June 23
10 miles today a long day.
I wanted to quit the whole trip.
I finished the day at the lake campground
I camped with two other hikers "Little Bear" and "Tater Tot"
They sat with me while I made and ate dinner.
I had a nice long relaxing shower at the lake bath house.
I finished the day at the lake campground
I camped with two other hikers "Little Bear" and "Tater Tot"
They sat with me while I made and ate dinner.
I had a nice long relaxing shower at the lake bath house.
June 24
Met "Sunrise Chaser" today
Caught up with Tater Tot and Little Bear at RPH shelter
Pat picked me up for a hotel stay tonight.
Retainer and Ramani left me a log message at shelter (I stayed with them back at the Stony Point Center)
Caught up with Tater Tot and Little Bear at RPH shelter
Pat picked me up for a hotel stay tonight.
Retainer and Ramani left me a log message at shelter (I stayed with them back at the Stony Point Center)
June 25
I found a baseball hat on the trail and knew one of the thru hikers must have dropped it. I kept it. While I was napping, Trooper and Alexander came by my tent and called our to me by name and asked me if i found it.
She, Trooper, was so happy to have it back. She had back tracked several miles to find it. It had been a gift.
Thought it was funny that Trooper said she was going to make me famous by writing about me.
Thought it was funny that Trooper said she was going to make me famous by writing about me.
I just passed a guy took the train from Brooklyn to the Appalachian Trail to go backpacking for two days and then the train back to Brooklyn. Pretty cool for a city guy!
Just met a young woman that started in December!!!!! She's been out for 6 months already.
Today was a good day. Ended with good conversation with Tater Tot and Little Bear. We are camped together again.
June 26
Came really close to stepping on a snake yesterday afternoon.
I didn't bother looking up what kind it was but it did not rattle.
I had a good swim Nuclear Lake, I can see in the dark now by the glow my body casts.
I will stay at the Telephone Pioneers shelter to night, odd name.
I had a good swim Nuclear Lake, I can see in the dark now by the glow my body casts.
I will stay at the Telephone Pioneers shelter to night, odd name.
June 27
No notes from today, must have been very tired.
June 28
A large group of 20 or so middle school aged backpacking girls just passed me.
I was told they were not allowed to talk but everyone of them said hi and smiled as they passed, it really made my day :)
When they reached the road, about 50 yards behind me, and the all burst into cheers and spontaneously started singing "God bless America"
When they reached the road, about 50 yards behind me, and the all burst into cheers and spontaneously started singing "God bless America"
June 29
Zero at Cooper Creek B&B
June 30
Slack packing out of Cooper Creek B&B
A hub cap was found on the Pacific crest trail last year and has been passed from hiker to hiker ever since with each one signing it. There's about 100 names on it. Each person only carries it for a day or two. Now it's traveling the AT. https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/tototoyotathepcthubcap/
3000ft elevation gain today
A hub cap was found on the Pacific crest trail last year and has been passed from hiker to hiker ever since with each one signing it. There's about 100 names on it. Each person only carries it for a day or two. Now it's traveling the AT. https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/tototoyotathepcthubcap/
3000ft elevation gain today
July 1
Major thunderstorms today with tornado warnings.
I got completely wet but knew I'd be in a clear dry bed again tonight.
A very nice walk along the Housatonic River before the rain moved in.
I got completely wet but knew I'd be in a clear dry bed again tonight.
A very nice walk along the Housatonic River before the rain moved in.
July 2
Short hike today 7.7m but pack was too heavy, I bought too much food.
I met lots of people today and many are staying at the same hostel. Beardedwoods.com
Hudson and Big Lu
The hostel is awesome.
I'm so tired but there are about 6 people here that know me, so I'm going out with them to fireworks.
The hostel owners fed us and bought us beer and soda at the fireworks. It was at the Limerock Raceway.
There was a malfunction in fireworks control board, 1030pm nothing, not even an announcement. Everyone is leaving except us.:)
1040pm, finally the show started, we are almost the only group left.
They fireworks had to be set off with hand flairs.
I had a beer, my first in over 25 years, yuck.
The raceway lawn sprinklers came on and we had to leave before the fireworks finished.
A remarkable day.
July 3
A zero day at bearded woods
July 4
An easy 10.5 mile slack pack to Salisbury CT, then Marie picked me up and bright me back to her house where she rent out rooms to hikers. Marie is 89 yo.
July 5
Marie dropped me at the trail.
Guy in the room next to me lives a few blocks from Pat's house in Matawan.
Camped at the Laurel Ridge camp site
Me another thru hiker (a woman) there that looked 30 but was about 55 yo.
Guy in the room next to me lives a few blocks from Pat's house in Matawan.
Camped at the Laurel Ridge camp site
Me another thru hiker (a woman) there that looked 30 but was about 55 yo.
July 6
Very very difficult day, hardest yet. Straight up two mtns. 89 degrees.
Finished at Rt 41 was picked up by Hudson and taken back to bearded woods hostel.
Finished at Rt 41 was picked up by Hudson and taken back to bearded woods hostel.
July 7
Another Zero at bearded woods, my knees are swollen inside.
July 8
3.8 flat miles today
Then resting at the Jess Treat house, an English college professor that rent out rooms in her house.
Then resting at the Jess Treat house, an English college professor that rent out rooms in her house.
July 9 and 10
Resting at a hotel for two nights to try to get my knees back into hiking condition.
Tater Tot, SciFi and Little Bear
Bigest Tree of trunk on the AT
Train station, you can catch a train to NYC from here
A landscaping company allow hikers to rest, shower and buy some supplies.
Free outdoor cold shower, or $5 for an indoor warm shower.
Launch site?
Maybe not
Many of the springs are dry in NY and CT so there ate well pumps many shelters
Check out the support stack under the bridge
Welcome trail magic
Yay
Ugh
I like the privy door knocker
A shelter in CT
Crossing a tributary to the Housatonic River
Housatonic River in CT
Falls in the Housatonic River
Cooper Creek B&B (Cooper and Mary)
Cooper Creek B&B
Cooper Creek B&B
Cooper Creek B&B
Toto Toyota PCT Hubcap
Changing Forest
Cooper's 1954 Truck and SciFi
Cooper's 1954 Truck and Cooper
Looking back down the crack
bearded woods hostel meals were great
End of my hardest day so far
