Location: Shaw’s Boarding House I hiked the last ten miles to Shaw’s in the morning. I was highly motivated by the thought of a town with hot food and cold beer. I left the campsite last. My body requires more and more sleep to recharge. My legs were wobbly today. I don’t yet have the […]
Nearly Killed by Lightning on the Appalachian Trial – AT Thru-Hike Day 12
Location: Cloud Pond Greg began south again at first light, which here comes at around 5:00am. The sun had not yet risen, but this far north, gray light appears hours before sunrise. I left the lean-to before Tim and Eric. The day began beautifully. I knew that I wouldn’t have water for the last five […]
Chairback Mountain, The StairMaster from Hell – AT Thru-Hike Day 11
Location: Unknown Shelter Greg and I began hiking together this morning. We forded the West Branch of the Pleasant River. Greg crossed without shoes and I decided to cross in my flip flops. The water was only knee deep and fairly calm. I was surprised there wasn’t a bridge because the area was very tourist […]
My Simple Secret to Successfully Thru-Hike Appalachian Trail – AT Thru-Hike Day 10
Location: Newhall Shelter Joe and Max left before me this morning. They planned 16 miles and I only planned nine, so I doubt I’ll ever see them again. On the last descent of the day, Greg caught up to me. I have to slow down on the manmade rock stairs on the mountain. While nature […]
Simple Rivers and Simple Miles – AT Thru-Hike Day 9
Location: Unknown Shelter I was the first to leave the shelter. I hiked eleven miles. I was well rested. I forded the East Branch of the Pleasant River, and I had very little trouble. The rapids had swelled because of the rain, but I was able to find a calm, waist deep route across the […]
Meeting My First Fellow Thru-Hikers – AT Thru-Hike Day 8
Location: Unknown Shelter I got more than I bargained for by wishing for a person to visit the shelter. Almost immediately as I zipped into my sleeping bag for a late evening nap, a kid of 10 or 11 years raced around the corner, shouting into a two way radio. I thought, ‘Oh Lord, here […]
Coldest Shower On Appalachian Trial – AT Thru-Hike Day 7
Location: Cooper Brook Falls The walk to Cooper Brook falls was uneventful and easy. It only took an hour and a half or so. I have completed my chores, and the sun will be up for a good while. I think I should start hiking for longer periods of time, yet it is hard to […]
Cached Resupply in the Middle of 100 Mile Wilderness – AT Thru-Hike Day 6
Location: Jo Mary Road I reached Jo Mary Road today. My cache of food and bug spray hung undisturbed. An animal had not ransacked the food bags and a human had not discovered the precious bug spray. Caching food at Jo Mary Road in the middle of the 100 Mile Wilderness was risky. It was […]
More Floods, Mosquitoes, and Falls – AT Thru-Hike Day 5
Location: Unknown Shelter Never again will I suspect that a day will be easy. Yesterday I thought the ten miles planned for today would be a cinch. Little did I know that I was setting myself up for disappointment. There are no easy miles in Maine, I’ll say every day. Though the trail today was […]
100 Miles Of Mosquitoes in Maine – AT Thru-Hike Day 2
Location: Hurd Brook Lean To Today the adventure began. The first words that come to mind to describe the day are rain, rain, rain. The trail was flooded. Many times I’d walk the very edge of the marked trail to avoid the troughs that have formed on the trail. I expect the same trail conditions […]