thru hikers jojo emerson

7/31/2019 Thru Hikers Jojo Emerson

1/19

T-MELLO, BOGART, AND TAG WERE THRU-HIKINGSOUTHBOUND ON THE APPALACHIAN TRIAL. WE CAMEACROSS THE TRIO ON OUR SECOND NIGHT OF A SCHOOL-LEDHIKING TRIP, AND AS TIRED AS WE ALL FELT AT THE TIME, ITDIDNT TAKE LONG TO REALIZE OUR TRIBULATIONS WERENOTHING IN COMPARISON TO THEIRS. THERE WASNT MU CH

TIME FOR US TO TALK WITH THEM, BUT THE QUICK STORIESWE HEARD WERE ASTOUNDING; THE BOYS HAD AMASSED ANOVELS WORTH OF STORIES WITHIN THE FEW MONTHS

THEYD BEEN TRAVELLING. THEIR INTERACTION MADE ITSEEM AS IF THEYD BEEN FRIENDS THEIR WHOLE LIVES, YET

THEYD ONLY KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A WEEKS TIME. THE

IDEA THAT ONE OF THE HIKERS WAS ONLY 18 MY AGE ASTONISHED ME; I FELT HE HAD SEEN A WHOLE LIFE BEYONDMINE, AND I WANTED TO LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH THATLIFE,THOSE ADVENTURES.I WAS ONCE TOLD THAT HIKING THOSE 2200 MILES OF TRAILFORCES YOU TO GROUND YOURSELF IN IMMUTABLE LAWS -IDEALS UNKNOWN BEYOND THE WHITE BLAZE. GIVEN

THREE WEEKS OF FREEDOM FROM MY HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR

YEAR, I KNEWI COULDNT HIKE FAR ENOUGH TO MAKE THE

EXPERIENCE WORTHWHILE; HENCE, I CHOSE TO CONTINUELIVING VICARIOUSLY.THROUGH THESE PHOTOS AND STORIESI HAVE EXPERIENCEDTHETRAIL A THOUSAND TIMES OVER. I AIM TO RECOGNIZETHOSE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE REMAIN UNKNOWN AND TO

GRASP WHAT COMPELLS THEM TO SPEND SIX MONTHS OF

THEIR LIFE IN THE WILD.

-JOJO EMERSONMAY/JUNE 2012

ALL SURVEYS ARE TYPED EXACTLY AS WRITTEN, ERRORSINCLUDED.ALL PHOTOS TAKEN BYJOJO EMERSON.


2/19


3/19

DUNCANNON, PENNSYLVANIA -

NAMED AN OFFICIAL APPALACHIANTRAILCOMMUNITY INJUNE OF2012, DUNCANNON HASBEEN ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUSTRAIL TOWNS

IN THE NORTHEAST. EARL SCHAFER THEFIRST PERSON TO EVER THRU-HIKE THEAPPALACHIANTRAIL - REDIRECTED THE ATDIRECTLY THROUGH THE TOWNS STREETS IN

THE EARLY20TH CENTURY.

CURRENTLY, THE TOWN S ECONOMY DEPENDSGREATLY UPON THE HIKER POPULATION, AS

THERE ARE NEARLY3000 HIKERS THAT PASSTHROUGH ANNUALLY. THE DOYLE HOTEL, ONEOF THE MORE FAMOUS STOPS ALONG THETRAIL,HAS BEEN HOUSING THRU-HIKERS FOR OVER100

YEARS. WITH WHITE BLAZES LOCATED ONTELEPHONE POLLS ALL THE WAY UP HIGH

STREET, THE IMPACT THETRAIL HAS HAD ONDUNCANNON IS EASILY RECOGNIZED.


4/19

START:March 16th, Springer Mtn

FINISH:End of July, Visa up untill the end of August

HIKING EXPERIENCE PRIOR:Few weeks of hiking in Ireland, Norway and Germany.

Nothing comparable to the AT

MOTIVATION:I thought it was the perfect opportunity to think about what

I want to do with my futureLOOK FORWARD TO:

Getting a pizza and a beer in the next town/having a nicefire and some decent food at a shelter

CAMARADERIE:Its very easy to make good friends on the trail + there are so

many interesting charakters on the trail that its always niceto talk to everybody

BEST DAY:Awesome views and amazing bear sighting on a sunny day in

the ShannondoahWORST DAY:

Just before the halfway point my hiking partner slipped inthe mud and cut his knee. We were hiking another 5 miles

to the next road (in heavy rain) hitchhiked into town (took30 minutes) and went to the hospital. The little cut turnedout to cause a disslocation of his kneecap which made him

leave the trail. He might come back in the next year butsince I hiked with him for 900 miles it was a pretty bad day.

ADVICE:stay positive / do enough research on your gear / start early

enough

PERSONAL GAIN

:I hope to know what I want to do with my future /EURO WAS A GERMAN STUDENT HIKING IN ORDER TOIMPROVE HIS ENGLISH. HE APOLOGIZED FOR HIS GRAMMAR,YET WROTE MORE THAN ANY OTHER HIKER INTERVIEWED.


5/19

You have to be crazy to evenwant to do this shit just eat,

walk, and sleep.

It takes a special breedto do this.

Know what youre signingup for its a lot of work.

SWITCHBACKS BEST DAY:Tray Mtn, GA about oneweek in. It was pouring andwhen I got on top of theridge it started hailing andstorming, so I decided thatthe second I got off themountain - if I lived - I was

leaving. Right when we gotover the ridge though, therewere guys grilling burgersunder a tarp. I had four ofthe best burgers Ive evereaten and that made mekeep going.

WALKING HOMES ADVICE:Do it! it is incredibly Hard,but unbelievably worth it.Always Hike your ownHike make of it what youwant to, remember to Lovewhat your doing, dontcompete with other hikers

WHITEWATERS HOPE FORPERSONAL GAIN:An improved out look on lifeafter living in the real worldfor 30 plus years Notlooking forward to going backto the shark pool.

A through hike is apath to freedom.

CHEESES BEST DAY:The midway point waspretty amazing. I passedthrough it on a 33 mile dayand headed to Pine grovefurnace to eat a gallon ofice cream in 23 minutes.


6/19

WHAT A SILLYIDEA, WALKINGFROM GEORGIA TOMAINE.

START: Feb. 29 2012 10:11 AM Springer Mnt.FINISH: Mid-July End of JulyHIKING EXPERIENCE PRIOR: Day hiking, backpacking, adventure racing.MOTIVATION: Reading Awols book and seeing a map of the trail @ avery young age, talking to Opie in 2010 in Smoky Mtn. NationalPark.LOOK FORWARD TO: Views, breaks, good spring water, goodconversationCAMARADERIE: It seems like you are best friends the moment your packtouches the ground. It does not matter what your political views,religious, race, gender, social/economic status, etc. You are both hikersand thats what matters.BEST DAY: Waking up & seeing the sunrise in Mt Cammerer lookouttower.WORST DAY: Hearing it was snowing north & south of me, but no onme.ADVICE: Dont plan everything out, pack light, Virginia blues do notexist so long as you keep it fresh, work w/ a trail club, hitch hike asmuch as possible.

PERSONAL GAIN: Finding life long friends, changing my mindset,TRIP IN 10WORDS: Love, friendship, experiance, new, on the loose,old, community, history


7/19

TRAIL ANGEL MARYPARRY

After finding herself suddenly and unexpectedly homeless throughthe spring of 2001, Mary Parry took up residence at the RiversideCampground in Duncannon. She began giving out bananas to thru-hikers that passed, and one day a hiker yelled out Hey! Trail AngelMary! Whyre you calling me that? Mary asked. Because thatswhat you are! he replied, and from then on the name stuck.

Marys trail magic has evolved far beyond just giving bananas. Notonly does she regularly feed hikers out of pocket and shuttle themaround from location to location (sometimes even lending them hercar), but Marys doors are always open to any hiker who requests aplace to stay. She is written up in a number of Appalachian Trailguidebooks as one of the most helpful, hospitable, and famouspersonalities on the Trail. Trail Angel Mary has been called theMother of the North on the AT, as opposed to Miss Janet, anothertrail angel in Tennessee, the Mother of the South. Marys

dedication to the upkeep and promotion of the AT is unparalleled,and she played a pivotal role in getting Duncannon recognition as anAT Community.

I guess its just in my nature to be generous however, I feel Ive beenthrough some rough, rough times in my life. Ive made some mistakes

that have been serious [] and I feel like, by helping hikers whentheyre in need especially, is my way of thanking God for giving me the

help through other people when I needed help. [] Its what weresupposed to do.

I love the word believe - I use it a lot with the hikers, telling them

you have to believe that you can finish this hike. As long as youbelieve, you will finish this hike. When hikers are having doubts andwanting to quit, I tell them that if you get to that point [] on the

Trail, for whatever reason youre tired of the rain, youre tired of thebugs, youre tired of the long green tunnel remember me, picture me

behind you kicking your butt, saying you can do this, believe you canfinish.

The most fulfilling part is all the different people I get to meet andtalking to them about their stories [] And being an ear for a hiker

that needs to talk. There was one hiker that hiked in 06 maybe?,,,And he was here for about three days, and he was depressed and he was

ready to quit. So I just listened to him, let him talk about why hewanted to quit, and gave him suggestions about why he shouldnt quit.

I didnt pressure him or anything. Well he ended up finishing atKatahdin, and he credits me with being able to make it so the trail

magic comes back to me. Him crediting me with his finish reallytouched my heart.

And hikers come back and visit me when they come back through

town, when theyve finished the Trail, so I make a lot of new friends.And the Appalachian Trail family is an awesome family Once yourea part of the people of the Appalachian Trail, youre a part of a family

and thats a very special thing.=Trail Angel Mary


8/19

WILLYBOYS STUDENTTRAIL MAGIC

START: The access trail before Springer Mtn on Feb 19FINISH: Around August 15th

HIKING EXPERIENCE PRIOR: I did a trial hike from Port Clinton toDuncannon in 2007, then did my first thru hike in 2008.

MOTIVATION: 1 - to see if I could do it again. 2 to bring the experienceto other people. Im working through a school in Glen Ellyn, Illinois with

3rd and 5th graders taking pictures, conducting interviews, giving the kidschallenges. Teachers pull from the material as they want, and I try and

make it broad enough that they can relate it to other subjects. My goal isto give them a sense of goal setting, dedication, and working through

challenge also an appreciation of nature. They really love the idea ofTrail Magic, so they send me things to give to hikers with inspirational

notes attached to them.LOOK FORWARD TO: Going home, but only after touching the sign. itsharder the second time I miss my family more, and Im more aware of

the weather, hikers, and challenges because Im less focused on justtouching the Katahdin sign.

CAMARADERIE: I saw a hiker Id met back on 08, and though wed onlyhiked a few days together, we could speak honestly and personally to each

other since weve been through such an intense experience. That prettymuch sums it up; the differences between people get eliminated, the bonds

cross age, gender, and life experiences, and most of the time youre justconnected by timing. The only thing you get frustrated with are people

with different values the relationships you have are mostly just based ondeeper connections. I personally like to hike with younger people, as theyjust seem more open then the older ones, who can be more intimidating.

BEST DAY: The first day, last day, and every day in between. But morespecifically, when I finally hiked my own hike, or realized what that really

was.WORST DAY: The first day this year it was just emotionally tough.

ADVICE: Make sure you understand your motivation, whats driving you.Youre trying to beat the odds, and its not just for fun and to be cool,

those are lame excuses. One woman I talked to spoke of being unclear asto why she was there, but she just felt deeply compelled to keep hiking. If

its in the heart, it makes it all much easier.PERSONAL GAIN: The joy of accomplishing a huge goal, and making the

kids appreciate nature and the nature of challenge. If youre notchallenged, youre not growing.


9/19

DANCING DOVE AND ALMOST EAGLE:I got tired of coming home from work and drinking beer in front ofthe TV - I said to myself this is stupid, and decided to hike the Trail.After Almost Eagle made this realization, he told his wife, DancingDove, the idea. Although she initially rejected the idea, Dove finallyagreed and the pair started the Trail late at Harpers Ferry in May inorder to flip back and finish the southern half of the Trail later this

year.BEING A COUPLE ON THETRAIL:I just think of stopping for water and not having someone to talk to -it would be rough, says Dove. She also spoke to the encouragementshe receives from her husband, saying they balance each other; whenone of us is down, the other is up, it works perfectly. Both husbandand wife assured that they cant imagine doing [the hike] alone.

DASH ANDWILD CHILD (NOT PICTURED):After a traumatic sexual attack in college, Wild Child dropped outof school in order to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, hoping that thehike would help her to cope. Child found far more than solaceamong the trees - she met her husband Dash, who was also thruhiking the PCT at the time. Wild Child, recently published in theNew York Times for her PCT story, is currently writing a memoiron her experiences. The two are hiking the Appalachian Trail inorder to get away from New York City in the summer and giveWild Child time to finish her book.BEING A COUPLE ON THETRAIL:Wild Child assured that, though she loves hiking with her husband,there used to be fluid movement between groups; now its less so.She says, however, that shes far more comfortable hiking with apartner, and people dont cling to them as easily.Dash asserted that couples need to be out and open on the Trail,along with saying that no one really wants to be their third wheel.The two didnt seem to find it hard to make friends, but they were

less likely to hike with other larger groups now that they had eachother.


10/19


11/19

STANDING BEARS TRAIL NAME WAS INSPIRED BY THE STORY OF THE CHIEFOF THE PONCA NATIVE AMERICATRIBE. AFTER HIS SON DIED DURING THERELOCATION OF THE PONCA TO THEIR RESERVATION,THE ORIGINALSTANDING BEAR RETURNED TO THEIRNEBRASKA HOME IN ORDER TO BURYHIS SON, AS PROMISED. THE CHIEF WAS ARRESTED, AND IN A PARAMOUNTCASE, ULTIMATELY WON PERSONHOOD FOR ALL NATIVE AMERICANS IN1879.

START: Springer Mountain, Georgia, February 25thFINISH: early or mid-AugustHIKING EXPERIENCE PRIOR:none

MOTIVATION: raise money and awareness for neglected andabused children www.hike4kids.comLOOK FORWARD TO:I do not like hikingCAMARADERIE: Most are friendly. College student and retiredpeople are nice. Too many trail bums and homeless people.BEST DAY: The first day, since I didnt know what was coming.

WORST DAY: The second time I sprained my ankle.ADVICE: Go gentle, stay healthy

PERSONAL GAIN:to help a lot of kids have a better life TRIP IN 10 WORDS:An exciting adventure, not always pleasant, but always rewarding

Standing Bear abused and neglected as a child found himselfhomeless at 17 after being taken from his mother by the court.After getting married and moving onto a successful college career,Standing Bear wishes to pay forward the help he received to

children in a similar situation.So far, Standing Bear has raised $7,000 with more pledges on theway, and is hoping for $10-15,000 by the time he reachesKatahdins peak. With publicity help from his school,

Washington University in St. Louis, he has already reachedhundreds of people through his efforts. Though he does notgreatly enjoy hiking in general (he calls thru-hikinguncomfortable and a reduced experience), he says if they toldme Id raise more money if I hiked 10,000 miles, I would.


12/19

These trailsgive me hopefor humanity.

Stinger is attempting hisfinal thru hike in order toearn the Triple Crown completed thru hikes onthe Pacific Crest Trail,the Continental DivideTrail, and theAppalachian Trail.Stinger also served in the

invasion of Iraq in 2003alongside Warrior HikerSean Gobin, and believeshis time in the military isthe reason he craves suchadventure.

START: 1/7/12 Southern terminus Florida trailFINISH: mid Aug

HIKING EXPERIENCE PRIOR: PCT 2010, CDT 2011MOTIVATION: Wanting to finish the Triple Crown. Had never beenout East.LOOK FORWARD TO: views/wildife/new peopleCAMARADERIE: great/everyone has been very friendlyBEST DAY: Had a great day just before SNP. Good views/newpeople.WORST DAY: (none)ADVICE: JUST DO IT!!

PERSONAL GAIN: lifelong friends / finish triple crownTRIP IN 10WORDS: Good times, great people, embrace the brutality


13/19

I want to be able to point at aglobe and say I walked from here

to there.Smilin Jacks trail name is based onthe 1940s comic strip with the sametitle, so given to him during histours in Vietnam. As a fighter pilot,he had the keen ability to makepeople laugh when we really hadnothing to laugh about. Jack hadplanned to hike the Trail after highschool, but his parents refused tosend him food, so he enlisted instead(I really showed them!). Otherthan having been given cookies lacedwith drugs, unbeknownst to him andhis companion Treeslayer, SmilinJack as greatly enjoyed the trip and

asserts tat you shouldnt wait untilyoure old, it hurts more.

ALL VETERANS ARE IN A TRANSITIONPERIOD, WHICH IS THE BEST TIME TO HIKE

THETRAIL. YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOURLIFE BACK AND GET AWAY FROM THE

STRICT RULES YOUVE BEEN LIVING BY. -BUZZKILL

Buzzkill returned fromAfghanistan earlier this yearand decided to hike the Trailsimply because I have thetime before starting school in

the fall. So far he has gained adog Gretel - foundabandoned just north ofHarrisburg. He has struggledto find mental entertainment,saying the forest doesnt havemuch to say. However,Buzzkill loves getting to get toshelters early in order to relax

and read, though he claims hesread a fewer number of pagesthan miles Ive hiked.

Know that you cant preparefor it at all. Your plans change

every day.WARRIORHIKE:When you see the casualties up front like that, it hits

you a lot harder than just seeing the numbers or eventhe names on the news, said Silvers. So, I wondered,what can I do? I wanted to do something to help.[Mark] Silvers said that in August, [Sean] Gobin

began talking about hiking the Appalachian Trail whenthey got home. Silvers told Gobin no multiple times, buthe finally agreed on the contingency that they hike thetrail for a good cause. They quickly decided they wouldhike the trail to benefit wounded veterans. The

Warrior Hike, which will begin at Springer Mountain,Ga. and end in Katahdin, Maine, will take about fourand a half months. All the donations will go to assist

veterans who have lost one or both legs and want to buy

a car. -The Danville Register


14/19

START: Georgia on 3-16-2012FINISH: 6-31-2012HIKING EXPERIENCE PRIOR: A few day hikesMOTIVATION: Proffessional development & self-explorationLOOK FORWARD TO: Easy-going slopes, free food, girls.CAMARADERIE: Mixed experiences. Some people bringtheir ego & want to show you how much they know. Others

have more patience. Trustworthy, & I have no hesitation todepend on most of them for favors or whatever.BEST DAY: Grayson Highland & Mt. Rogers. 40 degreesF, rainy, windy, foggy = awful weather. Best day ever.Prmitive living became instinctual survival decision-making.WORST DAY: Departure day from Cleveland. Goodbye toloved ones & 25 hr. bus ride.ADVICE: $3,000, 5-6 months, no fear of unknown,willingness to be flexible + uncomfortable. Research gear &

food & make educated decisions beforehand.PERSONAL GAIN:Confidence in outdoors, duh!But fame & fortune would bemost welcome. I blog everyday in hope of beingdiscovered!TRIP IN 10WORDS:Sweaty, numbing, long, mind-

radio, feet buzzing, get methere!

Bad weathermakes for the best

days; theresnothing too goodabout a sunny day

in retrospect.


15/19

Riff Raff is a group of hikers, though they call themselves a hikerfamily, who met during their thru-hikes on the AT from 2010-12, and continue to partake in Trail activities together.G-Hippie was so excited to start his trek that he hurt his kneerunning up the approach trail to Springer Mtn. Another hiker, TheWood Hippie, helped to heal his injury, and the two hikedtogether for hundreds of miles. When The Wood Hippie receiveda call saying there was a family emergency, G-Hippie (who at the

time had no trail name) was heartbroken that his friend had toquit. After being bestowed the name G-Hippie, he promised tocarry The Wood Hippies name all the way to Katahdin for him.While on the Trail, City Slickers husband decided to divorce herand her job was dissolved. Despite this hardship, Slicker has noregrets about hiking the Trail. She believes she returned a differentperson and would not have been able to go back to her old lifeanyway, and that shes happier now than shes ever been.

Falling Turtle was thru-hiking the Trail with her son,Trash Can, in the Spring of2011. She met Irish Charmalong the Trail and the twobecame inseparable. Afterhaving to quit in southernMaine, the two decided to

attempt another thru-hikethis summer. The pair gotmarried at the Trail Daysfestival in Damascus, VAin May of 2012, surrounded by their hiker family. Theyexchanged vows with only their trail names and Turtles dresswas the same shed been camping in for three months. IrishCharm recently quit his job in order to move in with Turtleand Trash Can, and Charm also sold all of his possessions in

order to fund their current AT hike, and their forthcomingCDT and PCT thru-hikes.


16/19

BEST DAY: aqua blazing thesection from bucannon to glasgowwith the Riff Raff crew.

ADVICE: sit and listen to othersthat have done a thru-hike before.some of the information is worthits weight in gold to someone withno clue.HOPE TO GAIN: A betterunderstanding of the humanelement, the social experience ofrunning into people from all walks

of life and learning somethingfrom all of them is amazing.

CAMARADERIE: Amazing! We allshare the same goal. You feel likeyou have known people for yearsafter a week of hiking with them.BEST DAY: Soo many, hard to pick.The first day I did 21 miles to Max

Patch. It was a hard day & it endedat sunset with an amazing view &trail magic.

HIKING EXPERIENCE PRIOR: I guided 5 day trip in theBirkshires when I was 16 y old.MOTIVATION: Met a thru hiker on that trip.LOOK FORWARD TO: Playing guitar, hiking meditatively,insight, camaraderie.CAMARADERIE: It is a 2nd family to me. Sharingsomething difficult builds fast and strong connections.BEST DAY: The day it snowed. I had already sent my coldweather gear home, so I hiked in little more than runningshorts and a rain jacket.WORST DAY: Ive had hard days, but I dont think of them

in a negative light. They are just part of it.ADVICE: Remember you are living a dream. Every day outhere is a gift, even if it doesnt seem like it.PERSONAL GAIN: Unshakeable confidence, grandeoseexpectations, an ass you could bounce a quarter off of.

Trailmix began hiking after his wifes ex-husband askedhim to; his wife objected, and he said they could talk aboutit when he got home. Though his two original hikingpartners quit because they couldnt follow their schedule,Trailmix continues and believes its because he doesnt havea plan and wont get discouraged if he doesnt meet a goal.His wife told him that if he reaches Katahdin and wants tostay in the woods, he should at least call and tell her he isalright.


17/19

Hiker blogs:Willie Boy: www.d41.org/difabio

Rayo: http://followingblazes.blogspot.com/Standing Bear: Hike4kids.com

Pretzel: otlmm.blogspot.comWarrior Hike: www.warriorhike.com

Walking Home: theoutdoorwanderer.blogspot.com

DEMOGRAPHICS

College students/recent graduates: 30%Retirees: 11%Veterans: 19%International: 11%

East Coast: 37%West Coast: 7%Hiking on their own: 52%Hiking with a group: 41%Decided on their own to hike: 59%Started hiking because of someone else: 30%Love the Trail: 59%Do not like the Trail: 7%

Like hiking: 37%Hate hiking: 19%Raising money for charity: 19%Had much prior hiking experience: 41%Had little prior hiking experience: 41%Stresses the emotional/mental aspect of hiking: 37%Hikes with an itinerary: 30%Hikes without a rigid plan: 48%Blogs while on the trail: 22%


18/19

SUM UP YOUR TRIP IN 10WORDS OR FEWER:


19/19

thru hikers jojo emerson

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