Mystery Illness Round 2 | Paw Paw Tunnel | Maryland C&O Towpath | American Discovery Trail Ep 16

[@criticaloptimist]

I’m the type of person whose stomach is the Calvary in the coal mine. The second potato salad is due for the fridge I get sick from it. Maybe you got some bacteria that you worked through but then it left behind inflammation and your body needed to heal. That water was sketchy looking. Ps: your videos are relaxing and help me chill after work. So im just binging your videos. I’m not a creep, I swear!

[@markcrance3564]

I knew you would push through, congratulations! But I would really like to give a heartfelt “ THANK YOU “ to Brian and his family for taking in one of our own! Your unbridled generosity makes all the difference between a successful adventure and going home. Please don’t ever hesitate if you need something either. I’m sure Matt’s supporting followers would do everything they could to pay back the generously and kindness you have extended this great guy in is time of need! What goes around comes around! Thank you again! NANOOK

[@JeannineAnne]

Matt was a great guest! We just wanted to make sure he was safe and taken care of. :)

[@TXMEDRGR]

Having an unidentified illness out on the trail must have been horrible, I'm so sorry you went through that. Hopefully, you are feeling back to normal by now. The folks who helped are wonderful people. Thanks for sharing.

[@dorotheaivanovna9457]

🙏 for your speedy recovery Matt

[@stitch3163]

Glad that you’re back on the trail, Matt. I was going to check on you today if you hadn’t posted anything by this morning. Hope your health continues to improve.

[@jgeisler]

Okay, who had Mystery Illness on their bingo card? I do agree with you on the whole slack pack thing. Wow, so many turtles and other wildlife so far on this trip. Bonus Taters footage!!

[@RS-pk4mp]

Great to see you back on the trail and hiking without feeling too bad! Etc. Loving the turtles and small salamander creature. Gotta keep on Taters' good side! And just to add to your praise for Brian and family, way to go guys! Max kudos helping out Matt when he needed it. Hikers helping other hikers is the way to go. (And you know he's not feeling up to snuff when he turns his nose up at his coffee. Three alarm alert! Anyway, hope all continues well. Hike on! Tortoise

[@mjeh1]

Glad to see you back on trail. I hope you feel better soon. I'm rooting for you to successfully complete this hike and truly believe you can. Even when faced with the worst of luck you never quit.

[@scottireland5414]

C&D canal was one our best cycling trips. Imagine a dozen boy scouts and their bikes muddy from head to toe for 7 days.

[@jboren5552]

Off coffee, want to sleep all the time, nauseous but no fever. Congrats! You’re pregnant!!

[@frankflstf]

Absolutely gorgeous scenery bro thank you for sharing

[@ejtappan1802]

Can't wait to see you cross through West Virginia. Glad you are back on the trail but I do hope you feel better as each day passes.

[@ervinslens]

This was lovely presentation man! Your storytelling is fantastic!

[@butchbinion1560]

Thanks, stay healthy best of luck, safe journeys. ✌🏻👊🏼

[@cathymolina9139]

It's nice to know there are still caring and generous people in the world today. Thank you to the couple that helped you out so much.

[@Geo-cp4kb]

Good to see you back on the trail Matt. Hang in there, and hopefully this is just a speed bump for you on your ADT journey. With your vast hiking experience, i know you will get thru this. That’s why you are the masochist! -Geo

[@tomgarcialmt]

I need to tell you now just how important your videos have been in my life these past couple of years. You and Tatars are in my thoughts almost daily and I wake up wanting to know what is going on with you guys each morning. Thank you so very much.

[@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes]

Awe, thanks Tom. We’re really glad we can provide some level of comfort or distraction

[@JoshuaSeward]

Oh wow! We have camped at the paw paw tunnel before. Right along the Potomac? Pretty cool to once again see you around some areas we have been.

[@RobertBruck-r5o]

You are a GLADIATOR! Get well 😊soon

[@markwalz5692]

Praying for your health, wishing you only the best.

[@georgem7965]

Glad to see that you are back and making miles. I have found that missing someone often involves encountering something that you know would delight them and being unable to share it with them. My late wife has been gone 10 years and it still gives me a twist when I see/hear/read something that she would have enjoyed and I can't share it.

[@marleenvos4126]

Great to see you going again, you'll get stronger soon. Hats off to Brian and family for supporting you! Great to have a bit of Jen at the end :)

[@richardross7219]

Good to see you back on trail. I suspect that you were poisoned. MidwayUSA has the meals on sale periodically. Catch it when they have free shipping and stock up. They also have the AMK large Emergency Blanket that I recommend. Good Luck, Rick

[@suzannelegeza1292]

It is so good to see you back on the trail. Thank you Brian and Janine for being there for our favorite Masochist! 🤗 I pray that you can find clean drinkable water. I am hoping that because we kindof have a better idea of where you are at in relation to time, that more kind people can try to intercept you with clean drinkable water!❤

[@JeannineAnne]

Glad you're back at it! And look at my fluffy puppies making it back on your channel yet again! Hope your'e feeling well! Brian's been updating me on your whereabouts. :) Robbie and our zoo say hello!

[@PascalRimbaut]

Very nice to see you on trail again ! Good you are feeling a lot better. My "woodwork" version : you had a livercrisis due to whatever , had some in the past and match perfectly your simptoms. Even feeling much better after a day (i went working) and coming back worse the day after. Once you can get something down it improves day after day. Shame Jen had to leave with al those cute animals. Next up : roads to Dolly Sods , so drinkingwater will be less of a problem . Keep it up !😃

[@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes]

Currently on those roads carrying a gallon of water due to paranoia after this last section…

[@PascalRimbaut]

@@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes Hope for you it (the mystery illness) will be totally over by the time you reach Dolly Sods and you will find relyable sources there and further on . ( You will have mostly trails till Parsons . )

[@ryannorris11]

Glad to see you back on trail moving westward. I enjoyed seeing the Paw Paw Tunnel. When I biked the C&O last July it was closed and we had to push our bikes up and over the hill. I want to go back now to see the tunnel even if I just hike it.

[@erwandert]

I hope you will get well as soon as possible. Take care!

[@barryparris91]

Nice surprise at the end!

[@Bibs123]

Dude, I have the same symptoms for at least a week. I am barely surviving at work. It truly sucks. Jen's got the idea. I think I would be much happier camping every single night and heading out to work the next morning walking by the ocean! I've taught school for 25 years after serving 7 in the military, teaching sucks worse each year. As time passes, the kids are more rude, disrespectful and immature. The parents are worse than the kids. God Bless you Ms. Jen!

[@mattcron9421]

Glad to see you back on trail.

[@backpackingcapebreton]

I know you love everyone coming out of the woodwork to give opinions … so I’ll try one hehe: have you considered it could be something that was in the water that isn’t biological? As in possible chemical/pesticide/agriculture runoff? Something your filter wouldn’t get rid of?

[@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes]

It’s always a possibility. I tend to be very choosy when it comes to where I take from and I check for smell and appearance. But who knows. I’ve walked through towns where the city water isn’t safe

[@Gen.1.31]

Glad you're feeling betterish. If absolutely everything comes back clean from the doctors there is always the possibility that it's a mind game thing. Maybe your really sad Taters went home 🤷‍♀️

[@thuggoe]

i'm glad u have no tolerance for slack packing

[@extremepedestrian]

I doubt it's what you have but I got a mean case of Anaplasmosis from a tick at the AT last summer. It leveled me and sent me to the ER. Just looking out, love the vids and will hit the trail next year so thank you for making these!

[@skisacky]

Feel better soon!

[@abigailjames7989]

I think the yellow flowers on stalks that you are passing by around 9:30 and at 20:10 are golden ragwort - maybe. Glad you are back out, please take care.

[@daniels5408]

Go Matt! You are an IT guy to the max. Plow through the “crud” and keep moving Forward. Oh, there is a turtle for taters in 1 mile. Make sure you get to film it for Taters.

[@joerice6565]

It’s funny I thought the constant safety net of the AT is one of the things that actually made it significantly harder. When there’s five shuttle drivers that will pick you up almost anywhere and take you to your choice of town food/hostels/ hotels and such at pretty much anytime I thought it was much harder to embrace the suck. It’s so much easier on other trails to just deal with it because you don’t have that super easy option to bail all the time.

[@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes]

If you’re there for towns and drinking then yea, it certainly feeds that vice

[@joerice6565]

I wouldn’t say that’s my goal but I didn’t like having the temptation I suppose

[@nml4546]

Goddammit man, you can't catch a break hiking. I hope you get over whatever you have quickly. But. I admire, I really do, you purist spirit. I hope you never lose, I don't think you will.

[@brianbouser1957]

They are greatful you stayed. When yoh are attempting such a major feat everyone usually wants to help. Its makes us fell we were a part of it

[@mattaylor8935]

The seeps you see coming out of the hillside are good too

[@jakeprittie]

Woohoo back to basics!

[@CScullyBrown]

Hang in there you stubborn mule :) . I have no remarks to make other than I really hope you find your groove again soon. You definitely don't need this.

[@danieltravelpiece7088]

Th water along the Potomac and the Potomac is very dirty. To the point a number of places don’t allow swimming especially after a big rain. Probably got something from drinking the water. Hope you’re feeling better soon!

[@blueandgreenslacks]

Yo Mas would you ever consider live streaming when there’s reception, or maybe an AMA from a hotel room??

[@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes]

Did one of those before the CDT. In general I don’t have enough warning I’ll be internet accessible to be able to schedule it early enough that people can actually see it

[@hankremer6606]

Day 16. In weariness and toil, the good Bishop journeys onward.

[@knittingnana2939]

Tunnels creep me out. There's no way I would've gone through that.

[@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes]

Tunnel monsters creep me out but fortunately none here

[@ozenfant_ozn]

huge probs to Brian and his family!

[@chrisdowns422]

I am also a fan of the Garmin.

[@otway00]

Standard hike... back back check... food check, trip to ER check

[@booklover6963]

I think you miss Taters a lot. Feel better !

[@richardclark.]

i would guess it is post partum Taters withdrawal. a small order fries may get you through for awhile.

[@rosesmith6208]

drinking the water is probably the problem, several thru hikers have had the same problem, maybe the filter needs replaced or a differnet one?

[@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes]

Maybe. But was it the filtered pump water, the filtered creek water, the filtered Potomac water, or something I picked up off a common surface like a porta John handle? Plus it was missing some of the big symptoms associated with usual water based issues

[@mattaylor8935]

After Dolly sods you hit another rail trail where water is scarce but locals friendly but a lot of their water has been contaminated due to fracking seen a guy there light his water on fire

[@PascalRimbaut]

Middle Ridge Trail or Allegheny Trail ??

[@mattaylor8935]

North Bend rail trail

[@mattaylor8935]

It will be getting hot by the time you get there stay hydrated a lot of people that do the ADT do it pulling a trailer on these flat sections

[@mattaylor8935]

You will cross into Ohio after that road walk to Buckeye trail but water everywhere

[@janetrogers5429]

Did you get a parasite? Can you boil the water.

[@goodwaterhikes]

😎☮

[@williamearl546]

Could u leave a link were to purchase the tent please

[@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes]

The Nemo Hornet? I really couldn’t say. They’re available all over the place though

[@jamesquinlivan7876]

Maybe you have Lymes Disease or a inner ear issue like Mieneres syndrome. I’ve had both in my life. Chinese food has a lot of sodium which you have mentioned but that can create havoc with Mieneres. Good luck with travels and wishing you the best. 🥾👍. Wow loved Taters adventure at the end. Frogs having sex. KZbin might pull the plug on you guys 😂😂

[@mevrammcoyoteV8f150]

stomach bug has been going around for six months..I've had it

[@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes]

Those generally involve some rather insistent expulsions though…

[@mevrammcoyoteV8f150]

Need to try the Ozark Trail in Missouri and Arkansas..thanks

[@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes]

It’s one of the things on my list. Like I was explaining to Brian there’s actually this odd case where the 200-ish mile trails have a lower priority than the longer ones because they can’t take up an entire season yet I still have to commit resources to transport.

[@janetrogers5429]

Swig of whiskey?

[@jjonsolomon]

Re: slack packing WWESD?

[@janetrogers5429]

Hot tea

[@mikegrace8635]

I have been watching another guy that is doing this hike, he's in Ohio, and has been dealing with the same thing, must be something going around.

[@FirstChurchofTheMasochistHikes]

If it’s Travis I hear he’s hiking east to west but isn’t really on the ADT. Your exposure to random things on a hike like this is always going to be higher. Be nice if I had a reasonable theory as to the cause

[@Hundefan123]

If you were a woman, everybody would just assume that you are pregnant 😂 Nausea, tiredness and overall weakness...

[@tanjamorgan8846]

Heavy metals in the water? Filter would not remove the minerals. I knew you were sick when you didn’t want coffee!!!???!!!

[@janetrogers5429]

Drink broth 7 up

[@mjeh1]

Slack packing is cheating and should disqualify you from claiming to have completed a through hike! Completely unacceptable!