"Hiker Puts Long Trail Behind Him" - Mountain to Sea Trail - NC

[7Sisters]

An article about a man who recently finished the Mountain to Sea trail:

Hiker Puts Long Trail Behind Him
By Ted Richardson, Staff Writer
Published September 29, 2008


JOCKEY'S RIDGE STATE PARK - Long-distance hiker Scot Ward, with his sandals covered in sand and a Boogie Board strapped to his backpack, crested Jockey's Ridge on Sunday beneath a ray of sunlight and with a calm breeze at his back.

"It's done," said Ward, planting his hiking pole into the dune.

The final day of Ward's 930-mile journey across North Carolina on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail was, he said, his best day since he stepped off from Clingman's Dome in the Smoky Mountains on May 23.

"I've been waiting a long time for today," he said. "It's been a tough road."

To reach his mark, Ward dodged cars and tropical storms, experienced dehydration and negotiated a trail that is sparsely marked and hardly complete.

"I knew this was a new trail," Ward said. "I wanted to be among the first to hike it, and I wanted to write a guidebook for those who may want to hike it from start to finish."

He purchased the official guidebook for the trail but knew right away it was too heavy to carry.

Ward's guidebook, which he hopes to test with a second MST hike next year, marks possible camping spots, water sources along the trail and businesses where hikers can buy supplies.

Ward pitched his tent behind churches most nights along the back roads through the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Earlier this week, when he got caught in the driving rain and sand of a nor'easter along Hatteras Island, Ward found shelter with a group of surfers in Frisco.

When he hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2003, Ward spent most days with other backpackers. He found little company on the MST, hiking most of it alone and catching up on conversation in communities along the way.

Ward woke up Sunday morning a stone's throw from the Bodie Island Lighthouse.

He fought mosquitoes for the first mile through a thicket of pines and shrubs, then stepped out into ocean breeze on Coquina Beach. He cruised nine miles along the hard-packed sand to Nags Head, passing surfers, sunbathers and fishermen.

After detouring behind several homes where the beach had washed away, Ward finished hiking the last few miles through Nags Head. As he turned off the beach at Conch Street, he caught a glimpse of Jockey's Ridge and smiled.

Reaching the top of the dune, high above the Pamlico Sound, Ward had the view almost all to himself.

"I'm here! I did it!," he half-exclaimed, half-exhaled.

He called his mother first, then his sister and brother.

Ward had earlier delivered his bike, along with a trailer to haul his backpack, to a bike shop in Kill Devil Hills. He plans to take about a month riding back to Florida, where he'll work the winter to save up enough money for his next trip.

"I'm still on the road," he said.

Here's a link to the original posting: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1236286.html

[Taba]

I just wanted to say thank you to 7Sisters for the acknowledgement. I did hike the entire Mountains to Sea Trail this year and I had a wonderful time. I also have to thank Ted Richardson, the Photo-journalist from the Raleigh News & Observer. He did an amazing job in documenting the journey and allowing everybody to follow along via the internet. The trail challenged me on many levels. There was the physical part of hiking that I had to overcome. Then obviously the mental part of being alone most of the time. I also had to fight the elements. The temperatures hit 120 degrees heat index which cause dehydration and heat exhaution a few times and then the tropical storms on the outer banks. But I pushed through all those obstacles and finished the adventure. Along the way I personally documented everything I saw and wrote that information down with the mileage. I used that information to write a thru-hikers manual for the MST in NC that will be finished soon and will be available after February 7th, 2009. If anyone has plans to hike this trail or just part of it, my book will help make it easier to navigate. If you would like a copy just e-mail me @ Thru_hiker@msn.com and I will give you the details. Once again thank you for the recognition.

Scot "Taba" Ward
"There And Back Again"

Appalachian Trail 2003
Long Trail 2004
Colorado Trail 2007
Mountains to Sea Trail 2008

[7Sisters]

Taba - you're welcome and congrats.

I look forward to hearing more about your journeys. Particularly some of the ways you mitigated your issues (like heat exhaustion). Were you on your own during those times or were you close to established infrastructure to obtain help.

Thanks

[Taba]

When I ran out of water I was out in Tobacco fields and sometimes really far away from town. So sometimes I had to knock on doors at some of the houses I passed by to see if they would help out and fill my water bottles. Other times I just had to push on and try to get into town and pray that it didn't get too serious. I did acquire a kidney stone because of the dehydration factor that took me off the trail for a few weeks. I think I have resolved the issues of running out of water for the future hikers of the MST with the guidebook that I wrote along the way. If I saw a church or firestation that had a water spigot on the side I listed it in the guidebook as a possible watersource and possible camp. I am going to hike the MST again in 2009 to refine my information. Hopefully it will be easier this time.

Scot "Taba" Ward

[Taba]

This hike, this time had a few issues. I wanted that challenge. I am bored of the super highway trail that caters to your every need. I wanted to do this so that I would look for everything I needed at all times. I kept my supplies at just enough so that I would always be looking for my resupply. Like water, I was not sure where my next water sources were going to be so I sometimes ran out before I reached the next one. Whether that be a stream or a water spigot on the side of a church. The heat in the middle of summer can be somewhat dangerous if you are not prepared for it. Just like the White Mountains in New Hampshire, every thru-hiker has to pass the sign saying "This area has the worst weather in the world. Turn back now if you are not prepared." So these issues are not really issues anymore. The new thru-hikers manual will make it easier to navigate through and prepare for them. This was a wonderful journey and I encourage everyone to take a look at it. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is 42.8% of the distance of the Appalachian Trail and takes about half of the time to complete. This trail shows you everything that North Carolina has to offer and some of the greatest challenges. It will soon be a close relative of the Appalachian Trail.

Scot "Taba" Ward
"There And Back Again"

Appalachian Trail -- 2003
Long Trail -- 2004
Colorado Trail -- 2007
Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 2008

[Taba]

Good news! I just sent my work off to the publisher. I should hear back from them soon. The books will be out soon. Look for both of them. I have written a Thru-hikers manual for the MST and I have transcribed my journal into a story book about my journey on the MST in 2008.

Taba

[7Sisters]

Taba,

Let me know when you have them available. I'm interested in reading more about the MST.

Peace be with you

[Taba]

Originally Posted by 7Sisters

Taba,

Let me know when you have them available. I'm interested in reading more about the MST.

Peace be with you

Once I know, you will know. I am now waiting to see what the publisher says.

Taba

[Taba]

I have the book ready for print. I will be self-publishing it. The publisher I sent it to said that would be the best way to go. I will be presenting the guidebook to the FMST on February 7th. It will then be available for purchase after that. If you want a copy, e-mail me at Thru_hiker@msn.com or call 561-319-2564 and I will give you the information on how to get one. Thank you to everybody for the support and the encouragement to finish this project.

Scot "Taba" Ward

[Taba]

Hi everybody,
I have noticed that the post that has the most views is about some guy dying in Grand Canyon. I have not read that post and probably will not. I am tired of hearing and seeing people who do the same adventures as I do but die in the process. I feel that because of some dumb decisions those people have become infamous. We as people tend to focus on negative situations. For example, why does an artists work become more valuable after he dies. Why can't people be recognized for the extraordinary things they do while they are still alive.

I have watched the numbers for each post and for weeks this post has been around 106 below the Grand Canyon post. I would love to see the more positive post be the number one on this site. Not because it is about me but because I would love to see people more focused on positivity. I can understand if you read that post to learn what not to do. It's not just that post either there are many examples of people not making the right decisions, like the guy who found a bus in Alaska to die in.

If you agree than let's work on getting at least one positive post to number one to show that we are not all focused on the negative in the world.

On a different topic:
"The Thru-Hiker's Manual for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail of North Carolina" is now complete and ready for sale. It is a very detailed description for the trail and caters more to long-distance hikers. It is a light-weight quick reference pocket-sized book that lists every water source, view point, possible camping location, and has over 625 businesses listed and categorized in every town to help along the way. I am asking $20.00 for the book. You can send a check or money order to:

Scot Ward
PO Box 55536
Lexington, KY 40555-5536

Please allow 1-2 weeks for shipping. I was the only long distance hiker out there in 2008 and would love to see other hikers out there this year as I complete another thru-hike. I will start hiking around May 23rd from Clingman's Dome.

Thank you,
Scot "Taba" Ward