News & Events

Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 19:45

Some people were hiking the opposite way on the trail.  this is what they do.  take pictures of folks through hiking and send them on.  so many nice folks on the trail.  but rugged terrain.  rained 6 of first 7 days.  saw about 15 wild boar yesterday.  late in the afternoon.  foggy.  misty.  windy.  rainy.  and then wild boar.  like i need to see this.  luckily, they were more afraid then me.  they ran down the side of the mountain.  i have hiked 80 miles the first 7 days.  very cold at night so i just keep moving.  the scenery could be beautiful but the fog and rain are screwing up my view.  have managed to keep my sleeping bag dry.  and managed to keep myself wet.  sometimes i think i really like this, other times i think, what the hell am i doing.  there is so much thinking time.  amazing.  have met some wonderful people on the trail.  people giving things out (hamburgers, apples, oranges, coke, etc).  just because they want to.  but i have hiked alone all 7 days.  either people are to slow, or to fast.  or they want to stop and i don't.  i have camped alone at the top of a mountain 3 times.  just chattering to myself as i prepare dinner.  read before bed.  still trying to adjust to sleeping in a tent, because i am so used to spreading out in a bed.  haven't really had a really good nights sleep.  but i do feel strong.  knees a little sore but nothing out of the ordinary.  i hitched into hiawassee after i hiked today to resupply and check the weather.  supposed to snow the next two days so will stay here in this motel.  don't need to camp in the snow. don't want to.  will resume in a couple days.  relax.  watch some basketball.  lay in the jacuzzi.  pamper myself.  life is good.  i dedicate my hike to my deceased nephew evan, and in honor of my four wonderful children.  they all keep me moving.  i will be in north carolina in 10 miles.
peace and love to all.
tim
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Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:31

a typical day for me goes something like this:
up at 7 or so.  take tent down.  pack my bag.  visit the privy.  eat my breakfast.  move out at about 8 or so.  earliest i have left is 7:30, latest is 9:30.  hike all day.  don't eat lunch.  eat a couple power bars or cheese as i walk.  usually go until 5 or so.  furthest hike was 27 miles, towards the end of the smoky mountains.  the horse did in fact smell the barn.  i wanted a hot bath badly that day.  anyway, when i get to my location, i set up my tent, get my mat and sleeping bag ready for me.  get my book and headlamp on my little pillow.  then i fill up my water from a stream in the area, and cook dinner.  chow down hard.  i seem to be always hungry.  i know i have lost weight but am feeling very strong these days.  when i do come into a town, i eat, walk out of the restaurant, and am hungry immediately.  wow.  (i am pleased you are allowing me to ramble).  so after i eat, i slide into my bag and zip up my tent.  put on my headlamp and read for a bit and try to drift off.  i am usually in bed by no later than 7:30pm.  big change huh?  i haven't really had but one good nights sleep.  i have spoken to others about same and all are in the same boat.  is it adreneline (sp), anxiety, getting used to sleeping in the wild?  etc.  etc.  whatever.  everything seems to be working. 
i have hiked 280 miles thus far, but got a dose of reality when i saw a sign that said katahdin 1,972 miles north.  uh oh. 
have met so many wonderful people on this trail.  my trail name is naneek.  here are a few others:  the three stooges (from the netherlands), up and at em, incognito, twopac, concrete joe, curious george, soundtrack, scab, roach, just mike, i'm fine, wheels, jesse's girl (reminded me of sid), due south, pirate, jersey, salt and pepper (dog), mad hatter, rugged shark, privy, wrath (a bizarre dude), yuki (from japan), nun, honey dew, road runner, speertipper, bones, bust, creep, plaid, pineapple, radar, kmar, ninja and super tramp to name a few off the top.
i know some of you are following me so here is where i have stayed:
spinger mountain
hawk mountain
dan gap
neels gap
red clay gap
addis gap
hiawasee
muskrat creek (major snow and cold)
betty creek
franklin
cold springs
sassafras gap
cable gap
fontana dam
eagle creek
double spring gap
icewater spring
cosby knob
ground hog creek
hot springs
i am off tomorrow to irwin, tennessee.  70 miles. 
i love this.  i love what i am doing.  more later.  there are people in line waiting to use this.  the beauty i have seen is indescribeable.  miss you all.  i send you love and peace.
tim
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Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:23

hi all,
here i go again.  i will ramble in no particular order.  let my mind drift.  i do so much thinking out on the trail, by the time i get to where i am going, i forget 90% of my world peace thoughts.
i could never describe to you the physical challenge of this journey.  i had no idea.  reading about it and doing it are so very different indeed.  i mean, i think, how bad could it be?  the elevations (up to 6600 ft. +), and going up, the going down. going up leaves me short of breath, down hurts my knees and feet.  very few ridgelines.  you go up, you go down.  day in, day out.  i feel a wonderful, keen sense of accomplishment each and every day as i prepare din din.  go to bed at 7:30, wake up and do the same thing the next day. 
if i stopped every time i saw another beautiful, breathtaking scene, i would not complete this trail until 2012.  my pictures could never tell the story.  so awesome indeed.
i weighed myself at a hostel yesterday.  uh oh.  have dropped 21 pounds.  cardiovascular activity 10 hours a day my body is not used to.  i make myself eat as much as possible but now know i will always be hungry.  stomach is always growling.  i will level off soon. 
if i am moving quickly, i travel at 2mph.  i have averaged as much as 2.5 once, on a good, good day.  the most i have hiked is 27 miles, the least 5.4.  somedays you have it, somedays you don't. 
my feet are my main concern.  sore.  i find that when i stop and take off my boots and socks twice a day, it helps my immensely. 
i get my water from streams along the way.  i use a filter to make sure my water is clean and i don't catch something i can do without.  drink plenty of electolites to keep my energy.  try to stay as hydrated as possible.
i am hoping the up and down subsides here in about 150 miles for a bit.  then i can go on longer hikes and not expend as much energy.
my pack weighs anywhere from 35-38 lbs., depending on my food and water.  food is very heavy, but i now know i cannot slack off when it comes to chow.  i will carry the weight.
if someone on the trail (trail angel) has an ice cold coke (sometimes i pass roads and people are out waiting for me with goodies) or a beer.  what would i choose???  i have done it quite a few times.  and we all know how much tim loves his beer.  i choose the coke.  or dr. pepper.  i crave these things.  amazing how i appreciate once again all those little things in life we all take for granted.  i.e. toilet, sink, oven, refrigerator, bed, etc. 
i hiked from amacalola state park (1700 ft) to springer mountain (3782 ft) to start the trail.  can't believe they don't count the 8.8 miles up springer.  to bad for them, i count it.  i hiked that in cold, sleet, rain, fog.  and all rocky and slippery.  first day and it doesn't count???  nada.
blood mountain was the highest peak in georgia .  4461 feet.
clingmans dome in north carolina is 6643 ft.  highest point on AT.  what beauty.  lots of tourist up there (they drove).
you probably wonder how many times tim has been lost.  only three times, then only briefly.  the trees are marked with white blazes.  a paint strip about 3" wide and 5" long.  every so often you will see a white blaze.  there are side trails and that is where i made the mistakes because i was to busy figuring out in my brain how to attain world peace that i wasn't paying attention.  actually, i was probably reliving kindergarden.  the most i went off the trail was a mile.  but that was a big mile in the rain and mud and tim had some choice words for himself.  i was scolded.
have i shaved.  no, not yet.  look like a true mountain man.  but i see myself cutting this off because of itching and heat.  i may go to a barber and get the entire no hair treatment (for my head).
i have seen only a handful of people my age out here, and most were section hikers.  i am a thru hiker.  i hope.  i know if my body holds up, i will complete this mission.  i have the will.  but am well aware anything could happen.  i am being careful.
i miss my family and my friends very much.  i can't tell you how much i think about each and every one of you.  your words of support and encouragement keep me moving.  you have no idea. 
am in erwin, tennessee .  350 miles so far.  125 miles to virginia .  then 550+ in that state.  one step at a time. 
i wish everyone good health.  peace.  and much love.
see you next time.
tim
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Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:08

don't even know where to start because this would be foreign to me, but here goes:
as i have said before, i do alot of thinking out here on the trail.  it would be eat, hike, eat, sleep, maybe read. talk to my feet.  but always thinking.  mostly good thoughts.  happy to be alive,  and as i have said before i am considering myself very fortunate and blessed to be undertaking this trek.  i often think of those less fortunate than myself and thought, "why don't i do this for a cause.  or causes".   i know, some of you are saying, keenan, you were supposed to set this all up before you left.  my bad.  i guess i was to busy not thinking.  i am good at that as well.  anyway, i decided that i will do this.  if my hike can benefit people less fortunate, then yes.
 
so here are my causes:
1.  womens resource center of traverse city to benefit women, men, and families that have been victims of domestic violence.
2.  setting up scholarship fund for the son or daughter of a veteran killed in war, or a underprivileged financially high school grad in the name of veterans for peace of chapter 50, northern michigan , of which i am the president.
 
i have a history with both of these, thus the choices.
if any of you, or friends you know, would be willing to pledge something for my causes, you know how much i would appreciate it.  i will be donating 50 cents for every mile i complete.  if any of you could donate 1/4 cent, 1/2 cent, $1, or whatever per mile i walk, i can't tell you how good that would be.  I'll buy you a beer, or a soda, or a yesterdog.  promise.   you can go in with two or three other folks if you wish. . . i know times are tough economically in the world and in our country, but if you can. . .
 
and if you can't, no worry.  i will still buy you a beer, or a soda, or a yesterdog.  maybe.
you know i love you all and am grateful to have you in my life.  any help you can give to these worthy causes would be of extreme benefit to others. 
 
as i said in the beginning, i am not used to soliciting money from anyone, let alone friends.  but i feel compelled. 
 
i am off to damascus , va tomorrow. 125 miles.  then the trail is supposed to level out for 400-500 miles.  i will believe that when i see it.   i have given my feet ample rest.  will change footwear in va.  going down the steep mountains puts pressure on my toes.  they feel better now and i look forward to once again seeing the beauty.  all i have to do is get to the top. 
 
thank you all again for all your words of encouragement.  and one final toast to my old high school, ottawa hills, which is probably coming down as i speak. 
 
peace
tim

  -----------------------------------

Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 19:41

hi all,
been along time i know. am still alive.  doing well.  knees sore, but so what.  540 miles into this thing.  am in atkins, va now.  trying to make my way through virginia . 
i have such limited time on computers along the way, frustration sets in when i can't keep you informed as to what is happening in my life.  let me ask a favor.  i love hearing from all of you.  very, very much.  but i don't have time to open forwards.  if you are sending me a personal note, i so love that.  and i will do my best to respond.  but take me off the forward list, please.  i only get 1/2 hour on this thing.
 
got an e-mail from anne perry.  if you want to pledge for may causes, simply e-mail her your name, and phone #.  i will contact you when i get back.  if i get back.  it is incredible how many people have gotten off the trail since i started.  i miss many of them.
 
here are some more trail names of folks i have met:  plaid, carpenter, scooner, trigger (reminds me of thom), wayward jim, sodfather, featherfeet, blessed, blink, kia,wolfman, solo, sundance, mango, bugsy, ipa, little beau, burly girl, cogito, ace, dutch (from petoskey), pork chop (williamsburg), birch, pirofly, magic, lucky star, good n plenty, in deep, jersey girl, bluegrass, otter, splice, cus cus, doesn't matter, just mike, flatlander, bushwacker, ranger, magnum, dozer, worn out boots, lsot soul, grill, sahrk, flagman, thats what she said, mocking bird, phantom cupcake (just had to get off trail because he was accepted to oxford), worn out shoes, whittler, jammer, night moves, mr. nice guy (and he is), bearbait (wish he was) and fire starter (he is).
 
i am at a loss to explain my feelings to you all.  this truly is awesome.  the sounds in the woods are indescribable.  today i hiked by a fast moving creek for a couple miles.  crossed it several times.  the birds singing.  the quiet.  sometimes you can hear the wind coming from a distance, and then is blows through and the woods again become silent. 
 
last week i was at thomas knob, just north of damascus , va.  there is saw so many wild ponies roaming the hillside.  the mountain top was a bald (clear of trees).  i could see range after range of mountains.  and then to have the bonus of the ponies (they were quite friendy and i have many photos if i can get the time to send), was quite remarkable.
 
i continue to fall down (not in ten days now) but have not been hurt.  rocky terrain but the mountains are way easier to summit than georgia and north carolina .  i spoke with you about the white blazes in a past e-mail???  i think i could do this trail without a map.  and the trail is so clean.  if we pack it in, we pack it out.  you know the white blaze.  then there is blue blaze:  sometimes sigifies water, but also a way around the mountain without going over it.  then there is yellow blazing, which is hitching a ride and not even doing certain parts of the trail, but claiming you did (seen it happen many, many times).  then pink blazing (chasing a woman hiker). and oh, by the way my women readers,  i swear it is about 30-1, men to women. 
i can't begin to tell you how many wonderful folks i have met.  both on and off the trail.  i have never had a problem getting a ride when i need to resupply.  more on that later.
 
jersey girl is a woman  who is hiking by herself.  wonderful woman who gave herself a 60th birthday present, combined with a retirement present, of hiking the AT.  her husband approved.  she got off the train and went home because she thought she had a stress fracture.  she said she saw a doc, and turns out she "only had arthritis".  she is back on the trail.
another woman (rusty) hiked all the way to pennsylvania last year (over 1000 miles), then her husband brought her to maine to finish her hike going backwards to pennsylvania (they call it flip flopping).  she ended up falling a breaking rib and had horrible weather and high rivers she could not cross.  she is now a bit in front of me on the trail, having started from scratch this year, dermined to finish.  she is probably about 55 or so. 
 
my friend gabrielle (trail name solar system) from traverse city has joined me.  she plans on doing a major "section hike" of 1800 miles.  i am now learning about flowers and other beauty i sometimes miss.  she is a joy to have around.  i had so slow my pace to allow her to get her "hiking legs".  we are now adjusting to one anothers hiking ability.  this can be touchy at time.  sometime i am to slow or fast, and vice versa.  lately, we have been hiking at our own pace, then wait for the other at some point down the trail.  all is working out.  nice to have someone to shoot the shit with on the trail.  and hang with when i get into a town.  plus she likes to drink beer.  what more can a man ask for?
 
there is a guy out here on the trail that hiked the entire trail at 82.  turns out someone broke his record.  he found out about it and was very upset.  as he tells the story (he is now about 85), he packed his packpack with the necessary items, called a friend and asked for a ride to the beginning of the trail in georgia .  he slipped out the front door and got in the car.  his wife heard the door, and came outside on the porch.  she yelled at him "where are you going?"  he rolled the window down halfway and said "someone broke my record, i am going to hike the AT again".  his wife simply turned and walked back into the house.  last time i saw him (i think his trail name was cinitron, or something like that), he was hiking with a woman about 50 or so and was trying to dump her because she was to slow.  this guy reminds my of my friend mac's father in law.  quite a character indeed.  i haven't seen him in about 3 weeks.
 
one last story because people are waiting (i hate being pressured, but they are in the same boat as me).
i think i told you i lost 21 pounds in 28 days.  after i wrote that, i stayed at a hostel for 2+ days, gouging anything and everything (including beer).  when  i was about to head back out on the trail,  i weighed myself again.  i gained 11 pounds in those 2+ days.  wow. 
 
ok  got to go.
 
congrats to my friends steph and sid for their new baby boy.
 
i miss everyone.
and hope all is well in your lives.
tim 
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Date: Mon, 25 May 2009

hi all,
 
the pics include:
i point to a rock that i slipped on and tumbled down the mountain.  my pack saved me from going way down.  i breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
 
a photo of me and the wild ponies on thomas knob in virginia .  they were so cute and friendly.  and what a surprise for me.
 
a photo of baltimore jack and his famous t-shirt.  he has thru hiked before and lets you know what he thinks of bill bryson (the man that wrote "a walk in the woods".   i think jack will always be upset at bryson because he never finished his hike.  and he didn't get hurt.  just stopped.
 
the trail goes ever so close to a fast moving river.  i had thoughts of falling in and drifting off, never to be seen again.  but once again, i survived.  it was so gorgeous.
 
woodhole.  a hostel, and some of the folks that stayed with.  what a wonderful day and night it was.
 
there are people waiting on me right now.  i will try to get back with you.
one quick story.  about 1 hour behind me a fellow hiker (windbreaker) watched a fawn being born, right next to the trail.  the fawn stood, still having fluid covering his/her body and walked towards windbreaker with mom walking right along with.  he had some great photos.  everyday an adventure. 
 
and a young guy i hiked with early, trail name "i'm fine".  he had dreads down to the middle of his back, grown since he was nine years old.  he is now 18.  he thru hiked last year.  i walked with him for a ways and he taught me lots of good stuff about the trail.  mostly to stay mentally fit.  don't let things out of your control get you down because better days lie ahead.  i suppose this is true in life.  yes?  
anyway, on blood mountain, he cut his dreads and left them there.  i had no idea until i saw him the next day at neels gap.  cut himself. 
 
damn.  people are breathing down my neck.  gotta go.
 
my major congratulations to doug stanton .  doug is an author friend of mine from traverse city .  his latest book went on sale in early may.  HORSE SOLDIERS.  to all i recommend.  doug also wrote a best seller some years ago, IN HARMS WAY.    he is a fabulous writer. 
today i took a zero day and was watching the today show, and yes, you guessed it, there was doug being interviewed.  i am sure it is a great read.  if only it was in paperback so i could carrry and read on the trail. 
lifted much weight today. sent home.  have only what i need.  had to.  my weight was 168 at the hostel.  but am doing well.  and feeling great other than my feet.  they are always a concern.
 
peace and love.  will talk at you in a week or so.
tim

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Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 09:55

have so many people waiting once again.  peering over my shoulder.  this is difficult, because i have much to say.
 
but one story:
hiking in virginia .  heard about this little place about 2 miles off the trail, down a road, that has all you can eat family style food.  i immediately started salivating.  like a hungry animal.  hiked the `12 miles to the road, and a difficult hike it was, especially thinking about food, good food.  and drink, cold, cold drink.
anyway, we meet a guy in the parking lot by the road.  he tells us we are kindred spirits.  that would be solar system and naneek.  nice.  very nice.  then he gives us a ride to the home restaurant down the road.  very nice old farmhouse.
here is what i consumed, and i was trying to be good, with the manners my mom taught me.
2 dr. peppers
3 lemonades
3 big glasses of ice water
1 iced tea
8 pieces of chicken
3 huge slabs of dead cow (roast beef)
lots and lots of corn and beans
3 helpings of mashed potatoes and gravy
biscuits (?)
peach cobbler (only one, i was overloaded to sickness)
 
we then walked to the general store, at which time i was hungry once again.
life is good out here.  i have lots to tell, just to short a time to tell it.
i am over 700 miles now.  wow indeed.  weigh about 170 or so, depending on how long i have been in the woods.  when you hike 8-10 hours of day, its almost like being on a stairstepper for that long.  calories are burnt at a quick rate.  but all is well.  i am enjoying.  more later.  love to all
naneek (tim)
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Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:25:47 -0400

hi all,
have so little time right now.
i am in hanover, nh.  last time i was in new hampshire i hitchhiked here when i was in high school, with a friend.  that was about 10+ years ago.
450 miles to go.  am approaching the white mountains and feeling a little anxious.  got all my winter gear because southbound hikers are saying they had snow up there.  i think i am ready.  i am really looking forward to the beauty of it all.  probably a bit different than georgia , north carolina , etc., although that seemed breathtaking at the time.  i know your thoughts are with me.  and i appreciate your energy.
they have these booklets at each shelter, they are called trail journals.  you can look at them if you stop for lunch, or for the night and see where other folks you may have met on the trail, actually are.  how many days ahead they may be.  this guy i hiked with in georgia months ago got out ahead of me when i took a zero day.  his trail name is rugged shark.  great guy and fun to hike with.  anyway, i kept looking in the journals for months and miles.  he was always anywhere from 1 to 3 days ahead of me.  i simply could not catch up even doing big miles, because he would do the same, even though he had not idea i was behind him.  we were coming through vermont and someone left a cooler (trail magic) in the middle of the woods.  it was full of cookies, ice cold pop, water, etc.  what a treat.  whomever also left a booklet to sign.  so i was about to sign and thank the person for the magic, but i looked over the other entries.  rugged shark had signed it that morning and was going to the hostel in the next town.  away the solar system and i went to try to make it to the hostel.  i think we did 20+ miles that day.  the guy from the hostel comes to pick us up at a gas station in town and bring us to the hostel.  when we pull up to the house i see this clean shaven dude on the front porch reading.  yes, it was the rugged shark.  i get out of the van all dirty (rain and mud had prevailed that day) and said to this guy, "hey, whats your name?".  he responds with rugged shark and looks at me.  then he stood straight up and said "naneek, is that you?".  he comes out of his chair and, needlesss to say, it was a great reunion.  i had been chasing him for 1400 miles.  then next day we headed out early, before him.  haven't seen him since.  but will always have a lifelong contact.  those are the things that happen out here.  i would say i have had real connections with about 5 or 6 folks.  people i will maintain lifelong contact with.  very special indeed.
a little story.  we were walking down the trail, the solar system was out front of me several yards.  she stops on the trail.  i walk up to see why she is stopping.   there is a grouse in the trail.  just standing there.  solar system walked around through the long grass.  i stood there a minute looking at this bird (very beautiful), then i made the same move around.  after i got by the thing, i looked back and it was staring at me.  i felt a little leary.  started walking faster and looked back.  the damn thing was chasing me.  i stopped and pointed my trek (hiking pole) at her.  then i moved on.  she started chasing me again, this time faster.  i stopped again, and again pointed my pole at her.  she stopped.  i scolded her.  "stop following me" i said.  and in a very stern voice.  then i moved on.  and this time she really came after me.  so i started running, full pack, from this bird.  ran my ass off until she was out of sight.  and then walked briskly for a bit until i knew she was out of my life forever.  am i a chicken shit or what???  hope a large animal doesn't tail me.
lie is good out here.  i have had my days when i am mentally fatigued.  one mile seems like ten.  those days are few and far between.  usually, if i get going early and get some miles in, i am fine.  but on those bad days (and we all have them), my pack seems to weigh 50 pounds. 
i still pinch myself sometimes, wondering what i am doing out here.  the reality of the world seems so far away out here.  lots of goodness in the woods and it the cities i pass through.
i wish you all peace and love.
naneek.

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Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 15:17:21 -0400

hi everyone,
i am now in monson, ME.  can't really believe it.  i congratulate others not even thinking i am doing this myself.  i have  but 115 miles to go to summit katahdin mountain, which will mark the end of my trek.  feeling bittersweet.  i love maine .  but it seems every state i have been in i have loved in some respects.  i have grown to love hiking, although i have had my moments when i could have thrown my pack in a river.  i am anxious to come home and see family and friends, whom i have missed dearly, but will miss the friends i have made on the trail.  and have met so many nice people off the trail in towns i would never have graced.  i will miss hitchhiking.  what a lost art that is.  i will miss the beauty (although traverse city is beautiful) and the adventures of the trail.  so many fond memories.  my friend in grand rapids , mi asked me the other day what i was going to do when i got home.  after thinking for a bit, i said maybe i will walk down to grand rapids , get a hot dog, and come visit you.  its "only" 140 miles.  and the terrain is flat.  should be able to be there is 6 or 7 days, max. 
i don't know if i will run across another computer on the trail for i am entering the 100 mile wilderness.  next stop will be baxter state park which is 5 miles from the summit.  i will let everyone know when i finish.  should be within 10 days.  been graced with super weather since i entered maine .  sunny daily.  nice breeze.  cool.  perfect.
some names of folks i have met, both north and southbounders:  mudflap, rainman, blt, hot dog, pusher, hulk, kiwi, shorty, prairie dog (reminds me of chris stannard), ironman, angry beaver, hellbender, rambler, fly by (tink), chance, stats, kog, half moon, sunbeam, sunnuke, colonel mustard, lil dipper, olive oil, ink, nutmeg, hoover, brown chicken, old goat (not as old as me unfortunately), check 6, yak, rush, snowmonster, trail nameless, beavreguard shagnasty (?), grasshopper, postmaster, take 5, grits, stud the dud, goofy, garage man, pudgie pie, vagrant, combo, halfstep, ice fingers, simple man, strider, pellet, sibs (4 siblings from canada, ages 26 or so to 18), fiddle, no money, tank, neighbor dan, miles, slapshot, everready, prints, ducttape, tree hanger, freeman, tarzan, wing it, don't panic, jellyfish, otter (2nd one i have met), firebuilder, bagens (older, older woman, short with teeny weenie feet, going south), zipper, whispy, ucock, hammock, hazard, boots, sunray, hitch, joe kickass, buffalo bob, rookie, gritty mcduff, the phoenix, caretaker, captain leo, gigi, blacklist, scope (doctor), space cowboy, and blessed.
when i came into monson i found people here i haven't seen in months.  jus a hangin out.  i think they don't want to finish.  sometimes we think we will figure out everything we need to know out here.  not quite.  but one thing is certain.  if you do a bit everyday related to your goal, the possibilities of success improve greatly.  i think most of the young people i have met on this trail realize that now.  they know they worked very, very hard to complete their mission, and they will take that sense of accomplishment home. 
as i said before, maine is gorgeous.
9/6 was one of my best days on the trail.  almost impossible to explain, but here goes:
get up early with a 14 mile hike to catatunk in front of us.  i am hiking by myself when i here noise (cracking branches) in the woods.  i stop on the trail iand listen (its about 7am).  i waited and waited knowing i was going to see a bull moose come out of the pines, but all i could see was trees moving and hearing the branches keep cracking.  i waited 20 minutes or so to no avail.  (sorry, bad ending to the beginning of my story).  i hiked on and came across this pond (we call them lakes in michigan ).  a most beautiful pond, with a slight mist coming off the water.  no cottages.  calm.  a lone fisherman in a canoe.  i stopped at an opening and stood on a rock and watched him fish for a moment.  i slightly waved at him.  he responded.  i walked on but when i came to another opening he was paddling effortlessly towards me.  i waited and he brought his canoe near shore.  he introduced himself as he fished.  i did likewise.  wonderful man with that great maine accent.  we talked quietly for a few minutes, then i moved on.  he wished me luck on the rest of my hike.  within an hour i was hiking alongside a beautiful river, with some very fast currents in spots, and slow moving in other spots.  hiked along it for miles.  came across this spot that my hiking partner pointed out to me (i did want to go swimming in a river in maine ).  a nice hole in the river in a picturesque spot, complete with waterfalls.  i thought about it for a moment then dropped my pack.  into the clear water i went, sans clothes.  floated around for a few minutes, just relaxing.  hiking luxury at its finest.  perfect.  dripped dried and moved on.  away from the river, into the woods, back to the river, back into the woods.  the foliage was so mossy green, reminded me of a childrens book, or movie.  beautiful.  the trees, some crooked, some straight, some down.  i waited for the headless horseman to appear. (i wish all of you could have been with me that day). 
we were trying to get to this point on the kennebec river that is forbidded to ford (cross on your own).  you need to wait for the ferry.  the ferry runs between 2 & 4 daily.  we got there at around two.  the river was vast.  running swiftly.  i would never attempt to ford this thing,  but evidently some hikers have tried, and been swept away.  a guy across the river waves and gets in his canoe and goes way upriver and paddles across, going sideways but ending up right in front of us.  he was aptly named hillbilly, with a hillbilly hat and major accent,  a woodsman to be sure.  this was the "ferry".  we got in and hillbilly blurted out instructions the entire journey across that river, always in control.  what fun.  this is his job, to get thru hikers and sections hikers across the river.  does this 5 months of the year. 
this was the end of the 14 mile day.  we waited for a couple other hikers that came across after us and hitched into catatunk to spend the night in a cabin and have a good meal.  and of course a cold, cold beer.  it was a great day, but so many of the days are dotted with happenings that are unforgettable. 
i have a myriad of stories in my brain as you can imagine.
did i tell you about the phoenix getting bit in the head by a rabid racoon as he slept in a shelter???  he was off the trail for a month.
or prarie dog and angry beavers encounter with a rabid skunk that made its way into their tent???  to long a story, but a true one mike kelly.
 
if i don't get another chance to write you people, i must tell you how inspiring you have been to me.  packages, good wishes, e-mails, cards, letters (sandy bannon).  not to mention the energy i have received from your thoughts and prayers.  i thought of all of you often.  i wear my shirts with great pride (womens resource center, veterans for peace, and yesterdog).  thank you all for your donations to the women and children that have been victims of domestic violence, and to the vets for peace for a scholarship to a young man or woman who has lost a parent in war or is going to peace in his/her life. 
 
i look forward to seeing everyone shortly.  with but 115 miles to go, i am trying to be very careful.  i am watching my step.  i wish all of you peace.  and much love.
naneek

Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:01:07 -0400

good morning,
on september 16, at about noon, i reached the peak of baxter.  KATAHDIN.  i finished.  2,178.3 miles and 172 days after the start.  when i saw the sign through the fog on the peak, i became very emotional.  i am emotional as i write this.  i will relive that moment many times.  with tears of joy. i simply could not believe i was looking at that katahdin sign i had seen in so many pictures along the way.  what a journey.  the ups and downs of the many mountains along the way.  up and downs of me, personally.  wow.   through rain, snow, sunshine, fog, rocks, mud, etc.  all the beauty.  all the wonderful people on and off the trail i met.  the new friendships.  i could go on and on.  still haven't quite grasped it.  i think i need to immediately go to a appalachian trail anonymous meeting.  i mean, who could ever understand this experience???  i can't even understand it. 
thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers along the way.  without your support and energy, there is no way i could have finished.  packages, e-mails, phone messages, etc.  they all brightened my days. 
and my hiking partner, the solar system???  she was and is a rock.  what a phenomenal hiker.  so strong. she most assuredly helped me endure and persevere.  she joined me in irwin, tn.  and will return to irwin and hike southbound (339 miles) until she completes her thru hike.  i imagine north carolina and georgia will be beautiful.
as i write this i realize this is my last note of correspondence.  again, i am speechless and emotional.  i hope to stay in touch with everyone.  i so appreciate you.  i so appreciate all we have been blessed with.  as we check out all the bad news in the world we can be comforted in the fact that we always have friends and family.  we always have someone to lean on. 
someone asked me what song stands out in your mind?  the one you sang the most along the trail.  i tried to sing many, but it was a 60's protest (?) song.  and of course the only words i know to it are "everything is beautiful".   and that is what is sang so often.  everything is beautiful.  because it was.
peace everyone,
thank you once again.
your friend, brother, dad, uncle,
naneek 

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