Where am I going, what am i doing....

This is the only way I can keep up with stuff. Write it down. These blogs are not for you, they are for me. In my old age, I can't remember what happened in this short life. Revised plan, '09..

April 24.....start hiking the PCT at the Mexican border and try and make it 1200 miles
June 25.....get off PCT and head to Tahoe to pace my friend at Western States
June 29.....fly home from Reno
July 1.....drive to Colorado with son Max for two weeks playing
July 11....run the Hardrock 100
July 15.....put Max on a plane in Denver heading to Memphis
July 15.....head to Leadville and leave the car and head to Durango
July 18.....Start thru hike of the Colorado Trail Durango to Denver/ 500 miles
August 15....Arrive Denver and meet friends
August 16....return to Leadville
August 21.....run the Leadville Trail 100
August 24....head home and open a microbrewery.

Man....what all is gonna happen in this span of time. This is gonna be damn good.

Peace out.....

Taking Stock of the Situation

'08 is pretty much in the bag and it looked nothing like '07. 'Blowing in the wind' pretty much sums up the year. I didn't make allot of choices, the choices kinda made me. So how am I gonna make sure that when i look back on '09, i'm not singing that same song? What you do is, you make a plan.

Here is the plan......On the AT Karl trip this September I met a guy named Brian Dobler. Brian was hiking southbound on the AT when i met him in Pennsylvania. The deal is, Brian had already hiked from Springert Mountain, Ga to Kitahdin in Maine, turned around and headed back to Springer. Yea, thats right, sorta like a long out and back run but the first part was 2175 miles. Well, Brian finished up his southbound hike and became from what i can see, the fastest guy to yo-yo the AT. Congrats dude.

When I met Brian that day in Penn, we started talking about the PCT, Pacific Crest Trail. I was saying that I was longing to hike it and if the stars lined up, '09 might be a great year to do it. He was like, yea, me too.

Short story is, we have stayed in touch and it looks like things are coming together to do just that. Hike from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington, 2650 miles, starting in late April of '09. It should take us about 3.5 months. I couldn't have asked for a better hiking partner. This guy is smart, strong, and has a great sense of humor. Nice.......and another cool thing is that Brian is thinking about turning around at the Canadian border and heading back to Mexico. If that happens, he will be the first person to ever yo-yo two of the major trails. How cool is that.

If i'm successful thru hiking the PCT, that will give me two of the long trails in the USA and will definately do the CDT (Contenental Divide Trail) in the future.

Who knows what this adventure will lead to but It will likely lead to good things, they always do.

More later.

Rambling

The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like the fabulous roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars......Jack Kerouac penned these fantastic words in his book, ON THE ROAD.

Coming back from Colorado every year is a big huge low for me. I find it hard to see alot reason here after spending time in such a pristine place. I want to walk down to the river to cool off, I want low humidity, I want my roads to made of dirt, I want to be able to get up high, above tree line, where I can see a world with no buildings. I want my friends to be more interested in relationships and experience than work, work, work.....but mostly I want my girl back home, I need my girl back home. If she doesn't get back soon, I might not make it. I see why so many people (including myself) drink so much from time to time around here. It's a good way of dulling the reality of things.

There are so many things I still want to do. God, there is so much out there.

Dylan knew when he sang, 'I'm stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again.'

I hear ya Bob.

The Hardrock, Nervana at Altitude

It's hard to sit down and write about The Hardrock. There is so much to say about it. If I wrote all day, I could never do the experience justice. I guess this year more than any other, it was about the people, my tribe. This was my 4th run at The Hardrock.

Memories come in all forms and these are a few.....Kyle the wunderkid breaking 24 hours. Playing horshes in the town park every night with James, Steve, Kyle and Peter. My good friend James waiting at the finish for me and nursing me home. I love you man. Great food at Kyles house. Tom, proprieter of The Avon being such a great host those last few days. Nate, Petra and their beautiful daughter, Piki walking down the road to the trailhead to escort me to the last aid station where Kyle, James, Peter, Hiroki were all there to support me. Nate had paced Kyle the last 42 miles but took the time to drive out and support me and Kyle had just run the race of the century and came out too. It almost made me cry when I saw them. Doing about 30 miles of the race with Marcus Mueller, who, last year was the reason I kept going. I have gained a great new friend. The mountain goat at Grant Swamp pass posing for me and Craig Wilson. Running with Craig for the first 20, Craig, you will get it next year my man. John Dewalt, guaranteed tough. John is 72 and finished his 13th Hardrock. Sitting by Kirk Apt at the pre-race meeting, a man who I admire for his talent but more for the way he lives his life so humbly. Kirk has 14 finishes, more than any other man or woman. The hike to the Hundred dollar ming boarding house with Steve and James. Talking to Mike Burke after a hike about life and relationships, real stuff. The Kyle lottery. Olga and Mike. Soaking legs in the creeks. Peter picking me up at Cunningham for the last 9 and breaking out a beer on top of the last climb. What a nut. The incredible halucinations, the wolf, the frogs, the lights. Dale and Lois. Crewing Krissy and James on Sunday. Lots ans lots of snow and lots and lots of wildflowers. Kissing the Hardrock.

The Hardrock 100 is the most real thing with the most real people. It is a gathering of like souls who have come to test their metal against the powerful mountains of the southern rockies known as the San Juans. 33,000 feet of climb and 33,000 feet of descent run mostly in the backcountry at an average elevation of over 11,000 feet. You climb 7 passes over 13,000 and one over 14,000. You climb only to drop and do it all again, over, and over, and over, and over. It is wild and it is tough. She is beautiful.

I made it around in 41 hours and 7 minutes. It was by far my slowest time, but considering my phisical conditioning, it was by far the most satisfying. I'm so happy I made the decision to line up. It's like Ive always said, never pass up an opportunity to see exactly what you are made of.

Peace out there......Billy

A Vanishing Florida

We hear alot about endangered species these days but one of the most endangered is the oyster fisherman of the Apalachicola Bay.

I just got home from a few days in a remarkable part of our country. Apalachicola Bay sits about 75 miles SE of Panama City and 90 miles SW of Talahasee Fla. but for all practical purposes it could be a million miles from nowhere. For sure the wealthy have built there beach houses and wreaked havoc on some of the essential dunes, but there is still a timeless quality about it and there you can still find the Florida I fondly remember as a young boy in the 60's.

Apalachicola Bay is fed by a river of the same name which originates some 800 miles north and is called the Chatahoochee. The Chatahoochee is also largly responsibe for supplying the city of Atlanta it's fresh water. Unfortunately, in our efforts to civilize and dominate our environment, the good citizens of Atlanta have made watering their lawns a more important priority than saving a little for the vital flow of fresh water to the Bay. The Apalachicola river feeds the Bay with nutrients and is essential and critical to the ecosystem of that forgotten landscape. If something isn't done now, and thankfully there are things being done now, another beautiful and unique system will be forever changed by the mad march of industrialized mankind.

My son and I fished out of our canoe (and ate what we caught), skinny dipped in the middle of the day in the Gulf of Mexico (there is just nobody out there for miles) and learned to appreciate some rugged individuals who make their living supplying our markets with fresh seafood. 90% of Florida oysters are havested in the Bay and the tecnique hasn't changed in a century. It's still done for the most part out of 16 foot boats by hand.

I am happy to get to travel to new places and understand why it is important to fight for our good mother earth. We must be different than others. We must try our damndest to not partake in the degridation. It's hard I know. But there is so much beauty left out there to fight for.

Here's to Cactus Ed

"A true patriot is not afraid to defend his country from it's government."

There is about a million things i'd love to say about Edward Abbey but there is no way with my pea sized brain and my memphis public school education vocabulary, i could get close to doing him justice.

He was a true libertarian, a defender of the american west, a lover of many women, a man's man with taste for good whiskey and cheap beer. Ah, we must somehow be brothers.

If you havn't, read everything he has written and start with the "The Brave Cowboy" and go all the way to "A Fools Progress". You will be inspired to live a richer life and examine your reasons for being on this mother ship we call home. He lived his life his way.

Thank God, whoever you are, for Cactus Ed.

Karl's AT Speedrecord Attempt

The cards are dealt and the chips are in. I heard from Backcountry.com yesterday and they are buying my plane ticket to Allentown, PA on the 28th of Aug. Another fine mess you've gotten yourself into. When you look back at your life and try and connect the dots as to how you got where you are, it's amazing. I meet Karl thru Nate at Hardrock in '06. He is a good guy. Just a regular guy with big goals and huge tallent. He finds me up in Pensylvania last year while I'm thru hiking the trail and spends some time. We hook up at Hardrock again in '07. He casually mentions the AT speedrecord. Now a year later, I'm getting my expenses paid to go out on a cool adventure crewing Karl for the second half of his trip. There is no telling what will happen because of taking this step. Huge fun for sure. All I can say is what I've been saying all along, if an opportunity presents itself, do it. Do not limit your experience to 'inside your own mind' or 'too close to home'. The world is a big place. Every experience leads to new and better experiences. Don't be afraid, don't be shy, make your life an open book. The years go by faster and faster and faster and faster. I want my kids to say, "my dad was an adventurer."

It's All In The Numbers

Hardrock is in 1 month. While I was doing my long run, 10 miles on flat smooth gravel at a speedy 10:45 pace I was saying to myself, "self, your ankle will be at about 25% ready and your fitness will be at about 25% ready and that adds up to 50%. Heck, you got a 50-50 chance of finishing that thing."

I like the way ultra runners rationalize. It all looks so easy sitting here in the AC sipping a Fresca on ice. I keep forgetting how big and god aweful steep those mountains are and how freaky it gets traveling thru the backcountry in the middle of the night. And it would take me two nights to finish this one if I made it that far.

But what do they put in that stuff? This race is so adicting. It is truly like the best and the worst drug. you just can't quit it knowing full well how bad it's gonna make you feel if you do it. and for what? you do it because it's the purest high out there. It's just so big. It's just so much. I hope it doesn't kill me this year. I hope standing there facing the beast I have the nerve to do the right thing and I hope I can survive the choice I make.

10 miles under 11 min. pace in the heat of memphis. I'm gettin' there.

Beware Peaking Over the Fence

Man.......it is Africa, equatorial hot outside. I mean, HOT. It's only June 7 and it has averaged in the mid 90's all week with humidity so high i felt like I was swimming in the air. So, what does a southern boy who lives his life outside do when it gets this hot? He finds ways to cool off.

This outside shower is my way of flipping the bird to this HOT weather. I built it yesterday. Bring it on sunshine. The hotter it gets, the better it feels standing under the cool water in the middle of the back yard with the sun shining all over my skinny, bare behind.

Life is sooooooo good.

Walked, joged 8 miles yesterday. Ankle feels good.

Peace to all.......

Creek Cabin Mt. View Arkansas

I had to do it. I drove by it, saw the sign, bought it. I had a place on this creek, the South Sylamore, some years back and have regretted selling it about a million times. I'm glad life gives us second chances.

Peace to all.........

When the horse bucks you off, hit him in the head.

Man.....what a good day. I had the pleasure of doing a group ride to benifit the Wolf River Conservancy this morning. It turned out to be 58 miles and got to share the ride with some of my favorite peeps. Rick Prince, man, what can I say. One of my idols and one of the tuffest guys ever to set foot in this town. We rode each others wheel all day and had a blast. I almost wrecked a couple of times we were laughing so hard about past exploits. That's what is so good about getting older, more war stories and between the two of us, we can spin some yarn. Richard Williams rode his MT bike the whole ride and even pulled some. The guy amazes me. Also an old bud from back the day, Chip Benson rounded out the quartet and helped pull alot. I havn't been doing jack for 3 months and today we rode 58 miles and averaged over 18. I am really happy with that. It's a great thing to get back out there and work the body hard. I'm fired up.

Life

Life is good. Every day has something to teach you. Everyday should count for something. I'm glad I broke my ankle because I was beginning to take some things for granted. My true friends, my health. So many people did something nice for me when I was down and then there were some that never said a word or made contact. Those kinds of experiences let you know who your true friends are for sure. Man I am so glad to be able to go for a walk, to ride my bike. Just those little things. My dog Jasper is happy too. He was getting cabin fever big time. My son and I have been taking some nice rides in the neighborhood and he's done a couple of 2 mile walks with me this week at the park. It's fun being able to spend so much time with him. He's a great kid.

Here is what the training looked like this week.

Sunday-Paddled the Ghost River
Monday-rode 2 hours on the Fat Chance
Tuesday-rode 20 miles road bike
Wednesday-Walked 2 miles, rode 20 miles road bike
thursday-walked 2 miles, rode 20 miles road bike
friday- walked 4 miles, rode 22 miles road bike
saturday-walked 6.5 miles. maybe ride and hour on the Fat Chance later today.

A good first week.

Peace to all.....

Walking 1 Step at a Time

Three weeks out of the cast now. Went back to the Doc for my final visit today. I'm out of the boot and went for a 2 mile walk today. Ankle is swolen but it feels good. The doc said it is solid and i could walk as much as i wanted to and start running in 4-6 weeks. Perfect, I can run my first steps at HR. I've been riding the bike for about 2 weeks and riding is a great way to get the engine back in tune. My goal is to ride 200 and walk 30 miles a week for the next few weeks then get in a couple of 20 mile hikes before Hardrock and then make a decision. If it feels good then I'll just toe the line and take a hike. Things are looking up.

Since i got the cast off, I've done a ton of work in the backyard and got tomatoes, peppers, squash and watermellon planted. Also planted a ton of herbs. looking forward to vine ripe tomatoes.

Yea, one last thing, Lenore, Max and I had a nice float on the ghost river about 30 miles east of Memphis over the long weekend. Pretty place, cypress swamp, birds and wildlife galodre. Fun paddle.

Peace to all.......Billy

Hardrock Who Knows

Tomorrow I head to the doc and hopefully this cast comes off and my life resumes some sense of normality. The way I figure it is this........I will have 9 weeks to go from absolutely ground 0 to trying to finish a race that can be pretty brutal, the Hardrock. Sounds like a damn good challenge to me. Hell I paid $10,000 to get this ankle fixed and by god, I'm gonna use it. This is exciting. Hopefully the doc gives me a good report in the morning.

Peace to all.....Billy

Man.......

CONGRATULATIONS to Flyin' Brian Robinson for finishing Barkley. He is a good and considerate man and it is much deserved. Great work.

3 weeks and 2 days till the cast is off and i can start moving on my own 2 feet. until then, more reflection and more books.

peace out there......

Broken Ankle

What I thought was a bad sprain has turned out to be a pretty bad break. It wasn't getting any better so I went and got it x-rayed yesterday and it is broke. Surgery next thursday and in a cast for 6-8 weeks. I hate the fact that I broke my ankle but I love the pills they gave me.

It's all good. I was due for something like this, I've been too lucky for too long.

Peace to all,

Gimp

3 Days of Sylamo Trail Runs

This years version of 3 Days was AWESOME........although I didn't get to run any of the races, (some of the volunteers Steve was counting on cancelled at the last minute so I opted to help a friend in need) I had a great time with all the runners, my dog, jasper, and my son, Max.

I ended up working the aid station at 15 miles during the first days 50k, worked the 22.5, 27.5 mile aid station at saturdays 50mile and nursed a severly sprained ankle on sunday. between working aid stations i just helped steve and chef cal as a general lacky. got some fishing in with my son and got to watch him be a great volunteer at this event. it does a daddy proud to see his son step up and serve.

Lots of talent this year with ty drainy/wyoming, matt heart,seattle,josh and ashley nordell/california,previous defending champs david wakefield and paul shoenlab all toed the line for the 3 day stage along with a host of regional talent. a total of 12 states represented. you can check out the results on the 3 day website.

i'm keepintg this brief but the 50miler was epic from all accounts. 16,000 feet of vertical, 100% singletrac, it took the leaders 5 hours to get to the turnaround. this thing was gnarly. i'll be planing a trip over to run that course before hardrock this year.

everybody i talked to said they would be back next year. it's that kind of run. camping, hanging out in a pristine place like blanchard springs for 3 days, eating great post race food provided for the 4th year by cal hill, listening to sweet bluegrass after the runs and just being part of a great ultra-running community. it's what the sport is all about.

race director steve kirk has put together a gem that is starting to attract a national crowd. it won't surprise me a bit to see this race grow in depth and talen year after year.

highly encourage you to put this on your calendar for next year, but if you are weak at heart, you should probably stay home or better yet, come volunteer, steve can use all the help he can get.

peace....billy

Hell, It's Only a Few Damn Trees

Sometimes I just shake my head and want to cry. I bitch alot about Memphis, quite frankly I bitch about alot of things. The only reason I get away without being dismissed as a total crackpot is that I get involved in the causes I believe in and it's hard to totally dismiss a guy if he's out there on the line speaking his mind and holding a sign, even if he's wrong. What I bitch about the most is apathy. I bitch about people who are against the war, but don't do anything about it. I just generally bitch about people who talk alot, but never take action. I hate to say it, but I know alot of people like that. I know alot of people that have alot of money. That's probably why most of them walk on egg shells and are afraid to act, biting off the hand that feeds them, you know what I'm sayin'. I'm glad I quit work and I'm poor, I can pretty much say what I want to and do what I want to and not worry about it.

Here is the latest on Memphis and you'll understand what I'm talkin' about. We have this great urban park called Overton Park. It's 347 acres of which 140 are an old growth forest. The other 207 acres are developed as recreation areas and it is where our zoo, The Memphis Zoo is located. Last week, the zoo brought a bulldozer in and leveled about 4 acres of the old growth forrest to build a new exhibit, Teton Trek, which will try to duplicat the ecosystem of the Tetons. Yep, they are gonna squeeze the Teton's into 4 acres. Should be very realistic. They are however going to capture and re-locate grizzlies and timber wolves to the area to range in the expanse. They should feel right at home this summer here in Memphis when it's 100 degrees and the humidity is in the 90's. Yep all in the name of conservation.

Back to the forest. The 140, oops, 136 acres, of old growth forest are the last remaining in shelby county. Some of the last remaining in the southeast. There can never, ever be new, old growth forest. Once it's cut, it's cut. Done, end of story. The Zoo also has an option to develope another 17.5 acres of old forest and they plan to do it.

Here is the rub. They just did it, no thought, no community input, bulldozer, wham, done deal. Old growth forest been there a million years, gone.

Luckily this has gotten' some local press. Some people, like me are truly pissed off and we aim to ensure the remaining 136 acres of old forest are protected from developement. It's gonna stop here. It's like, fight like hell, get lawyers, stand around with signs, monkey wrench if we have to, but damn. This stuff is gonna end on my watch. I don't want my kids thinking their dad stood around while our land is destroyed for the sake of "progress". I want my kids showing pictures of me to their kids, me on the front row, throwing rocks at the bulldozers and my grandkids hearing, "yep, that was your grandpa, some people thought he was a crackpot, but he helped save the trees."

My dear friends, find your cause and act, I know alot of good people out there that do, but I know alot more good people out there that don't.

Ask yourself, What would Ed Abbey do?

If you are interested in this cause, saving the Old Forest in Overton Park, go to www.overtonparkforever.org.......this group of people will get things done.

Let's Go Hiking!!!!

Well, i am convinced I have TB. Tried to run Sunday and got 12 miles into it and it felt like I was at 14,000 feet going verticle. Could not process oxygen. Sucked. But, I will survive and will learn to run on one lung if need be.

Besides that, does anybody want to go for a backpacking trip in Arkansas? Mike Burke, here is your chance! Warm up for the PCT in '09. I am planning on doing the Ozark Highlands Trail the first or second week of April. It's 165 miles of Ozark splendor. Should be a 6 or 7 day trip with one resuply. I need some trail time. With all the insanity in America, I gotta go bury my head and get my mind right. Southern mountains, creeks, waterfalls and alot of peace and quiet. Pack your pack, let's go! Flight are cheap, let's go!

Sue Johnston is in Arkansas backpacking as we speak and I want to be like her. I hear she is ducking a big storm tonight at a lodge somewhere.


Peace to all.......Billy Frank

The Plague

Holy crap, I just got run over by a semi.........Today is Tuesday, Feb 26 and for the past 7 days, i've been on the couch in a fog. Maybe i've been time traveling, i just don't know???? If this is the flu, i'll eat my hat! I've had the flu and I ain't never had this! Fever, deep lung infection, a total mess. I wan't my mommy. I need my mommy. Thank god for my dog, we been holed up for a week.

The fever broke last night and when i looked in the mirror i saw a guy that looked like billy simpson in 10 years time or maybe doc holiday in his later stages of TB. he looked ruff, with a capito R. skinny is not the word. week as a kitten. where did i go? hopefully i'll come back.

2 steps forward, 3 steps back. i laced up some running shoes and went out and jogged for 30 minutes, back to square 1. back to before sqare 1. i need my mommy.

i did however read 3 great books. In the past 3 months, i've been on the this cormac mccarthy binge. read all the pretty horses back when and decided to finish the border trilogy, which consits of pretty horses, the crossing, and cities of the plaines. do the last 2 if you havn't read them. they are definately a good read. he has an incredible way of transporting you into the west and the lives of his young cowboys.

hopefully, i'm on the mend, cause if i get what i got again, i may have to punt.

looking forward to 3 days of syllamo with my son and the hound. how much running is a total mystery now but who cares. it'll be fun hanging out and meeting new folks. it's all good!

Peace everybody......Billy