Why are we long distance hiking the AT?
"Bonding with my brother MacGyver, day in and day out, 24/7; challenging and experiencing the wonders of the trail; overcoming the ever changing elements; embracing the suck and the magnificence of the journey; AND watching each other’s back at all times…..Priceless….. and What A Privilege And An Honor!"
2021 on the AT is now in the books! So let me summarize:
351 miles over 28 days, Starting at Simmons Gap in the Shenndoahs, mile marker 900, ending at mile marker 1,252 near Bake Oven Knob in Northern Pennsylvania (about 44 miles south of the New Jersey border). Which puts us just shy of 60% completed on the AT. And our goal is to complete the entire AT in 3 more years (or less 😊).
A big shout out to family and friends that were there with and for us in spirit and motivation....but a HUGH THANK YOU with love to my wife Sandy and MacGyer's wife Ginger for the seamless supply chain of food boxes they sent us.....but mostly for there unwavering support, love and encouragement throughout our hike (all of our hikes). No person can successfully achieve these type of goals without the total backing of the ones they love and the ones that love them......
So, what does every serious LASHer start doing after they finish? Start planning for 2022! And we have a few options we are contemplating:
1.) Start where we left off at Bake Oven Knob and hike NOBO (to the Massachusetts/Vermont border?)
2.) Because we are getting “slightly” older…..flip up to Mt. Katahdin and hike SOBO to the southern Maine/New Hampshire border. We have heard that Maine is the toughest state to hike on the AT.
3.) Start at the southern Maine/New Hampshire border and hike NOBO to Katahdin.
What do you all think? If you have an opinion, drop me a line thru email or text.
We really hope you all have enjoyed following MacGyver and my “Bucket-List-Of-Adventures” so in the meantime…….
“Fill Your Life with Adventures, Not Things. Have Stories to Tell Not Stuff to Show”
Latest comments
27.09 | 17:20
Hi Possum! MacGyver and I finished up on Sept.7th with 351 miles in this year. False alarm on MacGyver taking ill. He was dehydrated but recovered in about 2 days. Was great to meet you this year!
27.09 | 17:16
Hey Pinnacle! Great to meet and hike with you also! And great advice on the next section we did. Thanks!
06.09 | 16:10
Great meeting you and your Brother at Eagles nest.
06.09 | 16:07
It was great meeting you and brother at Eagles nest
Pinnacle
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Great views from the top of South Twin Mtn!
Okay....starting on June 21st we decided to do a bit of "Platinum Blazing" at the AMC Huts. It was not the plan at all in the beginning for various reasons.....but the bad weather we are experiencing and lack of camp sites in the Whites; it made a lot of sense :)
Stayed at the AMC Highland Center June 21st and it was quite a place......and we celebrated MacGyver's Birthday!
On day 11, on the way to "Lake Of The Cloud" Hut, we had some good views around, of, and on top such mountains as Mt. Webster, Mt. Jackson, Mt. Eisenhower, Mt. Franklin.....and a pile of snow!
Day 12, June 23rd's highlight was summitting Mt. Washington. Its legendary for having very unpredictable, sometime dangerous weather but we hit it on perfect day...and definitely perfect compared to what we have already been thru in New Hampshire!
From the summit of Mt. Washington to the Madison Hut (where we stayed tonight) was only another 6 miles but the rock scrambles down were brutal...but the Hut they had Veggie Pot Pie for dinner!
Day 13, June 24 we hiked up, over and down Mt. Madison! Pics to follow shortly but let me just say that this was one of the toughest descents so far. Jagged black rock proved very difficult! Made it to Gorham for the night...thinking about the pending "Wildcats" ahead!
Day 14, June 25 we did the Wildcats. That first day wasn't too bad but that did change! This is MacGyver and I enjoying our first summit......forgot to mention that the Wildcats had 4 summits! But also, some good views
Stayed at Craford Notch Hut after the Wildcats for a much needed, inside a building, rest! Also met NOBO Thru Hiker "Big T" from Mississippi.
Well....the weather had been generally bad the whole hike; but things got much worse the next days (June 26 and 27).....dangerously worse
This is not a picture that we took (because we were too busy trying to stay alive!) but almost like one of the crossings we made (but ours was in deeper rapids). We crossed a flooded Rattle River several times with one crossing getting worse than the other. Made us pause a bit.......
June 27th we slipped and limped, soaking wet to U.S. 2 in Gorham and stayed at the Barn Hostel managed and owned by Paul. But about 2 miles or so before we reached U.S. 2 we passed by the Rattle River Shelter....and it looked like this....
Of course, our initial reaction, cold and tired, was "What Kind of Long-Distance Hiker" would violate so many unwritten rules of hiking etiquette!!!
Then we found out that those staying in the shelter (for multiple days at a time) were AMC trail volunteers and State Park staff helping out to shore up the trail as best they could during the unprecedented flooding that was going on.
MY TOTAL APOLOGIZE for jumping to conclusions without know the facts. Thank you for what you do!!
Okay...coming back to The Barn Hostel.....MacGyver and I fell in love with it at first glance! Growing up in the 60's and early 70's, this Hippy vibe that we saw and felt, made us feel right at home :). In fact, I think I stayed at a place like this when I hitchhiked to Southern California in 1972! :)
Best laid plans??