ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Monday, June 3, 1996                   TAG: 9606040019
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B-6  EDITION: METRO 

HIKER'S NOTEBOOK

FIRST THING SENT HOME: ``Rain pants. I found out that when wearing rain pants I was exerting so much energy I would get wetter with them than without them.'' DANCING BEAR

``Eight pounds of rice. That was more than I needed. I scattered it along the trail.'' GYPSY

WEIGHT LOST: Twenty to 25 pounds. TOWSTEP.

``I lost 10 pounds in Hot Springs, N.C., then I gained it back.'' GYPSY

WHAT YOU MISS MOST: ``Cotton. Everything a thru-hiker has is made from synthetic materials.'' DEAD MAN WALKING

``You don't have as much free time on the trail as you'd think. I guess I miss hanging out. And spices.'' GYPSY

MOST TROUBLESOME: ``Boot problems.'' DANCING BEAR

``Glasses. The screw fell out of them.'' TOWSTEP

So much time for thinking. ``You really have to be at peace with yourself.'' GYPSY

``Dealing with inexperienced people in the back country who don't know anything about low impact camping.'' DEAD MAN WALKING

EXTRA WEIGHT THAT IS WORTH IT: A cassette player with headphones. ``I have 27 mail drops and all 27 have a different tape dropped off.'' DANCING BEAR

Teflon frying pan with a folding handle. ``I like pancakes. You cannot make pancakes out in the woods without a Teflon pan.'' TOWSTEP

PLAN TO REACH KATAHDIN: Sept. 18. DANCING BEAR.

``The first of October, but so many things can come into play.'' TOWSTEP

ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT QUITTING: ``No. I wake up every day excited about hiking.'' DANCING BEAR

COST: Two dollars per mile. DANCING BEAR

``About $3,500.'' TOWSTEP

``I say a dollar a mile.'' DEAD MAN WALKING

TOUGHEST THING: ``When you get out of your sleeping bag and it is so cold you have to keep moving to keep warm.'' TOWSTEP

FANTASIES: Pizza. ``After a 22-mile hike, I ate a whole, large Pizza Hut pizza.'' GYPSY

``A nice Italian meal with red wine.'' DEAD MAN WALKING

LENGTH: Medium:   56 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  BILL COCHRAN. Mark Everson had problems with his 
          glasses, but a safety pin did the trick. color.