SavageLlama
06-28-2004, 09:16
Link to story:
http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?SearchID=73176029593333&Avis=D2&Dato=20040624&Kategori=LIFE05&Lopenr=406240337&Ref=AR
Toe-nacious Readinger keeps hiking
By BOB MODERSOHN
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
June 24, 2004
By mid-May, "Grizzly Dave" Readinger of Des Moines had hiked one-quarter of the Appalachian Trail distance to Tilson Gap, Big Walker Mountain, in Virginia.
That was before his big toe flared up and put him down for a couple of weeks.
But even before the pause in his trek, he had already taken well over one-quarter of the time he predicted he would need to finish, about 31/2 weeks behind where he initially expected to be.
Too bad, because he was moving faster since the terrain, although still rugged and steep, was not as difficult as it was through the Smoky Mountains, said Mary Ellis, Readinger's wife. She regularly keeps in contact with him via phone and occasionally visits him on the trail.
Still, not all was lost. While convalescing with his terribly sore toe, Readinger had the opportunity to attend a revival meeting as a guest of his physician.
"Dave said it reminded him of feeding threshers during his childhood on his grandfather's farm," Ellis said. " Lots of food."
A major strategy learned before stepping off the trail for those two weeks with his ailing toe: For every step climbed, "lean into the mountain from the waist, take shorter steps and slow down," Ellis reported.
Grizzly Dave (his trail nickname stems from grizzly bear research projects he's worked on) also learned that hikers should take a break once or twice a day - take the pack off for 10 minutes or so, sit down, eat a snack.
Once his physical endurance improved, he was able to hit the trail earlier in the morning and continue on for more hours into the early evening.
He couldn't physically handle such a long day early on, but he can do it now - especially since his toe is feeling better.
He has been making 16 miles per day or so, and he hopes his speed will improve through the central section of the trail - northern Virginia and Pennsylvania.
"But it's still very difficult some days," Ellis said. "It has been raining a lot, and it isn't easy hiking in the rain."
The rain continues daily and has reached monsoon proportions many days. That also makes the trail slippery.
The worst part about the rain is that Readinger's clothing never dries out. Wet socks cause friction inside his shoes, which bothers his already injured toes.
"If they cannot be maintained in good condition, he will not make it," Ellis said.
Another challenge: It's much more rugged and rocky in Virginia.
"The trail also runs along a narrow crest that drops off on either side," Ellis said.
Dealing with the rain and rockiness has made Grizzly Dave more tired than he imagined.
He is still wearing the same shoes, but he's continuing to shed ounces to lighten his load. First certain foods, now the camera.
"His camera has been out of power for about a month . . . no toe photos," Ellis said.
He recently sent the camera home. An additional battery pack and charge cord for his new digital camera had been lost in shipping and never reached him.
Ellis hopes to get Grizzly Dave another camera before he gets to New England, where she expects the scenery will be extra special.
The intrepid Grizzly Dave is looking forward to reaching Harpers Ferry, W.Va. It's almost the halfway point (approximately mile 1,000) and is also the site of the trail's headquarters.
http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?SearchID=73176029593333&Avis=D2&Dato=20040624&Kategori=LIFE05&Lopenr=406240337&Ref=AR
Toe-nacious Readinger keeps hiking
By BOB MODERSOHN
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
June 24, 2004
By mid-May, "Grizzly Dave" Readinger of Des Moines had hiked one-quarter of the Appalachian Trail distance to Tilson Gap, Big Walker Mountain, in Virginia.
That was before his big toe flared up and put him down for a couple of weeks.
But even before the pause in his trek, he had already taken well over one-quarter of the time he predicted he would need to finish, about 31/2 weeks behind where he initially expected to be.
Too bad, because he was moving faster since the terrain, although still rugged and steep, was not as difficult as it was through the Smoky Mountains, said Mary Ellis, Readinger's wife. She regularly keeps in contact with him via phone and occasionally visits him on the trail.
Still, not all was lost. While convalescing with his terribly sore toe, Readinger had the opportunity to attend a revival meeting as a guest of his physician.
"Dave said it reminded him of feeding threshers during his childhood on his grandfather's farm," Ellis said. " Lots of food."
A major strategy learned before stepping off the trail for those two weeks with his ailing toe: For every step climbed, "lean into the mountain from the waist, take shorter steps and slow down," Ellis reported.
Grizzly Dave (his trail nickname stems from grizzly bear research projects he's worked on) also learned that hikers should take a break once or twice a day - take the pack off for 10 minutes or so, sit down, eat a snack.
Once his physical endurance improved, he was able to hit the trail earlier in the morning and continue on for more hours into the early evening.
He couldn't physically handle such a long day early on, but he can do it now - especially since his toe is feeling better.
He has been making 16 miles per day or so, and he hopes his speed will improve through the central section of the trail - northern Virginia and Pennsylvania.
"But it's still very difficult some days," Ellis said. "It has been raining a lot, and it isn't easy hiking in the rain."
The rain continues daily and has reached monsoon proportions many days. That also makes the trail slippery.
The worst part about the rain is that Readinger's clothing never dries out. Wet socks cause friction inside his shoes, which bothers his already injured toes.
"If they cannot be maintained in good condition, he will not make it," Ellis said.
Another challenge: It's much more rugged and rocky in Virginia.
"The trail also runs along a narrow crest that drops off on either side," Ellis said.
Dealing with the rain and rockiness has made Grizzly Dave more tired than he imagined.
He is still wearing the same shoes, but he's continuing to shed ounces to lighten his load. First certain foods, now the camera.
"His camera has been out of power for about a month . . . no toe photos," Ellis said.
He recently sent the camera home. An additional battery pack and charge cord for his new digital camera had been lost in shipping and never reached him.
Ellis hopes to get Grizzly Dave another camera before he gets to New England, where she expects the scenery will be extra special.
The intrepid Grizzly Dave is looking forward to reaching Harpers Ferry, W.Va. It's almost the halfway point (approximately mile 1,000) and is also the site of the trail's headquarters.