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Adam and Blaze Update

bmpeterson252 Comments

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month and in this months K9 for Warriors spotlight we got a little update on Adam, who suffered a traumatic brain injury, and Blaze.

When the armored vehicle Adam was riding on hit an IED, the explosion threw him several yards, knocking him unconscious. It’s incredible he survived.
But the Traumatic Brain Injury he suffered nearly ruined his short-term memory, leading to severe frustration and anger. He also now suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, causing him crippling anxiety.
Thanks to support from people like you, K9s For Warriors has a program to help veterans like Adam. Your gift of $50, $100 or even $200 today will help pair a warrior with a service dog — and save both their lives.
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“K9s is by far the best program I’ve been a part of that helps veterans.”

— Adam, Army veteran
Adam says the moment he stepped onto Camp K9 to meet Blaze, everything got better.
“He makes me stop and just be in the moment,” Adam says. “I can go places now that I would never go before.”
It’s because of people like you that warriors like Adam are able to reclaim their lives. It’s the least we can do to honor their service and sacrifice. In honor of National Brain Injury Awareness month, please give a gift to help improve — and even save — the life of a warrior like Adam. Thank you.
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Just Pete…Just Saying

jpetesd14 Comments

Yesterday we booked my flight to Madrid, Spain for May 20.  I should begin hiking about the 23rd.  Preparation is gearing up as it’s now beginning to get real.

My main goal on this hike is get in at least 810 miles.  Add that to the 2,190 of the AT and I’ll be over 3,000 miles of long-distance hiking.

I’m still kind of tinkering with my route.  If you know anything about the Camino de Santiago, I will probably be hiking portions of 5 different Caminos.  I’ll add more info on the Caminos to website over the next couple months.

I’d like to invite you to join with me in preparing for this hike.  How, you may ask.  To start, take 3 minutes to read the article linked below (or skip to cliff note below that).

https://qz.com/1552549/counting-push-ups-can-help-predict-your-risk-of-heart-disease/

Gist of it is that push-ups are good for you and that the more you can do, the better.  Not exactly rocket science but makes sense to me and will help my physical preparation.  I immediately decided that I was going to set a goal of being able to do 50 push-ups by May 20.

Now, for your part, I’ll only ask 2 things of you:

  1.  Set a goal for yourself to achieve by May 20.  Push-ups would be a good thing.  If you can’t do push-ups, sit in a chair and hold your legs out in front of you for a certain amount of time.  I don’t care what you do, how you do what you do, or how many you do of what you do.  Just do something!  Make it a goal that you have to work to achieve.  I will tell you that I just maxed out at 27 push-ups a half-hour ago and my goal is to be at 50.  I will have to be committed to that goal to make it.
  2. Share that goal with someone.  That is probably one of the biggest reasons I was able to hike the AT.  I told people…lots of people…that I was going to do it.  You have a much greater chance of reaching your goal if someone else knows what it is.  I don’t care who you tell about your goal, just tell someone.  I just told you mine..You can tell me yours if you want.  I’ll just warn you in advance that, if you tell me, there’s a strong possibility that I’ll tell you that your goal should be higher and I’ll also hold you accountable along the way.  Just keepin’ it real.

I’ll give you until Feb 20 to set your goal.  Then 2 months of work to achieve it.  Some times we don’t reach our goal.  Who cares?  It’s about the effort.  Get into the game and challenge yourself.

It won’t take more than a few minutes of time each day to do some push-ups.  How can getting a little exercise and having a goal to strive for possibly be bad for you.  Just sayin…

Just Pete

Adam and Blaze Graduation

bmpeterson2518 Comments

Kris and I were thrilled and honored to attend the graduation ceremony for Blaze and Adam last evening.

Adam is a Veteran of the US Army and a super nice young man who was so very appreciative of the role we (everyone who donated to my AT hike and everyone who followed along) played in uniting him with Blaze.

Adam and Blaze

Blaze is a super cool hound dog/lab mix…they think!  For you older folks, he reminded me of the Clampett’s hound in Beverly Hillbillies and should be a perfect fit at home with Adam in KY.

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We, with friends Art and Janice Hayden, were able to meet with Adam and Blaze as well as Adam’s family before the ceremony.  Pretty emotional for all of us.

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It is so rewarding to see the results of your donations and support up close and personal. We rescued Blaze from a shelter and your support will cover all vet bills, etc. forever.

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We also provided a valuable tool to help Adam and his family move forward with his rehabilitation.

I have been waffling on whether to raise donations again next summer on the Camino. Last night decided it.

How about we sponsor another K9 and Warrior? I can do the walking and I’ll try to blog regularly…

I hope you are all proud of the good we did for K9’s For Warriors, Sun Dial Manor, and Down Syndrome. I know that I am very proud of you.

On behalf of Blaze, Adam and his family, and Kris and myself….Thanks so much. You are amazing.

Happy Trails.

Just Pete

Blaze

jpetesd11 Comments

Hi!  Long time…no talk.

I’ve got some exciting news.  During last year’s AT hike we raised $28,000 for K9s For Warriors.  Because of your generous support, we were afforded the opportunity to sponsor a dog.

Meet Blaze!!

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Blaze (named for the white blazes which mark the AT…thanks Kerri Peterson) has just begun his training at the K9s For Warriors kennel.  They use rescue dogs which have been carefully selected by their trainers.

Blaze will eventually be paired with a veteran and provide companionship and support in assisting his Warrior to overcome the invisible wounds of war.

As for Just Pete, I’m getting ready for another long distance hike…really never thought that would come out of my mouth a year ago!  In May I will be hiking approximately 800 miles along the Camino de Santiago through Spain and Portugal.

There are 100’s of different routes to hike “the Camino”.  I will be taking the Northern Way across the coast of Northern Spain and down to Santiago de Compostela.  From there I plan to hike the Finisterre Way to “the end of the world” and then continue on the Camino of the Lighthouses, ending in Ponteceso on Spain’s western coast.  I will then return to Santiago de Compostela (hopefully not by foot) and head south to Porto, Portugal via the Portuguese Coastal Camino.

It will be very different than the AT.  Much of the hike will be along the coast so should be beautiful, but different, scenery.  I plan to carry a tent but the trails go through many seafront towns with hostels…and food…and beer.  Most importantly, I am hoping to not have any big falls due to this terrain being less severe than that of the AT.

I will work on getting the web site updated with more detailed information on this trail as we get closer.

I also owe you the final video from last summer’s hike.  There’s some mental part of me that hasn’t wanted to end it but it’s now time to get onto the next adventure.

Thanks once again to everyone for your support.  I hope you’ll follow along again next summer.

Go Blaze!!

 

 

Just Pete on the AT…Part 3

jpetesd11 Comments

The White Mountains of NH deserve their reputation as the most difficult section of the trail.  They kicked my butt!  I hope you enjoy that!

Today is Kris’ 60th birthday.  She is just as excited as a young kid at the age of 6.  She’s an 11.5 year breast cancer survivor and she appreciates it.  She obviously was a big part of this journey.  She never tried talking me out of starting and she never flat out told me I was stupid (even though she hinted at it a few times!).

Thanks and Happy Birthday, Kris.

Part 4 will be the end.  I promise!

October 12

jpetesd15 Comments

Day 32 post-hike!

Today Kris and I were able to deliver an envelope to K9’s For Warriors that was stuffed with $23,700 worth of checks.  Awesome enough that we’re going to be able to sponsor a K9.  Get to name him/her (“Blaze” after white blazes denoting trail…good one, Kerri), follow progress through training and attend graduation.  How cool is that!

Thanks to all of you who have sent in your pledges.  Friendly reminder to those who haven’t gotten around to it yet.  Checks are rolling in at all 3 of the charities I hiked for.  We should end up raising more than $63,000!  You should have heard from me regarding your contribution.  If you haven’t, please let me know.

Things are pretty much back to normal.  Been walking the golf course a couple times a week.  I tell myself it’s a 7-mile slack pack…that you can get beer in the middle of.  I loved days like that just a couple months ago!

Working to put back on some of the 25 lbs I lost.  Physically I feel pretty good.  Feet are still sore but getting better.  Pinky that I dislocated is swollen and a bit store.  I went out for a run for the first time post-hike on Tuesday.  Knees hurt so bad, I only made it a block.  That was a tad bit frustrating!  They feel fine other than when I tried to run.  Guessing they’re probably a tad bit worn out yet.

Thanks once again to all for your support on this trek and for your generous contributions to the charities I hiked for.  You are helping good charities do good things!

K9's For Warriors

September 12

jpetesd17 Comments

It’s really nice to not have to wake up and hike 15-20 miles.

The Long Trail runs from southern VT to Canada. I believe it’s about 300 miles. The first 100 miles or so runs with the AT. Since I’ve already hiked that part, I may as well finish the Long Trail at some point…or maybe not!

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Kris was very anxious for me to get the beard sheared off. I was eager but not to her extent. On the drive to Stowe on Monday AM she was looking for an open barber shop in every small town we passed through. Now that I think about it, that was probably a ploy to stop and shop in those small towns.

Stowe has a barber shop and a men’s salon. The barber shop was closed Monday and salon open. I had to explain to her that you don’t grow a masterpiece like this out in the wild and then get it sheared in a salon!

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Barber shop was open Tuesday!

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Several times during last 1/2 of hike I would show people the “before” pic (on golf course with golf bag and Bud) on website. People had a difficult time grasping the fact that was the real me.

I’m having a difficult time recognizing myself now.

Hoping to find a scale before I gain all that weight back. Guessing I lost about 25-30 lbs.

Have a great day!

September 10

jpetesd20 Comments

Day 164 Kathadin Stream Campground to Mt Kathadin (5.2 miles) 2189.8 miles total

Kris and I headed to Baxter State Park early this AM. Parking in the park is very tightly controlled. We had a prepaid pass that you have to use by 7AM or you lose your spot.

Next had to register with ranger at campground. They keep close track of hikers going up mountain also. I was NOBO thru-hiker number 734. When I left GA 164 days ago I was number 1391 to head north.

Got started up mountain at 7:30. Told Kris I’d be finished about 2PM so we planned to meet at 1:30.

My knee was still pretty sore but once I got moving felt better.

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The climb up was very difficult in spots. Lot of rock climbing and rock scrambles.

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There are lots of day hikers out here on a weekend. I was passing a lot of them and wondering what the heck some of them were doing on this approach trail when there is an easier one. Amazes me also that people actually do this for fun. That’s crazy!

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Weather was partly cloudy. Thankful not wet. This could be dangerous if slippery and we all know I’m pretty good at crashing.

I was just cruising up. Day hikers could tell I was a focused, motivated thru-hiker and most offered congratulations as they got out of my way.

Coming up peak below I’m thinking that’s the summit. As I got real close, I could see a sign. I’m almost there. Got to that point and…false summit. Crap!! Got about another 3/4 mile to go but this time I can see the summit. At least I think I’m seeing summit.

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Now I’m really motivated and moving because I can see people gathered and know I’m nearing summit. The old man was really flying. I’m almost through thru-hiking kept running through my head.

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When I got within about 100 yds of summit I heard chant of “Pete, Pete, Pete…”. About a dozen hiker acquaintances (Goddess, P Tang, Happy Hour, Chimes, GQ, Bobo, Bubba) rooting the old dude to finish line. Got tears in my eye.

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I made it. Incredible feeling of accomplishment. Spent about half hour on summit laughing, tearing up and just celebrating with friends I will probably never see again.

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Said my good byes and headed back down. Came down the “easier” trail as I wanted to minimize chances of falling.

I was back down at 1PM. 5.5 hrs total. Just Pete just flew up and down.

Kris and I left from there heading towards Smugglers Notch, VT where we will spend the next week hiking…NOT!!

Thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement during this adventure. I will get back to you with where to send your donations next week. I need some time to rest, heal, and reassimilate into society!

I’ll make sure to post a pic when the beard comes off.

Thanks once again for your support. Couldn’t have done it without you.

Just Pete…OUT!