Adapting... Section 3 done and on to Section 4

Dave was able to get AT&T service today around 9:00 am PT to report in. The guys were moving slowly while getting used to the altitude but were in wonderful spirits. Yesterday they camped at Buffalo Creek at Forest Road 553. While hiking this morning in Section 3 they had to keep moving out of the way of mountain bike racers. Dave commented on how polite all the bikers were despite the fact that they were racing! The race did not cross into Section 4. Our hikers were happy to be able to just keep hiking instead of avoiding bikers! Today's plan was to stop at Section 4, mile 9. Dave figured they had 8 more miles after our phone call. I did hear that the SPOT was pushed so we know they are safe. Trevor's mom, Judith, is trying to get me set up on the SPOT to get notifications. For those of you who don't know about SPOT, it is a handheld device about the size of a GPS unit. The hikers can push one button to say they are safe and on track at the end of the day, one button to say things are not going according to plans but they are ok, and one button is a 911 call. It is nice knowing that the guys have this extra way to communicate. Once my email is set up with the SPOT I'll get a Google map each evening and be able to share location and timing. Because Dave, Trevor, and Tennille started at a different location than planned, they have to revise their resupply. The goal, because they are hiking with Tennille, is to get resupplied every three days. I hear dog food is really heavy! Planning a long distance hike is not as easy as just getting on a trail. You need to know where the water is (important especially at meal times and always nice to have fresh water in the morning). You need to plan out where to camp. And you need to plan where you can get resupply - or rather where someone can get to you. The guys are trying not to have to hike off trail to get resupplied. Dave had spent many hours getting the mileage each day perfect to fit all their needs. Dave and Trevor are used to things not going perfectly so I know that they will adapt, overcome and improvise! They have seen other hikers on the trail who started a few days at the beginning. Dave figures they'll make it to Durango and then go back to the start to complete sections 1 & 2. Pictures of the guys heading out Day 1 were put on Facebook. I'll be adding those pictures to this blog eventually!