Please visit my new website for updates about my travels.
www.stopandlookaround.com

Check Out These New MST Directions!

The Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail are updating the current route of the MST between Greensboro and Falls Lake Dam north of Raleigh. I've been part of a committee that has studied and developed this new route.

The route will constantly be in a state of flux as more sections of trail are completed in the Piedmont. To check on all updates of the MST click here.

The new route will incorporate sections of the Haw River Trail and trails in Eno River State Park that I used during my 2010 MST Thru-hike.

MST Presentation @ REI Durham

I'll be giving a slideshow presentation at the REI store in Durham on Thursday August 11 at 7:00 pm. It's free to attend, so please sign up at this website: http://www.rei.com/event/27317/session/33474.
Thanks!

Long Overdue Post-Trail Update

Since I finished the MST last November I've stayed pretty busy. I started working in December as a screen printer. Printing t-shirts was never a job I expected to have, but I've enjoyed the challenge of learning a new set of skills.

I've hiked quite a bit this spring. I hiked all the sections of the MST between Greensboro and Raleigh again. I was helping the Friends of the MST by gathering GPS tracks for the Eno River and Falls Lake Trail sections. I enjoyed getting out for several extended day hikes and an overnighter at Falls Lake.
I also am serving on a committee with the Friends to change the current road walk in the Piedmont to incorporate more footpaths.

I went to Trail Days in Damascus, VA in May and caught up with many of my fellow 2009 AT thru-hikers!

I hiked the Art Loeb Trail in Pisgah National Forest with my trail buddy, Sideshow, over Memorial Day weekend, and I realized I was not as in shape as I thought I was. The change in altitude from my home in the Piedmont was a shock to my lungs and legs.

I'm in the early stages of planning for a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike from Mexico to Canada in 2012. Several of my trail friends from the AT are planning on the PCT next year as well! So I'm excited, but it's 10 1/2 months away.

There's lots to do this summer, and I plan to get out to the mountains as often as I can.

I Just Walked Across North Carolina

I made it to Jockey's Ridge State Park and climbed to the summit of the highest sand dune on the east coast of the U.S. Wow! What a great feeling to have completed something that fewer than 20 people have done before! It was a different moment from when I reached the summit of Baxter Peak on Katahdin at the end of the A.T. I felt a greater connection to this trail, this state, the wildlife, the woods, the ocean, the people. I fell in love with North Carolina in a way I never felt about my home state of Texas. I've always been proud to be a Texan, born and raised there until I was 9 and then I returned for 3 years in high school and college. But now, I cannot help but call North Carolina my home. I have a deep emotional and spiritual connection to this land, and to have trekked across it is a spectacular way to experience what The Old North State has to offer!

Check out my photos from the entire journey at this link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/iwfraher/MountainsToSea2010#

Atop Jockeys Ridge! Mountains to Sea Trail...Check! Next: get a job and/or go back to school. Anyone hiring?

Made it through the ocean spill-over. Saw lots of waterfowl at Pea Island NWR. Will make it to Jockeys Ridge tomorrow, exactly 8 weeks from my start date!

I just forded the Atlantic! The road in Rodanthe is covered in calf high water from the high surf.

This north wind is a real pain! I'm headed north so I'm walking into constant 20 mph winds! And its causing super high tides, making me miss some beach walk.

Did some night hiking to get to my campground. Great beaches, cool maritime forest, but lots of wind and clouds from a nor'easter off shore.

Made it to the Cedar Island Ferry, heading to the OBX! Received great trail magic at Davis Shore Provisions! Thanks so much to Mack and Kim for taking me in!

Back on the road again. I'm headed Down East. Hitting the Cedar Island ferry to the OBX on Wednesday!

The Neusiok Trail has been great! 3 shelters! And it's well maintained by the CCWC. Thanks to them for keeping up with this section of the MST! One week left!

New Bern has lots of historical sites, and I enjoyed walking thru downtown. I stayed in Bridgeton across the Neuse River, and I'm only hiking 7 miles today.

Roy and Geoff in Cove City are truly excellent people! I am so glad I met them! I hiked into New Bern in the rain. I may spoil myself with a motel tonight.

Deep Thoughts from the Mountains to Sea Trail

Well, I have 200 miles left to go from here in Cove City. It's been a rainy day, and it looks like more rain is on the way tonight and through tomorrow. Yuck!

But here are some Deep Thoughts I've had while hiking over 750 miles to this point:
(note: some of these may be repeats from the Appalachian Trail)

1. The slower you go, the more you'll see, and the more you'll learn.

2. It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

3. The rain always stops eventually.

4. Find the beauty in ordinary, everday things and you'll see extraordinary things.

5. The good die young, and the bitter live forever. Is this because the "good" embrace life, and make their own happiness? And the "bitter" keep searching for happiness, but don't realize they have to make their own rather than hope it finds them?

31-plus miles by sunset! And what a great sunset it was. Making great time across the Coastal Plain.

Under 300 miles to go! Nearly had a sweet beagle adopt me today. He followed me for half a mile before he ran off. Hope he has a good home or finds one.

Staying in Pine Ridge with Dwight and Irene, some excellent trail angels!

Back on the road. I had an awesome time in Raleigh! Got to go to a football game at NC State, and we beat Florida St! It felt good to be back at my alma mater!