Never Wear Boots

I am fairly picky as to what I wear on my feet. Generally, I prefer something minimal. I have covered more than 2000 miles by foot over the past 12 months and I continue to hike every day.  For the majority of those miles I wore sandals. One of the big things I have learned in this time is what is good for my feet and my body as a whole. Sandals are still my go-to item.

My footwear for half of Virginia and most of Maine

Years ago, before I really knew what hiking even was, a friend of mine invited me to go out to the Grand Canyon and backpack. Knowing nothing about backpacking equipment, my parents took me to a local outfitter where we threw ourselves (and my future gear list) upon the mercy of the salesperson. Fortunately, he really knew what he was talking about. He knew what I didn't need to bring. He knew what I needed to bring. He knew about wool socks and liner socks, about synthetic and down sleeping bags, and about how to fit a backpack. He also knew what type of boots would wear out quickly, what boots would be comfortable, and how to choose a boot that is least likely to be a lemon. He set me up with a great pair of boots. But that was the start of the problem.

Journal: What do thru hikers do when they get together?

What do two thru hikers do when they get together?

Tough question. After all, they have backpacked for a long time. They love the outdoors. Nothing inspires them quite like sunrise from a mountaintop. Being out in the wilderness with cuddly bears, cute raccoons, fleet deer, and smelly hikers is what they do. It's in their souls. So of course we watched some holiday movies. Silly ones.

And then we went backpacking.

Stealth site on the ridge in New Jersery.

Journal: When is Yoga harder than the Appalachian Trail?

Now that I am off the trail I have to create exercise activities. Where I am sojourning I can only build so much exercise into my daily activities. I visit the grocery store daily with a short walk a mile away. I bicycle to destinations as much as possible. But I don't always have enough destinations! This is not the reason I go to yoga. But it is one reason I bike to yoga.

So here I am biking to yoga on a cool morning. Did I say cool? I meant cold. At least I find it cold riding for six miles in 40 degrees Fahrenheit in shorts and a T-shirt. Well, comparatively. You see, I was surviving but not comfortable for those miles as I spasmed my hands on the handlebars to keep them from freezing. It works; on the trail you learn that these things are livable. But I was not at all prepared for my destination. Because my destination was . . . drumroll please . . . hot yoga. Can you say Whoops?

Journal: 234 Miles: Stage Two: Hike Like a Madman

TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOUR MILES TO HARPERS FERRY
If you missed Stage One, read it here.

Stage Two: Hike Like a Madman

It's late in the day at the Allenberry. Elvis and I have eaten dinner and now we're each on the phone. Several days ago I made phone calls and let folks know that I have decided to complete my thru hike in Harpers Ferry. Sweet is going to meet me in Harpers on Wednesday and we'll celebrate.

But I have an itch. A two part itch. First, with my cell phone out of commission and without regular internet access, I can't meet up with my mid Atlantic friends. Second, my friendship with Sweet is such an integral part of my hike and of my life that I want her to be there when I stop. She's agreed, but it sounds like there may be scheduling complications. 

I look at the mileage. Ninety-seven point nine miles to reach Harpers. And that doesn't include the mile I have to walk to get back to the trail. If I break all my hiking records I can make it in three days for a Saturday arrival. I call up Sweet. She can make it; the timing works better. I call my parents and let them know I have gone insane.

Journal: 234 Miles. Stage One: Loafing

Two Hundred and Thirty-four Miles to Harpers Ferry

Stage One: Loafing

Hurricane Sandy didn't do much harm to the trail near Palmerton. Lots of little trees fell across the trail, but because only little trees are growing there, only little trees fell. During our hike out of Palmerton Silly and I earned our merit badges for trail maintenance by removing branches upon branches and quite a few small trees. With practice, clearing the trail is little hindrance to hiking. The key is to bring the movement of the trekking pole into your stride and flick the trees and branches off the path in tune with the movement of your body. It becomes a game and is endlessly entertaining. 

Journal: Trails Go Ever On

What am I doing here? No, what am I doing HERE?

I have hiked all 2184 miles of the Appalachian Trail and I am once again in a place with phones, computers, and internet access. All of those were lost to me for a week and a half on the AT. Those stories will come later. The upshot is that I lost contact with just about everyone and flew by night through the last 200 miles of the AT. And for the last 97 miles of the AT, I hiked by night too.

But I reached Harpers Ferry on November 10th and met my friend Sweet who came to pick me up. We held a quiet and perfect celebration. 

My friend and partner for 1200 miles came to celebrate with me.

My feeling on finishing the trail was one of reflection and contentment. As I organize my thoughts, memories, and photos, I will be posting here - particularly the missing post on my concluding week. And I will try to explain why I am not hiking south to Georgia after all.

The trail never ends. We just change how we walk it.

Merry trails and Love to all.

Merry

Journal: Friends and Storms

As promised, here I am in the library at Palmerton PA. It took longer than I expected to hike here but it worked out in the end.

Last time I left you at the secret shelter. The next day began my grueling trek up to New Jersey's highest point. It takes a team of twenty people with pack mules to set the stage for the three day ascent. Many perish in the attempt. I eschewed conventional wisdom, shouldered my backpack and walked up, waving and chatting to the maintenance guys near the top. I think they were working on a stuck drain. Sadly, the concessions were closed but I nearly scored a ride back down (it's a side trail to the 1803 foot tall point). But I do have to say this: either my sandals have lost all grip or the rocks in this area are very slippery. Usually I simply use the rocks to do a controlled slide for speed, but on these I slid and slipped enough to fall.

This little guy and his cousins really enjoyed the wet weather.