Tick Tock, Tick Tock...

As Scarecrow and MattyRedrock pedal through our beautiful country, time is pedaling along with them.  As they sit at camp at night, reflecting on their day's accomplishments, and look ahead to the next day's journey, they are beginning to calculate days left against miles left.

via dreamstime.com

They have traveled approximately 1133 miles thus far, so there still remains about 1635 miles of the 2768 mile route.  In looking back on the description of the Ride the Divide bike route, it says: Typical times to ride the entire route range from six to ten weeks.

With MattyRedrock needing to be back to work by August 3rd, the guys have decided to conclude their "Excellent Adventure" in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  In speaking with Scarecrow yesterday, although this was not an easy decision, or one they really wanted to have as their ultimate outcome, it felt like a positive alternative to just seeing how far they could make it, knowing they would not make it to Antelope Wells, New Mexico.  Scarecrow explained that they basically took on a longer ride than they had time for.  They gave themselves 5 weeks for a 6 to 10 week ride.

via reddit.com

Ok, so why Steamboat Springs? Why will that be the new destination of Matt & Ted's Excellent Adventure? The amount of miles they are averaging, coupled with days they have left, will drop them in Steamboat Springs.  It couldn't have worked out better for MattyRedrock, as this is like a home away from home for him and Corinne.  It is where he landed his first gig in radio, as well as proposed to Corinne.  He has family, friends, and many fond memories in this town.  Scarecrow also has fond memories of Steamboat Springs, from when he hiked through there while on the CDT.  I looked back on the blog to remind myself why he loved it there ~ TAKE A LOOK and read up about his stop in Steamboat Springs, back in 2014.

Corinne and I have already expressed to the guys how proud we are of their accomplishments along this trip.  They set out on quite an adventure, through rain, speeding semi trucks, many flat tires, swarms of mosquitoes, beautiful scenery, meals around the camp fires, meeting new people from around the world, and the making of some pretty awesome memories that will last them a life time.  We are looking forward to hearing about their least leg of the trip as they approach Colorado.  We will keep you all posted as "Matt & Ted's Excellent Adventure" continues.

As a little side note, for those of you who are already asking in your heads... Yes, Scarecrow will return to Ride the Divide, as he is looking forward to revisiting all of his favorite places along the Divide, from the mountains up in Canada, down to the deserts in New Mexico.  I am thinking summer of 2018, but you will have to stay tuned to find out more.  Thank you to everyone, for your continued support, prayers, comments and love for our guys as they continue along their adventure.

Until next time,

Corinne & The Thruhiker's Wife

I found my Shoes in a Tree!

As the guys headed South, Scarecrow was excited that the bike route was directing them through a town called Lima.  Scarecrow had hiked through this town back in 2014 while thruhiking the CDT.  He had fond memories of this little town, one reason being it was a mail drop for hikers along the trail.  The Mountain View Motel accepted packages and mail for the hikers along the CDT, as well as cyclists riding the Divide.  Many hikers had new shoes sent to them at this location, and it was tradition to leave your old pair on the "Hiker Shoe Trees".  Scarecrow had left his worn out Montrail hiking shoes there, and when he returned to the motel over this past weekend, he not only found his shoes, but met up with Mike, the owner, who remembered Scarecrow from two years ago!

"Hiker Shoe Trees, in honor of the shoes that have walked the Continental Divide Trail, 3100 miles border to border

That was a very happy moment for Scarecrow.  While at the motel, the guys took a room, so they could not only rest, but fix up their bikes.  Flat tires are frequent, due to the gravel, litter, and other roughness on their tires.

much needed bike repair!

While staying the night at the Mountain View Motel, Scarecrow and MattyRedrock ran into two CDT thruhikers that were tent camping for the night.  Scarecrow knew all too well what that was like, and decided to give some trail magic to these hikers.  He went to the front desk, asked if there was availability, and bought the hikers a room for the night.  He said it felt so good to be the one giving the "trail magic" as he had been the recipient on so many occasions in the past.  The tow hikers, one named "Knees" and the other named "Homework" were very appreciative and I am sure well rested by morning.

 Knees & Scarecrow

Scarecrow & Homework

While talking with the two thruhikers, I am sure Scarecrow shared his Triple Crown stories with the guys.  "Homework" actually recorded a podcast about Scarecrow and his achievements.  Pretty cool, heh?

The guys were very happy to have finally left Montana and enter into Idaho. It seemed like forever that they were in Montana!

Montana/Idaho border crossing!

This sign literally marks the border between the two states.  They will only be in Idaho for a short time, before crossing over into Wyoming.  They were expected to reach there as of yesterday.  Of course, they are meeting people from all over the world, including a family from France.  The wife of the family took this picture for the guys.  "Merci beaucoup!"  The guys also met a woman, driving her car through the area, and the license plates were from North Carolina.  She also had an AT sticker, so Scarecrow struck up conversation with her to find out that she is an AT thruhiker, and is a trail angel for hikers along the Appalachian Trail.  Forgive me for maybe misspelling it, but Scarecrow said her name was Rayen Bird.  Awesome stories of awesome people they are meeting along the way.

Scarecrow ended his update with me sending this picture.  The guys LOVE when they see signs like this, as it means DOWNHILL riding for them.

We wish for you a smooth, downhill ride for the remainder of your travels.  We remain so proud of all that the two of you are accomplishing on this trip.  We are all cheering and supporting you guys to your destination! To see where they last checked in, click HERE

Until next time,

Corinne & The Thruhiker's Wife

Final days Until Departure!!

The final hours are here ~ 1 day and 12 hours from now, these two will be on a plane to Calgary, Canada to begin their "Excellent Adventure" on the Continental Divide.  Over the next few days, I will post more and more information about what these guys are taking on... to start, it is a bike trail that spans 2,768.4 miles, traveling from Banff, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico.  They are just about packed, with tents, sleeping bags, cook pots, bicycle equipment, water bladders, and a huge bundle of excitement and nerves.  

photo by Corinne Bernath

On behalf of Corinne and myself, I want to welcome all of their followers to what will definitely be an adventure of a lifetime.  To Scarecrow and Matty Redrock, we wish you the best - great weather, smooth trail, generous trail angels, beautiful scenery and a million wonderful memories that will last you both a lifetime!

Filled with excitement, 

The Thruhiker's Wife

Introductions, Please!

So,  a new chapter has begun.  What can we expect from this latest journey? Well, let me introduce you to the characters and plot of this next chapter.  What do you get when you combine an adventurous, creative, experienced cyclist with a Triple Crown thruhiker? Yes, you get "Matt and Ted's Excellent Adventure".  Let me give you a little history about our friends, The Bernaths.  We met this amazing family about 7 years ago, when our boys ended up on the same football team.

2014 Seahawks final season

By the first few practices, we knew we would be life long friends with this family.  Matt and Corinne have two boys, Shea who is Dakota's age, and Brendan who is Jagger's age.  From early on, we meshed, the kids clicked, and to use Corinne's term, our "framily" was formed.  We celebrate birthdays and holidays together, we share common interests, music and enjoy the good times shared over the past years.

Corinne and Matt have been so supportive of Scarecrow's adventures as they were happening... they became a very integral piece of Scarecrow's journey as he traveled through Colorado, connecting him with their family as a contact of information and assistance if needed while in the area.

Corinne was the person who contacted channel 12 news and had them cover Scarecrow's arrival home from the CDT, and on a sweeter note, was the creator of the delicious cookies we gave out at Scarecrow's sendoff party.  You can check out her amazing work by clicking HERE.



So, Matt's love of cycling and Teddy's love of hiking has brought them to this adventure called "Ride the Divide."  The best way for you to truly understand what this is about is to check out the documentary - you can CLICK HERE to find out more information.

There is nothing ordinary about this bike ride.  This trail, which is known as The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, or GDMBR, is a long distance, off-road bicycle touring route from Banff, Canada that extends 2,768.4 miles down to Antelope Wells, New Mexico.  It follows the Continental Divide Trail as closely as it can, and actually crosses over it 30 times. The terrain is 90% unpaved roads and trails, but does not require advanced mountain bike riding skills.  The trail will take them through mostly undeveloped areas of the Rocky Mountains.  Most cyclists travel southbound and the average time to complete the route range from six to ten weeks.

You can imagine that a hiker would need a little more than a pair of good boots to have success here.  We have Matt to thank for the awesome score of Scarecrow's new wheels that will take him on this amazing trip.  A solid, dependable bike can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars! I nearly dropped when we began researching bikes for this trip.  Matt came through BIG TIME and hooked Teddy up with a guy who was selling his bike for an upgrade - they went together yesterday on the ferry to Connecticut to get it.  I am so grateful for this find, as we did NOT have to break the bank to obtain his new wheels.  THANK YOU MATT!!

Scarecrow's new wheels :)

As the weeks and days get closer to their departure, we will keep you updated and informed about this crazy, exciting adventure! Corinne and I will be here, preparing, laughing, worrying, drinking, and blogging about what will certainly be an adventure of a lifetime for Matt and Ted.

Dream Team of the Homestead

As always, we appreciate everyone's love, support and interest in this amazing adventure.  This truly would not be possible for these guys without our support and love.  I want to give a huge shoutout to Corinne and her boys, Shea and Brendan - I am so proud of you for your instant "all in" attitude! I think between our families, we will ALL enjoy the journey of Matt and Ted's Excellent Adventure!

I look forward to being by your side while this dream unfolds for our guys!!



Until Next Time,

The Thruhiker's Wife

Scarecrow is back!

Two years ago today, Scarecrow was at the southern most terminus of the Continental Divide Trail, ready to conquer the last third of his goal of becoming a Triple Crown Hiker.  With the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail successfully completed and behind him, he had only the CDT left.  As most of you know, that exciting journey was a huge success and as a result, this past September, Scarecrow flew out to Mt. Hood, Oregon to receive his Triple Crown award.

This was an exciting event, known as the Gathering, where Teddy got to meet up with some fellow hikers he had met, along with others and share their experiences and receive this prestigious award.  In case you were wondering, after almost 8000 miles under their feet by completing the three trails, they receive a beautiful plaque and poster of some of their most memorable moments and thoughts.  Although the kids and I were not able to accompany Scarecrow to watch him receive this award, we were there in spirit wtih just as much love, pride and support for him and his journey.

 Since his return home, that ended with News 12 arriving at our house CHECK IT OUT HERE to report his homecoming and achievement, he, along with his good friend Matt, have decided to go back on the CDT, but this time to ride it on a bike.  WHAT?! Yes, they will be "Riding the Divide" on bicycles for alittle over a month this summer.  Over the next few weeks leading up to their departure, I will post information about the trail, the trip and how it all got started.  But for today, I felt it was cool to share the first step in this journey these guys are about to embark on...  Matt and Ted took a  trip to Connecticut this morning so Ted could pick up his new bike for the trip!

So, exactly 2 years to the day - a new chapter has begun! Stay tuned for more information on "Matt and Ted's Excellent Adventure" as their story unfolds...

Glad to be back,
The Thruhiker's Wife

It's All Down Hill from Here

Today, Scarecrow checked in at the top of Gray's Peak - the highest point along the Continental Divide Trail.  This marks the second 14er that Scarecrow and Jabba have hiked up and over.  Earlier this week, he reached the top of Mt. Elbert, which is the HIGHEST of all the 14,000+ foot mountains in Colorado.  Hiking Mt. Elbert was a side trip they took, as it was not officially on the trail.  Gray's Peak is along the trail, in the Front Range, and is listed as the highest in this range.

Top of Gray's Peak, elevation 14,278 feet

Want to read about this mountain top? Click GRAY'S PEAK to learn more.  Scarecrow and Jabba will descend and continue North to Grand Lakes, and then onto Steamboat Springs.  I guess we can safely say, "It's ALL DOWN HILL FROM HERE."

Safe, happy trails you guys.

Until next time,

The Thruhiker's Wife

Climbing in Colorado...

After a false start back onto the trail due to a mudslide, Scarecrow made it back on by Wednesday, and caught up to Jabba a day or two later.  They are headed from Monarch Pass to Twin Lakes, with such beautiful scenery along the way.  Because Scarecrow has sketchy service, I am "borrowing" the photos you see here from Jabba's pictures.  You can look him up on Facebook if you want to see more at "The Real Hiking Viking".
During this leg of the hike, the hikers ventured off on a side trip to climb their first 14er.  Click HERE to see the entire list of 14,000+ foot mountains.  Mt. Elbert is the name of this beautiful, scenic land they are standing on.  Its elevation is 14,433 feet.

photo by The Real Hiking Viking

 This mountain is part of the Sawatch Range and is the highest elevation they will encounter while on on this hike.  They will also summit Gray's Peak, which is part of the Front Range, and noted as the highest point on the CDT, reaching a whopping 14,270 feet further up the trail.  As you can see, the view is breathtaking.  Thank you Jabba for including Scarecrow in your photo shoot.

photo by The Real Hiking Viking

photo by The Real Hiking Viking

Scarecrow and Jabba were accompanied by two of Jabba's friends for this climb, and were there to enjoy the view and some refreshments upon completion.

photo by The Real Hiking Viking

After speaking with Teddy, he said while he and the group were ascending, he got a chuckle over imagining me trying to hike this ~ he and I both know how THAT would have ended.  So, after this excursion was through, they headed into a town called Breckenridge for resupply.

I got to speak with Scarecrow today, and they are on the move again, rested and resupplied.  He is happy, healthy and full of life as he continues on his journey.  Please enjoy the next few photos of our favorite hiker, thanks to Jabba.  I tried to enlarge them as much as possible, some decided to hang off the page - I don't mind because the beauty and accomplishment in these photos is worth hanging out for :)

photo by The Real Hiking Viking

photo by The Real Hiking Viking

photo by The Real Hiking Viking

Still tracking Scarecrow's progress? Click where is Scarecrow now? to see his progress.
Happy Trails, Scarecrow.  Have fun, be safe, we love you. Olive Juice.

Until next time,
The Thruhiker's Wife

Successful Southbound Section

So, after many conversations with his fellow thruhikers, Scarecrow and the Warrior hikers rented a car and drove up to Wyoming, and began hiking South from the Great Basin Divide.  This idea of flip flopping can be confusing for the followers of this journey, but basically Scarecrow has to hike different sections of the trail out of order to avoid the harshest weather conditions and revisit the exact spot where he stepped off to finish that section once passable.

There was not much to report on this section of the walk, other than these beautiful shots of the LONG trail that seems to go on forever.

They were heading towards a town called Rawlins, Wyoming.  A interesting little story about how it got its name can be found here.  The hike down to this town required some road walking along the way.  As you can see, these roads are not what we are used to. Thankfully, Teddy had a phone signal and was able to call home several times and share his experiences with us.  I am so thankful he still sounds healthy, happy and excited to be on the CDT.  He has said this trail experience has been so different, as this time he is hiking with other thruhikers ~ for this I am grateful.

One of the hikers, Jabba, is blogging his experience, and I love reading it as he shares stories about Scarecrow that did not necessarily make it into our phone conversation.  You can check out his blog HERE

While in Rawlins, Teddy mentioned the hikers visiting the Frontier Prison.  You can read all about this interesting attraction here.  So after stopping in to this tourist attraction the hikers are heading back out onto the trail, rested and ready for the miles ahead.

Thank you Scarecrow, as we are all enjoying the pictures you have sent of this beautiful scenery and your new hiker buddies.  My wish for all of you is plenty of trail magic, good weather, and Happy Trails...

 My happy, hiker trash hubby also wanted me to thank each and every one of you who have sent kind words, wishes, pictures, well wishes, and treats along the way.

He is on a wonderful journey and is grateful and appreciative for all who follow him as he accomplishes his goal and fulfills an amazing dream of becoming a Triple Crown hiker.

As he contacts me with where he is heading next along the CDT, I will keep all of you posted.  It is a bit more difficult to track on a map where he is going due to the flip flopping.
 I will continue to post a link to his whereabouts for those of you who are following.  Where is Scarecrow now?

Until next time,

The Thruhikers Wife

Pictures from Pagosa Springs...

Hot Springs Resort, Pagosa Springs, Coorado

Hot Springs Resort

A last minute signal allowed Scarecrow to send a picture of two of where the hikers stayed overnight before their trip to Theresa Martinez' home further North in Colorado.  It looks like a beautiful place, and they all seemed to catch a little R & R before they left.

I want to say another huge THANK YOU to Theresa Martinez, from the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) who has been such a kind and generous trail angel to Scarecrow and the others.  Not only did she host them in her home overnight, but she is storing some of Scarecrow's winter items until they pass back through her town on their way back to the trail in Colorado.  Your love of the trail and helping the hikers' mission is amazing and I know from talking with Scarecrow, they appreciate it so much.

Click HERE a link to read about the CDTC and all of the amazing work that Theresa and others have done for the hikers on this trail.  If you are in excess of money and need a place to put some of it, or just want to donate to an amazing charity that has helped so many fulfill their dream on the CDT, you can go $$ here $$ and show your support.

Scarecrow has said he will be traveling up to the barren lands of Wyoming where there will probably not be a signal for about a week.  He is traveling up to a town called Wind River Range in Wyoming.  It is about 240 miles of barren waste land.  He is traveling with Jabba, NO2, Doc Rocket, Greyhound, Redneck and Col. Mustard.  He is hiking southbound beginning North of the Great Basin Divide.  Hopefully when I hear from him this weekend, he will have completed this section and has sent more pictures.
For Scarecrow's latest location, click here: where is Scarecrow now?
Until then,
The Thruhiker's Wife

Onward from the Scorching Desert towards the Snowy Mountains

Feeling full and rested, Scarecrow hiked out of town and saw some amazing terrain.

These pictures show exactly what I would imagine the desert is... hot, dry, rocky and absolutely beautiful.  Scarecrow is using his GPS and map books to navigate through the trail, and has over 800 miles behind him now.  Check out his progress here where is Scarecrow now?

lunch break in the desert

Teddy said some of this part of the trail he has to "road walk" which is taking a toll on his feet.  In his latest care package, I sent him another pair of shoes, his shoe spikes, an ice ax, heavier winter gloves, shirt and pants liners and of course, more snacks.  He is heading into cold, snowy weather and up into the San Juan Mountains... BRRRRR.

You can see here, that in just a few short days, he went from hot desert heat, to cold, chilly snow. He is now at higher elevations, looking freezing on Mount Taylor.  Just a bit of info on this location - Mount Taylor is a stratovolcano just Northeast of the town Grants, New Mexico.  What exactly does that mean?  It is the highest point of the San Mateo Mountains and the highest point in the Cibola National Forest.

He has experienced his first snow fall and said he is so thankful for his wool cap from Jagger that keeps him toasty warm during this section of the trail.

I am happy to see he is still smiling and when I spoke to him yesterday, he was in excellent spirits.  We ordered snow shoes for his upcoming trek into the mountains, and his hiking friend Jaba, was a huge help to us in doing this.  I got to speak with him on the phone about which shoes would be best - THANK YOU for your assistance, and your service.  Jaba is part of the Warrior Hike - you can check these men and their story out HERE.


Scarecrow is headed to Chama, New Mexico.  He will arrive there by Friday or Saturday to resupply, collect his packages, and get ready to close out the mileage in New Mexico and enter into Colorado.  For anyone who has asked, I am posting his next mail drop here.

Theodore "Scarecrow" Warren
General Delivery
PO 87520
Chama, New Mexico  87520

Many of you have sent notes and letters of encouragement, well wishes and even treats for him to enjoy.  EVERY SINGLE THING is so appreciated by Scarecrow.  A piece of home and thoughts from family and friends goes a LONG way.  THANK YOU.

doesn't look like summer is coming here...

Until next time,
The Thruhiker's Wife