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Michael Spies
Michael Spies

Michael Spies

📍 Mauritania Read more🇩🇪Icking
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  • Michael SpiesEagles fly, deserts call!Michael Spies
    1
    Elfi AschenbrennerBarbara ErberMarkus Härtner

    Eagles need to fly

    August 16 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    "Sprinti" wants to move again, this time through the high Atlas mountains in Marocco, on to Mauritania, deep in the Sahara desert, along the Senegal river into black Africa.
    There is something in human nature, in MY NATURE, that after a while in comfort, needs to break free and live on the edge again.
    Especially Mauritania is going to be a challenge this time as we will be deep in the desert for many days without access to diesel and water.
    Once again we will be travelling together with "Mantoco" who organised the Iran/Arabia trip in 2022/23 and 3 other trucks, good to know, as Mauritania is really very empty!!!!
    My travel partners will be Elfi Aschenbrenner for the first 2 months, then Barbara Erber joining me for Mauritania and then Markus Härtner for the last leg back along the Algerian border.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    "Sunshine" or Heidi, a day hiker who did the PCT in 2017 tried to encourage me.Deep in thoughtLying in the path considering what I am going to doAround me nature in its most beautiful form.Many new trees growing out of a rotting massive stemAround the magnificence of this ancient forestMushrooms helping recycle the old woodI leave the trail and follow a forest road off the mountainI stop at this wonderful stream for one more night in this incredible natureMy last tent siteAnd the river flows and flows, like my feelings

    Deep thoughts, and heavy decisions

    July 6, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    For a large part of this trail I have been accompanied by loneliness. On top of this comes the pain at night in my arthritic hip and knee. Sometimes these two are unbearable and all the incredible nature I am walking through is not able to compensate this.

    These last days I have been listening to an audio book "the untethered spirit" by Alan Singer about that voice in our heads that is incessantly commenting our environment, our actions and our thoughts while giving advice on everything!
    It's our ego!
    This incessant stream of comments blocks our real feelings and intuition.
    The book suggests first of all becoming aware of this voice, and then trying to silence it, to hear our real inner voice.

    For weeks I have been very lonely on this trail. My real inner voice has been wanting a holiday. Not just a break, but a return to Europe, a deep longing to touch and be touched, to see my loved ones, my bed, healthy food.

    Today, I lay down on the path for hours to feel inside me.
    And I made a decision.
    I am going to end my hike, here and now, descend to the next town, see if I can visit my friend Lorna in Connecticut and then return to Germany.
    I will return another time to hike this incredible trail that has given me so much.

    It is that non-stop chattering voice that has been preventing me from hearing this inner feeling for days now.
    Comments like:
    - "You announced this huge undertaking with fanfares and drums, you can't stop now, what will they think!",
    - "You will never be able to look yourself in the mirror again if you stop!"
    - "Get yourself together and stop letting your feelings interfere with this experience of a lifetime"
    Etc, etc, etc!
    Its that tough, demanding, performance oriented Michael talking.
    Its time for the gentle Michael.

    This trail has been the hike of my life and beats anything I have ever done.
    I have learned sooo much about hiking and about myself.
    I hiked 1.200 km through mountainous terrain under incredible heat and water conditions, living in my tent and carrying my food. At the same time I climbed a total of 30.526 m altitude in 50 days.
    This "old Toppie" (afrikaans for old man) is tired.

    But far more important I learnt to take myself as I am, no longer with the energy and recovery of a 30year old, listening to my body when to stop, being kind to myself, and in particular learning that I do not need to continue just because my inner commentator says I must.
    Not being the hero who "completed the whole PCT" has let me understand that I do not need to compare myself to others and the expectations of others, also not with the expectation in myself!
    "HIKE YOUR OWN HIKE" they say,

    Thank you Pacific Crest Trail, we will see each other again.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Once again my whole life in a bag
    Last water for the next 15kms"Camel tanking" (drinking a lot at the water source before leaving)Trying my best to take a coffee break in a dream location. Impossible! Flies, flies, mosquitos

    Big flies, small flies, very small flies

    July 6, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Well! There are big flies, small flies, very small flies and mosquitos and they fly around their forest all day drinking and eating (I dont know what).
    And then along comes Michael!
    The fly siren goes off and they all fly to the place where he is to jointly suck him dry.
    Now, I simply don't understand how word can get around so quickly in "fly land", and why they all need my blood when they have been happy drinking and eating other things for ages!
    I try to put myself in their bodies and minds.
    Yes I also eat and drink my normal food everyday, until I spot a bag of "Gummi Bears", then I cannot help eating them in one session!
    But at least I eat them quickly so they don't suffer.
    I don't suck them dry slowly, causing great suffering like the flies with my blood!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Don from Portland
    Last photographThe imense Columbia riverBridge of the GodsA short encounter with "Boon" from KansasLuscious green forestsTent site next to a guy from germanyMy neighbour

    Breakfast with Don

    July 5, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Don , whom I met last in Idlewild at breakfast, lives in Portland. This morning he drive out for us to have breakfast together. He is cook for a caterer and will enter retirement next year. We talked about trails and dreams and then he drove me to the trail, a last photograph and I crossed the Bridge of the Gods into Washington an up the first mountain.
    The same age old high trees, only this time they were not burnt! A forest jungle with streams and lakes awaited me.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Saying farewell to my South African friends Graham (podcast) from Durban on right
    A long frustrating wait for the first lift this morning04.July fireworks at cascade locksThere comes my wonderful "cho-cho train" 30m from my tent who kept me awake all nightMy home in a bagMorning coffee

    Decision to hike Washington in July

    July 4, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Usually one ends the PCT at the Canadian border after having hiked through Washington state in late september when it is raining and starts to snow again. I was told that Washington is most beautiful in July.
    The ever rising temperatures of the last days let me spontaneously decide to Jump ahead to Portland to hike from there.
    Yesterday I said goodbye to my two buddies from South Africa whom I met at Burney, and this morning I stuck out my thumb. Rather problematic on 04.July when all cars are full with families!
    My third lift, however, was an adventure I will never forget! A 22 year old guy recently released from the US-Navy because he had received a 600 volt shock while repairing equipment on a ship and was "never the same again", stopped and offered me a lift. But I didn't notice all this when he stopped. When I got into his ancient toyota pick-up, I noticed that on my side there was no seat belt. Then he explained that the rear tyres of the car were bigger then the front causing strange behaviour of the car in certain situations. Then I noticed that the shock absorbers were totally destroyed resulting in the car constantly swinging to-and-fro-fro. This was especially exciting each time he entered a curve at 130 kph giving the feeling that there was absolutely no control of the car.
    I considered asking him to stop and let me out but then decided to put my life in the hands of my angel, and by god did he do a good job!
    But far more moving, was the state of this poor young man. When I asked him where he was going, he answered "I dont know, I'm just driving". He had driven from the north to the south through the desert and was now driving north again on the N5. He had no home and was receiving a pension/damages from the Navy of
    USD 1.200,- per month. In USA that is a joke of a sum. This Navy had used him and then dropped him without a home, without a perspective, and without psychological help after having destroyed his mind.
    I was deeply moved and angry!

    But, I am now actually still alive in "Cascade Locks" and will cross the "Bridge of the Gods" tomorrow into Washington state to walk the last 813 km to the border.
    My tent is camped on the Oregon side of the river 30m from a rail line and every ten minutes one of those 3km long freight trains comes past at 50kph.
    To improve things further, Washington, on the other side of the river, also has a train! And the two have perfectly synchronized themselves with Oregon so that hikers don't have to suffer because of too much silence.

     Now thats a good start to this next section!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Up and away at sunrise to get the cool hours
    Water tank filled regularly by a trail angel., then no water for 20km'sMy shirt, a salt mine!Sleeping together with 60 other hikers in a Gymnasium of the church.

    Hot, hotter, and hotter still

    July 1, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    The days are getting hotter and hotter, today 38deg C and no wind! With the afternoon path leading over a black lava field. I drank more than 5 liters and didn't pee all day. All the water is exiting through my lungs or skin. I can't carry more nor can I drink more. It's a real problem.

    In Burney, a one street town, I found lodging in a church with 60 other hikers. It is 04.July weekend and motel prices are "through the roof"    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    A Ground squiril wondering what smells so bad here!
    1Just getting ready to suck my bloodIn the end I gathered my last energy and set tentSo dirty and sticky that I don't want to touch anything. But only one liter of water left.The sun disappears, maybe tomorrow is a better day!

    Today is one of those days!

    June 30, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS!
    - Where it is incredibly hot and moist,
    - Where every horse fly in the country has come to the "suck Mike dry" festival and liters of my valuable life blood are being "stolen".
    - Where the next water source is 30km away,
    - Where I sweat so much that you could take scraper to get the salt off.
    - Where I am so dirty and stink so much that I dont want to touch anything and simply want to run away.
    - Where I am so tired that I dont even have the energy to set up my tent and prepare the night.
    - Where I walk 30km and am so exhausted that I dont make it to the next water source, not only for drinking, but to wash off the disgusting salt.
    - Where I am so sticky that I am horrified to get into my liner and sleeping bag, but Where I know that the temperature at night will drop to 4 degrees.

    TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS!
    And I am so thirsty!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    My world packed in a bad. Ready to leave
    Sunshine on the water of my beloved lmountain lakeA totem to prevent such a terrible fire again3 meter wide stump. Nothing left of the.monstrous tree of the past1Mount lassen volcanoA couple come riding pastNote the guns! She on the left, he on the rightClothes rinced, body clean, now time for a coffee on a log in the riverFiltering.my waterThankyou beautiful river for the resting placeMy camp tonightDinner the roman style (lying down)View from my tent, the night is here!

    A day of self reflection

    June 29, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    As I walked today, I listened to the book " Krankheit als weg" by Thorwald Detlefsen or " The healing power of illness: understanding what your symptoms are telling you."
    I read this book when I was 28 and thought I had understood it. Hearing it now is like an epiphany! The first part of the book is about universal laws, and as I listen, I go from one amazement to the next as things I feel suddenly make sense. In the second half, about sickness and what it wants to tell us, I dont stop being amazed when I look at the health topics that accompany me. I
    n the second book, "Poly Secure" by Jessica Fern, about relationship patterns and how they affect our adulthood, I recognise myself again and again , and when I then see certain topics appearing in both books, it knocks me out.
    This is a day of deep reflection of who I am and how I am.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Breakfast with mosquito accompanyment
    Dead silence in a dead forestVery quickly fungi start to work on the deadline woodThis tree was 3 meters wide, burnt down to the roofsHanging on a treeNofretete shaking her head in sadnessAnother huge tree"Trail magic" on another level. Nature had kindly built a natural bridge across this riverAnother wonderful bridgeSnow fields still covering the pathAgain a deer.!My house on the lake!Snow on the opposite shoreAfternoon paradise

    Burnt forests and pristine lakes

    June 28, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    While everyone left camp already at 6am to be able to cross the 35km of park in one day, I took a different pace and listened to my soul ending up setting camp at 5:00 already next to the most pristine mountain lake at 1900m !
    That is the earliest I have ever done!
    It was a dream. I was all by myself. The afternoon sun shone while I swam and rinced three days of salt from my clothes, Then I sat in the sun on the shore reading my Kindle till I could no more and fell asleep! All I could hear were birds and a pair of ducks.
    Paradise on earth!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Left: Uffe from Denemark, right "Money bag" USA
    Gigantic trees burntDead quiet, in a dead forest"Money Bag"UffeLook who popped up for a chat with me. We talked for about 2 minutesAnd shortly afterwards, a ground squrrilThe youth comes roaring by. I often wonder if they see the beauty?Tent site amidst millions of mosquitos

    Joy and sadness on the same page

    June 27, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    For the first time today, I met someone older than 45 !
    Two hikers "Uffe" from Danemark and David, "Money bags" USA, both 55 years old.
    We walked together for most of the day, stopping for breaks and conversation. What a nice change.
    But today was a difficult day, I haven't walked for 8 days now and noticed that my fitness had dropped massively. At some stage, I stopped trying to keep up with them and reverted back to my speed, which I know is good for my joints.
    We walked most of the day through burnt forests. In 2020 an electrical cable of the electricity company PG&E had short circuited starting a fire that destroyed
    1 million acres of virgin forest and burnt for three months advancing 10kms each day.. A local with whom I talked said that the tall 50m high and 2 meter wide trees had burnt like torches for weeks.
    This makes my heart cry!
    As I walked through the dead silence, deep sadness took hold of me.
    But I also realised that there is a certain beauty to a burnt forest.
    20 hikers spent the night on the edge of the mount lassen national national park trying to evade the rule of having to carry a rather heavy bear canister in the park to protect tje bears from our food. They intended crossing the whole park the next day.
    The location was great, a breeding site for millions of mosquitos (I am not exaggerating here). I fled into my tent.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Kannedy meadows, "Trip" as the hunchback of Notre Dame, drying his sleeping bag
    How on earth are we going to close thos boot with 5 big rucksacks inside?Barren desertThe Sierra chain becomes visibleMountains between 3000m and 4400mTrail angel Mike in chesterBear totem

    Arrived in Chester, a new chapter begins

    June 25, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    We drove 8 hours yesterday.
    Ellen "Wayfinder" (driver) is an experienced hiker and has done the PCT , or parts of it several times.
    As we drove through a landscape changing from desert to verdant green forests it became clear that a totally different trail is waiting for us in northern California, Oregon and Washington.
    Lakes forests and rivers await us, but also mosquitos, bears and mountain lions. Throughout the drive talk was about how to protect yourself from mosquitos, and how to behave when you meet a bear. Food now has to be packed in a bear canister or "ursack" made of bulletproof kevlar, that a bear cannot open.
    As the stories of encounters with bears and Cougars (mountain lions) weave between the hikers in the car, a feeling of unease grows. How am I going to handle these new challenges and fears?
    I suppose, the same way I met my fear of rattle snakes, "just do it!"

    We are staying at a trail angel called Michael in the "pfauhaus". 7 hikers in a tiny room .
    This morning at dawn I am woken by a concert of birds. Yes, the birds that eat the mosquitos that are going to eat me
    Yea, a totally new trail is bout to begin!!!!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    The Kennedy meadows General store
    The Old folks enjoying the evening sunWhile hikers arrive welcomed by clapping and cheering1

    And then the next miracle fluttered by!

    June 24, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    The Sierras are under a fast melting thick snow cover causing dangerous walking and raging rivers that are tearing down bridges. Only very few mountaineers are daring the next 700kms.
    The big question has been, "where does one jump forward to, and how?
    Routes are complicated and expensive.
    We sat down as a team and worked out a plan with non-stop travelling by bus for 50 hours with 5 changeovers. And then Elisabeth had the idea to look in Facebook. And there was the next miracle, a hiker lady, Ellen, had rented a car to drive the 1200km from Tehachapie to Chester via Kennedy meadows and was looking for hikers to share.
    Once again, "Trail magic"
    Incredible!
    5 hikers plus rucksacks piled into the cr and off we went, first to the legendary "Kennedy meadows" the portal to the Sierras, where we spent the night.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    1Barbara, 80years and a volcano of energy and positive energy
    Tents everywhereGroup cooking and Mike's saladBreakfastHeiko the comedian going crazy after many beers (and magic mushrooms)1

    And then Barbara came to the rescue

    June 23, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    When I woke up in the morning after a windy, painful night, I was incapable of moving. Frozen in a deep depression, not able to do anything anymore!
    After lying there for 2 hours, I decided to hitch a ride to the next town, Tehachapie, take some days off and decide whether I am going to give up the trail.
    I was at the end, physically and morally!

    5min. After I put my thumb out, a driver stopped and drove me straight to the center of Tehachapie (50kms out of his way). I got out of the car, and a lady stopped next to me and asked if I needed a place to stay for the night. She knew a trail angel who could take me.
    So we ended up at BARBARA'S HIKER HUT.
    Barbara is 80 years old and has converted the barn of her cider factory into a camp for hikers. A kitchen, bathroom, refrigerator full of food, drinks, and ice cream and her energetic smile and voice brought me back into this world. "The Trail provides" is a mantra of the PCT.
    I stayed for four days and one after the other my friends arrived. We cooked and laughed together, talking and sharing, and I felt carried by the community. The clouds disappeared, and my heart opened again.
    These 4 days were the greatest of the whole trail so far.
    A particular person was Heiko, a born comedian and unfortunately a bit lost in his life. His stories and performance while telling them had us howling with laughter all day!
    Such a wonderful person!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    1

    Hikertown, my sprit and bones are dead

    June 19, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Camped on a beautiful tent site overlooking the desert valley. But as always, when you are close to the desert, incredible winds begin at sunset. The result is rattling tent and sand everywhere. At sunrise, I gave up, packed my things while they blew away, and began the 800m drop and 20-mile hike to hikertown with aching knees and hips. By the time I got down, I could hardly walk, so I decided to take the longer road route to hiker Town and catch a lift.
    But the few cars that came passed me by and in agony, I walked the 10 kms on tarmac, which increased pain even more.
    I was finished, demoralised, and in agony.
    In my worst moment I heard the beloved screech of an Eagle, my spiritual animal. He flew low over my head, reminding me that I am not alone.
    WOW!
    I arrived at hiker Town, a crazy place in the middle of the desert.
    There many known faces about to leave and hike through the desert in the night to not have to carry so much water. I waved them goodbye, shocked that several hikers had taken magic mushrooms, some LSD and all others smoking grass.
    This is not my world and I felt very lonely again and went to bed depressed.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    The only water source in 20 miles
    Once again, fire scars!Lunch time resting place without flies for the first time in days

    The only spring in 20 miles

    June 18, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Again a day with only one water source which means carrying large quantities.
    I haven't had enough water to wash for days, so I got undressed on the trail, grabbed my cloth and a one hour washing session began in a 1 l/min. flow rate. Not the best, but by god, did I feel clean! Of course, accompanied by a myriad of horse flies doing their thing.Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies

    30km days are eating my bones!

    June 17, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Since yesterday, I have been walking through the land of a million flies, and they all seem to be following me. Tiny ones that specialise on my ears and nostrils, while the bigger ones go for my blood and seem to appear instantaneously as soon as I stop for a break. Killing them by the hundreds is useless, there seem to be hundreds waiting to replace them.
    For days now, I have had to do 30 km days to make it to the next water source, and it is not doing me good. My arthritis night pains are back. No sleep at night combined with 30 km days is even worse!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Airstream caravans for the filmstars
    Cars for destruction in car chasesHow about a portable church?I've seen similar clay figures all along the trailThis little snake was guarding the only water spring.

    HELP! Im being eaten by a millions flies

    June 16, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Like Acton and Agua Dulce, this area is where Hollywood makes their films. As I climbed up I passed an area where film requisites are stored, hundreds of hotrods and cars ready for destruction in a car chase, fifty Airstream caravans for the Filmstars on set, and even a small portable church.
    As I walked, suddenly "Max" (from Australia with whom I hiked on my first day) appeared. I hadn't seen him since the then and spent a wonderful break together. Even though he is 29years, we have a special relationship.
    Food for my soul.
    That evening I set up camp along the trail, only to be attacked by millions of small flies. A horror with only one solution, get inside the tent quickly and stay there!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    How much ammunition would you like to have? Just take it from the counter
    Deco from the last western

    ACTON, 730km, 22.000m

    June 15, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    A good feeling got me this morning:
    I am now walking a little more than one month (36 days) and have walked 730km. In that time , I climbed and descended 22.000 meters!!!!!!
    Now, how's that for a 65 Year old "Toppie"?

    Acton, like the whole area, is in the backlands of los angeles and completely dominated by the film industry. The trail angel who took us to Acton is a sound engineer and stopped every few meters to show us the set of virtually every famous film in the last 10 years. An old barn for the final shoot-out of a drug film, the guy making the cars for "fast and furious" or an animal sanctuary for tigers mountain lions and Grizzlies used in films.
    Or the old saloon in a Western. Everything was illusion in film.
    In the supermarket, I watched a customer buy ammunition for his shot gun. How many boxes would you like? No problem, just choose what you need from the counter.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    1Time for breakfastThis guy looks tiredOne of the holes left by horse flies

    33kms, 800m up, 1500m down

    June 14, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    What an extreme day!
    I wanted to get to ACTON at all cost to pick up parcels I had sent to the post office there. The trail just did not want to end, another loop, another climb, and every now and then I could see the camp site in the distance.
    But the day was definitely too much, and pain racked me all night.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies

    How can energy vary so dramatically?

    June 13, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    While yesterday was pure FLOW, today was the contrast program, I had zero energy!
    Every step was an effort!
    I dragged myself up the mountains, incapable of seeing the beauty, my thoughts focused on all the difficulty. What is worse?
    The bushes growing into the path forcing me to step off the trail and slide down the steep slopes, or the hundreds of bugs that jump on me every time I brush past a bush, preferably they then climb down my back and start biting, or are the trees lying across the path worse? Too high to climb over, too low to climb under and too wide to go round, or is it the 100 flies accompanying me around my head as I walk, of which some manage to land on my skin and immediately sink their proboscis into my skin to suck my blood..
    And then there are those tiny flies that have one objective in life, to fly up my nose or even better into my ears to then not find their way out and buzz around for minutes and there is nothing you can do.
    Today was one of those days where everything is terrible and no beauty gets through.
    But tomorrow will be another day!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    The first plant after a fire is the Poisonous "Poodle dog bush""Narwalter" a 30kg rucksack full of Apnoea equipmentHiking on the road, old Camuno feelingsNew hope!Bark healing around the edgesThese two lizards seemed mesmerized by the cello music of Chopin that I was playing1Nothing like a hot chocolate before going to bed

    A day walking through burnt forest

    June 12, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    Yesterdays fog became thicker and thicker until we could no longer see the trail. I pitched tent next to a closed road. The air was so moist that water was running down the tent inside as outside. Everything was wet!
    The next morning it cleared up and i put everything out to dry in the first sun. Hardly had the sun come out, when the fog rose from the valley engulfing us again. I gave up, packed and started walking. That's when I met "Narwal" with a special story. I saw his huge rucksack weighing 30kg and more than wondered. He told me he had Apnoea (stops breathing at night) and carries a machine + batteries to keep hin breathing. He had been in Irak in 2003 after the oil wells burnt. The poisonous gasses reduced his lung capacity by half. Since then he has apnoea. How corrageous to be doing the PCT!
    A huge region of indigenous forest had burnt and I decided to walk a part on the road. This accelerated my speed from 2kph to around 5kph, such is the difference between trail and road. I felt as if on the Camino again and quickly walked 30kms in total FLOW along and through burnt forest. As I walked I imagined how the flames engulfed the trees, each burning like a torch and lighting the next one. As I walked I listened to the music of Hania Rani a young polish pianist, the violin, cello and piano, fitted perfectly to my inner pictures of this fire.
    (see Hania Rani, "There will be hope" on the recording "Inner symphonies" )
    But I also saw traces of hope. Flowers had started to flower, the bark of some trees had healed on the edges to burnt areas and some trees had new needles in the crest. Nature is a miracle, even after a catastrophe. AGAIN Hania's music accompanied these feelings. (See "Malasana" on the same recording)
    I arrived at my daily target really early, set up tent and enjoyed an early dinner and hot chocolate! Mmmmm!    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Waking up at 1800m
    And then the snow line. Now walking became difficultOn top at last!CurtCrossing the path again and again, a 4m snow driftAnd then the fog came over the ridge.Once burnt forests everywhere

    Mt. Baden Powell,

    June 11, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C

    We camped at 1800m, getting up early to catch the snow while it was still har.
    In Wrightwood everyone had been discussing the snow, the lack of a path and the extreme steepness of the climb. Somehow we did it, and felt "that's it for the day"!
    The anti climax followed, another 25km, numerous ridges, climbs and drops which just went on for ever!
    To make matters worse, the whole region had burnt recently and fog appeared, creating a weird atmosphere.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Mandy and Elisabeth
    Mandy's Australian monster who schmoozes with her like a catAndie Mc-Donald from VancouverMandy with daughterOnly 2200 miles still1Boy scouts from Los AngelesThe desert down below

    And off we go to Mount Baden Powell

    June 10, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    I spent two days at trail angel Mandy sleeping last night with 15 persons on her deck outside. It felt like sardines in a tin!
    Had lunch yesterday with Andie Mc-Donald, a lady from Vancouver who works for a luxury lodge called "Nimmo Bay wilderness resort" (see google maps) in the fjords north of vancouver where visitors pay USD 2000,- per night! It is for the richest of the rich. She leads them on Orca and Grizzly observation trips by sea kayak. She will not be returning there but plans to do the same work with handicapped children. We spoke for hours on all topics imaginable. Such conversations are like tanking up my batteries!
    Today we are heading back to trail and will tent half way up mount Baden Powell, a 2000m climb followed by 4 days of walking along a ridge. Snow will once again be my companion.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    The rising sun shines straight into my tent
    1To stop the ice cold mountain wind from entering my tent I blocked the flow with tree stumpsA shrine for Jodie and Jrry who left their lives on this trailSalad at lastWrightwood, a "one road town"Old friends suddenly pop up in the streets. Phillippe and Yu-Husuan

    What an incredible morning!

    June 8, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C

    I woke up this morning in paradise in 2800m as the sun came up and shone straight into my tent. I was filled with this incredible awe when you meet god! There he was just lighting me and my life up, in the valley below the fog, up here yellow light among the ancient fir trees.
    I packed together and started walking 1800m steep down to Wrightwood and came across a little shrine. Two hikers had hiked down the wrong path in a snowy environment like we had on Fuller ridge in the Jacintos. They slipped and stopped 150m further, dead! Yes, death is allways very close on this trail, a split second and you are gone. It is very easy. I am very aware of this. The shrine made me relish my life even more, every second.
    As I approached Wrightwood I came past acorn cabins belonging to Mandy a wonderful trail angel from Australia. The cabins were full so I slept on the deck together with 10 other hikers. Again I astounded at how these trail angels are helping us.
    The first thing I did in Wrightwood was go to restaurant that serves salad. I am starved of salad and vegetables!
    Then I discovered that the sleeping bag and New rucksack I had ordered to the post office had either not arrived or were the wrong size. Pure frustration! And the companies delivering had no understanding for my situation. I sent everything back and xanxelled the remaining order.    Read more

  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies

    SOS = slower, older, smarter

    June 7, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 5 °C

    Today I found this on Facebook. It fits my trail perfectly. (Unfortunately in German)

    Ein A380 ist auf dem Weg über den Atlantik. Er fliegt gleichbleibend mit 800 km/h in 30.000 Fuß Höhe, als plötzlich ein Eurofighter mit Tempo Mach 2 auftaucht. Der Pilot des Kampfjets bremst ab, fliegt neben dem Airbus her und grüßt den Piloten des Passagierflugzeugs per Funk: „Langweiliger Flug, was? Dann pass mal auf!“
    Er rollt seinen Jet auf den Rücken, beschleunigt, durchbricht die Schallmauer, steigt rasant in eine schwindelerregende Höhe, nur um gleich darauf in einem atemberaubenden Sturzflug fast bis hinunter auf Meereshöhe zu stürzen. Mit einem Looping kehrt er neben den A380 zurück und fragt: „Na, wie war das?“

    Der Pilot des Airbus antwortet: „Sehr beeindruckend. Aber jetzt schau du mal her!“

    Der Jetpilot beobachtet die Passagiermaschine, aber es passiert nichts. Sie fliegt weiter stur geradeaus, mit immer gleichem Tempo. Nach fünf Minuten meldet sich der A380-Pilot per Funk: „Na, was sagst Du jetzt!?“

    Der Jetpilot fragt irritiert: „Was hast du denn gemacht?“ Der andere lacht und sagt: „Ich bin aufgestanden, habe mir die Beine vertreten, bin nach hinten auf die Toilette gegangen, dann habe ich mir einen Kaffee und eine Zimtschnecke geholt und mich für die nächsten drei Nächte mit der Stewardess verabredet – in einem 5-Sterne-Hotel, das von meinem Arbeitgeber bezahlt wird.“

    Die Moral der Geschichte ist:

    Wenn du jung bist, scheinen Geschwindigkeit und Adrenalin etwas tolles zu sein. Aber wenn du älter und klüger wirst, sind Bequemlichkeit und Ruhe auch nicht zu verachten.

    Man nennt das S.O.S.: slower, older, smarter.

    Gewidmet allen meinen Freunden, die sich wie ich dem S.O.S. nähern... 😉    Read more

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