[at-l] I almost missed this

[PUDSCRAWLER at aol.com (PUDSCRAWLER@aol.com)]

In a message dated 11/16/2004 12:56:32 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
at-l-request@backcountry.net writes:


> Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2004 10:58:44 -0800
> From: "Kelly Whitman" <kellyswhitman@hotmail.com>
> Subject: [at-l] Still out here!
> To: at-l@backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <BAY17-F14xOjIL2jpWk00085c53@hotmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
> 
> Hi, all!  I'm briefly resubbing just to let folks know I'm still on the 
> trail.  I left it at the midway point in PA in the middle of the summer with 
> 
> severe plantar fasciitis, returned in September to hike through NH (wanting 
> to get the Whites out of the way), hitched up to Katahdin and then went 
> south through Maine, then hopped over NH to continue SOBO through VT.  I'm 
> now in Dalton, MA, and hope to finish in PA by New Year's.
> 
> There are actually more people out here than I expected, and while I'm 
> mostly enjoying the solitude, I'm always glad to see someone and have a 
> chat.  I've met a few section hikers, some trail maintainers (checking on 
> shelters), day hikers, and lots of hunters (deer season; yes, I'm wearing 
> blaze orange).  Some of the Long Trail hikers I met have me seriously 
> considering doing the LT next year.  Very neat and interesting folks out 
> here.  Lots of kindness.
> 
> It's COLD in this part of the country, at least to this native Los Angelean. 
> 
>   The coldest temp I'm logged so far was seven.  Seven!  That is a child's 
> age, not a temperature.  That was at Stratton Pond.  The pond froze, my 
> contact lense solutions froze, my shoes were two bricks of solid ice... made 
> 
> for a very interesting morning, heh heh.
> 
> Other than a little frostbite on my toes and fingers, and what I think is a 
> hairline refracture of my left wrist (which I fractured earlier in the 
> summer in a fall on the trail), I am doing well.  I'm camped on Tom's porch 
> here on Depot Street in Dalton - nicest fellow in the world - he loaded me 
> up with hot cocoa, blankets, and - joy of joys - a real PILLOW last night!  
> All very much appreciated.  I am going to do some laundry, pick up my mail 
> drop, and be back on the trail tomorrow, heading for Kay Wood shelter.  I'll 
> 
> try to check my email tomorrow morning, then I'll unsub again.  I'll resub 
> "for real" when I'm back home in January.
> 
> Hope everyone is well!
> 
> Kelly Whitman
> GA -> PA <- ME '04
> "There ARE no other women like me."  -- 7 of 9
> 
> P.S.  Did I already mention my trail name?  It's "Pooja the Bear Chaser."
> 
> 
> 

Why hasn't there been more comment about Kelly's reappearance?  (I was away 
from the computer when this came in and only finally opened it tonight.)  I 
remember Jim asking a number of times if anyone knew where she was.

Well, she's really braving it (the cold).  My hat's off to her.

Kinnickinic