Appalachian Trek for Habitat - Loyal's Updates

Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast would like to strongly thank Loyal Mehnert for his innovative, ambitious form of philanthropy.  Through his exhausting hike of over half of the Appalachian Trail, we were able to gain over a thousand dollars in donations, as well as receive important recognition on a national level.

The need for affordable housing on the MS Gulf Coast four years after Hurricane Katrina is still a pressing issue.  Loyal has showed unrelenting enthusiasm to the elimination of this problem and it has been a pleasure working with him. 

The Gulf Coast is looking forward to Loyal's next trip South!

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Loyal was recently featured in a story by Habitat for Humanity International!  To read the article, click HERE, or visit www.habitat.org

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Click HERE to check out Milwaukee's Journal Sentinel article about Loyal!

Watch the video clip on Loyal by KSDK of St. Louis HERE!

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UPDATE:

Loyal has been announced the winner of People magazine's All-Stars Among Us competition!  Congratulations, Loyal!!!

He will now be making a trip to St. Louis to attend MLB's All-Star game.

Thanks to everyone who took a minute to vote!

Click HERE to read the Milwaukee Brewers article on Loyal.

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LOYAL HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR PEOPLE MAGAZINE'S ALL-STARS AMONG US!!!  THIS IS A COMPETITION BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS DOING GREAT ACTS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.  THE WINNER IS AWARDED A TRIP TO THE ALL-STAR GAME IN ST. LOUIS!

TO VOTE, VISIT https://www.peoplecmg.com/peopleallstars/ AND CLICK ON THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS.

VOTING ENDS JUNE 24!

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700 Miles Hiked!  Way to go, Loyal!

July 20, 2009 4:15 PM -- My All-Star jersey is going to the Milwaukee Brewers and Prince Fielder who won the Home Run Derby is going to sign it. They will then auction it on Brewers.com with the proceeds going to our fundraiser.

July 21, 2009 2:33 PM -- Just wrapped up an interview with Habitat for Humanity International. I'll link when I'm linked.

July 17, 2009 11:08 AM -- Just found out that I've been invited to take part in November's Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Southeast Asia!

July 15, 2009 10:15 AM -- Milwaukee Brewer's Real Life All-Star profiled in the Journal Sentinel http://www.jsonline.com/sports/50682547.html

July 15, 2009 2:15 AM -- Did anyone see the sign I snuck on camera last night? Thanks for the publicity Fox.

July 14, 2009 2:30 PM -- I thought I left my autograph sessions behind at Nascar and SPEED. Just signed 30 baseballs including balls for President Obama and Oprah.

July 14, 2009 1:14 PM -- If you're reading this and HAVE NOT donated to Habitat yet, please go to http://www.HFHMGC.org/AT your donation of $21.75 will change lives.

July 14, 2009 12:14 PM -- Join the 200 Million people Worldwide watching People Magazine's All-Stars Among Us at around 650PM CST. It should prove to be interesting!

July 12, 2009 7:40 PM -- Off The Wall http://twitpic.com/a6io0

July 12, 2009 7:38 PM -- All Star Walk Of Fame http://twitpic.com/a6ibm

July 12, 2009 2:08 PM -- See me being interviewed at FanFest in St. Louis on KSDK-NBC @ 5pm today.

July 9, 2009 7:35 PM -- Just caught my Milwaukee Brewers interview on Fox Sports. I must say, it was kinda awesome. Well done Loyal, well done.

July 9, 2009 5:44 AM -- I'm tweeting live today from Miller Park as I toss out the First Pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers. I'll use my iPhone on the Pitchers Mound!

July 7, 2009 8:17 AM -- Thursday's Schedule: 1145AM Arrive @ Brewers Front Office, 1200PM Media, 1235PM Live Interview, 1245PM First Pitch. 1246PM Tears & Infamy!

July 6, 2009 3:04 PM -- Oh My God, Ive just been told Im throwing out the First Pitch at Miller Park on Thursday. Um, I've never thrown a baseball before.

July 2, 2009 8:20 AM -- Media day is being set up at Miller Park next week. I get to see the Milwaukee Brewers play & talk about raising money/ awareness for Habitat

July 1, 2009 10:02 AM -- Arghhh, wanted to give away my +1 for All-Star weekend to Habitat and do a charity auction. I thought it was a great idea. Sucks...

June 30, 2009 7:13 AM -- Jumping off the trail for a bit. Need to heal right foot, hurts bad. Also have to make myself available 2 the media & Brewers, fundraiser...

June 29, 2009 12:35 PM -- Really excited to be representing Habitat for Humanity and the Milwaukee Brewers. I hear President Obama will be at the game. Photo Op!!!

June 29, 2009 9:11 AM -- Guess who's being honored by People Magazine for his humanitarian work and is going to the All-Star game? This guy (points to face)

June 28, 2009 5:28 PM -- I'm losing entire layers of skin on my hands. Oddest thing. Leave No Trace. HA!

June 28, 2009 6:58 AM -- People Magazine will make their announcement tomorrow @ 9 AM. I have my own annoucement to make this week as well. Dhun dhun dhun!!!

June 27, 2009 10:00 AM -- Still looking for an Appalachian Trail hiking partner for the rest of the summer/early fall. I wonder if Governor Sanford is busy.

June 25, 2009 3:38 PM -- MISSING HIKER ALERT: Have you seen this man? He borrowed $25 bucks, then disappeared into the wilderness. SAL!!! http://twitpic.com/8ecah

June 25, 2009 7:37 AM -- Big thanks to everyone for their People Magazine's All-Star Amoung Us support. Will update with information as I am updated :)

June 22, 2009 1:11 PM -- After much thought, I'm pretty sure it was Bigfoot that I heard/felt about a week ago. I wonder how many encounters have happened on the AT?

June 21, 2009 8:14 AM -- Voting for People Magazine's All Star Among Us ends Wednesday. Go to http://www.peopleallstars.com vote 4 me under the Milwaukee Brewers.

June 19, 2009 4:12 PM -- WLOX-ABC Interview went well I think. Hopefully the segment shows up on line.

June 19, 2009 2:05 PM -- Hard time putting weight on my right foot, nice little limp going on. Also, severe bruising on my right shoulder blade. Probably from fall.

June 17, 2009 11:32 AM -- What Are People Saying About Loyal On The AT: http://circatari.wordpress.com/2009/05/page/5/.... (Loyal was a kind of tall guy, has pretty teeth)

June 17, 2009 10:25 AM -- Fox Sports called last night about my People Magazine nomination. Which reminds me, have you voted today? http://www.peopleallstars.com

June 15, 2009 2:59 PM -- Thinking of ways the Appalachian Trail has changed me. Well, I'm now definitely terrified of mice, which is odd considering my size & age.

June 25, 2009 10:18 AM -- You know you've crossed into a weird Twilight Zone of existence when Major League Baseball leaves you a voice message and not just a MLB rep

June 13, 2009 5:29 AM -- Tomorrow marks Day 50 of AT thru-hike. There are a thousand things I want to write. Soon 2 months out here West Virginia still 4 weeks away

June 12, 2009 3:42 PM -- Appalachian Trail To Massie Gap, There And Back Again. Can you spot the way Frodo? http://twitpic.com/781vd

June 12, 2009 1:45 PM -- Have you donated today? Base donations start at only $21.75. For the cost of a pizza, you can make a difference. http://www.HFHMGC.org/AT

June 12, 2009 12:07 PM -- Talked to Milwaukee Brewers this morning, invited as a guest to a home game. Vote for me like a 1000 times! @ http://www.peopleallstars.com

June 12, 2009 10:14 AM -- The infamous dreaded AT "Green Tunnel." It has destroyed the will of many hikers. Miles/days/weeks of NOTHING. http://twitpic.com/773gk

June 12, 2009 7:54 AM -- "When I Get Off Of This Mountain, You Know Where I Want To Go? Straight Down The Mississippi River, To The Gulf Of Mexico."

June 11, 2009 6:26 PM -- Feral Ponies At Thomas Knob. Virginia has proven to be, at the very least, exciting. http://twitpic.com/75q68

June 11, 2009 4:32 PM -- Massive thunderstrorms all day today, soaked. Didn't text yesterday because lack of signal but took nasty fall, face first, hurt quite a bit

June 9, 2009 2:17 PM -- Lost another 10 pds since last week? 35 total. Burn 5-7,000 calories daily, eat 1/10th. Milwaukee Eastsider & skinny black size 28 jeans NO!

June 9, 2009 11:42 AM -- Stopping for lunch. View from my office. http://twitpic.com/6z742

June 9, 2009 9:47 AM -- Mouse just ran over shoe. Screamed a bit, luckily Im alone for 5 miles in both directions. At what point exactly will the AT toughen me up??

June 9, 2009 9:31 AM -- Oh, and you'll also receive a 2009 Everyday Journeyman gift of sand from the Sahara and a piece of the AT (could be a rock, could be a bear)

June 9, 2009 9:27 AM -- Donate $500 & get: Signed Photo, Dinner/ 1hr Meet & Greet, Special Thanks in "A Poop In The Woods: The Single Greatest AT Book Ever Written"

June 9, 2009 9:20 AM -- Celebrate the 500th mile by donating @ www.HFHMGC.org/AT today

June 9, 2009 9:15 AM -- MILESTONE ALERT: few hours from crossing 500 mile mark (25% or so of the AT completed).

June 8, 2009 6:19 PM -- Will finish today with about 17.2 miles hiked. Not bad considering the fall, the near snake attack, being alone, & the massive # of tweets.

June 8, 2009 1:47 PM -- I've had 3 dreams. 1, to be in People Magazine. 2, to go on a date with Natalie Portman. And 3, to arm wrestle a Yeti. #1 is within reach!

June 8, 2009 1:06 PM -- Saw a massive snake then tripped 1 minute later, nearly falling off a cliff, slicing my knee open in the process.

June 8, 2009 12:02 AM -- Vote me into PEOPLE MAGAZINE!! Choose the Brewers at https://www.peoplecmg.com/p...! Vote more than once!!

June 7, 2009 8:13 PM -- The Green Tunnel has spotty reception. I apologize in advance for the lack of upcoming updates as I try to Shawshank out of Virginia.

June 7, 2009 1:03 PM -- My heart is heavy but my pack is light. Focus Loyal, small goals, big picture, push on, steel resolve, its only walking, 550 miles to go...

June 5, 2009 2:29 PM -- Sums up the last 6 days http://twitpic.com/6oqfi

June 4, 2009 8:03 PM -- My hiking buddy Joe has been quarantined for the next day or so which can only mean one thing...movies! Luckily I'm still ahead of schedule.

June 4, 2009 10:21 AM -- Will take over a month to thru-hike Virginia. Upside, the remaining states should be much faster. VA has 550 AT miles, NJ 72, MD 41, WV 4!

June 4, 2009 9:15 AM -- People take me less serious with a 3 month old beard. Went to a bank ranting about needing a notary and People Magazine and I was chased out

June 3, 2009 3:27 PM -- ABC and People Magazine in the same day. Too much for even me. Head's a bit spinny. Things are a lot simpler in the woods.

June 3, 2009 12:15 PM -- Just got off the phone with the Biloxi Mississippi ABC affiliate...

June 3, 2009 8:13 AM -- Sent home another 10 pds of gear. Total sent home about 25 pds. Hoping for speed and strength as I push north.

June 2, 2009 2:05 PM -- Bears are everywhere! Very dangerous. I've hiked approximately 340 miles.
I should be in Virginia soon. The march North continues.

June 2, 2009 9:27 AM -- Hope to be in Damascus VA within a week or so. On schedule I might add, despite the extra zero day.

May 31, 2009 6:53 AM -- Woke up to roosters on my tent. They've been going at it since before dawn.

May 30, 8:26 AM -- Bears were all over campsite last night. Nothing like heavy breathing and loud footsteps at 3 AM. One even crawled into my tent.

May 30, 2009 7:57 AM -- Crossed 300 miles!!! Crossed $1,000 in donations (nearing $1100)!!!! Tennessee looks a lot like North Carolina. Too much rain, four days straight!

May 26, 2009 11:45 A.M. -- Series of Milestones... Hiked a 22.2 Miler, Nearing 300 Miles, Heard a Rattler, and Climbed The Highest AT Peak!

May 26, 2009 9:26 AM -- Just weighed myself...lost about 25 pounds in less than a month. At this pace, should weigh about 98 pds total by Maine.

May 22, 2009 6:36 A.M. -- Bear free night. The smaller cub screamed and climbed the tree. Check it out: http://twitpic.com/5p7cm.

May 21, 2009 2:39 P.M. -- Stuck, Bear won't move, about 25 ft away. Just saw 2 small cubs. Bear spray in hand.

May 21, 2009 1:27 PM -- WOW, best view yet. http://twitpic.com/5mzsi

May 21, 2009 6:50 A.M. -- Woke up to a 6-inch long beetle chewing on my leg!

May 20, 2009 8:45 P.M. -- Did my biggest day yet, 12.7! Previous AT record was 12.5/12.4. Heading into the Smokies tomorrow after shaking down my pack a few pounds...

May 20, 2009 9:20 A.M. -- Just saw my first AT snake. Looked like a cross between a King Cobra and a Python.

May 20, 2009 9:18 A.M. -- Where I slept last night. Jealous much? http://twitpic.com/5jze5

May 20, 2009 7:04 A.M. -- With an average of 17.75 miles beginning June 1st, I can be home by September 15th eating veg chili on the old couch.

May 16, 2009 12:04 P.M. -- I can't believe how many Habitat volunteers I've met, many from the NOLA and the Gulf Coast.

May 15, 2009 10:55 A.M. -- I'm at Trail Days in Dasmascus VA with 10,000 smelly Hikers until Sunday. Then the push to 200 and 300 miles begin.

May 12, 2009 9:59 A.M. -- 3 hours in, hiked 5 miles. 4700 elevation. Location: http://gpstwit.com/r9z

May 11, 2009 5:10 A.M. -- Started raining last night, hasn't stopped. Hard downpour, freezing cold...still at shelter trying to wait it out. 12 miles to hike today.

May 1, 2009 8:33 A.M. -- Last night was insane. I ended up the only one camping for about 10 miles in either direction. To top it off, my tent was attacked by about 2 dozen mice. Nothing tests you like shadows of mice on top/next to your tent.

April 29, 2009 1:15 P.M. -- After bushwacking for 2 days, I'm taking a pit stop in Neels Gap. Shower, food, bunk, and internet.

April 23, 2009 3:46 P.M.  -- Yogi is on the attack!!! Apparently a black bear struck at Max Patch (near Hot Springs, NC) a few days ago.
It didn't want food apparently. No, this bear stole a TENT.
I'm not giving up my tent without a fight so perhaps my bear spray will see action sooner rather than later. Next week will be interesting.

April 2009 Recovery Aid All the Way from the Appalachian Trail

In partnership with Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast (HFHMGC), Loyal Mehnert, a young adventurer, will be hiking 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail. This six month long hike will start in Georgia, with the ending point in Maine. Donations toward his journey will go to HFHMGC to help with rebuilding efforts along the MS Gulf Coast.

Base donations are $0.01 per mile, totaling $21.75 per supporter. However, individuals are welcome to donate more.

Through his blog, The Everyday Journeyman, and his Appalachian Trail hike, Mehnert hopes to raise awareness to the continued need along the Gulf Coast, as well as raise money for HFHMGC.

After Hurricane Katrina, Mehnert found himself shocked and devastated by the sheer amount of loss and destruction caused. His call to action came after the storm when he began working as the National Field Media Spokesperson for Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity, a not-for-profit membership organization who has sponsored sixty-eight HFHMGC homes, with $4.2 million.

Through his work with the Thrivent Builds program, Mehnert was able to spread the word on substandard housing and ways in which people can help. He spoke to millions of people across the US through television and in person, going to high schools, churches, state fairs, and Major League Baseball games.

Loyal Mehnert first had the opportunity to volunteer with HFHMGC in 2007. He enjoyed the work so much that he returned in 2008, and now looks forward to making it a yearly journey.

In his early thirties, Mehnert has already travelled throughout much of the world, making donations along the way. The beginning of this year brought a close to the Plymouth-Dakar charity rally, in which Mehnert drove more than four thousand miles from London, England to Banjul, the capital city of the Republic of The Gambia.

After driving across nine countries in the course of a month, Mehnert donated his Jeep to a charity based in Western Africa, raising several thousand dollars that went to local schools, hospitals, and women’s services.

Map of Loyal's Journey	Loyal Working On-site	6 Months of Food for the Trek