Robert J. Sutherland & Max Forester

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Robert J. Sutherland & Max Forester My travel companion is Max Forester. We surprise Appalachian Trail hikers with free "Trail Magic." God has provided abundantly for me and my children. Right?

In 1977 -- more than 40 years ago -- God forgave my sins and gave me a new life in Jesus Christ. In the decades since, God has always been faithful to me, as He has to His children for thousands of years. I've lived alone for almost 20 years and I don't see my daughters or seven grandchildren very often. So, because my part-time work in media allows me plenty of afternoons and weekends off, I love

to drive along the Appalachian Trail to meet hikers who are hopeful they'll walk all the way to Maine. Max Forester & I offer them a friendly greeting, a listening ear, a story or two and offers of assistance, if needed. With a resupply of water and treats, they're better equipped to hit the Trail ... until they meet more old and/or new friends along the way. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 2:7: “For the LORD your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have not lacked a thing.”

For me, being a Trail angel is a way that I can express my gratitude to God for His unmerited favor. My cup runneth over. Might as well share some of His abundance with others before we all come to the end of our trails.

Divine AppointmentsTough tale to tell.Not about me.Sweet lady sent me a private message here on Facebook yesterday. Sev...
11/09/2025

Divine Appointments

Tough tale to tell.
Not about me.

Sweet lady sent me a private message here on Facebook yesterday. Several actually.

They began with a word of thanks for the time our paths crossed on the Appalachian Trail. Not saying where.

In the past year or two. Not saying when.

Posted happy pictures of her and her happy husband. Not posting them again.

Originally shared my many positive impressions of each of them, and both of them together. Not sharing them again.

She simply wanted to say thanks for the memories, Tootsie Pops and laughs.

I responded with a hopeful blessing on her already wonderful marriage to a wonderful gentleman.

~~

Her response?

He passed away. Not saying where, when or how.

The memories of their hike on the A.T. and their adventures before and after our Divine Appointment are treasures now -- even more than before.

~~

I ask God for Divine Appointments.
I ask God to use me for His glory.

Then, I show up in various forests with water, whistles, tick removers, tent stakes and Tootsie Pops to give away.

Afterwards, I ask folks to pose with Max Forester. Mostly to post on this page. With hundreds of shots of other hikers. Never thinking that they might become precious memories.

~~

Used to love to watch Doc Johnson perform his Mountain Music & Medicine Shows in Dahlonega ... beginning 25 years ago?

He kindly allowed me to introduce myself. We chatted. He posed for pix. Happily. Over and over.

Saw him a few years ago in Jefferson, GA, where he performed in character, and added several dandy bluegrass bands to the act -- recorded for radio.

Greeted him. Took his picture. Asked if he ever saw the shots from his last show in Dahlonega. He didn't think so.

Opened up the folder and showed him a portrait of him and his perennial partner. Doc almost wept.

Turns out, that gentleman passed away shortly after the photo was taken. That moment captured in time quickly became a memento that he probably still treasures.

~~

Should this be about being willing to take pictures?

Should this be about being willing to pose for pictures?

Nope

~~

This is about a family I met for less than 30 minutes in the woods. Sharing snacks & treats together.

Listening. Absorbing their togetherness.

That, we didn't know, will never happen again.

~~

Life is hard.
Relationships are hard.
Losing a loved one is very hard.

Please pray for this grieving widow.

No doubt, she has a thousand happy memories of her beloved husband and partner.

I'm thankful for that.
I'm thankful that she shared him with me.

She'll be on her own Trail of Tears for years.

My heart is breaking for her, and the loss his loved ones must feel ...

~~

My request?

Listen to people.
When you meet someone grieving ... listen more.

Pray for their healing ... and for abundant compassion for yourself, to help them heal.

~~

As a Christian, I believe my many sins are forgiven because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ -- who died to pay the penalty for my sins.

That's the hope that I can offer you: His hope of heaven.

Because you never know which photograph will be your last.
😔❤️❤️🙏🙏

Looked like a gorgeous day for a rambling in the hills. An almost chilly-cool morning. Sunny skies. Max Forester was ...
10/09/2025

Looked like a gorgeous day for a rambling in the hills. An almost chilly-cool morning. Sunny skies.

Max Forester was gassed-up and looking for adventure. Headed out on the highway to see what would come our way.

Paused for a four-wheel saunter down Boggs Creek. As beautiful as ever with a (ready?) rocky creekbed gurgling through the forest.

Perfect for relaxing & refreshing but we had states to go before we slept.

Made it up to Neel Gap on the Appalachian Trail at Blood Mountain. And ... what to our surprise???

Dayhikers! Bunch of them!

Had fun greeting them. When ... I heard one lady say:

"Are you Max Forester???"

Yup
Turns out our paths had previously crossed, as we all recalled.

"You gave me a (blue) bandana."

"She got a red whistle!"

Everyone who wanted one got a Tootsie Pop, mostly in what everybody calls red or in the red that artists call "magenta" while seething with disdain for un-artsy people.

(Yeah, I said it!)

Max and I wound up on the Tail of the Dragon -- a noisy, semi-dangerous happy place, where we chatted with guys down from Canada and a lady on a dreamy bike from Missouri.

Hundreds of miles, smiles, amazing people, and one dandy cheeseburger.

Because ... if fun doesn't knock on your door, you have to go out and find some of your own.
👋😎

Abundant harvests require abundant fertilization. Step One: Deal with the [p**p]Step Two: Open a coffee shop + resuppl...
02/09/2025

Abundant harvests require abundant fertilization.

Step One: Deal with the [p**p]

Step Two: Open a coffee shop + resupply outlet in Suches!

We're all fortunate to have Lucky at Abovetheclouds hostel!
👋💪👏

After Trail magic at Horse Gap, Max Forester & I bounced down the hills and eastward to burn hot dogs at the Tallulah Fa...
31/08/2025

After Trail magic at Horse Gap, Max Forester & I bounced down the hills and eastward to burn hot dogs at the Tallulah Falls Opry House for the community potluck supper and bluegrass concert.

Some of the fine musicians in the Tallulah Falls Opry House All Star Band were playing elsewhere, but we had more than enough music and food to make us all happy.

Me, most of all, after meeting and playing around with a dozen or more students from Toccoa Falls College on their first visit to the Opry.

As a girl-dad, I usually like the ladies more than the guys I meet on the Appalachian Trail or at the Opry.

This time? The guys won my heart and became honorary grandsons!

One of the happiest evenings in the years I've enjoyed the Opry. By the smiles on their joyous faces, the feelings were mutual.

Thanks to one and all for their kind contributions to the Opry, if only because you joined in the festivities.

Perhaps our paths will cross again. Until then?

Blessings!
👋❤️🙏

Max Forester & I invested a beautiful day at Horse Gap on the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia. Met a father & son who...
30/08/2025

Max Forester & I invested a beautiful day at Horse Gap on the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia.

Met a father & son who were scoping out their hike. One Tootsie Pop down, 100 to go.

Kept busy in the woods, because there's always work to be done clearing the Trail or Leaving No Trace.

Wonder who else will wander our way?
🤔🙏

A mom and two sons blasted by ... and another father & son duo sat for a little while.

Hike your own hike! Snag a bottle of water on your way.
👋😎

Another father & son, and a soloist, contemplating doing the PCT.

And ... Boy Scouts!
👋😎

The Blue Ridge Parkway is now open from the Folk Art Center in Asheville all the way south to Cherokee, NC, in the Smoky...
29/08/2025

The Blue Ridge Parkway is now open from the Folk Art Center in Asheville all the way south to Cherokee, NC, in the Smoky Mtn National Park.

Max Forester and I explored the BRP just days before the final section reopened.

From the Folk Center northward is still closed all the way to Little Switzerland. It might not open until the fall of 2026.

Fantastic views and a joy to experience God's creation.

The official BRP update is in the comments.
👀👋🙏

Gene Espy has passed away, after leaving an impact on the lives of so many who shared his love of the Appalachian Trail....
25/08/2025

Gene Espy has passed away, after leaving an impact on the lives of so many who shared his love of the Appalachian Trail.

Our paths crossed and I wrote him up a few times. I'll link a story in the comments.

Very nice man and one of the first to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.

His obituary is in the comments.
😔

Saw an image of Gramma Gatewood, the hiker from the last century made famous for her thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail ...
16/08/2025

Saw an image of Gramma Gatewood, the hiker from the last century made famous for her thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail wearing Keds sneakers and toting her rudimentary gear in a fabric sack.

Another picture of her was in the same post.

One photo of the hiker is impeccably clear and entirely in focus. The foreground and background are entirely fuzzy.

The other is uniformly fuzzy.

(Hint: Gramma Gatewood famously wore Keds, not Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers.)

Which one was created by artificial intelligence?

Welcome to the future!

We can no longer believe our eyes and must do what Google taught us is unnecessary.

We must think. Ponder.
Examine. Discern.

Not simply ask a computer for instant answers.

Or blindly accept its replies as truth.
😳

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http://www.MaxForester.com/

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