May 17, 2011 Ben is leaving the trail

May 17, 2011

Ben has decided that he's had enough of hiking.  We are headed to TN this weekend to pick Ben  where the AT crosses Walnut Mountain Road near Roan Mountain.  The road crossing marks the 400 mile mark on the trail.  Tom however, is looking forward to going on alone.  He wants to pick up the pace and keep heading north to Maine.  We are really proud of how far the boys have come.  Ben is thinking about hiking the trail in sections until he completes the whole thing.  So maybe he'll be hitting the trail again next spring!  We are looking forward to our visit with Tom and with Ben coming home.  We really do miss our guys.  We'll be bringing a pumpkin pie with us as Tom requests one every year for his birthday dessert! 

And then there was Damascus!  The boys had a blast camping, partying, catching up with fellow hikers, eating, and getting their gear repaired.  Tom's back pack had a major malfunction and he took it to the Osprey Dealer to have it repaired and after looking his pack over, they gave him a brand new one free.  Wow!  His pack is worth over $250, so what a savings!  And Ben's sleeping mat had a few small holes in it and was leaking air.  After attempting repairs the dealer also gave him a new mat for free.  We are so grateful to all the companies who send representatives out to Damascus for Trail Days and set up these free "gear repair" clinics.  Before leaving town, Tom found a small guitar that needed repairing.  He asked around and found someone willing to lend him a few tools, and he now has a guitar with him.  He's asked me to send him his tuner and some picks.  He's quite the resourceful one. 

Tom and Ben are now headed back to Unicoi, TN where they were picked up for the ride to Damascus.  There they will be hiking north again to meet us.  Please keep the boys in your thoughts and prayers this week.  We want Ben to feel like his hike was a success.  400 miles is an awesome accomplishment. 


And just as a reminder

 Tom's 18th birthday is fast approaching on May 27th  and if you would like to send him a birthday greeting here is the info:

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