This past week caused me to realize the wide range of emotions that can befall a thru-hiker.  I'll go ahead and tell you up front that I consider myself to be a person who has above average emotional stability.  The ingredients to this emotional diversity can be anything from weather changes, availability of needed resources, the people or lack of people around you, the difficulty of terrain, pack weight, the way the pack is fitting, conditions of the feet, how exhausted you become and many more.

Last week I had two friends come join me on the trail for four days.  Jamie and Anne Marie started with me in Delaware Water Gap and finished near High Point, NJ.  The week was great.  New Jersey was absolutely beautiful, the terrain was fairly easy the wildlife was abundant, the body felt good, the weather was near perfect, and the company was superb.

Then things changed.  After crossing over from New Jersey to New York the weather became hot and humid, the terrain became straight up and straight down over boulders, water became more scarce, and I was alone.  For the first time on the entire journey I didn't see another thru-hiker for two days

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Snickers, Nets, and Ernest P. have had five months of adventure this year, and the end of the AT is in sight.  They have less than 500 miles to go to their destination of Mt. Katahdin, Maine! 

Well, it is a very sad day in Trailville.  4Runner, our beloved brother, has decided that the trail is not for him and has headed home.  There is so much I could say about my pal.  Most things I have always just taken for granted because he's always been around.  Ever since we decided to hike the trail, almost a year ago, we've been like biscuits and gravy, peanuts and salt, butter and baked potatoes -- inseparable.  It is going to be so different… we are a lot alike -- fairly opinionated, motivational, hike the same pace, and share many interests.  When on the trail we were rarely ever out of each other's sight range.  It will be much different hiking alone.  Sure I've got friends I'm hiking "with", but 4Runner was someone who went "stride-for-stride."  We'll miss you Bro!

In the beginning…Matthew, Andrew and Nathan have known each other all their lives.  In fact as babies they were all dedicated at church on the same day since they were born so close together.  They grew up hiking and camping with their families.  Then the last three years the boys have hiked parts of the AT in and near the Smokies during their Spring breaks from school.

Early last Spring Matt decided he would hike the whole AT this year.  I knew Andrew would follow.  Sure enough he soon decided to engage in this adventure.  Then Nathan too decided he would go for it!

For almost a year the boys prepared by working sometimes

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