Sounds like a great trip - one that many Idahoans would love to do but most of us rarely make time for a journey like that. Best of luck!

Epic!!

My brothers and I have talked (and talked) about hiking the Centennial Trail.  Best of luck and looking forward to hearing your stories and seeing your photos!

1) This sounds awesome!
2) I am jealous of your Theology and Nature class… wish they had something like this at MVNU when I was attending.

How long are you expecting the 900 mile hike to take you?

Also, what type of “listening material” are you going to be taking with you (since I am guessing reading material is out of the question).

T.C. is right, this is epic and I am thoroughly jealous.

Photography can be such a great way to look at life in a new way! This sounds like an adventure of a lifetime. People always think that they need to travel somewhere to get good photos when really, it’s all around, even in Idaho!

Looks like a once in a lifetime experience indeed. Way to go, Tom!

All,

Thanks for the kind comments and encouraging words!

Dan,

The 900-mile portion of the hike should take me about 75 days. I don’t plan to take listening devices with me, though. Part of the experience is hearing the sounds of nature! : )

Cool.  Very, very cool.

Are there any good (on-line) maps of the Centennial trail?

I’d recommend an Olympus recording device.  I know even when I take “one day” hikes - the “thoughts I think” (very Seussical!) - are so different from “normal” life - that I’d want to try to capture them - and writing/texting wouldn’t be the same - and can’t be done in medies res.  The Olympus device I use, requires a mere 2 AAA batteries, is light, and records like 3 days worth of audio.  I’m sure there are other options too.

Wow.  Looks like a great trip.  Looking forward to hearing about it and seeing the pictures.

I will be looking forward to your photos.

Will you be carrying a Spot, so we can track your progress?

I think this is a great idea!  I hope to do something like this every few years for the rest of my life.  I can’t wait to hear how God forms you through this experience!

Amazing!

Sounds terrific, Tom. Hey, have you read Sallie McFague’s *Super, Natural Christians*? I recommend it for your course—but given that you probably already have your booklist put together, I recommend it at least as background reading for you . . . or else to take with you on your hike. But she may suggest some troubling things about the camera-view of things (much as I myself love to take, and look at, photographs).

Hi Tom, Ron Van Order, was a boy scout leader from the Meridian Nazarene Church leader in the early 1970’s and took a group of boys including my three sons down the 50 mile hike of Hells Canyon to Lewiston and I asked one of them how many rattlesnakes they saw, and he said on the plate! They got a forked stick and pined the head down to cut it off with a hunting knife. He said they taste like chicken. Have fun with this idea.

Will be following you!  Sounds great!

Good luck.  What a great adventure.

Thomas, remind me when you return; I’d like to see and hear the results of your trip. There is a slim chance we may meet, since I expect to be hiking the border portion of the ICT this summer.

Mike,

I plan to finish at the Canadian border about August 20. I’ll be following the Montana-Idaho line a week or two before then. Do those dates line up with yours?

Tom

Thank you Tom for a “buttkicker” of an experience. I was challenged emotionally, spiritually and physically. Thank you for being a great example of Christ-like character. I pray for strength, courage, and wisdom for you on this amazing journey! Blessings.