Pictures

We are very happy to be in Waynesboro, VA. We've posted our newest pictures; the link is below. We'll post an update tomorrow or Monday...

Damascus, VA to Waynesboro, VA

700 miles

We're now in Daleville, Virginia taking a zero and celebrating Mike's birthday. The day before arriving into town was a very eventful day. The morning started with a hike to Dragon's tooth where we almost climbed to the top - it was a bit scary, then a great photo shot at McAfee's knob where you sit on the edge of a cliff overlooking a valley, then sunset along Tinker cliffs, and then our first bear sighting as we hiked to our campsite that evening (the bear was terrified and took off running, so we only got a quick glimpse and no picture).
Since our last update, we've still been hiking through Virginia. We had 10 straight days of rain and the trail turned into a river. The terrain has also been really tough and slow in some parts. The worst is when the trail is completely littered with small rocks, and after hiking for a few hours you begin to feel every single rock beneath your foot and hope for a smooth path. Other parts have been very enjoyable with great views and fun climbs up or down large rock formations.
We also got to hike through the Grayson Highlands, where the wild ponies roam free. They are very friendly and have no problem having their pictures taken.



Thanks to all of you who sent packages! They were filled with the perfect goodies for our hike.

Send us things, again!

We were so greatful to receive the packages that everyone sent last time, and it's time for us to receive our next mail drop! If you'd like to send us things again, here's how you can address the package:

Howard Johnson Express
Please hold for AT Thru-Hikers Mike & Hannah O'Malley
ETA 19 May 2009
437 Roanoke Road
Daleville, VA 24083

Please try to have the package there before the 19th of May, and enclose things in ziplock bags (the extra ziplocks always come in handy for us, too!).

This time we'd like to request home baked things like cookies or brownies (fudgey not cakey, please) or rice krispy treats or other wonderful things!

Other things that we love: Lara bars, Clifbar Shotblocks, Dried fruit (apricots, berries, cherries), shelled pistacios, turkey jerky, Luna bars, Candy bars (Reeses' Fastbreak, Heath, Milkyway, Skor, Twix).


p.s. Mike's birthday is on May 20th :)

New Pictures

Below is a link to our newest picture album. Enjoy! Thanks for looking!

Hot Springs, NC to Damascus, VA

New shoes for Hannah

Although I love my Montrail Hurricane Ridge GTX, they don't keep my feet dry in rain or snow, so Montrail has kindly sent me a new pair of shoes for free - the Mountain Masochists.

Since then....

It's been a while since we left hot springs and are now in Damascus, Virginia taking a zero day. We haven't had good cell phone reception or access to the internet until now, so we apologize if it caused any of you worry. The weather has been very rainy for the past week or so, and we're expecting even more. It's nice to finally be dry.

During our night in Hot Springs we enjoyed an AYCE spaghetti dinner at the community center and had ice cream with our friend Bark, Berry, Otter, and Flatlander. It was sad to leave them, especially because now as we continue on the trail most everyone already has an established group of hiker friends. It was so nice for Hannah to have some 'girl' time with Berry. There aren't very many girls on the trail, so it was nice to connect with her and encourage each other. I am so thankful for the opportunity of getting to know her and hope that we meet again someday.

A few nights after leaving hot springs, we stopped to camp at a random spot along the trail near a creek just down the hill from some other hikers. I (Hannah) woke up around 2 am from a horrible dream of a bear trying to get into our tent. We had recently heard about a bear tearing up someone's tent just 2 nights ago. In my dream I was camping with my mom and I couldn't wake her up. No sound would come from my voice so I couldn't yell. Finally I woke up and what do you know, but right outside our tent I heard slow big footsteps walking through the leaves of something that couldn't have been anything but a bear (I've heard lots of wildlife in the woods). I woke mike up and the footsteps stopped so he didn't hear anything. I started praying that the Lord would protect us and our food that was hanging not too far away. A few minutes later they returned and we heard the animal turn around and walk away.
I was too scared to fall back asleep, but the Lord reminded me of something I had just read earlier that night from a chapter about Faith in a book that my friend Todd had given me.
'The testing of your faith provides steadfastness. Ask in faith with no doubting....My peace I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid...According to the riches and glory in Christ, ask and it will begiven to you...'
There was no need for me to be scared. I had asked the Lord to protect us, so He would. Then I peacefully fell asleep and woke up alive and well the next morning.
Another cool thing is that after talking to my mom today, she was awoken around 2am that same night and felt lead to pray for us. Cool, huh?

Hot Springs, NC

We've made it to Hot Springs, NC just in time for the Trailfest! There's a spaghetti dinner and a free movie tonight at the outfitters. Here's some new pictures:

Newfound Gap to Hot Springs, NC

The past couple days have been long and hard, as we've done 25 and 23 mile days to get here in time for the trailfest. On our way we've passed the oldest person to hike the trail, an 86 year old man who set the record a few years back, but it was broken by another person, so he is back on the trail to set the record again as the oldest thru-hiker. We've met some new friends including 3 old guys from Massachusetts- Uncle Noel, Smirk, and Oatmeal. They are lots of fun and remind us of an old-time comedy group. Unfortunately we've passed them and probably won't see them again. Also, we met "Lion King" who is a filmmaker and a bit of a celebrity on the trail (http://www.walkingwithfreedom.com/). In the meantime we have caught up with our friends Bark & Berry - the couple from Louisville. Tonight we'll have a final dinner with them (since we'll be passing them too) to talk about our experiences thus far, and then head back out tomorrow. They are part of a ministry called AT Servants, and Bark is a Kanakuk alum. It is refreshing and encouraging to talk about the Lord with them.

Tomorrow we head back on the trail and will be in Erwin, TN in a couple days.