Questions for the Hikers, Volume 5



Question for the Hikers: Do you guys carry cash or credit cards?

Answer: We carry small amount of cash, visa, ATM and we mail a traveler's check to ourselves in most of the boxes.

Question for the Hikers: Why did Scott sew his underwear into his shorts?

Answer: Although Scott did make our tent and completely redesign our backpacks, he draws the line at sewing his own underwear into his shorts. The shorts were designed with a mesh liner that acts as underwear and Scott likes how free and easy they make him feel. It helps him monitor the weather that way. He can even tell if a storm is coming. [Enough of the underwear questions already -Scott]

Question for the Hikers: Question for the Hikers: Do you ever worry that a mountain lion will find you sleeping on the trail. You only mention snakes and I'm concerned about larger predators.

Answer: Mountain lion sightings are pretty rare and they generally avoid contact with people. Occasionally, you get your rogue lion that tears someone up, but what we are more concerned about are the not-so-rogue weird humans, like the freak who barreled out of nowhere on a dirt road and nearly ran us over in the Mojave.

Question for the Hikers: How far do you think you will get?

Answer: We are keeping our fingers crossed for Tuolumne Meadows, We will evaluates our progress at Vermillion Valley Resort (which is on Lake Thomas Edison for all two of you actually trying to following on a map.

Question for the Hikers: Hey Fat Ass, how much weight have you lost, if any?

Answer: Just FYI, Scott really doesn't care to be called Fat Ass. However, I will give you a weight update on both of us just in case you are curious. Without a scale, these are estimates. Scott doesn't feel that he has lost any weight although he looks thinner to me and as you know, he doesn't need to lose any. He has lost at least 5 pounds-probably 10. (update: he didn't lose any) I have probably lost 10 pounds. (update: I lost 15) (Someone at work please tell Frank Dowd-we have a weight loss bet that ended on June 30 and I bet I won-I think this means lunch is on me)

Question for the Hikers: I am wondering about the flow of the writing. Which things in parenthesis are from Scott--all of them or just the square brackets that say Scott after them?

Answer:Just the ones with the square [ ] brackets with Scott after them are Scott's.

Question for the Hikers: I still don't quite understand how you send these emails via the phone. Can you explain?

Answer: For those unfamiliar with Pocketmail, it's a little device (similar to a Palm Pilot) that allows you to type and store info and send out email via the telephone. It has a device on the back that, after you dial an 800 number, you hold it to the phone and it squeals annoyingly-the squealing is computer language translating the written emails. (When sending it out from a phone booth, you can tell staring kids in a nasal monotone, "I am contacting my ship, human.")

Question for the Hikers: How long does the tent take to set up and take down?

Answer: It takes maybe 5 minutes to set up and about 3 take down. If the ground isn't good or we are in a tricky spot, then the set-up time is longer. We've only used the tent 4 times since we've been out here. Once because of strong cold wind and 3 times due to bad mosquitos.

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