Georgia to Maine - - Please join me from start (4/1) to finish (8/10) - 132 days!!!!!

Bethlehem, NH
I have completed my thru-hike of the AT from Georgia to Maine; I started 4/1 and completed 8/10/10. I decided to do this thru-hike in memory of my brother Michael and in turn decided to turn it into a fundraiser. All money raised went to the Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country which gives year-round opportunities in sports and recreation to people with physical or developmental disabilities. My wife Pam and I got involved with this program because it allows us to help people with disabilities enjoy the outdoors like we do and my brother Michael did. Michael was born mentally challenged, and he loved to visit us in the North Country of NH and go hiking. He also loved the outdoors and did many other sports. So, to help others do this and other outdoor activities is a TRIBUTE to him, and an HONOR to us. Many of you have helped me along my journey and donated (follow donation link) directly to a secure website. All donations have gone and WILL CONTINUE to go to ASPNC – nonprofit org to help assist others to hike, ski, kayak, snow shoe..etc… Thank you all in advance for your kindness & generosity, Dave & Pam Smith

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Sunday - 5/23

Rough night at Punch Bowl Shelter for all. Not much sleep for anyone.

When Ponytail got to the Punch Bowl Shelter Sat night he encountered that the Boy Scouts had tried to take over the shelter. They had all their gear everywhere in the shelter(they were trying to dry it – it rained). They were nicely asked by several thru-hikers to gather up their gear so that other people could get into the shelter to stay dry too. They did.

Ponytail got up and packed up his things (so he thought) and left for the day. He encountered a 300 yr old Chestnut Oak Tree, 150 yr old White Pine and butterflies galore today. Some yellow, some brown, and some black. It was really cool to see them all hovering over the cool moist mud. He even got trail magic today near Brown Mnt Creek. There was a cooler w/several ice cold PBR’s. For those that don’t know. Pabst Blue Ribbon is beer. That was really nice. Him and a few others had some and then moved on. Skies were threatening. He had been skirting showers all day long. He encountered a really bad thunder and lightning storm up on a ridge line of course it wasn’t in a valley. Nope Ridge line. Not much fun he says. Hope he doesn’t encounter these again. He was trying to run from it to get off the ridge and he says he pretty much ran all the way to the shelter from Bald.

He got to Cow Camp Gap Shelter and wanted to rest and start his dinner. Oh wait! Where is his stove? 15.1 miles back at Punch Bowl Shelter. Guess when the impatient Boy Scouts were moving things all around they moved Dave’s stove by and he didn’t realize it. What a dilemma. Nothing to cook his food with or in. The pot is w/it too along w/his spork. Needless to say he was preparing for a few semi hungry days until he could get to an outfitter to buy a new pot and stove. (absolutely no way to cook all the nice dinners he has) Higher Tower and AD(Asian w/dreadlocks) left the shelter a bit after the Boy Scouts and noticed a bag w/a stove had been left behind. They figured it must be Pony Tails or Tillermans. They came into the shelter later on around 8:30pm and Dave was thrilled that they had found it and carried it all that way(15.1 miles) to him. If Dave had hiked on and didn’t stay at this shelter he wouldn’t have seen High Tower that night or maybe for days. What a nice guy! Bottom line PTD is happy and got to have a hot cooked meal.

So, 15.1 miles today and did I mention PTD PASSES THE 800 MILE MARK TODAY

1 comment:

  1. Littleton High School Student26/5/10

    Haha. Well at least High Tower and AD brought it back to him. 15.1 miles is a long way. I guess it goes to show how true friends can really be met on the AT. Keep on Going PTD!

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