The Appalachian Teacher

Presentation

2009-11-03T19:28:00.003-05:00

Thursday November 5th at 7pm, Mr. DeVoe will be presenting his 2009 Thru-hike in his classroom at Groton Middle/High School in room 302. It will also be available live at http://grotonsciencegeek.blogspot.com

News

2009-08-26T13:31:00.003-04:00

The Syracuse Post-Standard and Motion-X cover the Groton Appalachian Trail Project.

The Groton Appalachian Trail Project raised over $400 for Groton High School's environmental science club, "Generation - Z" and $163 for the Nature Conservancy. Thanks to everyone that donated.

What a Journey!

2009-08-05T19:14:00.007-04:00

After Courtney came for a weekend we said our goodbyes to Lucy and entered the homestretch of the Appalachian Trail. Maine is truly a magical place. We hiked through moss and lichen-covered forests with majestical old-growth pines. We hiked past lakes without one house on the shore and heard the eery cry of the loon on numerous occasions. After picking up our last mail drop in the cool little town of Monson, we entered the "100 mile wilderness". We got dropped off at the trailhead by a guy in a pickup that reminded me of the scene in "Into The Wild" when Chris gets dropped off in Alaska. The sign serves as a warning to those inadequately prepared, however, the irony here is that if you truly are carrying the weight of 10 day's worth of food to satisfy your thru-hiker appetite, there is no way you're going to make it all the way through. We did it in 4.5 days. The first half was a bit challenging and we didn't cover as many miles as we would have liked. There were a couple decent climbs and several rivers that we had to ford, the deepest being about waist-deep.The area wasn't as remote as I thought it would be. Over the years, logging roads have provided access for people so it is no longer essential to start at the beginning. I though we would only see other long-distance hikers but we saw many day hikers and boy scout groups. About 3/4 of the way through we got our first glimpse of Mt. Katahdin from the shore of a lake. The end looked so near, but in typical AT fashion, the trail took the circuitious route as it meandered through the woods for another 30 miles or so to the base of the mountain. Mt. Katahdin was like no other mountain I've ever climbed. For the first 1/3 of the way up the mountain it looked as if it were going to rain any second. People were actually coming down because they went part way up and turned around because it was windy and cloudy with no view. We kept truckin' though. Getting a picture at the end was imperative. As soon as we reached the treeline it began to clear up and eventually the sun even came out. After treeline we still had a 2 1/2 mile hike to the summit. We had great visibility at the top. They say Katahdin is a great way to finish the AT and I couldn't agree more. It is a special place with an indescribable view.I purposely waited a few days to write this final post about our journey because I needed a few things to sink in. We were in such a hurry to finish the trail but during the bus ride on my way home I was already missing the trail. It was sad because I was finished with the hardest but most rewarding thing of my life. I saw beautiful things that I tried so hard to share on here but they can only be experienced to give full meaning. Living homeless for 4 months is a great lesson. If everyone could live like we did for a week this would be a much stronger country. There would be less greed, more empathy, and more appreciation for nature and what we have around us. Right now I'm sitting at Collegetown Bagels in Ithaca drinking a coffee that was made with water I didn't have to filter from a muddy stream. My laptop is plugged in to free electricity and in a second I will use their flush toilet and wash my hands with warm running water. When I leave I will throw my garbage into their trash instead of sealing it up in a ziplock bag to carry with me. It's amazing!

The next step is to walk back into the classroom. I've learned that, one, this country is BIG (something you only realize when you walk it) but secondly, it is also very beautiful. The threats to that beauty are everywhere though. Invasive species are destroying our forests. Many of these threats are directly tied to us though and my pledge this year and the rest of my career is to help students make informed decisions about their actions...the importance of recycling and "voting with your dollar" to make smart purchases. Hopefully, it'll help slow down the rate at which the logging trucks take apart the forests of Northern Maine and beyond. Thanks again to everyone involved in making this project possible.

I'll end with two great quotes I came across while hiking:

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
-Jimi Hendrix

"Be the change you want to see in the world."
-Mahatma Gandhi

My Final GPS Position

2009-08-05T13:22:00.000-04:00

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 45.904452
Longitude: -68.921442
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

My GPS Position

2009-07-29T10:01:00.000-04:00

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 45.144957
Longitude: -70.255852
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

Maine

2009-07-28T19:30:00.000-04:00

I usually opt out of sunset photos because a camera can never truly
capture it but I couldn't resist this one from Mt Bigelow. This is
from the last 4000 ft mtn before Katadin. Maine is so amazing. I
realized I have about 50 waypoints of places along the AT that I want
to revisit and explore beyond. There's just not enough time - or is
life just too crudded up with other stuff?

The end is near

2009-07-28T13:43:00.001-04:00

We're getting near the end - only about 200 miles left. Right now
we're looking at finishing a week from Thursday or Friday. We're just
about done with the mail drops I assembled back in March and have
enjoyed reading the quotes Mrs Filzen put in a box of granola bars -
I've definitely been at the end of my rope a few times over the past
few months. = )

Moose

2009-07-28T13:34:00.000-04:00

I've been aching to see a moose ever since I spotted the first tracks
and droppings in Connecticut. We finally saw one near Sabbath Pond - a
huge bull moose. What an amazing sight!

Lucy

2009-07-28T13:26:00.000-04:00

This past weekend Lucy ended her AT journey. She's had a great run
but she isn't allowed in Baxter State Park at the end. Plus we have to
ford some rivers and she hates water. If you want to say hi to this
celebrity and check out her impressive hind leg muscles she will be in
the Ithaca area for the next couple weeks.

Welcome to Maine

2009-07-25T09:56:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was the hardest day so far. Courtney came last night to
slackpack us so I was on the trail at 5:45am. It was one of those days
where the only people hiking were thru-hikers. It was pouring and cold
as I left. The trail has become overgrown and extremely muddy, rocky,
and full of roots. Every time I hit a branch, a night's worth of
accumulated rainfall would fall on me. The shortest option for the
slackpack was 31 miles because there were no other road crossings -
not even a dirt forest service road. That in itself, especially with
several big climbs, is a big day. However, I also had to do Mahoosuc
Notch, the hardest mile on the whole AT in slick conditions. It wasn't
too bad with just a daypack though and it was a pretty cool area. It
was a mile between 2 cliffs where large boulders have fallen over the
last couple thousand years. I had to climb over, around, and under
these large boulders and there was even ice still in some of the
crevices. I finally got done at 9:15 and gladly took my soaked shoes
off. Today we're slackpacking another 20 miles.

Taking in the sights.

2009-07-23T16:31:00.000-04:00

About 6 or 7 hrs from Groton, the White Mountains should not be
missed! I was surprised (and glad) by the number of teenagers and
younger kids hiking in the Whites with their families or summer camps.
If you get the opportunity, make the trip one of these summers.

Goodbye NH

2009-07-23T15:50:00.000-04:00

Today was our last full day in New Hampshire as we did a 20 mile
slackpack from Pinkham Notch to Gorham, NH. The Whites have been
challenging but amazing. The last 2 days were cloudy so there weren't
any views but we got amazing above-treeline sights earlier in the
week. In this part of the country any elevation above ~4,400 ft is
bare rock because the wind and cold make it hard for trees to live.
Most of the Whites are like this and I definitely plan on coming back
again to hike more...it's ansolutely amazing here. Tomorrow when we
hit Maine, we will only have 281 miles left!

6,288ft

2009-07-22T15:31:00.000-04:00

I'm writing this from the place with the worst weather in the world,
Mt Washington. This is the highest point in the Northeast and holds
the land speed wind record of some 280 miles per hour. This picture is
of the trail leading to the top. The vegetation, mostly shrubs,
grasses, and lichens, are only found on a few mountaintops in the
lower 48 and hundreds of miles north in the arctic tundra. The
weather today is cloudy, windy, and in the lower 50s. The average
summer high is 51 and and average winter high is 15.

MotionX-GPS Track: Franconia Ridge

2009-07-21T12:29:00.001-04:00

Hello,

Mr. DeVoe uses MotionX-GPS on the iPhone 3G and is sharing with you the following track:

Name:	Franconia Ridge
Date:	Jul 21, 2009 11:18 am
Distance:	1.61 miles
Elapsed Time:	41:32.8
Avg Speed:	2.3 mph
Max Speed:	12.8 mph
Avg Pace:	25' 47" per mile
Min Altitude:	4,608 ft
Max Altitude:	5,100 ft

Start Time:	2009-07-21T15:18:41Z
Start Location:
Latitude:	44.149405º N
Longitude:	71.644348º W

End Time:	2009-07-21T16:00:14Z
End Location:
Latitude:	44.170199º N
Longitude:	71.643171º W

Click on this link to display the track in Google Maps. This link will be valid until Aug 20, 2009 9:29 AM PDT.

There are two files attached to this email:

"Franconia Ridge.kmz" is a Google KMZ track that can be displayed in Google Earth or Google Maps.

"Franconia Ridge.gpx" is an Open Standard track that can be displayed by select mapping software.

MotionX-GPS Commonly Asked Questions:

Q1:	What is MotionX-GPS?
A1:	MotionX-GPS, available for the iPhone 3G, is the essential application for hikers, bike riders, joggers, and geocaching enthusiasts. It puts an easy-to-use, state-of-the-art handheld GPS system on your iPhone 3G.
Q2:	Can I use MotionX-GPS?
A2:	Sure! MotionX-GPS Lite for the iPhone 3G is free and can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store here.
Q3:	How can I display tracks in Google Earth?
A3:	Follow the directions on the Google Earth web site to download and install the Google Earth program. Save the attached Franconia Ridge.kmz file to your computer. Launch Google Earth, select File, Open, and open the saved Franconia Ridge.kmz file.
Q4:	What is a GPX Track?
A4:	GPX stands for GPS Exchange Format and is used to transfer GPS data between many GPS devices and applications, including Google Earth. A track is a path recorded by MotionX-GPS showing movement over the surface of the Earth.
Q5:	This e-mail was forwarded to me and I can't find the attachments!
A5:	Some e-mail programs do not include the original attachments by default when forwarding an e-mail. In this case, the sender must reattach the original files for them to be included.

Please contact us here with any comments or questions.

All the best,

The MotionX Team

US and Foreign Patents Granted and Pending. Fullpower® is a registered trademark of Fullpower Technologies, Inc. MotionX™ is a trademark of Fullpower Technologies, Inc. © Copyright 2003 - 2009 Fullpower Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.

ver: GPS/5.1 ver: com.fullpower.motionx.gps.web.Version@224d2f; ref-id: 6ca826d1-d123-4f5f-9099-1dc5c7e40480

2009-07-20T13:01:00.000-04:00

Here is the view from yesterday's first peak of the Whites. This was
probably the best view of the whole AT so far. These mountains are
though but very rewarding. They remind me a lot of the Adirondacks.

The White Mountains

2009-07-19T14:44:00.000-04:00

I think I'm at the end of regular postings. We are entering the White
Mountains in New Hampshire where it is very remote and cell phone
service is rare. I will still post as much as possible but this is my
first good signal in a couple days. The views have been great though
and I'm looking forward to the next couple days even though this is
supposedly the hardest stretch on the whole AT. This is a porcupine
that Lucy was flirting with the other day. Luckily she didn't get any
closer.

New Hampshire

2009-07-16T16:30:00.000-04:00

Yesterday my cousin Jon met us on the trail for a couple days. Last
night Kevin, Jon, Mr Giroux, Lucy and myself marched through Hanover,
NH and turned a couple heads as we hiked along the streets and
eventually retreated back into the woods to find a camp spot. Hanover
is a cool little town (home of Dartmouth College). We should be
entering the White Mountains in a day or two.

Maine Junction

2009-07-15T10:36:00.000-04:00

Here is a picture of Maine Junction, the place where the Long Trail
and AT split. We continued east after here and are heading toward New
Hampshire. We've been fortunate enough to slackpack for a few days now
and are covering over 20 miles a day. Mr Giroux is still here and
holding up well.

MotionX-GPS Track: The Green Mtns

2009-07-14T13:59:00.001-04:00

Hello,

Mr. DeVoe uses MotionX-GPS on the iPhone 3G and is sharing with you the following track:

Name:	The Green Mtns
Date:	Jul 12, 2009 9:23 am
Distance:	7.87 miles
Elapsed Time:	3:12:10
Avg Speed:	2.5 mph
Max Speed:	12.5 mph
Avg Pace:	24' 25" per mile
Min Altitude:	1,913 ft
Max Altitude:	3,411 ft

Start Time:	2009-07-12T13:23:08Z
Start Location:
Latitude:	43.207330º N
Longitude:	72.970076º W

End Time:	2009-07-12T16:35:18Z
End Location:
Latitude:	43.289386º N
Longitude:	72.938933º W

Click on this link to display the track in Google Maps. This link will be valid until Aug 13, 2009 10:59 AM PDT.

There are two files attached to this email:

"The Green Mtns.kmz" is a Google KMZ track that can be displayed in Google Earth or Google Maps.

"The Green Mtns.gpx" is an Open Standard track that can be displayed by select mapping software.

MotionX-GPS Commonly Asked Questions:

Q1:	What is MotionX-GPS?
A1:	MotionX-GPS, available for the iPhone 3G, is the essential application for hikers, bike riders, joggers, and geocaching enthusiasts. It puts an easy-to-use, state-of-the-art handheld GPS system on your iPhone 3G.
Q2:	Can I use MotionX-GPS?
A2:	Sure! MotionX-GPS Lite for the iPhone 3G is free and can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store here.
Q3:	How can I display tracks in Google Earth?
A3:	Follow the directions on the Google Earth web site to download and install the Google Earth program. Save the attached The Green Mtns.kmz file to your computer. Launch Google Earth, select File, Open, and open the saved The Green Mtns.kmz file.
Q4:	What is a GPX Track?
A4:	GPX stands for GPS Exchange Format and is used to transfer GPS data between many GPS devices and applications, including Google Earth. A track is a path recorded by MotionX-GPS showing movement over the surface of the Earth.
Q5:	This e-mail was forwarded to me and I can't find the attachments!
A5:	Some e-mail programs do not include the original attachments by default when forwarding an e-mail. In this case, the sender must reattach the original files for them to be included.

Please contact us here with any comments or questions.

All the best,

The MotionX Team

ver: GPS/5.1 ver: com.fullpower.motionx.gps.web.Version@224d2f; ref-id: 1b550e3b-534d-4bd6-8622-1aae6e1f5fa7

My GPS Position

2009-07-13T17:34:00.000-04:00

Mr Giroux joined up with us for a couple days. Today is day 100 on the trail and we also passed the 500 miles to go line. Right now we're standing on top of Mt Killington, VTs 2nd highest peak and popular ski destination. It's incredibly windy but we have awesome views of the Adirondacks and White mountains.

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 43.604822
Longitude: -72.820151
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

Vermont

2009-07-10T11:51:00.000-04:00

The first 100 miles of Vermont follows The Long Trail, the first long-
distance hiking trail in the country and one of the inspirations for
the AT. The trail has gone by several beaver ponds as it follows a
ridge in the Green Mountains. The only problem with the Long Trail is
that it is very muddy, especially since it's been raining so much and
has suffered a lot of erosion because of it's heavy use by hikers.
Today we're shooting for 25 miles. We should be in Rutland, VT on
Tuesday for laundry, a shower, and a good meal.

My GPS Position

2009-07-09T17:00:00.000-04:00

The climb here to the MA/VT screamed "welcome to the final stretch" as we climbed from 600ft to over 2000ft very quickly. We'll be at higher elevations until the end.

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 42.687517
Longitude: -73.159697
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

Blog

2009-07-09T12:51:00.000-04:00

I'm aware that there is something wrong with the blog template.
However I am currently sitting on a log somewhere in northern Mass. so
I'll try to fix it if I get to a library soon. Any ideas about how to
fix it?

Sent from my iPhone

Trees

2009-07-09T12:06:00.000-04:00

Back home in Ithaca, many of the American Beech trees are infected
with an invasive fungus that came over from another part of the world.
It is here in Mass. also. I hiked over a couple hills that looked like
Beech graveyards. Branches were everwhere and all of the trees were
slowly dying. Our sick forests have probably had the biggest impact on
me throughout this trip - whether it's the Beech fungus, gypsy moth
larvae, Hemlock wooly adelgid, American Chestnut, etc. - our forests
are dying. Why is it that the death of an overrated pop star can
dominate the media for over a week but the death of millions of acres
of forests barely get a headline? One way you can help stop the
spread is to buy firewood near where you're camping instead of
transporting it over long distances. Better yet, go to college to
figure out a solution.

Cookies

2009-07-08T14:47:00.000-04:00

Today we stopped at "the cookie lady's" house outside of Beckett, MA.
For years she has been providing fresh cookies to hikers and
blueberries when they're in season. This is just one of many aspects
of the trip that make hiking the AT a truly unique experience.

2009-07-07T14:42:00.000-04:00

Things are better today. We just crossed over the Mass. Pike. I've
driven under this many times on my way too and from Boston visiting my
friends Brad and Kim. Every time I passed under I always thought
"someday I WILL be walking over this road" and here I am.

Ps. The mosquitoes are a little better.

A Test

2009-07-06T15:48:00.000-04:00

This was almost a post to announce that I officially quit the trail.
The mosquitoes yesterday and this morning were horrendous. Between
that and the heat and humidity it's been a mental roller coaster. I
breathed in and choked on 5 mosquitoes as I climbed a 700ft ascent
this morning. Kevin and I took a long break around noon wondering what
we are doing out here. It's so hard to remain positive at times like
these. I've just had to keep reminding myself that this is my only
chance until I retire to thru-hike the AT. And on we go...

Sent from my iPhone

Help

2009-07-06T07:02:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we passed the 1500 mile mark so I thought I'd take this
moment to point out a way to help Groton Central Schools. On the right
side bar is your opportunity to donate, per mile, to Groton's
environmental science club. They go on field trips and organize
projects around the school that helps make the school "green". You may
also donate to The Nature Conservency instead.

Secondly, if you are a current or former AT thru or section hiker, I
am collecting advice for the average American teenager. If you'd like
to submit something please email me or leave it as a comment and include your trail name and where you're from. Thank you!

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T14:32:00.000-04:00

Today was a nice quiet summer day in CT until we hiked by a racetrack
in the valley below. For a country that imports most of it's oil,
nothing is quite as patriotic as guys doing circles in their own
carbon fumes. Some day we'll look back at the recreational waste of
fossil fuels as a "what were we thinking" time in our history. Few
people see that now though. What a shame.

MotionX GPS Track: Kent, CT - Rt. 4

2009-07-04T10:13:00.001-04:00

Hello,

Mr. DeVoe uses MotionX-GPS on the iPhone 3G and is sharing with you the following track:

Name:	Kent, CT - Rt. 4
Date:	Jul 3, 2009 8:38 am
Distance:	12.4 miles
Elapsed Time:	4:38:16
Avg Speed:	2.7 mph
Max Speed:	41.2 mph
Avg Pace:	22' 18" per mile
Min Altitude:	272 ft
Max Altitude:	38,737 ft

Start Time:	2009-07-03T12:38:57Z
Start Location:
Latitude:	41.738831º N
Longitude:	73.463302º W

End Time:	2009-07-03T17:17:13Z
End Location:
Latitude:	41.819185º N
Longitude:	73.390812º W

Click on this link to display the track in Google Maps. This link will be valid until Aug 3, 2009 7:13 AM PDT.

There are two files attached to this email:

"Kent, CT - Rt. 4.kmz" is a Google KML track that can be displayed in Google Earth or Google Maps.

"Kent, CT - Rt. 4.gpx" is an Open Standard track that can be displayed by select mapping software.

MotionX-GPS Commonly Asked Questions:

Q1:	What is MotionX-GPS?
A1:	MotionX-GPS, available for the iPhone 3G, is the essential application for hikers, bike riders, joggers, and geocaching enthusiasts. It puts an easy-to-use, state-of-the-art handheld GPS system on your iPhone 3G.
Q2:	Can I use MotionX-GPS?
A2:	Sure! MotionX-GPS Lite for the iPhone 3G is free and can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store here.
Q3:	How can I display tracks in Google Earth?
A3:	Follow the directions on the Google Earth web site to download and install the Google Earth program. Save the attached Kent, CT - Rt. 4.kml file to your computer. Launch Google Earth, select File, Open, and open the saved Kent, CT - Rt. 4.kml file.
Q4:	What is a GPX Track?
A4:	GPX stands for GPS Exchange Format and is used to transfer GPS data between many GPS devices and applications, including Google Earth. A track is a path recorded by MotionX-GPS showing movement over the surface of the Earth.
Q5:	This e-mail was forwarded to me and I can't find the attachments!
A5:	Some e-mail programs do not include the original attachments by default when forwarding an e-mail. In this case, the sender must reattach the original files for them to be included.

Please contact us here with any comments or questions.

All the best,

The MotionX Team

ref-id: 19bbef96-3a0a-4249-9c4d-8e02fb1aa25f

Family

2009-07-04T10:06:00.000-04:00

Yesterday my parents met us in CT for a meal, new shoes, and a motel.
It was nice seeing them after over 3 months. Courtney and Koda have
also been hiking with us for the past week and they took her back to
her car in NY on their way home. Thanks again guys!

Mail Drop

2009-07-03T12:17:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we got a mail drop in Kent, CT from Groton Elementary and
Mrs Coffey. Thanks guys! The elementary school also sent along a
sweet shirt. With our awesome recycling and composting programs, these
shirts are an awesome fit.

My GPS Position

2009-07-01T15:21:00.001-04:00

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 41.588563
Longitude: -73.657880
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

2009-06-30T13:45:00.000-04:00

Tyler and Jason cooked up some great veggie burgers!

Groton Troop 77

2009-06-30T12:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we met up with the Groton Boy Scouts at Clarence Fahnestock
State Park. The boys cooked us a great dinner and breakfast. This
morning, we hiked about 2 miles on the AT together and had lunch on
the beach of Canopus Lake before we left to continue on North. It was
great to see some of my (former) 7th grade students again. You guys
have a solid troop and I look forward to hearing of your adventures in
the future. Thanks everyone!

Still Truckin'

2009-06-29T09:31:00.001-04:00

We're about 1/2 way through NY. We crossed the Hudson River last night
in the dark. We've had to put in big miles to make sure we join up
with the Groton Boy Scouts tonight at dinnertime. For the past 15
miles or so we've heard loud booms off in the distance and today I
figured it must be bombs and gun shots from West Point. I would
probably get sick of it if I lived around here.

Hello NY

2009-06-27T20:15:00.000-04:00

Today we hit the 9th state, my homestate of New York. I haven't been
here in nearly 3 months so it was nice. Mr Barry, my former host
teacher from Homer, sent me a compact fishing pole that I used for the
first time today. All I caught was a small Northern Pike which was too
small to cook up.

Goodbye NJ

2009-06-27T15:14:00.000-04:00

After a 35 mile slackpack we finished New Jersey in only 2 days. The
2nd half was much better than the first. The trail was marked and
maintained much better. We hiked through some very nice parts of NJ
including a National Wildlife Refuge and a sweet boardwalk with lots
of good waterfowl to observe. Lucy enjoyed the slackpack too.

New Jersey

2009-06-25T16:50:00.002-04:00

Yesterday morning Kevin got picked by his mom at Delaware Water Gap to
take care of some things at home and he already did the NJ section in
high school. He took everything in my pack but food and water and I
"slackpacked" 41 miles to High Point State Park where Kevin and his
mom picked me up. I hiked from 5:30am until 7:15pm. My legs are like
machines right now but i definitely maxed out. It's weird to think
that I will never walk that far in one day again for the rest of my
life.

I saw 3 bears and 4 deer yesterday. After 26 miles I came across a
deli so I decided to get a sandwich and a couple Gatorades. Ok, I also
got ice cream, candy, and some chips. I walked in and pluged my phone
in on my way to the counter and waited for the owner to finish up
filling to cooler with juice. He finished and walked around to serve
me. The first thing he said was "I unplugged your phone, I can't allow
that. So what can I get you"? If I had more willpower I would have
said "nothing, I think I'm all set" and walked out. In
hindsight I should have offered him the 3 cents to charge my phone for
a half hour just for the entertainment of his reply. The funny thing
is that at the beginning of the trip I used to ask people if they
minded if I plugged in my phone while I ate at a diner or deli but I
usually got a look like "of course you can, why bother asking"?
Anyway, this was my first experience ever with someone in NJ. I've
only driven through the state. Right now I'm staying at Kevin's
parents house - where people are a little more human. They're great
people and have a cool post/beam house in a really nice part of the
state. We're taking a "zero" day and my feet appreciate it after
yesterday. Tomorrow we're shooting to finish the state and enter good
ol' New York.

Food and Family

2009-06-23T19:03:00.001-04:00

Tonight my 2nd cousin, Barb, met up with us in Delaware Water Gap, PA
and took us out to dinner. It was nice seeing her again and food other
than granola bars and honey buns is always a special treat.

Someone mentioned I should try out for a Geico caveman commercial.
Yesterday we got a ride to a store from an elementary teacher down
here and he seemed VERY surprised when I told him I was a teacher as
well. What?? Teachers in PA don't look like this?? So tomorrow we
enter state #8, New Jersey. Have a great summer Groton students and
make sure you check the blog all summer!

My GPS Position

2009-06-22T10:44:00.001-04:00

This is a pretty crazy area. We are outside of Palmerton, PA which was home to a century of zinc mining and smelting. This practice severly affected the area as emmisions created very acidic soils and removed a lot of the mountain vegetation. The federal governent shut down the zinc furnaces in 1980 and put it on the Superfund cleanup list in 1982. The area is slowly coming back to life thanks to the application of Ecoloam -a mixture of municipal waste sludge, fly ash, lime, fertilizer, and seeds. Pines, tall grasses, and blueberries have taken hold as the wounds heal. There are still plenty of sandstone and quartzite boulders as well.

Before you begin cursing the zinc industry though we should consider all of the products that contain zinc. It's just a shame it was processed so irresponsibly.

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 40.782377
Longitude: -75.618253
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

Food

2009-06-22T08:55:00.000-04:00

The wild blueberries are coming ripe here in PA along the trail.
Needless to say I am getting my fix of antioxidants!

2009-06-22T06:08:00.001-04:00

Right now it's 5:55am and we just woke up for a big day. We've been
putting in around 20 miles a day but we're shooting for 25 today.
We're outside of Allentown, PA right now and it seems the further east
we get in this state, the rockier it gets. Our feet are pretty sore
from walking on sharp pointed rocks. Today we'll go through
Palmerton, PA which supposedly has the toughest rock scramble south of
New Hampshire so that'll take some time. Tomorrow evening we''ll be
entering the 8th state, New Jersey.

Sent from my iPhone

Snakes

2009-06-20T11:27:00.001-04:00

Yesterday afternoon Kevin saw a rattlesnake. PA is the best state for
sighting these things. He described the snake as "not very long but
very thick". It was coiled up and it rattled as he got closer. The
rattle was like "the sound of Tic-Tacs being shaken". Honestly, I'm ok
if I don't see one.

My GPS Position

2009-06-17T19:56:00.000-04:00

This is Stony Mtn. I can hear hammering from the coal mine on the other side of the mountain. Is it visable on Google Earth?

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 40.451467
Longitude: -76.735146
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

Have a great summer

2009-06-17T14:05:00.000-04:00

Hi Groton Elementary! I'm taking a rest in this tree while Lucy and I
wait for Mr DeVoe and Kevin to catch up. I just remembered that school
is almost out for summer so I wanted to say a few things.

First of all, I hope you all had a great but challenging school year.
Make sure you keep your brain busy this summer by reading a couple
books. I know I will be.

Secondly, try to get outside as much as possible. I know a lot of you
play soccer or baseball over the summer but there are all sorts of
other ways to stay busy outside. I've learned from this trip that life
is all about your experiences and things you learn not about what
video games you own or stuff like that. In the Shenandoah Mtns, my
favorite moment was standing on Stoney Man cliff after a thunderstorm
cleared up. It created the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen. That
experience could never be reproduced on a TV screen.

Get outside and be safe this summer Groton.

-Skoob

2009-06-17T08:55:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the AT went through a tunnel that was constructed to avoid a
dangerous road crossing. The fact that this trail extends non-stop
through the Eastern US is truly amazing. Thousands of people have
spent thousands of hours building and maintaining this 2,175 mile long
trail. Funding for projects like this tunnel come from Appalachian
Trail Conservancy memberships, donations, and grants.

1/2 way

2009-06-15T10:10:00.000-04:00

One of the best things about hiking the AT is that you can pretty much
eat anything and still lose weight. I try to eat healthy but calories
and fat are actually very necessary when you hike 10 hrs a day.

It's tradition that at the 1/2 way point hikers take the "1/2 gallon
challenge". I finished mine easily in under 20 minutes but I don't
think I'd ever do it again. It totalled 1600 calories.

I chose Peanut Butter Mania in honor of my girlfriend Courtney because
I think that's what she would have picked out of the selection. As you
can imagine it takes a lot of work for someone to disapear into the
wood for 5 months. Not only has she been finishing up a great 1st year
of teaching at Caroline Elementary in Ithaca but she has also been
filling a critical role of mailing us food drops, taking care of the
pets, mowing the lawn, taking care of my mail, etc. I'm 1/2 way done
and enjoying everything but really looking forward to getting home to
her and back to the "normal" life.

Message to 7th graders

2009-06-15T01:43:00.001-04:00

Dear Groton 7th graders,

I hope you enjoyed this year and getting the opportunity to learn from Mr Rafferty in science as well. I heard he's been doing a great job. The first day of school I said that this would be a year of transition and great personal accomplishments. I enjoyed seeing many of you succeed in a variety of ways this year but I am sorry I missed out on spring sports, the drama club production, and the spring awards picnic. Even though I missed these things I look forward to seeing your accomplishments in the years to come. Even though you change teachers each year, you should know that we all keep an eye on you as you progress through school and after. Right now I am seeing the 9th and 10th graders (my first group) become leaders in the high school and the community.

Today marks the 1/2 way point on the Appalachian Trail. Most hikers that start in Georgia never make it this far due to injury or the monotony of doing the same thing every day. I feel lucky because I haven't really gotten bored of the woods yet. I think it is, in part, because I went into this with some knowledge of the woods already. When most see trees, I see oaks, maples, and hickories. When most hear birds, I hear thrushes, owls, and sparrows. When most see the same things over and over, I try to look at them differently. My point is that the more you learn about things in life, the more you can appreciate and admire the diversity of things around you. Just because it is summer doesn't mean you should sit around and I hope you do not realize one August morning that you've already wasted a month of break. Get out and learn something new, explore the waterfalls of the area, or develop a new talent. I think you'll find that others will admire you for this. So today, since I will be eating a 1/2 gallon of ice cream to celebrate the 1/2 way point I wanted to leave you a gift as well. Enjoy.

Cheers,

Mr. DeVoe

A day off

2009-06-13T19:07:00.000-04:00

Today Mr Filzen and Mr Wiech came down to southern PA to "rescue" us
from the trail. They also brought amazing support from Groton
teachers, administrators, and students. This school and community
truly is amazing. Thank you everyone. Today we toured Gettysburg with
the best tour guide I could think of; Groton's very own, Mr Filzen
with his enthusiastic and intense delivery. The students are lucky to
have such a great history department. Mr Wiech also answered my
Appalachian Mountain geology questions. I think the science department
is pretty solid as well = ) It was a great day of relaxation and
learning. The history aspect of this trip has been most personally
rewarding to me. It is definitely something that needs to be
experienced. Tomorrow we'll say our goodbyes and they'll drop us off
to start our 18 mile day to the official 1/2 way point on the AT. I'm
looking forward to coming home but also look forward to each day of
hiking in the amazing country.

2009-06-11T20:20:00.000-04:00

Hi Mr D.'s class. Thanks for posting. I always enjoy hearing what you
guys are up to. It sounds like you had a good time at the MOST. I went
to college in Syracuse so I've been there a couple times. It's a great
place and the IMAX is killer! Have fun at SeaBeaze for those going.
I've never been there but have heard good things. The trail is great
but it's starting to get rocky so we need to be careful not to roll an
ankle. Someone asked a question about the AT. I've heard that around
2000 people attempt to thru-hike it each year (like us). Most do not
make it. There are, however, thousands of others that do day hikes or
section hikes each year. It's a really popular trail. It's still fun
and I don't plan on giving up until I reach Maine this August! Enjoy
your weekend everyone.

Sent from my iPhone

Goodbye Maryland

2009-06-11T19:20:00.000-04:00

We're about to enter the 7th state as we cross the Mason-Dixon line into Pennsylvania. Maryland was a nice hike and full of history.

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 39.717057
Longitude: -77.508867
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

Harpers Ferry

2009-06-10T10:52:00.000-04:00

This morning we stopped in at the AT headquarters. It's tradition that
all hikers stop here in Harpers Ferry to register and get their photos
taken. We were hikers number 287 and 288 for 2009.

My GPS Position

2009-06-09T18:19:00.000-04:00

What a cool town. OK Groton, who can tell me the historical significance of Harpers Ferry?

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 39.322944
Longitude: -77.730267
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

Goodbye Virginia (almost)

2009-06-09T10:12:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since we've seen a state line. We do cross back into
Virginia again though before Harpers Ferry. The next 3 states will go
fairly quickly.

We've been adjusting to the transition into summer. Today and
yesterday are in the upper 80s and the insects are swarming our heads.
It's been rough but it's all part of it.

Coal

2009-06-07T18:54:00.000-04:00

Coal mining is a huge part of the Appalachian economy. Coal is a "fossil fuel" which is the accumulation of ancient plants that died 540-240 millions of years ago in "coal swamps". It's so abundant down here that a geologic period was named the "Pennsylvanian" to reflect this. This point in Earth's history was dominated by ferns and gymnosperms with many winged insects and amphibians as the dominate land creatures. This was much earlier than the age of dinosaurs.

In the early 1900's, the burning of these "fossil fuels" became routine in our lives as we heated our homes and filled up our cars with this "stored sunlight". The sun is the ultimate source of energy on the planet and fossil fuels represent a very concentrated form of sunlight that gives off enormous amounts of energy when lit. Think about how easy it is to light your stove, ignite a lighter, turn on your car, and start your furnace.

Sadly we import a large amount of fossil fuels from the middle east in the form of oil to do the above activities. Many suggest we should be relying more on our country's abundance of coal. Coal, however, pollutes the air more than other fossil fuels. In addition, it it common practice down here to extract it from the Earth through "Mountain-Top Removal". This is where companies go into the mountains and dig through a whole mountain to clear out the coal like in the picture above. This is an ugly process that puts pollution into streams an is an eyesore from above. There is a movement to ban this practice but we need more public support. These companies are careful not to do it where people can see it (next to highways or close to where people live). If you'd like to voice your concern about this please visit this website to help and learn more. Click here for a Google Earth tour of mountaintop removal.

Instead of fossil fuels, let's Go Green! I'm interested to hear about what you all know about "alternative" forms of energy. How can we create electricity without causing pollution? Please leave a comment.

MotionX GPS Track: Va 522 - I-66

2009-06-07T15:23:00.001-04:00

Hello,

Mr. DeVoe uses MotionX-GPS on the iPhone 3G and is sharing with you the following track:

Name:	Va 522 - I-66
Date:	Jun 7, 2009 11:33 am
Distance:	7.88 miles
Elapsed Time:	2:53:46
Avg Speed:	2.7 mph
Max Speed:	7.6 mph
Avg Pace:	22' 03" per mile
Min Altitude:	733 ft
Max Altitude:	1,858 ft

Start Time:	2009-06-07T15:33:35Z
Start Location:
Latitude:	38.878298º N
Longitude:	78.150859º W

End Time:	2009-06-07T18:27:21Z
End Location:
Latitude:	38.909208º N
Longitude:	78.053372º W

Click on this link to display the track in Google Maps. This link will be valid until Jul 7, 2009 12:23 PM PDT.

There are two files attached to this email:

"Va 522 - I-66.kmz" is a Google KML track that can be displayed in Google Earth or Google Maps.

"Va 522 - I-66.gpx" is an Open Standard track that can be displayed by select mapping software.

MotionX-GPS Commonly Asked Questions:

Q1:	What is MotionX-GPS?
A1:	MotionX-GPS, available for the iPhone 3G, is the essential application for hikers, bike riders, joggers, and geocaching enthusiasts. It puts an easy-to-use, state-of-the-art handheld GPS system on your iPhone 3G.
Q2:	Can I use MotionX-GPS?
A2:	Sure! MotionX-GPS Lite for the iPhone 3G is free and can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store here.
Q3:	How can I display tracks in Google Earth?
A3:	Follow the directions on the Google Earth web site to download and install the Google Earth program. Save the attached Va 522 - I-66.kml file to your computer. Launch Google Earth, select File, Open, and open the saved Va 522 - I-66.kml file.
Q4:	What is a GPX Track?
A4:	GPX stands for GPS Exchange Format and is used to transfer GPS data between many GPS devices and applications, including Google Earth. A track is a path recorded by MotionX-GPS showing movement over the surface of the Earth.
Q5:	This e-mail was forwarded to me and I can't find the attachments!
A5:	Some e-mail programs do not include the original attachments by default when forwarding an e-mail. In this case, the sender must reattach the original files for them to be included.

Please contact us here with any comments or questions.

All the best,

The MotionX Team

ref-id: 349cec3f-7196-4973-b07d-06f0b3ee0017

Diet and Exercize

2009-06-06T09:22:00.000-04:00

Hi, my name is Kevin and I lost 30 pounds in only one month using the
AT weight loss plan. All you do is consume 5000-6000 calories a day
in any form you want. I usually eat a mixture of Little Debbie snacks,
protein bars, and try for one all you can eat buffet a week. Sound too
good to be true? Well it's not, as long as you carry a 35 lb pack 15
- 20 miles a day!

Wildlife

2009-06-05T07:18:00.000-04:00

Last night around 7 we got a real treat. We saw a bear from a distance
and as we got closer we saw that she had her 3 cubs with her. They
were climbing a tree as we walked by. We definitely got lucky! Today
we'll be leaving the park and hopefully get better weather soon.

It's business time

2009-06-04T07:30:00.000-04:00

Several people have asked about going to the bathroom in the woods.
It's a good question actually. This is a picture of a privy that every
shelter has. They are much like the outhouses that houses used to have
before indoor plumbing. If you're lucky, they even have doors!
Because the human intestines have millions of bacteria to digest food
it is very important that human waste is burried at least 150ft from a
water source so things like E.coli aren't consumed by people drinking
the water. This is part of the "leave no trace" ethics that the Groton
boy scouts are learning about. So what do you think? Do you
appreciate you bathroom at home now?

2009-06-03T12:14:00.000-04:00

Here is the sunset from Skyline Drive. Shenandoah is a beautiful place
and the closest national park to Groton. It's definitely worth the trip.

Today we got another package from Groton Elementary. Thanks so much
guys! I loved reading the morning announcements scripts too. We also
received a package from the 2 airline pilots I met on the approach
trail back on Springer Mtn in Georgia. Everyone has been amazingly
supportive. Thank you all.

Feet

2009-06-02T19:47:00.000-04:00

Today we crossed the 900 mile mark and are creeping closer to the 1/2
way point on the AT. For the past 4 days we've done over 20 miles a
day. The terrain is a lot easier but the feet still get tender by the
end of the day. Yesterday we were on the trail at 8am and hiked until
sunset. My feet are in good shape but my baby toenails are ready to
fall off. They've been dead since week 2.

Shenandoah National Park

2009-06-01T22:15:00.000-04:00

We are now hiking through our second National Park. Shenandoah National Park includes 300 square miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the southern Appalachians with tens of thousands of living creatures including white tail deer, black bear and 36 fish species that live within the park’s streams. The Appalachian Trail covers around 75 miles within the slender park that runs North-South through Northern Virginia.

Video of the Trail

2009-05-31T20:39:00.003-04:00

Crossing Brown Mountain Creek

Entering Shenandoah

2009-05-31T17:28:00.000-04:00

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 38.031074
Longitude: -78.857825
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

Shenandoah

2009-05-31T09:14:00.000-04:00

We've been inching our way North and are now about 14 miles from
Waynesboro, VA. This town lies at Rockfish Gap. A break in the
mountains that was important for transportation years ago before cars
and highways. Later today we will also be starting the southern end
of Shenandoah National Park.

Everything is going well though and we are still having fun. We are
now about 150 miles from the next state line and we're looking forward
to it because we're sort of growing tired of Virginia and looking
forward to seeing progress.

Trees

2009-05-29T10:33:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we walked through a small section of old-growth forest. This
means that it has never been logged for wood products. Around 99% of
US forests have been logged at some point so these areas are rare.
Next to Kevin is one of the largest American Beech trees I've ever
seen. It probably had a diameter around 5 feet. Can anyone find a
list of tree records in NYS? There is a Cottonwood tree in downtown
Moravia that is huge! I wonder how close that is to the record?

MotionX GPS Track: USFS38 - US60

2009-05-29T09:32:00.001-04:00

Hello,

Mr. DeVoe uses MotionX-GPS on the iPhone 3G and is sharing with you the following track:

Name:	USFS38 - US60
Date:	May 28, 2009 1:38 pm
Distance:	4.12 miles
Elapsed Time:	1:43:09
Avg Speed:	2.4 mph
Max Speed:	14.9 mph
Avg Pace:	25' 02" per mile
Min Altitude:	1,121 ft
Max Altitude:	1,974 ft

Start Time:	2009-05-28T17:38:32Z
Start Location:
Latitude:	37.685444º N
Longitude:	79.271185º W

End Time:	2009-05-28T19:21:42Z
End Location:
Latitude:	37.723385º N
Longitude:	79.249932º W

Click on this link to display the track in Google Maps. This link will be valid until Jun 28, 2009 6:32 AM PDT.

There are two files attached to this email:

"USFS38 - US60.kmz" is a Google KML track that can be displayed in Google Earth or Google Maps.

"USFS38 - US60.gpx" is an Open Standard track that can be displayed by select mapping software.

MotionX-GPS Commonly Asked Questions:

Q1:	What is MotionX-GPS?
A1:	MotionX-GPS, available for the iPhone 3G, is the essential application for hikers, bike riders, joggers, and geocaching enthusiasts. It puts an easy-to-use, state-of-the-art handheld GPS system on your iPhone 3G.
Q2:	Can I use MotionX-GPS?
A2:	Sure! MotionX-GPS Lite for the iPhone 3G is free and can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store here.
Q3:	How can I display tracks in Google Earth?
A3:	Follow the directions on the Google Earth web site to download and install the Google Earth program. Save the attached USFS38 - US60.kml file to your computer. Launch Google Earth, select File, Open, and open the saved USFS38 - US60.kml file.
Q4:	What is a GPX Track?
A4:	GPX stands for GPS Exchange Format and is used to transfer GPS data between many GPS devices and applications, including Google Earth. A track is a path recorded by MotionX-GPS showing movement over the surface of the Earth.
Q5:	This e-mail was forwarded to me and I can't find the attachments!
A5:	Some e-mail programs do not include the original attachments by default when forwarding an e-mail. In this case, the sender must reattach the original files for them to be included.

Please contact us here with any comments or questions.

All the best,

The MotionX Team

ref-id: 64afd3ba-1ec2-4450-a0bf-66fdac36b75b

Virginia (still)

2009-05-27T17:32:00.002-04:00

We've been steadily chipping away at Virginia and are currently about 750 miles into the trail. We just finished up a section that weaved in and out of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic mountain road that cuts through the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina I believe. The top photo was taken at Bryant Ridge Shelter, a post and beam shelter that is one of the largest on the whole trail.

Trail Magic

2009-05-26T08:29:00.000-04:00

We have a teacher at Groton named Mr Gambitta who has been teaching
for about 45 years. He always makes a point in being a part of all of
the positive activities at school whether it be the musical, sporting
events, prom, etc. When he heard about this trip he wrote to CutCo
Knife Company to ask if they'd be willing to donate a knife for the
trip. They did, along with a custom engraving. I've used it quite a
bit but most recently was for some trail magic we received yesterday.
We stumbled upon a bag hanging from a tree with a whole pineapple and
drinks. Thanks Mr Gambitta and CutCo.

My GPS Position

2009-05-25T15:59:00.000-04:00

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 37.463315
Longitude: -79.703493
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

2009-05-24T18:57:00.000-04:00

Company

2009-05-24T09:27:00.002-04:00

Along the trail we will have several friends and family join up with us to hike for a little bit. The Groton Boy Scout Troop will be joing up soon! Yesterday, Ms. Coffey, 4th grade teacher at Caroline Elementary in Ithaca joined us on the trail for a week. She is much more elaborative than myself so go on over and check out her documentation of the AT through her classroom blog.

McAfee's Knob

2009-05-23T11:11:00.000-04:00

This is a pretty hot destination here in central Virginia and a lot of
people make day trips in the 3 miles from the parking lot. It has, in
my opinion, one of the best views I've seen.

700 miles in

2009-05-23T11:06:00.000-04:00

Here we took a quick photo at the 700 mile mark just outside Catawba,
VA. Later today we'll be at the exact 1/3 mark of the AT.

Big Day

2009-05-22T19:40:00.001-04:00

Yesterday at 4pm I went ahead of Kevin to make sure we picked up our
next care package in time from the post office from his parents (thank
you). It was a big day. I hiked 32 miles in 24 hrs and managed to see
some pretty cool things. This picture is of the Keffer Oak, the second
largest oak on the AT. The largest being in New York. This White Oak
is estimated to be over 300 years old and is 18 1/2 feet in girth. I
put my pack next to it to give you an idea of how big this thing was.

I also hiked along a major continental divide. Rain falling on the
left of the ridge eventually empties into the Gulf of Mexico and water
falling on the eastern side goes to the Atlantic. Tomorrow we hit
McAfee's knob, a pretty famout landmark. I'll have pictures up as soon
as possible.

My GPS Position

2009-05-21T11:17:00.000-04:00

Should be in Catawba, VA tomorrow afternoon.

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 37.355629
Longitude: -80.439191
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

Sunsets

2009-05-20T17:47:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we had a great sunny spring Virginia day. Around 5:30 we
camped under a big oak tree on top of a grassy hill overlooking West
Virginia. It was a great spot. At 7:55 we watched the NASA rocket
launch at our east and then turned around 180 degrees for a wicked
sunset.

"So throw those curtains wide. One day like this a year'd see me right."
-Elbow

MotionX GPS Track: Rice Field - Symms Gap

2009-05-19T16:40:00.001-04:00

Hello,

Mr. DeVoe uses MotionX-GPS on the iPhone 3G and is sharing with you the following track:

Name:	Rice Field - Symms Gap
Date:	May 19, 2009 2:54 pm
Distance:	4.84 miles
Elapsed Time:	1:35:28
Avg Speed:	3.0 mph
Max Speed:	8.8 mph
Avg Pace:	19' 44" per mile
Min Altitude:	3,199 ft
Max Altitude:	3,417 ft

Start Time:	2009-05-19T18:54:36Z
Start Location:
Latitude:	37.375896º N
Longitude:	80.757494º W

End Time:	2009-05-19T20:30:05Z
End Location:
Latitude:	37.404461º N
Longitude:	80.685450º W

Click on this link to display the track in Google Maps. This link will be valid until Jun 18, 2009 1:40 PM PDT.

There are two files attached to this email:

"Rice Field - Symms Gap.kmz" is a Google KML track that can be displayed in Google Earth or Google Maps.

"Rice Field - Symms Gap.gpx" is an Open Standard track that can be displayed by select mapping software.

MotionX-GPS Commonly Asked Questions:

Q1:	What is MotionX-GPS?
A1:	MotionX-GPS, available for the iPhone 3G, is the essential application for hikers, bike riders, joggers, and geocaching enthusiasts. It puts an easy-to-use, state-of-the-art handheld GPS system on your iPhone 3G.
Q2:	Can I use MotionX-GPS?
A2:	Sure! MotionX-GPS Lite for the iPhone 3G is free and can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store here.
Q3:	How can I display tracks in Google Earth?
A3:	Follow the directions on the Google Earth web site to download and install the Google Earth program. Save the attached Rice Field - Symms Gap.kml file to your computer. Launch Google Earth, select File, Open, and open the saved Rice Field - Symms Gap.kml file.
Q4:	What is a GPX Track?
A4:	GPX stands for GPS Exchange Format and is used to transfer GPS data between many GPS devices and applications, including Google Earth. A track is a path recorded by MotionX-GPS showing movement over the surface of the Earth.
Q5:	This e-mail was forwarded to me and I can't find the attachments!
A5:	Some e-mail programs do not include the original attachments by default when forwarding an e-mail. In this case, the sender must reattach the original files for them to be included.

Please contact us here with any comments or questions.

All the best,

The MotionX Team

ref-id: bad40025-b083-4f3d-91d1-25c26a82b8af

Italian Dinner

2009-05-19T11:50:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone. Tonight is the annual Art Show/Italian Dinner in the high
school cafeteria. All proceeds benefit the high school outing club
that Mr Wiech runs. So if you're in the mood for great food and want
to help get Groton students into the outdoors, swing on over. The art
show is very impressive as well.

Sent from my iPhone

Greetings from Pearisburg, VA

2009-05-18T15:41:00.002-04:00

This is my little office outside of the Dairy Queen in Pearisburg, VA
(near Roanoke on the WV border). Thank you Groton Elementary for
sending ANOTHER great care package and inspirational quotes. It was
also nice to read the letters from Mr D'Antonio's and Mr Goodwin's
students. Casper, Kailea, Julie, Jacob and Andrew, I haven't seen any
hillbillies but I've run into a few people that butchered the English
language pretty badly. Ben, Justyn, Colton, and Mike, I haven't had
to use the pepper spray and hopefully won't. Emily, Taryn, Kailea, Nathan, Brooke, and Sam, the announcements look good! Alyssa, the bugs haven't
been bad yet. Sam - I'm not going to quit! :-) Emma, I love Lime
Hollow too and be sure to go back this summer. Cady, the map sounds
cool. Phyllis, I'll keep my eyes open for a turtle. Deni and Tess,
it is very exciting going to all of these different places. It has
all been very memorable. Tristan, Emmilie, Lynsey, Karlee, Claudia,
Jake, Arrion, Emily, Marissa, Valerie and Emma, thanks for the good
luck and best wishes. Mike and Brittany - a time capsul - great idea!
Tyler and Marcus, sorry to hear someone disrespected your nature trail. You're
great people for cleaning it up. Thanks again and I hope I didn't
miss anyone.

2009-05-18T14:44:00.000-04:00

Hi Groton Elementary! I'm sorry it's been awhile since I've posted
but I have been so busy. Ever since we got so close to that controlled
forest fire I've wanted to learn more about them so I've been spending
time in the libraries in the towns we pass through. I bet Ms Prentiss
has some good books on the subject too. I've also been reading a very
funny book called No Talking by Andrew Clements. It's about a contest
between boys and girls to see how long they can go without talking to
one another. I've been reading that during rainy days when I hide deep
in Lucy's pack.

Virginia has been beautiful though. This is me taking a rest on the
bridge while everyone else was busy looking at the map. Streams like
this make me wish I had my fishing pole. Did you hear about the wild
ponies? They were great. They came right up close to us...a little
too close to Lucy. She didn't like them and tried biting one that got
really close. Well I hope everyone is well. If you've been reading a
good book please pass along the title and author so I can check it out.

Your friend,

Skoob

New Boots

2009-05-18T14:15:00.000-04:00

After 624 miles it is finally time for new hiking boots. For the last
50 miles the heels have really been digging into my feet. This picture
hurt a lot more than it looks. I even hiked a day in my Crocs to help
them heal up. I was hoping to go through only 3 pairs of shoes for
this trip and it looks like I'm on schedule.

Pastures

2009-05-15T22:45:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone. I'm spending the night at a motel in Bland, VA to rest up
and dry out some clothes. Thanks for all of the birthday wishes the
other day. It was a beautiful spring day in Virginia - I couldn't ask
for a better day. This picture was taken after we hiked through a cow
pasture that day. Kevin is hoisting Lucy over a stile which we have
to climb periodically over barbed wire fences. Our next town will be
Pearisburg, VA.

My GPS Position

2009-05-14T16:09:00.000-04:00

4,400 ft in VA

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 37.057765
Longitude: -81.399057
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

Scenery

2009-05-13T11:24:00.000-04:00

This meadow reminded me of the top border of the blog. The little spek
next to the tree is Kevin.

My GPS Position

2009-05-13T10:45:00.000-04:00

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 36.886543
Longitude: -81.370969
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

Science

2009-05-13T09:51:00.000-04:00

So tomorrow night at 6 is Groton's science night in the ms/hs gym and
I'm bummed I can't make it. Make sure someone Tweets some photos! So
in the spirit of science, here is a question for the high schoolers:

While hiking, everyone must treat their drinking water in some way to
remove hazardous bacteria, viruses, and protozoans. I'm oldschool and
choose to filter my water with a hand pump. This removed everything
over 5 microns in diameter. Others use iodine tablets or chlorine
drops because they are lighter than the pump.

So I ran into a guy that does this: he adds 5 drops of chlorox bleach
to a liter of water, waits a couple minutes and then add 5 drops of
hydrogen peroxide. He claims that when combined it reacts and forms
water and salt, thus being healthier than the bleach alone. What do
you think?

Salamanders

2009-05-12T11:22:00.000-04:00

The Appalachian Mountains are home to many salamander species. Most spend part of their life on land and retreat to shallow pools to lay eggs in the spring. I've seen several that are highlighted on the previous website but my favorite is probably the red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) These guys are found in New York State as well. I've seen them around Groton too. One that I'm really trying to spot is the giant Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis). These fully-aquatic beasts can grow up to 2 feet in length. They're sort of gross looking though, don't you think? I'd love to hear about salamanders that people have seen around Groton.

Virginia

2009-05-12T11:14:00.000-04:00

We're almost 50 miles into Virginia and so far it's been beautiful.
It's been a 50/50 mix of forests and pasture. At the Mt Rogers/Grayson
Highlands area we encountered around 30 wild ponies. They walked right
up to us and one started licking my hiking pole handles to taste the
salt. Today we go into Sugar Grove to pick up Kevins resupply package
and get lunch. Hope all is well back home.

My GPS Position

2009-05-10T10:54:00.000-04:00

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 36.632731
Longitude: -81.624577
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

2009-05-09T09:04:00.003-04:00

What a surprise! Mrs Filzen sent me a birthday care package from Groton Middle School. I can't explain how much this means. Thank you all so much. It was fun to read the card and the snacks are perfect! Have a great weekend everyone.

Night Hike

2009-05-09T09:03:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone,

Thursday night around 7:30 pm, after 18 miles, we got to a shelter just in time to dodge a passing thunderstorm. We were both still pretty energized afterward and decided to keep moving. Just before sunset the sky began to clear up. I'm trying to search my stunted vocabulary for an adjective to describe next 30 minutes; some of the most memorable minutes of my life. It was about 2 parts ethereal and 1 part outlandish, with a pinch of haunting. We began walking along a ridgetop watching the sun set and the lights begin to turn on in the small city below. We hiked as the sky turned darker and witnessed the woodland creatures competing in crepuscular chorus. We hiked through a hemlock forest in the haze that felt like some sort of scene from Lord of the Rings, full of dampness and mystery. Within minutes, the full moon came out from under a few clouds. We extinguished our headlamps to see the moonlight melt over the canopy of the May Apple monoculture like white wax.

At 3am we could hike no more, so we pitched the tent and got a few hours of sleep before descending into Damascus, VA the next morning. We had hiked 32 miles in one day.

My GPS Position

2009-05-07T16:29:00.000-04:00

This is My Current GPS Position:
Latitude: 36.481143
Longitude: -81.960347
Google Maps link

Sent from my iPhone

2009-05-07T09:53:00.001-04:00

Walking through a Rhododendron forest on a misty day listening to
Sigur ros is truly surreal. Today we got an early start at 7am because
we are doing 19 miles today to double springs shelter. Another 18
miles tomorrow will bring us into Damascus, VA tomorrow evening.

History

2009-05-06T07:57:00.000-04:00

This is a shelter (formerly a barn) that we passed the other day in a
beautiful valley. It was featured as a backdrop in the movie, Winter
People. This barn fell on the path of the Overmountain Men. During
the Revolutionary War, 3 militias from Virginia, North Carolina, and
what is now Tennessee joined forces. 1000 men strong, they marched
south to defeat the Brittish is a bloody but critical battle in the
war. Now, the sign said the year 1780. How could that be right?

Care Packages

2009-05-06T07:43:00.000-04:00

After stumbling out of the woods from 5 miserable days we came upon a
great surprise. We were expecting a package from Groton Elementary.
Thank you guys so much! I must add that you made excellent choices;
lots of stuff high in calories and protein - everything a hiker needs.
Also, special thanks to Mrs Rilley for the awesome dinners and Mr.
D'Antonio for working out the logistics.

We also received a nice box of snacks from Mrs Hunter and high school
student council. Thank you so much! You read our minds. The biggest
surprise, however, was a box of chocolates from Mr Filzen's friend who
runs a very classy candy store called The Alps in the Hudson Valley.
Thanks Terry. We appreciate the effort you put in to send those.
Thanks everyone, things like this make me feel connected to Groton and
New York.

2009-05-06T07:29:00.000-04:00

2009-05-06T07:24:00.000-04:00

2009-05-05T21:25:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to take a couple seconds to answer some of the questions that have popped up. First off, I feel great. My legs no longer hurt because I have developed my "trail legs". Now I just have to make sure I don't roll an ankle or slip on a wet log or something that could put an end to the hike. The mental aspects of the trip are going to be the toughest now.

My feet are alright. I still have a couple blisters which I am not popping. I'm going to let them heal on their own. I try to keep my feet as dry as possible which has been hard lately because of the rain. I'm a little concerned with my two baby toenails. They seem discolored and maybe dead (I think my shoes are a 1/2 size too small). I'll be getting new shoes in about 300 miles though.

Lucy and Skoob are doing great. Skoob has been hiding from the rain. He sleeps in a pocket at the end of the tent. He has been great at keeping my pack organized and loves riding in Lucy's pack.

It's been great hearing from all of the elementary classes. Be sure to check the Fire post. Stephanie Johnson from the US Forest Service posted a response to your comments.

All in all, we are having fun. I'm looking forward to Virginia because the hiking is flatter. We just got done climbing Roan mountain, the last 6,000 ft mountain until New Hampshire, 1000 miles away.

Tomorrow we are slackpacking. That means that someone from the hostel we are staying at will drive us to a point 23 miles up the trail. We will then walk (without our heavey packs) back to the hostel where we will stay the night again and be driven back to that point the following day. It's a great way to do the trail but get a day off at the same time (sort of).

Have a great week Groton, and live the life you love!

I'll post on the care packages as soon as I can.