DIANE VAN DEREN APPROACHES JOCKEY'S RIDGE
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Diane crosses Little Lick Creek at Falls Lake. Photo by Halle Amick. |
The Mountains-to-Sea Trail has tested the mettle of world-class ultrarunner Diane Van Deren as she has sought to break Matt Kirk's 24-day record for completing the trail and raise $40,000 to support the MST.
Pea soup fog enveloped her as she neared Mt. Mitchell, and then four inches of rain swelled the rivers and creeks in Linville Gorge and Wilson Creek, forcing crossings that were often waist-deep. After seven days of wet weather, she left the mountains behind schedule and with feet covered in blisters. The skies cleared, and she has pressed on - 30 to 60 miles per day - through the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, accompanied by a hardy, cheerful team of guide runners from all over North Carolina and a support crew from Great Outdoor Provision Co.
As I send this e-mail, Diane has completed the Neusiok Trail and is heading toward Cedar Island to catch the ferry to Ocracoke just as tropical storm Beryl arrives in North Carolina. She'll face strong winds, crashing surf and rain as she heads up the Outer Banks.
To capture a spirit of the expedition, read Joe Miller's daily blog and the twitter feed which is filled with photos documenting each day's adventures (you do not need a twitter account to see the photos).
As Diane nears the end of her expedition at Jockey's Ridge, we invite you to make a gift to help her reach her second goal - raising $40,000 for the trail. How will your money be used? Read Joe Miller's eloquent blog about the value of your gift and how FMST will put it to good use.
You can make a gift in three ways:
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