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

Pretty Pictures of a Shrinking Scarecrow

taken by Scarecrow

It has been a week of updates from Scarecrow - he finished the piece of Wyoming, waiting for the terrain to clear a bit in Colorado.  He, along with the Warrior Hikers, took a ride back down to Colorado with Theresa Martinez from the CDTC to reconnect their steps and finish up the missed section.


Pictured, you can see Jabba, Scarecrow, Theresa, NO2 and Grayhound taking a break from what was surely an interesting car ride for all.

Jabba & Scarecrow looking like twins (minus the beard)

An early checkpoint once entering Colorado through the San Juan Mountains is Wolf Creek Pass, with an elevation of 10,857 feet.  The hikers will continue to head North, through Colorado and into Wyoming.  They are so thankful they conquered the piece of Wyoming that will have little or no water supply by the time they were "supposed to" be there without flip flopping.  When they finally reach the Great Basin Divide, they will be able to launch forward about 200 miles and continue up to their ultimate goal of Glacier National Park.  

Teddy finally stepped on a scale and has lost 23 pounds since his departure.  He is now just over 200 pounds and shrinking.  He has about 1200 miles under his feet, with about 1900 left to conquer.  He has separated from Jabba, who stepped off the trail for family obligations and hopefully will reconnect with Scarecrow when he returns back to the trail.  The other Warrior hikers are still together, I believe, but Scarecrow has been on his own for a few days now.  He is cranking out the miles, heading North through Colorado eventually ending up in a town called Twin Lakes this past weekend.

 There was not much to report along the way, other than a resupply and some beautiful pictures sent of the amazing scenes he walked through on his way North.  He definitely needed an ice ax, his shoe spikes and winter gear to get through those snowy mountains.  Thankfully there are miles of no snow as you can see.

Unfortunately, there is a bit of a delay from when these pictures are taken and when I actually get to speak to him about them, so information is limited.  My instructions were to make sure he was in the pictures he is taking, so we can see how he is making out.  Great job, Teddy - you look great and the scenery is amazing.

Teddy took this picture of a fellow hiker to show us the terrain and how vast the snowy land is.  I do not think he shared with me who it actually was.

 So, as Teddy heads North through Colorado, the kids and I know the time we will meet up with him is getting closer.  While in the town of Twin Lakes over the weekend, we were able to solidify plans for our reunion.  We are so excited because Scarecrow will hike into Monarch Pass, and be transported to the Denver area, and fly out to Washington to see us on the 4th.  That is just under a week from now - we all cannot wait.  Scarecrow will enjoy some much needed family time with our family trail angels, the Christman Family, and be back out on the trail within a week.  Hopefully, he will be rejuvenated, full, rested, and ready to attack the rest of the CDT.

I want to give a quick shout out to the creator/programmer of the trackleaders.com program Scarecrow is using to check in -  Teddy told me he met you while in Twin Lakes.  Thank you for all you have done to allow families to follow along while their loved ones are hiking.  The real version of this shout out is: thank you for allowing me keep track of my husband and make sure he is not really in the Bahamas sipping Coronas with his buddies.  All joking aside, it is amazing that our supportive family and friends can click on a link such as where is Scarecrow? and be able to see his progress and follow along.  It is so appreciated and I am grateful for all of your hard work.

Scarecrow also wanted me to again, thank each and every one of you who have shown and spoken their support in such an amazing endeavor that he is undertaking.  I share with him all of your messages, posts, phone calls, and actions which mean so much to our family.  We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful family and friends who are so supportive of Scarecrow's dream of becoming a Triple Crown Hiker, as well as his family as we root for his success across the finish line.  THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU.

taken by Scarecrow

Until Next Time,
The Thruhiker's Wife

Split Second Check-in

Scarecrow checks in - he is doing great and having a blast.  He arrived in Pie Town over the weekend and was able to check in with the land line phone at the general store.  The cell signals are non-existent so the woman was gracious enough to let us chat for a few moments on Saturday.  Scarecrow said he will be able to talk for longer and send some pictures on Monday.  We cannot wait to hear all about his latest adventures.  Here is the link if you are tracking his progress.

where is Scarecrow NOW?

Below, I will also post another mail drop address for those of you WHO HAVE ASKED. He will be stopping in at the post office in Chama, New Mexico on or about the 20th of May.

via Google images

I am mailing him his winter gear, such as his ice ax, chains for his shoes, another pair of shoes, wool socks, his running pants to be used as an extra layer... sounds strange to need all of these things as we approach the warmer weather, but it is when he will begin his experiences with windy, snowy weather.  Crazy, right?  Some of you have already said you have what you want to send... others have asked what could you send.  Safest bet would be a note of encouragement and well wishes, and if you feel crazy enough, a few snicker bars, reese's peanut butter cups,  or peanut M&Ms.  All of these things are a treat for Scarecrow as he moves along the trail.  Again, nothing expected or required, but always appreciated.  Thank you to those of you who have reached out and wanted to be a trail angel for Scarecrow.

Teddy "Scarecrow" Warren
CDT Thruhiker
General Delivery
PO 87520
Chama, New Mexico  87520

Until next time,
The Thruhiker's Wife

Beginnings and a birthday!

Okay, so after days of not hearing from Teddy, he finally made it into a town over the weekend and was able to send some pictures.  I will post them in order of how he encountered the trail.  The long-awaited pose at the monument fills me with such pride - it is this one and the final monument pose that will make this whole journey complete.  The southern most point on the trail is marked by the monument, including the coordinates of where he is located.  He is looking happy and determined.

The picture of him at the border is quite interesting.  There is only a broken, chain linked fence separating New Mexico from Mexico.  As you can see, he is putting his foot through the fence to touch both sides.  What a difference from the huge wall that was bordering Mexico and California back on the Pacific Crest Trail.  That wall was so high.  I posted a picture above and to the right to show the difference.  The wall behind Teddy in that photo was the border.  This one appears to not be a restraint for anyone, however, Teddy said there was a high presence of border patrol in the area, because drug smuggling is a big issue here.  Regardless of the wall height, as you can see, Scarecrow is just as excited to move North on this trail as he was back in 2011 on the PCT.

As previously mentioned, Teddy said the desert was dry and filled with sharp things.  The bushes and sharp branches are protruding everywhere and it looks like that for miles and miles. When I asked where the trail actually was, Teddy told me there really isn't a worn trail because of the dry weather conditions.  Even if there is foot traffic, after a rainfall, the tracks disappear.  He has to rely heavily on his GPS Garmin to keep him on track.

no shade here

beautiful desert sky

not so beautiful desert floor

Although the desert sky is beautiful and not littered with pollution, the desert floor was scattered with remains of wildlife, as well as some critters larger than I have ever seen.  At first I thought this was a frog, and was so grossed out.   

fat and happy spiky lizard

So, without a beaten trail, signs became important.  Teddy said these are posted along the way to keep hikers on track, as well as little medallions on the railings, etc. to indicate you are going the right way. 

 If you remember back to his PCT hike, Teddy's selfies became quite impressive as the trail went on.  We also got to see the progression of his facial hair as time went on.  Below, you will find the first official "selfie" of the CDT.  Still clean shaven and smiling bright - I look forward to seeing Scarecrow's transformation over the next 5 months.

first selfie of the CDT

 The desert would not be complete without a snapshot of the first rattle snake greeting Teddy on the trail.  There was not a scary story to go along with this photo, although I would have been scared to death seeing it up close.

Scarecrow began the trail on the 17th, and met two guys named Hikeaholic and Ducky, who are also hiking Northbound seeking to complete the CDT as thruhikers.  The first town stop was 80 miles from the monument, so they have been together for that first stretch of the trail.  They found out it was Teddy's birthday on Tuesday, and when he went out to retrieve something from his room , he returned to find a delicious birthday cake waiting for him - topped with candles marking his 45th birthday.  Boy was that a nice treat for him... THANK YOU to hikeaholic and Ducky for helping Scarecrow celebrate.

Happy Birthday Scarecrow!

Scarecrow took a zero day in town, packaged up his next few stops of food supply, caught up on emails, texts and facebook posts, and had a restful, comfortable night's sleep before heading out Wednesday morning for his next 4 to 5 day walk until the next town.  If you would like to see where he is now, click on this link:  where is Scarecrow now?

Teddy did want me to mention, this map link shows the crow's flight of where he is walking.  The mileage posted is for that straight line, not the actual mileage of his daily hiking.  I will try to keep an accurate record of his actual mileage.

For those of you who asked, the next town Teddy can receive mail/packages is listed below.  He will be arriving there around May 3-4th.  If you are interested in sending a note of encouragement, a card, or a package of treats, please label your mail as listed below:

TEDDY "SCARECROW" WARREN

GENERAL DELIVERY

PO 87827

PIE TOWN, NEW MEXICO  87827

Of course, none of this is expected or required, but appreciated greatly.  Thank you to those of you who have inquired about this. 

Until next time,

The Thruhiker's Wife

As the links disappear, the ending becomes clear...

"We cannot destroy kindred: our chains stretch a little sometimes, but they never break." ~ Marquise de Se'vigne'

Easter 2014

A perfect ending to a very busy day.  Our Easter morning began with 9:00 mass, followed by a wonderful breakfast with family at the house.  My brothers and mother joined us for a delicious meal and gifts of candy and treats in clever baskets - thank you Uncles and Grammie.  We attended a family BBQ at the park and heard from Scarecrow for the first time.  He is safe, and moving along.  It seems like weeks since we left him at the airport, and yet it has only been 5 days.  I decided to revive a project I had done with Dakota while Teddy was on the Appalachian Trail back in 2001.  Dakota was only 3 while he was away, so we created a paper chain with each link representing each day he was gone.  We would remove a link every day until there were none - this is when Scarecrow would be home.

Today, when we arrived home, the three of us created a new paper chain.  We chose different colors to represent each month he would be away.

The thought that it has only been 5 days and it has felt like weeks was a bit overwhelming for all of us.  To try and organize and condense this huge amount of time is exactly what we needed to put things into perspective.  So after careful selection by Dakota, choosing colors significant to the seasons or specific things Teddy will miss, here are the final choices we made.

We cut strips thin enough to staple together, but wide enough to write on.  Thanks to my friend Brenda, who came up with the idea, we will write our highs/lows for each day on these strips.

For anyone who knows us, it is a ritual we do at dinner time.  We all go around the table and say what our high was for the day and what our low was for the day.  This is a way for the kids to be able to share their thoughts with Daddy when he comes back home.  He will have insight into what was happening while he was away, and the kids won't fear forgetting to share stuff when he calls home.  We were all on board with the idea and could not wait to get started.  At first, I was not sure if this would fly assuming the kids would think it was too childish - I was taught otherwise.  One is never too old to make a paper chain, too old to anticipate an event, or too old to share their thoughts and feelings with loved ones near and far.  So off we went and began our creation.

Dakota was a trooper and cut out 145 strips of paper, each the exact amount for the days in the months of April, May, June, July, August and 12 days in September.  Scarecrow's estimated completion date is the 10th but we wanted to continue the chain until Jagger's birthday on the 12th, when he will turn 12.  Jagger helped me staple these links together and within minutes, a beautiful, but very long paper chain was created.

 
So, as you can see, Dakota is holding the end that represents April, and as the colors change, so do the months.  We end in September, on Jagger's end, with him holding the link that represents his birthday and the day Scarecrow will be home.  Honestly, with this representation of the days we will be without Teddy, it doesn't seem as long now.  The kids have pointed out different milestones to look forward to as well... once the yellow links are gone, summer vacation begins.  We will visit with Teddy in the middle of the teal chain.  A new school year will begin at the red chain.  Daddy will be home in 145 links.

Where did we hang this beautiful piece of artwork? Where we can see it and take a link from it daily. We took the first link off tonight after dinner, each wrote our high/low for the day and will store these thoughts and memories in a treasure box for Teddy to read when he gets home.

I am so proud of my children.  That was my high for today.  The strength, support and love they display overwhelms me.  I honestly believe they are what fuels my strength and allows me to be as supportive as I am for my husband.  So, this post is dedicated to my amazing children... may there always be happy memories, positive goals, beautiful dreams and paper chains in your lives.  I love you both to the moon and back.

Truly blessed and grateful,

The Thruhiker's Wife

Finally, a phone call from Scarecrow!

 So, after 4 days, Scarecrow finally was in an area where he had a signal to call home.  

via Google images

He was so anxious to share the conditions in which he is hiking.  The beginning of this trail is in a desert, filled with everything sharp.  Teddy said he is shuffling through brush that is sticking and scratching up his legs, with some branches even piercing through his shoe and sock onto his foot.  It has been bright and sunny, and extremely hot.  A fellow hiker's watch read 109 degrees yesterday.  Scarecrow forgot to pack sunblock, so he said he is burnt and red like a tomato.  Can't wait for those pics.  The signal for his phone has been sketchy, so he will not be able to send photos until tomorrow, when he arrives in town for resupply.  Until then, he has said this is the most difficult hiking he has ever encountered.  He is definitely being challenged by this rigorous trail.

via Google images on shutterstock.com

I told him we are all enjoying tracking his progress so he should not forget to check in with the SPOT at the end of each day.  I caught him up on all of our happenings over the past few days, and will be able to speak to him tomorrow.  He did say I can pass along his cell number for anyone who wants to text/call with well wishes along his trip.  631.569.6013  If he does not answer or it goes to voice mail, leave a message or try again another time.  He keeps his phone off while he is hiking to preserve the battery life.  You can also just click on the link here where is Scarecrow? to see his progress.  I will try to remember to provide this link daily so you can track him easily.

I can breathe easier now, knowing he is happy, healthy and well on his way to the triple crown achievement.

Until next time,

The Thruhiker's Wife

Scarecrow's "Ruby Red Slippers"

In the mean time, I would like to continue thanking the generous family and friends who have helped Scarecrow get on his way.  A successful hike would not be complete without a good solid pair, or 6 pair, of hiking shoes.  Teddy purchased several different pair to have on this trip, depending on the terrain and weather he will be in.  The first pair he is wearing was purchased with the help of a generous gift card to REI from the Gemelli family.

John, Chrissy, JP & Joey Gemelli

Chrissy is Teddy's cousin on the Warren side of the family.  She, along with her husband and two awesome boys have shown their love and support throughout Scarecrow's adventures.  They too, are an adventurous family and we have had the pleasure of traveling with them several times, whether it be skiing in New Hampshire or roller coasters in Virginia.  They always attend our get togethers, birthday parties and family gatherings in the midst of their busy schedules with sports, etc.

We appreciate your love and support throughout Teddy's travels and he is very happy and comfortable in his new hiking shoes.  Hopefully they will bring him hundreds of miles of cushion, comfort and guidance.  Now, if only they could help him send pictures my way...


With much love and thanks,

The Thruhiker's Wife

Day 1 on the trail...

via Google images

I am happy to report Scarecrow is moving along the trail, but unfortunately has not mastered sending me pictures yet.  I am happy we invested in the SPOT locator, as it is my only confirmation that Teddy is safely moving up the trail.  He called yesterday in the morning, while he was being shuttled to the Crazy Cook monument where the trail begins, and that is the last time we have actually spoken.  I received a notification that he was beginning the trail and I have received his SPOT check in at the end of the day to say he is safely where he is going to camp. I can only assume there is minimal service where he is, and hopefully he will send his first pictures soon.
You can follow his progress by clicking on where is Scarecrow?

If you want to see the map of where he is, click here
A map of Scarecrow's check ins...

Until next time,

The Thruhiker's Wife

"A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others." - Wizard of Oz

Well, there is no love quite like the love shared by Scarecrow and his daughter, Dakota... Actually, that is how Teddy chose his trail name.  Back in 2001, during the time he was getting ready to hike the Appalachian Trail, our daughter Dakota was 3 1/2 years old and OBSESSED with the movie "Wizard of Oz."  She would always want us to call her Dorothy and Teddy would act like Scarecrow.  I have to mention, I agree for the most part on his character choice.  The love he has in his heart for his family would disqualify him as Tin Man and just for the fact he chose to live his dream and hike in the woods takes a whole lot of courage, canceling out the Cowardly Lion.  He acts a bit dopey sometimes, but Scarecrow is Dorothy's favorite, as indicated in the final farewell of Dorothy leaving Oz.  She tells Scarecrow, "I think I'll miss you most of all."  As Teddy stepped away from us back in April of 2001, his identity of Scarecrow was born.

Even back then, Dakota was extremely supportive of her dad's wish to thruhike.  We sent him pictures and letters and even met him as he came through Pennsylvania.

Appalachian Trail 2001

This picture was taken by Jamie Pentzel when we went to surprise Scarecrow during his trip.  Back then, we made a paper link chain attaching rings for every day he was gone.  We would take a link down every day so she could see the progress and when the chain was empty, her daddy would be back home.

It has been 13 years since that day, and as his third hike approaches, Dakota is just as supportive and way more involved in her dad's love of hiking.  Back in 2012, the two of them actually hiked for a few days on the Appalachian Trail and had a great time.  The amount of pride I feel for not only for my husband as he continues to achieve these amazing goals,  but for Dakota as she grows into this amazing young woman with her father's sense of advenuture and ability to go after her dreams, is immeasurable.   I have no doubt there will be thruhiker status in her future.

Appalachian Trail 2012

Dakota wanted to get her Dad his new cook pot for the trip.  She was very excited to make this purchase on her own to contribute to something so important  for Scarecrow's trip.  Eating meals is for staying strong and healthy as you live your life.  Every day, Scarecrow will use that cook pot.  Dakota will now be linked to that mission: she too will stay strong and healthy as she lives her life... a beautiful life of health, laughter, love and support for her first love, Scarecrow.

Dakota, you continue to amaze Daddy and I with your beautiful spirit, support of others and love of life.  Our wish for you is to always remain that way, because you will have a lifetime impact on anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting you, just like Daddy and I. Love you.

Blessed beyond belief,

The Thruhiker's Wife