new CDT video released.

mattbob — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:08:28 +0000

I enjoy getting emails about new hiking videos being released and this particular one i’ve been anticipating for some time.

Last year at Trail Days (2007) in Damascus, VA, I spoke to Mark Flagler of FlaglerFilms about his “Appalachian Impressions” movie. He had remembered me from the previous Trail Days (2006) and so I was curious about whether he was off to produce the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Mark said that he was actually better off filming the Continental Divide Trail because there was actually a demand for it. Good point.

Mark continued on informing me that he was going to be heading back out to the CDT to do more filming and hopefully have something towards the end of the year, which, I checked periodically, nada. He also said that he was probably going to do the voice over (VO) work, which would have been cool but, silly me, couldn’t help but recommend Sam Elliott. He’s got that very rustic, slow, country-style voice. To my surprise and delight, upon viewing the movie preview, Mark was able to have the famous Peter Thomas narrate this newest project, sweet!

According to the FlaglerFilm‘s site, he will be screening this latest edition in what I (and probably many others) hope will be the second in a total of three films, eventually making up what could be a Triple Crown box set.

Check out this latest preview: Walking the Great Divide

The Spirit of Hiking has visited me once again.

mattbob — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 04:13:35 +0000

So, It’s been awhile since we’ve chatted. Yeah, life can be a bit overwhelming at times as well as a constant test of fortitude. With all that life throws at one during the course of any given day, hardly a one passes that I don’t think about the Appalachian Trail. As this year starts to come to an end, friends, co-workers, family constantly inquire about my plans for this coming summer. Of course, by this time I’ve been able to work out a ‘song and dance’ that everyone is keen to understand. It goes something along the lines of, “well, I’m not certain about all the different things that could change in the next couple months, but I’ve set everything up so that when March comes around, I should be able to leave sometime around the 15th-23rd. If I am able to leave earlier in March, that theoretically means that I will be able to get back sooner, the later I start, the later I’ll get off the trail. But as of right now, I plan on hiking the Appalachian Trail.” By the time I’m through with a rambling of this sort, peoples’ heads are shaking in acknowledgement. I’m not really certain if it’s a ‘whew, glad that’s done and over with’ or a ‘hey, that makes sense, he’s not setting himself up again for a tortorious summer of constant disappointment’ or if it’s a ‘yeah, he’ll get on the trail next year my ass.. my beer is low, need another.’ I never seem to be able to read people that well when it comes to trail talk. I believe it’s a; you get it, or you don’t. Black or white.

Anyway, I was trolling around on the ‘internets‘ when I ran across this site for the CDT. It’s called ‘The Walkumentary‘ and it’s about the CDT Thru-hike of “Disco” and “P.O.D.” (being the main characters) with large supporting roles with he ever hilarious German, ‘Speedo’ and the extremely healthy eating ‘Skittles.’ I downloaded the five hi-quality chapters off their site (very nice, btw) and watched them back-to-back. I felt as though I was wasn’t living life. Everytime I watch a video like these, especially if they are made from different people, I realize that I am still not doing what it is in this world that I want to do. How pathetic. I’ve become a slave to myself! On the flipside, it would seem that my fire has been re-lit and that getting out on the AT will remedy this feeling.

Hiking Matt » CDT

new CDT video released.

The Spirit of Hiking has visited me once again.