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.  

Power of the Pink

Mike A.K.A Michael J. Fox— named after his celebrity lookalike, is an AT thru-hiker who just completed the trail September 16^th.  Five months ago while sitting in his accounting cubical, he decided to set a change of pace and opted to literally live “outside the box.” I was lucky enough to talk to him while his experience was fresh in his mind and pick his brain about women, food and hygiene.

 After interviewing Heather it was amusing to get the guys perspective about women on the beaten path. Mike said that many people ask what you would change about the AT, to which he responds, “the ratio of girls to guys is about 1:5…I would like to switch that ratio.” (At least there will be good pickings for me!) He also filled me in on a term—Pink blazing- a label given to a guy that slows his pace to hike with the girl he’s interested in. This lasts until she pulls her hair into a ponytail and exposes her untamed armpits or until she flat out says “I’m done hiking with you.” He “missed clean shaven girls…some of them had hairier legs than me!” (Luckily I have blonde hair) “We would be sitting around at the end of the day and I would look across and think she’s cute and then she’d lift her arm and I’d think woooah!." Whereas, Heather, explained that girls discussed "food, digestion and pooping" Mike explained that guys talked about past girlfriends, the things they did with them and girls.

Mike, however, never got the label, because he set his own pace. He did no more than ten miles the first two weeks, fifteen the next two weeks, and so on. This way “you optimize your chances of finishing."  He promotes solo hiking as “the way to go, you can go at your own pace, you don’t need to be tied to anyone else’s schedule and you meet a ton more people. You are never alone because there are people you could hike with whenever you want.” When I asked him about firearms (living on the sketchier side of the neighborhood) he replied “If you don’t carry a gun on you now, you don’t need one.”

Mike's pack made it 2,179 miles without needing to be replaced.
"My gear was falling apart and just barely made it"

While we have food at our fingertips every night before we go to bed, Mike would never be hungry but also never feel completely satisfied” so when Mike went to town he would “go to town” and order three dinner specials in one sitting. Below is a list of food items Mike had in his pack for each day:

Breakfast- 5 packets of fruit and cream oatmeal

Snack- Cliff bars, trail mix bar

Lunch- Tortilla wraps, beef stick, cheese stick, hot sauce (Mike added this to everything)

Snack- trail mix, 3-5 snickers

Dinner- instant mashed potatoes, Rice pilaf, pepperoni

“What’s great about thru-hiking is that you can eat whatever you want and not feel guilty”

“After a point you accept the fact that you just smell bad. After about 800 miles your pack begins to smell and after it rains you smell the worst. It comes with the trail, you smell.” Mike was “fabreezed” by a clerk protecting the atmosphere of the lobby of her hostel, exclaiming, “pew, some of you hikers smell so bad!” Fortunately, there is Campsuds, an all-purpose cleaner; you can get your clothes washed, dishes cleaned, body scrubbed and teeth brushed with one product that is biodegradable. This way you can cut down on weight and cut out offensive smells.

Mikes kitchen consisted of a soda can stove, alcohol,
wind guard, and pot.

I told Mike about making a two-can stove and he suggested that efficiency was key, “if it only takes a ½ ounce of alcohol to boil two cups of water, you are doing well.” He offered whiteblaze.com as a phenomenal resource to get all your questions asked. 

Mike had a positive experience on the trail and is now ready to get back to ice coffees at Dunkin Donuts and hot showers. “Congratulations making the best decision of your life!” he said as we shook hands and parted ways. This is not the last visit however, I am allowed to come back with a list of questions so long as I bring another bag of fresh fruit.As I was leaving, one of Mike’s tenants, a young boy, looked at me and asked if that was Mike he just saw. "Yes," I said, “wow, his hair got long!” Then, Mike went to talk to him. I hope he fills the boy in on his experience to counter the young that don’t appreciate what nature has to offer.

Paper Is Made from Trees

Today my friend came to the stand with the young boy she was babysitting. I used to play outside when I was little but if this boy is representative of the next generation, which I hope he is not, instead of man hunt and tree forts it's can you name all 50 of the latest cell phones and their gadgets? He told me he loves shopping and doesn't need to work because his mom works for a millionaire and his father works for a billionaire. When the topic of my endeavor came up he  asked why I was such a nature freak and claimed that “nature is the worst thing that has ever happened.” Which was ironic because he seemed fully pleased as he gulped down his sparkling cider and sucked on his maple candies. 

Below is the fortune I received after indulging in a bowl of wonton soup and a spicy salmon maki tonight at dinner:

You are the only flower of meditation in the wilderness. 

Learn Chinese- Tofu- 豆腐 (dòufu)

Lucky numbers 32,31,46,27,38,2

Shelf mushrooms on the Wapack trail.

If it weren't for nature, he would not be here and nor would this fortune.

I CAN Make a Stove

Ever since I met with Morning Glory, I have been itching to make my own stove, so that is exactly how I spent my "Thirsty Thursday" making a stove out of beer cans and fueling it with alcohol. Though I didn't "get my drink on" I sure did get my burner on. Below I walk you through fashioning a stove.

This is what you need: Two cans, scissors, pliers, tack, hammer, penny, matches, rubbing alcohol, thumbtack, and meal of choice (I chose Ramen:)

You begin with two cans, it doesn't matter what the beverage is or whether or not you start with them filled :)

Using an exacto knife or scissors cut around both cans about and inch from the bottom. 

Next, use pliers to crimp around the edges of one of the cans.

Fit the two cans together (bottoms facing out) so that the crimped can is on the inside.

 Using a thumbtack, punch holes around the edge of the stove every 1/2 inch (I had to use a hammer to get the tack through).

Using the thumbtack, pock holes in the center of the stove.

 Fill the stove by pouring alcohol into well (the alcohol will enter through the center holes. I filled the stove about half way). 

 Place penny over center holes and fill well with alcohol. The penny serves to keep the fuel that you pour into the well from leaking into the stove.

Light the stove and allow the alcohol in the well to heat up the alcohol inside the stove. The alcohol in the well burns off fairly quickly; I had to fill the well about four times, adding alcohol while the flame was still burning (not too sure if this was the safest option). The alcohol in the well needs to remain lit until flames shoot out the portals. At this point the alcohol in the stove is boiling. 

Once the alcohol is boiling inside the stove, flames will exit the stove from each of the portals. I think this looks pretty awesome. At this point I was really pumped and I was ready to cook some Ramen.

I cut the top off of a third can and used it as a mini pot in which to cook my Ramen. 

My stove happened to run out of fuel right as the Ramen was done (I need to experiment and figure out the amount of time a certain volume of alcohol will burn so that I can estimate the amount of fuel I need for each meal). I sat outside on my cement steps, huddled over my tiny stove and ate the chicken flavored Ramen out of a beer can. It tasted so much better knowing that I prepared it.The air was crisp and the stars were out. With my eyes closed I felt as if I was already on the trail. 

Super Senioritis

Tonight I should have finished studying for Cell Bio, however, I may have a mild case of Super Senioritis, and opted for a night hike up Monadnock instead. The air was too perfect to pass up. Plus it is necessary that I get my buttocks in motion even if it means getting back at midnight and getting up at 8 for an exam. If I worked my legs as much as I do my fingers typing, I'd be ready for Mt. Katahdin tomorrow.

My Muscles Compensate for My Weakness in Spelling

The journal I kept when my family and I went cross country in 1996

When I don’t know how to spell something I refer to my animate dictionaries A.K.A my sister or mom for help. For example, over the summer I was recruited Cartographer wile volunteering for an attack against the invasive species purple loosestrife, and I am embarrassed to say that I had labeled the two dams “damns”. With a quick text my trusty sister saved me from cursing all over the map. Therefore, I apologize in advance for all of the grammatical errors and spelling mistakes while I’m on the trail; my blog will require a bit of “polishing” upon my return. 

Lucky Relic

I met with Heather today, A.K.A Morning Glory which was her trail name, for being exceedingly chipper at daybreak, and in two hours she answered all 106 of my questions…she IS an amazing woman. She hiked the trail after designing an outdoor adventure for school and in three months had planned for her 4 ½ month tour of the 2,000mile long footpath.

Yes, there is a thing called “Naked Hiking Day” on the AT which takes place on the first day of summer at which time you can be “bear” bottomed. At the halfway point in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, thru-hikers can enter the ½ gallon of ice cream challenge. Thru-hikers mostly talk about “food, digestion and pooping; its color, shape and size” She craved Orange juice and a hot shower from civilization, while she lavished in the simplicity of the woods. She struggled with finding the balance between companionship and solitude on the trail. A few key items for hygiene on the footpath include: foot powder to reduce the stench, rubbing alcohol to prevent infection, and petroleum jelly to reduce friction; a great feat for feet. She suggested that “entering a hike with someone is like entering a marriage: you need to be upfront about the rules and remember that this is your journey." She never wanted to give up and knew that she was going to see it through from the moment she planned the hike.

I learned that you are able to make a stove out of a couple of coke cans. Below is the link to a great website that explains how you CAN make one of these stoves:

http://how2dostuff.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-make-pocket-stove-from-soda-can.html

Basically you cut the bottoms off of two cans, fit them together, poke holes around the edges, poke holes in the middle, fill with alcohol and ignite. Other than it taking longer to heat up, the stove is a less expensive and lighter alternative.

I was curious to know if Heather had any emotional breakdowns on the trail. Let me explain. Last summer I worked for my dad’s construction company. And, no, I was not answering phones and doing secretarial work as everyone usually presumes, instead, I was doing everything from framing to siding along with LOTS of sweeping and trips to the dumpster. I was working with my brothers and my dad’s foreman and there were three times during the summer, which usually coalesced with “code red” where I would disappear behind the dumpster, one time in the pouring rain, to ball my eyes out. I don’t think anyone would argue that the brains of men and women are wired completely differently and I usually read into how I was directed to getting them tools or fixing a mistake too emotionally. “You have to take the emotion out of it” they would tell me, and I tried to do this, but words stuck to me like glue. Heather said that she experienced a lot of emotional times while she reflected about her life journey and the state of the world and that these days were very cathartic for her and she preferred to hike alone. 

In terms of physically dealing with the “red plaque” they have what is called a Diva Cup for women which is a small funnel that can be inserted and used to collect  “natures’ offerings” then be dumped off the trail. According to Heather it is “a comfortable, earth friendly and safe alternative to tampons.” This way waste does not have to be kept in your bag as bear bate.

Heather ended up shaving her head half-way through the trail, because she was sick of it being matted and tangled. One time she hitch-hiked into town and was picked up by a guy who greeted her by saying, “How’s it going bud?” once he realized she was a woman he got “a bit weirded out.” I asked her if she thought it was beneficial being perceived as a man on the trail, and she said while her golden locks had invited a lot of attention her shaved head discouraged company. I had joked about gluing facial hair to myself to deter men and reduce the possibility of assault or harassment. I guess too much or too little hair in the right spots could do the trick! I don’t think I would actually do this, it would probably be too itchy.

After reaching Mt. Katahdin, Heather stepped unwillingly onto the fast tracks of civilization without breaks. Coming out of the woods accustomed to living a life of necessity—eating, moving, sleeping, and conversing—her life had become instantly filled with school, schedules, appointments and traffic. In an effort to reclaim the simplicity of the life she once experienced on the trail she moved out to Arizona to live among the homeless. “It was the closest I could be to the trail, these people had no home and carried all of their possessions which was not much.   

One of the 106 questions I asked Heather was if she kept anything for her protection while she was on the trail. She explained that her school mates were trying to get her to carry a gun, be accompanied by a black belt or be guarded by a pit bull, but instead, she had her lucky coin. This 1979 Susan B. Anthony coin has traveled from the East to the West coast in the pocket of a biker who believed it would keep him lucky and it did. This same coin was given to Heather, in 1999 who kept it with her as she trekked over 2,000 miles from Springer Mountain to Mt. Katahdin. “I’ve been waiting to give this to the next person,” she said as she walked over to the little box she kept on her windowsill. I was filled with honor. This was a pivotal moment for the two of us, she was passing on one of her only artifacts from hiking the AT and I was receiving a token from a woman whose footsteps I’m following. “This coin has a lot of positive energy in it,” she said as she handed it over to me. Now as I turn the lucky charm in my hand I can definitely feel it.

Crunch Time

I am presently munching on Tostitos as I mapquest Heather’s address and mind the clock. I have put together a basket of goodies from the stand as well as a 3 page list of questions (hence the basket of goodies). I must admit I’m a bit nervous. 

From Cheese to Trees

Since I started my blog, I’ve been spending a substantial amount of time on the computer, sacrificing sleep and nutrients, which is not recommended for the novice backpacker in training. I calculated the amount of free time I have given a 168hr week: deducting 25hrs of work, 16 ½ hrs of class, 56 hrs of sleep and 20hrs of studying I am left with 50.5 hrs to blog. So as I blogged this morning and felt my bottom turning into cottage cheese I was asked to hike Mt. Monadnock. There was a 3 ½hr  window of time between blogging and working at 2:30, so expecting that I would have to call work and explain that I would be late I wholeheartedly agreed to shut the computer down step it up 3,165 feet.  Living an hour away, we had 1 ½ hrs to hike Monadnock, which we did in a little over an hour. I was back home with 15 minutes to spare. By far the fastest paced hike I’ve ever done! Take home message: the only thing keeping you from doing something is doing it!

Hiker Heather

I just recently started working at the orchard next to my house. I went down there towards the end of the summer and this is pretty much how the conversation went:

“Are you hiring?”

“Yes! You are a Godsend”

“Great, I’m really strong and I love being outside” (with the intention that I was going to be an orchard hand)

“We need someone for the stand”

“I can do that too!”

I’ve been working there ever since. So of course I was asked what my plans were for after graduation and I said that I was going to hike the AT. “Alone?!” has been everyone’s first question, to which I respond that I know I am hiking it and whoever would like to can join. “You should bring a gun” is the first piece of advice they give, and “You are brave, I could never do anything like that” is usually the closing statement. One of my fellow employees told me that he had a Hiking the AT Guide book that he was going to scrounge up and let me borrow, which has been a great resource in between customers and during lulls. So the next thing I find out is that, Heather, a woman who previously worked at the orchard hiked the AT when she was in college, completed it in 4 ½ months and did it alone. I need to meet this girl! I thought. This woman had become my new idol.

So long story short, a few weeks back a customer came to the counter holding two of our work T-shirts and asked if Tracy was around. And this is how this conversation went down:

“Did you used to work here?”

“Yes.”

“Is your name Heather?”

“Yes.”

 “You hiked the Appalachian Trail!”

“Yes!”

 “OMG! I’m planning on hiking the Appalachian Trail! I took down your number, I want to get together with you at some point so that I can pick your brain about your trip!”

I wanted to press her for more questions but customers were starting to pile up and looked impatient. What they did not realize was that any celebrity could have walked through the door and I would not have been as excited to see them as I was to see Heather, a woman who hiked over 2000 miles from Georgia to Maine and then hitch-hiked cross country all by herself.

We are meeting Monday and I cannot wait! I have begun compiling a list of questions:

What was it like being a woman on the trail? (How did you deal with “code red” A.K.A cramps, tampons, and mood swings?)

Did you feel safe hiking alone?

How did you prepare meals?

What did your gear consist of?

First Step

                                                                Getting gear.