We are down to two Montana's and Backtrack.

Sno hiked on today. It's down to Sculler, Hollywood and Tripwire. It is another sad day for the team. But on a happier note, Sculler is still with her and Melissa is going to be meeting up with friends in Long Island this weekend. I'll be sending the next shipment with one of the people hooking up with her there. 10 days of food, Toe socks, Heartworm pill, and Frontline. Ticks have been an ongoing issue with Melissa and, even more so, Jordan. Fortunately it's the big ones and most don't bite before being caught and removed.

 They had enjoyed two days of slackpacking on Saturday and Sunday thanks, again, to trail angel Brian. Today they hiked with full packs because they didn't expect to be going back to Brian's house and enjoying another night in a real bed. But when they determined they were going to land in Warwick, NY, Brian pointed out that there is a Drive In there. They decided to drive down  memory lane to the Drive In tonight as opposed to getting an early start back on the trail. One more night at Brian's and back on the trail again.

From The A.T. Guide:  Mile 1354.2 NoBo.
Warwick Turnpike Warwick, NY 10990
2.7W to intersection with NY 94:
Also: Warwick Drive  In Theater. 1.5 miles farther north on NY 94 to downtown Warwick, where there are many restaurants and the post office and library.

Cars2 is playing at the Drive In tonight. Did they know Hollywood was coming?

 
Tomorrow looks like it is mostly flat ground so even though the day will be be in the 90's and with a late start due to movie madness, they could still get 20 miles in. They are now close enough that we get the weather they had two days ago. You know they are knocking on the door when their weather is ours.

Coconut is back on the trail!!! Tailwind let me know yesterday that she got back on the trail at Delaware Water Gap and is proceeding up the trail at her own pace. The Big Montana's most likely will not be able to reunite before Sculler has to head back to the work-a-day world. There is still a chance that Coconut will catch Hollywood before Katahdin. As Coconut hikes up the trail I will keep you apprised on her progress throughout the blog as well. Thanks to Tailwind for feeding me that information.

On Monday July 11, Hollywood and Tripwire head out on the trail alone again. I'm sure it won't take long for another group to start following Melissa and Jordan. They are the Pied Pipers of the Appalachian Trail.

Happy Birthday Hollywood 29 is just a number

I was taken up with local responsibilities and was unable to put out a Happy Birthday post for Hollywood yesterday. So on behalf of all your followers, Happy 29th Melissa.
They were going to slackpack 25 miles thanks to trail angel Brian Feuer. But the rain told them differently. It was pouring badly and they weren't able to make the hike happen. As a consolation, they ate BBQ instead.


Despite the multi thousand calorie mega meals, beer, snacks, and all that other yummy stuff that makes us fat, Melissa is getting even skinnier as the days go by. Here she is at the beginning of the hike:

As you can see she is already in shape and you wouldn't think the trail would trim much more off of her.



And here she is now. I may not have chosen the best pictures as to represent how dramatic a change, but you can see overall that any signs of extra baggage has left the gate and been replaced by lean mean hiking muscle machine.










 


The latest stretch takes them through High Point State Park.


It has been tradition to go to Portsmouth and take in the Fireworks on Melissa's birthday. They usually set them off on July 3rd. Well this year, they heard that she wasn't going to be around and put them off until the fifth (That and some inclement weather loomed).  But despite that, down in New Jersey, the rumor of Hollywoods fame had preceded her and, lo and behold, fireworks for her birthday.

 So Happy Birthday Hollywood, 29 is just getting started. New York is calling all your names and the Big Apple wants to open it's arms and give you a big ol hug.

So much has gone on this week.

As some of you know, the Big Montana's has suffered an upset. Christina (Coconut) has decided to take some time off the trail. Here is her FB post:

Christina Schubert

Needed a few days off, so I caught a bus (or 3) from Palmerton, PA to home. Gonna spend a little more time relaxing, resting my feet, and getting some vitamin R, then I'll be back in the boots to finish the last 932 miles. Washed my pack this afternoon..hopefully once it's dry it'll smell more like Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap and less like 3 months without deodorant.. 

So with Coconut off the trail for a while, Hollywood, Sno, Sculler and Tripwire took a zero day and headed out on the trail minus one core member. We all hope Coconut has a great rest and we hope she can catch back up with the gang eventually. Katahdin is calling them all. Sculler is leaving the trail on July 10 as well.

Back on the trail the crew has taken down 5 towns in six days and are now somewhere in the great state of New Jersey (Insert obligatory New Jersey joke here). They are around mile 1300 NoBo. They plan to make it into Branchville, NJ 1313.5 NoBo tomorrow. There are several campsites between mile 1290 and 1307.

They are in the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area. This link takes you to a map of the AT as it runs through the park: The AT through the park. They have had many days of sharp pointy rocks followed with delicious food in towns as the dark rolls in. On more than one hiking day, Sno and Hollywood end up donning their headlamps as it gets dark in order to catch up with Sculler.

The party continues up the trail. Sno's sombrero and neck radio providing the tunes and the mood. Although the radio stations they are listening to seem to play the same 10-15 songs all day long, this doesn't dissuade Hollywood, Sno, and Sculler from blasting the music and dancing up the trail.

Today marks month number three on the Appalachian Trail. They have hiked over 1300 miles and through 6 states in only 91 days. Hollywood and Tripwire will be back in less than 75 days.