Scarecrow's Triple Crown Homecoming!

photo by Darien Maginn Photography

It has been almost a month since Scarecrow arrived home to his family and friends.  It has been a whirlwind to say the least.  Let me rewind and share with you some of the highlights and happenings of Scarecrow since his completion of the CDT on September 23rd... the day he became a Triple Crown Hiker.

To arrive home to us from the finish line, Scarecrow had to travel from Canada back into the United States, via a hitch from a couple named David and Melissa D'Angelo.   I had shared an email they sent on September 24t.  I will repost this from an earlier entry:
An email entitled "Greetings from a Scarecrow Hitch" came through today:

Hi,

I wanted to let you know my wife and I had the pleasure of picking up Teddy this afternoon just south of the US/Canada border. Please wish him once again our congrats on having just completed the Triple Crown. While he may have been stinky on the exterior, it was quite clear he's awesome on the inside. We had a great opportunity to talk before dropping him off in East Glacier. It was fun to hear about his adventures. We hope that when you and your family get to visit Glacier, that you'll enjoy it as much as my wife and I have.

Wishing you all the best,

David & Melissa D'Angelo

PS: Once I get the photos off the camera, I'll send you a photo from an overlook we took while driving with Teddy to East Glacier.

THANK YOU again to David and Melissa,  and thank you for getting Teddy safely to his destination.

Once back in the United States, in the town of East Glacier, Montana, he would catch a train in the Amtrak Station to Spokane, Washington.  This train would arrive at 3:45 a.m. where our family trail angels, Willie and Mary Ruthkowski, would pick him up and bring him to their house about 45 minutes away.  While enjoying comfort of family, Teddy got to rest, visit with two amazing people and have the best waffles he had ever eaten.  As a matter of fact, a waffle iron is now on our purchase list because of Aunt Mary's recipe.  

Scarecrow visits with the Ruthkowski trail angels

After a few hours of catching up on Scarecrow's adventure, it was time to be driven to the Spokane airport for a flight to Denver, Colorado to begin his journey back across the country to New York.  A huge thank you goes out to Aunt Mary and Uncle Willie for the pick up and drop off from teh Amtrak and airport, along with the meal, company, love and support you continue to show me and my family.

After a safe flight to Denver, Scarecrow stayed in a local motel overnight in anticipation of his early morning flight (6:00 a.m.) to New York, via a layover in Maryland.  I am sure he was just as anxious as his family to get home after all of that traveling.

While Teddy was plane hopping on Southwest Airlines, some of his biggest supporters gathered at the airport to greet him as he arrived.  We were all excited and nervous to see Teddy.  I also was lucky enough to have Darien Maginn there with us to capture the anticipation, happiness, excitement, love and support that was waiting for Teddy as he disembarked the plane.  She, as most of you know, is the amazing photographer who joined us for Teddy's last homecoming from his PCT adventure.  Thank you so much for your fantastic work and for capturing these very important, exciting memories for me and my family.

Cathy, the kids and I made posters to greet Scarecrow - I was happy to have something to hold onto as I awaited the sight of Teddy turning the corner.  As we waited, with each person exiting the plane and walking through the gate, my heart began beating faster and faster.  He was basically the LAST one to come through the gate to greet us, but as soon as we had a glimpse of his tall, thin frame coming around the corner, excitement was everywhere.

photo by Darien Maginn Photography

We were clapping, waving, and I was crying of course.  Pride, relief, happiness, joy and love filled the airport for Scarecrow as he turned the corner and came through the door, walking stick in hand.  He looked so much thinner, and much hairier than when we saw him last!! It's a DONE DEAL - he left on his journey and returned a TRIPLE CROWN HIKER.

photo by Darien Maginn Photography

As anxious as everyone was to see Teddy and congratulate him, the kids and I were able to give a first round of hugs and present him with our own version of the crown he has worked so hard to achieve.

photo by Darien Maginn Photography

photo by Darien Maginn Photography

 

photo by Darien Maginn Photography

We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family in our lives, celebrating these amazing moments with us, being there with and for us, and sharing in our joy and happiness as we cheer Scarecrow on towards his goal.

photo by Darien Maginn Photography

Thank you to everyone who came to the airport to greet Scarecrow as he arrived home.  And thank you Darien Maginn, for capturing these moments - you were right on point with his homecoming AGAIN.  I loved putting together this comparison of your amazing work from the last two trails.

photos by Darien Maginn Photography

We were headed home to begin our homecoming celebration.  

Grateful and appreciative for the support,

The Thruhiker's Wife

Trail Angel Texts :)

Three amazing check ins have made my day! I received a call from Teddy this morning - he sounds great and is happy to report that he has only 366 miles left until he reaches the finish line.  His estimated finish date is Septemeber 25th.  I cannot believe the end is near.  We are so proud of you Scarecrow.

I received two separate emails from people who have run into Scarecrow over the past week and I am lucky enough to be able to thank them both for the photos they sent.

photo by Brenda Nordlund

Hello,
I live in Helena Montana.  This evening I was on a moonlight group hike (the clouds did not cooperate) on the CDT when our group ran into your husband and his hiking companion.  We advised them of the changing weather - much colder and snow in the mountains in the next day or two.  An offer of a ride to town was extended if they wanted to hold up til the weather passed but they declined. They had another sixty six miles or so to get to Lincoln, MT a small town down/over the road.
It was a treat to meet such accomplished hikers.  We wished them well in the rest of their journey.  It was delightful to meet them!
I hope you enjoy the photo.
Best regards,
Brenda

This picture is of Scarecrow (looking pretty scary, I might add) and Medic.  They have been hiking together for several hundred miles and have been great keeping each other on track pushing 30+ miles daily.  Way to go guys.  Thank you Brenda for sharing this awesome picture of our hiker guys to share with family and friends who miss them.

photo by Geri & Christine Stocker

Dear Thruhiker's Wife,

We met these two great hikers on Chief Joseph Pass a few days ago and took them down to the Sula store. What a wonderful encounter! (One of many in our US-travels...). We thought you might like the picture. And of course we wish them  all the best for the remaining portion.

All the best from two Swiss car-travellers (currently still in the US)

Geri & Christine Stocker

Oberlaenderstrasse 40
CH-4132 Muttenz
Switzerland

Thank you to Geri & Christine from Switzerland for sending me a Scarecrow check-in.  We all enjoy the pictures you send of our hiker that is coming home soon.

THANK YOU and God Bless all the trail angels and kind people who are traveling out there along the trail who have helped, inspired and have shown their kindness and generosity to the hikers on the CDT.

Where is Scarecrow now? Click HERE

Counting down the days,

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

Hungry Hikers...

This is another picture from the day Scarecrow went golfing on Mother's Day.  He said it was so windy, and as you can see Hikeaholic looks like he is getting swept away into the wind along with Jaba's beard.  Doc Rocket looks calm, and Scarecrow is trying to fight the wind to take the picture.  A fun, great time was had by all.

When Scarecrow and Hikeaholic hiked out the next day, they stopped at the local pizza hut, hungry for some lunch... I think they may have forced the place to rethink the "All you can eat" part of the buffet, as they killed the whole counter of food.

I also asked Scarecrow to send more selfies, so we can see how HE is doing along the way.  He found the perfect place to take his latest selfie before leaving the town.

I am glad you had a few zero days to rest, play, regroup and refuel.  I want to give a big shout out to my good friend and one of Scarecrow's latest trail angels, Lisa Noto, who sent Scarecrow a package of Snickers - what a great surprise for him.  He is so grateful and appreciative for the thoughts and treats.  THANK YOU.  As Scarecrow leaves Grants and heads onward to Cuba, New Mexico, he is preparing for his first snow encounters.  Over the next few days, he was able to send me pictures of how his days were unfolding.  Hopefully, it will not be too unbearable for him.  Don't worry, Scarecrow - I mailed out your sleeping bag liner, gloves and some more treats.  Hurry on to Cuba so you can receive them and stay warm.  Happy Trails, love...

Until next time,
The Thruhiker's Wife

            

Definitely NOT a Pack Rat

So, what exactly do you pack for a walk that is 3,100 miles long? Months of research have gone into choosing exactly what Scarecrow will need to survive while on the CDT.  His main concern is weight.  He has chosen light weight items that will keep him warm in the cold and comfortable for the duration of this walk that is the equivalent of traveling from New York City to California on foot.  Thanks to the generosity of Mike and Angela Arasa, and their sons, Kelly and Steven, he has a brand new backpack that will hold everything he will need for his journey.  They even ordered a custom patch "SCARECROW" which totally sealed the deal on its awesomeness.

 Teddy has known Mike and Angela since their high school days. They share a love of the same music and for awhile, I only knew of them as the couple that Teddy went to concerts with.
Teddy always has wonderful things to share about their friendship and their experiences, ranging from one of his top favorites being back stage passes to the Van Halen show, to the not so elaborate Lita Ford concert at the Marquis.  They also share a love for the NY Rangers and we have had the pleasure of attending a game recently and had a wonderful time.  Angela, being an Islander fan, was a great sport and a good time was had by all.  Teddy and I love spending time with you both and are thrilled to have you on board through this experience.

Mike and Angela have been so excited and supportive of Scarecrow's adventures and we are so appreciative of their presence in our lives.  Every time Teddy opens his pack (which is several times a day) he will remember your generous wonderful wishes and be reminded of both of you as he treks over 3,100 miles.  This gift was probably one of the most important pieces of equipment he needed and we are so grateful you provided him with it.  My favorite part is the patch you had custom made to read "SCARECROW".  The thought you both put into it was truly touching.  I also want to personally thank Mike for helping me set up my iPad to make this blogging easier - your tech savvy advice is much appreciated.

We are blessed with so many wonderful generous people surrounding us - we feel so grateful and thankful.

Until next time,
The Thruhiker's Wife

Which Way Did He go??

"Pardon me, this way is a nice way." - Scarecrow, Wizard of Oz

via google images

Some of you may have received an email yesterday alerting you that Scarecrow will be carrying a tracking device called THE SPOT.  I am providing you with the link so that if you want, you can click on and see on a map exactly where he is while on the CDT.  Copy and paste the following link into a search window, and it will take you to his shared page titled, "Follow the Yellow Brick Trail" where you will see several things.

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0Z3qtq5pNoShpbRVq41EV2URqSkrKFm9i

Once there, on the left are the check-ins from his device that he named "Dorothy" that will have time, his coordinates and a message stating he is done for the day.  The right side should display a google map of his location.  Pretty cool, heh?!

**ALSO, if you go to trackleaders.com and click on "plus 5 trail trackers" and then scroll down to Continental Divide Trail and click, it will take you to a map screen.  FIND SCARECROW'S NAME ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE - CLICK AND YOU CAN TRACK HIS SPEED, LOCATION, AND OTHER TRAVEL INFORMATION.  So excited to be able to share this experience with all of you...

More information to follow as we work all of the tech stuff out.  Thank you to all for your support!

Until next time,

The Thruhiker's Wife

Ready for my close up!

Well, we are down to a week left before Scarecrow departs... over the next few days we want to recognize just a few of the many generous people who have been so supportive to Teddy as his dream unfolds into reality.  With the Continental Divide being the most rigorous of the three trails, Scarecrow wanted to upgrade a lot of his equipment to meet the heightened challenges he may face.  He also wanted to make sure he had the best camera to capture the amazing terrain he will be exploring while away.  He decided after much research that the Olympus Stylus TG-2 Tough was what he would take with him.  He picked this camera up with some help from a generous donation from our dear friends, Derrick and Pattie Grieco.

I have known Pattie and Derrick for 35+ years.  We grew up together and consider each other family. So, when Teddy and I began our life together, they welcomed him as their family as well.  We have experienced so many wonderful things together in our lives and we value your friendship and support so deeply.  From the very first trip on the Appalachian Trail to present day, the two of you have shown your love and support and have remained a huge part of this experience.  You both emulate a love of life, adventure and support of family that we are blessed to be a part of.

Scarecrow is walking through some of the most beautiful parts of the country and will be able to capture this with the camera that you helped him purchase.  He will indeed think of you both each and every time he takes a picture while on his journey.  Thank you both again for your generosity, love and support - it truly does mean the world to us both! We love you guys! xoxo

Until next time,
The Thruhiker's Wife

Wait, why is he doing this?

Many thought Teddy was (and still is) crazy for wanting to "walk and live in the woods" for months at a time.  Back in 2001, Teddy walked the Appalachian Trail, which was 2,175 miles along the East coast, in one long, 4 1/2 month journey.  This opened his eyes and heart to the other two trails in the United States that hikers usually move on to complete.  For 10 years, he planned his Pacific Crest Trail journey, which spanned 2,650 miles on the West coast.  This too, was completed and there was no question that he would move on to complete the third and most difficult trail, the Continental Divide Trail, which spans 3,100 miles through the mid western parts of the U.S.

So many people have asked, "So, what will you get when you are done?"  There are several answers to this question.  Ted will have a major sense of accomplishment and hopefully pride for the achievement of the goals he set for himself.  He will receive the love and support of his family and friends because that is what we do.  And, he will receive recognition from an organization known as ALDHA - West, or the American Long Distance Hiking Association.  Here are some facts I found:

- total length of all three trails is about 7,900 miles
- vertical gain is more than 1,000,000 feet
- a total of 22 states are visited when all three trails are completed
- The American Long Distance Hiking Association - West is the only organization that recognizes this hiking feat.  At the ALDHA -West Gathering, held each fall, the Triple Crown Honorees are recognized and awarded plaques noting their achievement.
-As of October 2012, there have been 174 hikers awarded this honor of Triple Crowner

Yeah, so some may say, "Only a plaque?" For Scarecrow, it's so much more.  He will have a sense of achievement.  He will have clarity.  He will have one of the greatest accomplishments of his life.

We are routing for you Scarecrow, and we have a place all set and ready for your plaque!

Until next time,

The Thruhiker's Wife