Coming Clean

Today marks an important anniversary to the world: my birthday. I wanted to reflect on everything in my life over the last year, so I told dad that I would need a four day weekend. Like always he told me that this was the final straw. If I didn't come in today I might as well not come in again. Let's see who blinks first. I am looking right at you dad, and I will not be blinking any time soon.

I have to come clean with you guys, my fans. Just like that guy from Oprah's book club, I've been lying to you. I never actually went out on the Appalachian Trail: I was actually blogging from my futon for the past four months. This is probably why you saw me at Braves games, out getting wasted, constantly writing on Facebook, at baby showers, and online for Halo Reach daily at 3 AM. However, I did take 6 months off from work. That part is true. I also helped a lot of you guys along the way with hiking and technology tips. Just today I saw my friend Chase in despair. He is not smart enough to update his Droid, and asked for help. Here is the way to update your phone, Chase: take your droid and throw it in the trash. Then buy the latest iPhone

The inspiration for BATB 2.0 actually came from a conversation I had with a guy at comic con last year. He said if you set your mind to it, you can do just about anything. He cited the fact that even without his adamantium skeleton, Wolverine was able to take down his arch nemesis Sabertooth. He was right. If a made up comic book character could overcome adversity with some clever writing, so could I. This is why I chose to deceive you guys. It was not out of malice but the purest of intentions. I wanted to prove that anything was possible. I'm glad that I proved myself right. While I may not have covered any physical ground on the Trail, my blog speaks for itself. Even though I may have jumped the shark with that whole Seth arch.

Do I miss it? You bet your ass I do. There are often times when I stay up at night, wondering what could have happened if I had finished the trail this time. Sure, not actually finish it, but blog about finishing it. I just didn't anticipate it would take this much out of me. I look back now at all the late night, Dew fueled brainstorming sessions and wonder what if...

But hey, only the weak have thoughts such as these. Today is my birthday, and I'm going to do what I do best. DB is out on the town! Holla!

Death Wish

The flight was delayed thirty minutes, which sucked. Not only that, but one of the stewardesses recognized me. She remembered arguing with me about Mello Yellow versus Dew a few months ago. She tried to tell me that they were basically the same thing. I corrected her in terms simple enough that she might understand: Mello Yellow is the Avis to Dew’s Hertz. This is the reason that Dew fetches a premium price and statistically is consumed by more affluent people.

Once aboard, I logged into my GoGo internet. I bought the annual subscription for $150 because it was the deal of a liftetime. It is either $10 per flight or $150 for the year. The lady next to me paid for a single use. I explained that the annual contract is a much better deal. She said she only flies six times a year, so it would cost more. She doesn’t get it. I have already flown twice in the last four months. I will end up saving hundreds of dollars.

Matt was supposed to pick me up, but he didn’t show. He didn’t answer his phone either. I fear the worst: he is possibly being held hostage by West German terrorists at the company party. After waiting outside Hartsfield for two hours, I rented a car. Pissed doesn’t begin to explain how I feel right now. After having a few hours to think about it, I reaffirm the same notion.

I pushed all four cylinders of my Elantra to the limit. I felt like Paul Walker in Fast and Furious 1,2 and 5 (but not 4) as I tore up 75N. I had to get to Seth while he was still breathing. I got pulled over and the officer said I was doing 81. I tried to explain the situation with a brief synopsis of my blog in terms he could understand. Most cops are not very smart. The dumbest guy from my fraternity ended up being a cop. I calmly told the officer if he did not let me go immediately that there would be blood on his hands. I was cited for a traffic ticket and a misdemeanor for threatening a peace officer. A minor price that I will gladly pay time and time again to save lives. My blog and my work, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. Regardless, my court date is August 29. Tentatively, I will reach the end of the trail, Cape Cod, on August 22. Hopefully I won’t be too bloated with lobster!

I finally got to Seth’s house at four. The garage door was open, but the car was gone. I could think of only three words: Gray’s Sports Almanac.

My worst fears have been realized. Seth is going to expire on the trail. Even though I already hiked most of it, I have to start over. I will either save his life or give him a proper burial.

I want everyone who thinks they can reach Seth to read the following very carefully so they can understand that this is life or death, not fun and games. May God have mercy on us all.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2009

Getting Ready

So my last day of work was today. Funny thing is they didn't call me to tell me it was opening later, so for my last week of work I didn't even work. ha.

Well, I'm in Lilburn, getting everything ready to go. I have everything I need, minus gloves and a hat. I've been practicing packing all my stuff in and out, putting up my tent, and cooking with my stove. I'll probably be hiking Stone Mtn. in the next day or two with all my gear, just as a warmup. Then some friends are throwing a going away party in Athens on Friday. I'll be back Saturday, get all my stuff ready to go and plans finalized, and then Monday morning I'm off to Springer Mtn.!

I'll probably post one more time Sunday night before I leave. After that, depending on cell phone service, I will try to update it everyday. And since I dont have an iphone or blackberry, they may be short and to the point. Once I get to internet in town, I'll try to provide more details as well as pictures.

5 More days...Holla!

Life or Death

I only covered a few miles today. I took it easy because of the holiday and all. I finally had a real dinner: 20 Chicken McNuggets, super size fries and two Big Macs. The only thing I don’t like about McDonald’s is that I have to sneak in a Dew and drink it on the sly because outside food and drink is forbidden.

After dinner, I checked facebook to see what everybody in civilian life was doing. I saw something on the news stream that made my blood run cold. My friend Seth is going to hike the trail.

I knew from the start this blog was a dangerous idea. Inspiring copycat hiking was inevitable. I just never thought it would be him. Seth will be as vulnerable as a newborn child on the trail.

Because Seth is getting on the trail solely due to me and my blog, I am compelled to save him from the harsh truth that the trail dispenses. I am going back so that I can either talk him out of the whole thing or guide him through it. I have come so far I can almost taste the lobster. I want more than anything to finish, but my friend’s life is more important.

It is going to be a long and brutal trip back to Georgia. I have my work cut out for me, what with the two hour layover in Charlotte. I am flying out of Harrisburg tomorrow and only hope I can get to Seth before he makes the biggest mistake of his life. I went on the trail once unprepared only to fail. I had to face ridicule from my peers and those closest to me, but at least I survived. I cannot in good faith let that happen to someone I love.

It is impossible for words to describe what is necessary to those who do not know what horror means. Horror has a face, and you must make a friend of it. Horror and the trail are your friends. If they are not, then they are enemies to be feared. They are truly enemies.

Seth, I am warning you, turn back. You don't know what you are getting into. This trail will finish you. I cannot have your blood on my hands, as I have no more tears left to shed.

No Nuts, No Glory

Today will go down in history as the most impressive block of hiking known to mankind. I woke up this morning at 5:45 to a beautiful sunset. I rolled up my sleeping bag, ate a few power bars, threw on my pack, and headed down the trail. I was angry today my friends, like an old man trying to return soup at the deli. While my detractors went back to their every day lives, I went back to work. I was inspired by the old story of "Tragic Magic". Magic Johnson single handedly lost the 1984 championship for the Lakers. Instead of hanging his head, like most would, he was inspired to head right back into the gym the following week. This was my chance to prove everyone wrong.

I hiked for hours before I even checked my watch. It was 10:30, and I was tired. Tough. I pressed on, ignorant of time and space. I swear I had walked 10,000 steps if I had walked a mile. I started to cramp up. First, just my stomach. Then my legs. Finally even my brain started to cramp. I wasn't about to stop now, even if it cost me my life.

The sun finally started to fade into the distance, and I knew that there would be no shame in calling it a day. But I didn't stop. I pulled out my flashlight and continued on. I tripped over an exposed rock and went tumbling to the ground. I was so tired at this point that I couldn't stand back up. That's when I started to crawl. I crawled for an eternity before sapping every last ounce of strength within my body. I passed out, face down in the dirt. When I woke up this morning, I checked my GPS. I walked 37 miles yesterday! I was finally in Pennsylvania!

They said it couldn't be done, that I had my chance and I blew it. I'm already over halfway to Maine, much to the chagrin of those conspiring against me. It's only a matter of time now before I have the last laugh! I can taste victory on the edge of my tongue, and it is sweet. Back to work!!!

Staying Real

Some of you guys may have it out for me, but I will never change. I am going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want to do. I will keep going on this trail. You can criticize me, root against me, and do whatever you want.

If I have a setback, some of you can get a few days or a few months or whatever the case may be on being happy about me not accomplishing my goals. Eventually you will have to get back to the real world and your jobs. I will still be on the trail. While you are stressing over a promotion or the inventory or the big merger I will be eating lobster in Maine celebrating a singular accomplishment.

The recent animosity from Jackson and Tim reminded me why I began this trip. In March of 2009, I began a journey to escape this world of hate and vitriol. I wanted the trail to lead to a simpler time. As I hike now, I realize that times may have been different, but they were never simple.

It is with mind in turmoil and body in repose that I post the following:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2009

About a Month to Go

So I still haven't set an exact start date, but I've narrowed it down to between March 6th to the 14th or 15th. I'm about to start working on my itinerary next week, and hopefully will figure out my start date then. I'm also planning on getting some of my gear next week, start breaking it in and testing it out. The anticipation has been building, and it seems like it can't come soon enough.

Also, if anyone lives near the trail, let me know, and maybe at some point we can meet up.

I also want to thank my parents for supporting me with this. Without their help and support, I wouldn't be able to do this. Thanks as well to my friends who are supportive, too.

Apology

To my avid readers,

I want to apologize to my fans. I don't know why I lost control the other day but I cannot take down my post as it is now part of history, viewable for as long as the internet is up. It has always been my policy to stand by what I write/post. I never delete or modify because I don't want to deceive you guys. I know that I should not treat my fans, except for Tim, the way I did the other day. This has really set me back on the trail, and I have not had the will to hike for days now. I used up all three free nights i had accrued. The body is willing, but the spirit is broken. I am considering ending it all; checking out of the hotel, going back home, quitting my job, and living on unemployment until I get into grad school.

I could really use some motivation right now. Please post positive comments on this entry. I am in a tailspin and could really use something uplifting right now.

I love all of you,

Brent

Crossing the Line

Jackson recently asked me "Exactly where on the trail are you?". At first I shrugged it off as ignorance. Then I started to read it again. And again. The more I read it, the more I realized that I was being mocked. It is obvious if you have been following my blog that I have made plenty of progress along the trail. It is maddening to write brilliant posts and have rubes that don't get them try and bring me down. This blog would have been a huge success if a bunch of jerks hadn't been dead set on taking me out. Rome wasn't built in one day.

My confidence is shaken. I don't know who I am any more.There is an idea of a Brent; some kind of abstraction. But there is no real me: only an entity, something illusory. And though I can hide my cold gaze, and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable... I simply am not there.

Jackson, you may have thought you won, but all you've done is set in motion of chain of events that will leave you mystified and bereft of your senses. You will regret having ever crossed me. You have forced my hand, and I hope that one day God will forgive me.

Monday, January 12, 2009

It's Official

At this point in my life, I'm not so sure where I want to go with it like most people my age. I know it's time for a change, yet I'm not positive what that change is. So, over the past month or two, I've been researching and reading a lot of stuff about the Appalachian Trail. And I have decided I'm going to give it a shot. I'm going to attempt to hike the whole Trail. Yes, it sounds crazy and tough, but I feel I need to do this for myself. Get away from everything and figure out some things. When will I leave? I'm not sure on the exact date, but it will be early to mid-March. I will put updates up occasionally until I start, and hopefully once I do start, it will be either daily or weekly.

I'm really excited to do this, and can't wait for the journey that awaits me.

Yesterday was my toughest day on the trail yet. I ran out of food this weekend and have been living the past 18 hours on berries and mushrooms I found in the forest. I feel as if I am no longer hiking but surviving. I've begun to think thoughts that before would have been shrugged off as nonsense.

While foraging for sustenance last night I happened upon a lone female traveler. Instinctively I began to stalk her like the lion stalking the lamb. Without pause I picked up a large rock and began to edge ever closer. I made sure to cover my arms and face in mud. I learned from the movie Predator that this was the best way to blend in. I had to make sure she could not discover me by heightened infrared readings. As I got within striking distance sanity rushed back into my mind. What was I doing? Was I really about to kill this woman? Had 18 hours without food really turned me into an animal?

The more I thought about my dilemma the murkier it became. She was out here alone and no one would really miss her, would they? I knew that if I didn't eat soon I would die. It was either me or her. I couldn't live on mushrooms and berries forever – they don’t taste very good.

I was going to do it. I skulked in the shadows of the forest. Closer and closer I got, making sure my breaths coincided with hers. As far as she was concerned I was just another shadow in a sea of darkness. Then the unthinkable. I stepped on an errant branch, alerting her to my presence. Startled, she jumped back what seemed 20 feet. I could no longer do it. I broke down and started to cry. I was going to die out here. I then felt another power bar in my pack’s secret pocket.

After eating I felt 100 times better! I realized that I had almost succumbed to Trail Madness. I had read about Trail Madness before leaving but never thought it would happen to me. Apparently it inflicts as many as 22% of all Appalachian Trail Hikers. Trail Madness murders are rare, but known to occur.

In order to avoid madness, and to get the most from the trail, I have resumed following the Braves. I am a lifelong fan, dating back to the 1992 season. Unlike so many fair weather fans, I suffered through the hard times in the 90s.

Talk about suffering, Uggla is 5 of 60 with just one double. He has 1 RBI and his on base percentage is a pathetic .152. He is 11 for 97 in past 28 games. I will bring you guys more interesting statistics in the future because I am a true fan, unlike sports nuts named Tim who masquerade as fans.

I talked with my college friend Kyle a few days ago. He asked me if I was writing the blog or if I had hired a professional author. He is in the FBI and a linguistic forensics expert. He said that the writing on this blog was so superior to my 09 one that the agents at his station didn't believe I was writing it. This is nothing new. People have always underestimated me, and I have always proven them wrong. Nothing will change.

Mail Bag

It is always great to here from my readers! Things are going okay on the trail.

Kristin asked:

Hey Brent, love the blog! I feel like I get you. I was wondering how far you have gotten? Is your ankle better? Are you back on the trail or still in the hotel?

Can I confess something? I tell you this as a hiker, I think you'll understand. Sometimes when I'm hiking... on the trail at night... I see two grizzly bears coming toward me. Fast. I have this sudden impulse to turn my course quickly, head-on into the oncoming beasts. I can anticipate the explosion. The sound of shattering bones. The... steam rising out of the flowing blood.

Anyway, thanks again for the great question!

Fall of a Titan

Most of you had probably heard about Harold Camping's bold prediction last weekend that May 21st would be the end of the world. For one great man it was. The great Macho Man Randy Savage died of a heart attack/ car accident last week in Florida and took a little piece of me with him to heaven.

I remember when I first saw the Macho Man wrestle back in March 1988 in my parent’s basement. I was only 5 years old and already on a steady diet of dew and slim jims which of course helped mold me into the Adonis I am today. His challenger was none other than the almighty Hulk Hogan, a paragon of the 80s second only to Reagan. Like the truest fans of the sport, rare outside of Conyers, I preferred Savage to Hogan. Hogan was all style and no substance. Savage won the match by cheating but of course taught me an important moral lesson that sticks with me to this day. Sometimes you have to do what others are not willing to if you want to make it to the top. That is how I live my life.

With a torrent of emotions, I pushed ahead on the trail with breakneck speed. I covered about a quarter mile in five minutes. I was kicking ass and taking names, but then as I cut a turn like Apolo Ohno, I hit a surface tree root and went flying. My ankle was killing me and I may have stubbed my toe. I stayed down on the ground for a few minutes with the weight of my pack crushing me. I needed to get to the hospital, but could not move.

As I lay down, defeated, I could feel myself losing consciousness. I saw the feature match from Wrestlemania III with incredible detail. Because I had watched the match between Macho Man and Steamboat 30-40 times, and I have a photographic memory, the entire match coursed through my mind. I knew this match better than Tim knows his right hand, reliving each blow and fall to the mat as if I was there myself. Just as the bell rang announcing Macho Man’s win electricity ran through my body and I jolted back to life. I heard Macho Man speak directly to my soul. There is no giving up Brent. If anyone knows that, it should be you. Oh yea!

With superhuman strength I lifted myself up from the ground and hobbled forward. Just like pro athletes, it takes more than steel chairs, ankle locks, and exposed tree roots to finish me. In my toughest hike yet, I covered almost two miles on my bad ankle and finally reached the road.

I have been at the Holiday Inn for the past 72 hours. I am going to take it easy until my ankle recovers as I don't want a repeat of the 2009 fiasco. A few hours of Wrestlemania highlights should give me the strength needed to push on tomorrow, and the fortitude to forget what happened last week.

Revelations

Last night I had another dream. Usually in my dreams I'm a ninja, the President, or a combination of the two - but this was different. The year was 1838 and my name was not Brent. My people called me Dances with Wolves. I was a proud warrior of the Cherokee tribe. I was on a trail, but it wasn't the Appalachian trail. I was on the Trail of Tears.

This was much different than the quest I had embarked on back in March. I had no gps. I had no playstation 3. I drank water from streams instead of dew from cans. There were no highways and trees were everywhere.

They called it the Trail of Tears because it separated the men from the boys, and those who couldn't handle it left crying. Chief Abita had sent me on this mission so that I could marry his daughter Pocahontas. My rival for her love was none other than the Indian warrior Sunken Chest. We were to embark on the trail together, and the first to return was to be married to Pocahontas.

The trail itself was much different than the Appalachian trail. For starters there was very little in the area of elevation change. It was more or less a nice, leisurely pace over plains and grassy knolls. After several days Sunken Chest began to drag behind me. After a few weeks I was sure that I had won because he was nowhere to be seen. When I returned to the village in August I came upon the shock of a lifetime. Instead of being greeted with lobster tails and ale, I was greeted by the wedding of Pocahontas and Sunken Chest!

This morning I really started to think about the dream and what it meant. My subconscious was trying to tell me something. I realized that Sunken Chest was actually my "friend" Tim. This wasn't the first time he had screwed me out of getting the girl. Also this wasn't the first time he had cheated to win. In a poker game back in 2007 I had a QKA23 straight but Tim swindled me out of the pot. This dream just reminded me that he can't be trusted and that he owes me $200.

Bent, Not Broken!

Some of you guys may have noticed that blogspot was down for most of the day. Yesterday’s update got erased, but everything is fixed now. Based on my correspondence with the president of blogspot, it looks like it was a deliberate attack on my blog. First Sony, now this. I know there are plenty of haters out there, but I never thought they would go as far as launching a cyber attack against me. Some people just can't stand success.

If you hackers think you can take me down, you are wrong. I am going all the way. I challenge the responsible party to man up and admit to the attack. I dare you to reply to this message with your name, address, daytime phone number, and social security number.

Lone Wolf

I have been hiking hard for the last week. Since I checked out from the Holiday Inn I have covered almost 35 miles of North Carolina trail. I called one of my best friend’s, Tyler, and told him that I would be coming by in a few weeks. He lives in Raleigh, which is basically on the trail. He said he does not think he can rendezvous. I have no need for his fancy cop talk. I am a lone wolf.

I feel more alone than ever before. For the last few weeks my number of followers has been stagnant. I feel like you guys don’t believe in me anymore even though I have covered almost sixteen times as much of the trail as I did in 2009.

I tried calling my best friend Scott, but he didn’t answer. He is probably Spring Breaking it hard like usual. When I finish the trail it will put me in the same league as him. In just a few months we will tear up a coastal town in Maine, but this time, as equals.

I called in to work to see whether my check would get deposited tomorrow or on Monday. I asked for dad, but all I got was voicemail. That is how I feel right now. I am leaving a message to the world, but I don’t know if anyone is listening.

Too Close for Comfort

Yesterday I announced the winners for the Art of Video games Smithsonian exhibit to the few of you out there who did not already know about it. I planned on using my iPhone 4 today to check out the stream at 1:00 PM. My entire day was completely planned out. Wake up at 10:30, hike a couple of miles towards civilization and enjoy what was sure to be an amazing tribute to the greatest art medium of all time. Unfortunately I was emphatically reminded today that even the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.

I had gotten close enough to US19E to start getting some pretty good reception. I logged onto the stream an hour early to make sure that my connection was solid and test my system. That's when all hell broke loose.

I got a prompt from WebEx stating that I needed to update to the newest version to watch the stream. I quickly used the App Store and started to download version 1.5. It didn't take. I needed a wireless connection. My blood ran cold.

They say that the worst thing people can do in a life or death situation is panic. I steeled my nerves and took a step back to look at my situation. If the sky was not clear today I would have sworn I was struck with a bolt of lightning when hit by my first idea. I pulled up my Holiday Inn rewards app and found a location 3 miles away. Taking into account the wind, elevation changes, soil type, and my surge of adrenaline, I calculated that I could make it to the Holiday Inn within 75 minutes. I chugged a dew for for that extra edge and took off.

By the time I got to the hotel I only had 7 minutes to spare. Luckily with my Holiday Inn Rewards App I was able to check in on the go. I grabbed my room keys from the front desk and demanded to know where the business center was. I looked down at my watch. 5 minutes to go As I turned the corner like Jimmy Johnson at the Daytona 500 I was blindsided by another unaccounted factor. Someone was using the business center computer, and there was only one.

I was lucky. It was a woman. Judging from her looks and demeanor, I figured she was in her mid 30s, probably married, and most likely a loner. I knew that if I just threw on the charm that this issue would take care of itself. Within seconds we were chatting. She was saying something about needing the computer for a sales call later that afternoon across town. I took it up a level and started to tell her about this blog. She must have been impressed because within a minute she was hastily packing up her bag and on her way. Its a shame for her that I didn't have more time because I could tell she wanted me.

I logged in and started streaming with only 30 seconds to spare! Overall the webcast was an amazing event and I felt honored to witness history in the making. I also must admit that the presentation of the SNES awards was very well put together. I was really blown away by the presentation of SimCity and have been rethinking yesterday's critique on it. The game’s creator Hirosuki Fukiyama discussed the process of converting the game to from pc to console and made some pretty good points on the technological breakthroughs. I've decided if you never change your mind, why have one?

I decided since I had already spent $89.99 on a room I may as well use it. It was so great to drink an ice cold coke. I watched about five hours of tv before figuring out what to do for dinner.

Not Just a Game

Today they announced the selections for the Art of Video Games exhibit at the Smithsonian. I have been following this pretty closely for the last few months and have been involved in some serious debate on various gaming forums. I am going to let you guys in on the winners before they are announced publicly later on today. I am trying to get to a high enough elevation to catch the webcast announcing the winners today at 1:00. Only a few hours left to make sure I will have good enough service to stream the show.

Luckily I have a few inside sources on the selection committee (shout out to xGandalfx2602) and received early notice of the winners. Since I have to get moving, I am only going to list the major categories, NES and SNES. The winners:

NES – Mario III, Zelda, 1943, Desert Commander. I predicted each one except for 1943. I stand by my vote and think Top Gun got the shaft here.

SNES – Mario World, Zelda: Link, Star Fox, SimCity. Again, I was three for four. I sent a letter to the selection board last month demanding that they remove SimCity from the snes slate. Everyone knows that a platform transfer from pc to console should disqualify the game. I am not happy about this one, and I know that I am not alone on this.

Alright, time to get moving so I can see the webcast!

Nostradamus

I almost forgot to post, we got him! That’s right you guys, Osama Bin Laden is dead. I always saw my trip as a dedication to the American Spirit to never give up and never stop pursuing our goals. Some of you may remember that back in ’09, I actually predicted that we would capture or kill Bin Laden before I finished hiking the Appalachian Trail. Looks like I was right! Way to go America!

Thinking outside the Box

So some of you guys may have noticed I haven’t moved in a few days. I decided to take the week off from the trail for a few reasons. My brother has gotten into hiking so I wanted to show him the ropes, make sure he has the skills to survive when he eventually makes his way to the trail.

I stopped by work and tried to touch base with everyone. They weren’t able to talk as much as they wanted because they are shorthanded. Sounds like someone in human resources screwed up. I told everyone to check out the blog so they could follow my progress.

Yesterday before departing again for the trail I stopped by my local REI. I had lightened my pack by ditching my high tech electronics but my bag was still weighing in about 50 lbs more than I had hoped. I spoke with one of the store's sales reps about my dilemma and any possible solutions. He suggested that I simply take out some of my extra food, that a 24 pack of dew was not necessary. I asked him how much he thought it might cost to rent a sherpa for a few months to carry my pack. He stared at me blankly as if he didn't understand the question. I realized at this moment that I was not dealing with an amateur salesman, but instead a hardened pro.

I had seen this angle played before when trying to procure Call of Duty before its official release date from a local GameStop. The salesmen pretends that he doesn't know what you are talking about and that it can't be done. That is of course until you slip a twenty in his hand. I decided to play along with him, passing along a twenty in a sly handshake much like a big time booster for a state college to the star player. He looked in his hand, handed me back the twenty and simply said, please leave the store sir. This guy was a real hardass so I upped the ante. I directly handed him a fifty and told him to make it happen. His response shocked me. He told me if I don't leave the store right away, that he would call the cops. Too rich for my blood I guess.

Did about 8.7 miles today. I'm a bit tired but not nearly as I was the week before.

Nothing to Fear

I issued an ultimatum the other day on my April 17th post: "join the haters or join my supporters. The former will be sitting in their parent’s basement wasting their lives. The latter will be celebrating with me, drinking bud light and eating lobster in August". One of you chose to become a hater. I am looking right at you, Tommy. You and I will both be enjoying early bird specials 4 months from now. The only difference is, mine will be with hot chicks and lobsters. Yours will be at the Country Kitchen Buffet with mom and dad. You've made your choice.

I recently saw a news story about bears in the northeast portion of the trail, almost exactly where my ‘09 run in occurred! I remember sending a text message to the game warden back in March, alerting him to the bear problem, but apparently he didn't listen. I was supposed to leave again today, to head back out onto the trail. I made up an excuse, said I wasn't feeling good and that I needed another day. An overwhelming panic struck, and I headed into the bathroom to rinse my face with cold water. As I regained my composure, I looked at my reflection and asked myself what was really going on. Deep down, I knew the answer. I'm afraid! All right! You want to hear me say it! You want to break me down? All right, I'm afraid. For the first time in my life, I'm afraid. Then I thought to myself, is there really anything wrong with being afraid?

There is. For me, there is.

I was feeling really down, wondering if I had what it takes to get back out there. So far, I have hiked about the same total distance as I did in ’09. I could easily call off the rest of the hike. There would be no shame in it. Less than two percent of the world's population has hiked even one mile of the Appalachian Trail. That puts me in the 98th percentile already. I just needed to gather a bit of steam, so I went back to a place that inspired me a few weeks ago: Dave & Buster’s.

I rocked Cruis’n World for about an hour and then moved to Time Crisis IV. The adrenaline hit and I felt like I had just gotten a B12 injection. After about four hours of play, I was reborn. The weakness I showed earlier today was not real. That was not me. I am ready to go back on the trail. Due to the closure, I am going to have to start a little further ahead. I am checking out my interactive maps today and will let you guys know where I get dropped off tomorrow.

Tommy, you are welcome to rejoin my blog as a follower. Know this: once I cross the Virginia border, that offer comes off the table.

One of the chicks in the crowd captured the action.

Reflection

Today marks a huge milestone for version 2.0 of the blog! I was actually able to hit the 1,000 views mark this morning for the month of April! The original blog didn't get 1,000 hits until late 2010, and for some reason, most of those came from Colorado and Illinois. Must be some great hiking out there! I am very happy that the readers of this blog hail from all over the country and the world. I stepped up my game this time, and you guys have come with me.

The blog also gained its 20th follower this week! To commemorate these milestones, I've decided to post a quick "best of" post for those new readers out there. If you haven't been reading the blog from the start, I'd suggest going back to the first post. Enjoy!

Looking Back

The weather had gotten cold and Andrew and his friend had left me. I was on my own. I had to react quickly. Because of the rain, I had needed to rush making a camp. I couldn’t get a fire started, so I set up my tent and tried to get some rest after a marathon session of hiking. It turned out I had set up camp just a few hundred feet away from a pack of grizzlies.

I had some thinking and decision making to do. I asked myself if, realistically, even if there wasn't something wrong with my foot, did I really think I could do this day in day out for 5 months? I thought, and truthfully, the answer was no. BUT, I did also want to hike(even though it was hard as hell at times, I loved the experience, and enjoyed the hiking), and stay out there as long as I felt content out there... not worry about mileage(which if I did go to Maine, eventually I would have to worry about making enough mileage a day), and enjoy the trip

Tough Choices

I no longer recognized the man staring back at me. Could I keep up this up forever? I realized there was only one thing that could be done. I have to face the facts and take control of my life. I have to return. I have to go back to where it all began...

Playing it Safe

Around 3 a.m. I was ready to get some well deserved shut eye. I had been to hell and back today. My eyes were feeling a little strained from the gaming. I climbed into the sleeping bag and tried to sleep. It was cold, so cold my bad wrist was aching. Then I thought to myself, what are you doing Brent? There’s no need to get sick this close to launch date. So I packed up the electronics and took them to the warm, comfy confines of my bedroom.

Keeping Perspective

I saw a documentary on Bruce Jenner the other night. Apparently, before his bronze in ’72, he focused 100% of his energy on the decathlon. After the crushing defeat, he took up table tennis and started drinking. In ’76, he took the gold in the decathlon. The movie hit pretty close to home. It is obvious that in ’09 that my focus was all about the trail. That was the whole problem. This time I think I am doing it right. If you want to finish this thing, you have to know more than hiking. You have to know yourself.

Staying Strong

Just the other day I got a message from one of my college friends wishing me luck on the trail and that she was sending me her prayers. I called her up and thanked her for the support, but told her that it was not needed. She should save her prayers for the weak.

Can’t Bring Me Down

Matt stopped by my apartment. He said that dad was sick of my antics, that it was time to come back to work. He said that dad thought I had gone totally insane, that playing video games on the Appalachian Trail was crazy. Was it crazy? When was the last time either of them hiked the trail? Last time I checked, I know more about the trail than just about anyone.

Unconditional Friendship

Scott told me he found my blog online. Never in a million years would I have predicted what happened next. He told me he was going to Vegas on the weekend of the 18th. I couldn't believe it, that was one week before I left for the trail. He said he had already bought a ticket for me, that this was going to be a celebration. Everyone knew I would make it this time, and this was their way of showing support. After he finished his beer, he looked over and said 'by the way, Tim is not invited'. I couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

An Enduring Promise

I will buy lobster for anyone who subscribes to my blog when I reach Maine.

Over the Hills and through the Woods

As some of you may remember, I owed $3,600 in back taxes to the IRS. Well, since I had already spent that money on camping gear, I needed to improvise. Luckily, my parents were willing to help me out one last time as not to place more of a burden on me. They agreed to pay my $3,600 if I put the hike off for another week so that I could attend Grandpa's 80th birthday party. This was unacceptable, but we reached a compromise. I said Matt could pick me up today from the trail and I would pay tribute to the old man.

We got to the party around 5:00 PM, down in Lilburn. Matt broke the piñata, but only because I was able to soften it up for him first. I said “you’re welcome.” I had enough of that kid stuff and moved on to get a new beer and some pigs in blankets. Breaking my core trail diet of Power Bars and Dew would be only minimally harmful.

Grandpa silenced the room at about 8:00 for a toast. He told everyone that if he would have known he would be here one day, standing before this group of people, that he would have gotten a vasectomy 50 years ago. I think I was the only one who got the joke because no one else laughed. He thanked me specifically for taking the time to come to the party. He finally realizes the importance of my hiking trip.

Overall it was a very long day full of pleasantries and idol chatter. I tried not to talk too much so I could maintain my focus on the trail. Everyone kept asking me about this blog. I promised I would try to keep it up to date, but it is a tough life out there on the trail.

Now I know what a president feels like when he visits a small town. I can't wait to get away from it all again, back out onto the trail. I am getting dropped off where I was picked up.

There can be only one

Sunday was one of the toughest days I've had in a long time, but it's behind me now. I packed up my bags this morning and departed North again. I've had a lot of time to think on the trail, especially about some interesting facts that I read about before my departure.

Only 20% of the people that try to hike the Appalachian Trail actually finish. Of those 20%, only 5% write a blog about it. Of those 5%, only one is any good. I realize that I can't stop now because my fans out there need some inspiration in their lives. What if one day typical people wake up and decide, you know what, I don't want to pay the mortgage anymore! Or what if some lady quits her job today because it's "tough" and she doesn't want do it anymore? That's why I keep pushing myself to the limit. I realize that a lot of people out there just need a reason to keep on living sometimes. A little bit of hope. I am thinking of you guys with each mile I put behind me.

I stopped after about 6.4 miles today and am setting up camp now. No need to get crazy this early on. I'll be posting about my adventures when I stop tomorrow!

And on Sunday, He didn't Rest

I am in so much pain right now. I covered almost ten miles today. The Garmin says 9.1, but I would swear it was twice that. I don’t have much energy to post, but due to the outpouring of support and new advertisers, I am going to tough it out.

In 2009, I couldn’t catch a break. Last time, I had to hound them to get ads, this time, I clicked a button on Wednesday or Thursday, and they all flocked to the site by the weekend. This is really encouraging. It seems like everything is going my way, at least big picture anyway. The hiking is still really tough, no matter how many people have your back.

I really got my ass handed to me today. Hiking is serious business. I felt like a 30 year old visiting his old college town, trying to pick up chicks. You might survive the trail, but you can never conquer it.

“Brent Jonson”, (I doubt that is your real name) why don't you become one of my followers? You are obviously already a fan. Based upon your username, I assume it is a tribute to me. Either way, you have two options: join the haters or join my supporters. The former will be sitting in their parent’s basement wasting their lives. The latter will be celebrating with me, drinking bud light and eating lobster in August.

Day One

Wow! Day one is over and man, am I exhausted. My friend Bryan reneged on his offer to drop me off because of the comments I made on his stupid car. Instead, I had to take a Taxi to Neel's Gap. That is where I left off back in 2009. I started about six miles north of the gap. No need to retrace my footsteps.

I hiked a pretty respectable 6.3 miles today according to my Garmin. Since this was my first day I decided not to push myself too hard. Plus, unlike most people in life, I realize the importance of stopping to smell the roses. I had a picnic today, a few Power Bars and a Mountain Dew. I took the time to reflect on how truly fortunate and blessed I really am.

It's getting late now so I am going to start setting up camp. I am hoping I can get to level 50 tonight on Call of Duty so that I can prestige again! Hopefully my ps3 and Garmin will stay charged long enough to reach my goal!

Anticipation!

Tomorrow is the big day! My friend Bryan agreed to drop me off at the trail to make up for being such a jerk during Wrestlemania. He tried to sell me his old BMW over the phone for $12,400, but I knew that it wasn't worth $5,000 from all the breakdowns he's reported on Facebook over the past year. He means well but I think his celebrity has gotten to his head.

I went ahead and packed up my bag today. I am as prepared as anyone else who has ever tackled the trail, and succeeded. My pack weighed about 65 lbs at first, so I had to carefully shed about 10 lbs. I obviously couldn't get rid of my Garmin, cell phone, or ps3 slim, so I ditched my hot plate, water purifier, compass and maps. They were just weighing me down.

The next thing I did was call my friends and family and say goodbye. I wouldn't be gone forever, but to them it may seem that way. My brother Matt said godspeed but knew better than to wish me luck. My best friend Scott told me that he believed in me and knew I would do it this time. My friend JM told me that he didn't care and to stop calling him. Dad didn't answer. All in all it was a pretty tearful day for my friends and family. I can only imagine what it would feel like to hear that the sun would be vanishing for the next few months.

I do have some bad, non trail related news though. Apparently I owe the government about $3,500 in Federal taxes. For the sake of independence, I do not use the company CPA to do my taxes. All I need is for him to share my personal information with Dad or Grandpa. It is none of their business. My accountant at H&R Block told me that I shouldn't have claimed six of my deductions. Apparently kids have to be yours to claim them as a dependent, and roommates don't count either. I talked with my family and I think it is taken care of, but we’ll see.

Things really have changed since Obama took office!

Going International

I was pretty excited when I checked out the blog earlier, as I have already exceeded the number of followers I had on my first iteration: "Brent's Appalachian Trail Blog". I had a chance to reread it and I realized how far I have come. It looked kind of shoddy and it was not particularly well written. If I get enough interest in re-posting my ’09 adventure, I might look into putting it back up on Blogspot.

After reading my old posts, I had a nightmare last night. It was back in ’09, day one of the hike and my body wasn't ready for that type of abuse. I begged for Andrew to slow down, to let me catch my breath, but he forged ahead, showing no mercy. I passed out at some point and when I woke up it was pitch dark. Andrew was nowhere to be found. I was too tired to set up camp, so I got in the sleeping bag, took care of business, and then went to sleep.

Now I laugh as I remember that trip. I did not get very far, and it was totally overwhelming. This afternoon I was thinking about how many times an incompetent first attempt has led to huge triumph. Castro went down in flames at the Moncada Barracks in ’53. Then he ran the country for fifty years. The Beer Hall Putsch was a disaster, and the rest is history. It even took Colonel Sanders visiting over 600 places trying to sell his chicken recipe before he found a buyer interested in his 11 herbs and spices.

Like those guys, I was not up to the challenge the first time. I had some pretty unrealistic expectations about the trail. I feel like this time I am so much more prepared, and it shows to all the readers. I think more of you are following me this time because you know that I am going all the way. This is so reassuring because recently the slightest bit of doubt had started to creep in.

So I was looking at the blog stats and thought it was pretty cool to see so many international visitors to the site. The largest contingent came from Spain. I heard the Sierra Morena is a pretty tough hike. They were probably trying to get some tips from me. For my readers abroad: I have not hiked much internationally, but I can definitely help you guys out with the fundamentals.

Only two days now before I head off into the Jungle. I'm really excited and anxious so I need to make sure not to drink too much Dew tonight, or I might not be able to sleep.

Mail Bag

I want to go ahead and quickly address this comment from my last post:

When do you leave for the trail? What gear are you taking? How much training have you been doing? The AT being 2,180-ish miles is a shit load of hiking. Don't think I am criticizing you, but if I was about to hike for several months, I wouldn't be downing kegs of beer at Braves games and wrestling events. I understand the need to keep things in perspective and not focus entirely on the trip, but not going into the trail with the right mindset will lead to the most common injury, human error. Good Luck Bud.

First of all, I already stated that I'm leaving for the trail this weekend. Have you even be reading my blog? I'm taking state of the art camping gear purchased from REI. If you want some tips I can send you a list to your personal email. As far as training, I'm pretty sure I've done my fair share. I've been waking up at 10:30 AM every morning to get my body used to the hardships on the trail. I've been walking 3 miles through the neighborhood every day, sometimes with my backpack on.

I haven't been downing that much beer either. I only drank about 15 beers at Wrestlemania and about 20 at the Braves game. Anybody that's hiked the trail knows that you need a decent amount of fat reserves to make it the whole way through. This was just a convenient to do that. As far as keeping perspective, see my notes on Bruce Jenner in the March 28th post.

How many times have you hiked the trail, Tommy? I appreciate your comment, but wonder about your credentials. If you think you can handle it, feel free to join me at the starting line this weekend.

Also, you guys, it is always good to hear from my readers, so I encourage you to comment on my posts.

Home of the Braves!

After 365 days of waiting baseball has returned to Atlanta! As most of you know I postponed my trip into the wild for two more weeks to make it out to the Braves season opener! My friends Jimmy, Blackwell and I packed up my SUV and headed off to Turner Field, recognized as one of the most historic parks in sports.

I had to swing by the office quickly to submit my expense report for my new iPhone 4. As many of you know, I recently broke my 2nd iPhone the other night by dropping it into the toilet at a Waffle House. I really wasn't too worried about it because it was a company phone. When I walked into the office dad told me that he was happy that I finally decided to quit chasing my white whale and that he was proud of me for focusing on reality. I didn't know what whales had to do with anything. I handed him my expense report and told him when he sees me in August I will be chasing lobsters, not whales.

Then Grandpa walked in. Grandpa was old school – tough like Jack Palance in City Slickers. Back in 2010 I was approved for a 10% salary raise by my immediate manager only to be overturned by Grandpa. He is always saying to me, "When I was seventeen, I walked into the jungle. And by twenty-one, I walked out. And by God, I was rich!" I tell him I walked into the jungle back in 1990 without even using up up, down down, left right, left right, b a and walked out with the highest score of all time. I hope that one day he will realize what the word accomplishment means.

I was not able to make it into the game, but my beer pong play was top notch. Apparently the game was not any good, so I didn’t miss anything.

Can You Smell What the Blog is Cooking?

The roar of the crowd. The smell of victory - and defeat. This is what Wrestlemania is and has always been about. I was really excited this weekend to have a chance to see my second favorite action hero of all time, the Rock (Van Damme is still the best), up close and in person. For years I have wanted them to remake the movie Double Team with the Rock playing Rodman’s character. The only other person I knew that was going was my old college friend Bryan. Sadly he is a pretty big deal now because he is in Atlanta's premier comedy troupe, and he wouldn't return my calls. No matter. I'll be alone for months on the trail so it really wasn't a big deal.

Stone Cold took the stage first. He tore through the arena on a four wheeler and it was one of the most exciting things I have ever witnessed. I yelled at him in the ring, challenging him to a chugging contest. I'm pretty sure he heard me because the next thing he did was chug and crush a bud over his head. It wasn't really that impressive and I know I could have downed at least two by the time he was done. Next up was the Undertaker, intimidating as ever. To be honest, he was the reason I got into wrestling in middle school, although I ended up quitting because it lacked the excitement of the pro ranks.

The night ended with the most charismatic and electryfing man in Hollywood, and maybe the world, taking center ring - Dwayne Johnson. He dropped his awesome catchphrase, can you smell what the Rock is cooking, on the audience like a ton of bricks. His speech was peppered with classics like jabroni and candy ass. It really took me back to the late 90s, the golden age of wrestling.

When the night was all said and done, I was tired and exhausted, in a good way. Maybe next summer instead of going back onto the trail again I'll try to get into the WWE. Not as a wrestler, more like a manager or director of operations. My friend Bryan is really close to landing a big job with the WWE, so he can probably get me in the door.

I'm really excited and pumped up about getting back into training tomorrow. I only have one week to get into drinking shape for the Braves home opener, so I'll probably start training with a 30 rack of Keystone Light at 10 AM.

A photo during the Rock's speech taken by my friend Bryan from the nosebleeds

I Don't Believe in April Fools

After giving is some careful consideration the other night over a few beers, I decided that it would be in my best interest if I stayed in town for the Braves season opener next week. This was not an easy choice for me as I had to carefully weigh all the options. If I embarked on the trail on the 1st like I originally intended after Vegas, I would have two extra weeks to make it to Maine. At my speed that easily translates into 200 miles. On the other hand, If I had left on April 1st people might get the wrong impression and think this whole thing is a joke.

I've been getting a lot of people who have given me kudos for this second iteration of the blog. My followers and fans have been growing at an exponential rate. Just the other day I got a message from one of my college friends wishing me luck on the trail and that she was sending me her prayers. I called her up and thanked her for the support, but told her that it was not needed. She should save her prayers for the weak. All of this factored into my decision to stay grounded until April 15th. I figure you guys can check back once done with your taxes for another year.

The other day my dad called me while I was at Dave & Buster’s. He asked me to come back to work. Work? Here I am, about to embark on one of the most perilous journeys conceivable, and all he can think about is his bottom line. I told him that I was still on vacation because I was preparing for the trail and to not call me until August. Some people need to think before they open their mouths.

Doing the Math

I got my humidity monitor in the mail on time to conduct some weekend testing. The storm was huge as predicted. Good thing I was in my garage and not out on the trail because the tent was leaking big time. When I checked it out in the morning, there was no standing water, but the humidity readings jumped as high as 98% throughout the night. I read that pneumonia causes as many as 10% of trail fatalities.

Right now I am very confident in my decision to do further preparation. It is too easy to just get out there on the trail. I have heard of rookies who try to start as early as mid February, but none of those guys go the distance. All the mileage can be made up during good weather, and the whole point is to reach the end in August. If I had started last week I would have run the risk of getting to Maine while the water was still too cold for swimming.

For cardio and conditioning, I made a trip to the local Dave & Buster’s. It is about ten miles away from home, so I got dropped off at the REI, which is about two miles from D&B. I picked up some gloves for the trail and then hiked the whole way to the arcade. Testing out the gloves in an intense environment was crucial if I planned on taking them out to the trail.

I put $50 on my power card. I get a 20% bonus as a platinum member, so my play is basically comped. That is how it was in Vegas after I hit the Buccaneers O’ Barbury quarter slot machine for $400. With $60 on the card I knew I was good for hours.

I owned Cruis’n World. On a single credit, $2.70, I advanced through six stages, besting all of my competition. I saw this one dude taking pictures of the ass kicking so I asked if he would email them to me on my iPhone. If you look at my screen on the right, I hold a tighter line which allowed me to beat the guy to my left every time. Now I know what it feels to be in the shoes of my favorite qb of all time: Peyton Manning. Just like him, I was able to watch the tape and learn from others' mistakes in the field. This is exactly why I went to Dave & Buster’s. I discovered stuff that translates to the trail in a real way. If I hold a tight edge throughout the entire trail I can be about 15-20% more efficient than everyone else, possibly getting to Maine in late July.

This trail preparation reminds me that only focusing on hiking risks missing the forest for the trees. It has also made me realize that I could benefit from seeing the best of other elements of sports. The Braves are opening on the road, but the home series against the Phillies is next weekend. I am starting to think between the Braves live and the Masters on my iPhone, I could gain a lot more than the 40-50 miles would get me in the long run.

I saw a documentary on Bruce Jenner the other night. Apparently, before his bronze in ’72, he focused 100% of his energy on the decathlon. After the crushing defeat, he took up table tennis and started drinking. In ’76, he took the gold in the decathlon. The movie hit pretty close to home. It is obvious that in ’09 that my focus was all about the trail. That was the whole problem. This time I think I am doing it right. If you want to finish this thing, you have to know more than hiking. You have to know yourself.

For the first time in a long time, I can say that.

Final Preparations

So Vegas was awesome. I got to see lots of good friends and could really feel their support for me and my upcoming hiking trip. I played some poker, but it wasn’t very cool. I realized that the smart money plays the slot machines.

I had planned to set out on my trip this Saturday, but there are supposed to be thunder storms this weekend in Morganton. I have thought it over and think I will start next week instead. I think it was the great explorer David Livingstone who said “I will go anywhere, weather permitting.”

During the extra week of preparation I am going to make sure I am ready to go. I am going to put up the tent with the rain sleeve on Saturday. I think it may have sustained damage from the weather last time I camped out. I want to see how it weathers the storm.

While I was on the plane, I ordered a humidity meter with a wireless probe from SkyMall. It sends data to the main unit from up to 250 feet away. I got the express shipping so it should arrive tomorrow. I am going to put it inside of the tent and then monitor the humidity throughout the whole night. If there are any spikes in the reading it probably means the tent is leaking and I will have to buy a new one.

While in Vegas I meet a cool guy who had hiked the trail back in the '90s. He said he did it without a GPS or PS3 setup. I asked if he had brought an SNES or Genesis with him and he said no. I really don't know if I believe him, because it seems impossible. He did offer me a good piece of advice, bulk up before launch. I am going to head to GNC tomorrow to see about putting some weight on in this extra week of preparation.

Vegas Baby

So I’m on the plane heading to Vegas right now. I tried to order a Dew and got shot down. The stewardess said they had mellow yellow and it was the same thing. Same thing? Was Sega CD and 32x the same thing? Was Dr. Wily in Megaman the same as Dr. Wily in Megaman II? I don't think so.

This Gogo inflight WiFi internet access is pretty cool. I went ahead and purchased the one year unlimited use plan. It is a way better deal than the one time rate. Plus, I have a feeling I will be needing it a lot upon my completion of the trail.

I am so keyed up for the hike, but I need to calm down so that I don’t lose my focus at the poker tables. I had originally planned to watch some of the basketball games at the sports book, but now I am thinking it is poker only for me. I have always preferred to focus on my strengths – video games, flag football, computer programming, hiking, and poker. I got some extra prep in yesterday by watching The Gambler, The Sting, The Sting II, Rounders, and Cincinnati Kid on Netflix. The only one who will be able to beat me this weekend is me.

Last weekend my brother and I went to Dick’s Sporting Goods because he wanted to climb the wall. I agreed to show him how to do it. I also figured I might encounter some sheer cliffs on the trail, so brushing up on my free climbing skills was a plus. I laughed to myself when I saw all the novices with belayers and hookups to leads. Those guys wouldn’t last a week on the trail.

I'll be landing any minute now so I need to go ahead and post before my connection is lost.

I am going to get lucky

You guys have likely noticed that I haven't posted anything since Sunday. Well if you've been keeping up with the blog you would realize that I am going to Vegas next week. I've adopted my attitude toward preparation for the trail to my prep for Las Vegas. There should be no problem preparing for both at once. Both involve marathon sessions of human exertion.

I've been watching 6 hours of ESPN's world poker tournament a day and have more or less mastered what it takes to win several thousand dollars next week. Master the probabilities, and you master the game. That is always the case in life. That is why this time on the hike, I am all in.

To make sure I can hold my own at the table, I went out and spent $200 on some dark sunglasses so that my opponents aren't able to read my eyes. I decided against using my trail glasses because I don’t want them on the flight. The changes in pressure can weaken the tensile strength of the carbon fibers. That is the last thing I need to go wrong on the trail. I figure it really won't cost me anything assuming I win a few grand.

As far as phsyical training for the trail, I decided that it was best to take it easy for a few days. It would be foolish to exhaust myself this close to launch. Last time I made this mistake by hiking the paved 2 mile trail at Stone Mountain. It really wore me out and I know that if I had just stayed at home I would have made it to at least Virginia last time.

It is so tough to put the ’09 hike out of my mind. It had a bigger impact on me than almost anything in my life. I had another bad dream about that hike two nights ago, but I don’t want to talk about it. I keep telling myself I have to look forward, not backward. I am like a shark, and I can only move in one direction.

So I may do some camping next week, but probably no more hiking until I am actually on the trail. I also need to test my gear to figure out if anything needs to be replaced. Looks like I have a pretty busy weekend ahead of me!

Training Day

It’s been a cold and wet weekend. Perfect time to condition my body to the cold and rainy nights ahead on the trail. From my research, I’ve gathered that the southern Appalachians receive the second most rainfall of any area in the lower 48 outside of the Pacific Northwest.

My plan was to test my equipment out in the rainy and cold night. I drove to work to tell dad I was going to use the backyard again as my testing ground. He told me that he didn’t buy into the trip. I told him he had spent thousands of dollars on the electronics, so he was invested.

I setup the Lunar Solo tent I purchased at REI, great light-weight that keeps mostly warm and dry. I had the same type of tent back in ’09, but it was worn badly from the heavy use. Setup was easy; my only concern will be keeping my power sources dry out there. I was looking online and found solar panels that you charge during the day. They roll up pretty small. It will only give me 3-4 hours of gameplay each night, but it is a sacrifice I have to make.

I played a solid 3 hours of Call of Duty: Black Ops on the PS3 slim. I love killing Nazi zombies for hours on end. It helps to inspire me in the hard times, especially on nights like this when it is so cold and rainy that I could barely hear the gunshots of my game for the first 30 minutes of play.

Around 3 a.m. I was ready to get some well deserved shut eye. I had been to hell and back today. My eyes were feeling a little strained from the gaming. I climbed into the sleeping bag and tried to sleep. It was cold, so cold my bad wrist was aching. Then I thought to myself, what are you doing Brent? There’s no need to get sick this close to launch date. So I packed up the electronics and took them to the warm, comfy confines of my bedroom.

This was my setup, shown after the weather had cleared up.