The Hiking Hugger!

Hey everyone! Boy, hardly a day goes by, that I don't get some kind of a Blessing... a "Hug from God", if you like. (I don't always get time to sit down and tell you all about it). Well... this past week, while returning to Madison from a lumber delivery in Fryeburg, I stopped for a quick break in Bethel. As I headed toward the entrance of the convenience store, I noticed some familier "trail sign"... a couple of well-worn backpacks, and two sets of trekking poles! I instantly slowed my pace, realizing that there MUST be two (or more) thru-hikers in close proximity... they never stray far from their packs. I glanced around the area... THERE THEY WERE! They appeared to be friendly, so I approached them. I made small talk, and one responded that he was "GRIZZ"... Thank God he was friendly! The other hiker was known on the trail as "TREAT". Real friendly. I caught them during a rest break/feeding time, but they were more than happy to chat. They were having a wonderful hike, looking forward to more of the better weather to hike in. They had their sights set on getting to the hostel in Andover, for a bit more rest and food.

My spirits were lifted during the brief encounter. I wished them well on the remainder of the journey, and gave them contact information, should I be able to assist them in any way up the trail. They also were an encouragement to me, that I might find a way to get back on the trail, (someday, soon).

I always find hikers to be fascinating, each in their own unique way. Almost anyone, given opportunity, will share with you something that they have done, are doing, or are planning to do. This encounter was no exception. TREAT shared with me that he is also known as "THE HIKING HUGGER". Yes... THE HIKING HUGGER! Now, I can't say that I was a recipient of any hugs, but on investigation, I found that he has hugged... (wait...please go to the following to find out!)

http://www.thehikinghugger.com/

...As you can see, he isn't afraid of hugging! As you can also see, he is "hiking for a cause", as many of us do. What do you MEAN, you didn't check out the site! OK, while you do that, I'll close, while asking God's Blessings on all of you! Take care, ponder the paths of your feet, and let all your ways be established. GOD BLESS!

Stickman

Phreak... going for a hike!

Hey everybody!

All is well up here in the beautiful State of Maine! The weather has finally taken a turn for the better, and we have been blessed by several wonderfully sunny days. Believe me, that IS a blessing for all of the hardy hikers who have been slogging through seemingly endless miles of rain, "stream trails", and mud, mud, mud! They're going to have to learn to walk again... on dry ground.

I like to take opportunities to share the little blessings that occasionally come my way, and one of those blessings came my way today. I got a very brief e-mail from Brian "Phreak" today, (see following), and felt very blessed that he thought of me!

Here is Phreak's e-mail...


"From: brian@hikes247.com Sent: Mon Sep 1 17:27

To: Priority: Normal

Subject: Month of September Type: HTML Msg


Hey everyone!
I'm flying out Wed morning (9/3) to CA to hike the John Muir Trail from 9/5 to 9/27. I'll have no access to email, voicemail, cell phone, etc.

I'll return all emails and phone calls as soon as possible after my return on 9/28."

I'm praying for his safety and a wonderful hike as he ventures out to the left coast. Be sure to check out this trail, looks like a SUPER hike!

Well, everyone, just a short post to touch base and say "hello". ... ...

So... any of you folks out there Prayer Warriors? Great! Could you include Phreak in your prayers? Thanks! While your at it could you think of me? Awesome! I will keep you all in prayer too! G'night, and God Bless!

Stickman

Memphis Tim, "On top of the world"

Recieved confirmation from "Memphis", that he made it to summit of Mt. Katahdin! Here is his e-mail ...


"From: 'Tim Tache' Sent: Fri Aug 22 8:14

To: hikerhostel@yahoo.com, KHIBB57@beeline-online.net, ... Priority: Normal

Subject: 2,175 miles...and so it went.... Type: Attachments


"I'm a through hiker, a one way hiker yeah, it took me so long to find out, but I found out...."
Well, what can I say? The last week of my journey was better than I could ever have hoped. A million angels in golden chariots lassoed the rain clouds and pulled them away- or maybe it was a high pressure system- no, definitely angels. In the wilderness I was able to meet up with Jukebox, The General and Loafy and we were actually able to slack pack thanks to vehicle support from Jukebox's dad, Dave.
I summited Katahdin August 20 with my cousin Josh and my uncle Eric along with Loafy, The General, Jukebox, Bunz & Roses, Spock & Twiggy, Hearts, Tupperware, Crush and Beershake. It was cool and very windy with the sun peeking through the clouds, in other words, perfect. Then I hiked down the spectacular Knive's Edge with Josh.
This hike has really been about all of the fabulous people I met along the way, too many to even try to list right now. I am now headed back to PA for a bit and then- who knows. If any of you know of any jobs for a guy with a BA in History and basic woodworking skills I would be willing to walk any distance to relocate. Thanks so much for all the wonderful support you have all given me along the way. I hope our paths cross soon. -Tim
--
After the first few thousand miles,
a man gets limber with his feet.
Sgt. Buster Kilrain, 20th Maine"

I'm sure that Memphis has come away from the trail with a pack full of sweet memories that he will savor for a lifetime. As many of the hikers will echo, Memphis emphasized that his hike "has really been about all of the fabulous people I met along the way, too many to even try to list right now." . Wow!... Not to take anything away from all of the beautiful views... the satisfaction of taming 2,175 miles of trail... or those joyous moments of solitude... Memphis, I believe, got it right! It IS, for many, the people encountered along the way, that are the "icing on the cake".

So... Congrats go out to Memphis, on completing a wonderful journey. There are so many others, also, that have completed this year, and to them a big "WOO-HOO!". Let's not forget the rest of our hiker friends out there, who have yet to finish... let's help them in any way we can.

Memphis... Thanks for letting me be some small part of your journey. It was wonderful to meet you, and share a fine meal. God Bless you in ALL your journeys!

And God Bless ALL of you too!

Stickman

"Memphis Tim" in Monson

Just got an e-mail from "Memphis Tim" Tache, who has managed to hike up into Monson. Sure sounds like it's been rough out there for all our hiker friends, but Memphis has somehow maintained a sense of humor and a positive attitude! Oh well, I don't think he'll mind if I share his update... it will put a little more light on it... here goes...

"Tue Aug 12 16:11
Hi Everyone,
Well Maine was supposed to be my victory lap on this long walk. Instead it has been a crucible mushing all north-bounders into a soggy pulp. I have been lucky enough to hike through this state during the wettest summer on record. I have walked day after day through over rain slicked granite mountains, slippery roots and mud, mud, mud and more mud. The free hiker ferry over the Kenebec River was closed do to high water for the first time ever in August requiring a thirty mile shuttle in the back of a pick-up truck. Luckily the rain is easing a little and I was able to ford two rivers yesterday that were impassible a day earlier.
I am now in Monson, ME the last town on the trail 114 miles from Katahdin. Tomorrow comes the hundred mile wilderness, the most remote section of the entire trail. Today I am savoring my last "zero" day (no hiking). My aunt Mary Ann, uncle Eric and cousin Josh are joining me tonight for dinner and to take my last will and testament (I kid, I kid).
Despite a little hardship I really am in pretty good spirits and in about a week I will actually be able to say that I am an AT through-hiker. I just won't be able to explain why. I hope to see all of you up the trail. -Memphis Tim

--
After the first few thousand miles,
a man gets limber with his feet.
Sgt. Buster Kilrain, 20th Maine"

(Thanks, Memphis for the update, and I pray you have a fantastic finish to your hike! Hope you also have a wonderful time with your family tonight... God Bless!)

Hope you are all well, and that you enjoy sharing my little blurbs on my blog. Until next time, then... God Bless you all out there!

Stickman

Shout-out to "Memphis Tim"

Hey Memphis!

Just wanted to say that it was nice to have met you and to have shared a meal with you over to the Fancys' the other night. Thanks for the invite, Eric, and Happy Birthday! Nice to see your family again!

*Memphis had hiked up through the Mahoosic Notch without any troubles, and after getting clear of what many throughhikers consider to be the "toughest mile on the A.T.", he stepped wrong on a rock, and went down... and at the very least, bruising some ribs. I think there is a better possibility of cracked ribs, from how he was feeling. A few days off trail will hopefully heal him.

So, Memphis, I hope that you are well on your way, and having a great finish to your hike. By the way, after you are done, could you possibly e-mail to me a picture of you on summit? I would be honored to post it here on the blog!

Well, gotta go back to work! I'll end with a little prayer for Memphis, the other hikers out there, and of course, for you too! GOD BLESS!

Stickman

"Memphis Tim" is in Maine!

Ya, I know, it's exciting! ... I'm sure that it is very exciting for Memphis Tim to have made it into his last State, and close to tackling Katahdin! But, you know, it is exciting for me too! Those of you who have never met Memphis are not alone... I haven't met him yet either.

I heard of Memphis from Eric Fancy, an old friend and ex-coworker, who lives across the river, in Anson. I believe Memphis is a relative of Eric's, or possibly Eric's wife... darned if I can remember. But, at any rate, I tried to check up on Memphis from time to time, and he was very kind in having e-mailed me.

He made it into Maine, through Mahoosic Notch, and such, and on up to Wilton, where one of his hiking buddies, Jared, aka "Cuda", spoke at a fundraiser for homeless veterans...(check it out)...

http://www.hikeforhomelessvets.org/

Now Memphis is in Anson, visiting with the Fancy's, getting some needed rest and tanking up on calories. Eric was so kind in inviting me over for tomorrow evening to meet Tim, and chat awhile. So, ya, I'm excited about tomorrow evening, and listening to some "trail tales"!

Feeling quite blessed, hope you are feeling God's Blessings too!

Stickman

Comings and goings...

Hey everyone! I hope that this update finds you all well!

Lot's going on up here these days, and Cari and I can hardly catch our breath. No complaints, though, as most of the hectivity...(I think I just made up a new word! HECTIC and ACTIVITY = HECTIVITY)... has been all good.

I have to say, it was good to take a couple of days away at Acadia, to do a little recharging... and it was a FUN time for Cari and I.

Some other good stuff! The truck! A few weeks back, I had wanted to go to Caratunk to try and hook up with a few hikers, maybe do a quick hike. Cari asked me how I would get there, as she had to work. I said "the truck", of course, referring to the old Dodge I use to go gather sticks. She then asked me if I thought that the truck would make it all the way to Caratunk and back... Well, I had to be honest... probably not. She then suggested that we look into purchasing a truck that was for sale just down the street from us. We now own (we and the Bank), a pretty nice truck. It is, for sure, the nicest truck I have ever owned. It is a 1998 Ford F-150 with a Leer Cap and a Bedrug liner. It has 108,000 miles on it, but runs well, and has NO RUST! We are pretty sure it can make it to Caratunk and back. It will be so wonderful for us, as we take our ScriptureSticks to events. The Pittsfield Egg Festival is coming right up, so we will get a chance to try it out! We are both feeling very blessed!

Speaking of Pittsfield Egg Festival, we are doing our best to get ready for it. Cari and possibly Elizabeth will do the Festival this year, as I have a Hibbard Family Reunion to attend on the same day... yeah, I know... I was the one that set the date for the reunion... what was I thinking!... But, it's all good, isn't it!?!

We have lot's of sticks to do, and are a little behind. I guess that is good also, to have something to do... We pray that those of you who are waiting will continue to be patient with us, we will get caught up soon... I think!

Last week... what a blast! I was asked to help out with TEEN WEEK out at our Church, Crossroads Bible Church, and decided I could do that. I am so glad that I got involved with these wonderful youth! The blessings were all mine! I was the speaker one night, which was kinda neat, and stretched me a little, out of my comfort zone. Again, it was all good! I got to know some of the youth a little better, and spent some quality time with some of the leaders. ... Special message to the YOUTH... I have gotten the jello, shaving cream, and silly string off of me! I will be looking for you! I hope you all had as good a time as I did, and that you also took something with you from the weeks messages!

This coming weekend... is the start of MOTORCYCLE CHURCH at Crossroads! We hold it for several Saturdays, for the biker's, and anyone else who would like to come. It starts at 6:00 PM and generally runs a couple of hours. There is free food and drinks, music, great fellowship and a message. On August 30th there will be a Motorcycle Rodeo, which is a blast! Although Cari and I do not have a motorcycle at this time, we still like to be involved, and will provide the food for one of the nights, and will do the music for another night. It is a great time, and we hope some of you might join us... bring a friend! See you there!

Now... what to do next?... mow the lawn!... no, no... weed the garden!... maybe... go cut some sticks... or rout some!






I'll try to do a little of everything, I guess!





Keep us in prayer, if you would, it is really appreciated!

Until next time, God Bless you all,

Stickman