This post originally appeared on The Trek. Mt. Success, NH to Mt. Katahdin, ME Distance: 283.7 mi Total Distance: 2,192 mi I reached the peak of White Cap Mountain on a clear, sunny morning. After taking a moment to admire the view, I proceeded down the trail and around a bend. That’s when I saw …
Adventures
This post originally appeared on The Trek. Mt. Greylock, MA, to Mt. Success, NH Distance: 320.2 mi Total Distance: 1,908.3 mi I can’t remember the last time I uttered the word “mountain.” At some point during my hike, every incline—no matter what the elevation—became just a hill. Hills sound manageable. Anyone can stroll up a …
This article originally appeared on The Trek. Delaware Water Gap, PA, to Mount Greylock, MA Distance: 292.7 mi Total Distance: 1,588.1 mi When I am off the trail and in a public space, I often forget that there are people who don’t recognize that I am an aspiring thru-hiker. Some people don’t even know that …
This article originally appeared on The Trek. Harpers Ferry, WV, to Delaware Water Gap, PA Distance: 270.1 mi Total Distance: 1,295.4 mi Because of its jagged boulders, dry springs, and ornery rattlesnakes, Pennsylvania doesn’t rank very high on a thru-hiker’s list of favorite places. In fact, for most people it seems to rank rock bottom …
This article originally appeared on The Trek. Bluff Mountain, VA, to Harpers Ferry, WV Distance: 229.7 miles Total Distance: 1,025.3 miles After some great hiking over The Priest and Three Ridges, I took a day off at Devils Backbone Brewing to meet up with some good friends from back home. They brought me food, drinks, …
This article originally appeared on The Trek. Bland, VA, to Bluff Mountain, VA Distance: 203.9 mi Total Distance: 795.6 mi One quarter of the Appalachian Trail runs through the state of Virginia. People often find hiking those 554 miles to become tedious, boring, or downright depressing. It’s something known as the Virginia Blues. My experience …
This article originally appeared on The Trek. Roan Mountain, TN, to Bland, VA Distance: 196.5 miles Total distance: 591.7 miles I stared at the small section of flooded trail that bordered the shore of Watauga Lake. My heart sank. My shoes had just dried out a few minutes before I encountered this surprising little situation. Determined …
This article originally appeared on The Trek. Davenport Gap, TN, to Roan Mountain, TN Distance: 156.3 miles Total Distance: 395.2 miles The old man trudged into camp just before sunset. He was accompanied by a rotund pug and a chihuahua that looked to be about the age of 90, in human years. Our conversation went …
This article originally appeared on The Trek. Albert Mountain, NC, to Davenport Gap, TN Distance: 138.9 miles Total distance: 238.9 miles We had just settled into our sleeping bags for the night when a piercing howl shattered the silence of the shelter. The cry was answered by several nearby yips and cackles. “Are those coyotes?” …