AT Thru-Hike

Hiking the AT is one of the things I'd like to do in life. I hope to maneuver my affairs to the point where it becomes possible.
 
x39,

Do it as soon as you possibly can. A friend of mine and I had 90% of the prep done and then things came up that caused a postponement. That was thirty years ago, and I still have not made it.
 
My buddy Tim the hiker will be done on Monday. His destination is YMCA Camp Hi-Rock where he has been working for the last five years. He goes back to grad. school next month. Obviously he made some smart plans. It was an honor to accompany him on his trek, even if it was for only a day. If you can do something like this, do it now before the opportunity slips away.
 
jw2n said:
x39,

Do it as soon as you possibly can. A friend of mine and I had 90% of the prep done and then things came up that caused a postponement. That was thirty years ago, and I still have not made it.
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I can relate to plans slipping away on the tides of time. If I'm reading the tea leaves right, I think several chapters of my life are going to end within the next year or two. Don't know what will follow, but from where I'm standing the horizon is wearing a wide grin!
 
I was hiking on the AT today. Just a 10-mile dayhike but still fun. Last weekend I found some "Trail Magic". Nothing beats an ice cold root beer and cookies in the middle of the woods that just appears out of thin air (no joke). I missed the water melon and water the guys in the lean-to told me about at dusk. The night hike out was a blast too. If someone can't do the whole trail consider section hikes. Some hike 500 miles but often I do 25-50 at a clip.
 
jw2n said:
x39,

Do it as soon as you possibly can. A friend of mine and I had 90% of the prep done and then things came up that caused a postponement. That was thirty years ago, and I still have not made it.
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+1. The wife and I did it in 2002, first step in our quest for the Triple Crown. But, she got pregnant right before our PCT thru-hike (as in 6 weeks before we were slated to leave), and the rest as they say is history. Safe to say we'll never make the Triple Crown, or even another thru-hike of any kind, but we'll always have the AT memories. So I say go for it, as soon as you can. Life has a way of throwing curveballs.
 
I just received this e-mail from my buddy Tim the hiker:

Subject: Finally Home
For those of you who have not heard, I made it to camp last night during some pretty severe thunderstorms. I came down the north side of Bear Mountain in CT during a particularly bad squall and had to slow down to a snail's pace. How great it was to see that some notes had been left for me at the CT/MA border anticipating my return! I hiked a victory lap around the lake and made for the dining hall, where I knew the session two closing ceremonies would be occurring, and was able to make an appearance there. I look forward to seeing many of you over the next few days and weeks!
Thank you all so much for all your support. I plan to spend a good amount of time uploading pictures and editing content. Also, I think those (ahem) technical difficulties are just about resolved so you will be able to see nearly the entire journey on a google map any time now.
Take care, and Happy Trails!
Tim aka Second Shift GA-MA (High Rock)
 
beanbag said:
My buddy Tim the hiker will be done on Monday. His destination is YMCA Camp Hi-Rock where he has been working for the last five years. He goes back to grad. school next month. Obviously he made some smart plans. It was an honor to accompany him on his trek, even if it was for only a day. If you can do something like this, do it now before the opportunity slips away.
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Just noticed your location is "Lower Hudson Valley of NY". I grew up in Cortlandt Manor/Montose.
 
GoNadz said:
Just noticed your location is "Lower Hudson Valley of NY". I grew up in Cortlandt Manor/Montose.
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Cool. As you can see the video was shot right above the Bear Mt. Bridge. About as classic "lower Hudson valley as there is.
 
No offense, but if you're on a day hike, I would hope you would leave the "trail magic" alone so the thru hikers can benefit from it. People aren't going to all that work to leave surprises out there for day hikers, they are doing it for the people who have been breaking their backs without any of the comforts of home.
 
MustardMan said:
No offense, but if you're on a day hike, I would hope you would leave the "trail magic" alone so the thru hikers can benefit from it. People aren't going to all that work to leave surprises out there for day hikers, they are doing it for the people who have been breaking their backs without any of the comforts of home.
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No offense taken but it is soooooo easy to preach from the comfort of the computer keyboard to someone who hiked all day exposed to 95F. Just sayin.... In any case I have given far far more than taken on the trail.

edit.

Here is a photo of said magic, and yes I thanked the people in the red book.

IMG_1771.jpg
 
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beanbag said:
I just received this e-mail from my buddy Tim the hiker:

Subject: Finally Home
For those of you who have not heard, I made it to camp last night during some pretty severe thunderstorms. I came down the north side of Bear Mountain in CT during a particularly bad squall and had to slow down to a snail's pace. How great it was to see that some notes had been left for me at the CT/MA border anticipating my return! I hiked a victory lap around the lake and made for the dining hall, where I knew the session two closing ceremonies would be occurring, and was able to make an appearance there. I look forward to seeing many of you over the next few days and weeks!
Thank you all so much for all your support. I plan to spend a good amount of time uploading pictures and editing content. Also, I think those (ahem) technical difficulties are just about resolved so you will be able to see nearly the entire journey on a google map any time now.
Take care, and Happy Trails!
Tim aka Second Shift GA-MA (High Rock)
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I like that whole area around the CT/MA border.

IMG_1077.jpg


IMG_1389.jpg


Just keep an eye out for the rattlers. The North side of Bear would be hard in weather for sure. I think the St John’s ledges are a pain too because of all the rocks, guessing that is the hardest in CT but this is more South.
 
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Woods Walker said:
No offense taken but it is soooooo easy to preach from the comfort of the computer keyboard to someone who hiked all day exposed to 95F.
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I lived in Georgia for years, and spent many summer days and weekends on the AT. I would have never dreamed of taking trail magic that was left there for thru hikers. Just doesn't sit right with me.


I'd be interested to see what the folks on Whiteblaze would think of taking trail magic on a day hike.
 
MustardMan said:
I lived in Georgia for years, and spent many summer days and weekends on the AT. I would have never dreamed of taking trail magic that was left there for thru hikers. Just doesn't sit right with me.


I'd be interested to see what the folks on Whiteblaze would think of taking trail magic on a day hike.
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Most thru-hikers are generally laid-back types, but there'd be some issues if you were stumbled upon drinking the last soda at a trail-magic cache, smelling all clean and looking so spiffy and presentable (you see, you day hikers have a smell about you, it's usually soap;)). Hell, I almost wrestled my wife a few times for the last soda on our trip. Especially sucks when it's a remote location, with no access to town for miles.
 
raindog.

No it wasn't the last soda by a loooong shot. Often I will gift away any extra food if possible on the way out. This is good for everyone as I hate extra weight. :(
 
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MustardMan said:
I lived in Georgia for years, and spent many summer days and weekends on the AT. I would have never dreamed of taking trail magic that was left there for thru hikers. Just doesn't sit right with me.


I'd be interested to see what the folks on Whiteblaze would think of taking trail magic on a day hike.
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You're welcome to have any views you wish. Glad to hear you got some time on the AT. I never been on the trail in Georgia.
 
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Woods Walker said:
raindog.

No it wasn't the last soda by a loooong shot. Often I will gift away any extra food if possible on the way out. This is good for everyone as I hate extra weight. :(
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It's all good. Apologies, though, to the OP for derailing the thread somewhat, with a foray into trail magic etiquette. Glad to hear your friend finished his section.
 
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