Jonathan and Yolo reach their first 50 miles and earn a day's rest in the town of Helen, GA*
March 18  4.38pm


Hello! I'm at helen! I'm staying at the most cheapest motel- super 8 for two nights. I'm taking tomorrow a day off. It cost me $103!!!

Great about food and tent. I will mail you the stuff I don't need after experiencing 50 pounds on my back for 5 days!!!! So exhausted!!!

March 18  5.20pm


The experience was very amazing! I met lots of hikers and we became friends. Yesterday night we had huge party at campground (low gap) they gave out free beers for all of us. We were celebrating for st. patrick's day. The trail was crazy! Lots of ups and downs! Especially with me carrying 50 pounds! There are several things I realized I don't need after 5 days of camping. I will mail them out. The list I gave you for food is completely different now. I will send out you a list once I get the package tomorrow. Yolo smell very awful now because he rolled on other dog's poop! Ugh! Now I'm giving him a bath! Yolo is doing soooo great and happy being out in the woods! The views on trail is very beautifull!! The most beautiful sight I have seen so far was at blood mountain. I could live like this forever! Amazing experience I tell ya!



March 18  6.10pm
I hitchhiked the ride to helen- it was easy! Very friendly family. Yolo's paws r super strong! But go ahead and send me the paw healer mom mentioned before.


(Helen, GA,  is 9 miles from the Appalachian Trail and very easy to hitch a ride there and back. It is common practice on the trail to take a day off here and there)


March 18  6.58pm
Helen town is very cooooooolll place to visit!! Wow! Every buildings are german style. Feels like I'm in europe. If u and mom haven't seen this place, you have to someday! 


March 18 8.21pm
Hey all! :) here's my Plog (pager-log)! Happy? :)

Here I am on fifth day of hiking on appalachian trail!!!! I'm currently at Helen, GA (the town u must visit! Google it up!) taking my day off because my legs/feet/hips/shoulders r all soreee!!! I'm on my own w yolo since second day after matty miller quitted due to his lack of proper outfitters (he has no rain coat!) Plus his worst sleep ever-shivering all night long! Yolo did try keep him warm, but it ain't enough for him.  Takeshi had to stop hiking due to his knee failing him! He still want and will finish the trail after his recovery as he said so. Hope so!

    You totally have to experience this trail one day! It doesn't have to be all the way but sectional hike at ur own time. Appalachian Trail have so fabulous culture where everyone are friendly and very supportive. I saw people who started Mt. Springer with me at different areas at almost everyday. Its like having a family at AT. Can't wait to catch up with them when I'm done w my day off!

   We all have trail names, we introduce each others at our trail name not real name. Mine is Caribou. Why? Its a mammal from Arctic- they always hike more than 30 miles everyday non stop. I guess I'm trying to be like them but hell its impossible to do in GA mountains. Its because the trail on GA is like getting on roller coaster all the way! I average hike 10 miles everyday. Not bad for start. Later on I will try start hike more than 20 miles. Hopefully my legs won't give up on me.
    Did you enjoy ur St. Patrick party last night? So I did too!!!! I met one cool dude, PeterPan, and he told me there is a party at Low Gap (one of areas in AT) so we hiked 11 miles togs to there and my.... People are full of green and beers are available for everyone at no expense! I was totally drunk but I got partied out by old irish man (he actually drank more beers this morning before I left!!!) Jeez! Hats off to him!

   Curious how Yolo did so far? He's totally living his life at fullest! He loves every mins of hiking! I have to admit, he's my best supporter ever! When the trail goes up, yolo would just run all the way to top then run back to me and lick at my face and again run to top! He gives me motivation all the way!! I love him! :) one thing I sick of him is when he saw dead animal or other mammals' shit, he would roll over it- damnit! Had to bathe him like twice already!

  Suck to have camera with me because I try my best to take pictures as much as I can but most of time I would just gaze at landscapes and forget to take pictures! Anyone willing join me and be my cameraman? :)

More Plog later on!

Enjoy ur moments with ur day u have!

Love
Caribou and Yolo

PS. Fwd to others who want to read my boring story! :)
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile 


Comments from Jonathan's friends and family
From Janel Grossinger
GREAT story JONO! 
 I'm soo proud of you.  I'm glad you have YOLO with you, just be sure you don't run out of shampoo -you will need it for  this long journey :)
 Stay sober, strong and safe.
 HUGS,
 Janel
***********************
From Harvey Grossinger
Bro Jono,

You better prove us that you can do it.  Look at Moses and his people in the past. They did succeed.  Be a man and send my love to Yolo.

Bro Harvey
***********************
From: Jason Ruzicka
  Caribou- like everyone said, I'm proud of your bravery to face this challenge of a really long journey. We all knew you will confront with struggles but all will worth it at the end of your journey. It's disappointing to see your travel buddies quit, but I know Yolo will not give up because you only live once! ;)

Best luck with the rest of your journey and my thoughts will be with you, bro!
***********************

From: Vivienne Schroeder


So great to hear from you! I'm totally in awe of all your adventures :) please keep sending us Plogs because it's great to hear your stories.. We misscha, and we're rooting for you, too! We know you'll make it to Maine and back if you want to, heh... Sucks that your hiking buddies have backed out on you, but as everyone has already said, Yolo will be a great partner! And it seems you're meeting tons of cool people on the trail as well :) Hiro says woof wooof for Yolo (he misses his bro).. Love ya! Be safe and LIVE every minute of it!