6/25: Miles 1106.4-1120.0 (17.6 mi.) Total ascent: 2441′; descent: 2641′ 6/26: Miles 1120.0-1131.9 (11.9 mi.) Total ascent: 1201′; descent 1601′ Not all developed areas of the AT became so at the same time. Of the ones we’ve hiked so far, only is it clear in Pennsylvania how much existed prior to the trail. Only in […]
Month: June 2021
6/23: Miles 1085.9-1094.9 (13.0 mi.) Total ascent; 2152′; descent: 2021′ 6/24: Miles 1094.9-1106.4 (11.5 mi.) Total ascent: 1201′; descent: 1929′ Something, somewhere went to bat for us Wednesday morning. I am sure of it. In the campsite’s food storage locker–not what I’ve called a hiker box, which often have free food–someone had left a bag […]
6/21: Miles 1057.2-1071.9 (14.5 mi.) Total ascent: 3045′; descent: 3018′ 6/22: Miles 1071.7-1081.9 (10.2 mi.) Total ascent: 1811′; descent: 1555′ The low mileage of the last two days belies just how eventful they have been. For one, we completed Maryland and are now in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has far fewer day hikers than the trail in […]
6/19: Miles 1026.9-1043.3 (16.4 mi.) Total ascent: 3084′; descent: 2349′ 6/20: Miles 1043.3-1057.2 (13.9 mi.) Total ascent: 2644′; descent: 1057′ Today is Father’s Day, which coincides this year with the summer solstice. What I wish I could say to my dad, particularly on this day, is that I’m reawakening to abundance. I’m feeling less depleted […]
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6/14 – 6/18: Washington, D.C.
Much as I hate to repeat a phrase, this one from my social media, D.C. was grand in every sense of the word. I regret that none of my photos speak to how much fun Rachel and I had with my family. My mother, brothers, and Uncle Mark arrived on various trains and at various […]
6/12: Miles 972.1-994.1 (22.0 mi.) Total ascent: 4721’; descent: 4649’ 6/13: Miles 994.1-1016.8 (22.7 mi.) Total ascent: 6358’; descent: 5974’ There’s nothing fun about night hiking, much less with a weak head lamp. If you merely stub your toe, you’re lucky. Chances are good you’ll slip or lose the trail, or get your feet wet […]
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6/11: Zero in Front Royal, Virginia
For a host of reasons, we weren’t able to leave town today. For one, it takes time to walk across town. Our key town chores–picking up a replacement pack and boots, and doing laundry–were a couple miles’ walk. The only public laundry machine we know of is actually located at a brewery (the laundromat went […]
Miles 958.7-972.1 (13.4 mi.) Total ascent: 2241′; descent: 3917′ Today was one of those days I wish I had more to say about. I hope I didn’t fail to pay attention or to appreciate. I worry about encroaching normalcy: views I don’t bother to see because I’ve seen so many, sore feet that become injured […]
6/8 Miles 919.0-939.0 (20.0 mi.) Total ascent: 4505’; descent: 4364’ 6/9 Miles 939.0-98.7 (19.8 mi) Total ascent: 4505’; descent 5249’ I hate to say it, but I’m going to be glad to be done with Shenandoah. No question: The park is beautiful and its wayside facilities are unique. But the long distances–four consecutive 20-mile days–and […]
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6/7: Pinefield Hut to Bearfence Hut
Miles 898.3-919.0 (20.2 mi.) Total ascent: 5344’; descent 4596’ With a car, or merely camping, Shenandoah would be a lot of fun. It’s a shame the park’s water resources and limited sites require bigger miles. The camp stores, laundry, and showers available every 25-ish miles make the experience less heavy and grungy. And while the […]