The Ball that SAVED the Hike

In the film Castaway, Tom Hanks was saved from insanity by a Wilson volleyball; a Penn tennis ball seems to have saved Coco’s hike, thus earning her the trail name SAVED. When she finished segment eight and 143 miles, her back and neck were tight and VERY uncomfortable.

The hostel in Leadville, where she was spending two nights had a nice rock she used to stretch. That helped so she asked her support team to search for a cork ball (not happening at the Buena Vista, ACE Hardware), so we settled for a tennis ball. After her stay in Leadville, she resumed her hike and when reporting her camp location that evening let us know the ball saved her hike.

And that’s how she got her trail name. You see, on a thru hike it’s customary for someone to have a trail name that befits your condition, personality, dress – could be anything.  Her ball story was the inspiration for her CT name SAVED. Of course, there are three balls in a sleeve, so Tallus got to have his own to chase while mom is on the trail!

TRAIL NOTES: To date we have met Bright Trail from Ashville, N.C., Cloud from Flagstaff, AZ., and Shit Storm from Yosemite Valley.