Appalachian Trail

[+fishingdude720]

I was wondering if anyone has been on it and has any stories to tell.

 

I was up there in March and we camped at Mohican Hiking Center and hiked South to Racoon Ridge where we ate lunch and then to Sunfish Pond and back to the Hiking Center.

 

I want to do an overnighter on this trail some time but I don't kow yet.

 

Hopefully trek the whoile thing when I get older (I'm only 14)

 

Any stories or interesting Tales?

[vtmtnman]

I've only been on sections to get to some of my little fishin holes near the trail in the Green Mountain National Forest.Would like to do an overnighter on it at some point though.

[Shiraz-mataz]

I recently went on a very short section hike along the AT. A friend and I attempted the 42 mile Maryland portion from Harpers Ferry, Virginia, hiking north toward Pen Mar, Maryland. Being sea-level dwellers we were somewhat unprepared for the thousand foot elevation changes when coupled with all the stuff we carried. From an AT perspective I've read that the Maryland section is rather easy compared to the rest of the trail. If so, phew! My dreams of taking a six-month hike from Georgia to Maine will require a little more training! We ended up hiking around 25 miles, camping out two nights along the way. If you want to read my caching adventures for that trip, check out my Personal AT Travel Bug.

 

If you would like to read forums geared specifically toward the Appalachian Trail, I'd suggest checking out: Whiteblaze.

 

And to read the cool adventures of a lot of the folks currently hiking the AT, check out: Trail Journals.

[ATMouse]

Ooo!! OOOO!!

 

Did it, all the way, every inch, every blaze in 1990.

 

Got eight hours to look at my slides? (No joke..)

[+imajeep]

Ooo!! OOOO!!

 

Did it, all the way, every inch, every blaze in 1990.

 

Got eight hours to look at my slides? (No joke..)

 

 

Congratulatulations! (no kidding) That really is a tremendous accomplishment. I used to hike the TN/NC portions as a kid, and I gotta lotta respect for anybody who's done the whole thing.

[+fishingdude720]

Congrats.

 

I really want to do that

[vtmtnman]

Ooo!! OOOO!!

 

Did it, all the way, every inch, every blaze in 1990.

 

Got eight hours to look at my slides? (No joke..)

Wow...8 hours. At least they'll be intresting slides, not Aunt Matilda I've never met outside of the museum of thimbles.

 

One thing I found intresting is the AT leaves out some of the best scenery in the Appalacian range...The Adirondacks.Is there a trail that goes seperately through them,as the Long Trail does for our Green Mountains?There HAS to be...

[+Y2KOTA]

Ooo!! OOOO!!

 

Did it, all the way, every inch, every blaze in 1990.

 

Got eight hours to look at my slides? (No joke..)

 

Lucky you I did about 30 miles of it when I was in my early teens, Started 30 miles north of the Delaware water Gap and hiked south to the Gap! I loved it. When we got back to Camp Spears (YMCA sleep away camp) they said that the Delaware river is now safe for the canoe trip I originally signed up for. Got the best of both worlds in that 2 weeks.

 

Oh, Yes, I do have 8+ hours to view your slides

[+fishingdude720]

thats where I was. Isn't it nice there?

[CacheNCarryMA]

I just started reading On the Beaten Path: An Appalachian Pilgrimage by Robert Rubin. Although, Bill Bryson's more popular A Walk In the Woods had some entertaining moments, On the Beaten Path seems to better capture the motivation and mood of AT thruhikers.

[vtmtnman]

I just started reading On the Beaten Path: An Appalachian Pilgrimage by Robert Rubin. Although, Bill Bryson's more popular A Walk In the Woods had some entertaining moments, On the Beaten Path seems to better capture the motivation and mood of AT thruhikers.

I read that 'A walk in the woods' book.It was great until he compared NH to VT. I don't know what VT HE was in.

Edited June 28, 2007 by vtmtnman

[NoSoup4U]

A few years ago I ran across a news article online about a "travel bug" on the AT. It wasn't a true travel bug as at he we know it. The person couldn't complete the AT so he created a hiking stick and left it on the trail. He burned instructions on it asking hikers to help it complete the entire AT. It eventually completed the journey and was returned to him. He wanted it to get honorary status of completing the entire AT. I have been looking for the article, but can't find it. If anyone can find it, please let me know. Thanks!

[+mtn-man]

I told this one the other day...

 

We hiked in TN/NC from Newfound Gap down the boulevard trail to Mt. LeConte way back when. We are outside the shelter hanging out and chatting with fellow hikers as it gets dark. One guy commented that he had not seen a bear while out there. I pointed just behind the shelter to the back corner of it and said, "There is one right there." He freaked out and walked quickly back to the shelter, went inside and closed the gate (back then they had gates, now they do not). It was priceless. The rest of us continued chatting.

[ATMouse]

I just started reading On the Beaten Path: An Appalachian Pilgrimage by Robert Rubin. Although, Bill Bryson's more popular A Walk In the Woods had some entertaining moments, On the Beaten Path seems to better capture the motivation and mood of AT thruhikers.

I read that 'A walk in the woods' book.It was great until he compared NH to VT. I don't know what VT HE was in.

 

He made me laugh with some of his writing, but as a hiker, alot of what he said he and his partner did - like throw things out of backpacks and other irresponsible behavior...I want nothing to do with him if I meet him on the trail - any trail. And I can only hope other people who read his book don't copy him. Long-distance trail hiking is not a REQUIRED activity. You are a guest on any trail or backcountry area you travel on or go to. You need to respect yourself, your environment and the animals who live out there.

 

<steam>

 

I'm gonna be ranting in a second...sorry.

[CacheNCarryMA]

I just started reading On the Beaten Path: An Appalachian Pilgrimage by Robert Rubin. Although, Bill Bryson's more popular A Walk In the Woods had some entertaining moments, On the Beaten Path seems to better capture the motivation and mood of AT thruhikers.

 

I'm just about done with this book (Rubin is at the base of Katadhin right now). If anyone wants the book for free, PM me with your mailing address and I'll try to send it out to you this weekend. First person to PM me gets it. I only ask that you pass it on to someone else when you're done with it.

 

It's a good read.

Edited July 3, 2007 by CacheNCarryMA

[CacheNCarryMA]

I just started reading On the Beaten Path: An Appalachian Pilgrimage by Robert Rubin. Although, Bill Bryson's more popular A Walk In the Woods had some entertaining moments, On the Beaten Path seems to better capture the motivation and mood of AT thruhikers.

 

I'm just about done with this book (Rubin is at the base of Katadhin right now). If anyone wants the book for free, PM me with your mailing address and I'll try to send it out to you this weekend. First person to PM me gets it. I only ask that you pass it on to someone else when you're done with it.

 

It's a good read.

 

The book will be sent to monkeybrad!

[+Monkeybrad]

I finished it a couple of days after it arrived and now so has my wife, so it is ready to move on. Just send me a message with your name and address and I will send it out. It was a nice read, and gave a much better description of true life on the trail than any of the others I have read.

 

Thanks to CacheandCarryMA for passing this one on to me, I look forward to keeping it going.

[+oldnavy59]

PM sent I would love to read it

[+niffir]

My uncle decided when he turned 50 to make a list of things he wanted to do in life. One of them was hike the A.T. So he set out training for it, and then when he was able to take some vacation time he hiked parts of it. My cousin went with him one time, and they ended up running into some guy armed with a knife who freaked them out. So they had to hike out and report it to the cops. It turned out the guy had kidnapped his girlfriend or something like that. Or that's how I remember the story I don't know if my uncle is still working on hiking the trail or if that was enough for him.

[+Monkeybrad]

I am passing the book on to OldNavy59. Thanks again to CacheNCarryMA for starting this cool pay-it-forward kind of movement on the book.

Edited August 14, 2007 by Monkeybrad

[+Haffy]

I was wondering if anyone has been on it and has any stories to tell.

 

I was up there in March and we camped at Mohican Hiking Center and hiked South to Racoon Ridge where we ate lunch and then to Sunfish Pond and back to the Hiking Center.

 

I want to do an overnighter on this trail some time but I don't kow yet.

 

Hopefully trek the whoile thing when I get older (I'm only 14)

 

Any stories or interesting Tales?

 

Here's a link to an all AT forum..............http://www.whiteblaze.net/

Edited August 14, 2007 by haffy

[+oldnavy59]

I just started reading On the Beaten Path: An Appalachian Pilgrimage by Robert Rubin. Although, Bill Bryson's more popular A Walk In the Woods had some entertaining moments, On the Beaten Path seems to better capture the motivation and mood of AT thruhikers.

 

I'm just about done with this book (Rubin is at the base of Katadhin right now). If anyone wants the book for free, PM me with your mailing address and I'll try to send it out to you this weekend. First person to PM me gets it. I only ask that you pass it on to someone else when you're done with it.

 

It's a good read.

 

I am passing the book on to OldNavy59. Thanks again to CacheNCarryMA for starting this cool pay-it-forward kind of movement on the book.

I just finished it and Im ready to send it out to the next person who wants to read it. Not a bad book but was more about the author and his reasons for hiking the AT, all in all not a bad read

[+elmuyloco5]

There was a really cool series on PBS (yeah I know...PBS) about a husband and wife and their two kids who hiked the whole trail. The kids were around 8 and 13, I believe. And I believe the youngest kid to hike the trail is 6 or 7. Anyway, great series. My hubby and I have dreamed of doing the trail with our three kids. Although, I have to say, the Alpine Trail is our first choice

[+Klatch]

He made me laugh with some of his writing, but as a hiker, alot of what he said he and his partner did - like throw things out of backpacks and other irresponsible behavior...I want nothing to do with him if I meet him on the trail - any trail. And I can only hope other people who read his book don't copy him. Long-distance trail hiking is not a REQUIRED activity. You are a guest on any trail or backcountry area you travel on or go to. You need to respect yourself, your environment and the animals who live out there.

 

<steam>

 

I'm gonna be ranting in a second...sorry.

That very well sums up my feelings about that book. I have done many weekend trips on the AT in PA and have developed a tremendous respect, almost reverence, for the trail.

[Shiraz-mataz]

I just finished reading "Walking With Spring" by Earl V. Shaffer, the first person to thru-hike the AT back in the late 1940's. It was cool to read his account of that hike so many years ago. Not any whining about heavy pack weights or poor arch support! He just got r' done when everyone around him said it was impossible. As far as writing goes, it doesn't have all the wit found in "A Walk in the Woods" but Shaffer deserves a read nonetheless simply because he was first.

 

On a much less grand scale, I'm going to finish my section hike of Maryland over the Columbus Day weekend. This time I'm starting at Pen Mar and heading south to Greenbrier State Park. Several caches to hit along the way!

[CacheNCarryMA]

Send a PM or email to OldNavy59 and have him send you the "On the Beaten Path" book.

[+edscott]

Ooo!! OOOO!!

 

Did it, all the way, every inch, every blaze in 1990.

 

Got eight hours to look at my slides? (No joke..)

Wow...8 hours. At least they'll be intresting slides, not Aunt Matilda I've never met outside of the museum of thimbles.

 

One thing I found intresting is the AT leaves out some of the best scenery in the Appalacian range...The Adirondacks.Is there a trail that goes seperately through them,as the Long Trail does for our Green Mountains?There HAS to be...

 

Loads of them... the Northville- Placid trail is the "flat" route at 132 miles, but if you want to climb a bit take some detours to the East and do some of the higher mountains. The N-P doesn't connect to the AT, so it is a separate trip. Perhaps the AT doesn't go through the Adirondacks because the Adirondacks are not part of the Appalachian mountains. They were formed before the Appalachians and by a totally different method.

[ATMouse]

I just started reading On the Beaten Path: An Appalachian Pilgrimage by Robert Rubin. Although, Bill Bryson's more popular A Walk In the Woods had some entertaining moments, On the Beaten Path seems to better capture the motivation and mood of AT thruhikers.

 

I'm just about done with this book (Rubin is at the base of Katadhin right now). If anyone wants the book for free, PM me with your mailing address and I'll try to send it out to you this weekend. First person to PM me gets it. I only ask that you pass it on to someone else when you're done with it.

 

It's a good read.

 

I am passing the book on to OldNavy59. Thanks again to CacheNCarryMA for starting this cool pay-it-forward kind of movement on the book.

I just finished it and Im ready to send it out to the next person who wants to read it. Not a bad book but was more about the author and his reasons for hiking the AT, all in all not a bad read

 

I got this outof the library and Iagree...it's nearly TMI about the author, but he captures a great deal of the AT very well...'course, I'm only up to Damascus, VA. Never stayed there - we ended up getting a ride to Abingdon, VA. Damacus was full to the brim and we wanted a motel to sleep in.

[CacheNCarryMA]

OldNavy59,

 

Do you currently have "On the Beaten Path"?

[CacheNCarryMA]

I just started reading On the Beaten Path: An Appalachian Pilgrimage by Robert Rubin. Although, Bill Bryson's more popular A Walk In the Woods had some entertaining moments, On the Beaten Path seems to better capture the motivation and mood of AT thruhikers.

 

I'm just about done with this book (Rubin is at the base of Katadhin right now). If anyone wants the book for free, PM me with your mailing address and I'll try to send it out to you this weekend. First person to PM me gets it. I only ask that you pass it on to someone else when you're done with it.

 

It's a good read.

 

I am passing the book on to OldNavy59. Thanks again to CacheNCarryMA for starting this cool pay-it-forward kind of movement on the book.

I just finished it and Im ready to send it out to the next person who wants to read it. Not a bad book but was more about the author and his reasons for hiking the AT, all in all not a bad read

 

I got this outof the library and Iagree...it's nearly TMI about the author, but he captures a great deal of the AT very well...'course, I'm only up to Damascus, VA. Never stayed there - we ended up getting a ride to Abingdon, VA. Damacus was full to the brim and we wanted a motel to sleep in.

 

Agreed. It's mainly a memoir. The author is a burned out, middle aged book editor. He explores the reasons why people hike the AT. His descriptions of the terrain and the day to day trials are good. It's not meant to be a trail guide. It gives you a good idea of the mood of the trail.

[The Great Mizuti]

I spent two days on the AT for a school trip. Started at Gathland, MD, and ended, um...25 miles north, at the Powall Shelter. Great fun. It was just a small part of a larger, Civil War-geared trip. I'm currently in the process of writing it all up. Keeps getting longer...

[+oldnavy59]

OldNavy59,

 

Do you currently have "On the Beaten Path"?

 

Yep I still have waiting to send it out to the next lucky reader. trying to find something thats a little more about the day to day hiking part

[ATMouse]

OldNavy59,

 

Do you currently have "On the Beaten Path"?

 

Yep I still have waiting to send it out to the next lucky reader. trying to find something thats a little more about the day to day hiking part

 

The ATC Trail Store has lots of books: ATC Trail Store

 

I liked Ed Garvey's book and the Myrons' book..I have a collection of AT books, including the Rodale two volume set. That's a nice collection of folks' hikes in the early years.

 

And I finished On the Beaten Path and it was vivid enough that I dreamed of the AT for a couple of nights. Funny, he calls Rusty's Good Time Holler "Never Never Land" and Rusty "The Philospher King".

Edited September 17, 2007 by ATMouse

[ki0eh]

Ooo!! OOOO!!

 

Did it, all the way, every inch, every blaze in 1990.

 

Got eight hours to look at my slides? (No joke..)

Wow...8 hours. At least they'll be intresting slides, not Aunt Matilda I've never met outside of the museum of thimbles.

 

One thing I found intresting is the AT leaves out some of the best scenery in the Appalacian range...The Adirondacks.Is there a trail that goes seperately through them,as the Long Trail does for our Green Mountains?There HAS to be...

 

Just found this thread... A classic long trail in the Adirondacks is the Northville-Placid Trail, try here to get started: http://www.adk-schenectady.org/northville-placid_trail.html

There are a number of other long trails in the Northeast. Here is a link that talks about some of them:

http://www.outdoors.org/publications/outdo.../longtrails.cfm

[ATMouse]

Other GREAT trails:

 

Quehanna Trail

 

The Black Forest Trail

 

The Susquehanna Trail System

 

All of these are in Northwestern Pennsylvannia...and the whole area is dotted with more trails as well. It's just a backpacker's paradise.

[+1NatureMom]

OldNavy59,

 

Do you currently have "On the Beaten Path"?

 

Yep I still have waiting to send it out to the next lucky reader. trying to find something thats a little more about the day to day hiking part

 

!!! Send it to me please!!! I'll send you a private email. This past Labor Day was the very first time I ever step foot onto the white blazes, and now I've got that ole White Blaze fever!!

[cliff_hanger]

 

!!! Send it to me please!!! I'll send you a private email. This past Labor Day was the very first time I ever step foot onto the white blazes, and now I've got that ole White Blaze fever!!

 

Saaaaaaaaaaaay.......those tootsies look familiar

[+oldnavy59]

OldNavy59,

 

Do you currently have "On the Beaten Path"?

 

Yep I still have waiting to send it out to the next lucky reader. trying to find something thats a little more about the day to day hiking part

 

!!! Send it to me please!!! I'll send you a private email. This past Labor Day was the very first time I ever step foot onto the white blazes, and now I've got that ole White Blaze fever!!

got your email and Ill get it in the mail to you, I hope you enjoy

[+1NatureMom]

Hey Cliffy!!

 

CliffHanger is an awesome guy! He was one of my hiking buddies on that AT hike! He's Mr.RockClimber & Backpacker! He's got some Awesome pix & stories of his hikes!

 

Tell us how that alchol stove/pepsi can is coming along? I'm still day dreaming about that 3day- backpacking trip thru Harriman State Park, NY along the AT & Long path. I think you should plan it all out, and I'd come Spring? Sounds good to me, I'll ask Santa for all backpacking gear! Sierra Trading Post here I come!

 

Cliffy, do you want this book when I'm done?

[cliff_hanger]

Hey Cliffy!!

 

CliffHanger is an awesome guy! He was one of my hiking buddies on that AT hike! He's Mr.RockClimber & Backpacker! He's got some Awesome pix & stories of his hikes!

 

Aw.....shucks <embarrassed look.wav>

I'll have to point you to my Grand Canyon/Bryce/Zion pix......

 

Tell us how that alchol stove/pepsi can is coming along? I'm still day dreaming about that 3day- backpacking trip thru Harriman State Park, NY along the AT & Long path. I think you should plan it all out, and I'd come Spring? Sounds good to me, I'll ask Santa for all backpacking gear! Sierra Trading Post here I come!

 

I got a bit sidetracked on the sodacan stove (running a climbing/rappelling course). I've made several stoves so far. See the Backpacking Stove topic in this forum. The one I like best so far is the "Penny Stove". And I was able to get a couple of small pots to try - like the 3-cup one from Antigravity. Much, much lighter system than my old Sigg cookset and MSR GK-X. Most of my backpacking was done in winter so I always took the MSR stove.

 

I'm still looking at that AT/Long Path loop for spring. I was up in Harriman two weeks ago with Ms. Cliff_hanger and hiked the start of the loop by the Elk Pen and around Island Pond. I wrote about it in the CCC forums.

Cliffy, do you want this book when I'm done?

And, just to keep this on topic so the topic police don't get me, YES! I'd love to read it when you're done. Take your time though. Maybe I can pick it up at one of the CT events. Or.....you live in the next town over, I'm sure we could work something out.

Edited October 1, 2007 by cliff_hanger

[+1NatureMom]

You got it Cliffy! When I'm done with the book, I'll give it to you & post the story of it in CCC forum.

[piratejimmy]

I love reading AT books. Can I get on the list for a future read? No hurry here. And I will send along when I'm through.

 

I grew up across the river from Harriman in Cold Spring NY. But I had to move to Georgia before I ever stepped foot on it. I've done a few sections and I would like to do the entire 75 miles in state. I here they are some of the toughest!

 

Anyone down in the Gainesville, GA area. Fall is here. It's the perfect time.

Edited October 4, 2007 by piratejimmy

[CacheNCarryMA]

I love reading AT books. Can I get on the list for a future read? No hurry here. And I will send along when I'm through.

 

I grew up across the river from Harriman in Cold Spring NY. But I had to move to Georgia before I ever stepped foot on it. I've done a few sections and I would like to do the entire 75 miles in state. I here they are some of the toughest!

 

Anyone down in the Gainesville, GA area. Fall is here. It's the perfect time.

 

The only time I've set foot on the AT was a very short hike and overnight at Anthony's Nose in Cold Spring.

[piratejimmy]

Having grown up there I don't know many of the "proper" names to places in the area. But I do recall that name. I think I have a book! Someday I will get back there and really have a good look around. Funny, how after years you want to go home again and see all there is to see. Missed the foundry the town was founded on - now a park I understand. But I do like the cannon down at the river, much better than the water fountain they had planned.

[+1NatureMom]

WooHoo! I just received it in the mail yesterday! Can't wait to dig in & dream on!

 

I will post in this thread when I am done to see if Cliffy wants it next or PirateJimmy okedokie?

 

Happy Hiking!

[ATMouse]

I love reading AT books. Can I get on the list for a future read? No hurry here. And I will send along when I'm through.

 

I grew up across the river from Harriman in Cold Spring NY. But I had to move to Georgia before I ever stepped foot on it. I've done a few sections and I would like to do the entire 75 miles in state. I here they are some of the toughest!

 

Anyone down in the Gainesville, GA area. Fall is here. It's the perfect time.

 

The only time I've set foot on the AT was a very short hike and overnight at Anthony's Nose in Cold Spring.

 

You know what they say about the ascent at Anthony's Nose?

 

 

You pick your way up.

[+oldnavy59]

WooHoo! I just received it in the mail yesterday! Can't wait to dig in & dream on!

 

I will post in this thread when I am done to see if Cliffy wants it next or PirateJimmy okedokie?

 

Happy Hiking!

 

Im going to guess you got the book LOL

Hope you enjoy

[piratejimmy]

Oh, Oh, Oh, me.

 

Just kidding, though I just want to make sure it finds it;s way to me at some point. I can always dream. And reading about it is about as far as I've gotten.

[ATMouse]

 

Mt Washington this past weekend at the junction of the AT.

 

 

I'm wearing the same boots I wore 17 years ago!

[+fishingdude720]

Cool stories, I came back to read them all and the topic was in the first 10! Thanks!

 

I am hoping that I can go out this spring.