Red Bull Wants to Come Home

   We believe Red Bull slept close to mile 1,403.7 on the trail last night, and stopped near mile 1,415.8 tonight.  He could tell us he had recently passed blue and yellow blaze trails, a very small stream, and was at a larger stream.  This appears to be the spot he stopped, the best we can decipher from the guidebook.  If it is correct, he hiked a little over 12 miles today.
 
   Red Bull called every couple of hours today, very discouraged.  He told us that he has gained everything he can from the trail, and wants to come home.  He is so close to being 3/4 of the way done... we cannot imagine quitting at this point.  He says it is not quitting, it is a change of goals.

   His muscles are aching, but his knee is holding up pretty well.  The muscles will strengthen, but we are monitoring the knee.  He certainly hiked at a slower pace today.  We knew it would be a bit difficult to get back onto the trail after time off for his sister's wedding., but it is proving to be quite a challenge.

   We have gotten Red Bull to agree to give it a try for a week.  We suggested he get a shuttle or taxi into Peekskill New York (4 1/2 miles from the trail), to purchase a knee brace.  He declined, not wanting to waste the time and money.

   He stopped to camp earlier this evening, so was not hiking until nightfall.  We hope with a longer break, he will feel a bit better tomorrow.

   We appreciate the many offers of prayers from family and friends, it means so much.  We also appreciate those calling/texting Red Bull to offer encouragement... thank you!

 

Hiking the A.T. - stock photo

Morning Update

   Red Bull called this morning.  It rained last night, so he is wet and he has wet things to carry (making them heavier).  He also said there was a set of train tracks nearby, so trains woke him up throughout the night.  He did not sleep well.

   His legs and knee are still hurting.  He is very discouraged.  He did not communicate with Rd Brd, so they have no idea what has happened to Red Bull.

  He camped at the bottom of a hill, so begins with an incline this morning.  The next shelter on the trail is 25 miles away... I do not believe he can make it.  I checked into the fine details of the guidebook to see if there are other options available.  There is a Baseball area that allows hikers to spend the night in the baseball shelter, but that is only 6 miles from his current location.  There is also a state park that allows Appalachian thru hikers to spend one night for free in the park.  Unfortunately that is 20 miles away, and I am uncertain he can hike that far today.

   Red Bull will keep us updated throughout the day.  We have advised him to proceed gently, and not push it too hard.  I know he does not like to spend the nights alone, and thought of his group getting farther and farther ahead causes disappointment.

Rain in the Woods - stock photo

 

Red Bull is Struggling

   Today Red Bull and pals began hiking out of the Harriman New York area, mile 1,383.3 on the Appalachian Trail.  It was an elevation of 550 feet.  Red Bull climbed several mountains, Fingerboard Mountain elevation 1,350 feet, Black Mountain 1,200 feet, West Mountain 1,220 feet, and Bear Mountain elevation 1,300 feet.  There were two areas with views of New York City, unfortunately Red Bull was in no condition to appreciate these vistas.  He did climb the tower on the top of Bear Mountain.

   Red Bull contacted us around 3:00 pm asking for advice.  The goal for the day was to hike 22 miles, with the group meeting at Hemlock Springs Campsite on mile 1,405.4 of the trail.  It was now well into the day, and he had only hiked 12 miles.  He was hurting and uncertain if he should push it to join the group, or take it easy and fall behind.  We cannot make a decision like that for him, but expressed concerns about doing permanent damage to his body if he pushed too hard for too long.  Along with the strained muscles, he now says that his knee is hurting... which is a concern.

  We advised taking a 20-30 minute rest, having a snack, hydrating, and taking some ibuprofen.  He told us he had just done that, and it was his third break today.  He continued on, and told us he would keep us updated.  Around 6:30 pm he was climbing down Bear Mountain, and was near the Bear Mountain Recreational area.  He decided he would get a hotel here for the night because there was no where else to stay, and he did not believe he could make it the additional 5 miles to the designated shelter (also the next shelter on the trail).  Red Bull has been with a group on most of his thru hike, and when they check into hotels he helps pay.  There is a complication that arises for Red Bull at most hotels, but he decided to give it a try.  He called the Bear Mountain Bridge Motel ($75 a night with free shuttle service) and the Stony Point Center ($50 a night, with $10 shuttle fees each way).  Red Bull told us there were "no rooms available".  There is also the Bear Mountain Inn and the Overlook Lodge for $149 a night, as well as the Holiday Inn Express for $120, but he passed on those due to the expense.  He had hiked down to the Bear Mountain Zoo thinking there would be a parking area there to meet a shuttle, but he was mistaken.  The Zoo area is the lowest point on the Appalachian Trail at an elevation of 177 feet.

   Feeling frustrated and hurting, Red Bull decided to press on as far as possible for the night.  He called home around 8:30 pm, to tell us he had stopped on the side of the trail at the best spot he could find.  It was dark, and he could not travel any further tonight.  He sounded miserable.

   I will not sleep well tonight, if I sleep at all.  Red Bull is sleeping on Bear Mountain, all alone, in the dark, hurting, discouraged, on the side of the trail.  I asked him if he were to tell his hiking pals what was happening, if they would slow down over the next couple of days for him.  His response was, "you fall behind... you stay behind."  He will not even ask.  I told him to text Rd Brd and let him know what is happening, but I doubt he will.  His sisters tried to convince me to text Rd Brd and ask him to wait for Red Bull tomorrow morning, but Red Bull would be upset.

   We have alerted all his siblings, and family to what is happening.  Many prayers are being offered, and there is even some fasting/praying for Red Bull.  That is all we can do from here...
May he sleep well, and awaken refreshed and rejuvenated in the morning.

Sleep well Red Bull, sleep well... may you escape the pain, discomfort, and mental anguish as you dream of hiking to the top of Mt Katahdin in Maine!


Photos and information about Bear Mountain State Park:

Bear Mountain Merry Go Round - stock photo

Stock Photo

view of Hudson River from Bear Mountain
photo from explorehudsonvalley.com

From NewYorkStateParks.com:

Bear Mountain State Park is situated in rugged mountains rising from the west bank of the Hudson River. The park features a large play field, shaded picnic groves, lake and river fishing access, a swimming pool, Trailside Museums and Zoo, hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails. An outdoor rink is open to ice skaters from late October through mid-March. The Perkins Memorial Tower atop Bear Mountain affords spectacular views of the park, the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park. Perkins Memorial Drive and Tower are open from April through late November, weather permitting.

The Merry-Go-Round at Bear Mountain State Park features hand painted scenes of the park an 42 hand carved seats of native animals including black bear, wild turkey, deer, raccoon, skunk, Canada goose, fox, swan, bobcat, rabbit and more

Sad News

   We received sad news from Red Bull as we were driving home from New York last night.  I posted a story on August 6th of a hiker in Pennsylvania who had became dehydrated; left the trail to search for water, and became lost.  Fortunately a rescue party was able to locate him; he was severely dehydrated, and transported to a hospital.  This was actually Red Bull's hiking pal J Drt!  He learned this from his hiking group last night; and not only was J Drt severely dehydrated but he also had Lyme disease.  They believe he went home to recover.

   I know how disturbing it was when I first heard the story, and how thankful I was that the hiker was located fairly quickly.  We were also concerned as Red Bull was hiking through the same area, with no water sources available for great distances.  Now to realize this was his hiking pal, dehydrated, disoriented, lost, and not knowing he was also suffering from Lyme disease... it is heart wrenching.

   I remember Red Bull's comments to me when I first shared the story with him.  He was hiking into Harper's Ferry, and was pushing hard to cover 48.2 miles in one day.  I told him the story as I was warning him to remain hydrated.  We used it as a warning again when he was in that area of Pennsylvania complaining of the dried up water sources.  We double checked to see if that was where the other hiker became dehydrated and lost, it was.  It is incredible to now realize this was/is Red Bull's hiking pal!

   We hope J Drt recovers quickly, and is able to finish his hike!  If not, that he will be able to finish his hike when he is feeling better!  Rest and recover J Drt!

Red Bull Hits the Trail - again!

   Red Bull traveled to Harriman New York to join his hiking group, a little north of New York City.  He is now with Rd Brd and Sndy Mn.  He was very happy to hear they had caught up with Cwby too.  Red Bull was feeling much better, and was no longer limping.

   Cntr and Sqtch got off the trail to attend a sister's wedding.  Red Bull believes Cntr and Sqtch were then planning to head to the end of the trail in Maine, and do a "flip flop".  They would hike Mount Katahdin in Maine, and then turn southbound on the Appalachian Trail ending where they exited the trail.  We asked if Red Bull would like to do this with them, but he prefers to continue with the northbound hike finishing on Mount Katahdin as the finale.  This is the most popular approach, but does contain an element of risk.  They close overnight camping in Baxter State Park (where Mt. Katahdin is located) October 15th.  Access to Mt. Katahdin is also closed during severe weather, and strong winds.  One trail referred to as "the Knife Edge" is only three feet wide for 3/10 of a mile, with cliffs dropping off the sides.  Several hikers have lost their lives when falling from the Knife Edge.  There is more than one trail to the top of Mt. Katahdin, but they are all considered strenuous or extremely strenuous in difficulty.  To finish on Mt Katahdin, they should plan to arrive late September/early October.  They will need to hike approximately 19 miles each day, with one zero day per week to arrive by October 5th.

 

Mt Katahdin - Baxter State Park, Maine
photo on Wikipedia by TJ

 

The Knife Edge - photo on Wikipedia by Greg Neault
I believe those are hikers on the left

 

photos added in previous posts

   I have added a few photos to previous posts for Red Bull.  I debated just adding them here, but I wanted to place them in with the posts from the locations where they were taken.

   It is difficult for me to retrieve his photos from his Instagram account.  I usually do it quite by accident... and am never quite certain how I achieve the accomplishment!  :)

   Since I had planned to spend today driving Red Bull back to the trail, I found myself with some free time... something that has not been available this summer!  I took advantage of this to try to retrieve and post Red Bull's photos.

   You will find a photo he took from the plane while flying to Nevada on the post for August 1st.

   There is a photo from the halfway point of the A.T. on July 21st.

   There is a photo of the Mason Dixon line on July 19th.

   There are photos from the Washington Monument in Maryland, and a nice sunset scene in the woods on July 18th.

   Sorry for any confusion!  It has been a very busy time, and quite the ordeal to catch up with Red Bull's posts!  I feel like my summer is just beginning... although back to school orientations begin this week!  I am trying to NOT think about Back to School!  I told Red Bull's siblings that we should take an extra two weeks of summer!  Dreaming...

   I will delete this post in a couple of days...

Second Zero Day - photo

   Red Bull took a second zero day today!  He is still limping around, but does not need furniture to support his weight. His plan is to rejoin his group in New York tomorrow.  They are taking a zero day tomorrow, so he will meet them at their hotel.

   He feels with the rest today and tomorrow, he will be able to begin hiking again on Wednesday with his group.  He has been drinking protein enhanced beverages, in an attempt to help his muscles heal.

   I have my doubts about his ability to do strenuous hiking while carrying a 35 pound pack, but it is entirely his decision.  We support him, while offering our guidance.

Pennsylvania - photo by Red Bull