One thing I should have mentioned already- if anyone reading this will be in proximity of the AT later this year and is interested in hiking a bit with me or just meeting me on the trail with a captain and coke, pringles or industrial strength deodorant, ping me via the site and we’ll arrange. I’m already anticipating hiking with Wendy, Emily and Hamid in New Jersey if schedules work out and would love to connect with others along the way if your plans put you anywhere near the trail, even if but for a few hours.
Hello Michael,
Your Linked In post made my day. I am so envious. I don’t know if I can make it to the trail, but I am thinking about it and if I do will definitely bring Captain and Coke. I look forward to following the blog. Take care and enjoy.
Mike.
So great to hear from you Mike! Have a great summer and if you do make it near the trail, be sure to let me know.
Hi Michael,
What a fantastic journey you have endeavored on! Really enjoying the pictures and blog! Wishing you safe and “happy trails” !
Once a friend, always a friend!
Paul Enberg
Wow…so great to hear from you Paul! One of the unanticipated benefits of this (already at this early stage) is the opportunity it has provided to reconnect with old friends. Thanks for the kind note and there will be much more to come once I finish nursing my heels back to good shape (another 2-3 days, I think). I’m getting very antsy to continue but don’t want to compound my choice of ill-fitting new shoes by continuing to hike in them. Paid for a shuttle this morning back and forth to town to choose some new ones. Say hi to Denise and the kiddos!
Hi Michael,
We are about 4-5 hours from the trail and would love to connect so we may try to figure out how to make it there to meet up with you. We WILL bring Captain and Coke if we do. You are also welcome to swing by our new home in Raleigh if that is an option.
“Lately it occurres to me What a long, strange trip it’s been!”
Cheers,
Mark & Jeanne
Sounds like a great plan Mark! Once I establish a longer term hiking cadence we can zero in on approximate dates. My mouth is already watering! All the best!
Greetings! What a fun adventure you are undertaking; fun way to take a vacation and fall out for a while.
I won’t be able to take you up on the invitation to join you for a portion of your hike, but know I’ll be cheering you on through these updates.
Only kind regards,
Mary
Thanks Mary! Say hi to the gang at Carlson and it means a lot to get your support! Have a great summer!
Wow, Michael! What a lucky boy you are! Wendy is an absolute saint for encouraging you to go on this adventure. As a hard-working, dedicated, and devoted Capricorn, I’m quite sure you totally deserve it. (I’m counting on Jeremy will do the same for me in the future for the worldly adventure with the Peace Corps or something similar I’m visualizing…) We would LOVE to connect with you on or near the trail and I’m sure my adorable but very bratty (adolescent) dog, Lexi, would enjoy some hiking with you too. I don’t know anything about the geography of the trail, so tell me where you’ll be when, or when you’ll be where? 🙂 Like how long will you be in New England?
I have a complicated schedule at the Retreat of having to work every other weekend and then I have every other Monday and every other Thursday off. Today (Thursday, July 17) is my day off, so I have this coming Monday the 21st off. Chaya is coming home from a summer school/camp in Colorado on the 26th. We plan to go to the coast of Maine (Oguncuit) at the end of August, but I don’t know if you’ll still be that far north then. Where do you think you’ll be around August 20-23 and/or beginning of September? Looking forward to seeing you!!
And please send my very best to Wendy and the Fabulous Five!!
Tanya- so glad to hear from you and we’ll definitely have to connect! I’m pretty sure the AT goes within fairly close proximity of your town, but will research and let you know. It’s still early to know my hiking pace, but based on early speculation I’ll be out of Maine long before you guys are here, but let’s plan on coordinating in the next couple of weeks as I establish some consistent cadence. Say hi to Jeremy and Chaya and I’ll ping you soon when I’ve got more info! All the best!
Good to see you are on your adventure! Was great seeing you in Montana. Enjoy my “old country” – the AT in New England is where I formed my love of wild places and backpacking. Especially when you get to the White Mountains (Lake Tear in Clouds), and of course the whole trail in Vermont (hiked the Long Trail end to end in High School); in Mass say hi to Mount Greylock (we had a winter disaster on that peak), and when you hike through CT that whole AT section is where I spent so much time (especially a place called Sages Ravine, just when you get into CT the other side of Bear Mountian)- Sages Ravine was my “happy place” growing up so don’t go poop there.
Looking forward to keep track of you, good hiking! – Ed & Laurie, Missoula, Montana
Eddie, Laurie: Thanks again for showing me around your great town and for the info and tips on the Whites. People say that 80% of the AT effort is expended in the northernmost 20% of the trail, so conversely once I push past Vermont I should see somewhat more level hiking. In the meantime, I can’t wait to hit the Whites! Have a great summer and we’ll chat again along the way.
So glad to see you made it to Shaws and were able to rest! Hoping you enjoyed the breakfast. Kevin left some packets of Starbucks hidden along the trail for you, not sure if you saw any of them.
I’ve been trying to figure out how to post pix here but am struggling, I had a good one of you helping Fly In and his dad cross the river.
When you get close to Connecticut let us know. We’d for sure meet you on the trail! We can email you a cell phone # if you want to text us when you get closer.
Happy trails!
Kevin and Claudine, CT
Claudine, Kevin: Great to hear from you and so glad to have met you both! I’ll definitely ping you when I’m closing in on Connecticut. My email is gosheymj@gmail.com. I was under the impression a commenter could post pics but just checked and I was wrong, so feel free to send me the photos and I will post, and include your contact number so we can be in touch. My cell is 651-964-5189. Looking forward to seeing you again soon if schedules work out!
I am a big fan of the movie Forest Gump. Your adventure from the day you quit your job has been captivating…The thrill of waiting to see what you will do next has become a source of endorphine rush.
By the way, Boundary water with you was a great trip.
Ditto on BWCA: we’ll need to get Ted to organize another trip. As for the thrill of waiting to see what’s next, I haven’t had this much fun in years. It parallels the feeling of unknown when hiking in Maine…so many roots and rocks to dodge you don’t know where to direct your next step until your foot is in the air. A bit nerve wracking, but exhilarating.
We’re picking up Chaya at Andover on Saturday (Did I tell you she got a full scholarship there?) and then the next weekend I have off will be August 9 &10th and then I’ll have Thursday the 18th off. Any idea around where you’ll be on those dates??
Oh – your reply didn’t “Ping” me automatically for some reason. Can you cc me at ttabach@sover.net to be sure I get it? If not, I’ll just keep checking.
As we say every day to the teenagers we work with: Stay safe and have fun!!
Thanks Tanya! I emailed some logistic details and am looking forward to seeing you guys soon…so much to catch up on this time!
Michael —
I’m pretty sure I didn’t get the e-mail with logistics. Did you send it to ttabach@sover.net?
–Tanya