REI opened their 5th store in the Atlanta metro area today in Alpharetta, GA and clearly their marketing folks have figured it out. There were over 800 people waiting in line at 10am when the doors opened.
Yeah …. people love free stuff, and REI delivered. The first 200 in the door received a water bottle with a $25-100 gift card inside. I opted to head back to work rather than line up as shopper #804. How in the world did so many people get off work mid-morning on a Friday anyway?
It’s been 20 years since I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. There’s no doubt, it was a different Trail back then – fewer thru-hikers, no cell phones, and no websites to research the A.T. prior to heading out. Thru-hikers today are better informed, better connected, and significantly better prepared than when I hiked in 1994. That said, here are some tips for the Class of 2015 as you start the A.T. this Spring:
The First White Blaze On The Appalachian Trail – April 11, 1994
In the show, Clint discusses the first draft of the screenplay, the trailer, and the upcoming plans to film the movie. He also give us some personal insight in to Bill Irwin and how he overcame alcohol and tobacco addiction through faith in God and by heeding the call to hike the A.T.
For more information or to follow the making of this film, click here. For the audio interview click below.
Subject: Blind Courage
Interviewees: Clint Ross
Interview Date: February 25, 2015
Runtime: 1:11:04
Download Now: Blind Courage – The Bill Irwin Film (WMA format 68.2 Meg);
Blind Courage – The Bill Irwin Film (MP3 format 49.2 Meg)
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This is a winter hike to the Len Foote Hike Inn that we did with a group of dads and sons from St. Jude Catholic Church. Kudos to the staff at the Inn – who provided outstanding customer service during our visit. What a great place….
This is a video of a January 31, 2015 backpacking trip to Bly Gap, North Carolina which is located just past the Georgia-North Carolina State line on the Appalachian Trail. It was the first time I'd been here in 20 years and it was great to be back. Northbound thru-hikers love this place because it marks the completion of the first of fourteen States on the A.T.
Hiking northbound on the Appalachian Trail about two miles
from Bly Gap and the Georgia-North Carolina border. The Boyz and the
dogs do a walk over and leave me in the dust.
Ice and steep cliffs make for some challenging hiking on the Hidden Canyon Trail at Zion National Park. Now it's my turn!
Man this is making me hungry, let's go get some lunch. Wild Turkey at Zion National Park.
Walk In The Woods premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this week to mixed reviews. Here's a sampling…
The Guardian
“Plenty of silly little incidents ensue along the way, with lots of jokes about advancing years. Most of these episodes are far too low-stakes to carry a movie and the bigger picture, about two men past their prime trying to figure out what to do in their dotage, is handled far too simply to have real impact. The result is something that is just fine. It’s pleasant enough to watch, but by no means riveting or revolutionary.”
Hollywood Reporter
“A delightful journey with fine star turns by Redford and Nolte that should prove a good draw for finicky older audiences.”
New York Post
“Tame gags are about all the film has to offer. Major distributors were in attendance at the premiere; the chief of one of them left halfway through.”
Salt Lake Magazine
“I fear the adaptation of the book that premiered at Sundance could destroy future sales of Bryson's travel cult classic—and could put the uninitiated off the AT itself.”
Salt Lake City Tribune
“If you're going on a journey, it's good to have familiar traveling companions — which is why “A Walk in the Woods” is a trip worth taking.”
Variety.com
It’s pleasant enough cinematic comfort food, but even so, you may be hungry again soon afterward.”
There is nothing better than escaping a trade show in Las Vegas for the backcountry and fresh air of Zion National Park. After a 3 hour drive Fuller and I arrive in Springdale, UT and stay a short distance from the park. Our first mission is to hike the Hidden Canyon Trail.
We climb 850 feet and link up with a steel chain that guides us around a cliff with an insanely sharp drop off. It is at this point that I remember that I might have a slight fear of heights.
And to make things more interesting, we round a corner and see the Trail covered in ice. Hmmm – better hold on to that chain!
I try not to look down – because damn it's a long way to the valley floor. Get me off this ledge!
Fortunately, the Trail Gods smile on us and we reach the mouth of Hidden Canyon without incident.
We hike along a sandy and rocky canyon floor, then scramble across some boulders to walk deeper in to the canyon. It's a cool place and well worth the trip.
We even discover this mini-arch less than 15 minutes from the end of the maintained Trail.
But the forecast is for rain within the hour, and neither Fuller nor I want to get caught on that cliff with wet, slick, and icy rocks. So we start our decent to the trailhead.
The Hidden Canyon Trail is supposedly a warm up for Angel's Landing in the park and just across the Virgin River from us. Damn! I can't image what that is like. Guess you are soaring with the Angel's if you miss a step.
We make it back to the trailhead without incident, and decide to squeeze in another three miles on the Watchman Trail before the rain comes. From here there are great views of Zion Canyon to the north and Springdale to the south.
And after 6+ miles of hiking and 2436' of elevation gain/loss today – we are hungry and tired. So we grab a sandwich and Fuller slams a margaritta at the Zion Lodge restaurant.
Then we retire to the comforts of the hot tub at the Desert Pearl Inn. Here we are with a Nalgene of brew watching some bursts of sunshine light up Johnson Mountain at sunset. A great day to say the least.