Pictures:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apmalnVzueE

Lauren and I left Columbia on Friday at 4:20 pm. I talked to Jack at about 5:30 and he said they had been hanging out at the Ice House Saloon in Hampton, TN and they would wait for us there. I was worried about how I would find this place, but Jack informed me that Hampton was about the size of Holly Hill, so immediately I knew there was going to be no trouble. He also said that he couldn’t wait for us to meet their new friends…the locals. We pulled into town about 8:50pm. Jack flagged us down on the side of the road and directed us to the back where we got rock star parking. After we all said hey and hugged, Jack said, “Ya’ll are just in time for karaoke!” I didn’t think the weekend could get any better after that statement. We went in and sure enough we were NOT in Columbia anymore. The locals were exactly what you would hope to find in a “one horse” Tennessee town- add some beer and karaoke and it was fabulous! We listened to the local talent for a couple hours and then sadly we had to leave our new friends and be on our way to Damascus. The trip only took about 1 hr but it was the windiest road I have EVER been on. Jack volunteered to drive so I was quick to call shotgun…so poor Lauren was in the back seat between James and Randall and all the boys’ smelly equipment. Luckily Tyler’s mom informed me that they stink and I better have some car deodorizers ready (thanks for the tip Tyler’s mom!).



When we got to Damascus we followed the traffic to “tent city”. As soon as we got out of the car there was loud drumming and a huge bond fire. People were dancing and hopping all around the place. Everywhere you could see there was nothing but tents and people (and by people I mean AT hikers). We set up in the dark (actually Lauren and I held the flashlight while the boys put up the tents. I felt a little guilty about them doing all the work but then I remembered they made a personal choice to set up tents every night so I didn’t feel too bad about it anymore). Lauren and I had to use the bathroom before bed and we were very excited to see there were working toilets and showers! (I was also glad because I was hoping Jack would opt for a shower… He said his last real shower was about 9 days earlier or something in that ballpark!)


The next morning we woke up and slowly starting moving around. We ate breakfast and sat around under the tailgating tent. Lauren and I did a lot of people watching. Three things that I saw an abundance of were tattoos, beards, and CROCS (which apparently are NOT out of style)! There were people of all ages at this thing. Some people, like Jack and his friends, are “thru hikers”. That means they are hiking, or planning on hiking the entire trail in one swoop. Other people were people that had hiked some or all of it before and they just come back every year for the celebrations. I like to think this is exactly what Woodstock was like but instead of hippies there are hikers, which I believe are very similar. Everyone was very nice and they were always giving away food and drinks. We hung around the tents until early afternoon then we headed to Main Street where the parade and other festivities were taking place. There were LOTS of vendors all over this park and tons of people running around. All the hikers got in groups according to the year they finished the trail and walked down the street dressed in crazy outfits throwing water balloons and shooting water guns. There was also a talent show. Hikers sang, spoke, juggled, and played musical instruments. The winner was a guy who preformed a really cool beat boxing routine (Mom- that is when you make noises with your mouth and it sounds just like you are listening to a rap song on the radio).


Saturday night we cooked dinner and Lauren and I were able to meet some of the boys’ friends. They all call each other by their trail names…so for most of the people I met didn’t even hear their real names. They told lots of funny stories and talked about different places they have been on the trail, where they are headed next, and all the people they have met. We met people who were experts at killing the mice and rats they see in shelters, people who won’t drink water unless it has a good aura, one girl who was extremely jealous of Lauren’s deodorant and people who were from far away countries.


Then at about 10 o’clock we heard thunder and saw the lightning. Needless to say that was my calling to get in the tent. Right before the rain started pouring I heard a man yell from the back of tent city “Better run for cover boys… She’s coming in!” And sure enough it rained hard all night.


The next morning it was wet and misty. We slowly packed up all our stuff and SOMEHOW fit it into my car (4 backpacks, 2 Vera Bradley duffels, 2 tents, 2 coolers, 2 chairs, 1 grill top, 4 boys, and 2 girls!) and went back down that windy road to Tennessee. We all ate breakfast at a Bojangels and then headed back to the AT to drop the boys off. When we got out of the car it was windy and just about freezing, the guys unloaded their packs, told us goodbye, and started walking. Jack hung around a few extra minutes to repack his things, say goodbye, and then he started hiking to. The last thing he said was “Goodbye… See you in a few months.” Then he disappeared into the woods.

Despite the long drive, sleeping on the ground and the war my allergies waged against me the weekend was so much fun. It was great to see the boys again. Jack and James both looked so different and they seemed really happy. They are definitely living a new lifestyle where walking is the only transportation and a daily shower is unheard of. Lauren and I both said that if we were getting dropped off to go hike in the cold rain that we would just jump back in the car and say “Take me home, please!” but they didn’t even think about it. The only thing they were thinking about were the next stops between them and Mt Katahdin (the final destination).


I read that every year about 3000 people start out to hike the AT all the way thru, but only about 20 percent actually finish. I think that Jack and the boys are completely capable and extremely motivated to finish what they have started!

We Wish Them Well!