The aqua blaze is on

After weeks of hearing the urban legend about an "aqua blaze" on the trail, the logistics have been worked out and we hit the river tomorrow morning! This concept and the murky details behind it have been discussed by all thru hikers since we heard about them in GA. After arriving in waynesboro, the proper companies and details were discovered and the plans have been made.

Basically the aqua blaze consists of a canoe trip through the south fork river which runs through the shennandoh national park. Rather than hike the 100 or so miles that would get us through the park, we will be gliding down the river and it's rapids.

Fittingly, Captain Red Beard will be my canoe partner and the other boats will be filled by Legs & Peter Pan, and Foon and Red Sox. Spirits are high and everyone is psyched for the trip which should take up to 6 days.

Some AT purists may look down on the fact we are "skipping" this stretch of hiking, but this crew isn't concerned about what others think. We are out here for the experience and this is sure to be one hell of a time. Plus it gives me an excuse to come back and hike the shennandohs. I'll be sure to update as we go along (if service permits). Woooo!!

Mojo

New Kicks!

After putting in 650 miles on my trail runners, the time had come for a new pair. I dialed up Solomon and let them know I was a thru hiker and they hooked me up big time. Sent me a new pair of sneakers (new model and everything) for free! Not only are their shoes fantastic on the trail, they clearly have great customer service and appreciation. I'd recommend their shoes anytime.

New sneaks



Old beat up sneaks (notice the holes I've been hiking with)




Rock on Solomon!

-mojo

120 miles in 6 days

What a week it has been. Just realized I have hiked 120 miles in the past 6 days, capping it off with a 26.5 mile day today, my longest yet on the trail. Today's hike was pretty tough with about 8000 feet of total elevation change (ie climbed 3000 ft, descended 3000, etc) and the total day spanning about 15 hours (including breaks).

Also night hiked alone for the first time to make it to my final destination. Not as spooky as I thought it would be, but the fog that rolled in right after the sun went down made for a slow go at it. Bear bag is up. Hammock is up. I'm ready for some sleep. Night!

-mojo

Reunited and separated

Mojo returned from NJ and we hiked together yesterday. Also, my father was able to join me (and then us) for a couple of days on the AT. Last week I made an unexpected decision to accompany my mother on a trip to Japan. Thus, I will be pulling off the trail for two weeks. I am excited to visit japan but also anxious to return to the trail.

In any event the adventure continues to present unexpected events and I am still having the time of my life. Mojo and I have learned a ton about ourselves, each other, and about backpacking. The AT is an end in and of itself but I am beginning to realize how interconnected it is with the grander journey of Life. As obvious as this observation may seem it has become more palpable with each passing day. "Balance" is an exercise constantly in flux.

Here's to never stepping into the same river twice! Onward towards There.

Happy trails, All!

Hybrid

Typical lunch:



A hollow log burns extremely well (chimney effect):



Hiking with my father (aka "The Tuna")



"Hello Goodbye"



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Trail magic!!

Hit the trail today. Hiked about 17 miles. My feet are soreeeee. I was happy to make the shelter at the end of the day as my mind and body needed a rest. The evening would only get better.

I was sitting around the shelter with a couple of section hikers as well as thru hikers bear bait and big bad wolf, just putting the finishing touches on my unappetizing Costco Mac and cheese. All of a sudden we see an older gentleman, maybe 50s, approach the shelter with just a briefcase looking thing. It actually looked like one of those pizza warming containers the delivery guy has when he whips out your piping hot pizza at the front door. As he walked up, we all watched him, entirely confused as to what he was doing.

"Do you guys like pizza?" he asked?

"Yesss...." we all answered cautiously, but in unison.

"Well, here ya go. It's still hot."

And with that, he pulled out three pizzas from his pizza warmer. Our eyes must have widened to all time highs. We were initially speechless, but then lobbed grateful praises his way. The man said you're welcome and left just as quickly as he had come.

I devoured about 7 slices (the section hikers had already eaten and weren't terribly hungry...score!) and poured my mac and cheese into a zip lock for later. It was pepperoni too, which is my favorite.



Thank you thank you to the mysterious pizza delivery man. He made a tough day into an unforgettable night. When my time on the trail is up, I plan to incorporate trail magic into my everyday life. I have come to realize how much a selfless, kind gesture, especially to those in need (or very hungry) can have such an incredible impact.

Love this trail!

-mojo

Let there be sight!

I can see! While rafting in Dollar Store inflatable tubes down a river in Damascus I wiped out on a small rapid and lost my glasses. I know, it was a dumb move. However, the new pair I ordered have arrived here in this small Virginia town.

Now I am fully loaded with supplies and going to tackle some more mountains! The bears are out and about for sure, maybe I will see another one today.
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The second separation of hybrid and mojo

For the second time on our adventure, hybrid and I had to part ways. Like the last time, this departure is due to a sibling graduation. I missed my sister, amy's graduation from Boston college in may and wanted to make the graduation party to make up for it (I always like parties better anyway).

So I am taking 5 days off the trail to go up to NJ to see family and friends, load up on some real world food, and relax. I expect that when I get back on the trail, I will be at 110% and ready to crank out some big summer miles. And I'll need to in order to catch up with hybrid who will be anywhere from 50-100 miles ahead of me. Catching him will be a bit of a game and anyone who knows me, knows my competitive edge usually kicks in during these challenges.

I will miss my buddy, but I'll catch him in no time. Have a great hike Hybrid!

-mojo

Some everyday normalcies of trail life

A good portion of the posts Hybrid and I write relate to "how our day went" and I thought I'd switch it up and write more about some of the normalcies that have become an everyday part of my new, trail life.

I wake up usually by 6-6:30 in the morning. Usually don't need an alarm. Or a watch for that matter. I know it's an acceptable wake up time when I hear birds (other than owls) chirping. It's a really soothing way to wake up actually. It gradually gets lighter (no curtains to block out the sun) and I'm sorta of rustled out of bed by mother nature. We call her our trail mom out here. Ive learned - camping on ridges and mountain tops = amazing sunrises.

We do ALOT of hiking. Usually 8-9 hrs daily of walking up mountains, down mountains, over rocks and through streams. You throw breaks in there and we are sometimes "in transit" for 13 hrs a day. Takes a toll on your body. Hybrid and I loaded up on perhaps too much food and water before leaving the last town and it was brutal for the next couple of days. My pack had to weigh 45-50 lbs. Lugging that weight up steep inclines for 9 hours a day will give you zzz's more than any ambien.

No lunch hour is ever the same two days in a row. Both literally and figuratively. Literally, I never eat lunch at the same time every day, and if I do, it's by mere coincidence. I usually eat lunch based on how far I've gone, how hungry I am, or if I made it to a shelter between the hours of 11:30am and 3:30pm.

And while I may eat a similar lunch every day, depending on the week (this week it has been jalapeño, salami-turkey pepperoni cheddar wraps), it is always at a different location, usually with different people.

Take today for instance. I actually cooked a pasta dish instead of the tortillas (I bought too many). I left a little early this AM so I'm eating with my neighbors, the birds and the bugs. I'm standing here clapping my hands from time to time because I hear big footsteps off in the trees. Bears not allowed. Although I bet it's just sticks falling in the wind and my mind is playing tricks on me.

Noises in the woods at night used to wake me when I camped before hiking the trail and dare I say, cause the "fear of the unknown". It was like that for the first month out here too. I've since learned to sleep like the rocks around me. The scuffling in the trees around me have just become so commonplace that ive become used to it. The bear poking around our camp the other night did give me a startle however.

There are many, many more of these normal, everyday things which are so drastically different from my life not on the trail, but I'll stop here for now so I can devour the rest of this pasta lunch. Mmmmm. Trail cooking. I could talk about that for hours.

Thanks for readin!

-Mojo

P.s.

p.s. I saw my first rattle snake yesterday. It was large. I left it alone and watched it slither away. Would much prefer a bear to a rattler


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Location:Atop a mountain in a pine forest

Hostel

After a beautiful day of hiking yesterday we found ourselves without an ideal spot to camp. So, we made it half of a mile off the trail to a gas station. Coincidentally, a hostel owner pulled up in his truck-shuttle and we decided to crash his farm-garage-hostel. We ran into friends weve recently made, played chess, had a couple of beers, ate dinner, and went to bed.

The crowing of a rooster woke me up this morning. Now I must gather momentum for the day, pack up, and get moving.

We are hitting the 700 mile mark today; we've been walking at a good pace these last couple of weeks.


Daddy long leg with food in its mouth.






Campfire:






Water source the other morning was a tiny spring:





Mojo is a pro at hanging bear bags:







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Day 61

Evening, all. Hybrid and Mojo here reporting from atop a mountain, yet again surrounded by storms. Fortunately the winds are sweeping them around us and in the valleys.

We successfully ascended approximately 1800 feet from town with maximum packweights
(provisions for six days.)

I encountered my first black bear today at a trail junction. We starred at each other for a second, I said "hey bear!" and it took off into the woods. It was a beautiful animal to see at 30 yards away. It's a good thing it fled, too; I would also think twice before messin with me. Hybrid 1, bear 0.

Our dinner tonight was awesome: bagel/fajita with cheese and sausage toasted over a campfire. Mojo hoofed out a bottle of jalapeño ranch sauce that added an extra zesty kick.

Town was a great rest and I reloaded my water purifier with fresh batteries. My titanium spork snapped and my water bladder popped a leak. For now I am using plastic bottles and whittled chopsticks; it's looking manageable.

Winding down now. Another day of hiking tomorrow. 640 miles completed!

Good night!

Hybrid



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Mojos photos

Hey all- here are some shots I took with the iPhone over the past 10ish days. Hope you enjoy







































(view of our campfire from my hammock)

Motel life

After 10.5 days since the last town and nearly two+ weeks of not showering (excluding rivers and streams) we have finally stopped at a town to resupply and regroup. We stayed 3 miles from town last night so that we could stroll in and have a "nero" (near zero-miles) day today - it's been worth it.

We are loaded down with nearly a weeks worth of provisions and we are about to fire up the grill here at the motel for some well-earned protein.

Hopefully, there will be quality movies on the tube. Tomorrow we take off for more miles in the woods. It's always tough hiking out of towns down here because they're located in valleys; the ascents to get out are a workout.

Hope all is well out there.

Hybrid

Our shelter in town:


Cleaning socks in the sink:


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Camping on a ridgeline

Of course the thunderstorms roll in the night we decide to camp on a ridgeline. Storms are beginning to roll in on either side of the mountain we are atop. Hope we get lucky and they blow on by.

Trail magic

I was hiking the other day and I crossed a road, just another gravel road crossing. I walked approximately 100 yards when something non-natural-looking caught the corner of my vision. Lo and behold: I stumbled upon two coolers of trail magic. As usual, I approached the coolers expecting all the goods to be gone, eaten by other savages like myself. It was my lucky day, I feasted on a soda, pbj sandwich, and some crackers.

Thank you trail angels for the trail magic!
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Oh water, where art thou?

First off, hybrid and I didn't hit the 24 miles the other day. We got a later than expected start to a hotter than expected day with more tired than expected legs. Cranking out 15 was a chore. But we feel 15 miles still ain't bad.

The water situation out here has become increasingly frustrating. Early on we felt lucky with the lack of rain we had to deal with, but lately it has caused all the stream beds we rely on to dry up. When the next water supply is 7 miles away it is bad enough. When you get to that stream or spring and it's dried up, well then you get nervous because water is essential out here.

Last night we got to a shelter at around 6pm and sure enough, the stream had run dry. We hiked an additional mile to a campsite that had a stream. That was also dry...except for a little muddy puddle-pool with flies all around it. We had no choice. (hybrid later pointed out that our search for water put us over the 20 mile mark for the day)

Back before the trail, I wrote a post on the merits of each water treatment method. Well I'm sure glad I had a filter yesterday. So are the 6 other people who were out of water and didn't have a filter. Mojos filter saved the day!

We hit a small grocer today and will be loading up on gatorades, suffice to say. Let's hope there is more water going forward and maybe a few showers from mother nature?

Onward!

Good morning!

Slept like a chainsaw last night. Always crazy dreams out here.

We had the shelter to ourselves which was nice and quiet. The mice were silent too.

The red sky from last night held true; it's a gorgeous day today. The terrain is also in our favor today. Looks like we will set a record: 24 miles.

Gotta get movin; no water here, must hike 7 miles to the next source. 3/4 of a liter until then. I am looking forward to it.

410 calories in this poptart!? Sweet! (note to self: don't eat these after the trail.)

Have a great hike today, y'all !


Hybrid


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What I ate today

Mojo here. Done for the day and it feels good to be "home". Although there looks to be a potential storm rolling through, we are safe at shelter.

I thought I'd share with you what my diet consisted of today. It's a little different than it was in the real world. Here it is, in order of when I ate it:

2 packets of oatmeal (I've eaten so much oatmeal that I now hate it)
1 cup of Earl grey tea
1 snickers "fun size"(the small one)
1 twix "fun size"
TRAIL MAGIC!- 1 pbj, 2 cream cheese & chive cracker pckts, 1 can of lemon lime soda- thanks lumberjack!
2 milky way "minis" (think smaller than fun size)
1 pckt of fruit snacks
1 fruit leather
Throughout the day:
About 15 handfuls of my trail mix (consisting of vanilla granola, dries banana, craisins, almonds, and chocolate)
1 cliff power gel
1 mountain house lasagna with meat sauce
1 pckt of butter instant mash potatoes
1 can orange soda -saved for dinner (I was really thirsty at trail magic time!)

So that is what I ate today. First time I actually recalled it this entire trail, I think. I had a cliff "mojo" bar (my favorite of the energy bars) that i was close to eating but i held off and rationed for tomorrow. Aside from the trail magic, my normal diet is usually similar to the above.

One last thing- when I had my last spoonful of my lasagna with meat sauce mixed with instant mashed potatoes, I was truly saddened. Haha. Hybrid is makin some tea so we will be all good!

Thanks for readin
-mojo

Ps going for our longest day tomorrow of 24 miles. Wish us luck!

Movin right along

We are truckin right along. 60 miles in three days; we're feeling great. New record of 22.6 miles the other day!

Just resupplied, which is nice, but now we are heavy again. Weather has been hot and sunny. It feels like summer. Mojo and I have definitely developed our "funk". (shower in the near future would be refreshing.)

In the last few days we have seen: ponies, cattle, deer, toads, birds, snakes, and more animal-like-hikers.

Water is becoming increasingly important. We devoured a burger a few hours ago and we are feeling good.

From a shave grove on the skirts of grassy hills, yours truly, Mojo and Hybrid.

Wild, wild ponies

Hiked a good distance yesterday (somewhere in the area of 17-18 miles) and boy was it hot. Fortunately there was no shortage of water, but if it was an indication of the summer heat, we are going to bake. Personally I'd rather have heat than cold so I'm not complaining.

Glad we finally ripped ourselves from damascus and were able to get a few good days of hiking in. Sat by a cascade, hiked atop a grassy bald, walked by some cows on a farm, and played with wild ponies today. I've now seen wild ponies, but still no bears. I wonder if hybrid heard the ponies roaming around our campsite last night. Pretty surreal.

Going to attempt a 20 today. We'll see how it goes. At least the legs feel good and soreness is gone (for now).