Below is some data and a few opinions from my 2023 Appalachian Trail Thru-hike. While most of the data was expected, a few numbers did… Read More »Appalachian Trail Thru-hike Data – Fun Little Facts | Average Hiker
Virginia is my favorite state on the Appalachian Trail. Often criticized as being a “long green tunnel,” many thru-hikers consider this longest state on the… Read More »Appalachian Trail – Highlights in Southern Virginia | Average Hiker
Appalachian Trail Thru-hike and brevity are not usually in the same sentence. This list offers some brief insights from my 2023 AT thru-hike.
These are only my opinions. I would love to hear yours. There are longer gear reviews for some gear, and I’ll create more reviews as… Read More »Appalachian Trail Gear Scores | Average Hiker
Tennessee is similar to North Carolina, and they share their borders. At times, I was unsure which state I was hiking through on any given… Read More »Appalachian Trail – Highlights in Tennessee | Average Hiker
North Carolina is the state where I grew up backpacking, tromping through hardwood and pine forests as I learned to backpack and hike. It is… Read More »Appalachian Trail – Highlights in North Carolina | Average Hiker
I started the trail on Springer Mountain at the end of February, wanting to beat “the bubble” and hopefully get ahead of the heat and… Read More »Appalachian Trail – Highlights in Georgia | Average Hiker
My Appalachian Trail Gear changed due to my early start in February. Temperatures were colder than I expected and stayed colder longer than anticipated. Because… Read More »Appalachian Trail Gear – There Were Changes | Average Hiker
I could not have chosen a more perfect day to hike to Sages Ravine and Race Mountain!
Table of Contents Bear Mountain and Lions Head Bear Mountain and Lions Head are located near Salisbury, in upper Connecticut. I stomped around the car,… Read More »Bear Mountain and Lions Head Day Hike | Average Hiker
Connecticut Fall Hike – Day 4 I was originally hiking to Great Barrington, MA, but Sunday called for lower temperatures and downpours. My Connecticut Section… Read More »Connecticut Section Fall Hike – Hiking | Average Hiker
Day 3 – Connecticut Section Fall Hike Day 2 had left me a little stiff, and I slowly began stretching out my stiff limbs as… Read More »Connecticut Section Fall Hike | Average Hiker
Fall Hike – Day 2 Day 1 had been a nice easy introduction to the Fall hike. Unfortunately, day 2 ended up probably being the… Read More »Appalachian Trail – Fall Hiking | Average Hiker
Hiking Report – Nuclear Lake, shooting range, Good Year Blimp – today’s hike offered a little bit 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
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….
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
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!
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.
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
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
Hiking with canned goods was some heavy hiking.
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
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
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 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
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
Big breakfast and creepy trail.
Mt. Greylock and hiker towns.
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
Meeting blog followers and climbing too late.
Fall colors and spindly legged goats
Sunrise and Manchester Center, VT
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 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 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 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
Hiking in the lightning with hobbits.
Wayne from Maine was a pleasure to meet.
Cliff faces & failed wrist splint.