Backpacking the Appalachian Trail With Puma Ghostwalker From Killington Vermont To Linccoln New Hamp
The Adventures of Puma Ghostwalker… Rattlesnakes and Lightning…….Very, Very Frightning…….Me….. Galileo
When I left to hike the Appalachian Trail last May, I had the knowledge of several books on hiking the AT (as it is called) and how to do it. I still arrived at the Gainesville Georgia bus depot with an 85 pound backpack. It had all the things I found necessary to hike “My Hike”, including my laptop, solar panel and 12 days of food.
I remember waiting for car service at my camper with my friend Gary.
He even said its very heavy, when I went to pick it up I thought the shoulder straps were going to rip off, the fabric would stretch and make loud noises. At Gainesville I grabbed a cab and was driven to Amiclola Falls State Park, where I reregistered for my hike. I told the ranger I’m out for three months and was shooting for 1,000 miles, ending my season
at Harpers Ferry West Virginia, about half of the entire Appalachian Trail and the location of the ATC headquarters. It was a great get off point, they have a train station to Washington DC, there it’s a quick jump home to NYC at Penn Station.
Because I was going to be out for three months I decided to get a ride up the forest service road to the start of the trail, avoiding the approach trail of almost 9 miles.
Thank goodness I never would of made it to the top of Springer mountain that day.
When we got to a parking turnout next to the Appalachian Trail, I paid the cabby
and got my pack ready. I read that when you take this rout you have to go south on the AT to begin at the starting point, the problem was there were no signs saying “This Way South”. Not a problem, I took a compass reading and was on my way, after about an hours time I wasn’t seeing any features; my map said I would see. As it turns out in my first moments on trail I was lost, well not completely lost, just going the wrong way.
It was hot and my pack was incredibly heavy, I tried to focus on my footsteps, a wrong step would end my hike before it started with a twisted ankle or a blow-out knee. It was early after noon when I arrived at the top of Springer Mountain, I was exhausted and I was just getting started. My cell phone worked and I took a few photos and sent them out in real time, I’m here at the top of the world mom…..My Journey Begins…..
The top of Springer Mountain was rocky and exposed, so I took my solar panel out and charged my cell phone while I wrote a bit on my laptop, snacking on trail-mix. After an hours time or more I hoisted the pack to my shoulders and was on my way Northbound for 1,000 miles. I was very pleased when I got past all my previous steps and was on new fresh ground. At 2.8 miles I came to Stover Creek Shelter, it was gorgeous and enormous, sleeps 16
according to my trail guide. There were two groups of people out for the weekend,
a mother son and a father son, they seemed to take up the whole picnic table to cook and eat so I set up my cooking off to the side. It didn’t feel like they were interested in sharing the space. Later in my hike I would be more aggressive with people but
at this place in time I wanted to be alone anyway and setup camp far away from the shelter. For the most part I met many wonderfully kind people on my trek but there are always people I wish not to be close to in the world no mater where you are.Such an adventure so far, this is when I started having the same dream over and over
for the next three months, that I would be bitten by a poisonous rattlesnake.
I would be in a storm right before I hit the Smokey’s so bad that it produced
three tornados and killed people, crossed the path of six rattlesnakes, attacked by two rattlesnakes at the same time
and... I was hit by lightning…….my pack is heavy and I don’t have this, Oxen
From Isak Dinesen..(Karen Blixen)
Out of Africa
“God is happy, Msabu. He plays with us.”
Backpacking the Appalachian Trail With Puma Ghostwalker Bennington Vt to Killington Vt
The sounds and smells of nature can hold you in its captivating spell, in enough time you can…. just be part of it…. in body…
and ...…in spirit.
It is in this time… magic can happen
And…. supernatural forces can…
interact with you,
you are one with all things.
You do not fear and it does not fear you, you are one…
The Adventures of Puma Ghostwalker…Hiking the Appalachian Trail…..
An autumnal October twelfth, a full moon supplying the entire local inhabits, a smorgasbord of fresh clams providing they dig them up.
The shallows of an impressive low tide was completely at its lowest point when he approached the beach,
two sea gulls were skirmishing in midair.
The bearer of the prize victorious, retaining the hard dug clam.
Sea gulls with their relatively short legs, (for a bird that would forage at a waters edge) were quite successful uncovering the tasty morsels.
Standing in the shallows the gulls would probe the sandy bottom where the clams lay just beneath the surface; grabbing the calm in its bill the sea gull would take flight.
The burdening cargo clumsily laying in the gull’s mouth, an easy target for an in-flight robbery tests the gull’s tenacious hold. Soaring high, the gull zeros in on a
rock bellow, using the skills of a bombardier, eyeing the target to crack open its precious cargo.
Puma, out for a break from climbing trees finds closeness with nature that few have mastered, some call it, the call of the wild.
Having just stepped off the Appalachian Trail… hiking close to 800 miles, in a three month journey…
Only!!!.. to immediately.. go to climbing trees in New York City where the Puma resides.
This abrupt transition delayed any thoughts and reflection of Pumas recent vision quest.
Puma Ghostwalker left NYC in late May 2011 taking his backpack down to Springer Mountain Georgia, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.
The north bound Puma hiked up past Roanoke Virginia when a hurricane due to hit New York City, pulled him off trail, dedicated to go back home and face the destruction
of falling trees on houses.
Two months later Puma gets a break and grabs his Nikon d 7000 and a 300 mm lens and hits a local state park for the day.
The sea air and sounds bring him back in time and soon he was walking on trail the smells indeed… you never forget the smells and Kitea.
Kitea was a shape-shifter; she came to him at night late in the season when Puma slept alone in the shelters.
With not many hikers on trail
Puma would sleep in the shelters that were built and maintained by the local hiking clubs of that particular location.
She would always come to him
late in the evening.
Appearing as a mountain lion she would approach him,
Puma reaching out and scratching her ears and rubbing her neck
Kitea… instantly transforming to human form and with the same agility… leap in one move laying aside Puma for close human contact, a closeness
she had done with him many times before.
Every morning Kitea would be gone and Puma just thought of it as lucid dreams, a part of his vision quest.
Swiss Miss was a north bound hiker from Switzerland, she met-up with Puma in Virginia and became his companion.
She came to America to hike the Appalachian Trail,
to learn what it feels like to be alone in nature and commune with her Mother Goddess.
Ahead of… or trailing Puma she spent many days in the stillness of the forest,climbing mountain after mountain.
The darkness of the night, deep in the forest, moon and star light struggles to penetrate.
One night camping right at the shore of Jennings creek, a bear came down to the creek for water, the soft sounds of the creek was no match for the heavy breathing and lapping of the water by the bear.
The sounds and smells of nature can hold you in its captivating spell, in enough time you can…. just be part of it…. in body…
and ...…in spirit.
It is in this time… magic can happen
And…. supernatural forces can…
interact with you,
you are one with all things.
You do not fear and it does not fear you, you are one…
After hiking for two weeks with Swiss Miss, Puma was being called back to New York early in preparation for the hurricane that’s about to hit the city.
The final day on trail,Puma discovered a mountain lion kill… reenacting the hunt,
Puma recorded a video for Youtube.
Following the animal from were it ambushed a deer…
then a tumble 5 meters where she made the death bite, …right on the trail…
that caught Puma’s eye then, dragging the creature down the mountain for consumption,
it was at that moment…
Puma thought about Kitea as a real being out there and maybe…….just maybe….
guided kayaking in killington vermont
guided kayaking in killington Vermont on fun and very scenic flat water river trip by Appalachian trail adventures based out of the summit lodge.
river scene on local killington vermont river
river scene on local killington vermont river
river scene while kayaking after hiking the appalachian trail in killington vermont
river scene while kayaking down vermont river in killington after hiking the appalachian trail in killington vermont. appalachian trail adventures
Appalachian Trail, Green Mountains Hiking/Camping in VT (Backcountry).
Exploring the Appalachian Trail in VT. Awesome 3 day adventure of hiking & camping in the backcountry of the Green Mountains National Forest. FREE camping is zzzbest & these spots we placed our tent where PREMO! Did you see those french press coffee scenes?!
Stag's pack weighed: 64 lbs
Shellback's pack wt: 55 lbs
Thank you for sharing in our experience, please LIKE & comment about your adventures! Namaste.
I am the Wellness Hero to enhance life on this planet through conscious, connected actionable content. DNA work is my connection to what is TRUE healing and living a life of abundance. Sharing my WTF Education Series & Divine DNA Education is my life's work. I am honored you have found your self on my channel and while you are here LIKE & SUBSCRIBE to be connected, nameste!
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Explore Vermont
Summertiiiiime and livin's easy!! Hey, all. Sara and Kaitlyn here to take you on a merry adventure through Killingtonland. We check out Bike Bum, go on adventures with Appalachian Trail Adventures, visit Rutland's Winter in August food festival, hang out with the good folks at Vermont Adaptive, all from the peak of Killington. Join us!
Day 126 on The Appalachian Trail, Free Food!, Cookie Lady, Casper, Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Day 126 on the Appalachian Trail
Killington, Canoes, and Dance Moves - Vermont - Appalachian Trail Thru Hike 2015
Video #19- Appalachian Trail Thru Hike
Matt finishes up Vermont and enjoys a little canoe ride along the trail.
Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy the video!
Hike to Killington Peak
Mom & daughter weekend in Vermont
#3 Loner on the Vermont Long Trail 2018 - Towers and YouTubers
Special Guest Joe Fore (AT class of 2012). This video series documents our Long Trail thru-hike from the Massachusetts state line, all the way across Vermont and ends in Canada! 273 miles (plus a 3 mile approach trail). Berrington to Manchester.
Jake Hikes (Hot Sauce) on YouTube:
Craig Means (Hawk) on YouTube:
Appalachian Trail Who's Who on YouTube: Print or eBook:
Kayaking down the local killington, vermont river
Kayaking down the local killington, vermont river
Northeast Ice
From our trip to New Hampshire and New York this past February
Vermont on the Appalachian Trail
The Hiking Adventures of C B Moses in Vermont on the Appalachian Trail. Including Scenery, Hostels and Trail Magic.
HIKING VERMONT IN SNOW: STERLING POND | STERLING POND TRAIL + THE LONG TRAIL (6.4-mile day hike)
Bud (North Star) and Aly (Pug Dog) hiked out with daypacks to complete this 6.4 mile out-and-back trek to Sterling Pond via the Sterling Pond Trail at Smuggler's Notch State Park. Microspikes were needed as the notch section of VT-108, which is now closed for the season due to early snowfall, had to be road walked to access the trailhead. Like the road, the trail also had plentiful amounts of snow and ice to traverse.
The day's weather was cool, but comfortable, with temperatures ranging from 36-degrees F to 41-degrees F. There were storm clouds gathering in the distance, so we hiked with purpose and luckily beat out the rains that eventually fell.
This hike was recorded on November 27, 2019.
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GEAR USED BY NORTH STAR:
- Pa'Lante Simple Pack V2
- Smartwool 250 wt base layer
- Tracksmith Twilight short-sleeved tee shirt base layer
- Patagonia Capilene lightweight leggings
- Mountain Hardwear climbing pants
- Tracksmith Varsity beanie
- REI liner gloves
- ZPacks fleece mittens
- Danner Mountain 600 Insulated boots
- Injinji sock liners
- REI wool liner sock, lightweight
- Patagonia R1 hoody
- Arc'Teryx Zeta SL jacket
- Gobi ND filter
- Sony a6400 w/ 18mm-135mm kit lens
- Manfrotto Pixi mini tripod
- Deity d3 microphone
GEAR USED BY PUG DOG:
- Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 2400
- Smartwool 250 wt base layer
- Patagonia Capilene lightweight leggings
- Mountain Hardwear climbing pants
- Smartwool 150 wt beanie
- Montbell flip top mittens
- Montbell rain mittens
- Danner Mountain 600 Insulated boots
- Injinji sock liners
- REI wool liner sock, lightweight
- Patagonia R1 hoody
- Norrona Trollveggen Gore-Tex Light Pro
- Fujifilm XT30 w/ 16mm-55mm kit lens
#thelongtrail #madonnapeak #sterlingpond
Chaunce’s AT Vlog #45: Stratton - 100 Mile Wilderness
The Appalachian Trail from Stratton to Monson (mile 2002.7 - 2076.4). We go over the Bigelow’s, our last 4K peaks, pass through Caratunk, and roll into Monson as 3 of our group become sick. We canoe on the lake and then head into the 100 Mile Wilderness.
Unlock bonus Instagram stories, Live Q/A’s, postcards from trail, and more: patreon.com/julianachauncey
Stay in touch on Instagram @juliana_chauncey
Stay in touch on Facebook @chauncehikes
Weekend in Vermont (Green Mountains & Hiking Bromley)
Travel with us on our weekend in the Green Mountains through Vermont. Good vibes, good music, and great company. We hang around the house, go for a hike, and do a photoshoot. Thanks for watching, if you like show us by subscribing and liking this video.
Peep the best hiking books I have ever gotten, water proof, durable. The best by Clorts, you can get them here:
Royalty FREE Music:
Hiking Vermont's Five 4000 Foot Mountains
We hiked all of Vermont's five 4000 foot high peaks during a week in March, 2016. We started from the north and worked our way south as we hiked Mansfield, Camel's Hump, Ellen, Abraham and Killington. It was a fantastic week on the trails. Enjoy the video!
An Appalachian Trail Hike in Vermont
My brother Larry is section hiking the Appalachian Trail. I am in the vehicle and hitting all the parking locations north of his hiking agenda and then hiking south to meet him. We spend a night together and then head north.
Once at the vehicle, he resupplies and I take the vehicle north for another cycle of hiking.
This year's section is in Vermont, between VT-9 just east of Bennington, to VT-4 just east of Rutland.
Background music: Tonto.mp3 downloaded free music from YouTube.
Appalachian Trail 2018: Day 124 Salisbury, CT to US 7