harpers ferry oct 7

I made it!! I hiked 32 miles yesterday and got to town at 7:30, just as they were rolling up the sidewalks! but the liquor store was open and I got some brew and comfort in had a room and I ordered a pizza. so life is good. the train to chicago comes at 5:15 and I’ll be on it!!

final chapter???

here we go!! last 5 days on the trail. 106 mi to go. pennsylvania has been a bit of a challenge!! I’ve renamed pa…the jumble pile stumblefest. as you can see in the pics, the stumble is unbelievable!! but I’ve still be able to truck on and have done several 20+ mi days. have 106 left to go and am resting at the home of mike and becky blue. they live only a mile from the trail and offered their home when my girls (they are teresas sister and bro-inlaw) told them of my trip. so here I am five days from the end, train tickets are on order, I should be home by saturday the 10th of october. wish me luck!!

more photos

delaware river

nyc skyline

last post before finish!! oct 2

pa jumble pile

this is the trail

leigh gap

jumble pile stumblefeststumblerama

Day 147 – 156 Log DSM

Day 147 – Sept 14 Stewart Hollow Shelter – Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite

10 miles

75 – 80 degrees sun

8:30 – 5 pm

Got a late start mostly cause I slept like a log for 12 hours.  Had a lazy breakfast and then a 3 mile road walk . from there the trail went straight up.  What was named, “The Ledges”, which was a big cliff and was about 900 ft above the river where I was camped.  Made it in to Kent for a stop at the Lib, grocery, laundry and hamburger joint before hiking the mile or so back to the trail.   Pretty day with some good steeps.  I hope the weather stays like this!

 

Day 148 – Sept 15 Schaghticoke Mountain Campsite – Telephone Pioneers Shelter

18.2 Miles

75 – 85 degrees Sun/humid

8 am – 5 pm

Had a rather late start but made good miles anyway; Some good sharp steeps to keep me honest.  Easy woods walk for the most part.  3 Miles ago crossed a road and found Hot dog stand , had two brats and 3 sodas for late lunch early supper.  Supposed to rain tonight / tomorrow.

 

Day 149 – Sept 16 Telephone Pioneers Shelter – RPH Shelter

17 Miles

8 am – 4 pm

70 – 75 degrees partly cloudy

Had an ok day nothing to steep or long.  Pretty easy hike but pulled up at the shelter when the rain clouds came in.  This is the last shelter for 30 miles, so this was it.  Trying to keep the food to a minimum so I’m looking ahead for each stop.  Hiking seems much easier.  So I’m having a good time.

 

Day 150 – Sept 17 RPH Shelter – Anthony’s Nose Camp

24 Miles

8 am – 6 pm

70 – 75 Degrees Rain / Sun

Had a easy hike with a couple of steeps thrown in to keep me honest.  Hit the 20 mile mark at 4:15 and had dinner in a C-Store Moseyed on for 4 more miles to Nero outside Fort Montgomery, NY in to town for breakfast.

 

Day 151 – Sept 18 Anthony’s Nose Camp – Ft Montgomery BR Motel

2 Miles (NERO)

Had a lousy night sleep with to many trains passing directly below.  Got a good view from the Nose and got to the motel by 10.  Good eats and a shower!

 

Day 152 – Sept 19 Ft Montgomery – Little Dam lake Camp

22 miles

70 – 75 degrees and clear – Saw NYC!.

8:30 – 6 pm

Got a good start up Bear Mountain ,easy.  It was about 50 degrees this morning and clear as a bell.  Saw the New York Skyline all day and according to one Highway sign it was 34 miles away.  Got a good day in and just got to bed at 8:30 – Late and Dark!

 

Day 153 – Sept 20 Little Dam lake Camp – Wawayanda Shelter

20 Miles

7:30 – 6 pm

70 – 80 degrees Sun

Had a great day, easy.  Nice short ups.  Some good views even.  Met a couple day hiking and they clued me in to the “Creamery” Ice Cream Shop on a short ¼ mile blue-blaze.  Had a banana split for lunch.  Great Stop!  Stopped here and had company for dinner.  Another section hiker going south is here.  He’s only on the trail for a couple of days so we won’t be chumming any.

 

Day 154 – Sept 21 First day of Fall!  Wawayanda Shelter  – High Point Shelter

24 Miles

70 – 80 degrees

8:30 – 6 pm

Had a late start, (cold morning and someone to talk to. But made up for it with some hustle.  Couple of downhill steeps, slowed things considerably.  Am here with 3 others, section hikers and will have company for breakfast!

 

Day 155 – Sept 22 High Point Shelter – Brink Rd Shelter

20 Miles

7:30 – 5 pm

70 – 75 degrees

Got a early start and climbed to new Jersey’s highest point.  Easy flat hike with a ton of rocks in the trail making footing a bit iffy.  Talked with a couple at a view point and they told me about a Deli at the next road.  As I walked in the owner promptly announced “were closed”, and ushered me out the door.  Disappointed I geared up and hike ¼ mile down the road to Gyps Tavern where the barmaid curtly told me to doff my pack and toss it out back, all before I had the chance to ask if the Grill was open!  So far New Jersey is shaping up as a Hiker “unfriendly” state!

 

Day 156 – Sept 23 Brink Road Shelter – Delaware Water Gap

24 Miles

Deer Head Inn

75 – 80 degrees partly cloudy

8 am – 5:30 pm

Really got a move on this morning.  The trail was partly on a forest service road and I was moving.  Then abruptly on to a jumble pile of boulders and I had to go really slow.  I can imagine that the part of PA everyone complains about being just like this.  Slow and tedious, even when you want to make some miles.  Am going to zero here and get some rest for the next 274 miles through PA and MD.  Then I’m done! Looks like 15 days, 20 at the most and I’ll be walking into Harpers Ferry!

Day 137 – 146 DSM

Day 137 – Sept 4 Bennington VT. – Mass Line

14 Miles

10:30 – 5 pm

80 degrees Sun

Took an hour to get a ride out of TOWN!  Even with my, “Hiker to trail” sign.  Tons of traffic on this Friday before Labor Day.  Finally got a ride and started to climb out of the Rt 9 Notch.  Only took 20 minutes and the rest of the day a series of short ups and downs, no views Loads of mud but sunny and a bit warm.  Tomorrow Massachusetts!

 

Day 138 – Sept 5 Vermont State Line  – Mark Noepel Shelter

14 Miles

75 – 80 degrees Sun

Mt GreyLock

7:30 – 4pm.

Took 3 hours to climb mountain Grey Lock a 5.8 Mile steep ending a beautiful tower, a tribute to Massachusetts war dead.  Had a burger and hustled down.  Haven’t been feeling well all day.  Slow and tired.  Big steep Didn’t help any. note*** I was coming down with the giriada,a water borne protozoan that is the scurge of backpackers everywhere.

 

Day 139 – Sept 6 Mark Noepel Shelter – Kay Wood Shelter

60 – 75 degrees

16.7 miles

2 Steeps

7:45 am – 4 pm

After a horrible night sleep tossing and turning.  I was sick with the flu, achy and fevered, my stomach in my mouth all night.  I didn’t sleep got up at 6 and ate something.  Was a beautiful day for a hike, but I felt like crap.  Went through a couple of towns, but it was Sunday and everything was closed!  Hiked with 2 guys section hiking so I had some company.  The shelter has two groups of 10 kids on “Freshman orientation” never head of that one!  I think I passed the half-way point of this part of the trip!

 

Day 140 – Sept 7 Kay Wood Shelter – Washington Mountain Road

60 – 70 degrees

7 Miles

7:45 am – 12:00

Had another bad sleep.  Was fevered and almost tossed my cookies.  Got up at 6 and was still sick.  Barely made the seven miles to a road crossing and hitched to the hospital.  Sat there all afternoon.  When they were done with me I had a prescription for Giriadia.  Hopefully my days of fevered tortured hiking are over.

 

Day 141 – Sept 8 Lenox Quality Inn – Zero

Took a hike to town testing my legs and my antibiotic in system for 12 hours.  Got to the library, got groceries, ate some yogurt.  Rode the bus home to motel.  50 % ok.

 

Day 142 – Sept 9 Rt. 20 Goose Pond – Mountain Wilcox South Shelter

Had a good test of my power today running at 80 percent and had 2 good steeps to test me.  Seem to be doing much better.  Had a good breakfast, ate during the day and had some dinner.  Everything staying with me so far.  Have a SOBO for company, with me for a least 1 more day,  He’s from Conn and heading home for the weekend.  Looks like 520 Miles to Harpers. 

 

Day 143 – Sept 10 Mountain Wilcox Shelter – Blen Brook Shelter

21.5 Miles

60 – 75 degrees Sun

7:30 – 6 pm

Two good climbs today.  Handled them well.  Had long day and everything feels great.  Under 500 Miles!  Cool tonight, supposed to rain.  Bummer!  Conn. tomorrow.

 

Day 144 – Sept 11 Glen Brook Shelter – Bassie Brook Shelter (Connecticut) 

9 miles

50 – 60 degrees, Cold Rain

God a good night sleep and late start.  Climbed Mount Everett first off and walked some ridge top in a cold wind and rain.  Fell twice and crossed the Mass – Conn border over a pretty stream.  Took off my rain jacket in preparations for the climb up Bear Mountain (Connecticut’s highest point) Two thirds of the way up in pours down rain and the wind is howling.  I put my jacket back on and am now soaked and frozen.  So I called it a day and am dry and wearing all my dry things snuggled into my sleeping bag.  It’s only 2:30 but the trail is a river and I was getting hypothermic.  Hope tomorrow is better.

 

Day 145 – Sept 12 Bassie Brook Shelter – Belters Campsite

16 Miles

8 am – 4 pm

Had a late start due to rain.  But got going and had a 2^nd breakfast in Salisbury Ct. Had to restock and town was .8 off.  So I had breakfast and got fruit in the grocery store. Then back to the trail hauling only 4 days of food along with fresh fruit.  Hope to see more civilization the rest of the trip so I’ll carry less and hopefully do more miles.  We’ll see how the terrain is.  Seems to be getting easier.  Rained off and on all day, but much warmer.  Hope to be in Kent Monday morning and resupply again as well as check the post office for my remaining maps.

 

Day 146 – Sept 13 Belters Campsite – Stewart Hallow Shelter

15 miles

70 – 75 degrees humid

7:30 – 4 pm

Had a couple of steeps climbs today.  The sun popped out and the humidity few as the afternoon wore on, I wore out.   Still 7 miles to Kent, but evening clouds looked like rain so I took advantage of the last shelter before town and called it a day.

Day 128 – 136 DSM

Day 128 – Aug 26 Hanover Ne Hampshire – Thistle Hill Shelter

14 Miles

11 am – 4 pm

70 – 80 degrees partly cloudy

 

Had a quick breakfast at the motel and packed up.  Hit the bus for a ride to Norwich Vermont.  Walked about a mile on the road into a subdivision and off into the woods.  Had a pretty easy hike, but humidity was high and there were some good steeps, but no views.  Pretty much walking in a fog.  Lots to think about.

 

Day 129 – Aug 27, Thistle Hill Shelter – Chateauguay Road Campsite

16.8 miles

7:30 – 4:30

65 – 70 degrees and sun

Beautiful cool day with no humidity. Great day to hike.  Pretty good steeps, but no views.

Supposed to go down into the 30’s tonight.   Was pretty cool this morning.  Trail is nice  I am in a campsite by a stream alone tonight.  Should sleep great!

 

Day 130 – Aug 28 Chateauguay Road Campsite Long Trail Inn (RT 4 Rutland)

14.7 Miles

65 – 70 degrees

7:45 am – 4 pm

Some pretty good climbs anxious to get to the pub for beer and food.  Also to got a room!  Showers!  Rained all night, cold & rainy. 40 – 50 degrees and big wind.

 

Day 131 – Aug 29, Long Trail Inn – Cooper Lodge Shelter

6.3 Miles

Cold /Rainy!

10 am – 2 pm

Climbed up Mt Killington In a cold rain. Windy.  Had to take off my rain gear as I was climbing and sweat too much in it.  Cold and rainy here at the shelter.  Will be cold night but at least I’m under cover.

 

Day 132 – Aug 30 Cooper Lodge Shelter – Green wall Shelter

19 Miles

7:15 am – 5 pm.

60 – 80 degrees and sunny

Got an early start from Mt Killington.  It warmed up overnight I had a good mud fest for about 10 miles then the trail became firm and the hiking was easier.  Two steeps but noting too difficult.  Alone in the shelter so far.

 

Day 133 – Aug 31 Green Wall shelter – Mad Tom Notch

19 Miles

65 – 70 degrees and Sun

8 am – 5 pm

Had another Vermont Day.  Stumbling, slipping and sliding through acres of mud.  Two good steeps with good views, no shelter tonight.  Passed the last one at 2:30 and the next is over 6 miles away.  Tomorrow is a big climb up Stratton Mountain.  If I get that far.

 

Day 134 – Sept 1 Mad Tom Notch Campsite – Stratton Mountain Campsite

23 Miles

60 – 65 degrees Sun

7:30 – 5:15 pm

Had a great day with near perfect temps during the day.  Froze last night as temps overnight have been in the 40’s.  Seems warmer tonight so far and its still 2 days to Bennington and my mail drop with warm gear.  My zero bag and long Johns.  Almost out of food.  I’ll have a pretty meager dinner tomorrow night of snickers & beef Jerky and GORP.  Whatever is left over for tomorrow?  I’ll be really close to town tomorrow night and hope to be in before lunch….. Maybe breakfast!

 

Day 135 – Sept 2 Stratton Mountain Campsite – Melville Nauheim Shelter

21 Miles

 7:30 – 5:15

65 – 75 degrees Sun

Pretty easy day with few Views.  Walking all day seeing few NOBO’s and No SOBO’s

I must still be behind the pack.  Catching up though.  4^th day of 20 or nearly 20 miles.  I could be done in a month or so. 

 

Day 136 – Sept 3 Melville Nauheim Shelter – Bennington VT.

1.5 Milles (NERO – Nearly zero)

In to town for mail and food, food, food!

Shower and Beer too!

Day 118 – 127 DSM

aug 15 day 118

valley way campsite – Nauman campsite

12 mi 7:30 am – 4 pm

60 – 80 deg sunny (except mt washington peak)

Had to climb every president since madison thru eisenhower! Pretty , pretty huge views. up mt washington , into the clouds! saw the cog railway, at the peak was dissapointed to find that there was not a video camera for a quick wave to everyone back home. sorry guys, wished to blow everyone a kiss. saw the finish of a bicycle race up the mtn. the winner came in in under an hour! had a good lunch in the mt washington snack bar, mailed a letter home, and motored on. had a few good climbs and the afternoon was nice. saw many tourists out for a saturday hike up the mtn , which cleared off , just my luck!

aug 16 day 119

nauman campsite – ethan pond shelter

9.3 mi  7:15 – 12:15 

70 – 90 deg mostly sunny

had an early morning wake-up call by some idiot at the hut banging out his favorites on a bagpipe!! must have gone on a full 15 mins. at 6:15 am!! I was already up but became angrier as the noise continued. was not in a good mood to start. had a couple of quick climbs and then settled into a long downhill which was crawfords notch. it got pretty hot and I found a nice swimming spot near the shelter and set up camp,did some laundry and snacked the afternoon away.really a welcomed short day after yesterdays epic climbs.

sept 14, kent CT

had a quick jump into kent, did laundry,got some groceries, headed to the lib. nice as heck out there today after 3 days of iffy on and off rain. got drenched atop bear mtn, had to stop at 1:30 and get warmed back up. only 9 mi that day. but I’m getting my legs back and feeling my oats,as it were. “only” 450 mi left to go. love to say that “only” part. Connecticut has been a big suprise. pretty steep and some good views. no time now to post pics. I hear a hamburger calling me and have still to climb a mountain to get outta town. new york is callin. how many more states? NY,NJ,PA,MD,WV.

sept 8 pittsfield mass.

well here I am in mass. with giriadia. the 24 hr flu that turned into 3 days of gut wrenching pain is finially over. I stopped yesterday after only seven miles, and thought I was as slow as a turtle. there were no hills, it was cool, and I still couldn’t hike for more than 20 mins without a rest. something was wrong and it had to end. I came to a road crossing and the very first car stopped!! what a miracle ! I couldn’t believe it, and they took me directly to the hospital. I was in the emergency room for 4 hrs and then on to the motel. I needed a pharmacy but it was another 4 mi down the road, a very nice lady in the motel office / snack room offered me a lift and just in time! the pharmacy closed at 6, we got there at 5:30. so I’m down for a zero in lennox/pittsfield. trying to get my digestive tract back in action. I’ve had no desire for food what so ever,which is very unusual for a thru hiker. I was able to stay hydrated,to a point. but I had no energy at all. hopefully tomorrow will be better.