Blind Hiker Tackles Appalachian Trail With Only His Wits and a GPS - Switched (blog)

[StarLyte]

Anyone who sets a goal to thru-hike the A.T. is a dreamer. I KNOW.

Those who actually step foot on Springer are definitely beyond that.

But a blind person, REGARDLESS of whom is hiking with him...

HAT'S OFF TO YOU !

I wish him success in his hike, but more importantly I hope he has a wonderful time exploring what his world has become now...and that is probably more than ANY OF US CAN IMAGINE.

But can you imagine? Close your eyes and THINK ABOUT IT.

[nitewalker]

i wish mike the best of luck thruout his journey because he will need it. i was watching the video and to me it seems that he has some sort of vision. i dont want to be the bad guy but arent there different stages of blindness where some see light and blurry images and others see no light or images at all? im wondering what stage of blindness he has ? in any case his acomplishment will still be a great victory...

[weary]

i wish mike the best of luck thruout his journey because he will need it. i was watching the video and to me it seems that he has some sort of vision. i dont want to be the bad guy but arent there different stages of blindness where some see light and blurry images and others see no light or images at all? im wondering what stage of blindness he has ? in any case his acomplishment will still be a great victory...

I didn't see the video, but I'm positive that he is not "close your eyes" blind. Nor was Bill Irwin for that matter.

Four or five miles a day this early is not a problem, given conditions this winter. I would have advised starting in April, though snow is softer than rocks and roots.

Does anyone know how he reads his GPS device? Does it sound out his positions in relation to the route of the trail?

I know blind people can do remarkable things. My grandmother was blind. But she raised four boys and when they all left home, ran a rooming house by herself. When I was in junior high and high school I would buy her groceries for her. She prepared precise lists and knew instantly if I substituted all purpose flour for her preferred cake flour, which then and now, I never seem to be able to find on store shelves.

Weary

[Darwin again]

Has anyone seen this hiker out there?
Is he on trail?

[ChinMusic]

Has anyone seen this hiker out there?
Is he on trail?

The answer to that is recently posted in this thread.

[ChinMusic]

Mike's trail name = Bulldog

[Reid]

It seems like this is one of those sherpa cases where you get to the top of Everest and you have a hard time taking the credit because some sherpa had to drag you up there and boss you around so you wouldn't die. Not much glory in that to me but whatever more power to em'.

[Jester2000]

It seems like this is one of those sherpa cases where you get to the top of Everest and you have a hard time taking the credit because some sherpa had to drag you up there and boss you around so you wouldn't die. Not much glory in that to me but whatever more power to em'.

I'm trying to figure out what in any of these posts or discussions makes it seem that way, but I'm at a loss.

[Reid]

I'm trying to figure out what in any of these posts or discussions makes it seem that way, but I'm at a loss.

He's got to have alot of help. Either on the trail or following along is all I was thinking.

[Jester2000]

He's got to have alot of help. Either on the trail or following along is all I was thinking.

Ahhh. Gotcha. I can say that I know that's not the intention, but then again many of us sighted folks get a lot of help while thru-hiking, so your vision may come to pass.

But I know that's not the way he intends it to be.

[Two Speed]

FWIW we found a fella identifying himself as hiking with Mike Hanson wandering around the Standing Indian campground yesterday, and gave both of them a ride up to Hwy 64.

[NashvilleBiscuit]

So that means he is still hiking? I am checking his blog regularly but there has not been an update since Neel's Gap.

[Two Speed]

If I understood the names correctly, yes, he's still hiking.