Category: Post-hike

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!

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!

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!

Barber shop was open Tuesday!

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!