Location: Double Springs Shelter, Tennessee I left Damascus today in the hot morning. I was dragging all day. Having slack-packed for two days, I felt that I wasn’t going to reach the top of the first mountain with a full pack pulling down on my shoulders. Shortly after leaving town, I met Cold Feet slack-packing […]
Torn to Leave A Thru-Hiker Behind on the Trail – AT Thru-Hike Day 114
Location: Unknown Shelter I woke well rested this morning at the Blackburn Center. Not much light came into the shelter, so I’m glad that I set my alarm last night. I woke up before Not Bad and I ate breakfast before he acknowledged that I was awake by rolling over in his sleeping bag. I […]
Bears is back on the trail – AT Thru-Hike Day 95
Location: Church of the Mountain Hostel, Delaware Water Gap, PA I completed NJ today, my seventh state. Half of the states are completed. Bonefish, Druid, Not Bad and I hiked 25 miles into Delaware Water Gap, PA, just across the Delaware River. The day was pretty uneventful since I was moving so fast. I did […]
Lost and Wandering into a Unionville Bar at Midnight – AT Thru-Hike Day 92
Location: Unionville, NY We lounged around the church hostel most of the day. The homeless families woke up at 6:00am and completed chores assigned by the church and then left for work or school. We were allowed back in the hostel after 7:30am. I went in first, having been woken up by the morning traffic. […]
Another Thru-Hiker Drops off the Trail – AT Thru-Hike Day 89
Location: Unnamed Shelter South of Ft. Montgomery I slept until 9:45am. I would have slept later, but we had to check out of the Bear Mountain Bridge Motel by 11:00am. I took a hot shower when I first woke up. I miss daily hot showers. I ate a couple bacon, egg, and cheese bagels at […]
The Birdcage in Massachussets – AT Thru-Hike Day 75
Location: The Birdcage Bears and I woke up later than I would have liked. To hike a 20 mile day, I like to finish ten miles by noon, which means I need to start hiking no later than 8:00am, so I can walk at a 2.5 mph pace. Bears and I got out of camp […]
Thru Hiker Breakfast Moldy Bagels – AT Thru-Hike Day 71
Location: Unknown Shelter I didn’t sleep well last night on the picnic table at the Spruce Mountain shelter. I tossed and turned and killed spiders until around 1:00 am. I could still barely hear the snoring of the old men. They all began snoring after I left. The night was cool though, and it calmed […]
Hitchhiking and Manchester City – Appalachian Thru-Hike Day 70
Location: Spruce Mountain I woke up at Lost Pond Shelter after the northbounders staying there had already eaten breakfast and packed their gear. They were three older hikers who all needed their time in the mornings. I jumped up at 7:30 on the spot and was packed before they knew it. I ate my usual […]
The Repercussions of Nearly Being Killed by Lightning – AT Thru-Hike Day 39
Location: Hiker’s Paradise Today Stick and I crossed the Maine-New Hampshire state line. I felt a full sense of accomplishment for completing the hardest state on the AT without injuring myself. I had some hard falls, but each time I fell I got back up and continued hiking, taking the blood, bruises, and close calls […]
Bouldering the Mahoosuc Notch – AT Thru-Hike Day 38
Location: Full Goose Shelter My last full day in Maine. Tomorrow I’ll cross into New Hampshire. I only have five miles left in this state. Stick showed up at the campsite this morning before I had fully woken up. He stealthed on top of the mountain last night. He says that Flying Turtle has been […]