Post date: May 24, 2009 12:12:7 AM
T-man has checked in on spot 3 times today at 7:19 AM, 4:03 PM, and 5:48 PM.
Below are two e-mail up dates from Gred Mackler.
8:35 AM
I spoke with Todd this morning a couple of times.
He must be making some calls because he said his battery was dying. I'm not sure if this is battery number #1 that was going, or battery #2. Todd brought multiple cell phone batteries with him for the trip, and a huge plug in cell phone antenna. In order to protect the cell phone antenna its being carried in a cut length of about 3 diameter PVC that has duct tape over each end. You can see the antenna carrier strapped to the outside of his pack in one of the pictures. Its a bomproof way to protect the antenna, but it is heavy (for backpacking - where everything is relative) a least seven or eight ounces I'd bet plus the antenna.
Per Todd "The Kekekabic is kicking my (bleep)".
I didn't get anymore details about the mileage he did yesterday, which appeared to be almost 20 miles. So no 'blister' update. I was curious to see if he had used any moleskin yet. Its a covering particularly designed for blisters in his First-Aid kit. Blisters can ruin a 'packing trip, but moleskin makes them a non-issue. I wanted to tell Todd to slow down and take one-step at a time, but didn't get a chance due to his battery...
If you look at the latest satellite message from the Spot, and compare it to last night's something interesting happened. Last night's message was south of the trail (albeit only slightly) and this mornings message was north.
The trail might not be well defined in this area, or properly blazed, as most people to the Boundary Waters definitely don't backpack, but rather canoe, and Todd was a little uncertain about whether he was north or south of the trail. So the Spot has already come in handy as by using the link I was able to see that he was north of what is listed as the 'snowbank trail'. I've been on trails before that just sort of disappeared on me, and its very demoralizing and disheartening.
Where Todd is backpacking doesn't have distinct elevation changes and prominent landmarks like you see out west, and its hard to get a 'birds eye' view of anything (to compare to your maps) due to everything being relatively flat. The forest just always looks like the forest...
It was a bit tense communicating with Todd regarding where he was. He called on his cell phone. I tried to call him back from my home phone to clear up the call a little. No answer. We ended up talking cell to cell again. You never want to be discussing relative positions over a cell phone without some kind of protocol. You never know if a packet dropped and the entire context of what you're saying was heard.
The word North can be construed to be construed as 'you're North of the trail' (should go south) as well as 'Go North' (to get to the trail). Its an interesting communication problem only made more complicated by the fact that Todd was literally on top of where the trail should be. Who knows how precise the Spot messenger really is (I'm not sure if its really that precise to have known whether he was fifty feet on either side of the trail or if that was just approximate. This is only compounded by the fact that trail crews update and reroute trails constantly, so hopefully Google maps is up to date.
Todd has good topographic maps and a quality Silva compass. He knows that there is a road three miles from where he is now even if the Kekekabic is being a bit reluctant to be hiked.
Think about Todd today, and hope that the next Spot messenger location update is 'on track' so to speak. As difficult as this trip will be for Todd physically, emotionally, and even spiritually, the last thing he needs is a disappearing trail...
Greg
4:31 PM
Well the good news is that Todd definitely found the trail again. If you zoom in on Google Maps it shows the trail as 'Snowbank Trail'. The phone conversation Todd and I had this morning is one you never want to have: "Where is the trail from where I am?"
I put the earlier coordinates into Google and used the most recent coordinates in 'Get Directions' and 'Walking'.
It came back with 3.3 miles since Todd's earlier 'OK' today.
That might not seem like much, but Todd's carrying a heavy pack and from the sound of it the trail was very elusive over this section. I'm starting to wonder where exactly Todd started walking from...
It will be interesting to see if Todd veers north to set up camp up near Disappointment lake off the trail spur or keeps going as its already 4:30.
Todd said he would use the OK button at other times if he wanted to exactly record where something was to match with pictures. Hope to see some of those pictures soon.
Go Todd!
stay tuned we will see what happens Sunday.
Carol