Another Visit With Michael J. Fox

Some wear bug nets, while others spray DEET and accept the fact it eats through clothes, still others, such as Mike, use nothing, “It’s a Zen challenge…you have to get through them eating you” he explains with a chuckle.

Being a male, Mike explaines that hitch-hiking without a backpack resulted in no ride, hitch-hiking with a backpack optimized your chances and hitch-hiking with a girl equated to getting picked up 100% of the time. I guess a woman sometimes does need to rescue a man.

Aside from Campsuds, there is Dr. Bronner's which is also advertized as a four-in-one cleaner; you can get your clothes washed, teeth brushed, body scrubbed and dishes cleaned with one bottle of this biodegradable substance. Mike suggested I test it out as toothpaste before I commit.

There are several legends, he assured me I would bump into on the trail. Warren Doyel is a 60 year old man who has hiked the trail 16 times. He takes up to ten students and slack packs—has a van follow and hold gear so that he can travel with a day pack. Baltimore Jack is a chubby and out-of-shape thru-hiker who likes to party. He has hiked the trail 8 consecutive times. “That’s what must draw people back to the trail…the simplicity of life. Once you’re out there, there are no worries.”  Mike misses the simplicity of life on the trail yet enjoys everything at home, “this is better than oatmeal” he says as he looks down at his breakfast sandwich and ice coffee.”

What happened on a daily bases was "trail magic" done by "trail angels" anything from someone leaving a soda on the side of a trail to filling a few car loads of food.” A way people can reconnect with the trail even though they can’t hike it, offered Mike.  

Two weeks before Mike flew to Georgia, he contracted pneumonia. He had planned to go hiking to train for his trek but resorted to “watching Man v.s the Wild and eating a lot of ice cream” given his condition. Still on antibiotics, Mike hit the trail as planned. Mike never experienced backpacking before he headed out.

One night Mike woke up to the sound of a raccoon chewing through his food pack. “Get!” Mike shouted, but the fury bandit didn’t budge. Instead his eyes locked on Mike’s in a stare down at which point he proceeded to drag Mike’s food pack away from the tent. Oh no you didn’t, thought Mike and he flew out of his tent and punched the raccoon in its side. “I had him for breakfast” Mike joked. Of course I believed this at first. I attribute my gullibility to my unfamiliarity with Mike. He got me again when he explained his sewing kit came in handy when he had to give himself stitches.