[Sadie's Driver]

BPJ - one of my favorite memories on the trail was getting to Ptarmigan Lake and finding clothes dotting the shore - - - and yes, Gus discovered a "wood nymph" swimming from the island back to shore - stark naked! It was nice meeting you! Joe - so sorry to read this post and the challenges you face. Hoping for the best. Be well, my friend.

[Schmidt Altitude]

One of my (Altibabe) first memories of NWHikers was finding a trip report in 2005 by BPJ to some beautiful lakes I’d been eyeballing in topo. Your trip report was complete with shadow man and tarp tent selfies and I still remember it to this day. Since then, we’ve actually got to meet and hike in person and I’ve drooled over all your Curtis Rafts. We stopped posting here but this news urged me to log in and say something to someone a consider a friend even though it’s been years. Life can throws lots of difficult curveballs your way but I like to think that it doesn’t throw anything you’re not equipped to handle. We’ll be thinking about you. Cheers Tom. - Schmidt Altitude

[Malachai Constant]

I remember you running into Harvey Manning and having a beer on Tiger Mountain.

[Backpacker Joe]

You are all wonderful people. Im glad I posted this thread. Thank you for the large text, it makes all tyhis much easier. Ill try and kstay aroujd ass long as I can. At some poine Ill probably try and have a gear give away. No point in having all this stuff if I cant use it. Hecck, Ive got four McHale packs to give away! And so much more. If Im past tyhe point of no return Ill have someone else post the give away information. Thanks to everyone.

[reststep]

Sorry to hear about this Tom. Hopefully you will still be able to do some hiking and contribute here. This is one my favorite pictures you posted.

Having fun in the spillway

[Foist]

So sorry to see this, BPJ. I cannot even imagine it. I have always been a big fan of your contributions. I am sure you have thought of this, and it may be cold comfort, but I know they have very sophisticated voice activation and dictation technology, that should enable you to "read" and post anything online without seeing at all.

[mb]

Sorry to hear of this BPJ. You're one of the big contributors here! Losing eyesight is scary! Hopefully you can find someone local to you to show you some of the computer accessibility tricks, from magnification (try ctrl-scrollwheel) to automatic reading and dictation.

[blendergasket]

In the early or 2000s I had a room in a guy's house who was so dyslexic he was unable to read. He got himself through a master's degree with a scanner and Dragon text to speech/speech to text. I'm not sure if there is better software out there now, but I strongly suggest you look into that software and it's competitors.

[the Zachster]

Tom, I am so sorry to hear about this bad news and difficult times that lie ahead for you. Prayers for wisdom and answers/solutions to the problems that will come, courage as you pursue this difficult journey and peace through the process. I think it was C.S. Lewis that said "Never forget in the darkness what you have learned in the light". Hold on and remember. And I truly hope you will find a way to stay in touch. Technology is so clever these days...

[Bernardo]

Hey BPJ, I echo all the comments here about your great contributions to the site over many years. You’ve been and I hope you will remain a stalwart. Thank you. Don’t lose hope. You’ll find a way to keep hiking.

[Redwic]

Backpacker Joe - I am going to miss you.

[Backpacker Joe]

[Jim Dockery]

Tom, I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm with everyone else on your contributions to NWH. I don't participate much any more, but it was great getting back in touch with you here so many years after our days at Marmot. I always appreciated your TRs, and viewpoints, which often were different than mine, but I like hearing the other side from an intelligent perspective. I know the days ahead will be tough, but not impossible. Many blind people still hike and climb with assistance and I'm sure you can figure it out. For sure the computer stuff will be possible for you. Please keep us in the loop as you move forward into the next phase of your life. Good luck and stay strong.

[bobbi]

Hey Tom! I'm sending some awesome vibes your way ... I read a few of your TRs and was I happy to actually meet you at Heart Lake along the 7 Lakes/High Divide Loop, Olympics. we hiked out together and every now and then you'll say, my dogs are killing me! not wanting to say, "ain't no dogs around, bud. watcha smokin'?", I kept on hiking that long 8 miler + slog back to the parking lot! you were a trooper and hung in there. when I got home, I mentioned to my husband that you kept saying: my dogs are killing me! he explained this idiom and I laughed as I never heard it said out loud before! thanks for your contribution to this site! take care and hoping you'll use some of the advice given. I enjoyed reading your adventures with your nephew, too! hope he'll be able to come and help you out! namaste, bobbi

[toms_strat]

5 years ago I asked a question on here and got a lot of laughs. It was you who connected and shared with me a secret spot. That trail got me searching out more unexplored trails and made me evolve my hikes beyond belief! Thank you SO MUCH from a personal level. If you need ANYTHING, just say the word.