Fur Sure

I apologize for the long hiatus from blogging. But while we have all been marching away in the "Real World", Brandon has been continuing on the trail. Since the last blog post, El Perro has been digesting his half gallon of ice cream in one sitting by passing through all of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and soon to be completed with New York. I was able to talk to El Perro this afternoon whilst driving home from work. He even claims to have passed through New Jersey faster than I did in 2007, so he must be moving pretty quick. However, hiking fast is a double edged sword. Sure, the more miles you cover in one day, the more accomplished you feel, while on the other hand, the more miles you make, the shorter your journey becomes. Certainly, on a trip like this, it is the journey that is more important than the destination.

There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about my thru-hike. What a simple way to live. No boss, telling you what to do, no traffic jams, no commercial breaks. Just living. One with your environment, not a product of it. For those who don't fully understand what it is like to do what Brandon is doing, go on just a week long trip. If you can't do that, go on a weekend trip. And if you can't even do that, go on a day hike. Try and see just how many miles you can go from sun up to sun down.

Hiking 2,175 miles may not seem like the most enjoyable thing to do for many. But its not just about doing it for the simple pleasure of hiking. It makes you appreciate everything else exponentially more. A thru hike is a moving experience, and I applaud El Perro at his performance thus far. Recently he has experienced tired feet and a sore neck (possibly from an awkward nights rest), two things that can hinder your attitude and physical ability greatly. Yet Brandon continues on. As Brandon climbs up and down mountains, so too can a hikers emotions. Separated from loved ones, friends and family alike, it is definitely not easy being out there. Though I believe he knows just how grand of a task he is partaking in.

As Brandon travels through the final miles of New York, he will continue rocky, roller coaster terrain into the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, as the gradient kicks back above 4,000' for the first time since central Virginia. Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are by far the most remote states and in turn, the most rewarding. It is an old trail saying that when you get to the Upper New England and NorthEast states, you have hiked 80% of the trail and only done 20% of the work. It is true, the terrain is more difficult and harder, but tougher still has been El Perro's preparation to get there.

Alast, Brandon has also joined the Bear Club. One upping many by actually catching it all on video. The phrase "Ain't got pictures, ain't got nothing" cannot apply here. Sunday afternoon El Perro sent me a video of two cubs darting across the trail just in front of him. A blood pumping encounter to be sure.

Warpzilla Out