 10 days that we will be hiking through it but guess we'll have to get through it sun or rain, mud, puddles and bogs...and it sounds like rain unfortunately! Then we'll hit the northern terminus-Katahdin! That's suppose to be a difficult mountain to climb. We've had a lot of difficult climbs already so I think we're ready. Dan's says he wants to be sure we have lots of food during that climb for energy!

We've had to ford a lot more rivers than the guide book had listed because of all the rains. Most have been no more than thigh deep and most have been strong currents. Only one has been easy-ankle deep and no current! But we're getting used to them. I just hike through with my shoes on-they wash off all the mud from my shoes. Dan usually changes into his Keen sandals, otherwise his feet get sores on them from the wet socks!

There have been lots of blueberries! As we hike we stop at times to eat a couple handfuls! They've been very tasty and I wish there was a way to load up on them and somehow send some home to freeze for later enjoyment!

Does anyway know the difference between a pond and a lake? We've passed many ponds that seem like lakes, they're so big and pretty!

Supposedly ME has lots of moose. We've seen lots of droppings and prints but no moose. Only have heard from 3 hikers that they've seen one on their hike. Guess these moose are shy since we haven't seen any. When we were in the Grand Tetons National Park last fall we saw them all the time!

This computer will not allow pictures so I'll have to upload them some other time! We've hiked over 1500 miles now and have about 112 miles to Katahdin. Then we'll rent a car and head south to VA. We'll have some 500 miles to finish the southern part of the trail! Hope to be done by the end of September. We're still feeling the wear and tear on our feet and legs but we'll get through it!

Thank you all for your support and for your generous donations to Children's Hunger Fund for our cause for hunger relief! Our small part is worth more to the children that we are helping! God Bless!

Stratton, ME

Hi everyone-

Decided to stop here for a zero and to celebrate Dan's 50th! birthday! A warm bed and showers for 2 days-yeah! and FOOD! We've been taking Jason's advice and trying to gorge ourselves as often as we can when we're in towns!



So just a couple updates:

We've had to ford a couple more rivers but since it's been pretty decent weather, no major rainstorms, we haven't had any trouble. Water just been up to my shins or mid-thighs. The current is usually what worries me most and since the water's been lower we've been okay. Fording the rivers is one of Dan's favorite parts of hiking! I'm getting used to it since it's been easier than that Black River that Dan basically pulled me across!



Mahoosuc Notch is supposedly the hardest mile on the AT trail. It's a big boulder filled chasm. There was ice and snow still in some of the crevices and it was colder down there. It's said that that mile usually takes hikers 2-3 hours to get through. We took just over 2 hours. It wasn't as difficult as we were led to believe. We did have to climb up, down, under, & around all the big boulders but it was kinda fun actually! There was a skeleton of a moose down there-that was sad. The story is that the moose fell down in the chasm last summer and was hurt and couldn't get out. Someone tried to put it out of it's misery but failed and the poor thing suffered. It was eerie to see it there and then hear the story about it. Then there's the Mahoosuc arm-the climb out of the chasm. It's another difficult climb out and takes more out of you!



Baldpate Mountain! We were hiking up this mountain during a storm! It was raining, misty, and had wind gusts. As we were climbing near the summit, a SoBo came over the top and forewarned us that the gusts had blown him over and he fell down 20 some feet-so to be careful! I had experienced some of the gusts blowing me over, too and got frightened! So I basically crawled my way up the rest of the way. I couldn't see as my vision was distorted by the rain on my glasses. Dan verbally directed me some of the way and then held onto me and directed me by pulling and pushing me in the right direction. I think this was the most frightening experience for me so far on the trail! But we made it!



We've climbed some other mountains and it seems that it's been mostly during misty windy times. Had hoped to have lunch on one of those summits but it hasn't been calm enough or warm enough for me. On top there are LOTS of bluberries bushes. So a couple of times even though it's been cold and windy I've stopped to pick a couple and eat along the way. Another SoBo said there are lots of bigger berries and bushes further north so looking forward to getting to them. Also have had a couple of wild raspberries. There don't seem to be as many of those here though, at least not that I've found yet!



We've had a mouse gnaw through our food bag at a shelter! He ate 1/2 of Dan's cashews so we had to throw those away! Annoying! But at least that's all it did! Then a squirrel was gnawing on our food bag that we had hung in a tree. Luckily we had heard it before it was able to get into the bag. Dan has hung our food bag now between two trees to keep those pesky squirrels at bay! Seems to have worked so far. Guess they can't walk a tight rope?