Appalachian Trail Loner #122 100 MILE WILDERNESS 2012 Thru Hike
Please click “Show More” to read an excerpt from my new book ‘Painted Blazes’ Hiking the Appalachian trail with Loner. Available on Amazon…
I hope it entertains, educates, and encourages people to hike! Please enjoy, like, sub, share, and spread the word!
Begin excerpt:
Not enough shuttle money left to get back to Rangeley, I restarted from Caratunk and did that section all over again, retraced my steps going north. There was also a new deadline - finish in time to visit my grandparents before they left Maine in a couple of weeks.
Along the way, Firefighter John saw me and said, “Loner? Man, when you got out of the Smokies, you were just gone!” Last time we saw each other was at Standing Bear, way back in Tennessee. His large group had now dwindled down to only a handful.
Show & Tell! Taking a drink of water during the night, I lost my cap in the dark and placed the bottle on the ground, standing up. Next morning, picking it up for a sip, I saw something grey floating in my bottle! It had been about half full of crystal light, and a mouse had climbed in after it and drowned. Poor little guy.
115 miles to go…The final section felt like the last days of school. Soon, I would no longer wake up in the woods or breathe crisp New England air. Some friends had already summited and returned home. Back into Monson, the path led over a foggy rock face where a photographer had his camera set up on a tripod with a giant lens wrapped in clear plastic. With a poncho tight over my head, I didn’t stop to chat, but would have loved to seen that photo.
My last mail magic of the trip was from fellow YouTube friends, Sassafras & Kaboose. For inspiration, they even sent a photo of them both on top of Mount Katahdin. I carried it the rest of the way and still have it. Filling my pack, bowl and pockets with food, I hoped it would be enough. Entering the 100-mile wilderness, a threatening sign warned…
“CAUTION, there are no places to obtain supplies or get help until Abol Bridge, 100 miles north. Do not attempt this section unless you have a minimum of 10 days supplies and are fully equipped. This is the longest wilderness section on the entire A.T. and its difficulty should not be underestimated. Good hiking! MATC.” End excerpt.
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Appalachian Trail Loner #125 BAXTER STATE PARK 2012 Thru Hike
Please click “Show More” to read an excerpt from my new book ‘Painted Blazes’ Hiking the Appalachian trail with Loner. Available on Amazon…
I hope it entertains, educates, and encourages people to hike! Please enjoy, like, sub, share, and spread the word!
Begin excerpt:
15 miles to go…Headlights piercing the fog like laser beams, the first logging truck of the morning woke me up. I had a frenzied 20 miles ahead (10 to the base of the mountain, 5 up, and 5 down - the 5 down don’t count.) Crossing Abol Bridge again, I found it to be slippery with frost.
Upon entering Baxter State Park (BSP), all thru-hikers (defined here as walking 100 miles or more) must register at a triangle-shaped kiosk to reserve a spot for Birches Campground: two 4-person lean-tos and 4 tent spaces/$10 cash/1 night only. Most hikers stage there for their ascent the next morning. If all spots are filled (as they were today), you’re asked to retreat and wait until another time.
Posted weather forecast for today: clear and cold; tomorrow, 90% chance of rain. It’s not safe to climb Katahdin in the rain and I didn’t have food or money enough to wait around. Today was the day.
I spotted a deer, the first in several states, its coat a dark brown. I wasn’t running today, but still walking double time. White birch trees brought back memories, as I remembered tearing off thin sheets of bark I called “Indian paper,” as a kid. Rationing my food carefully, I had breakfast at Big Niagara Falls and watched a man trout fishing. It was bitterly cold, and I was wearing all my raingear to help me keep warm. My excitement grew with every step. One more mountain to go! I didn’t see any other hikers.
FUN FACT: In 2011, Christie’s auction sold Frederic Edwin Church’s oil on canvas, a Hudson River School style landscape of Katahdin, titled “Twilight,” for $3,218,500! End excerpt.
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FACEBOOK:
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EMAIL: Loner@ShadowArcherPress.com/.
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Jeffrey Gray c/o Shadow Archer Press, 110 Johnson Street, Suite #1060, Pickens, SC 29671 U.S.A.
Keep checking back to the Loner channel for new videos featuring extra bonus Lost Footage from my thru-hike series - never seen before!
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Appalachian Trail Loner #116 ANDOVER 2012 Thru Hike
116 ANDOVER
Five month anniversary! (0:06) A look back at the mountains surrounding Mahoosuc Notch. (0:08) 'Squatch' pulled up into the parking lot, he had been in the hospital with bronchitis, but still hiking and filming his documentary. *Click 'SHOW MORE' below for more notes about this video...
(0:10) 'Clock tower & Violet' were friendly section hikers. You'll see them again navigating a rickety ladder.
A former thru hiker named 'Finch', a bird watcher / trail angle leaving sodas and granola bars. He offered to drive me to the store, almost 10 miles away.
(0:13) Bear River Trading Post was an old gas station with a gravel driveway, moose horns over the door, and a split log bench out front. There were signs taped to gas pumps reading 'NO GAS'. I grabbed Fruit Loops, chips, candy, crackers, a honey bun, and a Grandma's Cookie!
(0:37) Back on trial, lots of stone steps, metal rebar, and wood ladders ascended us back to the tops of mountains.
(0:43) Look very close near the center of this rock face, those little colored dots are hikers on the AT!
At a shelter, there was a slim hiker named 'Bob'. He was in his early 60s and wore knee braces like you buy at CVS. I left the Grandma's cookie for him to find and he thanked me the next day and even sent a card for Christmas, after the trail. It's amazing what a simple cookie can do to lift someone's spirits.
(1:26) I made my camp near this waterfall without my hammock. I built a nest on top of pine needles, hanging my tarp lower than normal to keep out the wind. I laid down the plastic ponchos, with my sleeping bags on top, trying to make the ground as soft as possible. I REALLY missed my hammock, but slept OK.
(2:06) This happy hiker was one of the first to start from Springer in 2012, and was still beaming after he summited Katahdin. He was just doing more hiking because he was not ready to go home yet!
This road leads to Andover. The AWOL mentioned it's a tuff hitch and they were right! I was against a tight deadline (like always) to make it to town before the post office closed at 12 noon. Otherwise I would have to wait here till Monday!
So Bob and I started the long walk to town. We put our thumbs out when a car raced past, with no luck. We even had to get water at a roadside spring where I tried my best to yogi a ride with some locals filling up dozens of gallon jugs asking, Is town much further? But they were going the other way. I bet we road walked 6 miles and I'm not kidding! Finally a pickup truck picked us up, he said, Hold on tight! It was an exciting ride.
(2:22) Andover General Store. This is very small town with a population of only 821, but a necessary stop for thru hikers. (
It's also the former home of Andover Earth Station. It was an Epcot Center looking dome, built in 1961 and one of the very first places on earth to transmit info with satellites in space. (
(2:24) 4x4 ATVs seem to be very popular here.
(2:27) Miss Janet was in town with Baltimore Jack as co-pilot. Somehow all those hikers climbed out of that little van like circus performers squeezed into a tiny clown car. Note the packs and tiki lamps strapped to the ladder outside.
(2:30) The post office was a converted house, with the office on one side, and the Post Masters dwelling, on the other. There were two 'mail magic' boxes waiting here, calling my name.
(2:32) Bob's box was originally sent to another town, that for some reason, I never visited. Guess it was forgotten and was surprised to find it forwarded here. Unboxing (
(2:35) The other box was from Fixer and he even sent some cash to get a hamburger! His box... (
(2:44) This cross country skier found a way to train, even without any snow!
(2:53) The library was an unusual octagon shaped building, but very dark inside. A librarian INSISTED I bring my backpack into the foyer. She was just being nice and I did as she asked.
Jeanine had bought her plane ticket and we made a list of things she would need. It was exciting counting down the days. She was also talking to my Mom on the phone and they supported each other.
Later, a crabby old lady walked in and began complaining loudly about my smelly pack. She ranted that all hikers were smelly and inconsiderate, till I grabbed my gear and left.
(2:57) Pine Ellis Hostel is a large house and everyone there encouraged me to stay because of pending storms. But I just waited till the shuttle woman could drive me back to the trail for $10, a real bargain! (A campground in available too.)
(3:29) Daylight was getting noticeably shorter and I set up camp late with the tarp in full 'storm mode'. I also placed several small logs inside, one to sit on during the lightning and the others to sleep on it I had to stay off the ground. It rained hard, with lots of flashes, but...I lived.
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Appalachian Trail Loner #126 MNT KATAHADIN 2012 Thru Hike
Please click “Show More” to read an excerpt from my new book ‘Painted Blazes’ Hiking the Appalachian trail with Loner. Available on Amazon…
I hope it entertains, educates, and encourages people to hike! Please enjoy, like, sub, share, and spread the word!
Begin excerpt:
The first reported summit of mile-high Mount Katahdin was in 1804. Dangerous, over 60 lives have been lost in the BSP since records have been kept. Common causes of death: exposure, heart attack, lightning, drowning, falls, etc. More bizarre reasons: avalanche, plane crashes, dog sled accidents, a woman shot - mistaken for a bear, draft dodgers shot by authorities (and vice/versa).
5.2 miles to go…Arriving at Katahdin Stream Campground, I found a small bridge that led to the Birches and a primitive ranger station. To be honest, for the most important place on the entire AT, I thought it would be nicer; there wasn’t even a vending machine! Inside, a ranger wearing a hunter orange toboggan welcomed me, but rummaged around his messy desk as if he’d never had a thru-hiker in his office before. After a few moments, he handed me a green leaflet of rules (dated 2 years old) and issued me a hiker permit. I was officially thru-hiker #583 for the season. At noon, rangers can enforce a 10:00 a.m. cutoff time, but he didn’t say anything. P.S. - BSB doesn’t accept mail drops and no dogs allowed.
Many hikers borrow supplied “loaner” packs to carry just the essentials and make climbing easier, but purists carry their full packs all the way to the top. My pack was already lighter than the daypacks. We were also told hiking poles wouldn’t be useful. Five miles to the top, I had half a guidebook page, $3 in change, one Snickers bar, a pack of oatmeal, my beard was blazing and it was time to climb Katahdin!
3.9 miles to go...Katahdin Stream Falls was beautiful, but a strange place for the last privy on the AT. Boulder jumbles and rock climbing begin soon after, but these were just a teaser. Katahdin was the most technically difficult section of the whole trail, by a long shot. Climbing got increasingly challenging and white blazes could be hard to follow, but when in doubt - the AT always go up! Don’t let all this scare you - plenty of senior citizens, and even little kids, were scurrying up and down the rocks. The only good thing about getting a late start was meeting friends on their way down, each smiling ear-to-ear, having just completed months of effort.
30 feet to go…Everyone else had descended the mountain, either by way of the AT or the even more rigorous Knife’s Edge Trail. Alone, I walked slowly toward the battered brown sign. I was flooded with emotions as I ran my fingers over the rough, carved letters on its surface. It was physically warm to the touch, and I tried hard to keep my composure, but my knees started to shake. With no one else here, I took my traditional summit pictures with the sign - selfie style. I made a video, my voice cracking, as I thanked everyone I could think of including my Babchie, Mom and my sister, mail angels and viewers for their support. Then I put the camera away. Sitting down, I enjoyed the last Snickers bar I had been saving, even sharing some nuts with a high attitude chipmunk, guardian of the mountain.
Friday, September 28th. After 5.5 months striving to reach this exact spot, I only spent 15 minutes here. Some hikers spend hours and hours, but darkness was coming, and grey, spooky clouds blew-in over the mountaintop. I took in one last view from the tallest peak in Maine - 5,270’ - with stellar views in every direction, then turned around and started back. Ten minutes later, the summit was completely obscured by thick fog. End excerpt.
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Appalachian Trail Loner #117 RANGELEY 2012 Thru Hike
It was beginning to sink in that the end of my hike was getting closer with every single step and I was sad that I would not get to live in the woods much longer. But the excitement of my girlfriend arriving soon kept me moving. *Click 'SHOW MORE' below for more notes about this video...
(0:06) Hikers used these steeping stones to cross this stream.
(0:11) Wow, Maine sure has a lot of steps, but that's better than the usual rocks and roots we dealt with otherwise.
(0:20) A huge windmill farm on top of a nearby mountain.
(0:31) This road of stones was actually a dried up creek, one of several we would cross.
(0:34) There was an amazing lake view from the trailhead at Maine Hwy 17. I made camp nearby using huge, three feet long fern leafs as soft ground insulation. To save weight and bulk, I never carried a thermarest or sleeping pad. They are not necessary with a hammock but would have come in handy now, or on these rare nights I slept on the ground or in a shelter.
Fall was here and the temps were dropping. Nights were chilly and mornings were even cooler. I was getting late starts, waiting for it to warm up. It had also been very drizzly, so I did not take much video or pics. Furthermore, the trail itself had been getting harder, with lots of ups and downs.
(2:03) Sabbath Day Pond Shelter was big, but messy. I checked out the logbook with several entries about a large moose who came tromping thru the camping area the night before, as A brave, little chipmunk got very close, waiting for a snack. Also abandoned here was a worn copy of the John Grissom novel, The Firm and a blue and white Lego Helicopter complete with mini figure pilot, probably a McDonald's Happy Meal prize.
(2:17) I was taken by the beauty of this New England pond with a backdrop of mountains. The peaceful waves reminded me of how much I missed kayaking, almost a daily activity back home.
(2:53) This camp was right on the shore of another pond, and I could smell camp fire smoke, a mile before I got there.
(2:55) There were three old canoes here for anyone to use, but only one was useable and there was only one paddle and only one life vest. One canoe had a leak, the other a hole the size of a basketball from being battered against the rocks. The ride looked fun, but again, I had somewhere to be.
(3:00) This South bounder had macgyvered a fishing pole out of a tree branch, using some line and hooks he packed in. He and a buddy would just troll slowly around the lake that he said was, loaded with brook trout. They were about 14 to 16 inches long.
(3:32) A note written on an old guidebook page for George. We are headed to Rangeley, call us for a ride into town (13 miles) from ME 4. Signed, 'Boomer', 'Yukon', 'Squatch', and 'Hobo'.
(3:37) A countdown to town was spray painted on rocks....3 miles...2miles...1mile....
(3:42) I made camp right on another of these stunning ponds. It was hard to sleep the last day before Jeanine arrived. I woke up to an amazing sunrise, with the suns reflection in the calm water. It was a magical sight and Jeanine was already on an airplane, headed my way.
(3:49) A note gave directions to a small parking area down the road a bit, with more room for cars to pull over. (A sign within sight of the road, points to a hippy style hostel).
I got a ride within 30 seconds and did not even have my thumb out! The nice lady was even going to the same place as I, the laundry!
(3:53) The 'Village Scrub board' is owned by a former thru hiker and there are cool pics and signs on the walls, along with soda and snack vending machines! There is also a 'loner' box with shorts and shirts for hikers to wear in town while we wash all our clothes.
I went to the post office and picked up a food drop from Mom. I had asked her to send my old hammock from home. She innocently wrote in the letter. Oh no! I saw you broke the hammock you were using, where is Jeanine going to sleep?
Mom also sent $150 bucks so we could get a hotel and eat out. The box also included a shower kit: shampoo, deodorant, tooth paste and brush, fingernail clippers, and a comb! She did not want me to be too 'hiker stinky' for the big date! I clean up real good.
(3:59) The 45th parallel. Rangeley ME, is exactly hallway between the equator, and the North Pole, with 3107 miles distance to each landmark. I scouted out the town for a hotel for us to stay.
Jeanine called and said she had landed at the airport, Yah! But now had a HUGE problem!
She had prepaid for a rental car but did not have the credit card she paid for it with (she left it at home, not knowing she would need it.)
I went to the library to use the internet and figure out a way to get her here. We looked into taxis, limos, and even water planes. The helpful Chamber of Commerce put me in touch with a shuttle driver, and I jumped in the van to go rescue Jeanine. The ride was 3 hours and 125 miles - EACH WAY! The shuttle was NOT CHEAP.
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Appalachian Trail Loner #115 MAHOOSUC NOTCH 2012 Thru Hike
Mahoosuc Notch is an insane rock jumble at the bottom of a huge gorge, formed by glaciers. It was on my 'must see' list and did not disappoint! Depending on the outcome, this is either the most grueling mile on the AT, or the most fun! *Click 'SHOW MORE' below for more notes about this video...
Videos I watched from previous thru hikers did not portray how challenging this can be. To take the difficulty level up a few notches, it had rained the night before and it was pretty slippery.
I had a big breakfast before starting my attempt as my adrenalin was getting ramped up like a Hobbit preparing to enter a dragon's lair.
Just before I climbed the first rock, I was joined by a woman section hiker and her teenage son. I was worried about them doing the notch by themselves and was willing to chaperone, but they assured me they would just take their time, so I went on ahead.
Every hiker's transverse through the maze of house sized boulders is different. There are white blazes and arrows suggesting a defined route, but there are plenty of opportunities to get creative and do some exploring.
It usually takes an average of an hour to get to the end of this mile, and it's a point of pride to complete the task in under 45 minutes.
I was giddy and rambunctious like a kid at a playground! There were rocks to climb over, to crawl under, to tip-toe across to test your balance, overhangs and small caves to go through, several gaps that had to be jumped, and also tree roots to be climbed up like Tarzan! All the while you can hear a bubbling creak just below our feet.
It was also in the back of my mind that all these rocks were here, after breaking off from the cliffs above.
(1:06) These south bounders were much more friendly than some we met earlier, grinning with ego, and battle hardened by The Whites.
I had taken a few minor slips and spills, but nothing to slow me down. Then on one particularly awkward obstacle, I leaped down from one rock to another, about 5 feet away. During my airtime, with my truckers cap obstructing my view, my head hit a rock overhang with a thud. The impact surprised me and threw me backward, falling to the ground, into the 6 foot deep crevice I was attempting to clear.
My backpack broke my fall and my hat, eyeglasses, and trekking poles all went flying. I found myself flat on my back, like a tortoise that could not flip over and was stuck between the rocks. I was stunned, and the 2nd impact knocked the breath out me and I just laid there, gasping for air.
After a few minutes, I realized how cold the ground was, and wiggled around till I could at least stand up. My head hurt and immediately felt an 'egg' pop up on my forehead. My elbows, and wrist were scraped up and my glasses bent. t took a second to figure out how to get out of this trap, and started by removing my backpack and pulling myself out.
The entire accident lasted 2 seconds, but broke my spirit. It was the hardest fall I took on the whole AT but guess it could have been worse. This was one of the 'bad things' that I chose to leave out of the videos, for my Mother's sake.
(1:58) Taking a snack break, muddy, cold, sore, and dejected. I took my time after the fall, stopping to analyze the safest way to conquer each encumbrance.
At the end, I was just frustrated, even the dirt in between the rocks was muddy! There were two or three times where I had hit a dead end, and had to backtrack. Once I had to crawl on my belly and there were several tight squeezes that required removing my tiny backpack. I have no idea how 'normal' hikers with 'normal' packs make it through the notch without dragging their packs behind them on a rope.
It took me around a good hour and a half to finish, but can see it taking seniors, hours and hours to complete. I heard one story of a hiker that somehow got turned around and climbed all the way back the southern end, only to discover he had to do it all over a third time! Rats!
There were also reports in 2013, of a poor moose that got stuck in the rocks and died there. I don't want to know how they got it out.
(2:57) I went to bed early, but in the morning, again found myself on the ground! My hammock had failed! One moment I'm reading my guidebook and getting dressed, the next moment, I'm on the ground with my gear rolling away. At least the fluffy green moss made for a soft landing and was glad it did not happen when I was hanging off the side of a cliff, or over a river. But now I would have to come up with a new plan, there's not exactly an outfitter out here in the forest
I can't complain, this hammock had well over 100 nights on it, and think my sleeping bag zipper must have snagged it. (First rule of hammock hanging - NO ZIPPERS!).
Watching this video, it does not do the notch justice and am amazed at how gaunt I look. They say after a thru hike, the woman look like anorexic fashion models, and the men, like Ethiopian famine victims.
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Appalachian Trail Loner #102 SKI LIFT RIDE 2012 Thru Hike
First to wake up and break camp, I said goodbye to my new friends and headed out. The foggy landscape looked like a scene out of ‘Lord of the Rings.’ My trail beard had turned silver-grey and bushy, but kept me warm like a bear’s fluffy winter coat. *Click 'SHOW MORE' below for more notes about this video...
Steep inclines and declines slowing my mile average down, I worried about making it to Katahdin before they closed for the season. I was looking forward to the end of the trip, but wanted to soak in as much of the AT experience as I could. The intersection where the AT and LT splits was confusing and had signs pointing in all directions. One even tried to convince us that the obvious footpath behind it was, “Not a Trail.”
(1:08) Zachery Green of Boy Scout Troop 100 walked by this way and lost his military style dog tags. (Zach, if you read this, let me know and I’ll send them back to you.) The Inn at Long Trail was just up the road from here and have hosted hikers since 1938.
(1:04) Gifford Woods State Park. There is a pay shower in the RV camping area restrooms. 50¢ buys 5 minutes/$1.25 gets you 12 ½. I put in lots of quarters, but the water never got hot all the way. This was the only time I paid to camp in the woods. Eight bucks. Money was getting tight again and I didn't want to spring for a hotel. This was a safe place to leave my gear while I explored Rutland.
(1:26) The bus stops at a large convenience store and only costs 50¢ for the one way trip. I met a section hiker from Italy that had gotten sick with the flu and was headed for the bus terminal, then home.
(1:33) The Rutland Free Library operates on odd hours and hikers had to register for a legit library card. Also, there is only a 30 minute time limit to use their computers. That’s just not enough time to get everything done. Plus, a teenage boy sitting next to me had a learning disability, but would not stop showing me pics of girls on his Facebook. He kept asking: “Do you think she would go out with me? I tried to be patient, but found it impossible to concentrate on what I was doing.
(1:39) Rutland is double the size of most trail towns. This long beard, shaggy street performer playing a black acoustic guitar on a street corner would not take my dollar bill. Laughing, he said, “Man, I don’t play for the money!”
(1:49) The Yellow Deli is run by the 12 Tribes religious cult/hippy commune style spiritual community. They also own the shop next door: ‘Simon and Tanner – Your family outfitter.’ This is where I found Radio cleaning windows while doing work for stay as his buddy Masshole joked “You missed a spot!”
(1:58) Daffy and his cute girl joined us (sorry I don’t recall her name) and we all caught a bus back to the base of Killington Mountain. The driver was cool and took turns taking pics of us. Another favorite picture of mine.
(2:08) The Pro Shop at Killington K-1 Ski area offers free gondola rides for thru-hikers! “Maximum capacity – 1400 pounds/or 8 people.” We joked that Radio’s pack would put us over the limit. The gondolas never really stopped all the way and it was a little tricky getting all three of us in and situated while carrying our backpacks.
Radio’s pack was ginormous plus he had random things tied to the outside: pair of crocs, a big blue foam sleeping pad, and trekking poles sticking out the top. He had a one liter Coke in one pocket and a full bag of Chex Mix in the other! On the way up he broke out a adult beverage to celebrate the ride. Not for folks afraid of heights, it got bouncy when swinging over the towers.
(3:24) Radio standing scratching his beard and puzzling over a large sign while trying to decipher a cluster of maps to find the correct blue blaze trail that would lead him back to the AT. He already beaten Lyme disease, but also found out he had a vitamin B deficiency that was making him feel weak, but was doing much better now. I had already done this section and said bye to Radio and Masshole then rode back to town and enjoyed an awesome AYCE China Buffet.
Back at the bus station, I learned the hard way that AWOL had printed a fatal error in its guidebook and I was shocked to find that the last bus back up the mountain stopped running at 6 pm - not 7 as listed. My warm hammock was waiting 14 uphill miles away and it was getting dark. I refused to hitch after nearly being kidnaped the last time and asked a Texaco attendant if there was a taxi service in town. He made a call and after waiting 30 minutes a plain grey minivan pulls up, no taxi sign or nothing. The gruff lady then charged me $80 for the 10 minute ride! I could have stayed in a nice hotel for that, then took the bus home in the morning for 50¢. I was disgusted with myself for the mistake and my carelessness with money. This episode ruined an otherwise fun nero day.
Appalachian Trail Loner & Wildcat #119 MOXIE BALD 2012 Thru Hike
Please click “Show More” to read an excerpt from my new book ‘Painted Blazes’ Hiking the Appalachian trail with Loner. Available on Amazon…
I hope it entertains, educates, and encourages people to hike! Please enjoy, like, sub, share, and spread the word!
Begin excerpt:
The trail was harder than the guidebook let on, but Wildcat handled everything it gave us. In her yellow backpack she carried a Boy Scout mess kit, HEET and a fleece blanket. Watching my videos, she was shocked by how I prepared meals (room temperature) and decided she would make campfires every night and do all the cooking. She even hung a container of pancake mix off her pack! We made our first camp near a river about 5 miles in.
The Grand Trunk Ultralight hammock was a tight fit, but very cozy for both of us.
HIKER TIP: Couples hiking together can split up gear, but I suggest both carry some food, water, a sleeping bag and tarp - just in case of emergency, while you’re apart.
“It’s not about the miles, it’s about the smiles.” While we were having chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, we heard several hikers walk by and I’m satisfied we just missed Fatherman because his name was in the next logbook. Busy beavers had dammed up several streams, making fun detours right across the tops of their lodges. I let Wildcat test them out first. I loved every second we hiked together, we talked about all sorts of things and got along great. She joked she was going to paint a white blaze on the back of her shirt, so that I’d follow her around. The only time it was stressful for me was making decisions for both of us. Getting dark, erring on the side of caution I chose not to hike any further that night because of increased elevation. Without any good camping sites, we made our own as Wildcat knocked over a deadfall tree with her bare hands! This time she cooked sitting in a dry streambed. Chocolate pretzels and taco mix burritos. She confessed to me later that this was the only time she was uncomfortable the whole week, as it was bitter cold.
Wearing extra clothes the next day, we summited Moxie Bald, 2,936’. On top, my first look at the ultimate goal, Mount Katahdin could be seen in the distance, still 130 miles away as the crow flies. A gentleman here bribed us with candy bars, into doing a survey. Something to do with windmill farms. I had seen several along the way, with dozens of tall, white windmills along tops of ridgelines. I couldn’t tell which side of the debate our tester was hired to prove. End excerpt.
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