Category: Adam’s Hike

From Terra Nova last night:

“First let me begin by thanking Neil for taking the time to write this blog about my mini expedition I am on and let me also thank everyone else for their kind words of encouragement and ideas on how to battle the summer heat. Everyone’s words of encouragement have really helped me stay focused and try that little bit harder to keep at this what I like to call my mini expedition.

Yesterday I was having real trouble with the heat and having doubts about why I would even try to so something like this in my condition. I could easily have called my wife and tell her it’s time to come get me , which is actually what I did last night, I felt completely defeated by the heat and the monumental hike in front of me. I thought that since I completed the state of PA that that would be enough and I could go home with my head held high.

Well I woke up this morning and felt I was selling myself short, that I used to do longer ruck marches in the army with a pack twice as heavy as what I am carrying now. Yes my body is different now and I didn’t have to deal with MS then but I for some reason which who knows I may regret in a day or two told my wife to forget picking me up today, that I wanted to stick at this. I have decided not to think about being on the trail for 3 months or 2, or 1 but to just focus on making it through one day at a time. I don’t know how long I will be able to stay at this, it may just be for another day or two or maybe 2 or 3+ months. One thing I do know for sure is that I am grateful for each day I can hike, each person I meet on the trail , and each night I get to camp in my tent. I can’t express how much everyone’s and Neil’s words of encouragement help keep me motivated even when my body is saying I shouldn’t be doing this and my mind says I could easily be home with my 5 year old daughter eating ice cream in an air conditioned house. As much as I love to do that I also love to hike through the mountains and I know that it may be now or never to do that so that is what I try to remind myself each night I go to sleep and each morning I wake up here on the AT.

I had a nice zero day and plan to go to bed soon so I can wake up at 4 am and start hiking by 4;30 in order to get most of my hiking done before the heat builds up during the day. By the way yesterday I saw a black bear in front of me on the trail only 75 feet away. He moved into the thick woods before I could turn my phone on to get a picture. I don’t mind seeing bears, it’s the rattle snakes I hope I don’t see.

Good night everyone and tomorrow I begin my first steps into the NJ part of the AT

I wish I had better news to report. Terra Nova, as of last night, is staying at the Church of the Mountain hiker hostel in Delaware Water Gap, PA. He plans on taking a zero day today and rethinking things. While his determination is in place, the heat is sapping his energy. This is a common problem for people with MS – the wide range of symptoms associated with the condition worsen with heat internal and external. And Pennsylvania has been very warm the past couple of days.

Regardless of the outcome, I am proud of my friend. And now he’s completed 240 miles of the AT, the entire length of the trail in PA from Pen Mar to the Delaware Water Gap. He still feels he could complete the hike, but his body is giving out on him. Fall and winter hiking would work much better for him, but he felt he needed to hike now since he never knows if he will be incapacitated by a flare up.

I will continue to keep you updated on Terra Nova. Keep the support coming, please. He needs it.

We received a lengthy update from Terra Nova last night. He’s had highs and lows over the past day and a half.

Sunday his plan was to hike to the top of the ridge at Wind Gap and camp. That was a short day and a hike of a mile and a half, but his strategy was to pace himself and do the 16 miles over two and a half days. However, the climb wasn’t the problem. “I had serious doubts yesterday and by the time I went to bed I was seriously thinking what the hell am I doing out here, but I know those feelings have come and gone before in the past.”

I could tell Terra Nova was thinking about this as I helped him in Wind Gap. “I could be at home in air conditioning watching Dora the Explorer with my daughter” he told me a couple of times. I told him repeatedly if he wanted me to drive him home, I’d still think he was both a tough hiker and a good friend. He had nothing to prove by hiking the AT. Its not proving something that should drive him, its a spirit of adventure and fun.

Monday the weather was “beautiful” and Terra Nova slept in, getting up at 10 AM. He hiked to 4:30, covering eight rocky miles and taking about six breaks. The day was rocks and rocks, but “I spooked four doe deer about 11 AM.”  The goal isn’t to get big miles in right away, but to build up to them and get his feet back in condition. According to my AT trail book, his position should be around Fox Gap, which is about halfway to the Delaware River. What follows is a gradual and rocky downhill to the highway bridge over the river and into New Jersey, then a climb back up the ridge.

My friend is feeling strong. “My goal is to go to bed early and be up at 4 AM so I can start hiking at 4:30 and hike for seven hours before the day really starts to warm up. I feel very motivated and confident I can make some distance on this outing, perhaps to Vermont and God willing Maine.”

I’ve passed on the comments here and on Facebook encouraging Terra Nova. The man knows you all have his back, and thanks you.

During the nine years since I’ve changed my life I’ve met many determined people. Among the most is Adam. He’s a decade younger than me, half my weight, a soldier, outdoorsman … and a man with Multiple Sclerosis.

MS hit Adam a decade ago, hard. He’s had to give up his career since his symptoms come and go, and he can have a very bad couple of months at any time. When he is feeling good, he still has to think about the disease – for instance, hot weather can bring out the worst in his symptoms. He’s been hospitalized repeatedly and at one point was so bad doctors suggested he prepare his will.

But willpower is what this man is made of. Adam is determined to hike the Appalachian Trail. He’s completed all but 16 miles of it in Pennsylvania. He had a flare up that prevented his continuing past Wind Gap. His current plan is to complete the section from Wind Gap to the Delaware Water Gap over two and a half days, and then continue north as far as he can go. Due to the need to monitor his health every thirty days he needs to go off trail and back home, so there will be some days he is away from the AT. But I have full confidence Adam will stand atop a mountain in Maine. Or rather Terra Nova will, as that’s his AT trail name.

We backpacked together on Saturday, and I learned a lot about Adam’s toughness. He agreed to allow A Taste For The Woods to provide updates on his hike, provided he stuck with our usual policy of not sugar coating. If Adam has a bad day or night, we will let you know. I hope to have an update to share every couple of days. And when he’s back, he’ll have stories to share.

But for now, this is the last I saw of my friend….. may the trail be kind to you, Terra Nova.