The Other Schroeder Men.

Angel's Landing, Zion National Park, Utah

Silas isn't the only Schroeder out walking this spring.  Jake, Ben and I took a stroll to the top of Angel's Landing. It's a short 5 mile hike but the 1500 ft. ascent and rather treacherous climbs made it a challenge for an old guy like myself.  The greatest challenge I faced was getting to my feet the next day after sleeping in a tent on the ground.  I rolled out of my tent and crawled across the sand to use the back bumper of the car to pull myself to my feet. Only then did I realize my pack burner that I use to make coffee was on the ground.  It took another 20 minutes to find a way to pick it up.
 2 Aleve, 6 baby aspirin, 3 cups of coffee and some Tiger Balm had me back in form and ready to face the day.

This amazing climb was part of Jake's bachelor trip. I was very honored to be asked to join this band of adventurers.
We covered a lot of ground in 5 days.


Camped in the desert beneath a star filled sky.
Hiked one of the most dangerous trails in the USA
Watched Condors fly
Saw Ancient Petroglyphs
Crossed the Hoover Dam (told lots of Dam jokes)
Hit the Vegas Strip
Lost some $$
Won some $$
Tried to escape from an escape room
Saw a Vegas Show
Laughed a lot
Had a great time with some good men.

700 MILES !

McAfee Knob Virginia

After 59 days of scrambling up and down mountain trails, Silas has passed the 700 mile mark.  He is in Virginia and has his sights set on Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. That is what we are calling the "Wedding Extraction Point".  Silas will have a few days off trail taking part in Jake & Maria's wedding in Chattanooga TN. 

I am sure Silas will enjoy a break from granola bars and pop tarts.  He won't have to hide his food every night from hungry bears and field mice.  I think Melissa might have plans for his magnificent mustache!  Civilization awaits you Silas.

Here are the numbers for those of you who might be thinking about walking from Georgia to Maine.


59 days
722.8 miles
12.25 miles per day average
15.3 miles per day average with zero days taken out.
4 States ( Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia )
30.6 miles ( most in a single day)


Silas is on track to finish in mid to late September. Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement from friends and family.

Strength does not come from physical capacity.

It comes from an indomitable will.

 – Mahatma Gandhi

The Wild Ponies of Grayson Highlands

The Appalachian Trail is full of surprises! One expects to be raided by raccoons and field mice, even an occasional bear along the way isn't uncommon.  Colorful characters and "Trail Magic" are part of the adventure along with weather extremes. Silas has grown to expect the unexpected on his trek, but WILD PONIES were a surprise!  A rather large herd of ponies roam the high ridges of the southwest Virginia mountains. They are known as the wild ponies of the Grayson Highlands. Amazing.

The Wild Ponies like hikers.

on another note Silas has passed the 500 Mile Mark!


44 days on the trail Silas has seen a lot of ups and downs.
119,384.9 feet  ascended
117,847.7 feet descended

500 Miles !!!!! Silas and Fellow Hikers he has met along the journey.

One day I undertook a tour through the country, and the diversity and beauties of nature I met with in this charming season, expelled every gloomy and vexatious thought.

 Daniel Boone

It's not all wilderness.

One of the things that makes the Appalachian Trail interesting is the fact that it is not all remote wilderness.  You hike through small towns, farm pastures, orchards, and backyards.  One day you are enjoying the solitude of a mountain top and the next you are crossing beneath an interstate highway.  Granted, most of the trail winds through national forests and follows mountain ridges, but there are the occasional brushes with civilization.


Follow the White Blaze!

Wild Appalachian Cows........ OK, just cows.



Crossing a mountain river.

The Trail becomes a sidewalk in Hot Springs North Carolina.

Here are the numbers for those who are keeping up with Silas.


3 out of the 14 states he will pass through are now behind him, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Silas has begun the long trek through Virginia.
478.5 miles walked
Silas has logged several +18 mile days.
11.89 mile daily average after 41 days on the trail.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain