2017 Appalachian Hike

I haven’t posted since my AT through hike, but now that my son Ryan and I are going hiking and backpacking in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons I thought I would document our trip. Today, August 28th we left Fremont around 8:30am. We drove highway 275 until we connected to highway 20. After Norfolk we could… Continue reading Day 1 Grand Tetons and Yellowstone trip

It’s been about a week and a half since I summited Mt Katahdin, and exactly a week that I’ve been home in Fremont. I feel like I need to write this one last post so I can officially be done with the trail. I took a shuttle from Millinocket Maine to Medway Maine. Then a… Continue reading Millinocket, Maine-Fremont, Nebraska. 

With the exception of getting to text Amy once I was without service the last three days of my hike. I decided it would be best to combine them. Friday, July 21st was a long day of 30 miles. It wasn’t difficult with climbing, but it was very painful. Since it got hot and I… Continue reading Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to-Rainbow Stream Lean-to-The Birches Lean-to and Campsite- Mt Katahdin. 

19 miles today. I’m very pleased with that.  The morning was very busy with climbing. First Gulf Hagar Mountain, then West Peak and Hay Mountain.  The last big one to climb was White Cap Mountain. Here’s the first view of Mt Katahdin about 70 miles away. I can actually see the end. Very excited about… Continue reading Carl A. New hall Lean-to-Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to. 2130.1 miles done/59.7 to go. 97.26% completed. July 20, 2017. 

16.8 miles today. Today was a hard day.   Engineer and Timber were right about all the steep up and downs. Then add to that the heat. Heat and humidity are something I haven’t had to deal with on this hike until today.  Even while the heat was challenging me I was thankful I was… Continue reading Cloud Pond Lean-to-Carl A. New hall Lean-to. 2111.2 miles done/78.6 to go. 96.40% completed. July 19, 2017

19.1 miles today. It started out in the rain. Again.  Poncho, Ingie and I ate breakfast together and were ready for our shuttle to the trailhead at 7:00. We were hiking by 7:13. I immediately hiked ahead of them and was alone.  The rocks and mud seemed particularly slippery today so I couldn’t push. It… Continue reading Maine Hwy 15-Cloud Pond Lean-to. 2094.4 miles done/95.4 to go. 95.63% completed. July 18, 2017. 

Woke up at 5:00 and went to the cafe next door. Drank mega amounts of coffee and had a breakfast burrito. When I go to town I don’t think the restaurants make money on coffee.  This hostel is very nice.  It’s definitely a hiker town. Originally the AT actually was routed through town. Now it… Continue reading Zero in Monson Maine. 

22 miles today. Pretty easy except for the wet rocks and mud.  The climb up Moxie Bald Mountain was much easier than I anticipated. I was on top a little before 8:00 and had a great view.  The sun was shining and there was a nice breeze so I took my pack off and sat… Continue reading Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to-Maine Hwy 15. 2075.3 miles done/114.5 to go. 94.76% completed. July 16, 2017. 

18.3 miles today. I started this four months ago today. As I was putting my backpack on this morning to start hiking it started to rain.  I hiked the 3.8 miles to the Kennebec River, where I had to get ferried across. This is also where it stopped raining.  The ferry takes two hikers at… Continue reading Harrison’s Pierce Pond Camp-Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to. 2053.3 miles done/136.5 to go. 93.76% completed. July 15, 2017. 

18.1 miles today. It was much harder than I thought it was going to be. Mostly because of the mud. The rocks and roots also made it more challenging. There was really no serious climbing today.  I slept very well last night. In fact I slept in a little compared to normal. I was still… Continue reading Little Bigelow Lean to-Harrison’s Pierce Pond Camps. 2035.0 miles done/154.8 to go. 92.92% completed. July 14, 2017.