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4.20.05
It's my anniversary! One year ago today I began my hike. Wish I could be starting all over again. Well, it's off to work for me...
I've recently uploaded about 400 new photos from Kiwi to the gallery page. Lots of great shots, please check them out.
4.02.05
NEW PHOTOS!!
I was able to scan a few slides today. The new photos can be found in the following albums: Georgia, North Carolina / Tennessee, Virginia - Grayson Highlands, Virginia - McAffee Knob, New Jersey and New Hampshire
1.16.05
I have added a story titled, "The Bear on Springer Mountain" to the stories page. Thanks to Screamin Steven for submitting the story.
11.06.04
New! Guestbook has been added!
11.05.04
Get your gallery account now! If you are a Thru-Hiker (only those I hiked with please), go to the photo page, create an account and upload some of your favorite photos from your trip. You can now rate and comment on photos. Please do so!
11.05.04
I have added the first story to the 'Stories' page. Please send me some of yours.
11.02.04
Damn it! I just discovered that MSR is coming out with a new stove design that uses a 'capillary force vaporizer' unit. Here's the concept:
A very small and lightweight ceramic component pressurizes and vaporizes white gas. This eliminates the need to pump or prime the stove and saves you weight because a metal fuel bottle and pump unit are no longer required.
I can't believe they stole my idea! In Massachusettes I began brainstorming with a goal in mind; I wanted to design a lightweight white gas stove that did not require the pressurization of fuel. I wanted to do this because coleman fuel is so much more efficient and less expensive than denatured alcohol. The problem was weight. White gas stoves tend to be much heavier than alcohol stoves. I saw that immediate weight reduction could be acheived by eliminating the heavy pump and metal fuel bottle. Wouldn't it be nice to carry your Coleman fuel around in a lightweight Mountain Dew bottle? Like we do with denatured alcohol? In order to do this I realized I would have to come up with a method of vaporizing the unpressurized fuel. In Vermont I began toying with the idea of incorporating capillary action in the vaporization process. Later I added the used of porous ceramics and heating elements. Well, guess what MSR has done... Or rather the people at Vapore who they hired to steal my ideas. There had better be a good job waiting for me over there...
10.28.04
Testing out the new page. Email me with problems or comments.
P.S. - New Photos are still being added!
10.22.04
10.19.04
Photos are in the proccess of being uploaded. Click here to see what's been put up so far. There will be many more coming after i find access to a slide scanner.
10.19.04
On Sunday, October 17th, I summitted Katahdin with Blackfoot, Butterfingers & Wideload, and Mickey & Mallory. I will be updating the journal page soon, and scanning in some of the photos so check back soon!
09.20.04
Gen (calling from Gorham, NH) said that if anyone cares to send a final maildrop, it should be sent PRIORITY MAIL by September 29 to:
Gen Shimizu
ATTN: Hold for AT Hiker
c/o Shaws
PO Box 157
Monson, ME 04464
Thanks!
08.31.04
Gen just called from near North Adams, MA. He'll be camping in Vermont tonight. The miles through CT and MA must have been rather uneventful as he couldn't come up with any exciting stories to tell. Well, there was a nasty storm that moved in yesterday, just as they were descending Mt Greylock, the highest point in MA. The tent purchased in NJ seems to have been the best addition to his load as he said he has stayed in a shelter only one night since he bought it.
594 miles to go! Go, Magnet!
08.05.04
1285 miles! Gen arrived today at the Delaware Water Gap having survived the infamous rocks of PA and an encounter with seven cute, curly copperheads. A week or so earlier, Gen's grandparents were very happy to meet him for breakfast at Duncannon, PA. (Although Grandma said she couldn't sleep for several nights after seeing Gen disappearing into the dark of the forest.)
Tomorrow Gen enters his home state of New Jersey. He expects to arrive at Bear Mountain around August 13.
Gen's mom
7.16.04
Gen has reached the psychological halfway point, the 1000 mile mark at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. When I asked him if had used his hammock lately, he said that the other night he slept suspended over a stream. When I asked why, he replied, "Well, how many times do you get to do that?" :)
7.11.04
Gen arrived in Front Royal, VA this afternoon, having had a "good day" since he met (and photographed) two bears and a rattlesnake. (He likes seeing the bears but I'm not so sure the rattlesnake encounters are welcomed so warmly.) Next phone call should come from the 1000 mile point at Harpers Ferry, WV. Wheee...!
from Gen's mom (who thinks she really wants to be out there hiking, too . . . at least for the daytime part . . . and without the snakes . . . )
6.08.04
The happy camper called from Pearisburg, VA today, having covered something like 618 miles since mid-April. All news is good news and Gen has never sounded better.
5.25.04
Gen is now in Hampton, TN, spending the night at the Kincora Hostel, his last planned hostel stay until New Hampshire. Gen said he has gained five pounds, but I don't think those pounds came from the whole onions he eats. Yum! (?)
Gen's mom
5.04.04
This morning's phone call came from Fontana Dam, NC. Gen shared a room with the three Pennsylvania Dutch guys last night and the four of them were packing to enter the Smokies together. Next communication with the outside world (me) will be in about a week, 104 miles from now.
4.29.04
The first box filled with items selected "to lighten the load" arrived in CT this afternoon. Beneath the discarded jacket, flash attachment, gators, pan, film, pot scrubber, nail clippers and used maps, the first journal entries were found. I have transcribed them (how many more days to go?) and sent them on to Tai to download. So, feel free to check out Gen's Journal page and read the gory details in his own words.
Gen's mom
4.28.04
Gen has now left Georgia and is in Franklin, North Carolina, 107 miles from the start. Hard to believe, but Gen says he hasn't had any sore muscles yet, just some achy joints. (I'll have to try that chocolate/oatmeal combination he eats for breakfast.) Tomorrow he'll take his first "zero day" to give the knees a rest.
04.25.04
Gen is now in Hiawassee, Georgia, 67 miles into the trek. This update does not include Lions and Tigers and Bears. In fact, the only exciting news was when I THOUGHT Gen said he was spending the night in the hospital. What he ACTUALLY said was that he was spending the night in the Hostel. So tonight, I'll get a good night's sleep.
Gen's mom
04.23.04
Gen's mom here reporting with news from Gen who has arrived ahead of schedule in Neel's Gap, Georgia. He sounds great! The first night on the trail, his backpack was stolen from right under him as he tried to sleep in his hammock . . . by a BEAR! (Not the most comforting news for a mom to hear on the first phone call.) The next morning he found the pack about 200 feet away, having survived with only two souvenir teeth marks . He said he was lucky as some other hikers' packs were ripped apart.
Last night he slept in a shelter, alone, for the first time, except for all the mice running around. He said there was a lot of racket in a plastic bag near him so he kept swatting at it. Finally he got out his light and flashed it right into the eyes of a SKUNK, about one foot away from his face. Such excitement and he's only been out there three or four days!
Gen was staying on in Neel's Gap to see Lance Armstrong go through on some bike race and to enjoy grilled food before getting back on the trail. He was mailing his journal here so details will follow. : )
04.19.04
Someone PLEASE send me some helium balloons to tie to my pack!!
04.15.04
Hrmm.....
Two missionaries, Elders Nielson and Barton, just came to see me and wish me well on my walk, heh. Nice enough guys though perhaps a little confused. So anyway, I now have some reading material for the trail, The Book of Mormon! [i have opted not to take this, though the paper is very thin.... good kindling for my fires.. ;-/ ]
04.14.04
Nothing left to do but sit and wait. And pack and unpack, and pack again and unpack, and...
04.13.04
Just bought my train tickets. I will be departing this Monday night, the 19th. I arrive in Gainesville, GA the next morning where some friendly people from The Hiker Hostel will pick me up and shuttle me to the approach trail. Should start the trail the following morning of the 21st.
04.11.04
Updated the schedule page. I know my departure date has been changing every few hours for the last few weeks, but I think I will set it in stone by purchasing a train ticket tomorrow. The train I will probably take leaves Charlottesville on the 19th and arrives in Gainesville, GA on the 20th. From there I will take a taxi/shuttle service to Amicalola State Park where the trail begins.
sometime in between
Sorry, the job positions have been filled. My mom will be transcribing my journals and sending them to my brother, Tai (Tai's webpage, HA!), to upload to the webpage.
03.21.04
I had a little mishap with the fuel for my stove and briefly became a human candle.
03.16.04
Are you tired of sitting around all day? Feel like your life is going nowhere? Do you know how to type? Well then I've got the answer for you! And best of all it's FREE! That's right! You'll never pay a single penny! The experience I can give you will help YOU pursue the career you've been dreaming of and all that is required is a few minutes per week for six months! You heard me right, just six months! and did I say it's FREE?
Email gshim@guanotronic.com or read below for more details.
Transcriber needed to transfer handwritten journal entries and updates to this website. Some experience with HTML helpful, but willing to teach. The work will primarily require typing, copying and pasting.
03.14.04
If you happen to go to some fast food place, please try to think of me and steal as many packets of salt, pepper, ketchup, mayo and mustard as you can. (these would make awsome mail drops by the way) ;)
03.13.04
I could use some help collecting junk!
If you are going to throw away any of the following in the next couple weeks, give them to me instead, please :)
Thanks!
03.12.04
I finally got around to making this page...