5/24 - The NOC and the cliffs of insanity. After an entertaining stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, (FOOD, whitewater kayakers, FOOD, Rafting, FOOD) Pete and Karen accomplished a 4000 foot climb out of the Nantahala river gorge. (The earlier 1000 footers are but a distant, minor, memory). Karen likened the top of the climb to the cliffs of insanity (remember the giant?) in the Princess Bride.

5/22 - Both Karen and Pete are fairing well, tired and sore, but are getting the groove. The trail has now given them their names, of Kikker (frog in Dutch--- some of you know of Pete’s affiliation with the Followers of the Frog. He again, found another frog, in the form of a webkin, on the AT. Plans are to deposit this frog on the top of Rainier someday) Karen, now Treecycler, has her given because of her penchant for stabbing rotten logs, out of boredom or some weird pleasure we don‘t want to know about! But if you ask, she’s just treecycling. Despite altitude gains, which are hard, the biggest challenge are descents that left them both very weary. The Inn at Hiawassee was a welcome break, and they’ve been blessed with good weather, the ability to dodge rain, and only one blister. Last night (May 21) they progressed over Albert Mountain, and will be arriving in Franklin tonight.

5/16 - The Smokey MountainsPete and Karen have made it to Unicoi Gap, and are on their way to Hiawassee today. They have been averaging about 10 miles a day, with yesterday being 14 miles, a significant part being scree, rocks, and scrabble. They only have 7 miles to do today, but it does have two 1000 foot climbs! They will be duly rewarded though, as their is a shuttle in to Hiawassee from the trail, and they plan to stay at the inn, have a burger, a SHOWER, and pick up their sent ahead food.

5/15 - Pete & Karen on the AT-Renee goes to FLI deposited Pete and his daughter Karen at the St. Paul Amtrak station early last Saturday morning, two VERY excited, and happy campers they were! All dressed up in zip offs, boots and back packs, they looked a little odd in the middle of the other travelers. I talked to them in Indiana (somewhere) and again as they awaited their shuttle to the trail head at Springer Mountain, GA. On May 14, they had 2 1/2 days behind them, hiking respectively 8 and 9 miles and hoping for 12 miles on the 14th. They are having a good time, despite some achy joints, and interesting people. ( I haven't figured out what that means yet!) They were at Woody Gap at about 10am yesterday, and heading for a town up trail where they could purchase groceries (and a burger I'll bet).