Appalachian Trail

History’s Lessons for Today’s World I love the history behind the Appalachian Trail and how it came into being. It’s amazing how an army of volunteers and organizers coalesced behind Benton Mackaye’s original vision for the Appalachian Trail and established a trail that runs within easy reach of the urban …

This past August I hiked Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness again with my friend Martin Rye, from the UK. He’d read my previous accounts of hiking on this section of the Appalachian Trail and invited me to join him. He published his 100 Mile Wilderness trip report this week as well …

“Hey man, I’ve got an idea,” I said with a coaxing voice. “How ‘bout going out to hike on the Appalachian Trail with me?” It was the spring of 2005, and I had the Bill Bryson syndrome. Like so many other mortals, I had read Bill Bryson’s bestselling narrative, A …

When setting off on a long-distance hike, I’m often asked by my friends if I am afraid. The question is a direct response to the media’s daily onslaught of horror. In their minds, why should the trails be any different? Women usually ask me that question directly, “Aren’t you afraid?” …

Five of us from the DC UL Backpacking community got together for a moderate 19 miler through the Massanuttens in Virginia this past weekend. The primary loop has been dubbed the Wil Kohlbrenner Memorial Circuit by the folks at www.midatlantichikes.com, in honor of a prolific trail builder from the Potomac …

The Zealand Falls Hut is one of the easiest Appalachian Mountain Club huts to walk into, making it very popular with families and young children, and in summer it’s an easy 2.8 mile walk from the upper Zealand Road parking lot. Built in 1932, the hut sleeps a maximum of …

Maine is arguably the hardest part of the Appalachian Trail. It’s 267 miles of hard walking with root choked trails, relentless mountains, and potentially frightening water crossings when it rains, which is often. The northernmost section of the Maine Appalachian Trail is called the 100 Mile Wilderness, and it’s about …

In August 2009, I set out to hike the 100 mile wilderness in Maine. This is the last big section that AT thru-hikers have to hike before they arrive at Baxter State Park, home of Mount Katahdin, the northern terminus of the 2,178 mile Appalachian Trail. I didn’t make it …

I didn’t intend to climb to the summit of Mt Katadhin this week, it just sort of happened. But that’s ok, I needed to hike to the northern terminus of  the Appalachian Trail eventually and things just worked out. Hike: Mount Katahdin (Baxter Peak) Location: Baxter State Park, approximately 300 …

While every shelter on the Appalachian Trail has its own unique character, the RPH Shelter in New York State is unlike anything you’ll encounter up and down the trail. This is truly a Hiker Hilton with takeout delivery,  lounge furniture, picnic tables, plaster walls, a clean painted floor, working windows, …

Franconia Ridge is one of the top alpine traverses in the White Mountains, so when I learned we’d get a clear day last Saturday, I decided to hike it again to take in the views and climb two 5,000 footers, Mt Lafayette and Mt Lincoln. The weather turned out to …

Introduction This is the third, and final trip report describing my Appalachian Trail section hike from Mohican Outdoor Center through New Jersey, through all of New York State, and into Connecticut in, April 2011. About the Connecticut Appalachian Trail While the Connecticut AT is only 52 miles long, it’s a …

Hiking for two weeks is a lot different than hiking for a few days over a long weekend. You have to worry about getting clean periodically, resupplying your food bag, taking rest days, emotional ups and downs, and getting the right amount of nutrition. All of these things really came …

Trip Planning This is the first of a 3-part trip report describing the two week, Appalachian Trail section hike I took in April 2011, beginning in southern New Jersey and ending in southern Connecticut. Covering 173 miles and spanning 14 days, I’ve broken the trip report out by state. This …