New Projects - Favorite Subjects- True Trail Stories

I've begun a new project with favorite subject matter: true trail stories about the people, adventures and ridiculous stuff over 12 years of trail life. Most of the stories have never been told. Most of the stories are just too damn embarrassing.

This tiny photo is of a thru hiker named "Falafel". He spent a night in a Georgia AT shelter and woke to find a mother mouse had not only given birth in his pack, but had taken up residence.

I met this couple on their honeymoon on the Pacific Crest Trail. These two lovebirds carried a four pound camera and their last resupply from Stehican  consisted of 52 candy bars and one package of ramen noodles. I met them the next year while I was hiking the AT and they were working for Backpacker's Magazine "Get out more " team. Fantastic couple. Shout out to Brent and Amy. PCT hikers sometimes don't have trail names. We called these two the Honeymooners.

This is me on the second day of my PCT hike at the Kick Off Party at Lake Moreno. We were fed all kinds of fantastic food by well wishers, trail angels and family members. I met some wonderful people there. If you're heading out to the PCT, this party is usually the last weekend in April.

Smurf and Radio Flyer, good dudes from the AT thru hike. We liked getting our 20 mile days done early, then relax on whatever the shelter had to offer. These dudes and I shared a room in Harper's Ferry. I felt like the mom when they went out on the town shopping and gave me silk shorts. Ahem, all in the family.

This food orgy could only happen when hiker trash is involved. Take any food, place it in the middle of the table and stand back. Spoons appear out of no where, I mean. This is a Pacific Crest Trail Photo, and I remember much hunger being replaced by bloated town bellies. You gotta love it.

The Poet. Need I say more? Great guy, quiet and thoughtful.

My new project has photos and true stories woven with lessons I learned the hard way, sort of a how to and how not to book, along with ultra light gram weenie embarrassing moments.

To all my trail bum friends, hiker trash, and gram weenie aficionados: May All Your Gear be Lighter, Happy New Years, and I'll See you up the trail.

Brawny

Mayan Ruins Near Appalachian Trail

A friend posted this link on facebook. I followed it up.

http://www.examiner.com/architecture-design-in-national/massive-1-100-year-old-maya-site-discovered-georgia-s-mountains

Its a fairly long and decent article. The AT uses nearby towns as resupply and access points. Blairsville, Helen, and Sautee are commonly used by long distance hikers.

The ruins in question are pyramid shaped mounds. All along the AT various historical sites are passed, especially for the civil war. Many do not have markers. This is one reason to slow down, keep your eyes open and your nose open to the wonderful smells.

The trail has so much to offer, truly an experience of a lifetime, or many lifetimes.
Apparently this article is receiving much attention. I hope the little towns and surrounding area receives extra tourists, too. Things are slow in the winter in these mountains.

I think its ligit. The guy has done his research. Interesting read.

Fighting for the Planet Maybe Fatal

 I know the planet will win. She'll fight back. I am saddened by the loss of those who fight against the  poachers and oil companies, those that distroy our home.  The Mayan Calendar predicts an end of some kind on Dec. 21, 2012. Maybe it will be an end to world wide humanity. Maybe those that survive will be those who can love the earth for what it is. Minimalism is still the answer.May all your stockings be stuffed with love. Merry Christmas.

A Great Quote for All Endeavors

2012 is right around the corner. Wonder what kind of resolutions will be made as the economy stutters along.

I'm very deep into my writing. The notebook shows a tiny portion of the "goal" pages I set. It keeps me out of trouble. Maybe it will get me into some.

I use maps and try to picture what's really going on, will highlight, but in the end, here is my favorite quote and I think it will work for all walks of life, the trail, new relationships.

Very often audacity, not talent, makes one person and artist, another a shadow. Take a chance, be bad, make mistakes.
We may look and feel erratic.
Creativity is blocked by falling into others' plans for us. It makes us frustrated. Your own healing is the greatest message of hope for others. Anger is a loyal friend, tells us it is time to act in our own best interest.

I believe this came from "the Artist's Way" a workbook of sorts.

Either get stuck in the rut, or go through the crisis.

Trail Gods

Today I found a cigarette lighter on the trail. I needed one. Thanks Trail Gods!

The other day I reached into my wood stove to light a swatch of paper and dropped my lighter. Once the fire got hot, it exploded. The stove wasn't damaged. I jumped several feet straight up.

So I needed another one...but here's the whole story.

This winter I've been writing an Apocalypse series called End of Days. I finished book three, complied it into a trilogy. Its available at either amazon.com or barnes and noble.com.

The ending has a twist, so I won't go into details, but the gods seemed to think I should get real, so this fourth book, a darker, gritty, spirit-guide thing was born. Carla gets seriously scathed and we see the wicked side.

I admit to trepidation in publishing it. I thought of holding back. While walking this morning the lighter appeared. How strange. Sort of a sign.
And I thought, don't tell anyone, just put it up there and hide.

But the trail gods and I have a long history together.  Maybe I'll blog more about that later.
For now, though, I think they're ok with this book.

This is for mature audiences and a warning, do not try the vision quest detailed in chapter seven. Remember this is fiction.
Dark Trails-an interlude with gods. Right now, only 99 cents.

Disco Scarecrow and Fabric Content

Our scarecrow kept falling over in the last storms so I just decided to switch her location. She's now guarding from the back, instead of the frount.

Taking a page from some neighbors, I utilzied a sapling. Looks like she enjoys this spot much more. Boogie, Baby!

On a more serious note, I finally coughed up nearly 20 bucks for new camo pants. These are from Walmart in the hunting section. Youth's 14/16, they fit perfectly. And better still, fabric content is 60% cotton and 40% polyester. I like this blend cause it will dry faster than all cotton.

I love the Real Tree mix, the greens are deeper than they look in this photo, sorry.

I regret to say they are made in china. Well, trading partners are still part of the game.

Rainmaker's Survival Novel

David Mauldin has his first novel complete and available both at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

The web page at trailquest:

http://www.trailquest.net/SLOH.html

will give many more details, let you feast on a sample, and show you the cover. He's been practicing what he preaches, and knows his way around survival. A long distance backpacker, friend and mentor, I count him among the gifted ones.