Some Trip Information
some food energies



10/15/98 Phone call to Mt. Hygeia, Foster, RI around 9 pm. Andrew is finished with the AT. He said he had a great experience, saw a lot of country close up and a variety of things and people. A unique experience. He is glad he did it and I think he is ready for some civilization. He will be back in RI in a few days. He flys to South Carolina, visits a friend, Becka, who used to be a neighbor in Foster and then takes Amtrack back to Providence. Congratulations to Andrew!


10/8/98 Phone call from Andrew to Allison's and Stewart's appartment, Union Square, NYC.
Around 8 pm Allison's phone rang and Stewart handed it to Allison saying "its yours." Allison said she did not want to answer and so I did. I answered the phone with "Hi, how ya doing?" not knowing who was on the other end. The caller was confused expecting his sister and said a few things allowing me to recognize it was Andrew. So, had some fun finally asking how come he did not recognize his father! Andrew is calling from near Fontana Dam, NC and nearing the end of his journey has slowed up a bit. A couple of weeks ago he became very tired and cut his daily milage down to 10 to 15 to regain strength. He said this was the best adventure of his life so far and that he is doing well. He should finish the AT in five days and will take Amtrack back to Providence.

 phone call from Cherokee, NC 10/8/98

Note from Andrew at Hot Springs, NC 9/29/98

Letter to Andrew at Fontana Dam, NC 9/20/98

Note from Andrew Damascus, Va 9/16/98

Letter from Andrew Pearisburg, Va 9/9/98

9/8/98 Letter from Andrew - Troutville, Va

9/4/98 Letter to Andrew at Damascus, Va.

8.29.98 Letter from Andrew Tyro, Va

8/29/98 Letter to Andrew.

Card from Andrews 8/17/98 Port Clinton, Pa.

Letter from Andrew 8/13/98

8/12/98 Met Allison and Stewart at their appartment in New York City. Allison had just returned from three days hiking the AT with Andrew. She says he is doing quite well and is in good shape. He is hiking 20 to 25 miles a day with little trouble. His feet are in good shape so far. He is hiking in running shoes and carrying his boots. His planned diet is very constant (the sameo, sameo!) and so he enjoyed the variety supplied by Allison and Stewart. The dehydrated meals I send are also enjoyed for the same reason. Andrew met a girl working in one of the Maine huts and they are "getting along." It was this person who had the car and took Andrew to Mt. Desert Isle for the Fourth of July and to Boiling Spring, Pa. Perhaps they are "birds of a feather." On returning to Providence from NYC I found the package I had sent on to AJ returned by the Postoffice. Anything weighing over one pound must be given to a postal employee for security reasons. I am not sure how this helps, but it meant that the film and minor supplied I sent did not reach Andrew. The next mail drop is in West Virginia.




7/29/98 Email from Allison

7/28/98 Letter to Andrew to Port Clinton, PA 19549

7/27/98 Letter of 7/24/98 mailed from Cheshire Ma.

7/23/98 Postcard of 7/19/98 mailed from White River Junction, Vt.

7/11/98 Letter to Andrew to Cheshire, Ma

7/6/98Letter of 7/2/98 from Andrew from Mt. Washington.

7/6/98 Next: Mt. Washington, NH.Received back the Kelty pack from Mt. Washington. Andrew has decided to go with a soft back pack. It is to reduce weight. I think he is breaking up his food and
sending it to intermediate post offices. It is more fun to travel light.


Photo taken in winter and off the net.




6/29/98
Andrew called from Gorham, NH around 10 pm. He is about 34.5 miles from the summit of Mt. Washington, his next mail drop. His pack is falling apart and he wonders what we did about a new one. I told him we sent a new Kelty pack, but he thinks going lighter is better. Do not know what he will do, but he was considering buying a lighter frameless pack. Thinking of breaking up the mail drops into less than 12 days if possible in order to cut the weight. In the mountains, still raining, had a couple of dry days, but evening rain. The "water proof" sleeping bag cover works well especially the fine, no-seeum proof netting keeping the bugs out. Because of this bag A. is thinking of cutting his tarp in half. Due to the wetness he has been carrying his boots. They weigh about 10 lbs and he is thinking he might send these home and rely on the new running shoes waiting at Mt. Washington. He has a new, lighter pair at home and it is probably a good idea to send these along. His feet are getting stronger, but he mentioned some knee problem. He made a 22 mile day, but it took too great a toll and he had to spend some time recovering. The 15 mile pace seems best. Had an 18 mile day and because of the rain has had a few 10 mile days. Still two days behind, but he is not going to worry about that! All in all he sounds in good spirits. Meeting people on the trail which sounds like it makes it interesting. Sending pictures.

6/24/98 Letter to Andrew

6/20/98
Andrew called from Caratunk, Me. He recovered his mail drop food and the packages sent to him containing the water proof sleeping bag cover, a dehydrated meal, pictures and other bits and things. Requests his running shoes be sent to the next mail drop which is at the top of Mt. Washington. We will send a few dehydrated dinners as emergency rations. Problem is that his feet never really get a chance to dry out and so, being water logged, are getting some blisters. Hiking boots are continuously wet. He has sent, along with food arriving at the mail drops, dry socks! His Kelty pack frame has been fixed by inserting copper tubing in the broken Kelty pack tubing. This cannot really last and so we must send a replacement to Mt. Washington.

6/20/98 Letter from Andrew of 6/14/98 rcvd

6/17/98

Andrew called from Monson, Me. The 15 miles/day is no problem, but the water in swollen streams is. He fell and broke his Kelty pack. Someone in Monson, Me. says he can fix it. Andrew ran out of food because he is two days behind schedule. He will buy food in Monson and make it to Caratunck, Me. in two days. There he will retrieve his food at the P.O. along with some mail, including a water proof sleeping bag cover and one dehydrated dinner - as a kind of treat. Also, the photos he took at the start are there with a priority mail envelope for their return. Looking forward for more info. He is not haveing a very good time. There are a number of people on the AT that he has run into. According to the AT Data book he has gone 117.8 miles. Lets see what he come up with using the GPS.


6/10/98 Andrew starts the Applachian Trail
6/9/98
Andrew climbed Kathadin Tuesday and began the AT Wed. we will not hear from him until he reaches his first mail drop. The weather does not look good with afternoon showers predicted for several days.

6/8/98 Drive to Baxter State Park in Maine to drop Andrew off. He now has more respect for Half Marathons!

6/7/98 Andrew runs the SNET Americast(TM) Half Marathon and comes in 26th out of over1500 runners. He did not get much sleep the night before and this will take its toll.


photo by Andrew 6/9/98

Weather forcasts on the trip: