Taking a Hike

THE END OF A WONDERFUL HIKE - October 1, 2009

2009-10-10T03:25:00.000-07:00

It rained most of the night - it is cold - we got up early - ate breakfast and drive to Baxter State Park - at the gate the ranger told us it is a level 3 and some trails are closed due to ice and we need to be careful. On the way to the base of mountain a moose was running in front of us - so we saw a live moose! It was 7:30 when we started a final climb. Mt Katahdin reaches above tree level and it was a level 4 - ice and snow coming down - the trail is big boulders and more big boulders.

We made it safely.

Thanks you Doug and Roger for coming to get us and the support.

Thanks to all of our supporters and cheerleaders - what a wonderful team!

Had fun - The End

2009-10-10T03:14:00.000-07:00

What a night!!!!!

Very little sleep for me - but Patches can sleep thru anything. There was a big black bear in the trash cans - the trash can was about 20 ft from our tent spot - it would lift the trash can up and throw it - it tore off the sink on outside of bathroom - but I made it thru the night. Both of us is excited - we can see some of Mt Katahdin - but the clouds and rain is also there.

The 10 miles to the base was easy miles - very pretty - hiked moose of the day next to rivers, waterfalls and brooks. We were early at Baxter Park at the base of the mountain. We registered with the ranger to summit it tomorrow morning.

Patches is # 449

Crazy Lady is #450

to complete the AT this year "2009"

Patches Dad and Uncle arrived around 3 to pick up up and take us to Millinootet - a bed is waiting - we are staying at the Appalachian Trail Lodge - run by thru hikers themselves - very nice people.

Mt Katahdin

2009-10-10T02:46:00.000-07:00

There she is - what a beauty - she is high - she is wide - she has clouds all over, around and on top - Her name is Mt Katahdin and she is calling our names. We are camping 10 miles from her base - we have a surge - we have hunted/looked for her for 2178 miles - she was not lost - we just thought so - she was just waiting for us.

Our plan is to climb her Oct 1, 2009 - we are camping at Abol Camp Ground - had a shower - it was good - 14 days with outout a shower - everything in my tent stinks - we had rain last night - buckets full and some today. The sun is shining and I can see the snow right now - we had our beauty shower for Mt Katahdin. It is wonderful to see the mountain - we just stood and viewed - each with our own thoughts - it is a happy/sad mix.

I saw a plane that could land on water today - it landed on the lake in front of me. We saw Moose today - but the Moose did not see us - it was dead. Hunting season started - you pay $13 for lottery and hope they draw your name - there is a limit to the amount of moose that can be hunted each year in ME. The moose we saw weighed 831 lbs - big and ugly. The camp we stayed in is also the weight station for moose and the land belongs to a paper company. The logging trucks pass by the whole time - the trucks look over loaded to me. If we have lost any weight it was the last 10 days - we ran out of our junk candy and really missed that surge.

Tomorrow we well be to the last shelter - the last 10 miles from here - we will need to register to stay there and summit the mountain - hope the weather holds up.

Have fun - we are going to enjoy the last 2 days of our trip - tomorrow will be day 200!

2009-10-09T03:16:00.000-07:00

What a wet night and morning - rained most of night - our tents are wet - lucky our tents stayed dry on inside. Black Bird, Bark and Beary's tents got wet inside - sleeping bags wet - my sleeping bag is dry. The sun came out later today - not bad day at all - I am ready to get warm again (ha,ha). Saw a few day hikers today and saw a ranger - met an older man that climbed Katahdin 2 yrs ago on his 70th birthday - in ME that is what you do. Patches is craving (believe it or note) oats - the real kind - and romaine (oriental kind) with peanut butter. I am craving a nice roasted leg of lamb or a nice lamb chop or steak over the fire....we will see. If all go wells I can be back at work in 1 week - our bodies are holding up much better than our gear. Both our pants is tearing loose after I have fixed them a few times - boots lock horrible and back packs needs lots of love and tender care - our bodies feels good.

The fall is so pretty - after last nights rain the trail is very wet and slippery. Patches and Black bird slipped and fell. I have slipped a few times but did not hit the ground - 28.1 miles to finish - I hope nothing happens. Tomorrow night we might even get a shower - I sure hope so.

Have fun - we still have fun but know real life with reality is close.........

2009-10-09T03:06:00.000-07:00

Had a peaceful night - packed up fast this morning - looks like rain - started to drizzle just before we reached our camp site just before 3 pm- we did 14.5 miles - pitched tents fast and put on rain gear to stay dry - nibbled on snacks - drank tea to stay warm - again early to bed - still drizzling on and off. Last night while we were cooking on our fire, some of the trail maintainers walked by to look for fallen trees over the trail to the water - they were very friendly and nice - did not say a word about our fire - this morning when we pass the rest of the maintenance group, the nice lady that gave us the bananas told us that we were not allowed to make a fire. Patches apologized, because we really did not know. Well apparently in ME the rule is only fires in designated camp sites - now we know - Thank You! We have 40.8 miles left until the top of Katahdin.

Have fun we do!!!!

2009-10-08T18:13:00.001-07:00

Today was the most level flat trail we have done so far - 16 miles in 6 1/2 hrs. Are we getting good? Last night was cold - like in real cold. Black Bird and another hiker told us that the water was frozen this morning outside their tents - needless to say I was cold the whole night - had everything on I could find in by back pack and that is a lot - I was grateful that I had it all. Today was such a wonderful pretty trail day - the fallen leaves - all the fall colors - so deep. I just wish I could capture all of it on pictures - they are sure in my mind. Patches was getting worried that he did not have enough snacks for 4 more days - we wanted to got to this camp store 6 miles away - they will pick you up but we could not get an answer - lucky at the road there were a lot of MATC (trail maintainers) - they gave him some snacks - apples and bananas - the bananas were so delicious.

Tonight is the 1st night since we enter ME that the 2 of us camp alone - it was nice - we had a nice fire and cooked on it (low on alcohol to cook with) and it was a perfect night for fire cooking - the moon was a perfect 1/2 - but it looks like rain clouds moving in - I sure hope not.

Well.....all of you must have fun - we sure do!!!!!

2009-10-08T17:59:00.000-07:00

It is 6pm - I am in my tent - don't need my headlight yet - I am ice cole - my lips are purple - my feet our frozen - I am just cold - lucky it is not raining - just cold. The last 2 day s was hard hiking - it was cold and lots of ups, downs and windy. According to the book White Cap Mt was the 1st climb to Katahdin. The last 2 nights we had a little rain - just enough to wet the dry ground/dirt. Patches feels better and does not hear his heart beating in his ear anymore. The leaves are dropping fast - that causes the trail to be slippery with out rain. I noticed yesterday that is already fall - the leaves here are very pretty - such deep yellow, red, orange - ME is cold - 5 more days to hike before we climb Mt Katahdin. Berry, Bark, Many Names and Notty just came to the shelter - we thought they were ahead of us. Just goes to show that the turtle finishes before the hare - ha,ha - 96% done.

We saw Katahdin today on the west side of White Chip Mt - just a steep peek - does not matter how you look at it - we will climb it.

Have fun we do!!!!!

2009-10-08T17:48:00.000-07:00

I got up early - washed my hair - it was a nice warm night and day today - looks like rain - but we made it to camp with out rain. Today is the first day we had to take our boots off to get over the Big Wilson Stream (ME). Both of us made it fine - our back packs still wight heavy - I think we ate about 2 lbs out of each back pack.

Tonight is our 2nd night at a shelter(Lean to) in ME. This part of the wilderness is very dry and most shelter streams are dry - tomorrow we will need to carry extra water - a south bounder told us that every shelter for about 10 miles has no water - Long Pond Stream Lean To - we have 99.4 miles left - under 100 miles. Patches has an ear ache - I hope all the old time remedies will help - hopeful after a early night he will be better tomorrow.

Have fun we do.......(some mountains to climb tomorrow)

2009-10-08T17:10:00.000-07:00

Our first night in the 100 miles wilderness. Well it does not make much sense - "Welcome to the 100 mile wilderness" - does that mean we finished with the 2100 miles of wilderness. We have 110 miles left to the top of Mt Katahdin.

Today was a nice hike - I did 6.7 miles in 2 1/2 hrs - we were at the road at 11am - the fall colors are so pretty in this part of Maine - there are lots of Red Oaks - all the little critters are busy collecting goodies/pine cones for winter - at night you hear all this little scratching outside the tent. It took us about 10 minutes to hitch a ride into town - a friendly nice guy stopped with his pick up - he thru hiked in 2000 and since then for the last 9 yrs he comes to this area and does trail magic - he waited in town until we were finished and brought us back out to the trail head. On the way back to the trail head he said he wanted to play and sing a song for us to send us on to our last 114 miles - he played country road by John Denver - the three of us just went quite in our thoughts - SAD and HAPPY - SAD that our journey is almost over - HAPPY that our journey is almost over.

He gave Patches a bottle of whiskey - how lucky can he be......Our mail drop with our re-supply weighed 50 lbs between the three of us - my pack definitely weighs close to 5 lbs if not more - We forgot how 9 days of food felt - I am glad that Patches managed to fix my back pack. Patches shoes busted open - we are hoping super glue will hold it.

Enjoy life we do.........

Katahdin Mountain - 2176.2 - THE FINISH

2009-10-02T02:41:00.000-07:00

Received word today that Patches and Crazy Lady has finished their hike today - Oct 1 - the last miles of their long journey.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!

Moxie Bald Mt - 2043.8 miles

2009-10-02T02:23:00.000-07:00

Today we did 15.5 miles - we are about 6-7 miles from Monson, ME - the town just before the 100 miles of wilderness. We camped next to one of the rivers that we are suppose to ford - lucky not to deep and we managed to keep our boots on - Patches made a few steps over rocks in the first river. We went up Moxie Bald Mt - very nice ledges and nice views - perfect day - no wind - lots of sun - I even took off my long sleeve shirt - most of the hike today was next to a river with lots of small ups and downs - I was at camp just after 4 - we cooked 2 dinners just because we can (we carry it so we eat it). At the first river that we ford there was nice trial magic - apples and soda - this is also were we camped. Tomorrow morning we have to leave early for town to pick up our food box and try to fix both back packs - we hope to find a place to eat good lunch before we leave into the wilderness.

We plan to be at the foot (base) of Katahdin Mt on Sept 30. Plan to summit the Mt and end our long journey on Oct 1st - depends on the weather. We will be home soon - early Oct.

Have fun - we plan to enjoy our last 9 days on the trail. we will let all of you know when we Summit.

Pleasant Pond Mt - 2032.0 miles

2009-10-02T02:16:00.000-07:00

Nice easy hike up and over Pleasant Pond Mt - nice view back to Bigelow and Sugar Loaf Mt - a very nice hike day - cool but not cold - very little to no wind - perfect. We were at came by 3:30 - set up tents - washed some socks - Patches and Crazy Lady played rummy - he won - we really enjoy our camp time - so peaceful - had a very nice fire. Most of the hikers are doing big miles to get to the end - we want to remember ME like all the other states - tent with Black bird - Ox sleep in the shelter. Black Bird showed Patches how to throw bear line and bear bag like PCT hikers.

Holly Brook - 2027.7 miles

2009-10-02T02:10:00.001-07:00

The sunrise over East Carry Pond was so beautiful - we ate breakfast with a woodpecker that was looking for it's breakfast in a dead pine tree.

The trail to Kennebec River was full of roots and small rocks - lots of waterfalls - we hiked next to creek/river that runs into Kennebec. The wind was blowing terrible at Pierce Pond Lean-to - we had to go over pond wall that was wet logs and rocks with the high wind speed that could blow us over (It was like walking in a Pee at Harbor with strong wind) - very cold wind. The ferry is a 3 man canoe at Kennebec River - runs only 9-11am and 2-4 pm - we were there at 1 pm and waited for it with Cloud walker - Patches row when he and Cloud walker went on - I row with the ferry runner when Black Bird and myself went over (plus/minus 35 mile per hour wind from the front) - the river was not very high but can change with out warning due to electric power plants running water into the river. We hiked 3 plus/minus more miles to Holly Brook where we camped with Black Bird. BB and Patches built a fire ring in a dry creek out of river rocks - it was cold but nice and warm and cozy in my tent.

West Carry Pond Lean-to - 2011.0 miles

2009-10-02T01:40:00.000-07:00

We did 16.5 miles to make up some miles from the day before - easy hike - I managed 2 plus miles a hour - Patches is back to his 3 miles an hour - it is cold - hiked mostly with long sleeves today - had some drizzle rain - we were at a shelter when most of the rain hit - the wind blew very hard and cold.

At West Carry Pond Lean-to it was very had to get water from the pond - the wind was blowing that hard - we went a little further than we had planned - due to poor water and no camping.

Stafford Notch Campsite - 1998.8 miles

2009-10-02T01:30:00.000-07:00

We ate at the Diner - finished packing and headed for the trail again - standing and talking with Bill and Bill when a pick up stopped and gave us a ride to the trail head. We did 10 miles - Horn Mt and Bigelow Mt was tough.

Patches was at camp early - the last few days he has hiked along and is on the run. We camped at Safford Notch Campsite - one of the pretty sites on the trail. Many, Names, Notty & Cloudwalker joined us - this is the last of the severe climbs

Stratton, ME - 1988.4 miles

2009-10-02T01:14:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MYSELF (CRAZY LADY)

Got up early and left camp by 8 am - the hill mt down is very steep and takes time. The first vehicle that passed by when we started hitch hiking was a pick up truck - stopped and picked us up - the 3 of us and another hiker that had just got to the road. The man that picked us up daughter is also hiking the trail - she is still several days behind us - it was around 1 pm when we were in town - got a room at the Inn - we showered and chilled out - then went to re-supply. We bought a small cheese cake for me and ice cream for Patches - very nice!

We went to the Plaza to eat - Patches & Black Bird got each a 12 inch Pizza - I got fried fish and chips with a salad - very nice! The waitress gave me a shot of whiskey for free and one for Patches to share for my birthday - a group was playing guitars and drums.

Stratton, ME is a small friendly town with nothing - looks like at night everybody came to the Plaza and in the morning they go to the Diner.

2009-10-02T00:57:00.000-07:00

Steep up and down - close to the end of the tough mt - we hiked with Bill & Bill, Mary Nanely and Netty, Black Bird and myself (Crazy Lady) - we slow hiked with steep ups & downs - our hiking days a getting shorter with the sun going down earlier and with leaves still on the trees the woods get dark early. Bill Sr fell far behind and did not make it to our camp spot (self created by Patches) - Patches followed a moose trail - found water and 3 level spots for our tents. Bill and Bill's hammock - we want to get up early tomorrow - it is town day.

Update on our gear - we now have to drink bleach water - our filter is just to slow - ME streams are pretty clean and we have water close by most of the day - our boots are hanging in - but barley - my camel pack has a leak - I am very lucky that it is not in my back pack - but overnight with my camel pack outside the tent we super glued it and it still leaked - we re-super glued it. My back pack screw on (nvit) left side came out again - lasted thru VT & NH & almost 1/2 of ME - we will see if we can find a rint in Monson - Patches back pack still has the medium stacks - we hope the large pair is at Monson - our bodies a still holding on.

Piazza Rock Lean-to - 1958.0 miles

2009-10-02T00:44:00.000-07:00

Maine Motto "This is the way life should be"

Maine people are very friendly and helpful - even the people in the stores. ME is definitely the easiest state to hitch hike in - you walk out at a trail head and into a parking lot - 3 people will ask if you want to go to town. At ME 4 parking lot we met a lade and her husband (Trail name Steady) - she is a triple crown hiker - hiked AT in 1993, 03 PCT and 05 COT - they offered us Gatorade and little Debbie's and a ride to town - we just did not need a ride at that time.

Lunch time at Piazze Rock Lean-to we rejoined with Bill and Bill - what a surprise to see them - we thought they were several days ahead of us - have not seen them in 4 months - Bill Sr really is having a hard time but has had 7 wks of very interesting hiking - he got lost - fell a lot - but is still going. We camped with them tonight - they are so very nice.

Most of today's hike was steep up & down - some above the tree line. The Reddington Campsite is under construction - looks like a tornado came thru here - there is water here - so we found a spot to camp.

Old Blue Mountain - 1932.6 miles

2009-09-30T18:44:00.000-07:00

Sept 11
Did 10 miles - some steep up & down - some boulders to climb over and some rocks. Crossed Sawyer Notch Brook - that we were suppose to ford - you walk over some rocks - easy to cross. We camped at road - trail magic at camp - little Debbie's - so nice.

Sept 12
Climbed Old Blue Mountain - steep up some boulders - on top of some ledges was level surface to walk - not slippery - nice views - saw some fall colors - did 13.3 miles to get to road where Black Birds' Dad was to pick us up - his Mom was admitted to hospital this morning - his sister came to make sure we were fed. We went back to Walmart - made 3 boxes between us and Black Bird - his sister is mailing them to Manson, ME (town just before 100 miles of wilderness). We did laundry and shower - Black Bird and his sister went to visit Mom.

Sept 13
All of us slept in - got up at 8 am to get ready - Black Birds' Dad dropped us off at the trail at 1:30 pm - we did 8.3 miles in 4 hours - All 3 of us were tired and ready to tent and sleep.

Baldpate Mt - 1913.4 miles

2009-09-30T18:33:00.000-07:00

Black Birds' Dad dropped us about 11 am to continue our hiking north for 3 days - where he will pick us up again (this is spoiling us with all this luxury).

We climbed Baldpate Mountain - very windy - nice views - the terrain and mt is still much like the "Whites". In Maine there a lots of places to camp - the trail is also very nice and maintained - in some spots the trail had some weather damage. The nights are getting cool - might need some thicker sleeping gear...we will see. We did 10 miles - camped at a nice spot next to river - close to road. Fancy Pants and Gozer had hitch hiked and flip flopped to make sure I got my tent - sleeping in my own tent again is very nice. Black Bird made a nice fire Hold out and Patches sang and made music. So nice and relaxing.

Mahoosuc Notch - 1903.9 miles

2009-09-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

We entered Maine - the first 50 of of 80 miles - same range as the "Whites" - just another name. Spent first night in Maine at Full Goose Shelter - just before Mahoosuc Notch (the most fun mile of the AT? - you make your way through a jumbled pit of giant boulders)

Got up early Sept 9 to get ready for this mile and to go 10 more miles before 5 PM where Black Birds' Dad will pick us up for a night at home.

The jungle gym was interesting - it was fun - difficult.....It took us about 2 hours to complete - you have to get over - under - around these boulders. You have to take your back pack off to get under the narrow ledges - then jump from rock to rock - like young mountain goats. I have to think, plan and sometimes have to slide down - just to get over instead of jump. They try to teach me how to jump (sounds easy) - 4 ft is just to far for me and my back pack. We made it thru with out a fall, bruise or broken/torn back pack. It was lots of fun!!!!!

We made it about 4 Pm to parking lot and waited for Black Birds Dad - he arrived with his red work pick up - 4 of us sat in the back with back packs - all of us had jackets and windbreakers on - it was about 45 minute drive. When we got to his home we had warm shower - did laundry and had very nice lasagna - his mom make it from scratch with a nice salad. The food and company was very nice. I still do not have my tent so I got to sleep in a bed - Patches pitched tent. We went to Walmart to resupply for 16 days - when we got there we found out they close at 10 (not 12) we rushed and of course forgot a lot of things. We wanted to make a box with food to mail to Monson - just before we enter the 100 miles of wilderness.

2009-09-30T03:42:00.000-07:00

The "Whites"

For most of the Presidential range you hike above trees and the huts are positioned so that you will not miss them - huts are really a hut with a few bunk rooms where people can sleep on bunks - you get 3 blankets and a pillow - the bathrooms are about like the shelter's privy - no hot water - only cold to wash hands - some of the rooms has 3 - 4 bunks on top of each other - some huts can accommodate 40 - 60 - one hut can accommodate 80. The dining room is part of the open kitchen w/Gas Stove - it has long tables with benches - most of the huts has 3 croo (not crew) members that does cooking and some cleaning. The huts belong to the AMC - cost $84 and up per night (while we were at the huts they will all full). Thru hikers can work for stay - pay $10 with no food - work for stay hikers get left over super and breakfast (which is most of the time nothing more than our trail food). The thru hikers get to sleep on dining room tables or floor (well if I pay $84 for a bunk - I better not see a stinky hiker or boots on my table). Since we were thru "Whites" towards the end of the session the thru hikers does all the hard cleaning jobs and get treated like outcast (no good). Gozer and myself did dishes twice and swept the bunk room - folded blankets once. The reason we do our work at night is due to the fact that we hike so slow over the boulders. The boys got to do the hard work that really spoiled the fun. Patches only had to talk about his hike one night - but the 2 other mornings he and the rest of the boys had to scrub/clean the bunk room walls - mattresses and kitchen stove. The worst was they did not leave the hut until 11 AM to climb Mt Washington. One of the thru hikers dream climbed and view. Needless to say we did not like the huts or the face that we could not camp.

But we had wonderful weather thru the "Whites" and NH - we are probably the largest group in years to go thru the "Whites" with no rain and really nice fall weather. We also managed to camp in our tents at rivers, ponds and creeks without a $250 fine for illegal camping. At a few of our camp spots we just could not resist to camp with a "no camping sign."

Our "Whites" group was:

Black Bird, Gozer, Fancy Pants, Stick man, Patches and Crazy Lady

Black Bird - we met before and hiked some with him - he is 24 and lives in Maine - he use to do 20 plus miles a day but after he met up with us at the 1st NH shelter, he now hikes with us - good company and lots of fun - he of course tells everyone the reason he hikes with us is because Patches and myself (Crazy Lady) are such good entertainment. I think he really just enjoys the trail with less miles a day and more camping time.

Gozer - we met before - early 30's from Austin, TX - she can run a few miles herself, but the "Whites" slowed her down - she does the trail for courage and self esteem - she hiked my speed and it sure was nice to have someone to talk and laugh with on the trail.

Fancy Pants - a special friend for 7 yrs - also from Austin, TX - he does the trail for emotional support - he is the lightest hiker and the trail his backpack only weights about 12 lbs (with food about 16 lbs) - he tried to do trail with only $1000 but realized it was not possible - he stayed at lots of places and worked for stay and departed with free food (trail magic) - nice guy - a very good hiking partner for Patches.

Stick man - also with us on and off

Crazy Lady - from Georgia - an Occupational Therapist for Home Care

Patches - from Georgia - a student and a very special person to Crazy Lady and especially to her daughter.

We call ourselves the A Team - all 6 of us got lost/missed the trail - it was not marked very well. We did manage to get where we were suppose to be.

One day Gozer and Fancy Pants hitched into town and brought us lots of nice food - Italian sauces, hot dogs, chicken - we had a nice fire and a feast. Patches and Black bird was surrounded by a big BLACK BEAR - the bear charged them a few times - circled them and even took Patches tent out of his back pack and ran down the trail with it - all that Patches could here was the tearing noises - lucky it was only the bag - and the tent was OK. Stick man came down the trail and the bear left - I was so glad that it was 2 of them and not just 1.

Black bird and I (Crazy lady) got to fly our kite on Mt Washington - not very good because the wind was not good.

The "Whites" (NH) so far was definitely my best - the climbs was wonderful - the views breath taking - the wind fantastic - pretty cruel, brutal, hard - but all and all AWESOME - like you are in the clouds.

NH - MAINE BORDER - 1894.8 miles

2009-09-30T03:20:00.000-07:00

Hitched out of Lincoln - got a ride with Duster - Duster, White Glaze and White Glove thru hiked in 1989. Duster's husband thru hiked in 1999 - she started with him, but could not finish due to a injury - they live just down the road from Cheb - we talked with them when we went to the store - they offered to take us back to trail and hike the 1st mile with us - very nice couple.

We did good thru N.H. - average 9.5 miles a day with all the steep climbs up & down. The "Whites" was one of those experiences that is hard to share - but it was fantastic!

Fancy Pants got a job for a few days in Gorham, NH to help him get thru Maine. He used my tent - I shared with Gozer 4 nights. Gozer got sick and stayed at Carlo Col Shelter - 1st shelter in Maine waiting for Fancy Pants to catch up - I spent the night in the shelter - we gave her some of our meds and hope for the best.

Good Bye New Hampshire - Hello Maine (the one we have been waiting for) - LAST STATE

Kinsman Mt - 1798.1 miles

2009-09-29T03:24:00.001-07:00

Some light rain - cloudy - not much visibility. Climbed Kinsman Mt - South and North - 2000 ft in 3 miles.

We did plus/minus 10 miles - not to much view - the wind blew - Love the wind remind me a lot of Capetown - the wind blew me almost off my feet. For all the people in South Africa it is like a windy day at the Labour - I just love it. I met a young man from S A that is here for 3 years - day hiking - it was nice to talk with him.

We made it back to Lincoln - the 3 of us got a ride with a lady that knew Chet and lives close to him - how nice for us - when we got to Chet's house they were busy fixing super for all the hikers. Due to the rain most all the hikers took a 0 day (no hiking) - they all pull together to make food and breakfast the next morning - there were 26 north and south bound hikers - nice group.

Eliza Brook Shelter - 1794.7 miles

2009-09-29T03:12:00.000-07:00

BB and us hitch hiked out of Lincoln back to trail. Patches and myself ate some nice breakfast in town - we waited about 5-10 minutes for a ride - a nice lady that just dropped her brother off at trail head - gave us a ride and each of us a Vermont apple.

We hiked up Kinsman Notch, Mt Wolf east peak - slept at Eliza Brook Shelter - some day hikers/section hikers and us. Pretty cold and also rained most of the night. All three of us were very tired and sleepy due to previous night - little sleep in hostel - over crowded and Lucky Joe came back for slack pack about 10:30 pm and could not stop talking - the tent pads was horrible and lots of mud - fire sand splatter into our tents and our zippers.

North Woodstock, NH - 1803.5 miles

2009-09-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

We got up early - Black Bird (nice guy and we enjoy his company) is hiking with us and sounds like he might stay with us thru the "Whites" and Maine.

We left camp 1/2 hour earlier than usual - ready for our 1st mountain of the "Whites" - Mt Moosilauke - Elev 4802 - the morning is cool (about 40 degrees) with some wind - 4 1/2 miles to the top - no turning back - some nice boulders and steep rocks - a pretty sunny morning. On Top of the Mt the wind was blowing strong and about 50 degrees - with the wind we did not know we had our winter gear on - the view was spectacular. We saw Mt Lafayette and Mt Lincoln and of course Mt Washington - clear sky - we had our lunch a little down the east south side - out of the wind.

The down was steep and very slick - 3.8 miles - 3000 ft down a waterfall - so pretty!

At the Rd we hitched into Lincoln - 6 miles. We were very lucky - in about 10 minutes a nice man from CT picked us up and took us in to North Woodstock, NH - about 1/2 miles from Lincoln - here we got another ride to the hikers hostel. Now we have stayed in a lot of hostel's - but this hostel is "one step above the others". The owner (late 30's) is in a wheelchair - about 7 yrs ago a white gas camp stove exploded while he was priming it - he lost most of his function in his legs and is legally blind. his attitude is so positive - he still does his exercise and works out daily. He is able to ambulate some with a walker and a few steps without. He lets you use bikes to go to town to shop. Well....at the hostel we ran into hikers that was quite some miles ahead of us.

We plan to stay here tomorrow night again.

Stick man was also at the hostel - he is about 15 miles ahead of us. If we can keep our days 8-10 miles in the "Whites" we will be OK.

We love the "Whites" very pretty and we meet lots of nice day hikers/section hikers.

Have fun......we do!

Mt Moosilauke - 4783.4 miles

2009-09-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

Four days in NH - Aug 23 and 24 we had rain - heavy rain later in day and to much thunder. The Mt's and ledges are very pretty - some beautiful view.

Aug 23 after start in rain and resupply we made it to Moose Mt Shelter - it is muddy - some nice tent spots - 2 section hikers and some south bounds and Blackbird - a younger man that has hiked with us before. The three of us are going to tackle the whites together. We have lost track of Poppins.

At the shelter a day hiker left us some fresh water and cookies - It was nice!

Hiked most of the day in sun - last few miles when we went up Smart's Mt - Elev 3240 ft - it started to rain. I made it over ledges and mt without cuts and falls.

Before we climbed Smart Mt we stopped at an older mans house for fresh water and ice cream (trail magic). We (Patches, Black Bird and myself) played a game of crochet - what fun! Later we heard that his nice man is a "Physic" - just turned 81 and still practicing (just on thru hikers I think...Ha..Ha)

We are camping at Fire Wardens Cabins - nice view over a lake and mt - not much of a sunset but the morning was very pretty - we were above cloud level - very nice.

We met some day hikers - older people that hike in a group - stay in hotels at night. Saw them 2 days in a row - said that Patches and myself looking good and happy - happier than most other hikers that pass them.

Aug 25 - We had the whole day to hike 10 miles where we could have hot chocolate - another thru hiker and his mom is going to give us nice food - What a feast....Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Salads...they brought their gas grill to cook the meat - it was so nice! We pitched our tents on level spot close to the road.

Aug 26 - we officially in the "Whites" - we slept at the start of Mt Moosilauke and very ready to climb the 4800 ft to the top. We had some rain today, but it is suppose to be a pretty day tomorrow - it is cool. We had a nice campfire - thanks to Black Bird and Patches.

Goodnight.............Have fun - we still love our hike..............

VT-NH - 1733.8 miles

2009-08-31T18:37:00.000-07:00

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST......

Welcome to New Hampshire....

Vermont was definitly the prettest and nices state....THANKS!!!

Now we are ready for N.H. - the Whites & MAINE (the one we have been waiting for)

See you in 40 days - we hope....

We plan to enjoy the next 2 states to the fullest!!!

Have Fun

West Hartford, VT - 1724.5 miles

2009-08-31T18:25:00.000-07:00

No sunrise - just overcast - the stars were so pretty last night - so clear until it got overcast and ready for rain. We were rudely awoke by 2 horses that decided to come and investigate my tent - they were very big and I was very scared - the tent is very thin with no protection - Of course I called for help from Patches - not realizing I called in African - he only understood some...so early... 6am and no coffee yet - thank goodness the horses left me alone!

We started hiking with some soft rain - very humid and hard to hike - about 1 PM it started to rain with heavy thundering & lighting. What a hike - we ran with backpacks over ridges with these pretty wildflowers and thunder & lighting all around us.

At West Hartford, VT we discovered a nice store with fish & chips.....delicious!!! A nice man close to store allows hikers to sleep in his barn - which was 6 hikers, 1 dog and lots of rain outside.

10 miles away from Hanover, NH!!!!!

Woodstock, VT - 1711.9 miles

2009-08-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

What a pretty day - real good hiking weather - lots of ups and downs again - we hiked 14.5 miles to make up for yesterday.

At VT Rte 12 was a farm stand - we got ice cream, bananas and summer sauce - what a treat!
Tonight we are sleeping in a cow pasture - hoping to have a nice sunset and sunrise. The mts in VT is so pretty.

We are 23 miles away from New Hampshire - we are getting in a hurry to get to the whites .

All of you have fun - we do - Enjoy everyday.......

2009-08-27T19:48:00.000-07:00

Got up normal time - went for a nice breakfast - caught the 9:15 bus to the trail head - started hiking North again - lots of steep up and downs. Then......we realized we forgot coffee - Patches hiked down a road to a store and got coffee. We hiked over a board walk for about 1/2 miles that was put here last year for disabled people - very pretty wild flowers.

A lady told about the waterfall - that they turn it off - run the water thru a big pipe to make electricity for Killington - they have been doing this over 100 yrs - this is the only way to get electricity into Killington - which is a ski town - Rutland is the 2nd biggest town in VT. Apparently Stratton and Killington ski area was the most expensive in the country last year.

VT is very pretty - we had our first real lighting and thunder since we have been in VT - of course just when I reached the ridge on top of the mountain - it poured rain w/thunder & lighting (I was a little scared) - but both of us made it safe to the shelter.

2009-08-27T19:28:00.000-07:00

Got up 5:30 AM again - must catch bus to trail head Ash,VT - to hike south 17 miles. Since we are pure hikers - our back packs go up the mountain with us. We did leave our tents and extra clothes. We went to shop and got coffee and muffins and headed for the bus. The bus dropped us off at trail head at 7:45 AM. We stated climbing Killington Mt up the 4000 ft - highest point on AT in Vermont - a very pretty hike - field flowers were so pretty - nice hike lots of ups and downs. We were back at trail head at VT 103 just after 4 PM. We are having trouble with our water filter - takes us 1 hr 45 min to filter 3 - 4 liters (wasting time) we decided that we will get bleach as back up untill we get to Hanover, NH to get a the new filter that is waiting for us. We got a hitch in about 10 minutes to the mall and from there we took the bus. At 5 PM we were back at hostel and decided to go see the new Harry Potter movie - it was such a nice treat - Rockworm went with us - a nice guy that thru hiked in 2005 and now doing it again - also spent 3 yrs in South Africa - he enjoyed it a lot. At the movies we had popcorn - which also was our supper - along with a peach and banana.

Very nice!

Rutland, VT -1688.2 miles

2009-08-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

We got up 5:30 AM - hiked 12.4 miles into VT Rte 103 - where you can get a bus or hitch hike into Rutland, VT - 8 miles into town. It was a nice hike - I did not get lost and tried hard to keep up with Patches speed - very easy terrain. When Patches got to trail head parking - there was a man going to his car - he asked "if he was going to Rutland" and he said "No" - but he can take him there - so Patches asked "can you wait on my mother-in- law" - well how lucky can we get...He dropped us off right in front of the hostel in down town Rutland before 1 PM - how is that for good timing. The hostel is run by Twelve Tribes - a culture that also runs Back Home Again Cafe & outfitters shop all in 1 building. The young guy that showed me around and taught me the rules offered me a job in the kitchen - just so I would not have to pay to stay. Patches had paid for us to stay - we discussed it and went to the head guy and he gave our money back and sent us to the kitchen -(if they just knew) - they gave us both on of the big chopping knives - we both are still alive - we chopped all the vegetables for the soup the next day - we worked about 1 1/2 hours - then they ran of jobs for us. So, we went to resupply and then went to eat at 8 PM Monday night get together - nice food. We decided to hike over Mt Killington and come back here to the hostel.

LIttle Rock Pond - 1658.6 miles

2009-08-27T18:42:00.000-07:00

Sorry to all of you that support and cheer so good but today our 14 mile hike took a detour and became 9 mile hike - It was wonderful and definitely the most beautiful place on the trail - it called our names and we had to stay....

It is called Little Rock Pond - got here around 1 PM for a lunch break - Patches decided that it is a good place to wash clothes - then it all started...I came around the corner and guess who is in the pond - our Georgia Boy - swimming. The pond is so clean you can see your feet and the rocks. Well I stop and jump in - that was the end of our hiking day - there was a canoe waiting for us to canoe around the pond. (The caretaker was a nice young student) We pitched our tents - relaxed - Patches tried to catch fish but he was only feeding the fish - we ate our macaroni & cheese with French music by a lady camping with family and friends - WHAT A TREAT - they invited us to their campfire - Patches played guitar and song - what a wonderful treat to ourselves - we enjoyed every bit! Thanks GMC for a wonderful place to relax and pitch tent. The caretaker sid that we were the happiest hikers he has seen in the last month and 1/2 hiking thru.

Tomorrow we want to leave early to 13 miles into town - we will see....

Have fun we really do!!!!

Griffith Lake - 1649.0 miles

2009-08-27T18:22:00.000-07:00

The end of month 5 - begin month 6!

Patches and myself has decided that Vermont is the best part of the whole AT that we have done we far. Very pretty - nice climbs - we really enjoyed every day of the last week a lot. Yesterday we climbed Mt Stratton - wonderful views of all the mountains so far.

Today we went up Mt Bromley - 3260 fit - saw our first sky lift. It is hard to think in 3 months all these mts will be covered in snow - according to the locals. The last 2 days has been sunny and warm. Today we also climbed Styles Peak - 3395 ft - and Peru Peck - 3429 ft. We set up camp on old job tail just off AT - close to Griffith Lake. Peru Peak shelter charges to stay. Vermont has 3 shelter and tent sites that charges $5 per person - ran by Green Mt Club.

Stratton Mountain - 1624.7 miles

2009-08-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

I forgot to tell you that Gregory sent back my pack that they fixed - I sent back the loaner - my pack works good again. Patches pack was fixed again for the 3rd time - same problem - hope it will hold till the end.

Today was tuff probably the most mud that we have had to deal with so far - deep mud. You have to use hiking poles to see how deep the mud is and if the rock is really rock. The hike took longer than usual and my feet and legs can feel it tonight - toes are tired trying to balance and slipping and sliding the whole day. It did not rain and towards the evening we had some sunshine - most of the day was cool. Patches even put on his new fleece jacket when we stopped for snack/lunch. Vermont fall is on us - I hope we make it thru the whites with the cold weather. Tomorrow we climb Stratton Mt - 1700 ft - very steep up. We will see......

Vermont is very pretty - has lots of fur trees and other trees that I do not know the name - makes nice pictures.

Goddard Shelter - 1608.4 miles

2009-08-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

We had 2 days 0 miles - rest & visit with Doug, Peggy & Chipmunk - it was a very nice time off the trail - we enjoyed the visit - nice room and food.

We said our good byes and left up the mountain. A very nice hike - started out in sunshine for about and hour - then it stated to pour down on us. It did not take long for the trail to be a river again - needless to say our boots did not stay dry.

Vermont trail so far is steep up hills but not bad at all. We tent at Goddard Shelter - Elev 6540 ft - nice to be this high again.

Have fun we do!!!

Patches Trail Photos

2009-08-21T03:04:00.000-07:00

2009-08-21T02:58:00.000-07:00

Hikes 14 miles into town - Doug, Peggy and Charlotte (chipmunk) are on the way to visit with us for 3 days. The hike was relatively easy - steep down hill towards the end - it rained just enough to wet the rocks and make it slippery - I did detour a little yesterday and today - but did find my way out again. We are looking forward to some rest before the last 577 miles. The last few days and night were cold.

Have fun - we do!

Mt Greylock- 1573.6 miles

2009-08-21T02:42:00.000-07:00

Pond on tops of Mt Greylock
highest water body in MA - 3000 ft

Climbed Mt Greylock - highest peck in MA - 3491 ft. A wonderful sunny day - with views back and forward to north - up the mt was not to bad - down was a little steep. We completed our hike in MA and sleep tonight in Vermont - in the green mountains - 3 states to go. The southern end of the long trail is at the MA - VT border - the AT and long trail are concurrent for 105 miles. The long trail completed in 1930 is the nation's first long-distant trail.

Cheshire, MA - 1565.9 miles

2009-08-21T02:36:00.000-07:00

Back on the trail....

A very nice sunny day - nice easy hike - trail still muddy and wet. we hiked thru Cheshire, MA with a nice ice cream place right on the trail - lunch was very good. There is also a bike trail for about 23 miles - we enjoyed seeing families and kids pass by on their bikes - some stopped for ice cream.

Was a nice day!

Rest @ Bird Cage

2009-08-21T02:32:00.000-07:00

I called all the family - fixed our clothes with a patch her and there. Patches had a terrible migraine. Rob's dog "Tinker" (a 140 lb black dog) took very good care of Patches. Rob said that Tinker can sense when a hiker is not well. Rob's son took us to Walmart to resupply. Thank you Rob for you hospitality.

Dalton, MA - 1556.6 miles

2009-08-21T02:20:00.000-07:00

Rob doing laundry @ Bird Cage

We hiked 16.5 miles into Dalton, MA - to resupply, rest and get clean at the "Bird Cage". The sun is shining - the trail is still wet and muddy - but all in all a nice easy hike.

"Bird Cage" is the house of Rob - an older man that takes hikers in for free (donations). He and his son lives at the house - which can sleep 20 hikers on beds, bunks in the basement and attic of garage. Patches and me got a bed each in a room next to the bathroom. The 1st night there were 20 stinky hikers. He welcomes you at the door - makes you take off your boots and leave your poles outside - directs you to the kitchen where all the stinky hikers stand in line for a shower. He does the laundry - folds the clothes very neat. For supper he drives all the hikers to a diner/country buffet. We set a new record of how many hikers you can get in a Ford windstar - 17 - the food at the dinner was very nice.

Finerty Pond - 1540.7 miles

2009-08-21T01:42:00.000-07:00

No tenting signs - please note tents in background

Sunset on the Finerty Pond

Patches at our illegal campsite next to pond
(see our new alcohol stove & spam)

Mushroom Tree

Wildflowers

Wow - another sunshine day! Our wet socks are almost dry - nice peaceful day.

Mother nature suffers with all the rain - the trail is usually 2 - 3 ft wide is now in some place 5 - 6 ft - due to mud & rivers in trail - hikers are looking for a dry spot to hike. Due to swamp terrain the mushrooms and Indian pipes are plentiful - the leaves are starting to drop and change color.

Today again was a wonderful day! We are camping illegal at Finerty Pond, Mass. Last night we had some coyotes howling - sounded like a big pack.

Have fun we do!

Shakers Campsite - 1526.1 miles

2009-08-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

Hemlock tunnel

What a pretty day - wake up with sunshine - took it easy - time off to rest and visit with south bounders and some day hikers on trail - ate lunch at Benedict Pond - in Mass there are a few ponds like Georgia lakes - very nice - some high up in the mountain. Some blueberry bushes at pond - that was our desert. Grits saw a garter snake in a blueberry bush - very busy trying to shed its skin.

We are camping Q at Shakers Campsite - my new free standing tent became free standing enough to be pitched on platform - Grits and PennJ are camping with us - our other neighbors are plentiful mosquitoes. Patches managed to make a fire out of wet wood, so we could eat supper before the mosquitoes carry us away. U

In all it was a wonderful day!

2009-08-20T18:53:00.000-07:00

Woke up to overcast and determining rain - rained the whole day - the trail is a swamp (wet and muddy) - detoured around the river that is so flooded - the cornfields are flooded - the boardwalks are under mud and water - very slippery.

Today I fell off a boardwalk into a swamp pond - as deep as my butt - no railing and to deep for the poles......there I went......backpack and all. Today was the first day that the trail almost got the best of me.

I am OK - I feel better now that we have all had a good laugh and are at the lean to - we are now in our tents - it is not raining - but everything is wet - we are meeting lots of south bounders now.

Had good trail magic this morning - bagels, cream cheese & orange juice - all so good!

We have 6 more days in Mass......

Welcome to USA Mom & Dad - hope the flight was OK - see you in October

All of you must have fun.....We Do!...rain, mud or none

Mt Everett - 1499.4 miles

2009-08-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

View from Bear Mt

A new month - new state - 4 states to go! The sun is shining - the views are fantastic. We went over - LION'S HEAD and BEAR MT - highest point in CT - 25316 ft.

We left Connecticut - entered in Massachusetts - went up and down Race Mt (2430 ft) - Mt Everett (2602 ft) - all the climbing up felt good. The trail is still very muddy and wet. My gymnastic days as a young girl almost helped - I fell off of a thin log - Patches said he knew I would fall there - (Grits was watching the fall) - thank goodness for Afrikaans - they still wander what I was saying - needless to say my boots are wet and muddy! The sunshine and views are good.........So who cares!

Got some fresh corn as trail magic.

Salisburg, CT - 1486.4 miles

2009-08-20T18:23:00.000-07:00

The mosquitoes and rain has got to us....we hiked into Salisbury, CT to resupply and found a cheap room to get out of the swamp and rain. We bought us a cooked chicken , loaf bread, lots of garlic and can of cream sweet corn - What a feast! - watched TV and relaxed. One more hiking day in CT.

Life is good!

Better's Campsite - 1475.9 miles

2009-08-19T19:27:00.001-07:00

Patches hiking thru flooded creek

Hiking thru Cracked Bolder - similar to NY Lemon Squeeze

It poured rain all night until about 6:30am - the Housatonic River about overflowed in spots on the AT - we hiked 3 miles next to river today. The Guinea Brook overflowed - we had to take our boots off and wade thru the water. Patches was up to his knees in water - pretty strong current-another first for us "wading the river".

In CT you are only allowed to camp at certain places - must say CT has enough camp spots with not to many miles in between - mosquitoes are still eating us up - I hiked today with my net over my head - it helps a lot. CT has Lemon Squeeze also - nothing compared to NY - but still some technical climbing.

Today was fun!

2009-08-19T19:14:00.000-07:00

We left Kent, CT in semi-rain - did 7 miles to shelter - pouring rain- went steep down -St Johns Ledge - 91 stone steps to Housatonic River-slippery due to rain. Not raining when we arrived at shelter - managed to pitch tents - set up camp and cook - it started to rain again - we did laundry in Kent so we did have everything clean and dry.

The privy in CT is now correctly called "Toilet". Shelters are now called "Lean to" - not very well marked on trail to shelters.

Tomorrow is a new day.....Have Fun!

Kent, CT - 1453.7 miles - 722.5 miles to go

2009-08-05T19:07:00.000-07:00

We are in Kent, CT to do laundry, eat and resupply our food bags. Camped last night .3 miles off the road into Kent and was in Kent by 8 AM - had a good breakfast - doing laundry - New England is more expensive but it is OK - we have less than a 1/3 to go!!!

The trail is wet and slippery - for the last week we had thunderstorms. Last night was dry - some of the brooks are overflowing - that make crossing more difficult - have to plan and take careful steps.

Have fun - We do!!!

Good bye New York - Hello Connecticut

2009-08-05T18:48:00.000-07:00

Great Swamps of New York Boardwalk

AT railroad station

PATCHES with Tenn River behind him

Tim's Tasty Dogs

Largest Oak Tree on AT Trail

We are camping tonight 1.2 miles from the NY-CT border - NEW ENGLAND AT LAST!

It rained most of the night - tents still wet - had thunderstorm about 4-5PM - pitched our tents in semi-rain - it is now 7:30 PM - it is thundering again . Today was nice hike - trail would be much better if it had not rained so much. Hiked for a few miles through the great swamps of NY.

Today most of trail was wet and swampy - my boots have not been this dirty since the start. There was a hot dog stand just of the trail - Tim's Tasty Dogs - we got a bratwurst dog - nice African snack - change was a 2 dollar bill - I will carry as my lucky $2 bill - I did not know about a lucky $2 bill - but Patches informed me he got a dollar coin of 1972 that he will carry for luck.

We passed the biggest Oak tree on the trail - 20 ft 4 inches and 300 yrs old. Met 6 southbound hikers. I am going to read now and listen to the rain.

Have fun - We do!!

Morgan Stewart Shelter - 1424.7 miles - 751.6 miles to go

2009-08-05T18:35:00.000-07:00

1 day hike over in New York. Had beer & ice cream mid-afternoon snack (Not my favorite) - but when you hike the AT your taste buds change. It is now 6.45 PM - we are in tents to wait out thunder storm - 1 guy in shelter - it has been thundering for about the last 45 min - at 11 PM we had severe thunder and lightning storm. Today is overcast and it rained about 20-30 min around 2 PM - we were luck we were at a Pizza place - Pizzeria - we had our 1st and last NY Pizza - what a treat - dessert we shared a 1/4 gallon of ice cream - carried left overs with us for supper.

Today was a nice hike - some ups & downs - some slippery places due to last nights rain - the mosquitoes still eat us up.

We camp tonight with a young man from Japan - came over just to hike the AT. You think I have a accent - I have a hard time understanding him - Patches just sat and read his book.

Have fun - we do!

2009-08-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

Patches having lunch - dividing mosquitoes between him and his backpack.

Water pump at RPH Shelter

Patches writing about his pictures

Nice easy day - lots of day hikers. Almost did not manage to boil water for coffee this morning - but now the stove works great. Got to shelter early to rest and let tents dry out - had a terrible thunder and lighting storm last night - sunny today - tents dry in time to rest.

1390.4 miles - 785.8 to go

2009-08-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

We made it in good time back to trail head and post office to pick up Patches' boots - now we are ready for trail. Had difficulty getting white gas - so Patches made a simple alcohol stove out of coke can (we will see how it works). We went through Bear Mt Trailside Museum and Zoo - very depressing - small cages - animals look so weak and sick - very sad.

The trail is nice very easy compared to prior days - NY water looks brown even after treatment.
We still meet hikers with Lyme disease - they carry on slowly.

Bear Mt - 1389.7 miles

2009-08-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

13 mile hike to Bear Mt - must be there by 3pm to meet Uncle Roger. Got up 5:30 am - left camp 7 am - good ideal - trail still tuff and technical. We have done 56 miles in 4 days and can feel it. We made it to meet Uncle Roger & Aunt Leslie (Patches dad brother and sister)

Thank you Roger & Leslie for picking us up - driving us around to get what we need - shower & laundry (we smell much better) - they agreed. Ate nice spare ribs - what a feast! Slept in a real bed - Thanks!

Now we are ready for the last 50 miles of NY!!!

Lemon Squeezer,NY -1374.2 miles

2009-08-05T18:01:00.000-07:00

Still more boulders - very technical climbs with out equipment. I did not fall today - some stiffness from prior days - NEW YORK IS BRUTAL - did 14.3 miles today. The Lemon Squeezer is a tight fit for hiker and backpack - we made it safely. Island Pond Mt very high technical climb. I thought I might need to take my backpack off - but I did it with backpack and all - Patches was standing by. (Some of the young hikers could not make it and went around the easy way) When we get to the shelter and hear the young hikers tell how tuff the day was - I feel better about our hike - what we have achieved.

Tomorrow we meet Patches Uncle Roger - will spend the night in Connecticut.

Have fun - we do!

2009-08-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

Breakfast at Mayors house

Now all of you know about the mayors house - we had a wonderful breakfast - felt just wonderful - then they dropped us off at the trail head @ 7:30 AM - planned to do 17 miles and enter New York - needless to say we entered new state and were dropped off in pouring rain. I cannot remember when we had to hike a hole day in rain - it is now 8 pm and still pouring rain. What is not wet yet- will be by tomorrow - it also turned cold today. When we decide to do a big day (more than 13 or 14 miles) it either rains or the terrain is so difficult there is no way! Today in pouring rain we hiked on a high ridge - on boulders - high sharp edge for about 6 miles. After slipping and fall #10 I stopped counting and started to slide on my butt. Patches was wonderful he stayed with me to guide me on these slippery rocks. I am very thankful and grateful that after so many falls - no injuries. I did down a few Ibuprofen to prevent muscle stiffness.

80 more miles of New York.........

Have fun - we do!

Happy Birthday Wilhelm

2009-08-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

Today was an easy day - mosquitoes still eating us alive. Patches saw his 1st rattlesnake - he is happy. He fell/slipped on a wet rock - hurt his little finger - then he bumped his head hard in a shelter on a low roof (last 2 shelters had very low roofs). We are at High Point Shelter (850.3 miles to go.

HAVE FUN!

2009-08-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

Monament in NJ

Lake/Dam at YMCA

What a wonderful day!

I need to back track again......In PA both of us lost the trail about 1 week ago. There were lots of rocks - lots of weekenders and very little to no white blazes. Lucky we found the trail and each other without any problems. Both of us also fell in PA on the rocks - again without injury - I was caught by a rotten dead tree truck - Patches by some green underbrush. We do know that you can try to catch yourself or block the fall - but when your backpack shifts weight you are going down.

The last few water ponds/small lakes has the most beautiful water lilies - the big white pink areas looks like a fairy tale picture. Today was the 1st day that I really miss my flower book - I saw 2 new flowers. The underbrush in New Jersey is very pretty - has some ferns, blue berry bushes, mt laurels - looks like some kind of botanic garden.

New Jersey still has rocks but not as difficult as PA. The mountains are not so high. They have a few fire towers - we climbed 2 - 1st one had 72 steps - today's had 52 steps - the view from the towers are wonderful.

I saw a few humming birds - one came straight for my face - definitely enough mosquitoes for them - mosquitoes so bad today if you walked slow they covered you (deet didn't work). Patches saw a bear today - bear was not friendly - another hiker saw a cub. This morning 2 hikers eating breakfast had a bear circling them a few times - they blew whistle and banged hiking poles to get the bear to leave. We are in bear country - apparently to many bears for little woods.

We hiked past a lake that was formed by a crater years ago. Patches put his back pack next to trail and I walked right past it - I was in a hurry - it was a level spot and I did not need to look at my feet - so I missed it - lucky he caught up with me.

We met a section hiker in Shenandoah Park, VA that lives in NJ - he gave us his # and told us to call when we got in NJ - we did - he arranged to meet us 2 pm today. What a treat - coke, pizza, cookies and chocolate - we visited with him for 2 hours. He drove an hour to meet us - Thank you.

Tonight at this shelter - 4 tents - 5 in shelter - 2 more on the way. At this time it is raining - rain is nice - we need it.

LIFE IS GOOD!

2009-08-04T18:47:00.000-07:00

Had no water when we got up this morning - opened the bear box (a big steal box to put food in to protect it) - mice had got in the box - chewed 2 holes in my food bag (ate some of my trail mix and took a bite of my fresh bread) - OK is our glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty (literally it is empty) - we packed up and hiked to our water source.

Then I realize....my glass is totally full all the time and sometime even overflowing. What a pretty place - how fortunate we are to be so close to nature. It is a glazier lake with deer drinking water - bull frogs serenading and surrounded by sweet fresh blue berries - what a feast! Blue berries originated in New Jersey - by a lady that mixed other king of berries together. The tad poles in this lake are about gold fish size - their bodies with the tail still on and hind legs just starting to develop.

We also now know that New England states are Connecticut and North - even with the Mason Dixon line at begin of PA.

Sleeping tonight at this falling apart camp site for groups - poor maintenance - we pitched our tents next to the lake - the tree frogs, bull frogs serenade us - so pretty. I swam with another thru hiker - enjoyed it a lot.

Today was our 1st warm day - 90 degrees in the sun - very nice - a wonderful day.

LIFE IS GOOD!

Delaware Water Gap - 1281.6 miles

2009-08-03T18:25:00.000-07:00

We are still meeting new and old friends - so in the evening we sit around the fire and visit until dark - really nice!

The last few days has been interesting hiking - rocks & boulders - poison ivy - mosquitoes - ticks. We have been taking it easy a few days to give Patches time to get better - he is doing good - thanks to our Doctor and the follow up call and the antibiotics. He is doing better than his gear - his back pack spine snapped again - they sent a new one and back pack is fixed again - we hope it will hold until the end. His new boots are tearing loose - the rocks are brutal - REI is sending a new pair to Bear Mt, NY. His left hiking pole lost its tip in the rocks - we found it but lost it again. He has a small blister on his right heel. What is next???

Our spirits are high and we feel good and still hiking North.

July 12- We spent the night in old jail - Jail House Hostel. Go to jail and sign yourself in - they gave each hiker (about 20) a goody bag - 1/2 of hikers slept on floor and 1/2 slept on bunks - 1 lady slept on the table (Crazy Lady??) Hostel had Gym showers - did not cost anything. Very nice and friendly community for hikers.

July 13- we left Palmerton, PA with 3 Liters of water each - no water for next 16 miles (trail head is 2 miles out of town) - first 4 miles of trail is in the sun - rocks & boulders - climb 1200 ft in 1 mile - highest point in PA. Climbed hand and feet - actually not bad - no vegetation for 4 miles due to acid rain from zinc smelting in the area from 1898 to 1980 - Efforts to restore vegetation began in 1983. We made it to camp - hiked last 3 miles without water - camping tonight with 5 other hikers.

July 14 - still climbing boulders and battling rocks - (almost to break the 900 miles left) at Kirk ridge Shelter we have 901.1 miles left - outside tap for water - this morning after we filled up the tap was dry. Last night a lady brought ice cream and soda to the shelter - again nice trail magic.

July 15 - we hiked into Delaware Water Gap and said good bye to PA - nice bakery and pizza place - tonight we are sleeping in NEW JERSEY (new state/new challenges. I made a big mistake and missed that there was not water at campsite - no coffee tomorrow - we will need to hike 1 to 4 miles to get water and eat breakfast and have coffee. We camped with a lot of noisy girls (girl scouts??) - they are fascinated by the privy - hopefully they will go to sleep soon.

Have fun - we do!!

Hamburg, PA - 1206.1 miles

2009-08-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

5.4 miles

Patches still feeling good - no headache - the antibiotic works.

Today we received double trial magic by trail angels -

1.Went to Hamburg to resupply (+/- 3 miles to and from) - in the Appalachian pages that we use are #'s for shuttles and bus service (with the poor economy these services are also closed) - so we hiked on the Hwy with roadworks in process. The public bus service in Hamburg still works - we came up this road and here comes the bus - we just about jumped in front of it to get it to stop - it costs $1.60 per person (luxury). The bus driver told us when the bus will be at the market again - we have a few hours to shop. At Rite Aid a Grandma (Patricia) and Grandson (Elijah-7yrs) started talking with Patches - very nice lady - she even came to me and told me to have a good week. We shared our pictures with them and they left. We sent to Subway - standing in line - here she came and asked how we were getting back to the trail - she said they would take us. We told her thanks but we needed to do some shopping. "That is OK - I will wait for you" Thank you Patricia - we really appreciated it!

2.Half way up the mountain Patches realized he did not have his hat - we figured out that we left it in Rite Aid - called them - yes the hat is there - but they cannot mail it to him. We decided to send Patricia a postcard and ask if she would go to Rite Aid and get the hat and mail it here. When we arrived at the shelter we met some day hikers - a Biology Professor and students - talked with them and asked if they would mail the postcard to Patricia - they said they would - but they asked which Rite Aid? They left with the postcard and a few hours later here they came back with the hat. We did not get their names - but that was sure nice trail magic. We have met so many nice people on and off the trail.

Thanks to all that have helped us in any way!!

LIFE IS GOOD!!!

OUTHOUSE/MAYORS HOUSE

2009-07-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

BREAKFAST AT THE MAYORS HOUSE

DICK & SHADOW

DICK

BILL

Well we are doing very good it is 1:30 and we already done 12 miles and showered .

Last Sunday we were in jail in Palmerston,PA. It was a very nice experience . On Sunday in this town you go to the police station and sign yourself into the old jail that they use for recreation and in the basement they have 10 bunks that thru hikers can sleep, shower and a nice place to rest . There were 20 people sleeping there that night .

Yesterday we came into Unionville, NY . The trail is still NJ . We are staying with the mayor of the town They call it a village. He was the mayor for 9 yrs and did not stand this year because he is to busy with the thru hikers. His wife died 6-7 yrs ago of MS . He did not even know that the trail was going thru his town at that time . He did notice that most of the people in his village do not like the hikers, he could not work it out so he started hanging around the post office to meet hikers that he liked . When he got home he will tell his wife about all the nice hikers and how they stink . She then said "Well would it not be nice if we get stranded next o the road and somebody would come and rescue us and let us shower". That is where his idea started to open his own house to all the stinking nice hikers . He opened the mayors house 3 years ago his name traveled all over the trail . He also took an older man in his house that does all the cooking for us, he is 81 yrs old, could not afford to stay in his apartment any more . So Dick , Bill and Busch is now running the OUTHOUSE for hikers. They do not asked any money, they feed you 2 meals do your washing and let you shower. Has a few rules when you arrive you must shower 1st . If you like all 10 fingers-stay out of Bill's kitchen , DO NOT TOUCH THE washer or dryer . If you say a 3 or more syllable word you pay 25 cents that goes in to a jar towards Shadows food (their dog).Your 1st beer and coke is free after that you pay 25 cents . They have never hiked and think we are beyond stupid to do this but celebrate every ones victory-what ever your victory is. All the hikers are very impressed and almost cannot believe that someone can just open there house like this, most of us give donations. Bill took us up north this morning and we hiked 12 miles back to his house with our full packs, we do not believe in slack packing-that means you do not carry your pack someone is driving it or you leave it and pick it up later .

We are doing very good .Tell everyone I said Hi and think a lot about all of you .

Crazy Lady

Port Clinton, PA - 1205.3 miles

2009-07-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

Still jumping - falling - tripping on rocks. The big boulders are ahead of us. We are staying at Port Clinton Hotel - some rooms upstairs with an outside door to the rooms. The people in this area is not very friendly or it appears that way. This is a very small town - the only place worth stepping in is the "Peanut Shop" - a candy store with tons of Licorice from England - wonderful trail mix.

We are leaving for the trail - Patches is felling much better after a good nights sleep and a shower. We did get medical advice and he will be OK to go on slowly. He has "Lyme disease" - all smiles - feels good - has 75 miles left of PA.

Have fun...........

2009-07-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

I borrowed another thru hiker's description of PA "Hello, I am Pennsylvanian, your sever today (next week) - our special is ROCKS (medium rare) with a side salad of poison ivy and copperhead for dessert - water on the Tab with no limits - our starter is on the house - deer ticks and a bowl full of mosquitoes - would you like to start with the starter?"

We have 94 more miles of this - hang in there - the big rocks is not that bad - you just have to balance good - some of my butt and hip muscles work all the time - not to talk about concentration - you have to follow the white blaze - you have to look for copperheads before you put you foot or hiking pole down - then you never know if the rock is going to move when you jump on it - Lots of fun!!!! One of our thru hiker - Tag & Tag along - she fell on the rocks and has a blue face - so I am very careful!!!!! The small rocks is the devil - sharp and so close together you cannot get your foot to fit between them - your ankles bend in all directions. At night your feet are tired - lucky we have new boots and hiking poles. The sun is shining and we are only carrying 2-3 days of food so our backpacks are not so heavy. I guess our glasses are full - we are happy and blessed.

Hitch hiked into town - 3 miles today - 3rd truck picked us up - how lucky. It is Monday - everything is closed - no nice town food - we got a ride back to trail head - Thank you nice people of PA. We were told that after the Mason/Dixon line - no more pick ups when you hike.

Well....have a nice summer in GA. We enjoy every day - still meet new hikers daily.

2009-07-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

4th of July Fire (No Works)

We did 15 miles like good hikers - not many hiking today. Patches stepped on a copperhead's tail - lucky nothing happened - he was faster than the copperhead. We reached the shelter in good time to rest and enjoy a peaceful evening. We shared some American whiskey - a few sips each - more for the thought - our party group was - Patches - Crazy Lady - B.B. We have been hiking with B.B for the last few days - he is a section hiker (PA section) - very quite - real academic smart.

Happy 4th...........

Duncannon, PA - 1135.4 miles

2009-07-23T18:20:00.000-07:00

Duncannon, PA View

We rushed into Duncannon, PA to re-supply and wash our sleeping bags - they stink. The trail goes thru Duncannon - down a road with a different church on each corner. We are on our way to the campground - $3.50 to pitch tent - can shower and shuttle service - we got to the camp - what a dump - he does not shuttle - has taxi service - so we have to walk 2 miles and back to the store and laundry. The restrooms are cement black - stink - get sick if you shower - the camp is also next to railroad - it is like an interstate all night - trains coming and going - I guess it is true - you get what you pay for! We did walk to the store to re-supply and when we left the shop a young man asked if we were on our way to the Pub - we said yes - so we did not have to walk 1 mile. Cost arm and leg to wash our sleeping bags - but worth every penny of it. We went to the Doyle Hotel - most hikers spent the night in a hotel with a pub - the food we wonderful. We visited with some other hikers until about 7:50 - then went to our dumpster camp, railroad & trains.

Patches has a lot of animals/snakes he wants to see. Today we saw our 1st copperhead - PA is known for it's rocks - well.....Mr Copperhead was on leaves (the same color as him) you could hardly see it - sort of under a rock. With all the rocks - up & down - it has slowed our pace - makes the day longer. We also saw a nice box turtle. PA's mountains are very flat looking, but on top of the flat was rocky as can be!

Patches critters:

Copperhead

Box Turtle

Snapping Turtle

Book Worms

Tomorrow is the 4th of July - Happy Fourth of July to all you Americans - we will see what happens on the trail.

Have fun.............

Boiling Springs, PA - 1109.7 miles

2009-07-23T17:45:00.000-07:00

Bench made out of rocks

Tunnel for hikers

Patches relaxing at Creek

Old Cemetery in Cumberland Gap

We plan to have an easy hike into Boiling Springs, PA. Well...the PA boulders start - you climb up - down (hand & foot) - it is like a maize - you can get lost or take a wrong route - then you get almost to town and it is cornfields and soybean fields with lots of blackberry bushes -
Life is Good!

Boiling Springs is a very small - pretty town - the springs are so clear. We went to the ATC Mid-Atlantic Regional Office and we find on the notice board - This lodge has hiked rates - $25 for a double room and $10 for buffet (all you can eat). It was very nice to sleep in a bed again - 3 showers in 2 days - what luxury!

Patches mis-placed his book - hope the hiker that picks it up will enjoy it.

Looked at the map today - it is flat thru farmland - nothing to look forward to. We put on suntan lotion because these cornfields are going to burn us up. What a surprise - the tail goes thru this canopy of Mulberry trees - blackberry bushes - shade trees - today was a very nice hike day! The cornfields look fantastic - the wheat is pretty also. I felt like "Ruth" pick a few wheat ears and shuck them - then cut - very nice to nibble on - the mulberries were so sweet!

We took a lunch break after 7 miles at a house with sign "I can make to the fence in 2 minutes 9 seconds - can you" Pit bull - did not see the dog, but the tree looked safe and climbable.

In Harrisburg they have a big beer brewery. In PA you can get learners license at 16 - but real license at 18. You can only buy beer at a pub or package store - not at grocery or convenient store.

We made it to the shelter - pitched tents just in time for a heavy storm - thunder and all.

Well have a nice summer - enjoy - we do............

AT midpoint

2009-07-23T17:29:00.000-07:00

Pass the real 1/2 way mark - completed 1103.0 miles - 1075.3 miles to go- ALL THE WAY!

Pine Grove State Park General Store

Very nice early hike today. We did eat ice cream - but did not go for the half gallon challenge - we did 6 oz each.

Pine Grove State Park - Pine Grove Furnace is where they made iron in the 1800 and early 1900's - very nice park.

Pine Grove Furnace

We camp tonight at Deer Run Camp ground - showered and did laundry ($5.00) - paid only $10 to pitch tent. The lady at the office gave us wood for fire - 4 hamburger patties - 8 hot dogs - we bought buns - what a feast!

Patches is a very good student with his African lessons - a few more weeks his hiking tongue will be African.

We are really enjoying every day - we stay dry in day - get the rain at night - wonderful!

We are looking forward to our next 1/2!!!

Crazy Lady climbing over trees & rocks

Tom's Run Shelter - 1088.5 miles

2009-07-23T17:18:00.000-07:00

Patches eating blueberries

"feed bag" in the non-snoring section of Tumbling Run Shelter

"Happy Brithday - Mofo"

Mofo thru hiked a few times before and hiking again now - he is 62 today - from SC.

PA has the best shelters and tent spots so far - very nice. The last few days we had fresh blackberries and blueberries - sweet and delicious. We watched the blue berries for the last month - 1st they were flowers - then berries - now blue & sweet.

The past few days we have hiked with 2 teachers. They grew up together - one teaches history in Florida - the other teach English in Ohio. We give them a hard time - they section hike for last 6-7 yrs (1 month at a time).

We are sleeping tonight at Tom's Run Shelter - 1088.5 miles - 6 miles from the mid point of the AT. After tomorrow we have 1089.2 miles to go - ALL THE WAY!

The Mountain Laurels and Rhododendrons are still blooming - very pretty!

Crazy Lady had hair cut yesterday - It feels fantastic.

Have fun we do............

2009-07-23T03:11:00.000-07:00

Sign outside of Quarry Gap Shelter

Patches filtering water

We came we saw - we went - Maryland is behind us. W VA and MD was good to us - so are our new boots - no rain for 3 days - very nice easy hike - we are in PA now (we have 230 miles of PA). Water sources are for away from each other - we must carry our water with us now. PA is low elevation - very rocky - with rattlesnakes.

We have read and heard about 2 incidents in the past few weeks - hard to believe but is true - hikers suffer bad:

Just before Harpers Ferry we read story about a rabid skunk that attached 3 hikers - 2 hikers sharing a tent heard something (5:30 am) looked outside the tent and saw the skunk and tried to chase it away - did not close tent and the next thing they knew the skunk was in the tent and sprayed them- another hiked started running up the trail and the skunk chased him - the hiker sprayed it with pepper spray, but it did no good - the skunk bit the 3rd hiker on his leg - he had to go off the trail to get rabies shot. Sad but true

Another story we read in shelter was about Raccoon attack - a 19 yr old hiker climbed up a tree to get food bag and the raccoon bite him in the face - this young man also had to leave the trail.

It is not the bear or snake we have to fear - enemies are in all sizes and shapes here on the trail.

I have to confess.....The last 2 days I started to section hike the trail - which works like this - We meet for lunch at a nice spot or shelter were there is water - then we meet up at night were we camp - the rest of the day each hiker is own his own. After 3 months of hiking your body knows when it is close to lunch/rest time.

Well... Wednesday the June 25 I got to this road and knew the shelter must be close - so I look in my book just to see the shelter is before the road - so I turn around went back up this rocky hill about 1 1/2 miles - took my cap off just to make sure I did not miss the sign - no shelter - turn around - ran down hill by now Patches must be worried (lucky he was with Mofo & Sita that helped him to stay put) - in my hurry I fell - very mad at myself - try to jump up fast - I did not see if I fell in poison ivy or what - lucky it was a OK spot. Came to the road again still mad at myself - just to find the shelter not even 1/2 mile after road crossing (hiked that section twice)

Today I made it to lunch and had some nice espresso coffee - happy hiking on cross rd's - saw a south bound blue blaze - sign very high up in tree - did not look around for north bound sign - just carry on my merry way in my own world - then hear "Talitha" - look back - Patches is running - I asked him "Did I just pass your tent" - he answered "Yes, a mile back - did you not see the blue blaze" - (I section hiked that part twice to) Patches said the only reason he ran after me was for the water filter and he wanted to see if hiking had change his running speed - IT HAS!

Today I did not mess up. New state and it rained on us. We are at camp early and in our tents.

Have fun - We do...........

History/Gathland State Park - 1023.5 miles

2009-07-23T02:40:00.000-07:00

Highest Point In Maryland where gliders take off

Crazy Lady and Church

Harpers Ferry - non segregated college - first college for black ladies.
From the Jefferson Rock you can see Shenandoah and Potomac River.

Harpers Ferry Train and foot bridge

Ruins @ Harpers Ferry

Lewis & Clark - Lewis came to Harpers Ferry - built a boat and went to PA on Shenandoah & Potomac River (which become one river at Harpers Ferry)- came back to Harpers Ferry - then went to Philiadelphia, PA met up with Clark and went on to tour the west.

Gathland State Park - Frederick's troops captured Harpers Ferry - Gath built his tomb 10 yrs before he died and then lost his money and died very poor. Ruins of library that was 3 floors was built in 1800's during civil war. An Arch was erected here for the correspondest during civil war - it is 50 ft high and 40 wide - the design of arch was based on Harpers Ferry train tunnel and fire department.

Correspondent Mounument for Civil War

Barn from Civil War

Washington County - has a Washington Monument State Park with a monument for Washington - he was born 1732 in VA died 1799 in Mt Vernon - he became president 1789 - 1797 - Commander in Chief - same time as the Revolutionary War - Independence was 1784. We went up to the monument - gate was open so we went up the stairs - 360 view.

Washington Monument

Inside Monument

On Top of Monument

Reno Monument - 2 generals were buried - Union General has nice big tombstone and wall around it - Confederate General had a small almost forgotten stone.

Ed Garvey Shelter - 1017.9 miles

2009-07-23T02:36:00.000-07:00

Back on the Trail....

Did 6.4 miles - Marty hiked a few miles with us today - it was very nice.

Stopped at first shelter in Maryland - we have 40.9 miles to hike in Maryland - our new boots did good - no redness.

Having fun - no rain today........

Leaving Harpers Ferry

2009-07-23T02:08:00.000-07:00

Leaving Harpers Ferry

Marty and Patches @ Harpers Ferry Tunnel

Crazy Lady and Patches at almost 1/2 way marker:

1,165 miles to Maine - 1,013 miles to Georgia

Patches & Crazy Lady on Jefferson Rock

On Sunday morning, June 21, I met Crazy Lady and Patches at the Appalachian Trail Headquarters in Harper's Ferry, WV. Their photos had just been taken for a log showing that slightly over 400 trail hikers had passed through so far this year. Opening the car windows for fresh air several times during the 1.5-hour trip, I brought them to my home in Baltimore for a couple of nights.

My home is about a block from the 7-mile Promenade along the Patapsco River, so they did plenty of walking here that doesn't count on their trek. We walked through Fell's Point, the new Inner Harbor East, Little Italy, and the Inner Harbor, and I gave them a half-day-plus tour of the National Aquarium. Meals not at my house were eaten at sidewalk restaurants, and we enjoyed dessert on my roof deck, so the transition from trail to city life wasn't as drastic as you might expect. By late Monday they had bought new hiking boots, stocked up on food and supplies, and washed and dried and aired out everything they had brought with them so they looked (and smelled) decidedly better when we returned to Harper's Ferry on Tuesday. There, Crazy Lady negotiated a warranty replacement for her backpack (after all, it had only lasted 1,000 miles!). After a quick lunch in town, I walked about a mile and a half with them on a gorgeous day along the Potomac River while taking the attached photos.

I knew about the snow and endless rain they endured before reaching me, but as they prepared to go back on the trail, their expertise with packing and preparing their feet and shoulders hinted of other unspoken challenges. However, they never complained and were full of optimism. We came across a hiker they had met several days back. He usually travels 20+ miles a day but said he had taken eight "zero days" (no hiking) since they had last seen him. Averaging less than that, they are confident that he's a hare and they are tortoises. I join them in having confidence they will make it all the way to Katalin in good time.

Marty (Tyler's step grandmother)
Good luck!

National Hike Naked Day

2009-07-23T01:46:00.000-07:00

Domino's Sugar Plant

Largest neon sign in the world - in dot of "I" a 6 fr man can stand with arms strected up.

Barnes & Noble

OWL

Patches & Crazy Lady @ Shark MT

Barnes & Noble (used to be power plant)

Lighhouse at Chesapeck Bay

Town from the roof

Grandman Marty

From Marty's rooftop

Fells Point

Fells Gravestone - Some believe that he walks the streets at night

Baltimore Habor - Patches & Grandma

9 miles to Harpers Ferry, WV - tried to leave early - Patches Grandma Marty is going to pick us up and take our to her house in Baltimore, MD - for some R & R.

We made it to the AT Conservancy @ 11am - took our pictures for our certificates:

Patches is # 420

Crazy Lady # 419

that came thru Happers Ferry this year - about 50 more than last year. This made us very happy and high spirited.

Marty picked us up - we ate lunch at county cafe - very good - then on to her house in Baltimore, MD (1 1/2 hr drive). We could not understand why she kept opening the car window - when she got us to her house she hurried us off to shower! Sorry Marty we tend to forget about the wet mold rotten hiker smell!

Thank you Marty for a wonderful 2 days in Baltimore - I am so glad I got to meet you. Thanks - for your hospitality and all the wonderful information you shared with us - for the pick up and taking us to REI for new boots and bringing us back to the trail head - for the hike you did with us from West VA to Maryland.

Oh well I guess we missed the hike naked day....but we had lots of fun in Baltimore!!!

1000 miles

2009-07-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

Entered West VA

A big day for sure - we are still having our coffee and eating pop tarts, bagels - complaining about our sleepless night.....It started raining- what did we do- we crawled back in our tents and read our books while the storm passed (1 hr) - 20 minutes later we crawled out of our tents and broke camp and started to hike (10:30 AM) - very late but we feel better - it is still raining - wet but happy. We hike to Sam Moore Shelter to eat snack and dry out. An older man that thru hiked the trail a few times told us about a nice cafe to eat the best hamburger on the trail - so we hiked another 4 miles enjoyed and celebrated our 1000 miles.

Leaving VA little did we know that the spring and tent site we plan to stay at tunnel into a swamp - so we hiked to the last shelter before Harper's Ferry, West VA. We did 16.1 miles and got to camp at 8PM - what a day! Our spirits are very high - 9 miles and we are in Harper's Ferry.

We passed the VA/West VA border after 533 miles - what a big milestone. Patches "pead" over the border - we took pics and was very happy - 4 miles later we passed the 1001 mile marker(made out of rock - very neat).

When we arrived at the shelter it was basically full and all tent spots taken by a scout group. I slept in shelter and Patches pitched his tent (free standing) on the nice deck at the shelter - crawled in bed at 10pm tired but happy......

13.2 mile day

2009-07-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

Patching cooking at our home-made capsite

Next to last day in VA....Happy & Sad- we did 550 miles in VA. The trail for the last 2 days has not be well maintained. The shelters are poorly positioned with very little or no place to pitch tents. PACT put all the effort and hard work in the Shenandoah National Park.

Pitched our tents in a level spot close to a spring - sat on both sides of the trail and cooked - made our on spot. Most of the afternoon and most of tomorrow we are hiking over a section called "The Roller Coasters" - quite some fun - you hike up 500 ft - then down 200 ft - up 400 fit - down 300 ft. Lots of rocks, creeks and wet trail (no strapping in and pushing a button) you must hike it!

Met a group of 4 dads and 8 sons (8yrs & older) hiking for the west end. (Wonder if they know that June 21st if hike naked day) Chipmunk told Patches he could wear sunblock. No one will ever know if it happens or not... just us.

Tomorrow is a big day we are 11.9 miles from 1000 miles - what a good feeling. The birds are singing and the sunset is so pretty. Nature is wonderful!

Have fun and enjoy the summer with us - WE ARE.....

Dicks's Dome Shelter -972.7 miles

2009-07-21T04:49:00.000-07:00

Patches enjoying dry walk
Walk over almost dry land????

Crazy Lady walking carefully in slick mud

Close to Confederate history site

Everything is dry!

Patches got us a ride to the trail head from the man at the hikers hostel - LIFE IS GOOD - saved from 4 miles of hitching ride out of town.

Got back to the trail at 11.15 am - did 15.2 miles. The shelter is like a dome- sleeps 4 - hard to find a level spot to pitch tent.....rocks..rocks & overflow creek/river. We found 1 tent site and pitched both tents- hoping to miss the roots..logs..rocks. It was noticeable that we are out of the National Park - the deer are wild. We hiked thru some meadows - it was nice to be back in VA Mts. The trail is still very wet and slippery - sure to be careful not to fall and get everything muddy. We saw a bear foot print in the mud as big as the palm of our hands. He went south and up hill - you could see even how the bear slid in the mud. Patches saw a raccoon print in the mud and lots of deer prints. No more mountain laurels or rhododendrons - very little to no wild flowers at this time (I think it is time to send by book back home). It is not raining but the creek is flowing strong.

It is time to sleep..............

2009-07-21T04:41:00.000-07:00

We made it thru the Shenandoah National Park without any incidents - Saw 4 bears and lots of deer and other small critters. Nature is so good for the sole and mind....so relaxing.

It rained for 24 hours non-stop - what is not wet - we do not have with us!

Hitched into town - 4 miles - empty trucks passed us by - walked 3 1/2 miles - then an older man (with a very good heart) picked us up and took us to the hotel - how nice! He and his wife thru hike in 1998.

The pack that was sent is to small - so we are going to try again at Harpers Ferry.

Gravel Spring Hut - Miles 946.2

2009-07-21T04:30:00.000-07:00

5 days of hard hiking and we can be in . What a thought! Today we did 13.1 miles - nice and easy. Stopped at Elk wallow Gap to drink our only Blackberry Milkshake - it was OK - no real blackberries. Every thru hiker told us it is must - So we did it!

Early 1900's there were no deer in this area - Around 1936 there was only 13 deer - Now the park is overpopulated - but sad for the deer - they are so skinny you can count their ribs - they will eat whatever they can get - but humans are still their biggest enemy.

Tomorrow we plan to get up early and leave for Front Royal, VA to resupply and get the loaner backpack Gregory is sending me. 13.5 miles into town.

Having fun - Last night in the Shenandoah National Park.

18.4 miles

2009-07-19T17:08:00.000-07:00

Overlook Construction?????

This means New England states are close

A view from Stoney Mt

Very nice. Camp tonight with Loubay and Barry - Loubay does Bob Dylan music very good and plays game with Patches - he sings a line of a song and Patches must do the next line. Loubay is just to good. We are doing good - still enjoying the hike.

Have fun - We do!

Big Meadows Lodge-Campground-Wayside-914 miles

2009-07-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

Black spot is bear we saw

Crazy Lady at 900 mile marker

Patches celebrates with salad

15 miles today - celebrated our 3rd month anniversary - a very nice feeling. We were very hungry and ate 2 meals - real food!

We saw a bear in the campground-it looked very hungry and aggressive. They shot it with a slingshot with marbles to get it away from the camp. There are also bear traps - sad but true. We saw 2 bears today hiking the trail - just not close enough for a picture.

The deers are very friendly but skinny - I think they are over populated. This morning we have a family of deers entertain us while we ate breakfast and drank our coffee. A Doe and 2 fawns (still had spots)-so cute. At lunch we had a deer that did not want to leave, she would put her nose right in your face.

2009-07-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

Steve the Cook

Trail Magic - The James Family

13.6 miles - almost at 900 miles - 1 mile to go. Hiked in rain before lunch - did not get to wet thanks to the thick leaves.

Stopped because of trial magic....HOT DOGS, JUICE PACKS, CHIPS, CANDY,BROWNIES (very good)-from a boy's family-Chris, Tom, Jane,son Ryan/Bryan who played rugby at college and the captain of the team was from South Africa- daughter "Trail Dancer"- Son in Law "Willy Goat"-that does blue blaze trails in the park. They maintained the Saddle back Mt trail of the A.T. today. Trail Dancer and Willy Goat had a 2 wk honeymoon last December in South Africa. Willy Goat has thru hiked the trial twice and Trail Dancer once. It was very nice and pleasant to relax and visit with them about South Africa - but it kinda made me homesick in a nice way.
They allowed us to pitch our tents at the maintenance shelter.

My new tent leaked - had 2 nights without any problems - now I need to seam seal it. I am sitting in my tent with my rain jacket on! We will be stopping at Big Meadows Campground-Wayside to do laundry and seam seal my tent.

Yesterday we tasted our first blue berries - there were only 4 that were ready - very nice and sweet. The blackberries are full of berries just not ready yet. The flowers that we see most in the park - Fly Poison - very pretty but really poison. Saw some Saxifrage, Indian Pipes - see lots of dead flowers - Greybeard tongue - Spider wart - Columbine. Not a lot of flowers still around but the ones that are - very pretty.

Now.....I am going to see how dry I can stay for the night. Have fun we do!!!

Pinefield Hut - 883.7 miles

2009-07-18T06:32:00.000-07:00

Crazy Lady climbing up "Blackrock"

Patches and Crazy Lady enjoying the veiw

Saw a big black bear at camp after breakfast!!! ( had a very nice face with brown around nose and mouth - he almost looked friendly enough to hug)

Rained last night and a little this afternoon - my tent did good. Went up Blackrock Summit - clime over rocks - very nice with 360 view - crossed skyline a few times - had a few spots with view. Went to Loft Mt Campground - re-supply - lunch - rest for about 2 hours (very nice and peaceful).

Pinefield Hut - full so we decided to pitch tent - 3 tents and 7-8 in shelter - very crowded.

13.2 miles - enjoyed the hike today - easy hike with views

HAVE FUN - WE DO!

Blackrock Hut - 870.5 miles

2009-07-18T06:23:00.000-07:00

Silver strap tells you where your are going and where to are..hard to read

Patches sewing a duck tape patch on his rain cover

13 miles today to Blackrock Hut - do not know why they call it hut - looks just like shelter. The park is pretty level so far - some small rocks (hard to pitch tent on rocks, but we manage) Some hikers saw a black bear today - we saw deer - turkeys ( a family with little ones) - black snake. The trail is very busy with weekend and day hikers - 6 in shelter - 3 tents - not many flowers - some Mt Laurels - lots of pine trees.

Have fun - we do!

Shenandoah National Park - (Skyline Drive) 858.5 Miles - 2173 Elev

2009-07-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

Patches trying to hang food bags on pole

Easier to shimmy up & down

Back in the woods after a wonderful day off in Waynesboro, VA.

A very hiker friendly city - they have a volunteer group of 15 or more hat leave #'s at motels & visitor centers. The volunteers will pick hikers up at trail head and take you where you need or want to go - very nice!!

We needed to go to Outfitters (1.5 miles) out of town - that is not far - but it is our "O" hike day!
So we called Tom.........he picked us up and took us to outfitters - he also took us to a winery "Venita's Vineyard" - What a nice outing - it made me very homesick....not for Blue Ridge but for good old Cape in South Africa. We did some wine tasting and bought some for the trail - Thanks Tom! We ate twice at the Chinese buffet and it was so good. I got new tent - same design - newer model.

Thanks Chipmunk, Doug and Peggy for our care package! We confess - we have a few addictions - Coffee - Ginger Snaps - Orange slices - Tea - "Chocolates" (any kind). Everything was so good!

We did 7 miles out of town to the 1st shelter - Shenandoah National Park - another milestone on the trail. We crossed the Skyline a few times today - passed a lot of cell/radar towers - in front of these towers are a few tractor seats - looks cute but to much civilization in the woods. The shelter & campground is full- 7 men in shelter, 6 tents. Happy to be at this milestone - looking for to a few good days.

"Going to have lots of fun"

Humpback Mt - Miles 842.0

2009-06-25T19:27:00.000-07:00

Crazy Lady 5am - ready to hike into town

Patches at camp - Humpback Mt

Snake came out of tree

Fly Poison Flower - very poisonous

View from a vista of Three Ridges Mt

The Priest Wilderness -

George Washington National Forest

Camp At Montebello, VA

June 6 was Patches and Chipmunk's 2 yr anniversary. He was sad that they were not together. Lucky AT&T had a few minutes service - just long enough to say Hi and a few more words. (AT&T is definitely not the way to go for hiking) Chipmunk is back in college - we miss her, but are very proud of her.

The last few days we went up - down - south - north - east - all together - over boulders. Some very pretty views - The rolling Mts are really amazing - we love the vistas - just to chill out - some big rocks - solid rock - very pretty.

Patches foot is still swollen - but better. The last few days we averaged 13 miles a day.

We camped at campground with RV's and tents - had laundry facilities - nice bathrooms with showers. Now that it is warmer - we definitely need to shower more often. Lucky it rains a lot - that helps.

Met a very nice guy (mid 50's) has hiked the trail 3 times - he knows where the rocks are - the ups and downs. He will camp with us, but likes to be by himself. He thinks it is really funny that Patches hikes with his mother-in-law. According to the guy that works at AT Association - we will be the 1st Son-in-law - Mother-in-law combination that has completed the thru hike. SO THAT IS OUR GOAL - STILL GOING NORTH. Every day is a new challenge.

Message from Crazy Lady to everyone that reads this blog:

Take time to enjoy your life - we do.

Hog Camp Gap - Mile 801.5

2009-06-23T05:04:00.000-07:00

Patches enjoying swing @ Hog Camp Gap

Bridge over Pedlar River
We camped in green meadow

Mushrooms

Monument of 4 yr old boy that got lost in Mt
7 miles from his school - sometime in 1800

VA Mt View

Snake sun bathing.

Last 2 days hard - emotional and physical. We went from 735 ft elevation to 3375 ft - Bluff MT - then down to 1000 ft - Pedlar Dam - just to go back up to 4022 ft - Cold Mountain. It does not sound that bad - but it was hard walk!

June 3 - 95 degrees! June 4 - raining and cool.

Yellow jacket stung Crazy Lady. Patches got stung on foot but something (not sure what) - his foot swelled and hurts a lot.

Had to pitch our tents in the rain - worked as a team - pitched his and then mine - zipper in my tent is going bad. Hopefully REI will ship a new one - also my backpack has lost a part. Hopefully we can repair in Waynesboro. At his time we are only carrying 3-4 days food and that makes a difference - still our packs weigh 45 - 49 lbs. (enough complaining)

We miss Chipmunk - but we still enjoy the hike. Central VA is less rocky and they keep the trail very nice and clean. The volunteers cut the side of trail back 2 ft on both side - so the trail is 6 ft wide (very nice) Most of the wild flowers are finished blooming - the blue berries are starting to show.

Middle Creek Campground/James River Foot Bridge - 773.2 miles

2009-06-23T04:21:00.000-07:00

James River Foot Bridge
longest foot-use-only bridge on AT

Patches trying to feed ducks

Crazy Lady

Patches

Hiked 14.6 miles - very nice hike (some ups and downs)

The 1st few days we saw such pretty butterflies (the wings so colorful - dark blue, velvet red with yellow) - looked like stained glass windows. But, we could see the places in the mountain where there was not vegetation due to pollution from plants and mines (so sad)

Patches called Ken that has a shuttle to take hikers to close by campground and town - 5 miles off of trail. Very nice campground with a swing,swimming pool, laundry, tent sites, RV sites and tent sites - paid 24 for 1 campsite. We relaxed and enjoyed the swing - did laundry - now our clothes and ourselves are nice and clean. So nice after 14.6 mile hike!

Next few days BIG MILES!

2009-06-22T18:48:00.000-07:00

AT trail goes thru and under rocks

Patches enjoying trail magic feast

Radar tower for airplanes

A new calendar month - Where is the time going? - How do I describe today.....Fantastic!

Hiked 10 very easy miles - mostly up - tonight we are back up to 4000 ft(3 or 4 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, so close we hear the noise of the traffic)

At Blue Ridge Parkway - 6 ladies did the most fantastic trail magic! Dutch oven cooking - lasagna - rolls - brownies - chicken on the grill - all sorts of salads - fruits - drinks. The feast started @ 3 pm. Patches was there between 1 and 2 - I arrived just after 2 - started eating and ate until 5:30 (very impressive) The 3 to 4 miles back to shelter was as much as I could do. Patches forgot his hat and went back and eat again.

Five of the six ladies thru hiked in different years. They have been doing this trail magic for 4 years - did it 2 wks ago at a different spot. Yesterday they fed 30 - I did not count how many today. Ann - the lade that did not hike gave us all a marble /gemstone and sent of off to do good - enjoy - good luck (very nice speech)

Tomorrow is back to BIG MILES HIKING

Bryant Ridge Shelter - Trip Miles 750

2009-06-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

View from Blue Ridge Parkway

Hiking next to Blue Ridge Parkway

Patches reading - waiting for water to filter.

Hiked 13.5 miles (both days) - very nice hike - VA rolling mts - no rocks to climb - just easy up and down. Start to cross hike above/below on the ridge parallel with Blue Ridge Parkway - very nice. No rain today - but had a storm last night - stayed in shelter so tents could stay dry 1 more day. Due to being on the ridge - no tent spots at shelter. Met new hikers today.

Today we sent down to 951 ft - Jennings Creek - the lowest point we have been. I put my feet in the water, it sure felt good! Tonight we are at Bryant Ridge Shelter. Patches got stung by a bee yesterday - he is OK.

Tomorrow we are invited to trail magic - we are looking forward to that

Tinker Cliffs - 726 miles - 1/3 of trip finished

2009-06-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

Re-supply

Patches and pet (king snake)

Fantasy Railroad

Mushrooms

Views from Tinker Cliffs

Interesting rock formations

"Crazy" Lady has no fear

Tinker Cliffs

New Hats - thanks Doug & Peggy - they work very good in rain

McAfee Knob

Still raining (everything wet and stinky) - made it to camp late 7:30 pm (but lucky no rain). 3 guys in shelter - Patches and Crazy Lade in tents. Last night camped near creek/small river in a green meadow - even had a camp table - that was very nice - camped with Jazz man and Turtle - a couple from Chicago. Jazz man is an RN - very nice couple. After we all ate Patches and Jazz man enjoyed talking about Eagle Scout experiences/projects. 8:30 pm down came the rain again - all made it to our tents sort of dry - 11pm came the storm (lighting & thunder).

The last few days we have climbed over rocks - around rocks - on top of rocks. Very pretty rock formations - but must hike very high (+ or - 50 ft) on narrow ledge. McAfee Knob (excellent view if clear weather) - high, scary and slippery - but worth the climb.

Tinker Cliffs (0.5 mile cliff walk, dangerous in bad weather, steep drop off) was also an experience. While up here hear storm coming - tried to make it off the cliffs - I made it and here came the storm with small hail - waiting it out in the shelter.

I have decided a good trail name or description of any lady 45+ hiking would be "Camelion" (the little reptile that changes colors and move very slow) - if you are carrying 40+ backpack and have to go over, under, around and on top of rocks and boulders you measure each step and look

before you put you feet, hand, or arm down.

Went to town and visited with Jazz man and Turtle - re-supplied - had nice shower and ate at Mexican restaurant - it was very nice.

Dragon Tooth - Miles 690.4 - Elev 3020

2009-06-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

What an interesting day! We went up Dragon's Tooth - this is a stone monolith - unbelievable stone formation - no view (still raining). It was definitely the most strenuous climb we have done yet - you slide down, then when your legs are to short you climb hand and feet, crawl, hold onto ledges which are to small. When made it to camp with no injuries.

2009-06-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

Back on trail - spent 2 days in Salem, VA - did a foot tour to see the old buildings (but most of town closed due to Memorial Day) - had lunch at American Sandwich place - so many to chose from but very good and healthy. We showered a few times and slept in real beds at hotel. Doug also brought us nice cookies her made - they were wonderful. The hike today was easy and short - had some rain. It is raining now but we are in our tents and no leaking. Patches backpack is also fixed (thanks to his Dad for getting correct part. When we first pitched our tents there was three here - after we returned from eating - there are 7-8 tents and the shelter has 6-7.

CHIPMUNKS VA PHOTOS

2009-06-20T05:35:00.000-07:00

May 24 PHOTOS

2009-06-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

Flags on trail for Memorial Day

Keffer Oak - Largest oak tree on the AT in the South. Last measured 18'3", estimated 300 years old.

May 23

2009-06-02T17:45:00.000-07:00

Mountain Laurel

11.5 miles today - hiked most of day with Mountain Man again - hiked with patches today (his left leg/foot gave him some trouble) - we hope he will be OK. Today we hiked through caterpillar woods - the gypsy moths hang from the trees and are all over us - they eat the leaves from the trees - when it falls, it sounds like rain - they will be spraying in a few weeks to prevent the moths from hatching eggs again (I just found some in my tent)

Since Chipmunk left the trail we have problems like -1. forget we have a picnic for lunch - 2.lost a bandanna - 3.almost forgot the dirty bag for water filter. She was the one that secured our area before we left.

Well I must sleep now if I want to be ready by 7 AM in the morning.

Have fun - we do!

Crazy Lady & Patches

2009-06-02T17:26:00.000-07:00

WIND ROCK

East View

West view

Crazy Lady - Mountain Man at Stony Creek

Patches in Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

Nice fireplace against back wall of shelter

Rhododendrons fell across trail in storm - had to climb over

Hiked 16.5 miles - arrived at camp @ 7:45 pm - tired and ready to get in tent and sleep. Camped again with couple from Texas. Hiked about 10 miles with Mountain Man - one of the nicest hikers on trail - also one of the oldest (will be 70 - Oct 16) - he hikes fast - doing between 13 - 16 miles a day- also swims - very active - goes up steep hills without any heavy breathing. His wife meets up with him every now and then. They live 1/2 of year up North and other 1/2 in Florida.

Before Pearisburg - still saw rhododendrons - very few here, mostly mountain laurels in bloom very pretty. Saw Indian cucumber root while hiking up steep hill with Mountain Man - very lucky to see - very rare.

Last few days we hiked through fields of different ferns - at least 5 different kinds - very pretty.

Both of us want to do night hiking - just not sure about it (At this state it is the blind leading the blind).

Woodshole Hostel - Trip Miles 613.6

2009-06-02T04:52:00.000-07:00

Old cabin built in 1800's

Patches In cabin by fireplace

Neville (granddaught that runs hostel), Michael & Patches - Neville & Michael are getting married August 1st

Bunk House - built in early 1980's for Neville and sisiter to play and for Granddaddy's workshop

Loft were we slept

Bunk house - Kitchen

Pink Wild Azaleas - smells very nice - you smell flowers before you see them.

Crazy Lady at view from Sugar Run Mt

View from view point on Sugar Run Mt

Having to much fun to write! May 19 - hiked12 miles - VA is very pretty - rolling mtns with its ridges in some places - some with flat top - some very rocky - hard on the feet - water source is scarce - some of the views are indescribable. We went to Woodshole Hostel - worth every bit. The cabin was built in 1800's - the lady Neville (who runs it) grandparents bought it in 1940, but has not lived here since 1981. Mama Tillie grandmother ran it for 21 yrs with Neville going there for the summer since she was 3 yrs old. Mama Tillie was famous for her biscuits - she passed away a few yrs ago with cancer. Neville and Micheal are running it now for the family since mid April this year. Anyone can help with the night time meal if they want to - I baked the bread and helped make the salad - Patches did the table - Neville cooked rice and vegetables - Michael barbecued - very nice. We slept in bunk house with 7 other hikers. Breakfast was also a feast - home made biscuits - jam - gravy. Patches fixed his back pack after breakfast, then we hiked in to Pearisburg, VA.

May 20 hiked 10 miles to resupply - Hitch hiked to town with a young man that worked at plant where they make cigarette filters (high cancer rate in this town). After re-supply it was time to get back to tent spot. Ate supper in a little restaurant that was a bank - cute place.

May 21 - hiked 14 miles - wonderful hike day on a flat ridge - not much water - found water with tadpoles in pond (luck we have filters) Wonderful sunset from my tent. A married couple from Texas camped with us. Well now the sun is gone - I am going to sleep - hard to stay awake past 8:30