Trail Guides, Gear Reviews, and Backpacking Tips
DATE: December 22 to 23 START: Newfound Gap, TN/NC FINISH: Locust Cove Gap, NC DISTANCE: 58.1 miles (93.5 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 29 miles (46.7 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 2035.4 miles (3275 km) December 22: Town stop…….standard late start at 10 am; Read More …
DATE: December 19 to 21 START: Hot Springs, NC FINISH: Newfound Gap, TN/NC DISTANCE: 66.7 miles (107.3 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 22.2 miles (35.8 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1976.3 miles (3179.9 km) This particular stretch was a tale in three parts. During Read More …
DATE: December 16 to 18 START: Cherry Gap Shelter, TN or NC FINISH: Hot Springs, NC DISTANCE: 85.5 miles (137.6 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 28.5 miles (45.9 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1909.6 miles (3072.5 km) The Return of Malto: From Cherry Gap Read More …
DATE: December 13 to 15 START: Double Springs Shelter, TN FINISH: Cherry Gap Shelter, TN or NC DISTANCE: 89 miles (143.2 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 29.7 miles (47.7 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1824.1 (2935 km) The Boys from Double Springs: A shout Read More …
DATE: December 10 to 12 START: Knot Maul Branch Shelter, VA FINISH: Double Springs Shelter, TN DISTANCE: 107.7 miles (km) DAILY AVERAGE: 35.9 miles (km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1735.1 (km) Rainy Mondays: Call it the curse of the The Carpenters, but Read More …
DATE: December 8 & 9 START: Woods Hole Hostel, VA FINISH: Knot Maul Branch Shelter, VA DISTANCE: 63.4 miles (102 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 31.7 miles (51 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1627.4 (2618.5 km) The AT in Virginia: Two things come to Read More …
DATE: December 6 to 7 START: Sarver Hollow Shelter, VA FINISH: Woods Hole Hostel, VA DISTANCE: 54.4 miles (87.5 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 27.2 miles (43.8 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1564 (2516.5 km) Southbounders…….heading north: Recently I have run into a handful Read More …
DATE: December 4 to 5 START: Stealth site Blackhorse Gap, VA FINISH: Sarver Hollow Shelter, VA DISTANCE: 62.1 miles (99.9 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 31.5 miles (50.7 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1509.6 (2428.9 km) The Ghost who Walks: Due to increasingly shorter Read More …
DATE: December 2 & 3 START: Stealth site on the slopes of Cold Mt, VA FINISH: Stealth site near Blackhorse Gap, VA DISTANCE: 71 miles (114.2 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 35.5 miles (57.1 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1447.5 (2329 km) Crazy Chester Read More …
DATE: December 1 START: Stealth site just before Skyline Drive, VA FINISH: Stealth site on the slopes of Cold Mt, VA DISTANCE: 36.5 miles (58.7 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1376.5 (2214.8 km) On the scenery, social and mileage fronts today was Read More …
DATE: Nov. 30 START: Blackrock Hut, VA FINISH: Stealth site just before Skyline Drive DISTANCE: 33 miles (53.1 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1340 miles (2156.1 km) On the mileage front it was a day in two parts; the first twenty were Read More …
DATE: Nov. 29 START: Bearfence Mountain Hut, VA FINISH: Blackrock Hut, VA DISTANCE: 33.8 miles (54.4 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1307 miles (2103 km) Another beautiful day in Shenandoah………5.30am start; 6pm finish……..tempted to press on for another couple of hours, but Read More …
DATE: Nov. 27 to 28 START: Stealth site close to Sky Meadows Side Trail, VA FINISH: Bearfence Mountain Hut, VA DISTANCE: 70.9 miles (114.1 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 35.4 miles (57 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1273.2 miles (2048.6 km) Shenandoah: The weather Read More …
DATE: Nov. 25 to 26 START: MD 17 Wolfsville Rd, MD FINISH: Stealth site close to Sky Meadows Side Trail, VA DISTANCE: 67. 2 miles (108.2 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 33.6 miles (54.1 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1202.3 miles (1934.5 km) Moon Read More …
The Doyle: An AT institution. Stopped in for a midday beer (Troegs Pale Ale) and a bite to eat. Thanks to Pat and Vicky, the Doyle’s proprietors (see photo below), for their longstanding support of the AT hiking community. Read More …
Malto: During this section I was joined periodically by Greg “Malto” Gressel (see photo below). A PCT veteran, class of 2011, Malto is one of the most enthusiastic, knowledgable and strongest hikers I have met during the course of the 12 Long Walks. A big thanks to Greg for his company on trail and his wonderful hospitality off of it. Best of luck for your future calendar year Triple Crown attempt! Read More …
DATE: Nov. 16 to 18 START: William Brien Shelter, NY FINISH: Stealth camp close to Leroy A. Smith Shelter, PA DISTANCE: 120.2 miles (193.4 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 40 miles (64.4 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 915.9 miles (1473.7 km) The Boss: Much Read More …
DATE: Nov. 13 to 15 START: Falls Village, CT FINISH: William Brien Shelter, NY DISTANCE: 99.2 miles (km) DAILY AVERAGE: 33.1 miles (km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 795.7 miles (km) ‘Deli Belly’……New England Style: The Indian version of this colloquialism (spelt just Read More …
Information: I used Ley’s Maps and Yogi’s guide book pages for the town stops. Jim Wolf’s books contain lots of interesting info on flora, fauna and background history relating to the trail, however, I wouldn’t say they were necessary for Read More …
DATE: Nov. 10 to 12 START: Melville Nauheim Shelter, VT FINISH: Falls Village, CT DISTANCE: 120.3 miles (193.6 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 40.1 miles (64.5 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 696.5 miles (1120.7 km) Rambling through New England: I really enjoyed this section. Read More …