A Difficult Week to Erwin

May 10, 2011

It's been a hard week for Ben.  He has been feeling poorly and eventually passed out on the trail one afternoon.  His symptoms indicated that he was dehydrated and not eating enough calories during the day.  We got the guys off the trail and they called ahead to a hostel for a shuttle ride to town.  They resupplied with higher protein and higher caloric foods and then spent the night at Uncle Johnny's Hostel in Erwin, TN.  The next day they hitched a ride back to the trail but Ben has continued to struggle this week.  He's homesick, tired, feel crappy, and not liking hiking right now.  So after getting back on the trail they had to hike the rest of the way back to Erwin,TN.  When they arrived back in Erwin, we called in an order for pizza- meat lovers---with jalapenos for Ben.

The good news is that it looks like the boys have secured a ride into Damascus, VA for the annual Trail Days event that the town sponsors each year.   http://www.traildays.us/  this year the festival begins on Friday May 13 until Sunday May 15.  A woman that goes by the trail name Redhat messaged me on facebook to tell me that she had met the boys in GA, and NC.  She thru-hiked the trail last year and has graciously offered the boys a ride north to the festival from Unicoi, TN. on Thursday so the boys will only have 2 more days of hiking this week.  The guys have been anticipating this trail fest for quite awhile and we hope they have an awesome time in town. 

After Damascus, Ben will be assessing his intent to hike or not to hike on further.  The guys will have to secure a ride south to Unicoi, TN to get back on the trail at the point that they left.  Tom is ready to pick up the mileage and wants to keep hiking north to Katahdin.   We'll be heading South to visit the guys the weekend of May 20th.  Tom's 18th Birthday is fast approaching on May 27, 2011.  We are planning on celebrating with him when we drive south.  If anyone would like to send birthday cards, small care packages, and/or gift cards and cash to him we have a few options to get them to him.  If you would like to send a small care package please limit the contents as he will have to carry it up the trail with him.  The best things are small packages of gum or mints, jerky, lollipops, protein bars, pictures, postcards, and small mementos.  If you would like to send him birthday money that's great or he could also use gift cards to major chain restaurants/stores: i.e. Subway, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Food Lion, Walmart, etc. 

Option #1 If you get birthday cards/packages to us by 5/19 we can bring them South with us when we go to visit the guys. 

or

Option #2
Send birthday cards/packages directly ahead to him on the trail. Please allow enough time for your birthday greetings to arrive.  Post all birthday cards at least 5 working days prior to the estimated date of arrival and check with your post office to assess the best way to send packages. UPS and FEDEX do not deliver to General Delivery addresses. All post offices will accept mail for hikers as long as you address the label as follows: 

Thomas Zmyewski
General Delivery
Shady Valley, TN 37688
Please hold for thru-hiker ETA 5-25-11


Thomas Zmyewski
General Delivery
Troutdale, VA 24378
Please hold for thru-hiker ETA 5-31-11



Posted by Mom