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'Snacktime' was in pain with every step...
Publisher's Note: This is a trail journal by Dustin Jackson in his own words and
thoughts.
He is hiking the Appalachian Trail southbound from Maine to Georgia. The News & Neighbor will follow his adventure as he reports to us via internet cafes. He
will also send photos from stopping points along the trail. The map included
with his journals will mark his progress. You can also follow along via
internet by viewing his trail journal at: www.trailjournals.com/Jackson
Dustin's email address is: appalachian.jackson@gmail.com
By Dustin Jackson (Trail name "Farsang")
Day 63 6.3 miles Bear Mountain Bridge Motel
Rain! Cold! We slept until 9:30, headed out about 11. It rained hard. We later found out they were calling for 3-5 inches of rain today. It was about 50 degrees. Not August weather at all. The difference with this rain is that I was cold while I was walking. Of course, I had sent my rain jacket home earlier in my hike. We made it to the Hudson River, the lowest point of the trail at 124 feet sea
level.
I was back and forth on going into town or not. 'Snacktime' mentioned a motel, my teeth were chattering, and that was motivation
enough for me to go into town.
We checked into the Bear Mountain Bridge Motel. All they had was 1 full size bed. I took a hot shower. We have our clothes and shoes strewn around the baseboard heat to dry out. It sure does stink in here! We ordered a pizza and relaxed. We’ve got the heat up to 80 degrees. It was an unplanned stop, but still pretty good.
Day 64 6.3 miles Tent camp at mile 792
Had a fairly decent night of rest. It’s good to have 'Snacktime' back around. I like the way we cut up and laugh. It was a slow start. Check out wasn’t until 11 a.m. and we had TV.
We headed out around 10. Most of my stuff was dry. I noticed my left boot was especially tight. Really both boots were tight. 'Snacktime’s' knee had started bothering him yesterday and is still hurting him today. The trail goes through a small zoo. We checked out the exhibits and then headed
up Bear Mountain.
It was quite a while before 'Snacktime' made it up the mountain. He was in pain
with every step.
He was going to have to pull off the trail again and go back into town. I sat with him until he found a ride.
I was pretty bummed. Not about being alone, but for being without 'Snacktime.' We hike well together, push each other, and are just a good team. I am sad for him that he must deal with this. I know it is stressful. He handles it well. I'm stealing another line from Forrest Gump... “And just like that, he was gone again.” So I walked down Bear Mountain and noticed that my toes hurt from the tight
boots.
I walked about four more miles and found a good water source. All my toes were raw. I called it a day. Better luck tomorrow.
Day 65 19.4 miles Tent camp at mile 811.4
Today I hike for the 'Everybodyfields,' a band from Johnson City. I’ve listened to them a lot on this trip to remind me of home. Their new album 'Nothing is Okay' is on a new label and came out August 21st. I can’t wait to hear it for the first time live at Bristol's Rhythm and Roots Festival
Sept. 14-16th.
I hope they will play one of their old songs, “Good to Be Back Home,” for me one time.
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Today, I miss my buddy 'Snacktime.' I didn’t realize how much I liked having him around. It was hard to get motivated but I did. I was against electronic devices on this trip, but I am so into music that I
brought my MP3 player along.
Today, I needed some cheering up and didn’t realize how sad I was until I listened to the Avett Brothers. I needed it, to hear something from the South. Of course today is the first day that I used it, and the first day I see a
rattlesnake.
I walked right past it while seeing it out of the corner of my eye. It didn’t offer to rattle, and I didn’t provoke it. My boots are rubbing me again. I need to make a decision on what to do about them. I’m also tired of everything being sticky and extra stinky with sweat.
Day 66 14.8 miles Wawayanda Shelter
Had a good sleep last night. The sub sandwich I packed in from the deli was good. It was a hot, hot day. My hose pulled off my water bladder and my backpack filled with water. I threw my backpack on the ground when I realized it was leaking and salvaged as
much water as I could.
I found another spring shortly after and luckily didn’t have to drink the salvaged water. Today I crossed into my 7th state. Good ole dirty Jersey. I got to the shelter. There was a 'ridgerunner' who had SOBOÕed in 2005. He was happy to see a thru-hiker.
Day 67 5.3 miles Vernon, NJ Saint Thomas Episcopal Church
I hiked down a bunch of rocks off the mountain out into a field and down to the
road.
The ridgerunner, 'Midnight,' was waiting there for me to give me a ride into
Vernon.
On our way into town we saw 'Pyro,' a fellow SOBO who was stumbling down the
road.
He had hiked 45 miles and was out of water, looked like death, and had a gash in
his leg big enough for stitches.
We gave him a ride into town. He recovered. They had a Dairy Queen in town. I got 4 hot dogs and a frozen hot chocolate. I talked to 'Snacktime' today. HeÕs back at home in North Carolina for 3 weeks with his knee pain. The urgent care doctor said he might have Lyme disease. I or 'Snacktime' don’t believe he has Lyme disease. 'Alpine,' 'Princess Brat,' and 'Fresh' showed up this evening. The church had a kitchen. I made burgers for everyone. Now I have a new trail family to hike with.. <<<back
