Robert J. Sutherland & Max Forester

  • Home
  • Robert J. Sutherland & Max Forester

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.

Been retired now for three weeks.Yeah, it's everyone's dream of when life becomes perfect.  The Golden Years.  When life...
05/06/2024

Been retired now for three weeks.

Yeah, it's everyone's dream of when life becomes perfect. The Golden Years. When life begins. More time for whatever you want to do ... whenever you want to do it.

Maybe it's just a guy thing with me, but I loved my career, my work and my latest job. I never hated to get up and go to work. The steady paychecks were sweet too. Only part-time in the morning but just enough.

For me, I still haven't dialed in whatever will fill that occupational void. Not to say that I haven't had a great time.

Max Forester & I drove up to our latest visit to Little Switzerland, high on a ridge in North Carolina. Took a slow ride toward home on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Carved out time for the very slow scenic route through the forest in Smoky Mountain National Park on the Heintooga Round Bottom Road -- that leads to one of the most beautiful roads by a zippy river that I've ever experienced.

Here's a tip to make your Golden Years golden: save plenty of gold.

Otherwise, you might have to endure your Maxxed Out Credit Limit Years wasting time hunting for balance transfer deals instead of swabbing the deck on your yacht moored off the Amalfi Coast.

Yes, Max & I made time for a foray into the forest for Trail Magic by the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia on Saturday, June 1st.

The best job ever.

Got there late. (No surprise.)
Didn't expect to meet any hikers. (No surprise.)
Met a bunch of fabulous folks. (No surprise.)

Stayed so late having fun with strangers that I never made it to my usual fun spot on Saturday nights: bluegrass and the community supper at the Tallulah Falls Opry House. Missed my friends, the music, the food, and flirting with Mary Beth, the adorable hippie chick who owns and operates The General Store.

Nice to have stuff to look forward to during retirement ... while you're still saving to upgrade your dinghy to an ocean-worthy multi-deck gargantuan ship to have perky crews sail you and a few dozen friends to the Mediterranean for a season or three.

For now, Horse Gap and Tallulah Falls will do quite nicely thank you.

Max & I took a few pictures to share with you, if you have a few minutes...

Met a flock of non-AT hikers in the Great Smoky National Park as Max & I descended into the wilderness.The older folks w...
01/06/2024

Met a flock of non-AT hikers in the Great Smoky National Park as Max & I descended into the wilderness.

The older folks were WAY more fun than the yoots. But the yoots were friendlier than the wild hogs.
😳👋

Ron's Appalachian Trail ShuttleSeriously.  Ron Brown is internationally famous.No, he hasn't written a book; he IS a boo...
24/05/2024

Ron's Appalachian Trail Shuttle

Seriously. Ron Brown is internationally famous.

No, he hasn't written a book; he IS a book that's filled with amazing knowledge of the Appalachian Trail -- especially from Atlanta through North Carolina.

No, he isn't a speaker at AT events, because he is shuttling hikers *every day* anywhere between Atlanta and Fontana Dam. I'm not sure if he has ever stopped for a meal or to piddle.

His Yellow Blaze Toyota? Five years old. More than 500,000 miles driven. And that's his *new* vee-hickle.

If you were in a foreign country (even more foreign than California) and you planned (for years?) to hike the Appalachian Trail, Ron is the guy you would include in your plans to get you from the ATL airport to the start of the Trail at Springer Mountain (or wherever you choose to begin).

Yes, Ron taught me to give away Tootsie Pops.
No, I don't do shuttles.

If you hire Ron? He *will* be there.
Even if he has to get out and use his chainsaw to eradicate obstacles on Winding Stair Gap Road -- or anywhere else -- because he keeps his word.

Someday, Ron will be a legend and inducted into the AT Hall of Fame.

But I'll bet he won't take time off from driving hikers where they want or need to be to accept the honor.

He only posed with me ... as he waited for hikers to appear out of the woods at Woody Gap. After he met someone else at 4 AM in a neighboring state ... and before he drives back to ATL to fetch another hiker a few hours later.

It's an honor to meet Ron and always a pleasure when our paths cross near the AT at random places at random times.

A dozen years after my first Social Security retirement check, I finally retired on May 15th.  (Until a compelling gig c...
18/05/2024

A dozen years after my first Social Security retirement check, I finally retired on May 15th. (Until a compelling gig comes along.)

Celebrated my "first day of retirement" doing one of the things I love most: Trail magic at Horse Gap on the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia.

One friend who has hiked all over the world is currently conquering munros in Scotland and sharing pictures daily. Another friend is traipsing around Paris, waiting for his non-stop work for the Olympics to begin, and posting photos of his adventures.

Me? My idea of fun is driving down a dirt road or three to a secluded spot where I might be able to meet Appalachian Trail participants ... and offer them a chair, a chat, and/or a cool bottle of water before they walk away. Hopefully as refreshed as they make me and Max Forester.

My favorite time to go is on a nice day -- with bad weather on the way. There are times when I can help hikers with decisions or options on where they can stay if they need a hostel, if they want to dodge the rain or storms. That kind of thing. Bring them news of the world they're trying to escape.

Such was last Thursday, May 16th.

"It's too late to meet thru-hikers" because "they're all at Trail Days" in Damascus. Pffft

If I don't meet anybody, I get to spend a comfy day in the woods by myself. After living alone for 20 years, that's the deal.

Drove past the Ranger camp. Waved at the guard on duty. As usual.

Paused at Cooper Gap to see if any hikers were around. As usual.

Continued on the gorgeous road through the forest to get to Horse Gap. Yup. As usual.

No expectations for "divine appointments," but prepared, just in case.

Turned into a fabulous day. Again. From start to finish. I'll introduce you to the folks I met, and add notes to their portraits.

Oh. Might as well tell you now that "I met someone."

No, it never happens when you're looking for someone.

She was one of three hikers. Two professional ladies (as in: nurses) and ... Stormy.

As we all sat together in our cozy chairs, Stormy cuddled up to me.

Worked for me.
Sat right next to me.

Like we were old friends.
Nice.

We all chatted.
Stormy got closer.

I decided to lower my barriers.
Slunk in next to her.

Our eyes meeting a few times.

Without even giving it a thought, I reached over and scratched her ears and patted her head.

Ahhhhh
Nice to be accepted and enjoyed and shown affection.

If only for a moment
on the Appalachian Trail.

Been raining a lot recently.My beloved daughter, Esther, had surgery to (ready?) donate a kidney!  She's mostly recovere...
17/05/2024

Been raining a lot recently.

My beloved daughter, Esther, had surgery to (ready?) donate a kidney! She's mostly recovered. I'm still ... "Wow! You actually donated a kidney!! And now you only have ONE???"

Yup.

Did you know that even if you aren't what dox refer to as a "perfect match" for a loved one in need of one of your kidneys, you can donate a kidney and kinda give your loved one a free coupon for the next available kidney that IS a perfect match?

Wild, huh?

So, Esther's kidney went to a stranger in Tennessee, with her true blessings. Esther's childhood friend -- in dire need of a kidney -- will now scoot up the donor list and should receive her life-renewing gift soon. Or soon-ish. It might depend on whether you or I donate a kidney, I guess.

Oh. After (ready?) precisely 35 years from the day I began working behind the scenes at a radio program hosted by Larry Burkett here in Gainesville, my days/years with his latest successor came to an end on Wednesday, May 15th.

Yes, I have plenty of money for retirement.

Depending on how long I live.

During the days of Esther's recuperation and my reluctant anticipation, I went where I am want to wander: Horse Gap on the Appalachian Trail to offer treats to anyone passing by on their way to Maine or wherever.

Yes, on a Saturday afternoon. T'was a fine day, indeed.

Oh!
I have good news and I have bad news.

First for the good news: I am getting better at writing down the names or stories of folks whom Max Forester & I encounter.

Now for the bad news. Sorry, I make notes right after a hiker or three go back on the Trail. I'm pretty sure that I can match my recollections with the right portraits, but ...

Maybe not.

I'll add captions to the photos.
If I messed you up, lemme know and I'll correct my mistake.

And, may I just thank God for His healing hand on Esther's life -- and those whose lives are forever changed by her sacrificial gift.

Meaningful church service.Didn't want to simply come home and burn daylight on a beautiful afternoon.Even at my beautifu...
29/04/2024

Meaningful church service.
Didn't want to simply come home and burn daylight on a beautiful afternoon.

Even at my beautiful home, deck and personal forest.

Headed up to Horse Gap, knowing the season for just-starting Appalachian Trail hikers walking to Maine is over.

Knowing that arriving at 2 PM is absurdly late in the day to meet, great and treat hikers.

After 20 years of living alone, I know how to stay busy and entertain myself, without too much whining.

Got to Cooper Gap -- where a mountain bicycle race was in progress. Tons of people. Megatons of bananas, water and goodies for the racers.

Like watching a parade go by in my Dancing Deer Forest.

Stopped anyway.
Met this delightful couple from Argentina out for a weekend hiking together. Chatted. They were fun and joyful.

Told them about the rain and thunderstorms that would arrive late in the morning.

Totally forgetting that I originally planned on offering Trail magic on Monday ... because I "never go up to the AT on the weekends."
😔🫣

At least they'll be happily surprised on Monday and unexpectedly drenched on Tuesday.

Max & I merrily made our way to Horse Gap. Knowing that we'd have a quiet afternoon in our other forest.

Two guys -- Delaware and Florida -- had just begun their trek to the other end of the Appalachian Trail.

Gave them the rare treat of a comfy chair, some cool water, candy, conversation, orientation and something they needed.

Heard those fulfilling words: "you're a godsend," and away they went up Sassafras and on their journey.

A trio of long-distance hikers descended into Horse Gap.

A lady from Maine.
A former thru-hiker from Atlanta.

And a guy who knew how to pronounce "LOO-vuhl." Turns out that's his hometown.

Water, granola bars and Airheads for the gents.

Miss Maine was surprised that Max Forester & I had something in the Goodie bins that she needed.

Didn't catch her name or identifiable stuff. Works for me. But she totally opened up about one very special friend.

Irene.

(Ready??)
Her 2015 Subaru Forester.
Green.

Didn't get a photo of her or Irene. Maybe we should all just wave to every green Forester, in Irene's honor?

Great day at Horse Gap.
Great to be home on the Deck of Delight in the Dancing Deer Forest.
👋

Divine Appointments on the Appalachian Trail -- aka "Trail magic"This is Facebook.  The bastion of b.s.Pretty lies.  Scr...
22/04/2024

Divine Appointments on the Appalachian Trail -- aka "Trail magic"

This is Facebook. The bastion of b.s.

Pretty lies. Screwy conspiracies. Misleading everything.

(Yes, I'm old and jaded.)

Do I think you'll believe me when I purport that I ask God to allow me to meet strangers, randomly, in the forest ... at a time when they might need some help? No.

Is it the truth anyway? Yup.

Just ask some of the people that Max Forester and I just happened to meet on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia on Thursday, April 18th. Even years into the Trail angel gig, I am awed by God's timing.

How awed?
I (publicly) offered to hug a woman who was so distraught that this old man who has daughters and granddaughters had nothing greater to offer than a shoulder and a few words of comfort.

In public. With her assent. And public appreciation.

And ... the father and son from Boston.
Dad was spent. His tramily (random trail family and/or co-hikers) was concerned. The son -- described by his dad as "one in a million" was concerned.

We sat him down and spoke to dad, directly and ... I dunno. Directly. We were worried.

Not long after these interactions, Mr. Boston was in Max's front seat, with his backpack in the back seat. And ... two or three others accepted our offer to "slack pack" them around Sassafras.

There were tears and fears.
Consoling and concern.

And hikers who didn't need me to convince them that God knew our plans would cross at that spot at that time -- and that it was all going to work out.

The very words I spoke as I held the lady in greatest need. In public. As I never do. But did. Without regret.

What or Who is Max Forester?Max Forester is:1) a Subaru Forester 2) some old guy who confuses his identity with his car3...
22/04/2024

What or Who is Max Forester?

Max Forester is:

1) a Subaru Forester
2) some old guy who confuses his identity with his car
3) a Trail angel
4) All the Above

After buying my 2015 Subaru Forester at Carmax, I carefully tried to remove the CARMAX decal on the rear tailgate.

The C, A and R came off perfectly. Leaving MAX.

That's when it struck me that Max would be a cool name for my Forester. And ... it became Max Forester.

I registered the domain name "MaxForester.com" and linked it to this page.

In Georgia, vanity tags (license plates) are limited to seven characters, so I also purchased the domain "MAX4STR."

(No, no one reads that as Max Forester. Everyone sees "Max Four Star" or "Max for Esther." But, I tried.)

When I post portraits of hikers, I try to include Max's tag -- because it's easy for folks to find their pix here. All they have to do is add "dot com" to MAX4STR to hit this page.

Is there a real Max Forester, somewhere?
Sure! Lots of them!

Am I Max Forester? Sure!
When I meet Appalachian Trail hikers and offer them treats from Max Forester's Goodie Bins!

Do I think I am a car? Not really.
Do I think you think I am a car? Probably.

Oh. The "Ain't Skeered" decal? Easy to explain.

My surname is Sutherland. I happen to have the same name as the Sixth Earl of Sutherland in Scotland. The Scottish Clan Sutherland's ancient motto is: "Sans Peur." French for "without fear."

In the dialect of North Georgia, my home, that's translated "Ain't Skeered."

The squiggly line beneath my family's motto?
Ask a motorcyclist who has slayed The Dragon.

Accept no substitutes! These are the markings of the original Max Forester the Trail Angel.

We can often be found near Horse Gap on the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia ... just in case we can come in handy for a hiker or nine.

Weekends in North Georgia are busy times for Trail angels who appear at most spots where the Appalachian Trail crosses r...
20/04/2024

Weekends in North Georgia are busy times for Trail angels who appear at most spots where the Appalachian Trail crosses roads in North Georgia.

Church groups, hiking groups, families and organizations feed those who saunter toward the end of the Trail in Maine ... better than I feed myself.

God bless them all.

No, I don't hand out bananas, Gatorade, cold beer, cold cuts or hot dogs & burgers. Not that it's a competition.

The truth is I ask God for direction about when to hit the Trail and I pray for God to arrange divine appointments before I get there.

The drive from my house in the Dancing Deer Forest, south of Gainesville, takes about 90-minutes to arrive at Horse Gap to set out a few chairs and open the Goodie Bins before anyone bravely ventures into sight of Max Forester & I.

Took the long way there after church on Sunday, April 14th. Much later than usual.

I've lived alone in a beautiful home for 20 years. Some days, I'd just rather be in the forest. Even if I don't get there until 2 o'clock.

The drive through Dahlonega is always delightful. Past there, I can take a road toward Woody Gap or over toward the Ranger Camp to get to Cooper Gap & Horse Gap.

Horse Gap is my favorite. Smack dab in the middle of the driest section of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. Right before an incline (Sassafras Mountain) that hikers are oblivious to or afraid of.

My AT&T cell phone is virtually worthless there -- except for random messages or calls that get through.

If you run out of water, strength or you need to get off the Trail, Horse Gap ain't where you want to be.

So, that's where Max & I go.
Where we might come in handy.
And encounter a divine appointment.

The drive up Rt 60 was exquisite. Magnificent views from ridges to valleys far below. Hills in the distance. Curvy roads that used to be favorites when I throttled my motorcycles to Suches and beyond.

Now I'm on a different path to different destinations for different purposes. Better ones.

Saw several serious Trail angels at Woody Gap. Zillion dollar RVs and gazebo thingys and regular folks offering treats from their regular cars.

Saw a first. Had to pull over. Jogged across the road. Shuffled around to get Just The Right Shot -- of a Ferrari that had been pulled over by a local sheriff.

So much for that joyride.

Saw firetrucks pull into a familiar place.
Said a prayer and kept trucking.
Found out later that nobody was hurt.

Stopped at Gooch Gap after seeing one lone lady. Asked if she could use some water. Yup.

And that's how it began...
And why they call it Trail magic.

Max Forester & I were surprised that the roads leading to the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia weren't clogged with fo...
11/04/2024

Max Forester & I were surprised that the roads leading to the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia weren't clogged with folks seeking a hill where they could view the eclipse on Tuesday, April 8, 2024.

Soon afterward, I realized that most folks probably wouldn't head to the forest to watch that phenomenal phenomenon. Well, except for me & Max.

Yes, I saved a pair of special glasses from 2017's eclipse. If you know me, you won't be surprised that I stashed something cool that everyone thought should be tossed. If you know me, you will be surprised that I actually remembered where I stashed them.

Heck, yeah.

After packing six folding chairs, 60 bottles of water, lots of Tootsie Pops and stuff for the journey into and out of darkness, we met our first hikers at Cooper Gap.

A pair of ladies -- one as friendly as can be & one who wasn't. That's okay. How can you fault someone for not accepting candy from a stranger in the woods?

Well, unless it's Max Forester.
Besides, even I don't trust people who try to convince me that I should trust them.

You might have already seen a few of these portraits. It's just easier to post them all again -- as time opens up to do so. Hope you don't mind.

I love these people.
I admire them.
Even if Max & I spook them.

You would too.

Update:
Even though I used my phone's voice recorder and made notes about who was from where, I messed up again.

Sorry
Please feel free to correct any inadvertent misinformation. And please allow me to blame-shift my error onto something related to the eclipse, old age or simply being too involved with new friends to stop and keep copious (or accurate) records.

08/04/2024

Another Appalachian Trail hiker celebrating a birthday?

Amazing.
Or not.

What *is* amazing is having to sing a solo to this poor man at Cooper Gap on his birthday, April 8th.

Also the birthday of my beloved daughter Sarah.
👋❤️😎

Max Forester & I are parked at Cooper Gap offering treats from the Goodie Bins to hikers passing by on the Appalachian T...
08/04/2024

Max Forester & I are parked at Cooper Gap offering treats from the Goodie Bins to hikers passing by on the Appalachian Trail.

For the first/last time ever, we've set up a rustic theater to view the solar eclipse.

Quite spectacular.
We were at the peak -- 83% -- peakability here in Georgia at 3 PM.
🤔😲😎

06/04/2024

We were just in time to celebrate Josephine's birthday at Horse Gap on the Appalachian Trail. A day late.

Pfffft
That wasn't going to stop us.

Max Forester & I drove the usual way to our usual places on the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia to meet the most unus...
06/04/2024

Max Forester & I drove the usual way to our usual places on the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia to meet the most unusual people, as we usually do.

Flocks of hikers sauntered by. Too many to count at the time. Ran out of chairs a couple of times. Barely had enough for the ladies -- who always get treated like ladies -- because that's the deal.

Max & I fell madly in like with another seemingly perfect family. Three perfect daughters. One perfect son. A perfect mom and a perfect dad. On a perfect day. In the perfect place: Horse Gap.

Could anything be more perfect?
Nope.

Well, except for all the other wonderful wanderers ... on their way to Maine ... where their dreams of being "thru-hikers" come true.

Hope you like their portraits.

Bad weather striking overnight.  Good people hiking on the Appalachian Trail. May the twain ne'er meet.Max Forester & I ...
02/04/2024

Bad weather striking overnight. Good people hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

May the twain ne'er meet.

Max Forester & I might have found a way to compensate for my failure to snag every hiker's name & stuff.

Group shots!! Like these from Cooper Gap and Horse Gap on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

And a dandy collection of adventurers they were!
👋😎👏💪

Ever looked at a picture of someone, smiled, and said to yourself, "I love them!"That just happened a couple of times wh...
01/04/2024

Ever looked at a picture of someone, smiled, and said to yourself, "I love them!"

That just happened a couple of times when I cropped the pix from when Max Forester & I offered Trail magic on the Appalachian Trail at Cooper Gap and Horse Gap in North Georgia on Wednesday, March 27th.

Yes, it was another great day meeting, greeting and treating temporary pals from all over the United States of America, a fabulous couple from the Black Forest, soldiers who have served all around the globe, two of the leaders of Warrior Expeditions, just plain amazing hikers, and another couple from a nearby state who stayed in my heart even after they walked miles away.

Oh. Wanted to share a reminder with you. Nothing dramatic or pedantic. If you're new to this page about offering Trail magic to hikers, you might not know why I do it.

It's about God's relationship with me, far more than my relationship with God. Since God forgave my many sins 40+ years ago, I have known His care, provision, direction, chastisement, blessings and comfort.

My needs are met. I have an abundance great enough to afford a nifty SUV (and money to keep it running), plenty of time, a membership at Sam's Club for inexpensive water, a bunch of Dollar Generals between my house and the Appalachian Trail and a desire to share my abundance with others.

I do not believe in magic. I do not believe I am an angel.

Those are the terms that came before me and terms that will survive me long after Max Forester & I are somewhere else or doing something else.

Max Forester is an automobile. And, Max Forester is my "Trail name." It's a fun gig.

God answers my prayers for "divine appointments." You would not believe all the times that I've had the opportunity to help strangers out after/during an emergency.

You would not believe how many times someone has stared at me -- in the forest after having a need met unexpectedly -- and said, "You're a godsend."

That's my goal.

No, I don't "ram my religion" or Tootsie Pops down anyone's throat. When I remember to do so, I try to re-direct the gratitude shown to me back to God -- the author and provider and source of any good deed I might do.

If you're grateful for anything Max Forester & I have done for you, thank God, not me. Without Him, it wouldn't have happened.

So. With that said, here are the photos of last week's passersby. Just in time ... because I hope to go back again on the morrow.

Perhaps you'll look at a portrait or two and say to yourself, "I love them!"

Address


Website

http://www.MaxForester.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Robert J. Sutherland & Max Forester posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Videos

Shortcuts

  • Address
  • Alerts
  • Contact The Business
  • Videos
  • Claim ownership or report listing
  • Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?

Share