Appalachian Trail – 2013

July 28, 2013 I told myself the mountain had become more brutal, but as I hauled myself over the rough granite boulders, I exhaled heavily,… Read More »Katahdin – A Hard but Beautiful Start | Average Hiker

Future Visitors to site 17 in the Katahdin campground should reconsider reserving this site. I failed to note the privy nearby, or maybe I just… Read More »100 Mile Wilderness | Average Hiker

White House Landing on the AT was dominated by association with cheeseburgers.

My favorite thing about White House Landing was the Whoopee Pies!

An iron Dalmatian had been chained to a tree as I started my climb up White Cap.

This day was going to be tough, filled with spills, pills, and sharp, craggy hills.  It started raining steadily around midnight and continued until 1… Read More »Crazy Fall In Maine | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – August 3, 2013 Climbing straight up a mountain first thing in the morning is so unfair!  I started my climb up Barren… Read More »Wilson Falls | Average Hiker

Light seeped into the trees, and as I peered out from under the edge of the tarp, I could see the trees just beginning to… Read More »My First Town – Monson, Maine | Average Hiker

The trail was completely different south of US 15.

Loon calls @ 4AM

Another camp site off the beaten path.

Avery Peak had beautiful views!

Appalachian Trail – August 9, 2013 I rounded the last boulder and saw the trail open up before me. I stretched my legs, grinning in anticipation… Read More »Appalachian Trail – Stratton, ME | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – August 10, 2013 Ugggghhhhh, I moaned as I rolled over early this morning. The ache in my legs was still waking me… Read More »Appalachian Trail – Crockers

Appalachian Trail – August 11, 2013 I slept covered entirely by my Nunatak quilt, waking every 30 minutes to pull it tightly around me, blocking… Read More »Appalachian Trail – Meeting Mr Sandman! | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – August 12, 2013 I was up early and looked over to see Sandman’s little Wal-Mart pop-up tent bouncing around. He was an… Read More »Appalachian Trail – A Drone or a backpack? What Damn Back Pack!

Appalachian Trail – August 13, 2013 Breakfast was ginormous – even the waitress raised an eyebrow as I perused the menu and thoughtfully read each item… Read More »Appalachian Trail – GINORMOUS | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – August 14, 2013 Bemis and Blue – are two big, tricky names in southern Maine. These were memorable climbs, with steel rungs,… Read More »Appalachian Trail – Old Blue & the Naked Guy

Appalachian Trail – August 15, 2013 David took me, Sandman and Dano back to the trail after breakfast.  There was a group of NOBO’s that… Read More »Appalachian Trail, Plums, and Maple Sugar Cookies

Climbing down the Arm was tough!

A stinky, smelly bog….

Appalachian Trail – August 18, 2013 I thought my last day in southern Maine – bring on the Gauntlet as I stretched out under my… Read More »A Moose in the Gauntlet! | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – August 20, 2013 Yesterday in Gorham, NH was a fairly uneventful day.  I rented a tiny car and spent the day running errands. … Read More »Broken Poles & Pop-tarts

Appalachian Trail – August 21, 2013 Boo Boo and I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, finally, I could quit asking… Read More »Boo Boo & the Wildcats

Appalachian Trail – August 22, 2013 I started the morning with a challenging task – shaving my legs. Imagine laying a tennis racket on your… Read More »Gondola Rides in New Hampshire | Average Hiker

Flashes of crushed face bones flashed through my mind.

Hiking through the White’s with one useable hand was not really an option.

On the Appalachian Trail, the White Mountains were a highlight!

Cliff faces & failed wrist splint.

Wayne from Maine was a pleasure to meet.

Hiking in the lightning with hobbits.

Appalachian Trail – August 30th, 2013 I enjoyed the town of Lincoln, NH. It was a little spread out, but everything was still within walking… Read More »Flapjacks, Jimbo & Eliza Brook Shelter | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – August 31st, 1013 I failed to mention that one of the highlights of the Eliza Brook experience was the discovery of my… Read More »Bed bugs and the Bates Motel | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – September 1, 2013 The climb over Mt. Moosilauke was fun this morning. I would not have called it fun four weeks ago, and… Read More »Mt. Moosilauke, Punkin & Lightning | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – September 2, 2013 I listened to thunderstorms and passing showers all night long. Then, like any proper weather front during a hike,… Read More »Skinless Toes & Mila the Poodle | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – September 3, 2013 I lay in my bag, feeling moisture falling on my face. I frowned but did not open my eyes.… Read More »Small Towns & Stella’s | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – September 4, 2013 I chose to stay in Lyme another day.  My feet were so sore I could barely squeeze them into my oversized… Read More »Colorful Hikers and New Skin | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – September 5, 2013 O M G….how could something so small hurt so much! It was a minor abrasion but it felt like… Read More »Moose Mountain & Broken Feet | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – September 8, 2013 On the night of September 7, I collapsed back onto the floor of my tent and lay still, dreading the removal… Read More »Hobbits, Infections & Belly Delis | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – September 21, 2013 I looked down at Pomfret Road, where I had just been dropped off. I was breathing as hard, having climbed… Read More »Trails, Orange Soda & Empty Cabins

Appalachian Trail – September 22, 2017 It poured last night, but I was dry and snug in my cabin.  I slept lightly in the dark,… Read More »Road kill, Guinness Stew, & an Inn

Appalachian Trail – September 23, 2013 I should probably use the trail name “Empathic.”  If you were to go through my social media publishing, you… Read More »Cold, Raw Day & The Cooper Potty

Appalachian Trail – September 24, 2013 Last night was dominated by another considerable animal encounter. I guess the flat, open camping spots I chose were that… Read More »Cairn Graveyard & Other Large Beings

Sunrise and Manchester Center, VT

Fall colors and spindly legged goats

Meeting blog followers and climbing too late.

Appalachian Trail, September 28, 2013 About an hour after falling asleep last night, the “Farside” cartoon showed up.   Deer repeatedly charged my tent, blowing… Read More »Black Weasels & Farside Cartoons

Mt. Greylock and hiker towns.

Big breakfast and creepy trail.

October 1, 2013 Today’s hiking was some of my favorite terrain.  I traveled through rolling forests and farming land, traveling along the edges of both… Read More »Southbound Misfits in New England | Average Hiker

Appalachian Trail – October 2, 2013 The call of a morning rooster echoed across the hills.  It was still dark – pitch, black dark.  I… Read More »Shay’s Rebellion & Fall Hiking

I rarely get up during the night, mostly because I have stiffened inside my sleeping bag, and the thought of first unbending, and then hobbling… Read More »Salisbury & Maria McCabe

Appalachian Trail – October 6th, 2013 Today was a tough day, emotionally.  The dreary grey, rainy morning did not help to “lift moods” either as… Read More »Homesickness & Sleeping On a Hill

Appalachian Trail – October 8, 2013 I was up bright and early, ready to move, so I packed up quickly and headed down toward the… Read More »Hunting Season | Average Hiker

Hiking with canned goods was some heavy hiking.

Appalachian Trail – October 10, 2013 I expected rain last night, so I had found a great leafy spot on high ground to set up camp… Read More »Candy Man – New York State

Appalachian Trail – October 11th, 2013 I spent time preparing for rain again last night, and not a single drop fell. Of course, I prefer… Read More »Water Sources and Bear Mountain | Average Hiker

It was good to be home with family and friends, but the Appalachian Trail was calling me back. Winter was coming quickly, and I could feel the restlessness.

Getting to hang out with family and friends while hiking the Appalachian Trail is an event, and not missing The Walking Dead made it even better!

Appalachian Trail – October 14, 2013 The air was still and damp on the Appalachian Trail in NY when I walked out of my room… Read More »Wawayanda & Rock Gyms

Appalachian Trail – October 15, 2013 I began tossing and turning before the sky had even begun to lighten up.  My hips were sore from… Read More »One of Everything….

October 16, 2013 My feet traveled over the trail, but my mind did not register the steps. I had retreated inward, and my mind was… Read More »Final Day on the Appalachian Trail | Average Hiker