I’m a retired teacher. I hiked over 2000 mile of the Appalachian Trail. While I only have 105 miles left, after tearing my rotator cuff scrambling over some slippery rocks in New Hampshire, I felt my once loving relationship with the AT had turned abusive. Still I’m hiker trash for life and plan to walk at least a month a year until it’s a joke. Real life kept me from going back to Colorado for another shot at the Colorado Trail, but this year I’m planning to walk from Atkins, Va to Harpers Ferry
Posts
Katahdin Will Be There Next Year
Katahdin Isn't Going Anywhere As I headed north, it became clear that I wasn't going to make Katahdin before my second grandchild was born. I
The Battle of Hogwarts
The trail has a way of stripping away all your defenses. It leaves you emotionally raw and vulnerable. I've found that literature can hit you on
I Get by with a Little Help from my Friends
Friends When I left Port Clinton on May 5th, I planned to hoof it all the way to Bear Mountain and take a zero with friends who lived nearby. New
Rocksylvania… One Step at a Time
Hamburg, Pennsylvania Rocksylvania is fully living up to its reputation. There are times when I just want to walk and the trail insists I be a bit
Back on the Trail
Back to the Trail... the Hard Way I'm official! Turns out the ATC office in Harpers Ferry is even open on Easter Sunday. It took an almost
Best in Slot: Gear Changes for 2017
Is there an elusive list of best-in-slot backpacking gear? I'm going give you a glimpse into the full extent of my nerdity. I realize those of
Watch Your New Rascals: a Call to Action
My all time favorite water source in the Grayson Highlands. Do we really want drilling companies fracking with our ground water? Looking back at
Are Paper Trail Guides Obsolete?
I want to make a confession, I used to obsessively look at my trusty trailguide all the time. Looking for water, camping spots, shelters...I don't
What Did I Really Get Out of the Trail?
Inevitably, a long-distance hiker must choose between traveling light and not traveling at all Earl Shaffer As NOBOs get to Neals Gap, many go
Springer and I’m Done until Spring
This blog post was without question the hardest to write. This is the first one I've written in a couple of months where I didn't have my imminent