Jonathan (Caribou) and Yolo stop their AT thru-hike

Due to pain in his knees after completing 300miles south from Mt. Katahdin Jonathan has decided to stop his hike after a total of 1650 miles!!(2640km) leaving about 500 miles to complete the AT. 


What he and Yolo have accomplished is truly an amazing feat especially considering how fast he has been hiking until now. 


Jonathan is confident that with sufficient rest he will soon be fit again to continue hiking.


Sept 20 1.15pm
Sad news for me- I'm done with hiking. My knees gave up. But I am reallllLllllllllyyyyy happy that I got this opportunity to experience long distance hiking! Great times!

As of now, I guess we will chill and rest here (in NH) till oct. Then in March off to PCT! (Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada 2650 miles!!):D

Summiting Mt. Katahdin at 3pm on August 19, 2010

Tues. 8.24pm
We r hiking from pinkham notch to gorham (21 miles) tomorrow (Wednesday).

Friday 7am
We r finally hiking out!!! Talk you later!
Today we will hike (NORTH)(2 nights) from US 2 (gorham) to Grafton Notch.
Friday night
Carlo col shelter
Saturday
8.47am

Our beloved Yolo!!

Heading to mohassuc notch

Thursday 6.12am
Very sad how weather is looking today and tomorrow. Not good. So we are staying in again. We want to hike over mts in NH when its good weather!


We did 10 miles yesterday. From Grafton Notch to East B Hill rd.

Tuesday 8.25pm
(Last night) At trailhead by East b hill road
10 miles today- may will stay nh home tonight then to gorham tomorrow am and hike two days north to grafton notch. That's when we will go thur mahossics.

Tuesday 5.15pm
Apparently we will go slow in NH! Not easy as I thought it would be! We r still in Maine! Will be finally in NH this friday!!! 

Saturday 9.38pm
I'm back to NH house with maurices!!! Will return to andover this monday and slack to death!
Sunday 2.54pm
Yeah we are very looking forward to mahossics! We love challenges!
Not sure whether we will leave tonight or early tomorrow morning to andover! (Mile 246.4) But for sure we will hike tomorrow! I think we will go with 10 miles first to give them a warm up and then do big after NH.
Monday 4.49pm
Top of moody mt! (Mile 248.2) Good hike!

Friday 2.58pm
I'm going to stay here (Andover, Mile 246) till sunday- the hurricane earl is coming and its going to be dangerous to hike in rain at where I am about to cross- Mahossic Notch! The toughest and fun part of AT. An average to cross a mile is one and half hour!! Lots of big rocks and have to do technical hiking (use hands too). So my friends, Maurice and Maurice Jr Abenchuchan will pick me up and take me to bethlehem (1 n half hour drive). To rest and get my suv so we will do the slackpack from Andover to NJ (about 600 miles)after the storm leaves!

1.37pm
Saddleback mt (Mile 214)- now heading down to rangeley! (Mile 220)

Caribou, Yolo, Nesta and Squash

3.57pm
I'm with nesta and other hiker buddies here at Horns Pond Lean-To! (Mile 182.7) They were in Stratton and we both did only 5 miles to meet here. That way we can hang out all the day! Its great to see them!

Ill be at Rangeley  On wednesday. Only 6 more days till NH!!!!

A few days of silence from Jonathan and Yolo but here they are again......
Sunday 3.50pm
I'm great! We slept at pierce pond lean to! (Mile 155).Today we r staying at avery memorial campsite on top of bigelow mt!(Mile 179)
4.39pm
Little bigelow mt kicked my butt! I don't think my legs can keep up to avery peak! Dangggg!! Would love to be there to watch both sunset and sunrise! Oh well! We r going to camp out at safford notch campsite! (Mile 177)
5.48pm
Tomorrow we r meeting up with nesta!!!
5.56pm
Just arrived the site! Nice spot! Clear blue sky!!!! Going to be great night!

1.27pm
I'm on top of forth mountain! (Mile 93.3)Monson tomorrow!(Mile 114)
Perfect weather today!! Mom said package should arrive tomorrow at 1030am which is perfect timing!

1.25pm
On top of Hay Mountain, Maine (Mile 74.5)
5.09pm
From Vivienne Schroeder
Kessie:: be safe out there, hiro says woofwooof to yolo.. miss n love ya!

August 19 On top of Katahdin!!! Start of the Southbound AT

 August 19 3:58pm (This message arrived a day later because of poor coverage)
 Just arrived the peak!!! The uphill was helll!!!!!
(Three hours to summit!)


August 20 2.50pm
I'm at mile 21.1! Send next package to shaw's lodging- 5 days food


I'm in 100 miles wilderness- don't think pager will works till next town


August 21 11.46am
I'm at mile 36.3! I'm really out of shapeee!!!!

Hostel Caribou

July 20th Caribou, Tumbleweed, Fusion, Dr. Beefstick,  RoughinIt

While Jonathan was in relaxing in NH he welcomed some of his AT trail companions to his "little hostel" in Bethlehem, NH, which was voted the best ever by all the "Visitors"!!!

July 24th Caribou, Darkstark, Upgrade, Sky

July 26th Caribou, Menno, Dreamcatcher, Mexico

Jonathan (Caribou) and Yolo back on the AT!!!

After a five week break recharging batteries at their home in Bethlehem, NH and a week running the Wilderness Week at the National Association for Deaf Young Leadership Camp (YLC) in Oregon, Jonathan and Yolo returned today to the AT at Mt. Katahdin in Maine to begin their Flip-Hike.

Jonathan's Mom and Dad and three nieces from Israel drove Jonathan and Yolo to the Mt. Katahdin trailhead - 250 miles from Bethlehem, NH!!!

Jonathan and Yolo began their slackpack ascent of Mt. Katahdin via the Hunt Trail at 12.45pm today and at the time of this posting we do not yet know what time they returned to the Katahdin Stream Campsite to spend the night.

After summiting Mt. Katahdin, the northern terminus of the AT  Jonathan and Yolo continue their southward AT journey on Friday and have about 850 miles to go to the NJ/Pennsylvania border. Watch this blog for continuous updates as their AT Thru Hike continues

BREAKING NEWS!!! JONATHAN AND YOLO TO FLIP-FLOP THEIR HIKE

Because of extremely hot weather and very poor water sources Jonathan has decided to FLIP-FLOP his hike. What this means in Appalachian Trail language is that you stop at a certain point and then jump to the northernmost end point of the trail which is Mt. Katahdin in Maine and begin to hike southwards.


Jonathan and Yolo stopped at High Point State Park, NJ (Mile 1327)(2123km), 852 miles (1363km) from Katahdin. Jonathan will begin his hike from Katahdin around August 19th after volunteering for 2 weeks at the National Association for the Deaf Young Leadership Camp (YLC) in Oregon. Jonathan is hoping to complete the AT in about 2 months.


Between now and YLC on August 6th they will relax and recharge their batteries at their home in Bethlehem, NH.


Watch here soon for Jonathan's plog when he will tell us more about the AT until now and about this big decision!!

11.25am
Finally got back on coverage, I just passed branchville, NJ. Going to stay at Gren Anderson Shelter (Mile 1315). Very bad water sources lately. Ugh! All because of dry season. Yeah my friend, Joshua Beckman, will pick me up at glenwood this wednesday. May will stay there for two nights.

Back on the AT!!!

After taking off a week to attend Deaf Youth USA (DYUSA) and National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Conferences in Philadelphia and meeting with many friends Jonathan and Yolo returned to the AT at Wind Gap yesterday afternoon. At DYUSA Jonathan gave a presentation on his AT Experience
July 6, 2.10pm
DYUSA went longer than I expected. Weather is killing me so I decided to stay here for another night with friends. Will head back to trail tomorrow! The speech went very great! Everyone really enjoyed it and I have inspired most of them. I'm happy how it turned out!
Saturday July 10, 1.10pm
Small miles today to next shelter (Kirkridge Mile 1278) from wind gap (Mile 1268)
6.50pm
Yeah! Its nice to be back where you can pee anywhere!

The Hike to Wind Gap

After the big Water Adventure Jonathan and Yolo continue on to Wind Gap PA
4.11pm
Arrived wind gap!!!!(Mile 1268)
60 miles in 2 days!!!!!
From: Dad
To: jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net
Sent: Jul 3, 2010 16:30
Great going!!! Hope you had enough water with you this time!!!!
Oh yeah I have almost 1 gallon of water!!!!!!
4.37
Yeahhh!!! I'm with matty now. Will go to philly tomorrow with mcmillan who arrived back from finland!!!!!
In the last seven days starting Sunday at Duncannon, PA to Wind Gap, PA  131Miles (209km!!) which included two days rest!!!!!

With friend Matty!

A Little"Water" Adventure and some"Trail Magic!!!!"

READ FROM BOTTOM UP!!!


Monavie! Haha
------Original Message------
From: Dad
To: jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net
Subject: Re: IMG00043-20100703-0556.jpg
Sent: Jul 3, 2010 06:01

What can I say - just amazing this Trail Magic!!!! Any names on the chest???

Yeah ice chest!!!
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

From: "Kessel, Martin (NIH/NCI) [E]" <kesselm@mail.nih.gov>
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 05:53:06
To: jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net@tmo.blackberry.net>

Wow!!! Amazing - just sitting there in bottles???? In an ice chest?

On 7/3/10 5:50 AM, "jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net" <jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net> wrote:

I'm saveeddd!!! Trail magic!!! Lots of waterrrr!!
------Original Message------
From: Dad
To: jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net
Subject: Re:
Sent: Jul 3, 2010 05:49

1242.9 Powerline
1243.1 Lehigh Furnace Gap Ashfield Rd.
1247.5 George W. Outerbridge Shelter . Reliable piped spring 0.1N

On 7/3/10 5:45 AM, "jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net" <jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net> wrote:

Any points (ie. Powerline) before shelter? Please list them with how many miles left

From: Dad
To: 'jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net'
Subject: Re:
Sent: Jul 3, 2010 05:34
Good morning!! Glad you are ok - enjoy your water drink when you get there!

From: jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net <jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net>
To: Kessel, Martin (NIH/NCI) [E]
Sent: Sat Jul 03 05:31:37 2010

Yeah we r ok- just woke up- now heading to next shelter to drinkkkk waterrrr!!!

From: Dad
To: jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net
Subject: Re:
Sent: Jul 2, 2010 22:57

How's going? R U guys ok? (We did not get the message below until this morning - connection problem??)
9.12pm
Its dark now, we r camping out somewhere 2 miles north of oven bake shelter. Will head out early in morning. Very little water left for morning- we are both very thirsty! We d do anything to drink gallons of water right now! Jeez! Good experience though. 


On 7/2/10 8:21 PM, "jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net" <jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net> wrote:
8.21pm
I need ur help here- any water source in between shelters??
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile


8.19pm
This is really fucked up- no water here!!! (at Bake Oven) I only have very little water left!!! I have to go to next shelter!!! Sighs!  


7.11pm
Perfect! Thanks for everything!! Any water source in between?
7.5 miles to George W. Outerbridge Shelter
How many miles from bake to next shelter? Curious


From: Dad
To: jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net
Subject: Re:
Sent: Jul 2, 2010 19:02

Four miles from Powerline to Bake Oven Knob

On 7/2/10 7:00 PM, "jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net" <jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net> wrote:

How far is it from powerline to shelter?
Yeah that's the shelter- how far is it from powerline?

From: Dad
To: jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net
Subject: Re:
Sent: Jul 2, 2010 19:02

Next shelter is Bake Oven Knob Shelter at Mile 1240.
Allentown Hiking Club Shelter is at 1230 miles


On 7/2/10 6:21 PM, "jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net" <jonk1@tmo.blackberry.net> wrote:

I forgot to take maps with me!!! Can u find out how many miles from allentown hiking club shelter to next one??

STARTED FRIDAY MORNING FROM PORT CLINTON (Mile 1208) (Slackpacking)

8.40am
Yeppp!! Relaxing day for meee!! I aim to catch up my plog!!
8.45am
Here as I promised- to explain my plan for week...

Tomorrow I will go on slackpacking for 2 days doing about 60 miles from Port Clinton to Wind Gap. I'm going to leave everything here at matty's home and take only food for one night and water bottles. Then come back here to matty's home on saturday evening to pack up everything and stay for a night. On sunday, mcmillan will pick me up and go to philly for two nights (during july 4th). There is an organization called Deaf Youth USA (DYUSA), you may remember it from last year at colorado before going to YLC. DYUSA is from july 3 to 6. I only will attend on 5th to give out presentation about my Appalachian Trail experience, about 30-45 mins. Then head out to trail again on tuesday morning.
(Slackpacking is walking without a full pack for a day or two and catching a ride to pick up the pack to continue)

2.53pm
I'm with matty now! Earlier! Yeah! Just did 24 miles today- very fast! Only took me 7 hours!!!
(Port Clinton PA, Mile 1208)

9.33am
Good rest! (At Rausch Shelter Mile 1167) Now going to 501 shelter (17.5 miles)! (Mile 1184)
1.04pm
Arrived at the shelter at 1250pm!!!!! Perfect day for me to resttttttttt!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful place! 

On Saturday Gail and Martin (Jonathan's parents) met Jonathan and Yolo as they came off the AT at Duncannon, PA (Mile 1137). Had a great dinner together at the Doyle Hotel.

Friday 12.43pm
I decided to stay here (Boiling Springs, Mile 1112) for another night- my feet are really sore from rocks on the trail! Plus my boots are still wet from yesterday's raining.
Friday 7.45pm
Ill be at Duncannon tomorrow (Mile 1137)

JUST PAST THE AT MID-POINT!!!! Congratulations!!

10.25am
Did 30 miles yesterday and made it to mid point!!! (Mile 1089)
Now doing 24 miles to boiling springs (Mile 1112)
5.14pm
I'm staying at Allenberry Hotel in Boiling Springs!! Checkout website!!! I'm with fun crowd!! Good to see them all again!

Jonathan and Yolo AIM for the MIDPOINT Today (1089.55miles,1743km)

Tuesday 22 June
6.09pm
Yeahh! Just did 23 miles today and my feet hurts because of thosseee rocks are everywhere plus new boots!!!

Stilll trying to catch up everyone!!! I think ill catch them at duncannon!


Wednesday
5.57am
I'm at deer licks shelters (Mile 1059)- will past the midpoint today!!!! (1089.55) Might will hop in public pool near the midpoint. Yolo is always doing better than me! Only if I had 4 legs, I d be better than him!

Back on the AT

Sunday June 20th (FATHERS DAY)
12.15pm
Thinking of you!!! Wish you a great year!! We will be hiking today in honor of you!!

Love youuuuu!!!!!!!
Jono and Yolo

Monday June 21st
2.15pm
Hey Mom and Dad  
Today's fricking crazy hot!! Ursa and Betty stopped by to see me!! We had great lunch at Burger King! Good enough I decided to stay at their place for night because I really miss them!!! One hour was not enough! Tomorrow morning Betty will drop me off, ill make up miles I'm supposed to do today and tomorrow's 20 miles!!! The trail is easy so I'm not worried! :)

Will also see jennifer thomas tonight!!!

Love
Caribou and Yolo!!
2.34pm
Of course, water is our best friend now!!

Jonathan and Yolo come home to DC to celebrate 1000 miles of AT!!!

11.35am
Ok I'm at harpers ferry!! (Mile 1014!!)

The classic AT picture taken by all hikers who visit the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters (ATC) in Harpers Ferry
1.15pm
Picked up Jonathan and Yolo for the short 60 mile drive to Washington DC looking forward to a great few days of home comfort.


Jonathan's entry in the ATC Logbook

Met Jonathan's friend NESTA again

Jonathan looks really great and now weighs 153lbs!!! (all muscle!).
Before going to Colorado last winter Jonathan weighed over 200lbs!!!


Back on the AT on Sunday!!!

5.47pm
Oh yeah its so hot and humid here! I'm all soaked! I'm going to stay Blackburn AT Center (12 miles to harpers ferry). I'm going to leave early am and be there before lunch. I'm going eat lunch with Nesta and his girlfriend. Pick me up afterward!

Can't wait till one week break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so tired of wearing boots all the time. Yolo's tired of carrying his food all the time! Haha

12.20pm
A quick detour to front royal and watch world cup- USA v England!!!
1.57pm
Yeah about 14 miles to go after the game!!!
7.34pm
Just arrived! Only 8 miles for me. Will do 26 tomorrow!!!

4.15pm
I'm staying at Tom Floyd Wayside tonight (Mile 957). Total 23.6 miles today!!
5.20pm
 Fyi I will be at Harpers Ferry on monday. Can you pick me up? Ill go back on thursday or friday
8.20pm
I'm sooo exhaustedd!!!! What a great and long day!!!!
8.50pm
57 miles to go!! (to Harper's Ferry)

Latest Plog from Jonathan!!! Over 900 Miles (1,440km) completed!!!!

June 8 10am
"Appalachian Trail Is A Footpath For Those Who Seek Fellowship With The Wilderness."

    Just right after I send out the previous Plog, I hiked to the most stunning epic view at Maceeb Knob (look at picture where I stand on a rock that looks like a diving board). Wow! I love this trip! The morning was gloomy and cloudy, when I arrive the knob, the sky cleared! Then when I get closer to Daleville, the weather turned to rain! Its like this trip is made for me! :) as I arrived Daleville, the party started! Yeahhh! Dan Gabel, Kevin Berrigan, Krystle Berrigan, Diana Berrigan, and Paige Johnson (sp? Sorry!) paid their visit! It was great to have my friends to be with me for a night! They left in morning leaving Dan and Kevin behind! Yes, it was so good to have Kevin Berrigan and Dan Gabel to join me for hike! Especially we communicate via without paper and pen!! It was so great to have them! They are hilarious because they totally were clueless what Appalachian Trail was like, they thought they could do 15+ miles a day. Nope they were wrong! Haha. They originally planned to hike with me for 2 weeks but they cut it down to three days after experiencing the AT! First day was 5 miles, second day- 13 miles (good!), then on third day it was only 9 miles!! I need that because I really need a good break from doing big miles everyday. The last day before they left, we camped at Jennings Creek (illegal to camp there). It was soo beautiful! They got swimming hole too! Ahhh! After a hot day of hiking, its so good reward! We enjoyed our last night with big bonfire and watching Dan trying to finish his Jack Daniel! Haha.
   Pooooooorr YOLO had to suffer 20+ of ticks on him everydayyyy!!! He's lucky to have me doing all dirty work by pulling them out! Ticks kept on showing up just like tourists on the trail! :)
   After Dan and Kevin left, I decided to give it all I have on me by doing 26 miles on that day! 9 miles of uphill only took me 3 hours! Very impressed with myself! Yeah that day I caught up Nesta! Nesta's reaction was priceless! So funny! My feet were about to fall apart! Lucky I got in by time before they fell. :) it was great day of hiking tho. Not too hard. Funny how doing hiking everyday improves your tolerate with big miles!
  Next day was rewarding! We hiked only 2 miles to James River and swam! We jumped off the bridge! The river was so warm and perfect! I wish I could stay there all the day but I gotta keep on walking to meet Menko Kononenko!
   We met her at Buenas Vista- a boring town. It was so good to have her to join me for hike. I was kinda worried that she might end up like Dan and Kevin who cut down their plan. But I was very relived that she is not quitter material! Even with the first day of longg uphill, she managed to reach top! Good job MENKO! :) we hiked together for 7 days. During that week, we went to stunning view on Spy Rock. It was great because I get to be top on it in honor of my late dog named Spy! :) pictures are sucks, it can't capture what I saw! So that means, u guys gotta go there for yourself!
   Shelter's entries are sometime funny and boring. But this shelter called The Priest Shelter, its the best entries I even seen since I started AT! So hilarious when u read all of hikers' confessions!!! Some were so graphic and not so funny. I love it when they write down this, "Forgive me O Father for I have sinned. Forgive me again for I am not going to stop!" I wish they have copy machine so I can copy all those funny confessions and show them to you all!!
   In next morning, Menko realized she doesn't want to do 6 miles of uphill over the Three Ridges so she hitched ride and meet me at next three shelters. Yeah I had to do 30 miles to meet her!!! Yeahhh I made it!!! Whee! The Three Ridges was crazy! Menko was smart to bail out that one otherwise I d have to carry her! She's champ bec when she hitched, she went to store to get me mountain dew! What a great refreshing after that BIG MILES!
    On next day, we went to Waynesboro for a night to wash our clothes and hot shower! I regret for not jumping in pool! Stupid of me for choosing to lay on bed and watch TV! But I need that after that 30 miles! :) ahh. We went dinner with Mike Cooke who live nearby. He's so great to us!! He took us for a tour around the town and to Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind. Yes shame on me for never once visit there!!! I cannot believe with my own eyes after seeing the campus! Sooooo beautiful! Shame that the school is not exactly doing good after the mainstream's growth.  The dinner, wow, salmon with artichoke dip on it and Sam Adams beer! Wow. After being in woods for so long, they became so delicious! I wish I have that again right now! Damnit. Millions thank yous to MIKE COOKE!!!
   Next day we head out to... SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK!!! Finally I'm much closer to home! I can't say how impressed I am with this park. They really got great wildlife! I saw deers, bear, snakes, birds, all once in four days! I first visited Shenandoah last september and I told myself, "I can't wait til I come back here by foot!" And here I am! :D yeah Menko ended her vacation and going back to city life after three days on shenandoah! After she left, I hiked fast for 2.2 miles to Loft Mt Campground where they have trail magic! FREEEE BEEEEEEEERS!!! VEGGGIE BURGERS!!! HOMEMADE BROWNIES! SNICKERS! SODAS! Yummmy!!! I was supposed to do 21 miles on that day but I changed my mind and stayed there closer to beers! :D don't think of me as drunkyard- I just enjoy them so much after doing miles on the trail! :) good enough I finally saw my old buddies that I haven't seen for one month! Nice to see them again and hiking with them! The Trail Magic was hosted by Hot Foot's parents. They arer veryyyy niccce to us! Not only they served lunch but dinner and breakfast too!!!! I met new friend named Compass. I made fun of him about him being a compass that doesn't point North. Whoops, I jinxed him. Next day, he rolled his ankle and got several factures and had to leave trail for a long time!!! What happened was, two hot chicks hiked past him and he couldn't help it but to check them out and, bam, an ankle broken! Poor him.
    Yeah Nesta is far ahead of me now, but at least I'm finally with Pyro who has been behind me for weeks! Good to see him again!
   Yeah I decided to do only 10ish miles a day till I reach Harpers Ferry. That way I can be at there on weekend for you guys to visit me!!! And go on TUBING with me!!! I m expected to be there on 16th till 20th. LET ME KNOW IF YOU WILL BE THERE!!!!! Miss you guys!!

More Plogs upcoming!
Caribou and Yolo!

"Live Now and Die Later!"

Monday June 7, 4pm

My shoes are worn out! I'm thinking about getting to Harpers Ferry on Tuesday (15th) for you guys to pick me up and stay at dc for two nights. Same time get my shoes replaced. I'm sure one of my friends will take me back to harpers ferry on thursday (hopefully). And stay at harpers ferry till sunday. Will that be possible? Let me know asap so I can either hike big miles or not. I'm only around 110 miles to harpers ferry!

Saturday June 5, 5.30pm
Do you think you guys can meet me at Front Royal (Mile 960) this friday (6/11) to give me 5 days food package? Ill be at harpers ferry (Mile 1014!!) on 16th and stay there till sunday (20th).


June 6 12.21am!!
Yeah I got package!!! Thank you!!

I don't need maple syrup since I'm not eating oatmeal anymore. You forgot hot sauce! Ha. Oh yeah, the jelly in glass is too heavy. Can you put them in pill bottle as well? What happened to extra snack bars? When you send me those veggie chips, can you put them all in one ziploc bag to save trash space (goes same with freeze fruits). Other than that its all great!!

Much love
Caribou and Yolo

12.38pm
We are at Waynesboro (Mile 853) for the night!!! Will hike out again tomorrow
1pm
(Yolo had a problem with ticks)
Just gave K9 to yolo and it seem works now. All ticks are aborting!

Saturday 7.32pm
Now at Buena Vistas (Mile 797!) for a night! Meeting melissa tomorrow am.


Sunday 11.27am
Melissa is about to be here!! And heading out today! Can't wait to hike because its sooooo beautiful outside right now!!! No clouds!

1.04pm
Dan Gabel and Kevin Berrigan went to home today! AT is too challenge for them! Ha ha
7.37pm
We hiked 5 miles on first day, 13 on second day, 9 on last day! Their legs are all sore and Kevin really want to see his sister one more time before she head out of country for a while.
And guess what? I'm about to complete 26 miles TODAY! :)
7.47pm
James River. I'm almost at the shelter. (Matt's Creek Shelter Mile 773)

5.42pm
now at Fullhardt knob shelter (Mile 724) and finishing up the leftover of beers from last night! Weather is getting nasty lately.
1.39pm
Now heading out!!! Catch you guys later!

Latest Plog from Jonathan!!! Over 700 Miles completed!!!!

"Today I walked all day,
Now I am camping.
Yesterday I hiked all day,
Then I camped.
Tomorrow I will hike all day
Then I will camp.
While all this hiking and
Camping is going on
The world is full of magic,
And I am full of wonder." - Swift, AT NoBo '10

Ahh, this time, a big trout nearly ate us alive. :P haha, sorry for another major delay with my plog. You know, you can check out jonathanat2010.blogspot.com for quickier updates and pictures. Now back to my Plog!!!
   I met two new fun friends from upstate NY, they are Nesta and Beaver Chief. Nesta just graduated college just like me, Beaver Chief is currently enjoying his horizon life. I decided to join them for hiking at Hot Springs, NC. Good enough we ve been hiking a lot together ever since. We hiked numerous of miles together.
  Third week of April, we actually havin so much fun that we only hiked 22 miles in three day at Roan Mountain (the last 6,000 footer till Mt. Washington, NH). We hiked 6 miles up to top of Roan Mt and stayed there for a night. Very cold night. Then we hiked 6 miles down to overmountain shelter, orginally we planned to hike more on that day. But the shelter is so cool that its abandoned barn! Only if I was hobo, I wld live at place like this! The veiw was so amazing. We arrived there at noon for a lunch break but, it was so damn cool that we changed our mind and stayed in for a night instead. We usually hike at average of 15 miles a day. I guess you can't really control ur plan when you r on AT! :) After the stay at overmountain shelter, we left really early in the morning (6am) to resupply our food at town. During the early morning hike, we saw realllllllllyyy huggeeee cattle with bigass horns. I actually thought they were some kind strange creature that scientists haven't found and we were the first people to witness them. All of this was because of fog. The cattle were in between my visible and the fog. Only if you were with me, u d agree with me! Yep they were only a family of big cattle. That was really a relief, otherwise we d be eaten alive and scientists still won't know about this creature!
   Indeed, after Roan Mt, the trail is now easy because they r no longer ups and downs and only flat. Easy, really!!! And it kinda made me miss big mountains- Northeastern, I can't wait to see you!!!!
  AT has this known "plague" called The Trail Bug. Yeah many of hikers got this and they were really sickkkk. I.E. Vomiting constantly. I'm very relief that I didn't get them. I was just at right time by leaving this Uncle Johnny hostel before others got the plague! Good thing that the plague didn't stop their journey. Uncle Johnny hostel is like 60 feet away from AT. That's cool because you won't have to worry about finding ride, or have to hike more to get back on AT. Nice place to stay, tho.
    Like 60 miles after Erwin, we stayed at Bob Peoples' hostel. This hostel is based on donation. Great place to stay. We took a day off there. I was waiting for my package to arrive but it never arrived on time (look at my mother). Hmm tsk tsk. So we left the place with what I have left. I managed to survive with food I have left to next town. Whew.
    Somehow shelter log book are starting to talk about doing the 40 miles challenge (40 miles in one day). I heard abt this from my friend, Tumbleweed, who is like 10 days ahead of me. She texted me and said she and her group r going to do the 40 miles challenge. I was like whoa they r must be really crazy. Because realistic would be 20 miles a day. That's double deal. Anyway me and Nesta left the Bob Peoples' place to next shelter. We realized that tomorrow will be the full moon. We saw an opportunity to do the 40 miles challenge- by doing 22 miles during daytime and sleep for 2 hours then do 18 miles during full moon night! Ahem, we made it! :) I swear, for the last few miles, I was walking like zombie. Soo tired! Ha. My legs were numb! At least we got our butts at Damascus, VA! We are now VA bound. No more southern states! Well we r still lit bit at south.
   I have to be honest, I'm not that very impressed with Damascus. Not what I expected. Firstly, no pager coverage! Secondly, they hate dogs! Thirdly, they don't really respect Deaf people! I hate it when they think its ok to talk with Nesta about my service dog n etc. Excuse me, Yolo is my dog not Nesta's. Jeez. Hope, I'm not offending you, my friends, but church people at Damascus are b.s.! Why? Easy, they ban dogs! How can religious people ban God's work? Not so pleasant fact. What the most nonsense information abt the town is that they host annually Trail Days (big event of AT where they involves a lot of alcohol) and many of their hotels/hostels ban alcohol beverages on the property. Pardon me, w.t.f! At least I know this town is not the place I want to visit again!
    Know what is uncool about picking up the maildrops (full of food)? Because they often are at bottom of mountains which it means after the resupply, the hike will be going uphill!!!! 5 pounds loss on those up hills, easy.
    By time we arrived shelter before the Highland State Park. There were many wild ponies around! They r very friendly, basically, you can pet them! Not to feed them, of course. Anyway, as usually, Yolo is very curious puppy, he thought he could acquiring a pony by sniffing each others' butt. Big mistake, Yolo. Yeah he got his ass kicked by pony! I wish I had capture that on film. So funny. Yeah, he learned his lesson. Wha? Oh, Yolo wants to input his comment, here he is- Arf everyone! FYI, I was really in pain! Back to Caribou- oh ok at least he's fine now. :)
   If I ever want to hike with you, future AT hiker, I WILL GO with you on Highland State Park!!!! Be sure to let me knoww! Yeah they are very beautiful place to check out. Lots of balds. The views, wow. Hard to describe here, really.
     When you r in town, its soooooo tempting to buy candies and sodas! Myself, don't really eat candies and drink sodas that much anymore. But on AT, its not really helping me! You just so want to reward yourself after those big miles. Yeah yeah, I actually bought 5 candies, two mountain dews (code red), and chips. By time I arrive next shelter, I killed them (junkies) all!  That was morally foolishly of me. I got sick badly. I.E. Manure coming out of your butt smoothly like silk only without any warnings. U know when you start a fart, you will know its coming. But this one, nope. Not cool experience for me. Not cool. Yep its a lesson for me. I became better at control of my temptation now. Thank you!
    You got to really appreciate our life's fate. Yes, wow, really. We hiked to one of shelters on sunday night, there was a sign on wall by group of church people (they r better than Damascus people!!) Saying that they are going to serve buffet style breakfast on Monday only!!!!! There's no information of that on any of guide books or whatsoever! So by the monday morning, we hiked only 5 miles to be picked up by church people and to enjoy our breakfast! I only had two plates, my stomach almost explode! Wow! Great homemade food! Ahh. They even serve Yolo dog food, yeah buffet style too! Love them people! Why can't people who aren't religious do the same? Maybe up the north and we will see more of that? Haha. After the breakfast, we hiked like 10 miles and bumped to one of our friends, Q-Tip, and he has all snacks/sodas for us! What a great Trail Magic Day!!!! Free free food! Yummy.
     We hiked fast to Pearisburg, VA. So we can be picked up by my greatest parents for DC weekend! I want to surprise my buddies who are going to graduate. They have no idea I ve been planning doing this. Can't wait to see their faces!! Yeah how fast did we hike to Pearisburg? 41 miles in 2 days- the trail is so flat that it nearly drives me and Yolo crazy! This trail is not so physically challenging but it is mentality! At least we got to where we need to be at.
    Ahh great breakfast of lox bagel provided by my mom once they picked us up at Pearisburg. You have no idea what great food is after those two months in woods is like without my mommy's cookings!!!! That weekend, my stomach was very happy! It was soooo good to see everyone! They lifts my spirit! Bars, staying up late, the city life. Good to be back for a short time. Miss you DC guys!!! Visit me again at Harper's Ferry soon!!!
   Ahhhhhhhhhhh yeeeeesss AT is truly my home! All those green color all over the forest, trail, camping, hiker friends, etc. So great to be back!!! Now heading fast to Daleville (20 miles hike) to meet my friends who will be hiking with me for at least 100 miles! They are Dan Gabel and Kevin Berrigan. Can't wait to really use my own language! I'm starting to get sick of using paper and pen all the time! :) we will hike all way up to Wayensboro, before getting there, Melissa Kononenko will also join me for 8 days! By time I get to Harper's Ferry, more of other friends will join me too, so forth! Can't wait!! :)
    Its so great to being a deaf hiker in AT! I ll tell you why! You won't have to worry about hearing cars within 3 miles. You won't have to worry about hearing a loud airplane crossing the mountains. You won't have to worry about listening people's nonsense/annoying/loud talk. You won't have to worry during your sleep, no snoring sounds. You can sleep in a morning while people are up and doing their morning errands (ie. Packing). Oh yeah, you can still be sleeping when someone else woke up at 5am and yelling/cussing loudly bec its so cold outside! You won't have to worry about hearing other people hiking nearby or pass you behind while watching the epic views. You won't have to worry to understand what other people say about you (good or bad). Your eyes will capture so many little things in wilderness because you use them so well. You can even go off trail for few yards and sit down, imaging you r all alone without any sounds' interruption. You get a completely silent journey that many hikers want. All you can do is to sit back and enjoy the observation, pretending you are not there. You can have a dog with you as hearing service which means it can go to any parks/hostels/restaurants where they ban the dogs! Want all of them? Go and be Deaf! :)


6pm
At daleville w friends and enjoying my beer!(Mile 719)

10.05am
I'm at dragon's tooth (cove mountain)- very cool place! (Mile 690)

10.15am
Yeahh! Climbed the Tooth! I'm heading to last shelter before daleville . (Lamberts Meadow Shelter Mile 709)

9.42am
Great great! Beautiful sunny day yesterday and now its haze but cool. Good
hike indeed!
I should be at Daleville (Mile 719) this Monday.

Tuesday 8.10pm
We r at meadows gap (Mile 638). Rained hard this evening. Lucky we got to the place and camp before it poured.

After a great 3 day break in Washington DC, Caribou and Yolo, Nesta and Pyro are back at the AT.

Josh Wray who drove the hikers back to Pearisburg

Nesta, Pyro and Caribou (Jonathan)

11.57am
We are (still) at Pearisburg! the weather is baddd--- its pourinnngggg hard. so we are going to stay here for another night. its supposed to be less raining tomorrrow. 

8.27pm
Its great day to relax after the wild weekend!!
It was great to see you and mom again! Miss you guys!