A.T. Completion - Thank You!!

First, let me say Thank You to everyone. Your support, interest, kind words, and gift packages have made this entire journey much much easier. This was definitely a once in a lifetime journey. Amazing, amazing, amazing. Above is a picture of me at the top of Katahdin with the official sign, which was actually only a day or two old. It replaced one that was so worn it could barely be read or seen from a distance greater than 1 ft. Nice timing.

After an interesting and fun time in Bangor, Portland, and Boston I am back home in NYC. YEA!!!

I'm already finding the move back to normal life a bit more of a struggle than I thought it would be. Life as I have known it for the last 5 months is now completely gone. Well, not completely gone...my knees, hips, and feet still hurt and I'm still very hungry all the time.

Between thinking about and looking for employment I will be working on developing (electronically) my photos and posting them somewhere for all to view. I'll add a link on this site to their final resting place as soon as they are up. I will also send an email to anyone who is interested.

As I sit here typing and watching Kandra's six fish (Dave, Dave, Dave, Dave, Dave, and Dave) I'm reminded of the one very big thing I learned from the trail = Balance is good. Therefore, the next "J.O.B." will need to complement the other pieces of my life better than the last one did...and the other pieces will need to be and stay in place. :)

The sun is shining here in NYC this morning and they are predicting it to be Hot and Muggy (90+ F) today. I can't help but be thankful that I never had to hike in temps that high, but at the same time I have the urge to strap something to my back and go walking.

From what I’ve heard and read, 2009 was one of the wettest years on record for northbound thru-hikers. As I go back through my journal entries I think it rained or snowed almost 70% of my hike. A journey of this distance and type will obviously take its toll on any gear, but the amount of moisture my gear encountered was much greater than expected. Regardless, I believe for any piece of gear to make it through the types of torture encountered on a five month Appalachian Trail thru hike is absolutely incredible and a testament to its quality.

Some of my original gear was switched out within the first week of starting my journey, and some of my gear successfully made it through the whole trip. Below is a list of items that made it to the end. I’m including items that I kept with me the entire trip and those I sent home when the weather changed and then had sent back to me when I got further north. Basically, this is anything that didn’t break, fall apart, disintegrate, blow off my head or body on top of a mountain, succumb to the rain, ignite and burn up, or prove to be worthless and not needed.


EMS Velocity 35 sleeping bag
Campmor 20 sleeping bag
THERM-A-REST ProLite 3 short sleeping pad (never even had a leak)
Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo tarp tent (this is a beast)
Leatherman Micra multi-tool
Apple iPhone 3G
Trangia alcohol stove and wind screen
EMS Thunderhead rain jacket
EMS Techwick balaclava
EMS Ascent down sweater
EMS Techwick ¾ zip micro fleece
EMS Techwick midweight pants (long underwear)
Shure noise canceling headphones with mic for phone calls
Georgio Armani eye glasses from LensCrafters
Icebreaker wicking underwear (3 pairs for the entire trip) WOW.

There are several items that belong on an honorable mention list with more detail. Here they are with explanations.

ULA Conduit backpack. This is a great frameless, barebones pack. I went through two of these before giving up on it at Port Clinton, PA. Brian at ULA was amazing and the pack was great, but the stitching couldn’t handle all of the rain, snow, freezing and thawing that I had to deal with during the first half of the hike. Brian replaced my first pack at Atkins, VA when the stitching on both shoulder straps and the hip belt gave out. The same thing happened with the second pack, and by the time I reached Port Clinton I had restitched the straps several times. I will take part of the blame because I probably over packed it early in the hike.

Osprey Exos 46 (2009 model). I purchased this pack at the outfitter in Port Clinton, and it survived the remainder of the hike – through rain, rain, rain, snow, hail, wind, and even some very nice weather. It rides better than any other pack I’ve ever strapped onto my back, and it has the right mix of compression straps, pockets, and lash points. I love this pack.

MSR titanium pot/kettle. Before I began the hike I decided this pot was too expensive and not worth the weight savings. I quickly changed my mind once I was on the trail, and I bought one at the outfitter at Neels Gap, within one week of starting. I kept it the rest of the journey, using it as a pot and as a cup. This is one of those pieces of gear that I don’t think I’ll ever hike or camp without. It is simply amazing.

GSI Compact Scraper. I saw people using these all along the trail in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee and thought it was a stupid piece of gear, but I kept my eye on them to see how and why they thought it was needed. Well, the reasons to have this are many. I caved in and bought one at the outfitter in Waynesboro, VA. I used it everyday for the rest of my hike, and I love it. It can be used as an eating utensil (used it when my spork broke and then again when I lost my next spork), as a pot cleaner, as a knife to cut food, as a tool to clean other gear, even as a zipper pull, and for other purposes.

Keen Voyageur hiking shoes. I went through 5 pairs of shoes on this hike; several were complete duds but these were absolutely amazing. Not the lightest weight pair you can buy, but they are comfortable and indestructible. The soles are solid and flex just enough for AT hiking, and they also drain water really well which is another plus for AT hiking. At least that is my experience.

EMS midweight hiking socks. I started with three pairs and switched out all of them at the halfway point. Six pairs of socks for five months is not too bad considering all the moisture and cold weather they endured.

Until later,

L

Posted from my Macbook while sitting in a comfy chair in my living room.

Katahdin Summit - Completion of Trail

5.2 miles, 2178.3 total.

It has been COMPLETED!!  At 9:25 AM eastern time I reached the summit of Katahdin and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail in Maine.  Five months and two days after I began my journey on February 26th in Georgia.

Didn't sleep much at all last night and decided to hit the trail before the Amigos, because I knew they would catch up with me at some point. I left camp at 6:30 and the climb was amazing and really tough. Probably the toughest of the entire trail, with an elevation gain of 4400 feet.  On the way up I was in a mist and clouds until the very top, so I didn't have any views and wasn't able to see anything except the trail at my feet.  The first mile or so was normal trail and then I put away my hiking poles and I just climbed rocks - hand over hand most of the way.  With 2.5 miles remaining it becomes a complete rock climb straight up giant boulders over the spine of the mountain.  Then with about 1.25 miles remaining, after the Amigos caught up with me, we hit the "table land", a flat area (slight ascent) above tree line that is covered with rocks.  With about a half mile remaining it starts to go up again over larger rocks.  there are several false summits - places you think you've reached the top but the trail keeps going up - until finally you see the official summit sign. holy cow.

As we reached the summit the mist and clouds began to clear and we had absolutely amazing views.  the bad part is that we had to go right back down the way we came up.  oh well.  What an amazing hike.

One of the coolest things to happen to me on the trail took place this morning.  On the way up and on the way back down I passed a family that I had met in Harpers Ferry, WV.  They recognized me and cheered me on as I went up and then congratulated me on the way down.

An absolutely amazing journey.  Right now I want to relax and rest; my feet hurt.

When i get back to NYC on August 1 or 2 I will post a follow up message with the best summit picture, and then in about a week I will post a link to many of the pictures I took - after I go through all of them.

a few stats-

total miles: 2178.3 (not including side trails and walking to and in towns)

number of days hiked in shorts: 3 (i don't like hiking in shorts!)

number of days hiked in short sleeves: 4 (i don't like hiking in short sleeves!)

number of pictures taken: 2000+ (i like to take pics)

pairs of shoes: 5 (ugh)

bear sightings: 8 (grrrrrrr....)

moose sightings: 2 (ohhhoooooo)

weight lost: 50 lbs. + (did i have that much to lose?)

number of shaves and hair cuts: 3 (i'm a beast!)

approximate % of days with rain: 65 (ugh!!)

Thank you all for your support.  You will hear from me again very soon.  I'm going through Millinocket, ME to Bangor, ME to Portland, ME to Boston, MA to NYC over the next few days...slowly and by mass transit, not walking.

later,

L

The Birches: thru-hiker base camp

21.1 miles, 2173.1 total, 5.2 to go.

it rained all night again and nobody got much sleep, so the Amigos and I were all up and on the trail early.

first 10 miles were through the last really beautiful woods.  they're amazing. more giant boulders, fast flowing streams, old growth forests with moss and lichen and rich green vegetation.  i still think it's like something from a movie.  it stopped raining about 5 miles into the day, but the trail never got really bad today.

at the 10 mile mark I reached Abol Bridge campground and the entrance to Baxter State Park.  I registered there as a thru hiker and stopped at the camp store for gatorade, soda, candy, and anything else that looked tasty; i was starving, as always.

the next few miles included two stream fords, several ponds, and more tourists; a lot more.  I arrived at the Katahdin Stream campground around 4:00.  I registered with the ranger and confirmed that I will summit tomorrow morning, if the trail is open.  the trail to the top can close at any time based on weather.  I also spoke with the owner of a hostel in Millinocket, ME who will be shuttling me and the Amigos to Bangor tomorrow afternoon after a stop at his place for showers and food.

we are the only thrus scheduled to summit tomorrow so we're the only people here at the Birches.  it's a campsite used only by thru-hikers.  I guess they don't want us mingling with the laid back country folk.  I am officially registered as the 47th NorthBounder to finish in 2009 (assuming I finish the whole thing tomorrow).  now I'll settle in for a night which I'm sure will not include much sleep. it's very exciting and sad at the same time to be so close to finishing.

later, 

L

rainbow spring campsite

19.6 miles, 2152.0 total.
it's my five month trail anniversary.
the Amigos and I left white house landing around 9:00. nice little boat ride across the lake and back to the trail.
it was rough going most of the day. trail was flat but very very wet and muddy with lots of rocks and roots. also went through some really amazing forests again today.
additionally, we climbed Nesuntabunt Mtn. only 1500 feet but it was a great hike. no views because we were in the clouds. the trail wound through huge canyons with giant rock walls and boulders that were covered in moss and then went up giant rock staircases to another level of the same and then to the top. it was like something from lord of the rings. really very amazing, and there was a very thick fog and mist blowing around the entire time so it made it more dramatic.

made it to this very remote campsite by 5:30. ate dinner as it began to sprinkle. looks like it could rain but hasn't started yet. no good tent sites left here because a large camping group took them all, so I'm in an odd spot between the trail and a small lake/pond. hope of doesn't pour tonight or I could be in a puddle.
feet are definitely red and swollen thanks to the wet trail and rain and stream fords. glad this is almost over. this new wave of WET is killing me. 26 miles to go; can't believe it!!

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

white house landing

25.5 miles, 2132.4 total.
rain finally stopped at 3:00 this morning so I didn't have to walk in it today, BUT the trail is soaking wet again which makes for rough going. ugh!
trail was mostly flat, mostly. we went through more really cool forests and had to ford a very fast flowing stream over slippery rocks. it was crazy!
the mosquitoes were out of control today. I was afraid to stop for a break because they might eat me. as i hiked behind one of the Amigos i could see the mosquito cloud following him. really really bad.
at the end of the day I took a .9 mile side trail to the a boat dock in a secluded cove on a lake. next to the dock is an airhorn. I blew the airhorn once and it echoed eerily all across the lake and valley. then...someone on the other side of the lake came across in a fishing boat and took me to the other side where this hostel is located. really very cool. they cooked a wonderful meal and I had beer and ice cream; great combo for a thru hiker. I'm am dry and will be sleeping in a warm dry bed. it feels good.
45 miles to go.

later,
L



-- Post From My iPhone

logan brook lean-to

24.0 miles, 2106.9 total.
it rained all night and all day. without a doubt, this has been my worst day on the trail. worse than the day i fell off the White Mountains in New Hampshire!  everything is wet, everything.  I'm sore, tired, hungry, and have bloody hands. but dammit I'm alive!
first 7 miles took over 4 hours to hike and were very dangerous; some would say treacherous. went over several exposed very rocky ridges in the pouring rain with winds of over 30 mph. I slipped and fell 4 times on the rocks this morning, including one time I slid down a steep slope scraping up my hands as I tried to stop the slide. big frowny face. :(
the middle 10 miles were quick and the trail was in better condition which allowed me to make up time and not think about the previous 7 miles.
then...the last 7 were horrible; absolutely horrible. all along a very rocky ridge then over White Cap mountain, which is a bald mtn covered with sharp rocks. it was raining and sleeting on top with winds so strong I could barely walk. It felt like the rain and sleet were going to rip the skin off my face. isn't this July? it was wild, scary and crazy.
12 hours of horrible hiking today. I'm soaked and it's still raining hard and the shelter is packed and I don't feel like cooking and my feet are swollen and red. i think every piece of clothing and gear is soaked. i have some things hanging from the rafters just in case they can drip a little bit dry, but i doubt that will happen. 71 miles to go.

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

cloud pond lean-to

19.1 miles, 2082.9 total.
don't think I like the 100 mile wilderness very much. it drizzled all day but waited to rain until I got to camp then it began to pour.
wide variety of terrain today, but it was all slippery and wet and muddy. had to ford 4 streams so my feet and pants were soaked most of the day. went through beautiful old growth forests with lush green ground cover and lots of moss and lichen. I think. :)
last part of the day was a short but difficult climb from 900 feet to 2400 feet over Barren Mountain.
this shelter is .4 miles off the trail on a poorly maintained side trail. I fell in the mud twice just getting to the water source. ugh.

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

Monson, ME - Shaw's Hiker Hostel

17.9 miles, 2063.8 total.
early start today because we were excited about making our last official trail town stop.  town time is always exciting!
the trail was awful again today. very muddy and wet. several times my poles sunk into the ground up to their handles. I'm surprised I haven't snapped them in half yet.
nothing spectacular today other than the fact that of didn't rain until we were done hiking. very nice.
staying at Shaw's, a famous hostel - among hikers. they offer a $7 all you can eat breakfast. you order by giving them one number - 1,2,3,4,5,etc. the number is how many of each item you will receive. if you order 3: you get 3 eggs, 3 blueberry pancakes, 3 pieces of bacon, 3 sausage links, and 3 scoops of hash-browns. wow.
tomorrow I will begin the 100 mile wilderness. it's touted as the most remote stretch of the entire trail. then it's just about 15 miles to the finish!

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

moxie bald mtn. lean-to

18.8 miles, 2045.9 total.
late start out of caratunk, but on the trail by 10:00. nice weather today. no rain!
the day was broken up very well by shelter placement. good distances apart for breaks which were needed because we had a couple rigorous climbs; pleasant pond mountain and moxie bald mountain. also had to ford a large stream - about 25 yards wide with water up to my thighs. I've given up on taking off my hiking shoes and wearing my crocs across rivers and streams because my shoes are always wet anyway - due to the muddy wet trail. I just truck right through the water, watching for deep holes and slippery rocks.
right after the ford I saw a white FORD pickup driving down an old logging road...and the driver was shooting a .22 rifle out his window into a field. not sure what he was shooting, but it was in the opposite direction.

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

caratunk, me

14.0 miles, 2027.1 total, 151.2 to go.
another very cool night with bugs buzzing outside my tent. left camp at 8:30.
trail was flat, flat, flat. hiked next to pierce pond river for a couple hours and saw several beautiful waterfalls. also got to go across the AT famous Kennebec river. we had to wave to the "ferry driver" who waits on the other side of the river. he paddles across in his canoe and takes back two hikers at a time, and the hiker in front is required to paddle. it's about 50 yards wide, 8-10 feet deep, and flows very very fast. cool.
right after the river is caratunk, where we had mailed extra food for the next few days. we got the packages from the post office and someone offered to drive us to a nearby restaurant for a late lunch. it turns out it is also a hostel/river rafting lodge...and it's really cheap. so we're staying here tonight. $12 per person with all the usual offerings. here with the amigos. this doesn't change the schedule and plan for the rest of the trip. at this time, looks like the five of us will summit Mt. Katahdin, Baxter Peak (end of the U.S. AT) on July 28th. that's 5 months and 2 days after I started this journey. wow. amazing.
the amigos are the 4 guys from cincy.  they're all very athletic, in much better shape and younger than I am (by about 13 years!), but it's great to hike with them.

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

west carry pond lean-to

17.5 miles, 2013.1 total.
wonderful dry and cool night. got back on the trail at 8:30 this morning.
had a couple of small beautiful climbs this morning and then it flattened out a bit. passed a large stream that flowed over giant bloulders that were bowl shaped. SO, took off my clothes and got in. it was just like a big bath tub...with really cold water, but it felt great.
got some great pictures from the top of Bigelow mountain as I hiked over its long rocky ridge.
Maine has been wonderful so far. couldn't really ask for better weather so far. it's almost like Maine has a little bit of all the other states rolled into one. mountains, hills, fields, rocks, boulders, roots, bogs, streams, rivers, etc. the good, the bad, and the ugly. so fitting that it's the last state. really amazing.

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

horns pond lean-to

18.6 miles, 1995.6 total.
it rained ALL night. had to pack up inside the tent and then pack up a wet tent, which I'm sure added an extra pound of weight to my bag. left camp at 9:00 and it stopped raining shortly after. huh.
more big climbs today and had to ford a roaring stream and near the end of the day we went through an amazing boulder field. giant boulders the size of houses all over the mountain. they were covered with moss and had trees growing through and around them. really cool. it made it a little easier to go up 2000 ft in about 2.5 miles at the end of the day. I was running out of gas - had to stop several times and rest. starting to feel old while hiking with a bunch of 26 year old kids! also saw another moose today. big antlers and big body quietly moving through the forest. amazing they are so quiet.
got here by 5:00. quickly set up my tent so it could dry and then I ran down and jumped into the pond for a swim/bath. it felt great! dark clouds have been rolling by, but no rain yet. in the tent now and can hear the buzzing mosquitos outside. tomorrow morning I have a couple of big climbs and then it flattens out. getting closer. 182.7 miles to go now.
all day I was singing this Ozzy song - or some version of it:
times have changed and times are strange,
here I come but I ain't the same,
mama, I'm coming home.
I could be right, I could be wrong,
it hurts so bad, it's been so long,
mama, I'm coming home.
I've seen your face a thousand times
every day we've been apart,
and I don't care about the sunshine anymore,
cause mama, mama I'm coming home.

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

spaulding mtn lean-to

18.7 miles, 1977.0 total.
very late start today because of shuttle schedule out of gull pond. we hit the trail at 10:30.
what a beautiful day! mostly clear and sunny skies with amazing visibility. climbed Saddleback Mtn - 4120, The Horn - 4040, Saddleback Jr - 3655, and Lone Mtn - 3260. got some great pictures from Saddleback. could look back and see the White mountains in NH and, for the first time, could look north and see Katahdin looming - the final summit and the end of the trail. still have 201.3 miles to go, though.
got here around 7:00. just as we were beginning to cook dinner it started to rain and it hasn't slowed yet. the shelter is full of NOBOs and SOBOs, and I'm with the amigos - tenting nearby. tomorrow is another dealt tough day, especially if it keeps raining, then the trail flattens out.

later,
L



-- Post From My iPhone

gull pond lodge - rangeley, me

9.4 miles, 1958.3 total.
left camp at 8:00 knowing we only had about 10 miles to go to rangeley. I ran out of water treatment last night, my pole bent a little more while I was trying to keep from falling into a giant mud hole, and I'm almost out of insect repellent, so I need to go to an outfitter. rangeley is the last trail town with anything close to an outfitter. they also have a big grocery store, so we're going to buy extra groceries and mail them ahead to a post office on the trail. that way we don't have to go to another town until monson.
stating at this hostel that is completely filled with NOBO hikers. looks like I'm in a big pack - that hasn't happened much.
getting closer. have two really tough days coming up - big climbs - then things flatten out a bit.

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

sabbath day pond shelter

17.0 miles, 1948.9 total.
back on the trail at 9:30 after a crazy bumpy 9 mile shuttle ride.
started with a huge climb up Big Blue - 1400 to 3600 over 3 miles. also had several streams to ford, but they were surprisingly low. the terrain is not too bad. also passed several lakes/ponds today. a bit muddy and wet, but the giant rocks are almost completely gone.
I decided to stick with the Amigos because they keep a good pace and take breaks like I do; a couple small stops and a lunch stop.
got here around 5. we ca already here loons and owls making noises, and there are two giant rabbits running through our campsite chasing each other around. I'll probably be tenting the rest of the way, even in rain, because the mosquitos are getting to be really bad.

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

carlo col shelter - MAINE

17.0 miles, 1897.4 total, 280.9 to go.
I'm in MAINE!!
got an easy hitch out of gorham back to the trail this morning at 8. had a bunch of ups and downs including climbing over mt hayes, cascade mt, and mt success. I think they're 2555, 2600, and 3560 respectively. it was sunny and beautiful all day...until I got here. now it's pouring. ha. I won!
today I caught up with thru hikers Moses and Spokes. they passed me when I stopped in NYC and I've been chasing them ever since. finally got to meet them nice guys.
tomorrow I go through Mahoosuc Notch. it's touted as the most difficult mile on the entire trail. fun, fun, fun. can't believe I'm here. still have a long way to go, but I made it to Maine. wow.

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

gorham, nh

this entry actually covers July 9&10. it will probablybe long and I will ramble a bit. quit now, if you want.
I left galehead hut at 5:00 AM to get an early start to what was planned to be a 21 mile day. long compared to others recently. the first 1/2 mile was straight up south twin mtn - 4902 ft - and then the next 7 mile were downhill. I flew. it was cloudy but not too wet. I got to the next hut in time for their breakfast leftovers. yummy pancakes with lots of syrup. then the next 8 miles were a combo of flat with no rocks (yea!) and downhill. again, I flew.
after that, it was back up. up to mt webster, mt jackson, (wow, that's weird. didn't michael jackson like that little kid from the show webster?). then I got to the next hut. it was still early and I was still moving at a good clip, but it began to rain. I needed to get over mt pierce and mt franklin to get to the next hut. it was very dark and rainy...and I fell on a big boulder. it's a little hard to describe. my feet both flew out from under me and I landed on my side, sliding down the boulder about 50 feet. when I got controll of everything I noticed my hands were bloody. I cut the heel of each palm, the outside of my right hand under the pinky, and the big one - my right ring finger was missing a whole lot of skin from just under the nail to the first knuckle. it was the one bleeding significantly. I cleaned up everything and took off for the last shelter; still about 2 miles away. when I got there the bandage in my finger was very bloody and the hut master thought I should have somebody look at it. so we cleaned and bandaged it again, and I set of for the top of mt washington - about 1.5 miles away. I hiked with two others who were already planning on going there. got there and a nurse looked at my boo-boos and bandaged them all up. no stitches needed but the cut goes almost to the bone. cool. also, my entire shoulder is bruised, I have cuts/scrapes from my elbow to my wrist, and a cut and lump between my eyes - where my glasses slammed into my pretty little face.
anyway - it turned out to be a 27 mile day. somehow. then...there's nowhere to stay on mt washington and it was late, so I had somebody drive me to a hostel in gorham.
I stayed at the hostel and decided to slack pack on the 10th to just get the whites done and over with. the hostel gave me a small pack and I only carried a tarp, emergency bivy, rain jacket, snacks, and water. it was less than 8 pounds. the hostel held the rest of my stuff and gave me a ride to and from the trail. I did 2 sections. one in the morning from 5 to 11 and one in the afternoon from 12:30 to 8. that's one heck of a double shift. I got a total of 34+ miles done during the day - carrying very little and moving quickly with no rain; although, it was still overcast with low clouds so I couldn't see any of the mountains. ugh.
that leaves me at 1880.4 miles total with 297.9 to go!!!

I think that's all for now.


-- Post From My iPhone

galehead hut

12.9 miles, 1818.6 total.
got a late 9:30 start because of shuttle schedules at chet's place.
very tough day. it drizzled and rained all day. I climbed Little Haystack Mtn - 4760, Mt Lincoln - 5089, Mt Lafayette - 5249, and Mt Garfield - 4488. coming down Garfield was amazing! I was hiking down a waterfall. actually walking down rocks in the falls as water flowed all around me. scary but cool. would have been nicer if it were hot and not raining, but it WAS raining and 55 degrees.
had planned on going farther but I'm tired and it started raining again.
I got to this hut around 4:15 and they happily accepted my request for "work for stay". not sure what I'll be doing but I'll get fed and sleep indoors tonight. nice. one other thru here tonight and a bunch of tourist types. it's a giant cabin with a dining area, bathrooms, and bunk house.

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

chet's hostel - Lincoln, NH

9.0 miles, 1805.7 total.
short wet day. left camp early to climb kinsman mtn. it has south and north peaks. climb was from 2500 to 4350 then down a bit then back up to 4300. then down all the way to 1450. again, it was straight up and down over crazy rocks. it's mentally and physically draining. I don't think I've felt this drained for a long time. half way down it started to...pour on me. surprise!!!
I got to the highway and decided to call this guy chet to see of he had room at his place. he has a small hostel in his house and offers a shuttle to and from the trail.
i'll wait out the rain again because I have to climb mt lafayette next. it goes from 1450 to 5250 and I can't start it halfway through the day in the rain. no way. I have about 75 miles to gorham, nh. it's rumored to be better trail after that town. we will see. I'm about to hit the toughest part of the white mountains, the presidential range. mtns Lincoln, Garfield, Pierce, Franklin, Washington (biggest), Madison, Carter, Hayes, maybe more...I'm getting tired thinking about all of them. it will be slow going, but hopefully the weather will be nicer. doubt it.
I'm ready to be finished now. :)

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

eliza brook shelter

17.0 miles, 1796.8 total.
on the trail by 6:30 for a big climb up and over mt Moosilauke. it was a very nice day for it. the showers last night cleared out the bad weather for now.
the moose was a climb straight up from 1400 ft to 4802 ft. I was on top by 9:00 and called K to tell her I was still alive. I had some great views from up there. I could see the rest of the white mtns, that I will soon climb, and also the green mtns of Vermont, that I just came through. cool. finally got some pictures that weren't all clouds. then came the bad part. the descent was a mile straight down over jagged rocks and boulders - but right next to a beautiful waterfall. very very slippery and dangerous. many places had rebar drilled into the boulders for handrails and logs also connect to the rocks for steps. just put away my sticks and climbed down using hands, feet, and butt. it took forever. probably the longest mile so far. at least I got some more pictures.
then the remaining section was little ups ad downs over rocks. it took forever and was very tiring. got in late.
here with tonto and several SOBOs. we are on the lookout for a crazy fat raccoon that has been terrorizing people at this shelter. haven't seen it yet.

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

hikers welcome hostel

14.6 miles, 1779.8 total.
tonto was up very early to get a head start on the big climb, and he slipped and fell outside the privy...and knocked himself out when his head hit the ground. nobody noticed until he had been gone for 30 minutes. then he came around the corner shaky and woozy. one of the other hikers checked him out and made sure he was ok. we tried to get him to sit for a while but he took off down the trail. it turns out he is ok, but it just goes to show you that every step is important and dangerous out here.
I went up mt cube and had very nice views because it was actually sunny today!! it was a tough climb up a lot of quartz-like rocks that were jagged and slippery. I caught up with tonto in the afternoon and he looked okay. I decided to stay here at the hostel to make sure i've got everything I need or the White Mountains. also, I need to do laundry. it seems very laid back here...and cheap. only $15 for the night including a shower and load of laundry. cool. it was very nice today - until tonight when it started to rain again. ugh.

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

hexacuba shelter

12.0 miles, 1765.2 total.
it rained a bit last night, but there were no bugs. I left camp around 7:30 as the dartmouth campers sang to me and then shouted "good luck, lunatic!"
the hike up smarts mtn was tough. went from 1100 to 3250 and it took me a long time. at the top it began to pour on me. a big thunderstorm parked itself above the area - very nice. I spent the rest of the day trying to avoid giant mud holes.
got to this shelter around 1:00 - early, but the weather makes it easy to decide to stay here. the next section is straight up mt cube, and it's very rocky. I'll wait out the weather and relax a bit. happy 4th to me.
here with tonto and several SOBOs. beginning to see more south bound thru hikers than north bound now.

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

trapper john shelter

16.0 miles, 1753.2 total.
it was difficult to leave town this morning. they have a great coffee shop with amazing coffee and pastries. finally left town at 10:00.
it wasn't raining and the sun was actually out every now and then. the trail was sloppy sloppy sloppy, but at least it didn't rain today.
had a couple of big climbs. one from 880 to 2290 and one from 950 to 2100. they were both pretty steep and rough with a pack full of food.
next few days will be similar as I move toward the white mountains. it will get tougher and slower going but be more scenic. can't believe it - only 425 miles to go, and these miles will probably be the best and hardest.
here with tonto, two NOBO sectioners from NH, and a group of sophomores from dartmouth who are on an official school outing.

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

hanover, N.H.

6.5 miles, 1737.2 total.
was on the trail by 7:30 and in town by 10:00. and completely soaked. it rained all night and all day. the last 2 miles were along a busy highway and trucks were flying by...drenching me with huge splashes from puddles. nice.
crossed into new hampshire just before getting to town, as I crossed the bridge over the connecticut river.
a couple of dartmouth students offered to let me stay for free in the basement of their frat house, but their frat president said it wasn't allowed. the house looked like the one from animal house. it was really crazy. worse than any I've ever seen before.
so I'm staying at the hanover inn. nice and dry insde while it pours outside.

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

happy hill shelter

20.4 miles, 1730.7 total.
rained and rained all night, and was still raining in the morning. the trail was very wet and muddy again, but it went over some new terrain. I went through forests, over hilltops, and through farmland. I even passed the Vermont "Inn" that they say inspired The Newhart Show. it was all very nice. there was even a wooden lawn chair on top of one of the bigger hills. so I sat and took a nice little wet break. in the afternoon the trail went through a small town, West Hartford, and I stopped at the local deli to have a sandwich and buy some special snacks for tonight. bought an orange soda, some apples, and pringles. got here around 5:30. still drizzling and my stuff is all wet again.
here with 2 section hikers from last night, Tonto (retiree) and High Octane (Alaska school teacher).

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

winturri shelter

18.0 miles, 1710.3 total.
took my time leaving the Inn this morning. had coffee and a big breakfast, and then I left around 9:00. rain held off a but in the morning but started again late in the afternoon.
trail was a little muddy and wet, but I was still able to move quickly. around 2:00, with only 5 miles left to go for the day, I came upon the best trail magic ever! a former thru hiker was at a remote road crossing with a grill and several coolers under a large canopy. he had hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, fruit and veggies, cheese and crackers, soda, water, Gatorade, beer, stove fuel, granola bars...anything a hiker could want. I sat and ate and drank and talked to him for about 2 hours. excellent.
got here to the shelter around 5:30. at 5:45 it started to rain again and hasn't stopped. it's been raining even harder in the last hour. here with 6 section hikers. I've been following several of them for a few days in the shelter journals.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

the inn at Long Trail

18.3 miles, 1692.3 total.
rained all night and was still pouring when I hit the trail at 8:15. guess it was just enough to flood the trail again. :(
took breaks at two shelters early on and one for lunch. rained hard all day. found some trail magic early - crackers and cheese and also sodas. very nice.
this Inn is right near the trail and caters to hikers during the summer, so I'll stay here and do laundry and get dry. tomorrow will rain again but not all day.
met several long trail hikers and a couple of south bound AT sectioners. haven't seen a NOBO thru for a while. this might help me in the new hampshire white mountains. there are a series of huts there that are expensive and serve meals, but they allow 2 thru hikers free bunks and meals in return for dishwashing and cooking services. work for stay, they call it. if I'm in a bit of a bubble I shouldn't have trouble getting one of the spots. I'll wash dishes like they've never seen anyone wash dishes before!! otherwise, I'll have to camp at least .5 miles away from the shelters or pay $80 to stay there.

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

clarenden shelter

16.9 miles, 1674.0 total.
early start today because the SOBO sectioners were up before 6:00. took my time and was still on the trail by 7:30. rained a little overnight but was very nice all day. the trail was even in very good condition.
saw several day hikers out near the road crossings and overlooks.
I got to my lunch stop shelter early, by noon (13m). so I ate and took a nap there. cool. this shelter was only 4 miles farther, but I had to go through clarenden gorge. it's a deep rocky gorge. down several hundred feet and then back up the other side. very tough. got here around 4:00. very nice shelter. here with a SOBO long trail hiker who will hike the AT after Vermont. he's already done re whole AT on 2003. very nice Canadian.
weird thing is that a local showed up shirtless on am ATV carrying a rifle and a big jug of whiskey. we listened to him ramble for a while and then he drove off. crazy. btw, just started raining and doesn't look like it will stop soon. ugh.

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

big branch shelter

16.5 miles, 1657.1 total.
took my time leaving town this morning. it was overcast and rainy, so I wasn't in a hurry to get out again. made it back to the trail around 11:00.
it was raining pretty hard for about an hour and then it stopped and actually cleared up a bit. the rain held off for the rest of the day. yea!!!
went over bromley mtn., styles peak, peru peak, and baker peak. very nice hiking and the trail wasn't too messy. I passed a couple very buggy shelters and one that burned down in 2006 - you can still tent there though. got to this shelter around 5:00, and am here with two south bound section hikers from Boston. there's a very nice river running in front of the shelter. was able to soak my feet for a little bit tonight, and also was able to dry and air out my tent. it smells like a wet dog. it was nice to be dry when I was done hiking today. almost a new feeling. overall, a very nice Saturday.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

manchester, vt

10.7 miles, 1640.6 total.
salt lake city couple was up at, drum roll please, 5:30! so I was up by 6:00 and on the trail by 7:00. rained again all night and was drizzling when I left. by the way, the gnats were absolutely terrible last night they were biting me through my clothes and leaving holes in my skin! seriously!
I was on the trail for about an hour when I looked up and saw a HUGE moose walking right toward me! it saw me at the same time and took off running into the woods. it's so funny, because we had been talking about moose last night at the shelter. we had all been seeing strange "droppings" and hoof prints on the trail and were arguing about what was responsible for them. two of us were right. moose.
the trail was a nice gradual descent to the road crossing to Manchester. I wasn't sure if I wanted to come into town, so I sat by the side of the road taking inventory of gear and food. I was just sitting there when a woman pulled over in her minivan and asked if I wanted a ride. easy hitch - sure!
did laundry, bought groceries, and exchanged my bent hiking pole for a new one at EMS (eastern mountain sports). then I looked at my shoes; caked in mud and stinky with one sole peeling off halfway. enough. they lasted me over 600 miles including rocky PA and almost daily rain since NJ, so I bought a new pair to get me through the last 500 miles.
decided to stay the night and probably an extra day when I looked at my feet. good thing I still can't figure out posting pics to this site from my phone. they're swollen and have red blotches and streaks all over them. going to soak and treat them...somehow. staying in a room at Sutton's Place (suttonsplacevermont.com). frank sutton, former NYC resident rents out rooms/beds in his georgeous old Manchester home to hikers and tourists for very little money. very cool. oh yes, and it's still raining. forecast is for thunderstorms tomorrow and intermittent showers the next 5 days going north. FUN!

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

stratton pond shelter

19.3 miles, 1629.9 total.
it rained all night and was very chilly last night, so I didn't get much sleep. I was on the wet, muddy trail in the clouds by 7:30.
passed 2 fire towers that are rumored to have excellent views, but not for me. not today. only low clouds and rain. still slipping and sliding all over the woods. the woods are, however, very pretty here. not sure if I've mentioned that yet. re Vermont forests, or woods, are very lush, dense, and just cool looking.
here with the couple from salt lake city that was also with me at upper goose pond cabin, two girls from NY/NJ, two guys from VT, and a couple I met back in NJ.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

goddard shelter

21.6 miles, 1610.6 total.
woke up at 6:00 to hear section hiker next to me saying "bear, bear, bear!" there was a bear right in front of the shelter trying to get to some food that someone left on the picnic table. we scared it off, but it came back through camp after about 5 minutes and then wandered off toward the privy. I was able to get some pictures - a little blurry, but first pics of a bear that I've been able to snap so far.
trail was again wet and muddy but it didn't rain at all. the sun even came out for a couple hours. cool. I fell 2 times today. ugh. I'm all muddy and I bent one of my hiking poles. was able to straighten it enough to use for now.
last 4 miles took forever. all straight up - roughly 2000 feet. feels good to be climbing again.
here with 10 section hikers. some going all the way to Maine and some just doing a few days. also, from Mass/Vt border, the AT runs with the Long Trail for a 100+ miles. the long trail goes from vt to Canada. it's the oldest "long trial". I think it's about 200 miles long.
please don't use these facts on jeopardy. :)


later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

seth warner shelter (VT)

16.5 miles, 1589.0 total.
up and out by 8:30 - and the two youngsters were still sleeping.
went over mt greylock in a cloud. highest point in Mass - not sure if it's highest on AT in Mass or highest in the state. didn't matter cause I couldn't see anything - not even the war memorial and plaque at the summit.
trail was still pretty rough. rained a bit, but not too much. I'm still very wet and muddy.
crossed into Vermont at 3:00. here with 3 section hikers.

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

mark noepel lean-to

13.7 miles, 1572.5 total.
I had a nice, and much needed, zero day yesterday. watched The Outlaw Josey Wales on cable. i've always loved that movie.
it has continued to rain so I'm still a little down about that. left the shamrock inn of dalton this morning at 9:30 and got to this shelter around 3:00.
I was quite surprised how much the condition of the trail had improved - even with the additional rain. there were still huge puddles and it was very muddy, but my feet and pants stayed relatively dry today. I fell once while trying to get around one of those massive trail puddles. cut and bruised my shin pretty bad, but I cleaned and bandaged it so...should be okay. it's quite swollen right now, though.
in the shelter now. listening to the rain and talking to two young local hikers who say they want to go all the way to Maine. I think they're really just out for a few days, but they're carrying enough equipment for a whole village. one has a hack saw and the other has a pocket fishing pole.
have a big climb tomorrow morning and then I should be in Vermont by mid-afternoon. 3 states and less than 600 miles to go by tomorrow evening. very cool.
I miss NYC.

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

dalton, massachusetts

20.6 miles, 1558.8 total.
left the cabin at 7:45. still raining and the trail was still in horrible condition.
about 2 miles into the hike there was a cooler full of sodas and little debbie snacks. trail magic! it made the mud a little easier to handle. again, several times had I cross water that was knee and waist deep. was like that all day long. I was also chased by a crazy bird of some sort. it came out of some bushes and fluffed up its feathers, screamed, and chased me down the trail. must have had some babies in there or something.
everything else was just wet and muddy. my pants, shoes, and shirt were all covered in mud when I got to town at 5 tonight. cool thing is that even though I looked like a mud monster and the town is right on the trail, a guy pulled over in his pickup and gave me a ride to the motel. motel clerk offered to do my laundery for me while I showered and cleaned up. very nice people. forecast is still for more rain, so I'm not sure what I'll do tomorrow. I had planned on a couple more 20+ mile days to get into Vermont by Sunday afternoon, but I'm not sure if I'll make it. the trail is too bad and the rain is starting to slow me down. also, my feet and toes are starting to hurt. everyday they're shriveled because of all the water, which is making them really sensitive...and two toe nails came off completely when I took off my socks today. yuck.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

upper goose pond cabin

21.1 miles, 1538.2 total.
days like today make people quit hiking.
it started raining at 3 AM and never stopped. not just raining, pouring. cats and dogs and chickens and hens and everything else.
the trail was flooded. streams and brooks were flooded and flowing over the rocks and bridges used to cross them. several times I had to walk through water that was waist deep, and many times the trail looked like a pond or log ride. miserable day. I was wet and muddy all day.
got to this cabin about 5 pm. it has a bunk house, kitchen, and living room with a fireplace. there are 5 of us here and we are all trying to dry out. socks and shoes and other clothes are hanging by the fireplace. forecast is for more rain the next few days.
I can't believe how bad the trail was today. it was like there was absolutely no drainage. didn't see anything except my feet, the water, mud, and roots. I fell several times in the muck. can't wait for tomorrow.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

tom leonard lean-to (MA)

24.4 miles, 1517.1 total.
what a beautiful day! no rain. was on the trail by 6:30 because I got up so early.
had climbed 3 peaks by 11:30. bear mtn. - 2300 ft. race mtn. - 2450 ft. mt. everett - 2600 ft. all were very cool. nice climbs with very technical rocky descents.
after coming down from everett I stopped for a snack at the guilder pond picnic area. I was sitting at a picnic table eating peanut butter -straight from the jar with a spoon - and reading my guide book. I got up from the table and walked about 20 ft away just to stretch my legs...when I heard a twig snap behind me. turned around and it was like I was part of a yogi the bear cartoon. a bear had come out of the woods behind the picnic table and was reaching for my food. when he snapped the stick he froze and just stood there looking at me. For some reason I screamed, Hey, get away from my stuff! and he scurried off into the woods slowly while watching me. then he just sat by a log about 50 yards away. how wacky. I packed up everything and got out of there.
anyway, so far Massachusetts is very wet, humid, and infested with mosquitos...and if you look at the name of the state long enough, you might go insane.
here with 3 other thru hikers. it's going to rain tonight and probably tomorrow, but I'm in the tent anyway - to avoid mosquitos.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

riga lean-to

19.8 miles, 1492.7 total.
man, it was buggy last night. had to totally enclose myself in the bag to keep away from flying little critters.
left this morning at 8. was a beautiful day and the trail was nice too. a couple of steep rocky climbs made it challenging in the afternoon, but still nice. worst part of the day was a long detour due to bridge construction. I had to walk down a small winding road for about 3 miles. I don't think the locals were happy with hikers on their road. they kept giving me dirty looks. also, walked by a small race track. looks like a private place where rich guys can take their own cars and zoom around at high speeds. hehe.
here by myself at a wonderful site. on the edge of a 1700 foot "mountain" overlooking valleys and other peaks. will be cool and dry tonight. no bugs so far. another nice day expected tomorrow and then 4-5 days of rain...again.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

pine swamp brook lean-to

17.0 miles, 1462.9 total.
rained again all night. at least I was indoors and high on cold medicine.
I felt much better this morning. had breakfast and coffee and hot the trail around 9:00.
looked like rain most of the day but it held off until I got to this shelter.
very nice hike today. some of it was a flat walking path along the housatonic river (hoos-a-tonic). did a very stupid thing this afternoon though. I crossed a raging stream even though tree were signs instructing me to take an alternate route. it was about 60 feet wide and there were only a few big rocks above water. I made it quickly to the middle and that's where I ran into problems. I had to take off my shoes and socks, put on my Crocs, roll up my pants and carefully go across using rocks that were under water. at one point I threw one hiking stick I the edge and used a tree branch that was hanging above. well I made. and it was really cool.
anyway, here with a SOBO section hiker and it's raining. at least I made it early so my stuff is dry. we'll see what happens tomorrow.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

kent, ct

.3 miles,
felt horrible this morning. last night it started raining at 8 and didn't stop - still raining tonight. also, around 10 last night a big group of girl scouts came rumbling into camp and took over 2 hours to set up everything in the rain. I didn't get any sleep and feel like I have a cold or something.
I hiked the .3 miles to the highway and then the mile into kent. didn't realize it was a Sunday - so stores are closed or don't open until late. buying groceries, doing laundry, and will stay here today and tonight to rest.

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

mt. algo lean-to (CT)

21.1 miles, 1455.6 total.
very nice day. finally. section hiker, jerryatric, woke up and started moving around at 5:00 AM. what??? who does that?
so I was on the trail by 7:00. knees were really sore, but they got better as the day progressed.
left ny late in the afternoon an the trail and scenery changed almost immediately. better marked, better maintained, and nicer signs in Connecticut. although, trail was still wet and muddy from last few days of rain. afternoon was sunny and dry, so I was able to get more stuff dried out.
this shelter is right next to a stream and there are bugs everywhere, so i set up the tent nearby just a four section hikers arrived and threw their junk all over the shelter. going to bed right away because I'm beat.

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

telephone pioneer shelter

16.8 miles, 1434.5 total.
wow, what a thunderstorm last night. rained so hard I thought the roof was going to cave in. again, hard to get up when it's raining. didn't start until 9.
nice hike except for the rain, but it cleared up around 2:00.
after the climbing for the first 5 miles the trail came down to a highway and I found a convenience store about 1/4 mile off the trail. I bought and consumed: root beer, coffee, orange juice, Gatorade, and 12 chocolate donuts. man, that was good. I also bought another root beer to save for dinner. had lunch at a shelter at the 9 mile mark. it cleared up after that and I had a nice slow hike in the afternoon with some sun. I tied my wet stinky socks to the back of my pack and they dried quickly. dry smelly stuff is always easier to handle than wet smelly stuff.
passed several streams and a nice little lake. then, after going back into the woods from re east walk around the lake, I fell and made a bunch of noise...which scared a bear who was hiding behind a tree. he took off up the hill at a blinding pace, so I took off down the trail just as fast. he was a good medium bear - maybe 200 pounds.
only bad part about the trail in this section of NY is that it goes by so many residential areas. I can always hear kids, dogs, and traffic.
here with a couple of sectioners. and met the manager of trail maintainers for this section - she gave me some granola bars. went well with my luke warm root beer!
bought a major league baseball application for my iPhone, so now I can listen to the mets-yankees game tonight. let's go mets!

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

RPH shelter

18.8 miles, 1417.7 total.
didn't get started until almost 9 today...was raining cats and dogs. I was soaked with rain and sweat by 10. stupid glasses fell off and are even scratched more. bigger nerd.
trail has actually been nice. good climbs and nice terrain, but the rain is a pain. hiked through Fahnstock state park - Kandra and I hiked this section a few years ago. it's in much better condition now - even when wet, but still has as many mosquitos.
took a couple of breaks in the rain, which is never fun, because there was nowhere else to sit. only on a wet rock under a dripping tree. yippee!
this shelter might have been someone's garage in a former life. almost completely enclosed - back is open and there is an actual front door. has six bunks and a nice covered porch with a picnic table. here with another thru. name is .2 or point two or two tenths. too tired to ask about it, and my knee is killing me tonight.

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

graymoor spiritual life ctr

25.0 miles, 1398.9 total.
had a great time in NYC. tough leaving.
dropped off by bus at west side of Harriman state park to get on trail again. humid and drizzling, so my glasses were fogged up most of the day - NERD! well, I fell several times and scratched up the glasses. nice.
anyway, I got here. it's a monastary run by the fansiscans. very cool. camping under the picnic shelter at their baseball field. the friars have been down to check on hikers and bring food. very nice! it's raining and is to keep it up all night. tomorrow will also be wet. can't wait.
here with a SOBO sectioner and a NOBO section couple from NYC.

later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

Arden, NY --- NYC

9.9 miles, 1373.9 total.

up and on the trail by 6:00 this morning.  the trail was very technical today.  lots of short steep climbs over large boulders and dead trees...and a couple times the trail was difficult to follow because the trail blazes were so faded.  sprinkled and drizzled all morning, so i was soaked.

had a little run in with a 2 1/2 foot long garter snake late in the morning.  i was climbing hand over hand up a steep rocky cliff, and i pulled myself up to the next level only to be face to face with the snake.  he shot straight out at me and slithered down between me and the rocky face of the cliff...then down and between my legs to the next level below.  i could feel him slither against my shirt.  i just braced myself against the cliff and a dead tree until he was past and out of striking range.  wow.

the end of the hike was very steep, all the way down to the highway.  I then walked on the highway, in the rain, 2.5 miles to the train station.  got there by 11:45 AM and was in my neighborhood by 2:45 PM.  i'm now in my living room in NYC.  very nice to be home.  

i'll be here until wednesday morning.  nice break.

later,

L

wildcat shelter (NY)

23.6 miles, 1364.o total.

everyone was up early today and on the trail by 7:00.  It poured all night, but it stopped around 5:30 this morning; although the grass and most of the trail was still soaked.

there were lots of ups and downs today, and passed through a lot of swampy/marshy land.  There was even a section about a mile long that was a boardwalk over a swamp, there was a walk through a cow pasture, and i crossed several railroad tracks.  one difficult climb this morning was up Wawayanda Mtn.  it went from 400 ft. to over 1400 ft. in a 1/2 mile...and was very rocky.  

the sky cleared up around noon and i took a break at the wawayanda shelter.  i took off my shoes and socks to let them dry in the sun, and i took a nap.  nice.  the afternoon turned mostly to ridge walking and i crossed the NJ - NY border.  just before this, about 50 yards, i came up to the top of the mtn. and ran into a medium sized bear.  he was just sitting on a rock looking around.  he saw me and jumped down the side of the mtn. and took off running - he was so fast it was just a blur.

here at the shelter with john, bad hummus, stovie, carolina, and another hiker.  it's very buggy and it looks like the clouds are moving in again.

later,

L

pochuck mtn. shelter

25.4 miles, 1340.4 total.

okay, a large bear came through camp at 2:00 AM (last night) and rattled my tent and rolled over a very large dead tree while looking for food.  He hung out for about 15 minutes before moving on.  It was a little scary for a few minutes.

I was up and on the trail early today - 6:15.  hiked up to sunrise mtn. early and had breakfast and watched the sun come up - only a few clouds.  there was a shelter/pavilion there with benches to sit on and see the 360 degree views.  i think i could see PA, NJ, and NY.  i blew through the first half of the day because it was very flat and there were fewer rocks on the trail.  by noon i had already gone 13 miles.  i stopped to have lunch at hightop mtn. shelter and my friend Indiana Jones was there taking a day off in the shelter.  i haven't seen him since duncannon.  we had a nice lunch and discussion about the trail the rocks in PA and NJ.

it clouded over late in the afternoon and began to drizzle.  i walked by a bird sanctuary and saw several types of large birds.  although, i have no idea what they were.  this shelter doesn't have a water source so i had to stop about a half mile before and get 4 liters of water.  that was okay...it was the last half mile hike that wasn't okay.  it was straight up the mtn with all that water on my back.  ugh.

here tonight with john (from E. TN), bad hummus, stovie, carolina, and team streetfighter.  looks like it could start raining hard at any time.  at least the bugs aren't bad tonight.

later,

L

gren anderson shelter

20.9 miles, 1315.0 total.

rained a little bit early on today and was cloudy most of the day.  hike was along a nice rocky ridge line with very nice views on both sides.  passed several ponds and small lakes today, so i heard lots of frogs and birds all day.

still looks like rain tonight.  didn't see any other hikers today and i'm here tonight with a southbounder from CT.  it's very buggy here tonight so i'm set up in the tent even though the shelter is empty.

later,

L

mohican outdoor center, NJ

26.1 miles, 1294.1 total.
was up and on the trail by 7:15 today and ready for any last rocky challenges PA wanted to throw at me. wasn't really that bad. I was moving very well and didn't even realize it was under the 3 hour mark when I reached the last PA shelter - 9 miles from my starting pt. took a break there and had some fruit that I picked up in wind gap. it's well worth the weight on the first day out of town.
6 miles later I was in Delaware Water Gap, PA and about to cross over into NJ when I felt a little wave of sadness. I'll really miss all those steelers fans. but that's all!!
hello new jersey. 10 miles later I arrived here, an outdoor center with a lake, cabins, trails, camp sites, etc. thru hikers stay for free and can shower for $3. who needs a shower? I just showered yesterday and that should be enough to get me through the entire week. But man, I could really use a manicure! forecast calls for 30% chance of showers tonight and the clouds are rolling in now. my food is in the bear box and I'm all set up in the tent. good for the night. thing I hate about these places is the tent sites are so close together. I can hear the hiker eating at the site next to me. it's like being in an apartment in NYC, but nobody out here breaks out an ironing board at 3:00 AM - like some friends I have. :)
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

wind gap, pa

20.5 miles, 1268.0 total.
hitched a ride out of palmerton early and was back on the trail at 7:30.
marched straight up out of lehigh gap. ALL rocks and all jagged; some small like grapefruits and some large like volkswagons! had to put away hiking poles and crawl up and over most of it. took about 30 minutes to go 1/2 mile, and then it got flat and the rocks got smaller but there were more of them. went on for another few miles. took a couple breaks but mostly just walked her rocks. also, it was dry and the only water sources were quite a hike off the trail. ran out of water early in the afternoon so I slowed a bit and decided to stop here for the night. stating a gateway motel which is run by Good Pete, friend of the trail. resting and hydrating for tomorrow. if it doesn't get worse I will turn it up a bit so I can make ny by Friday. can wait.
ooooh, saw a big black snake laying across the trail today. he wouldn't move, just hissed at me. so I took some pics and walked slowly around him.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

palmerton, pa municipal bldg

sunny, sunny, sunny!
woke up early and sun was out so I hung all my stuff to see if I could dry it a little.
hit the trail at 8:15 with dry but stinky clothes.
the trail got worse. very rocky, including a 1/4 mile section called the Knife Edge. it was a high ridge of pointy jagged boulders. was so happy I made it over the Edge that I fell on smaller rocks and tore up my shin. good job! cleaned it up and. key going.
met a southbounder who said next two days are even worse.
got to he highway leading into Palmerton and hitched a ride to the police station. the city runs a free hiker hostel in the basement of their city hall/court building. we get to sleep under the court room and shower in the locker room of the police gymnasium. how cool is that? everyone in town has been really friendly and helpful. anyway, did laundry and bought groceries. should be ready for the next few days.
here with the cincy boys and the brit.
later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

Allentown hiking club shelter

16.5 miles, 1229.8 total.
SURPRISE! more of the same today. day 4 of rain. was rainy, foggy, misty and humid all day. and Pennsylvania has been kind enough to throw even more jagged rocks of all sizes at me. also, the bugs have gotten worse today, and I think my all natural insect repellent attracts bees. HA.
next 2 to 3 days are reportedly the worst. yippee! keep thinking it won't be long until I get to visit k and NYC.
here with the cincy guys and the brit.

later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

Windsor furnace shelter

14.7 miles, 1213.3 total.
up and on the trail by 7:30. still wet out and the trail is still rocky. over 8 miles to the town of Port Clinton where I took a break. visited the outfitter to lurk around like any good stinky thru hiker. the owners could sense my hunger like the emperor could sense luke skywalker's anger. :) so they gave me two cheeseburgers and an ice cream sandwich. very nice. I, in return, made a couple of purchases and then moved on. had 6 more miles to get to this shelter.
just as I got back on the trail I saw a 4 foot long black snake draped over a log. cool. I was able to snap several pictures before it became annoyed and slithered off. about 1 mile from the shelter I ran into a couple from Philadelphia who were lost and going the wrong way. I pointed them in the right direction and let them study my map for a little while. they were thankful and gave me a bag of starburst candies and an airplane sized bottle of red wine. very nice. red wine with my instant mashed potato/tunafish dinner. I'm the classy hiker now. wow, my wet clothes really stink. I think I'll be without laundry facilities for at least 3 more days. nice and ripe.
here with a group of guys from cincinnati (spelling??) who are hiking with a guy from England.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

eagle's nest shelter

15.1 miles, 1198.6 total.
slept in late today because I was sore and it was still raining. got on the trail around 9:00. mostly the trail was more of the same; jagged rocks. and I haven't even hit the "rocky" part of PA yet. can't wait. my feet, hips, and shoulders still hurt from yesterday's long hike. got to this shelter around 3:30 and decided to call it a day. hanging my stuff so it will dry a little. more rain tonight and tomorrow. everything is wet.
here at the shelter with a 17 yr old kid who calls himself Drop Off. I've heard of him. he says he's from Delaware and his parents dropped him off at the trail in Virginia and told him they would pick him up at the beginning of June in Pennsylvania. they did this to teach him a lesson and respect. ha.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

501 shelter

34.9 miles, 1183.5 total.
lived up to my lunatic name today. hiked 35 miles in the rain over wet, jagged rocks.
left camp at 7:00 this morning and got to this shelter at 7:00 tonight. I'm tired and my body hurts. I just didn't feel like stopping anywhere; was cold and wet and just wanted to keep walking. this shelter is completely enclosed, has a skylight and twelve bunks with a giant picnic table in the middle. I'm the only one here, and I didn't see anyone today so I doubt I'll be joined by anyone tonight. my wet stuff is hanging all over the place, but I doubt it will get dry overnight. going to bed as soon as possible. it's called 501 because it's near highway 501, not because of its button fly.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

peter's mtn. shelter

11.3 miles, 1148.6 total.
memorial day 2009.
I took a day off yesterday and stayed at the Doyle hotel in duncannon. had a great time hanging out with fellow hiker, john from east Tennessee. back on the trail this morning at 8:00. ran into nick and sara early - they took off Sunday too. about 3 miles before this shelter there is a privately owned cabin whose owners were having a memorial day party and placed invitations to hikers all along the trail. so we stopped. there were about 12 hikers and 40 - 50 people belonging to the owner's family. they had 3 long tables of food - basically anything you could think of eating. stayed there for about 4 hours before heading out. just when I got back on the trail...I came around a switchback and the was a guy standing on the trail naked!!! yes, now I've seen a naked guy. he looked like maybe he was taking some drugs that he shouldn't have been taking. he was wearing only sneakers and in one hand he held a cigarette while holding a pair of shorts in the other hand. standing there just staring off into space. when he saw me, I said, howdy! and he mumbled something, quickly put on his shorts, and ran down the trail in the opposite direction. odd. other hikers also saw naked guy, so I'm not crazy. fun trail. here with about 7 others tonight. forecast is dr rain tonight and next 3 days. ugh.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

Cove Mtn. shelter

25.5 miles, 1133.2 total.
Last night was okay, but very buggy. Indiana Jones showed up around 8:00 so we ate together and chatted before calling it a night. Nick and Sara (from Texas and Kansas) showed up this morning just before 8:00 and we hit the trail soon after. The elevation profile looked really flat so we decided to have some fun. We were about 30 miles from Duncannon, PA, so we thought it appropriate to have our own Duncannon-ball Run. I played the part of Sammy Davis, Jr. :)
We took off at a pace somewhere between 4.5 mph and 5.5 mph, and we completed the first 4.8 miles in just over an hour. We spent an hour in Boiling Springs to rest, snack, and refill water. Then left there at the same blistering pace. Nick and Sara dropped back a bit, but Indy and I kept up the speed. Flying through farmers' fields and cattle pastures, across highways and interstates, and next to slow moving stagnant streams chased by mosquito swarms. Late in the afternoon it became apparent that we were not going to be able to complete it. sad. :(
The trail went back into the woods and straight up several very rocky sections and we (I) lost steam. Finally made it to this shelter around 7:30, just in time to set up camp and have something to eat before it started getting dark on this side of the mtn. Here with Indy and a group of recent grads from Temple U. They don't hike much and are having a rough time with their food, tents, and water.
So I failed at completing/winning the Duncannon-ball Run. Nobody won. We're all tired and sore...but tomorrow we only have 4+ miles to get to town. Nice. Can't wait to do laundry and shower. By the way, once again the weather was very nice. Forecast is for rain in the next couple of days, but I couldn't have asked for better weather for the past week. Very nice.
Later,
L.

Alec Kennedy Shelter

19.2 miles, 1107.7 total. (just over the halfway mark)
Got an early start today, 7:30, not sure why, though. It was only 4.2 miles from the shelter to Pine Grove Furnace state park, which is just past the A.T. midpoint this year and is the official home of the Half Gallon Challenge. Most thru-hikers take part in the Challenge....which is to eat a half gallon of ice cream as quickly as they can. hmmmm. sound yummy.
This is the type of gluttonous activity that brings to mind the artwork of my friend Geoffrey Raymond who creates unique portraits of our most famous wall street related, and other, money hungry devils. Maybe I'm next??? doubt it. Alas, my activity will not bring any windfall of cash...more like a stomach ache from the depths of hell. :)
I chose Hershey's vanilla with peanut butter ribbons (fancy term for swirls) as my poison. I was competing or just eating with 5 fellow hikers, and I did very well for someone who rarely eats ice cream, but I guess sucking down large quantities of one sugary substance is pretty much like sucking down large quantities of any other sugary substance. I came in 3rd, completing my half gallon in just under 40 minutes. Then I sat very still for about an hour. Then I went to the bathroom. THEN I hiked an additional 15 miles. Let's see you do that!
Here at the shelter resting my gut and waiting to see what tomorrow has to offer. Loving this trail more and more each day.
Later,
L

toms run shelter

16.2 miles, 1088.5 total.
great day of hiking. sunny and 80...or about 70 in the shade. very nice. hit the trail around 10 and walked mostly up or the first 2.5 miles. the first shelter area was amazing. freshly painted shelters with a nice stream in front. potted flowers and plants around the area and everything was very clean. had a snack, refilled my water, and moved on. after 5 more miles I found a locked cabin with nobody home. it had a stream with a foot bridge right in front, so I sat there on the bridge in the shade and ate lunch, did a little reading, an took a nap. cool. 2.5 miles later there was another shelter with a whole bunch of day and section hikers. so I refilled my water at a spring and then sat under a tree ad read for a little while before moving on. the last 6 miles were up and down and very very rocky, and as I got closer to the shelter there were more and more bugs. ugh. my feet were hot and sore and the bugs were really bugging me! well I'm here and was in my tent until the sun went down and the bugs went away. can't get used to gnats, flies, and other bugs...and there aren't even any Mosquitos yet. can't wait for them. good thing about nicer weather is that I've been in my tent for most of the last 2 weeks. probably only stay in shelters if it rains - at least until I hit Vermont or maybe Mass.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

fayettville, pa

22.8 miles, 1072.3 total.
another cold night, but we built a big fire and put the tents nearby. it burned all night and gave off a little heat. it also illuminated a small fox that was walking around our tents at about 3:00 am.
got started around 8:30. 5 miles into the day I crossed the mason-dixon line and into Pennsylvania. pa has a reputation for being really really rocky, and it has already started living up to it. all day I was climbing or hopping over and around rocks/boulders. ugh.
so, one reason for my weight loss is probably lack of food. I'm still not eating enough. so I've been trying to do better. the result: I'm not as hungry all the time but I'm also out of the food that I had planned to have for 5 days. it's only day 3. so I had to hitch into fayettville to restock. I found a really cheap motel that only takes cash. uh-huh. but it is next to a market and a restaurant that serves pizza, Italian, and Mexican fare. what a combo. staying in town tonight and then hitting the trail again tomorrow with a full food bag.

later,
L
-- Post From My iPhone

devil's racecourse shelter

18.8 miles, 1049.5 total.
late start this morning because it was cold. got down to 32 last night. after eating breakfast and packing up, I hit the trail around 9:00.
3 miles into the day there was the original george washington monument. interesting, never heard about this. look it up. it's in Maryland. not sure why.
another big event today...I crossed Interstate 70 and US Highway 40 at their crossing point here in Maryland. why big? for those who don't know, both of those roadways go through my home town of hays, ks. I crossed the bridge with the two kansans I met yesterday. very cool, or not.
this shelter area is named for the really rocky trail that is nearby. we're tenting about .2 miles from the shelter because it's kinda junky and old and there aren't any flat areas closer.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

dahlgren campground, md

17.3 miles, 1030.7 total.
Kandra left on a 12:00 train today and I hit the trail.
right away I met 4 other thru hikers. two are from ks, so we had something to chat about for most of the afternoon. most of the day was flat with lots of rocks.
one of the others has a fold out chart with Appalachian animals' pictures and descriptions. we were able to find put that a snake I saw about a week ago (and took a piccture of) was a small copper head. I think I need to be more careful out here. when I took the picture I was singing to the snake because he looked kinda cute and fake. but he was poisonous. idiot.
we're tenting at this campground that is right next to the trail and equipped with toilets, showers, and a sink for washing dishes. nice.
oh yeah, I'm in Maryland now. so far: Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland now.
later,
L



-- Post From My iPhone

harpers ferry, wv

20.3 miles, 1013.4 total.
only a few instances I can think of that put one in the situation I was in today. maybe I'm odd...but at mid-morning I was cheering with, high five-ing, congratulating and hugging a complete stranger. that was as we passed the official 1000 mile mark on the trail. in 2 1/2 months I've walked over 1000 miles up the east coast's beautiful Appalachian region. I think it's cool.
received some trail magic, about 7 miles from harpers ferry, from fellow thru hikers who are a day ahead of me - they took the day off to hand out fruit, soda, water, and other goodies to people behind them. very nice.
here in harpers ferry at a hostel tonight. Kandra is scheduled to arrive tomorrow and spend a couple days here with me before I move on. HF is considered the half-way town on the AT. the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has their main office here, and all thru hikers stop there to register and have their picture taken for the official registry. that book is matched up against the Maine registry to get official numbers of successful hikes each year. they also have a scale there. man, I've now lost 31 lbs. don't think I can lose much more. don't have much fat or muscle left. I shaved most of my head and beard in front royal, so maybe that was a few pounds! :)
back in a few days.
L


-- Post From My iPhone

bear's den hostel

18.3 miles, 993.1 total.
slept in this morning and didn't get on the trail until 8:30. original plan was to go 15 miles but it became clear early on that I'd be done by 2 or 3, so I decided to go an extra 3+ to get to this infamous hostel that is owned by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and operated by former thru hikers.
turns out it was a good idea because the hostel is located at a spot on the trail that is about halfway through something called The Rollercoaster. 13.5 miles of trail containing 10 ups and downs of 300 to 500 ft. each, and most of the trail is covered with rocks and tree roots. really rough on the feet and tires you out quickly.
hostel is great. it's located at the top of a mtn. near an overlook spot with loads of boulders and caves. ppl are great here and I'm seeing a lot of hikers I haven't seen in a while. really cool old old stone building that has almost 30 bunks, a common area, laundry facilities, fully stocked kitchen, laetge dining room, computer area and a huge yard - if you want to sleep in your tent instead of inside. looks like I'll make harpers ferry tomorrow after a nice night's rest here.
later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

dick's dome shelter

15.2 miles, 974.8 total.
got a ride from the motel back to the trail around 10 from a friendly local I met at the grocery store. wow. all these free rides from strangers and nothing bad has happened yet. uh-oh..shouldn't have thought that. goocher.
terrain was way flat but very very green and loads of trees and bushes. great weather for hiking today. in the 70's with a nice cool breeze. passed several section hikers included two young guys with packs weighing over 60 lbs. each. they were moving very very slow.
saw several garter snakes and deer today. also a small ring neck snake, I think. it was all black with a yellow ring around its neck and some yellow on its belly.
even with the late start I made the miles by 4 an decided to relax and rest my feet.
later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

front royal, va

13.4 miles, 959.6 total.
the 5 NOBO sectioners were up am noisy at 5:30. ugh. so I got up and was on the trail before they were even done with breakfast.
sun was out and it was cool. nice hiking weather. up and over two 3400 ft. peaks within the first two hours. final 9 miles were all downhill to the highway leading into front royal. the very last part of the trail went behind a bunch of sketchy looking houses with big mean looking dogs. so I was almost running. don't need another dog bite.
I decided to hitch a ride 3 miles into town instead of walk. a guy with a gotee and university of Virginia cap driving a pick up towing a boat picked me up and drove me quickly into town. nice guy. taking two days here then back out.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

gravel springs hut

17.5 miles, 946.2 total.
took my time getting up and moving around today. sun was out early so I hung my socks and pants and shirt so they could be a little dry when I started. was finally packed and ready to go around 8.
first 4 miles were ok. several road crossings and some overlook areas, and I could actually see brcause the sun was out. stopped at a SNP convenience store that was right on the trail. took a 30 minute break to relax and have a box of nutter butters and some ice cream sandwiches. yummy.
after that, I went up and over humpback mtn and then over an unnamed mtn that had a huge radio/tv antenna on top. that's not all it had...about halfway down the other side of the mtn a very very big bear jumped up from behind a boulder, about 150 feet away, and took off running up the mtn. looked about 300 lbs. and really fast. wow. I got down the mtn faster than I thought possible.
2 miles later I was here at the shelter with 5 north bound section hikers from Chicago. no rain today!!! maybe tomorrow will be nice too.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

Byrds Nest #3 Hut

22.4 miles, 928.7 total.
Not sure what's up with the name of this hut. It was previously a day use picnic table shelter and the added walls and a platform for sleeping...and now it's a hut. AND there's no water within a mile - which is a detail the maps and guidebooks got wrong. ugh. lucky for me I filled up a little before I got here so I have enough for tonight and tomorrow morning.
Now it has been 4 days of rain. Everything is wet. Only my sleeping bag and night clothes are dry. Shoes, socks, undies, pants, shirts, pack...all wet and starting to get smelly. Hung everything on a line inside the hut, but it all just soaks up more moisture.
Let the hut this morning at 7:00 because one of the Germans was up at 5:30. What's that all about???
Passed a couple more car campsites that were full of tents and RVs. Took a break at the first shelter/hut around 11:30 and then another break at the horse stable of a resort that the trail passed. They had chairs that were under a canopy and out of the rain...and next to a vending machine. Got a grape soda and a snickers bar. mmmmm. By the way, even in the rain the horses were very smelly. kinda like my shoes. :)
About a mile before I got to this hut it began to pour. Heavier than any rain I've had so far on my trip. This time it was a true thunderstorm. There was lightning and thunder. I found a picnic area with open bathrooms so I hid in the men's room for a little bit to get out of the storm. When it let up I started again. The bathroom was very nice. :)
Here with a NOBO section hiker from Richmond, VA. He's a retired firefighter who knows a lot about the park and this area. Very cool.
later,
L

Bearfence Mountain Hut

20.6 miles, 906.3 total.
Left the hut a little before 8:00 this morning, first one out. I think the others are going to stay at the first shelter (8.2 miles away) so I'll decided to go for the second one. Don't want to be with dogs again tonight. Done with the "pets on the trail" thing....NOW.
The first section was up and out of the fog so I got to see some of the nice scenery...and the sun! I got to the first shelter by 10:30 and took a half hour break to have a snack and refill water. Since the first few miles, I was in and out of the fog and rain most of the day. Climbed to the top of Hightop Mountain and was able to see above the clouds. It was very nice and there were several rocky overviews so I was able to get some good pictures. Then, on the way down the mountain, I came down through a switchback and 40 feet from me a bear popped its head up from behind a dead tree that was about 5 feet off the trail. I clanged my hiking poles together several times and it jumped up and took off up the mountain. It wasn't too big or too small; probably a few years old. It was the size of a large dog. Not very scary, but now I've seen my first bear.
About a half mile from the hut was a car camping area with a camp store. yippee. I stopped and bought mac & cheese for dinner, moon pies, snickers, gatorade, and two bottles of cream soda. yummy.
Here at the hut with two german SOBO section hikers, and a NOBO sectioner. Still raining tonight. Most of my stuff is wet and I can't get it to dry.
later,
L

Pinefield Hut

13.2 miles, 885.7 total.
Two of the people at the shelter last night had dogs with them. ugh. So I was up early and decided to get on the trail as soon as possible.
It was cloudy and misty all day today, and then started to pour late in the afternoon and still hasn't stopped.
Hiked by several car campsites today and a bunch of overlooks on the Skyline Drive. There are a lot of people in this park, even though the summer season hasn't started yet. Was going to go for 22 miles today but I started to get cranky and achy when I got to this shelter for a break around 1:30. My feet are feeling good today even though I was walking in the rain most of the day. These new(ish) shoes are doing well. They're New Balance with a trail sole. They don't do really well on the wet rocks but they feel so good on my feet. I'll just be careful. :)
Saw a bunch of deer today all along the trail. I also saw a bright orange lizard that was only about 4 or 5 inches long. I thought it was a plastic toy that someone dropped until it started to move. I also saw more turtles today.
Here at the "Hut" with a very odd SOBO hiker from CT and a three sectioners including the two with dogs.
later,
L

Blackrock Hut

20 miles, 872.5 total.
Got a late start because I had to go to the post office and send a package home. Kandra sent me a lighter sleeping bag and some warm weather clothing so I sent back my heavier bag and several other cold weather items. My pack is now a couple pounds lighter. I called a Trail Angel with the last name Gottschalk, but he's not from Hays, to give me a ride back to the trail.
I got started around 10:30 and it was really foggy and rainy. Here we go again with the rain. The forecast says it will rain a little bit each day I'm going to be in the Shenandoah National Park - 5 or 6 days.
The trail in the park is amazingly well kept, and crosses the Skyline Drive many times. SD is a continuation of the Blueridge Parkway into the SNP, just has a different name. The trail goes through some forest areas that are much more dense than what I just came through the last two weeks, and I've been told I will definitely see more wild life here.
Made it the 20 miles by 5:30 and even took several breaks in the rain. I saw a lot of deer and several turtles today. Here at the shelter area, they call them Huts in this park, with 6 others who are all section hikers. They tell me that because it takes only 5-8 days to get through the park I will see a lot of people who are here just to hike the park.
later,
L

Waynesboro, VA

Very short day. Easy, easy 5 mile hike down into Waynesboro. Saw several turtles, turkeys, and a few deer on the way down. I also saw a group of SOBO section hikers, and one of them told me I need to get a shave. Am I that ratty looking?? Feet and hands are swollen and are still killing me. At Rockfish Gap - the highway crossing near town - I called a local "Trail Angel" who came to give me a ride into town (5 miles). Taking a couple of zero days here before heading into the Shenandoah National Park.

Paul c Wolfe shelter

29.5 miles, 847.5 total.
had no idea this morning when I woke up that I would hike 30 miles today. my feet are mad right now.
got up around 6:00 to the same mist and fog that was here last night. distances of shelters were 7.5, 13.7, and 29.5. not much to choose from, and it turns out there weren't any camping spots (or any spots without rocks) during the last section. so I just walked and walked. about 25 yards from the last shelter I was crossing a stream/river and fell into it! I tried to stop my fall and snapped my hiking pole as I crashed onto the water. I bruised my frorearm and cut my leg...and got really wet. ha. tough day for 30 miles. up and down and up and down all day. only 5 miles into waynesboro, va tomorrow where I'll take 2 days off. I need to rest my feet. the new shoes I bought in daleville are great, but the higher mileage days are still rough on the feet.
later, L



-- Post From My iPhone

paul c wolfe pt. 2

Thought I would list key points and elevations of the 30 mile hike.

Starting pt. Priest shelter 3840
The Priest Mtn. 4063
Tye River 970
Harpers Creek shelter 1800
3 Ridges Mtn. 3870
Maupin field shelter 2720
Dripping Rock Overlook 2950
Humpback Mtn. 3600
Bear Spring 2700
Paul C. Wolfe shelter 1700

later,
L

the priest shelter

22.7 miles, 818 total.
left camp around 7:30 this morning. it was overcast and humid. the miles kept falling and I kept walking. very first 4 miles were straight up to bald knob. they were 4 of the toughest that I've hiked in a while. lots of switchbacks and after every few there was a stretch of straight up trail.
the next 10 miles were fairly easy and over some cool terrain. some farmland, some rocky areas, and some pine forests - some high and some low. made it to seely-woodworth shelter by 1:15. 15.8 miles by mid day. nice. I hung out there for about an hour and a half. was met there by OC and sonny, and the mother-daughter team stopped by to get more water from the spring.
the afternoon was cooler and much less humid so I was able to cruise during the afternoon without the heat of the past few days. I passed several SOBO flippers and a group of teenaged sectioners with their adult leaders. missed some good views becade of the clouds but the cooler temps were welcomed.
OC and I ended up here in the clouds, most of the way up the priest mtn.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

john's hollow shelter

21.6 miles, 777 total.
flies, gnats, bees. enough already. don't I get a spring before summer. at least I've figured it out. my shoes and pant legs are covered with pollen. they're actually yellow. I need to clean them off regularly.
today was a long one. first 5.3 miles were all up, and it got warm early. might be a break in the heat sometime on the next couple of days.
took a break around 11:00 and called mary lou (grandma) to wish her a happy 84th bday. that was the only time all day that I had coverage. how convenient. what a good grandson!!
the next 12.4 miles seemed to last forever and ended with a long descent that hammered my knees. was going to call it a day but the bees were guarding the shelter and there weren't any good tent sites. so I got water from the fast moving stream in front of the shelter an was going to move on...when I had an idea. there was a huge rock in the middle of the stream that was shaped like a chair - and was half submerged. so I stripped down to my undies and got in. nice!!!! refreshing. I got a bath and did my laundry too. then everything dried on a boulder and I took off for this shelter, 3.9 miles further. setting up my tent so I can sleep a little cooler tonight again. here with a section hiker named ghost.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone

cornelius creek shelter

18.3 miles, 755.4 total.
I hate this heat. going to be in upper 80's again today. couldn't sleep last night cause it was so hot. got up at 6:00 and left camp as quickly as possible because the bugs were already active.
hike was not good or bad, just hot. at 6 miles I came to a shelter that was guarded by a swarm of big fat bumble bees. so I marched on. a little while later I took a break at a river crossing and watched a bunch of rednecks fish for trout. even though a big sign said "No Fishing". then after about 13.5 miles I came to Bryant ridge shelter. it was beautiful and looked new. it sits right on a small stream and offers plenty of shade. no bugs! I climbed onto the picnic table and took a nap. there was a couple upstairs also napping. I woke up when a south bounder stopped in for a break. then the couple upstairs came down and fixed us hot dogs and bacon and gave us mountain dew that had been chilling in the stream.
when I left I had a really tough 5 miles of uphill to finish the day. feels cooler out but the bugs are still everywhere. pitching the tent for sure now. I can see two mice sitting on the shelter ceiling beam. they can have it; no sense fighting with them all night.
here by myself again tonight.
later,
L

-- Post From My iPhone

bobblets gap shelter

18.5 miles, 737.1 total.
left the daleville, va motel for the trail (right across the street) around 9:00. ran into d'leader, penJ and the karma police in my way out. they were just getting in.
long and hot day. very buggy here tonight. passed a retiree section hiker from NYC earlier. he and I had a nice talk while taking a break in the shade.
saw a bunch of deer at different times today...and a lot of bees and gnats. this shelter sits in a valley with a stream and it's very muggy. temp inside the shelter is still around 80, and there's nowhere flat to set up my tent. great. here alone. :(
later, L


-- Post From My iPhone

Catawba Mtn Shelter

24.7 miles, 700.8 total.
incredible day. set another record of almost 25 miles.
again with the crazy weather! now add snow to the list below; all in one day.
received some great trail magic about 45 minutes after starting. a big cooler filled with fruit, water, soda, candy, and just about anything else one could want. yummy.
after that, it was straight up over 2000 feet. right on the edge of a ridge. one side was sunny an the other was rainy...then the sleet came, then the snow!
at the top of the ridge the trail ran into an old forest road that was wide and grassy. also, there was a wooden park bench right at the intersection. nice. I sat down and had a snack...and then the snow stopped and the sun came out. the trail followed the road to a memorial for audie murphy, the most decorated WWII US veteran. evidently he died in a plane crash at this site in 1971. got some pics an moved on.
the rest of the day is a little hard to explain. it was soooo difficult, and I swear the mileage charts on my maps are incorrect. went over rocky ridge after rocky ridge. really getting tired of them. then I got to the really big one. it's called Dragon's Tooth. I had to put away my trekking poles and climb on hands and knees for about 30 minutes to get to the top...and then do the same going down the other side. in some places there were metal rods drilled into the rock to help get up and down. wow.
when I finally got down, it was back through farmland and then up more rocky mountains. thank goodness there were no donkeys!! didn't get to the shelter until after 6:30. got everything ready for night and now finishing this. here by myself again. nice and quiet. tomorrow I can do 18 tough miles or split it into two days of 9 each. we'll see how I feel. my body already hurts from today and it's only been to hours since I stopped hiking.
later,
L


-- Post From My iPhone