Ten states, 1,137 miles, three months and ten days. Where did they go? How are they suddenly a blur of the past? The myriad faces, extraordinary places, epic views, repetitive tasks, challenging steps of closing an unconquerable distance at a mere 2MPH pace, moments of feeling indescribably alive have, in hindsight, flown by faster than … More Halfway there!
The 800th mile of this journey has brought with it many bruises, a heavier pack to carry full of cold weather gear and mountains more brutally grueling and more richly rewarding than any other on the Appalachian Trail! Gone are the twenty mile days of hiking solid speeds of three miles per hour. Miles in … More 800 mile journal – Vermont Bridge Jump? Yep, video below! Definitely recommend!
This hundred miles greeted me immediately with a grand entrance into Massachusetts. Day one set a precedent that was, fortunately, continued throughout this hundred mile section. Upon saying farewell to Connecticut, there were miles of stream side mountain walks complete with inviting swimming holes, picturesque waterfalls that beckon hikers to pause their walks and enjoy … More 600 mile journal – I ❤ Massachusetts!
Eighty two miles of this hundred continued in the same manner as the last hundred ended…painfully. Tendinitis in both legs augmented the normal trail trials and tribulations. New Jersey gave way to New York which abruptly greets hikers with challenging hand over hand rock scrambles with appropriate names like The Ladder and The Lemon Squeezer, … More 400 mile journal – Trail Angels and Magic
Over three weeks have passed since I began my hike of the Appalachian Trail…300 miles and four states hiked with 30-40 pounds on my back. This hundred mile section brought constant undulations and widely varying terrain. Brutally enthralling with unrelenting miles of tens of thousands of unavoidable rocks, all pointed upwards, their sharp points like … More 300 mile journal – Pennsylvania, The Shoe Destroyer
Every hundred miles, my goal is to journal a summary to share with you all. I’m zeroing at 191 miles today. Close enough. This week, filled with soaking shoes, slippery stones, silly stories, swollen feet, magic moments, and cleansing, guttural laughter has been riddled with rocky ups and downs, both literally and figuratively. Endless wet, ankle-twisting rocks … More 200 mile journal – Trail Lessons
I started my hike a mile south of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia a week ago yesterday. I’ve slept in trail shelters, hiker hostels, in my tiny tent at campsites and even stealth camped out in the woods. I’ve listened to owls and coyotes sing me to sleep in the woods, dealt with gnats unceasingly dive-bombing … More 100 mile journal – First Week Survival!
AppalachianTrailClarity 