Episode 26: Blind Courage
In the show, Clint discusses the first draft of the screenplay, the trailer, and the upcoming plans to film the movie. He also give us some personal insight in to Bill Irwin and how he overcame alcohol and tobacco addiction through faith in God and by heeding the call to hike the A.T.
For more information or to follow the making of this film, click here. For the audio interview click below.
Subject: Blind Courage
Interviewees: Clint Ross
Interview Date: February 25, 2015
Runtime: 1:11:04
Download Now: Blind Courage – The Bill Irwin Film (WMA format 68.2 Meg);
Blind Courage – The Bill Irwin Film (MP3 format 49.2 Meg)
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LEN FOOTE HIKE INN, NORTH GEORGIA – TRIP VIDEO (FEBRUARY 2015)
This is a winter hike to the Len Foote Hike Inn that we did with a group of dads and sons from St. Jude Catholic Church. Kudos to the staff at the Inn – who provided outstanding customer service during our visit. What a great place….
The Boyz and the dogs do a walk over and leave me in the dust
Hiking northbound on the Appalachian Trail about two miles
from Bly Gap and the Georgia-North Carolina border. The Boyz and the
dogs do a walk over and leave me in the dust.
Walk In The Woods premieres to mixed reviews
Walk In The Woods premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this week to mixed reviews. Here’s a sampling…
The Guardian
“Plenty of silly little incidents ensue along the way, with lots of jokes about advancing years. Most of these episodes are far too low-stakes to carry a movie and the bigger picture, about two men past their prime trying to figure out what to do in their old age, is handled far too simply to have real impact. The result is something that is just fine. It’s pleasant enough to watch, but by no means riveting or revolutionary.”
Hollywood Reporter
“A delightful journey with fine star turns by Redford and Nolte that should prove a good draw for finicky older audiences.”
New York Post
“Tame gags are about all the film has to offer. Major distributors were in attendance at the premiere; the chief of one of them left halfway through.”
Salt Lake Magazine
“I fear the adaptation of the book that premiered at Sundance could destroy future sales of Bryson’s travel cult classic—and could put the uninitiated off the AT itself.”
Salt Lake City Tribune
“If you’re going on a journey, it’s good to have familiar traveling companions — which is why “A Walk in the Woods” is a trip worth taking.”
Variety.com
It’s pleasant enough cinematic comfort food, but even so, you may be hungry again soon afterward.”
Twas the night before Christmas…
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the shelter, not a creature was stirring – not even a mouse (if you believe that).
Merry Christmas!
Baxter State Park Needs Federal Funding, And Soon!
There are four times the number of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers hiking and camping in Baxter State Park than there were 20 years ago – when I did my hike. According to Jensen Bissell, Director of Baxter State Park, this is straining resources.
“From the perspective of Baxter Park, we are concerned that the use of Baxter Park is nearing or has surpassed an acceptable limit for the facilities and effort available from the Park to accomodate A.T. hikers”
A letter to ATC Executive Director, Ron Tiptop, lays out the current issues – many of which focus on thru-hikers that overwhelm park resources and occasionally don’t follow the rules of Baxter Park (ie. no public consumption of alchohol or drugs, camping only designated areas, no dogs in to the park, etc).
Bissell states, and I agree, that this problem will only get worse with the release of Wild and Walk In The Woods in the next twelve months, and with the popularity and Internet accessibility of Appalachian Trail documentaries that generate additional interest in thru-hiking.
Let’s all hope that Baxter State Park gets federal funding to expand their operations, because there’s no better place to finish (or start) an Appalachian Trail thru-hike than at Mt. Katahdin in the Park.
100% Chance Of Rain? Backpacking To Plum Orchard Shelter
The weatherman said there was a 100% chance of rain today, and he was 100% right! It rained all morning, and all afternoon. I confess that I'm still not sure how I was talked in to this trip, or how we got away with it at all. Despite the gloomy weather (and our ventures in to Panthertown Valley just last weekend), the wives reluctantly gave the OK – and here we are climbing “As Knob” on the Appalachian Trail about an hour before dark.
Our destination is Plum Orchard Shelter. It was built in 1992 by the U.S. Forest Service with help from the Army Rangers (who helped fly it in via double prop helicopter). Despite the lousy weather, it is occupied by a northbounder and a southbounder who hiked all day in the rain. They earned it, so we venture back up to the gap and pitch camp about 20 yards from the A.T.
The storm passes, and a full moon rises to the east. Here comes the cold front as winds shift from the South to the Northwest.
Fortunately the 6 lb. Duraflame log that we packed in (after cutting it in to three pieces) makes for an effortless fire, and we are able to get some heat from the fire as the temps drop in to the 30's
The next morning, the sun greets us as we wake around 8am. But it is fleeting – we spend most of the morning in low level clouds and fog.
I head down to the Plum Orchard Shelter to get a few pics. It is unique in Georgia for it's three level interior on the Appalachian Trail.
Here's a shot from the second level – which is smaller than the other two and can only fit a few hikers.
Back on the Trail, we hike through leafless trees and shoot some really cool pics as we hike back to Blue Ridge Gap.
But the ride out of here is rutted and really rocky. Don't do this without a 4×4 …. seriously.
Then as fate would have it – the sun comes out as we leave the trailhead. At least we didn't get rained on this trip, and it turned out to be quite a good one. I have a feeling we'll be back – to head northbound next time and visit Bly Gap. Stay tuned for that.
Wild Premieres Today – November 5th, 2014
The movie Wild premieres today – November 5th – and details a woman's 1000+ mile journey on the Pacific Crest Trail. Here's an interesting quote in the NY Times from Reece Witherspoon, who plays author Cheryl Strayed in the the movie:
“I said to my producing partner, ‘If we can pull this off, this’ll be the first movie, I believe, I can’t recall, but that stars a woman that at the very end has no money, no man, no parents, no job, no opportunities, and it’s a happy ending.”
Thru-Hiking Tips From Legendary A.T. Hiker – Warren Doyle
Just found some vintage footy from this legend in the A.T. Thru-Hiking community. I saw him speak at Trail Days many years ago and actually purchased this 1993 Lynne Whelden “How-To” video right before I hit the Trail.
#7 Listen to music
Just read an article at Appalachian Trials on “9 Things A Former Thru-Hiker Wishes She Had Known Before Hitting The Trail“. And what was on the list? My personal favorite….
#7 Listen to music:
” It will help keep you positive in the present as you hike and afterwards the music you listened to will become a time machine back to exact moments on the trail. You may not know the place or even the state but the song will bring back a perfectly rendered memory. “
Many go in to the woods to leave technology behind. Yet I work in technology, and I promise you that when I go in to the woods there’s nothing more that I want to do than leave technology behind.
But when you are hiking ~ 2200 miles to Maine – it’s a long, long way to walk. Yes, music helps – believe me. Actually, everything helps – hiking in silence, listening to the birds, talking with a day-hiker or fellow thru-hiker, and ….. even listening to music for an hour or two. (It’s an 8-12 hour thru-hiking day, you know.)
So this week, I’ve been listening to cassette tapes that a group of friends made me for my hike in 1994. I summited Mt. Katahdin 20 years ago this October, and the music does bring me back – as the article states. There truly is a soundtrack to a thru-hike (and your life.) And yes … all the memories do come flooding back.
Even if it origiinated on cassettee tapes that were played on a yellow waterprooof Walkman. On a thru-hike … the music does matter, maybe not today – but tomorrow.