dsims' posterous of ponderings

Google+ Circles (and Facebook Friend Lists) only solve half of the problem.  It is great for privacy, but not for relevancy.  If I post a link to an article about programming, I don't want to limit it to a small group of people like "Tech Friends" because it's not a privacy issue.  If I forget to put someone in that circle they won't see the link I shared.  If I post it to "Public" then everyone sees my link, even though half my followers don't care about programming.

This problem is sort of solved now by having multiple social networks.  I post random thoughts and tech-stuff on Twitter, more family-oriented stuff on Facebook, check-in on Foursquare, dump photos on Picasa, share links on Google Reader & delicious, and long posts on posterous... all because no single service can handle it all intelligently.

Not all posts are created equal.  A check-in at starbucks should not be treated the same as long blog post explaining something important.  I would post a lot more if I knew I wasn't going to drown the good stuff with what most people don't care about.

Maybe the solution is for all posts to have categories/tags.  Categories that people can hide.  Categories that people can follow without becoming my "friend".  A good start would be some useful auto-tags...  like #photo, #checkin, #share, #video.  Then let me tag my own posts.  I could mark a post as #programming and not worry about who sees it because they can easily hide all #programming posts if they want.  Tech acquaintances can subscribe to only my #programming posts, so they don't have to see #photos of my #dog.

Maybe another solution is to simply group posts into short-term and long-term buckets?  A quick thought, a funny link, or a check-in are only really relevant "now".  A photo album, detailed blog post, or important announcement should be more prominant and visible for longer.

Some services were on the right track but never quite got there.  

• Buzz, FriendFeed, & Facebook allow you to hide posts created by specific apps & services.
• FriendFeed has the ability to post to both your own feed and to "Groups" at once.  You can also apply some advanced filtering as a "Saved Search".
• Facebook has some long-term buckets with Notes and Photos.
• Posterous allows multiple blogs/Spaces for a single person, but are too disconnected.
• Some Twitter apps, like TweetDeck, let you hide posts that contain certain words

Google+ Circles and Facebook Friend-Lists give me more control over who sees my posts.  What I want is more control over the posts I see.

I knew you could make phone calls in gmail for a while now, but due to various known issues it never worked for me. Recently I've been going over my cell-phone minutes thanks to long conference calls so I decided to give it one more try.  After some investigating I found that if you delete the plugin then install this msi mentioned here, it works.  Free phone calls, yay!

Yesterday my trusty Motorola Droid died.  It got wet while I was rafting/tubing down the Chattahoochee (I should have left it in the car, I know).  My voicemail is handled by Google Voice so I changed the greeting to "My phone is dead, leave a message and I'll get back to you".  I was able to record that message through gmail so... wait... I can receive calls in gmail?  Somehow I didn't know about this.  Calls to your Google Voice number can be forwared to phones and Google chat:

That means my laptop is a phone; a free phone (at least until the end of the year).  I just need to get everyone to start using my Google Voice number (678-HEY-SIMS).  The reason I haven't fully committed to my GV number yet is because I don't totally trust it. I have experienced a noticeable delay during some calls (it may just be calls initiated from the web & sent to my phone, not sure).  

My guess is that next year they will expand this to Android and other mobile devices, eventually shifting everyone to data-only wireless plans (and the end of home landlines & voip providers).  Of course Skype/Microsoft will follow with free Skype-in numbers that integrate with Windows & Xbox devices.  Whoever controls your free phone service will know who you call and what you talk about, all neatly wrapped in ads and offers.

It's a shame that, even with free phone service, overall we probably won't save any money now that wireless providers are charging more for data.

Andy Stanley has some great practical advice to remind us what love is like:
http://www.northpoint.org/messages/the-new-rules-for-love-sex-and-dating

But if God is Love, and He is in me, then doesn't my new nature have these characteristics?

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

We love because he first loved us

Can the righteous become more right?

Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we ARE righteous.

I am the person the person I am looking for is looking for...  but the enemy has mind-tricks to make me forget.

May the 4th be with you.

...and 2179 miles later I flew home.

I've been meaning to write a summary of my thru-hike since I got back about 6 months ago, but I found that I can't really do it justice with words or images.  Some have tried (read the books As Far as the Eye Can See or the A Walk in the Woods or look at these photos) but you can only truly understand once you are a few months in.  A commonality I found amongst all my fellow hikers was that we couldn't really explain it, but we felt compelled to do this.  The trail called us there.  A thru-hike may not be for everyone, but it was definitely for me.

My reasons for walking through the woods for five and a half months were varied... I wanted to challenge myself physically and technically, I wanted to clear my mind, I wanted an adventure, I wanted to know what is truly essential, I wanted to discover more about myself and this planet, I wanted to raise money for Abby and awareness of Mitochondrial Disease, and I wanted a fresh beginning... to hit the reset button on life. I achieved all this and more (like growing an epic beard).

Now that I'm back in the "real world" I feel I have a sharper focus on life.  In the six months since I returned I've changed jobs, moved into my own place, met new friends, and even implemented an idea or two.  Stripping down to the bare necessities of life gives you a greater understanding of what is truly important.  I understand the power of taking one step at a time. I know I have the patience, determination, and support to accomplish anything I dream.

I want to thank everyone for the support I received. I don't think I would have made it without: My parents who traveled thousands of miles to help me.  My friends who joined me, left comments on my site and on facebook, and donated to the Fitzpatrick family.  My fellow hikers I met along the way.  All the countless trail angels who provided food, drink, shelter, and encouragement.  And most of all, my incredible dog Kooper, who was my constant companion through it all.

I can hear the calling.  What's next?  Anyone up for Patagonia?  The PCT?  Te Araroa?

Obi-Wan & Kooper

Some stats:

We raised $5350 for Abby!

I averaged 13.3 miles per day, over 164 days (Apr 17th - Sep 27th), including 13 zero days.

I spent $4267.30 while I hiked.  This does not include buying gear before or flying back home (or loss of income from not working)

This spreadsheet shows where I was every day and where I resupplied.

A compilation of my best photos & videos.

A dump of all my (1000) photos.

Me speaking about my hike at church.

All my trail-journal posts along with a map at onahike.com (I'll have it viewable in oldest to newest post order soon)

The weather turned out to be perfectly clear and sunny the whole way
through.  All the heavy and bulky winter gear I lugged around was
mostly unused, but I am grateful for staying dry and having daily
breathtaking views.

Moosilauki was first, known for its steep and slippery north side.
Kooper and I had no problems.  Going down is much easier for Kooper
because he has no fear of jumping or sliding down the rocks.  I, on
the other hand, take my sweet time to avoid any knee injuries.

We stayed at Chet's hostel in Lincoln, then got back on the trail
carrying 5 days of food.  Chet is an avid outdoorsman that opened the
hostel (which runs on donations) after he was wheelchair bound due to
a fuel canister explosion.

Soon after I began my hike out of Kinsman Notch, I realized I left my
denatured alcohol (cooking fuel) at the Glencliff hostel.  So I
hunkered down and commited to hiking the full 17 miles to the next
roadcrossing back to Lincoln.  Turns out the climb up south Kinsman
Mountain was the hardest climb yet.  Every 10 feet was like a puzzle,
trying to figure out how to get Kooper and myself up the cliffs of
rock. Without a pack it would be fun, with a fully loaded pack it was
sloooow.

As I neared the Franconia Notch roadcrossing late in the evening, I
came across the first AMC Hut, Lonesome Lake.  The huts are large bunk
houses that provide a bunk, dinner, and breakfast to guests (for about
$90 a night).  They function totally "off the grid", so aren't as
nature-destroying as you might think.  So I asked if they had
denatured alcohol and they did!  They also asked if I wanted to
work-for-stay, where I would clean out their fridge and they would
give me dinner, breakfast, and a secret tent spot behind the building
(you are not allowed to tent near a hut, in fact you are only supposed
to tent in designated places in the Whites that charge $8).  So I
didn't have to go back to town afterall!

Next up was Franconia Ridge which is a thin above-treeline ridge
providing amazing views all the way up to the top of Mount Lafayette.
Lots of scrambling up rocks, but you don't care because of the views
and cool strong winds.  Even though it was a relatively short day
(12ish miles?) I was happy to pay 8 bucks to collapse at the Garfield
Campsite.

The next day was more alpine hiking amongst short pine trees,
waterfalls, and a nice flat stretch to a stealth camp spot (avoiding
the $8 fee at the offical spot a few miles back).  The next day I
originally wanted to stay at Lakes of the Clouds hut, but from what I
was hearing from various caretakers, forcing them to take in Kooper
(dogs are not allowed in huts) would not be good.  So I took a short
day, hung out at the Willey House, and stopped at the Mitzpah
Hut/campsite along with 12 other through-hikers and all of us got WFS.

Up next was the Presidential Range, an entire day above tree-line.
The views were once again amazing, especially of the Great Gulf
valley, Grand Canyonish in its vastness.  As I passed Lakes of the
Clouds Hut, the top of Mount Washington (second highest peak on the
AT) was engulfed by a dark cloud.  I hiked up anyways and the skies
cleared just as I reached the top.  Not much of a view up there due to
all the touristy buildings (you can drive or ride a train to the top).
 Interesting that candy bars are cheaper at the Huts than on Mt.
Washington, even though the Hut croo have to carry everything on their
backs over miles of rocky terrain.

Speaking of rocky terrain, the trail from Washington to Madison was a
brutal field of rough rocks.  We got to the hut but were denied WFS,
so we went down a very steep side trail to a stealth camp spot (right
next to a no camping sign >_> ).  Another exhausting day down.  In the
morning we went down the Pine Link side-trail (there are hundreds of
trails in the Whites) that goes straight into Gorham, NH.  Spits you
out convieniently next to Burger King :)

To finish out the Whites, I left my gear at the White Birches
Campground hostel and attacked Wildcat, Carter, and other peaks
carrying only water and food for the day.  Without a 35-40 lb pack,
steep climbs can actually be fun!  Even still, the rough terrain can
wear you down.  Kooper plopped down a few times, forcing me to take a
quick break.  We took another side trail to get back to the road
before it got dark and rainy (I forgot to bring my headlamp).  18
miles of hiking through the Whites takes a long time, even without a
full pack.

So, I made it out of The Whites alive and well.  I will miss the
scenery, huts, and abnormally sunny weather.  In a few days I'll be in
Maine, which is as rugged but probably won't have quite the views (and
a cold front is coming).  The desire to reach the finish line may be
all that keeps me going from here on out.

(download)

Click here to download:

My_hike_through_the_White_Moun.zip (20.64 MB)

One of the goals of my hike was to raise money for my friend Abby, to help pay for travel to doctors in Cleveland, Ohio.  When I told her mom, Lauren, about my plan she seemed surprised and a little confused.  She didn't really know what the Appalachian Trail was or what it all entailed.  As I hiked on she began to realize what it was all about, and it turns out she has family up north near the trail that could maybe help me out!

First up was Abby's cousin Angie in Massachusetts.  She works for Gould Farm, mainly with the dairy cows.  I got to stay the weekend in Angie, Amanda, and Nathan's home, use the farm's sauna, eat wonderful farm food, and get a glimpse of what farm life would be like.  Thanks to Angie, Evan, and Rev. Liz for shuttling me around town too.

Then when I got near Rutland, Vermont where Abby has many aunts and uncles, I got to stay at Abby's aunt Nancy's home.  I hiked over Mt. Killington & Pico the next day and then got picked up by aunt Julie!  Julie wanted me to come back for church on Sunday to talk about my hike, so a few days later I expected to get picked up again near the New Hampshire border.

To my surprise, it was Abby and Lauren who arrived to pick me up!

Sunday morning I spoke about my hike in front of Julie's church, and they all gathered up a big donation for Abby.  So now I was way past my original goal of one dollar per mile, so I'm now counting Kooper's miles too!  I spent the rest of the day hanging out with Abby's family, and rode back to the trail Sunday night.

Instead of hiking into the thunderstorm at night, we decided it would be best if I stayed in a hotel or hostel near the trail.  The only thing available near Hanover, NH (that would allow dogs) was the Norwich Inn.  By far the nicest accommodations I've had yet.  The dog room even had dog pillows and dog paintings on the walls.

A few weeks ago I called Merrell customer service (which was immediately answered by a real person) to ask if there was a way to thicken up the bottom of my shoes (it was starting to feel as if there was nothing between my foot and the rocks).  She said no, but that she can send thru-hikers one new pair for free.  Now that's customer service!

My shoes actually held up really well after over 1400 miles.  Hardly any tearing or holes.  In fact, another hiker was happy to take them when I got my new ones!  They may end up on Katahdin after all.

I had been warned about the rocky stretch of the AT in Pennsylvania before the hike.  The rocks themselves are nothing new; I have complained about walking over patches of rock since I started.  The thing about PA's rocks is that they never take a break.

From about Duncannon, PA to High Point, NJ is a ridge line consisting of nothing but rubble.  There is the occasional dirt road, but for most of the 200 miles you are carefully navigating rocky terrain.  It's like playing Tetris with your feet.  You constantly rotate your feet to fit in the spaces between the rocks as they come at you.  Sometimes there is no space, forcing you to step on the sharp edges or steep angles.  Averaging 2mph for the day is a challenge, even though you are not scaling any mountains.  There are also huge boulder fields where you hop from rock to rock, hoping you don't slip off over the side (I actually enjoy the boulder fields).  At the end of the day your feet hate you.

I saw many hikers skip huge sections of the trail here or even the entire state.  It may not be the best part of the trail, but it is worth hiking through at least some of it.  There are actually some good views to be found.

When I passed High Point in New Jersey, we finally got off this ridgeline.  I don't expect the rocks to go away but hopefully they won't be quite as bad.

Maryland and Pennsylvania (first half anyways) are probably the easiest sections of the Appalachian Trail.  The downside is that its at low altitude and currently in a record-setting heat wave.  Good thing there have been ways to deal with the heat this week:

Sunday : Dip hand-towel in cold spring water to lay on chest at night.
Monday:  Take 3 hour lunch break at http://www.freestatehiker.com
Hike into the not-so-cool of the night to meet a friend who takes you to a hotel (thanks Tyler!)
Tuesday:  Eat Chick-Fil-A Icedream before getting back on the trail.
Jump into the Caledonia State Park pool right before it closes.
Wednesday: Hike to Pine Grove Furnace State Park to eat a half-gallon of ice cream to celebrate completing half the AT.
(I finished a half gallon of Cherry Jubilee in under 25 minutes, all 2400 calories)
Spend the rest of the evening at the park's beach.
Thursday: Hike to Boiling Springs, PA and get in the mini water park or in the very cold spring water (it boils by looks, not temperature)
Friday (today): my plan was to do a short hike up to US 11 to spend the day in a hotel room... but they are all booked due to some auto show.
So plan B:  Hike 30 miles to the town of Duncannon for free food and a shower, or if I'm lucky, a night or two at The Doyle.

I know, 30 miles doesn't sound like a good idea in the heat, but the terrain is flat (walking through farm land), I can take a good long break every 10 miles, I'm starting really early in the morning, and this section sucks so I just want to get it over with.  Wish me luck and rain!

Today I passed by the first Washington Monument, built July 4th, 1827 by the folks in Boonsboro, MD.  An interesting contrast to the many Civil War battlefields I saw yesterday.  One Declaration of Independence celebrated; one declaration of independence denied.

The Appalachian Trail continues the American quest for independence.  I have never felt more free than here in the woods.  Free from all the traps of society today: expectations, material possessions, and the need to perform.  I don't know if this will change things when I get home, but I know I have a different perspective on many things now.

I'm writing this from my tent on Annapolis Rock. I hope to see some fireworks from the great view up here.  Not a big deal if I don't, as its hard to beat this sunset.  Happy Independence Day!

Update: Didn't have a signal to post this last night.  Saw a ton of fireworks going up all over the valley, but couldn't see the ones close by, as Haggarstown was blocked by the mountain jutting out.  Blackrock Cliff would have been better, but I didn't want to walk a mile in the dark.

(download)

Click here to download:

Independence.zip (850 KB)