Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999
Mike Aken started the approach trail at 9:30 AM on April 1st with a packweight just shy of 40 pounds including water etc. He arrived at thesummit of Springer Mountain at 2:30 PM (I hiked up the other side tomeet him) and headed out from Springer for Maine at Aprox. 3:30 PM. Ileft him at the parking lot below the Springer summit where he yogi'd a"pop" from a group of college coed through hikers and their mother. Hehad 10 miles under his belt for the day and .9 official miles on theAT. He was heading to a shelter area about another 1.5 miles down thetrail. Mike about knocked me on my butt putting his pack back on with a"round house discuss thrower type swing". He said you were familiarwith that pack mounting technique and knew to stay clear.
He also mixed and drank cool aid on top of Springer before he left. Hesaid he usually just drank water but that you guys had cool aid andother flavored drinks in the Grand Canyon and made him feel left out.He said this with humor, was he getting even for something?
He was in good spirits except he had some concern when he found out Ihad a scanner and that some of the pictures I took may get into yourhands. Have you done something devious to him in the past? Soundslike sort of a challenge to me.
Fred