Matt wanted to take the family to Mountain Crossing Outfitters where he ended his training the year before with Craig Miles. I was a beautiful day as we sound our way up the mountain. The place was packed with the hikers that had started off just a few days before. A lot of them were having a gear shakedown; gearing them of things that they will not need and choosing gear that better suited for them on there hike. The store also had a group of bikers that were converging for a rally at the Outfitters leaving very little room to look. I ended up hanging around outside an just listening to the hikers that were staying the night at the Hostel and learning about the Boot Tree in front of the store. It seems that when your boots wear out after you complete the AT you can throw your shoes into the tree.
Afterwards we headed back to town and located a grocery store, and filled Matt's food bag and hung put at the hotel. The next morning we dropped Matt off at State park with a fine rain falling. It was a hard parting, full of smile and laughter and talk when we would see each other next. We were getting a late start because no one wanted to part. But at last we said our goodbyes and Matt started the trail up the Falls and we headed back home.
About 2 and a half hours later I get a phone call from Matt's parents telling me that he had left his phone in the car. Sure enough the I located the phone under the driver's seat with the volume off. Matt called again shortly on another hikers phone and we decided to mail it on Monday to Mountain Crossings and he could pick it up when he arrives on Wednesday.
Afterwards we headed back to town and located a grocery store, and filled Matt's food bag and hung put at the hotel. The next morning we dropped Matt off at State park with a fine rain falling. It was a hard parting, full of smile and laughter and talk when we would see each other next. We were getting a late start because no one wanted to part. But at last we said our goodbyes and Matt started the trail up the Falls and we headed back home.
About 2 and a half hours later I get a phone call from Matt's parents telling me that he had left his phone in the car. Sure enough the I located the phone under the driver's seat with the volume off. Matt called again shortly on another hikers phone and we decided to mail it on Monday to Mountain Crossings and he could pick it up when he arrives on Wednesday.