Future Adventurers Sighted!

MattyRedrock has inspired his niece and nephew to step up and track their uncle's adventure.  Meet Jimmy and Kiera Flynn.  They are the children of Corinne's brother Sean and his wife Kathleen.  From the time they heard about what their uncle Matt was doing, they were excited and interested in following his story.  Look at what a great job they are doing tracking his progress: 

Kiera and Jimmy Flynn

Their mom Kathleen sent a text: "Jimmy and Kiera working on their map. We printed articles on Elk's Pass and Elk ford tonight.  They are really intrigued!"  And Aunt Corinne was also told, "Kiera gets to draw the lines in MT, Jimmy did Canada.  He is fascinated by the elevations that we are reading about and keeps converting things from meters to feet."

I know your Uncle Matt is so proud of what you are doing, and cannot wait to come home and share stories with you about his adventures with Scarecrow on the Continental Divide.  Maybe someday, you will take an adventure like this and we will be able to track you!!!

Grateful for your support and excitement,

Aunt Corinne & The Thruhiker's Wife

Welcome to the United States!

While everyone was celebrating Independence Day, these guys crossed the border into the United States! MattyRedrock has done an excellent job in communicating pictures, happenings and location to Corinne, so here is the latest!


They made it through Big Sky Country, Montana, where MattyRedrock sent this picture.  I cannot even begin to imagine how it feels to take in this kind of beauty daily.  This picture was taken on the way to Fernie, while taking a water break from a natural spring coming right out of the mountain.

Matt's text continued to say: "Scarecrow had a few mechanical issues that needed to be tended to, so we lost the first half of the day while his bike was in the shop.  We are in Eureka, Montana right now in a Conocco station mini mart."  The guys' plan is to take the back country trail the next day, and finally be off of the highway.  I am sure they are done riding next to the semi trucks traveling 80 mph next to them.    They were looking to make Tuchuck campground for the night and then push forward to Whitefish, Montana after that.  MattyRedrock did text that they had more grizzly activity, so let's hope it is from afar, and they are not looking to get up close and personal!!

Thanks to MattyRedrock's awesome pictures, we are able to see the beauty they are surrounded by.  Just keep pedaling, guys! We, at home, are so very proud of both of you and all that you have taken on with this journey!  SAFE and HAPPY trails to you both!  For our readers, here is their latest CHECKPOINT.

Until next time,

Corinne & The Thruhiker's Wife

Check ins from the guys...

Corinne and I have received calls/texts from the guys ~ they are safe, moving along, and enjoying the beautiful scenery in Canada.  They sound a little tired, but happy to be on this journey.

Matt texted Corinne with: "Had my first shower night in 3 days, met other riders on the trail, him and Scarecrow got to Elkford and ate an entire pizza in like 5 minutes... they saw 2 bear along the way, equipment is good, but sleeping quarters are cramped, and they are battling mosquitos and cold temperatures at night."

Teddy called today, saying pretty much the same ~ beautiful scenery, needs to get his bike checked out because of some noises in a few gears, and feeling this is very different for him than the hike.  He has always been used to his whole life being in one backpack on his back, but this trip he has several bike bags, and needs to get into a routine about packing/unpacking for maximum efficiency.  He said it has rained every day, so I am hoping they are headed into nicer weather soon.

Overall, they are doing great, averaging 30 - 40 miles daily.  You can click HERE to see where they last checked in. Just so you understand, they began at the beginning of the red line, but our trackleader link did not kick in until the mark where the black line begins.  Each night, as Scarecrow pushes the button on his SPOT DEVICE, it will update their location with coordinates.

As we receive pictures, we will upload them to share to all who are following.  On behalf of Scarecrow, MattyRedrock, Corinne, and myself, thank you to everyone who is following, supporting, praying and cheering on our guys during their Ride on the Divide.

If anyone is interested to see the documentary that shows exactly what our guys are doing, check it out HERE.  Enjoy!

Until next time,

Corinne & The Thruhiker's Wife

Finally Trackable!!!

After a few days of technical difficulty, the guys are up and trackable on the trackleaders.com website.  You can CLICK HERE to see the latest location of their check in.  I will provide this each time I blog so you can have it accessible!! THANK YOU everyone for your patience and support!



Until the next check in,
Corrine & The Thruhiker's Wife

Introducing their first Trail Angels...

Matt and Ted landed safely in Calgary, Canada around 7:30 pm (our time).  They were met by my cousins Gary and Mary Leskowitz, who were gracious enough to not only pick them up from the airport, but give them a place to eat, sleep and pack their bikes for the upcoming trip.  From the moment that they heard about what Teddy was doing, they were excited and ready to assist with whatever was needed to assure a smooth arrival into Canada.

Mary was so kind to take pictures of the guys getting ready.  They had to transport their bikes disassembled in boxes, so their first task was to put their bikes back together.  Looks like that chore was a success!

photo by Mary Leskowitz

photo by Mary Leskowitz

 The guys also needed to unpack and rearrange their belongings to fit in the bike bags ~ this was no easy task! You can just ask Corinne and myself about what packing day was like before they left.

photo by Mary Leskowitz

 Thank you to the Leskowitz family for the accommodating space and willingness to open your home to our husbands.  It is EXACTLY what they needed to be able to begin their journey on a positive note.

Looks like MattyRedrock is all packed up and ready to go! From the background, it looks like Scarecrow is NOT so ready ~ I hope you can get all of your stuff together Teddy!

photo by Mary Leskowitz

 After packing, the guys were invited to a BBQ, which I am sure they appreciated very much.  Home cooked food will be scarce for the next month, so I hope you were able to bulk up on some good eats before you left.

My cousins live in Calgary, about 10-15 minutes from the airport where the guys flew in.  The beginning of their ride begins in Banff National Park, about an hour and 25  minutes away from their home.  Thank God for the internet, because now everyone can see the route from Calgary to Banff by clicking HERE.  Scarecrow and I actually watched this a few weeks ago to get an idea of what he would be seeing.  Cool, right?

So, today, after what Scarecrow described as an awesome breakfast, Gary packed up their bikes onto his car, they said their goodbyes to our awesome family of trail angels, and were on their way to Banff.

photo by Mary Leskowitz

photo by Mary Leskowitz

You both look great! Smiling, thumbs up, and ready to go!  We all hope and pray you remain this happy, healthy and positive for the duration of your ride on the divide.  As the guys get on the trail, and begin their ride, you can  CLICK HERE TO TRACK THEM.  I will provide this link in every blog post, so don't worry about having to find it.  

Once again, a huge THANK YOU to Gary, Mary, Nathaniel and Noel Leskowitz for your generous hospitality and kindness.  Your family has helped these two begin their journey ~ all of you are amazing trail angels, and we appreciate all that you have done for Matt and Ted's Excellent Adventure!

With love, appreciation and gratitude,

Corinne & The Thruhiker's Wife

A Successful Sendoff

Scarecrow and MattyRedrock

The day has finally arrived ~ the beginning of an amazing journey for Scarecrow and MattyRedrock.  It began for us all at 5:00 am on Tuesday, when the Bernath family and the Warren family packed up the cars and headed to LaGuardia airport for their flight to Canada.  Although it was early, we were all very excited to see these two off on what will be an awesome journey for both of them.

rise and shine Warren family!

We left much earlier than necessary, to make sure we were not stuck in typical New York rush hour traffic ~ our decision was a wide one, as we made it to the airport in great time and were all able to sit, enjoy breakfast and take our last minute departure shots with the travelers.

our gourmet breakfast

 The staff of Air Canada was wonderful and extremely helpful in assisting Scarecrow and MattyRedrock with the bike check ins and flight information.  We got to sit and chat, go over itineraries, checklists, and their upcoming plans, before our final goodbyes.

MattyRedrock's support system

I have to say, although this is not Scarecrow's first time away, and certainly not his longest time away, we were just as excited and proud for him this morning sending him off.  The Bernath clan handled the whole departure like champs.  You would have never known this was the first sendoff ~ Corinne had all of the perfect camera angles and pics set up and ready to shoot before I could even think!  It was a great morning, full of positive energy, proud family, and excited cyclists ready to conquer the Great Divide.

proud family moment

Adios, amigos!

We shall wait to see and hear about their day in Calgary, and look forward to day 1 and beyond of their Ride the Divide adventure!
Safe travels and happy trails to you both!

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

Carole, There's Some Guy Here with a News Camera!

Upon arriving home, after some more hugs and cheers for Scarecrow, we let the dogs out to see if they would recognize Ted.

photo by Darien Maginn Photography

Of course, Zelda, our ditzy puppy, wagged her tail and licked him all over.  However, she does this to anyone, including strangers, so it was not helpful in gauging whether or not the dogs would recognize him.  Rubi sniffed and walked away, as she should have, as the "hiker funk" was still in his clothes.  It was not until he whistled to her as he had done for years that she realized it was her master.  I think they missed Teddy just as much as he missed them.

More friends and family gathered to greet our Triple Crown Hero, We ordered some pizzas, expecting to just hang out and hear about Scarecrow's adventures.  What we did not expect was for two guys to ring the doorbell with cameras in hand ready to interview Scarecrow about his latest accomplishment.  Ted called out, "Carole, there is some guy here with a news camera."  I went to the door, and was asked, "Are you Corinne?"  I thought they got my name wrong, but I found out that our dear friends, Matt and Corinne Bernath, who were expected to arrive shortly at the house, contacted channel news 12 days before to alert them of Scarecrow's homecoming.  They were excited to interview a local resident with a positive story.  If you haven't seen the clip that I flooded my facebook page with, you can  CLICK HERE to see it.  We are so proud of you Teddy.

I love this next picture, but I am still trying to decide if Teddy is asking for the play-by-play of life in our home while he was gone, or the kids are telling him about everything they weren't allowed to do while he was gone...

photo by Darien Maginn Photography

Either way, we are so happy to have Teddy back home safely, with this amazing goal accomplished.  He is now  "Mastic Man", thanks to News 12, and our Triple Crown Hiker who had a dream and then went out there and achieved it.

photo by Darien Maginn Photography

photo by Darien Maginn Photography

 OLIVE JUICE SCARECROW

photo by Darien Maginn Photography

As you heard in the news clip, Scarecrow's adventures are NOT over... he will revisit the CDT in the summer of 2016, only this time on a bike.  He, and our friend Matt Bernath, will "Ride the Divide" so stay tuned.  Since this news clip he has spoken to several groups of children about his adventures, so I will post those events here as well.

Proud of my Triple Crown Hiker Hubby,

The Thruhiker's Wife