[at-l] (a different kind of) Hike Report - JMT (long)

[George (Tin Man) Andrews]

Hummingbird!
Good to hear from you again and sorry for the delay in reply but we were in 
Huntsville to see our son off to Iraq.  He'll be a lot safer there than on 
his 180 MPH Honda crotch rocket!  :)  His new trail name is Off Ramp in 
honor of him proving that you can ALMOST exit I-565 at 130 mph without 
flipping 3 times and landing in the road under the overpass.  It's all that 
inertia, gravity and physics stuff he keeps having trouble with.  Carolyn 
and I also celebrated our 29th anniversary with him.  A great time.  Your 
prayers and thoughts on Christopher's behalf are always appreciated.

> This was the BEST hiking report I have ever read.  You took me right there 
> with you!  Have you considering writing a book or, at least, a story for a 
> magazine?

I can't write.  That Felix fellow...  Now he can write!

>You also made me ache for a long distance hike.  I get a day or two here 
>and there but feel so badly for my husband who cannot hike much   because 
>of his worsening physical limitations.  I feel guilty going off without 
>him.    I have to figure out how to balance all of this.

For guilt-free hiking, perhaps a different way of looking at it is if you 
hike Dutch Treat can enjoy your hike through your first hand reports and as 
logistic support.
>
> I am anxious to hear more about that cat.  Jingle has a little jacket, 
> harness and leash....as you know.  I have taken her on the trail for a 
> couple of miles at a time and would love to take her on a longer hike. 
> Did this cat do the whole JMT?

The cat in the pack was  met on the Panarana Trail just down from Glacier 
Point.  The owners were on a day hike and taking a rest break.  They said he 
really enjoyed hiking with them.  That encounter added to the slightly 
surreal nature of the start of the hike after watching the hang gliders 
launch from the point and then glide down the valley.  Didn't see any hang 
gliding cats though. .
>
> BTW...we have some huge Rainbow trout here in Damascus!  So....anytime you 
> want to stop by....
>
Im in!

> You WILL be at the Gathering, right?

Yes and look forward to seeing everyone.
>
> Did you happen to run into Hutch on the JMT?  Spoke to him the other day. 
> He was in NYC and heading back here.  He did mention the the trail was 
> much tougher than he thought but had a great time.

Nope.  I looked and asked but didn't see him.
>
> Hope to see you soon.  Much to catch up.  Maybe you can slow down a bit 
> next time we get together.  Seems like you are always running.  Did this 
> hike slow you down at all?

I did slow down a bit.  Carolyn kept asking if I was alright because of me 
being so quiet after returning.
 See you at the Gathering.
Tin man