tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55289369794118215362024-03-13T20:01:44.194-07:00Dave Takes a Hike...Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-22597189879909255192012-08-09T07:58:00.002-07:002012-08-09T07:58:42.616-07:00Congratulations Dad!Dad, <br />
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Congratulations on this remarkable accomplishment. You set a goal and saw it through. That is a most admirable quality. You set a fine example for your children, grandchildren and all of those you meet. <br />
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I'm honored that I was able to share a part of the AT trail with you. During my short time on the trail, I saw in you the unshakable determination needed to go the distance. Despite many obstacles, you showed the grit to keep going and shared with us an amazing journey. You inspire me everyday to live with passion and never quit. <br />
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I hope to be a part of your next adventure. Congratulations and welcome home!<br />
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Love, <br />
Brian<br />
<br />Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-47885735348388945862012-08-08T10:35:00.000-07:002012-08-09T16:31:40.585-07:00You did it!Dad-<br />
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Proud doesn't even begin to describe how we're feeling right now. We're proud of your accomplishments and your "whatever it takes" attitude. You set a goal and did all you had to in order to reach that goal. If that's not a life-long lesson for your children and grandchildren, I don't know what is!<br />
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Even with some minor setbacks along the way, you always kept a positive attitude about reaching your goal. You've shown us all that no matter what, if you stay focused and positive, you can do whatever you set out to do. <br />
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We're thankful for the friends you met along the way and that God watched over you along the way keeping you healthy and safe. Sam is so happy to have "PapPap" home! We've all missed you!<br />
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Congrats and love always!<br />
Kate, Kurt, and SamDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-66504807930212933472012-08-08T08:58:00.000-07:002012-08-09T16:32:43.029-07:00Congrats and thank you.Dad,<br />
Congratulations and welcome home! We are unbelievably proud.<br />
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I am so grateful I was able to hike with you for a small portion of the AT. It was fun to chat, laugh, meet your constant-companion Gator and experience the simplicity and challenges of daily life as a hiker. I will cherish that weekend always.<br />
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Thank you for teaching me so much: to be humble before nature, to be fearless, and most importantly: to <i>just keep going</i>.<br />
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I look forward to your next adventure!<br />
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Love always,<br />
AmyDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-38900247066463695552012-08-08T07:58:00.000-07:002012-08-09T16:33:03.610-07:00Congrats, Dave!Dave-<br />
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Just want you to know how very proud we all are of you for completing your hike. You have more stamina and drive than any other 63 year old I know and some younger ones as well. Even though you had some minor setbacks you always knew you would finish.<br />
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I felt very secure knowing you had made friends like Muldoon, Late Start, Rick and Flash as well as many VERY young hikers. Special thanks to Muldoon for taking you back up to New Hampshire AND joining you to finish the climb to Baxter Peak. <br />
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We love you very much and couldn't be prouder!<br />
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Love,<br />
Jan<br />
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<br />Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-75459826834260018952012-08-07T21:35:00.000-07:002012-08-08T07:48:56.883-07:00A Mountain ClimbedJust arrived home around 10 P.M tonight. Muldoon and I camped last night in Stratton, ME and then left this morning around 8 A.M. It was a long drive back, but I was glad to be heading home.<br />
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This past Sunday morning, Muldoon, Ruffles, another 2011 thru hiker, and I started up Katahdin Mountain around 9 o'clock. The weather when we started was sunny and you could easily see the top of the mountain. It was fairly easy initially. The further we climbed, the harder it got. Miles 3 and 4 were especially difficult because of large boulders and the steep incline that we encountered.<br />
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As we went up it got colder and windier which added to the difficulty. I was glad to have Muldoon and Ruffles leading the way! As we got within a mile of the peak, the terrain flattened out and got a little easier. The sunny skies were replaced by a heavy cloud cover. It was still windy and the temperature was dropping.<br />
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We continued on despite the weather conditions and reached Baxter Peak at 1:20 in the afternoon. There were at least 20 hikers up there including some families.<br />
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We took some fun pictures and shared a bottle of scotch compliments of Muldoon. We spent over an hour at the top while I made phone calls and sent pictures. Afterwards we started back down the mountain. In some ways the descent was just as hard as the climb up. It took us about 4 hours to reach the ranger station at the base of the mountain.<br />
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Needless to say, I was very tired and sore, but glad to have finished the last leg of my hike.<br />
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Hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine has been something I've been thinking about for at least 10 years. With my retirement in 2010, I then had the time to pursue it. Although I may never make another long distance hike, I'm glad to have started and completed this hike that began on March 7, 2011.<br />
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I'd like to thank all my blog followers, friends, family members and fellow hikers who gave me lots of encouragement and support. Below are some pictures of my last few days and our hike up to Mt. Katahdin.<br />
<em>"It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end."</em><br />
<em>-Ursula LeGuin</em><br />
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Beaver Pond in the 100 Mile Wilderness</div>
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French-Canadian teenagers from Quebec City who shared their dinner with me</div>
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Mount Katahdin in the background</div>
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A female moose on the AT near Crawford Pond</div>
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Mount Katahdin on a clear day (30 miles away)</div>
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A mountain lake in the 100 Mile Wilderness</div>
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Mt. Katahdin in the distance</div>
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Torch and Ruffles signing in at Mt. Katahdin trailhead </div>
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Muldoon and Torch signing in </div>
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The weather forecast for Mt. Katahdin on August 5, 2012</div>
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Making my way up to Baxter Peak</div>
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Almost there!</div>
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I think I can, I think I can!</div>
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I did it!! </div>
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Torch, Ruffles, and Muldoon at Baxter Peak</div>
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Torch at the top</div>
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Sign says:</div>
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"One pack of Ramen Noodles- $0.25</div>
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One pair of hiking poles- $69.95</div>
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One pair of hiking boots- $110.00</div>
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Climbing Mt. Katahdin on a sunny day- PRICELESS!"</div>
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(It was sunny when I started, not so much by the time I finished!)</div>
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Torch at the summit! </div>
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Descending the mountain top in the clouds</div>
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Rugged descent</div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-61701893087757801872012-08-04T19:52:00.000-07:002012-08-04T20:18:37.623-07:00Guess Where I Am?Yes, I am ready to hike to the top of Katahdin (Elevation 5268 ft.) tomorrow to complete the AT! Got to Baxter State Park today and then hitchhiked to Millinocket and am staying at an Inn here. Getting ready for the big hike to the top tomorrow morning with Muldoon. It will take us most of the day to hike up and back. Hoping to get some good pictures. Then I'll make my final register entry on the ranger station's front porch. I also applied for my 2000 miler certificate.<br />
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Katahdin is an Indian word which translates to "greatest mountain." From the Katahdin stream campground it is 10.4 miles to the summit and back. There is an elevation gain of 4,000 feet in 5 miles so it won't be a "cake walk". We are hoping to get started around 7 in the morning.<br />
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I spent the past 5 days hiking 13-15 miles each day so that I would be able to hike tomorrow with Muldoon. I feel like I'm in pretty good shape so I hopefully won't hold them back. I'm very psyched, ready to finish and anxious to get home again.<br />
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I ended up giving some of my food away as I had more than I could eat/carry. Tomorrow I will eat a muffin and drink cold milk in the morning and just take lots of water and snacks in a daypack for the trip up and back. Tomorrow night I'm hoping to have a celebratory dinner with my hiker friends. Woohoo!<br />
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<em>"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves."</em><br />
<em>-Sir Edmund Hillary</em><br />
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Here are some photos of my journey over the past four weeks. Enjoy!<br />
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Torch and Muldoon at the AT trailhead in Gorham, New Hampshire (7-6-12)</div>
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At the top of Mount Hayes, New Hampshire</div>
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With Muldoon at Mt. Success, New Hampshire</div>
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At the New Hampshire/Maine line</div>
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Grouse on the trail</div>
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Getting ready to resume my hike at Mahoosoc Notch Trail</div>
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Ready to head off</div>
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Speck Pond, Maine</div>
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At the top of Baldplate Mountain (East Peak)</div>
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With my hiker buddy, Flash</div>
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Overlooking "Mooselookmeguntic Lake"</div>
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North Crocker Mountain</div>
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View from Avery Peak</div>
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Another view from Avery Peak</div>
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At the summit of Avery Peak</div>
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At the 2000 mile mark! It's actually located 10 miles to the south in the woods</div>
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View from Pleasant Pond Mountain</div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-73392166849167024042012-07-26T20:04:00.001-07:002012-07-26T20:04:43.768-07:00Monson, MEArrived in Monson, ME today around noon. The town is on Lake Hebron. Staying at the Lakeshore House Lodging & Pub. A bunk costs $25. I had a great cheesesteak sandwich for lunch at their pub, got cleaned up and went to do my laundry. Jan had mailed 2 packages here so I went through all of that to see if I needed to buy anything else for the 100 Mile Wilderness. I think I'll need 7 or 8 days of food.<br />
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There are 114 more miles to Katahdin. So you can see that once I'm out of the wilderness I will be almost there. Elevation here is 1,215 feet. It looks like there aren't too many real hard climbs from here on out....until Katahdin (elevation 5,268 feet). <br />
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Around mile 47-48 is Pemadumcook Lake. If you sound the airhorn, a ferry will come and shuttle you to a camp where the owners offer bunks, showers, meals, and "Linda's famous one-pound burger." By then, I might be ready for a big burger after eating Ramen noodles, Spam and lots of other hiker specialties for 5 or 6 days.<br />
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Feeling real good, losing some weight but no real issues right now. Headed out in the morning after a delicious AYCE breakfast at Shaw's for $8. I had to call and make a reservation for it so it must be really good.<br />
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<em>"You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungy enough to eat six."</em><br />
<em>-Yogi Berra</em><br />
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<br />Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-37596654204808544482012-07-20T20:12:00.000-07:002012-07-20T20:12:44.262-07:00Making ProgressDown to 177 miles to Katahdin as of today! I have my second week under my belt and am making much better progress. I think the first 100 miles in Maine is some of the toughest hiking on the AT including the White Mountains in NH. <br />
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I slackpacked today with Flash through the Bigelow Mountain range, known as Maine's "Second Mountain." We started out early around 6:30 A.M. and hiked about 11 miles. Tonight I'm staying in Stratton, ME at the Stratton Motel & Hostel. The owner will give us a ride back closer to the trail tomorrow morning. It was great to be able to eat some good food for dinner!<br />
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Temperatures have been mostly in the 90s during the day, but it cools down at night. One rainy night this past week I got so cold that I put on every piece of clothing I had, my hood to my rain jacket was up, and I covered my head with my tarp!<br />
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I've seen a lot of grouse and toads, but no moose. Lots of moose tracks and other signs of moose, though! <br />
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Some of the southbounders were telling us about some of the areas where you need to ford the water. At times it's up to your waist and sometimes it's around your ankles. They say it can be very dangerous.<br />
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Still hoping to finish around Aug. 8th, if not before! <br />
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<em>"My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-three today and we don’t know where the hell she is.”</em><br />
<em>-Ellen DeGeneres</em>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-31471360304092706822012-07-12T18:14:00.000-07:002012-07-12T18:14:58.374-07:00Slow but SureMoving slowly this week. I've been on the trail a week now and it's a slow go. I had a couple days off the trail due to some kind of sickness. Don't know if I got some bad water, something I ate, or exhaustion....but spent a couple days this week off the trail. I had a terrible upset stomach and no energy at all. Muldoon was still up here and he recommended I stay off the trail another day. Good suggestion!<br />
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Hiked the past couple days and am feeling much better. I made it through the Mahoosuc Notch on Tuesday and then stayed at the Speck Pond Shelter. I talked with Mimi, a hiker and caretaker at the Campsite. There is good water there.<br />
I only hiked 7 or 8 miles yesterday and stayed at the Baldgate Lean-to last night (264.5 miles from Katahdin). Today I hiked about 7 miles and got off to stay at the Pine Ellis Hostel tonight in Andover. Just had dinner with some other hikers and Flash, a 71 year old hiker, from Knox County, Ohio. He completed a thru-hike in 2001 and is now section hiking. I'm doing laundry and getting my things together for tomorrow.(Mile 256.5 from Katahdin)<br />
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Tomorrow I am slack packing. I have a package waiting for me at the post office in Andover, but I think I might send it forward to Stratton. I'm really going to try to get my pack lighter. My legs and feet feel good, but my heavy pack slows me down. I was talking to some southbounders and they say once I make it through the 100-Mile Wilderness it gets easier for a while. Only time and miles will tell!<br />
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<span class="huge">"The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship."</span> </div>
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-William Blake</div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-30095100200938769882012-07-07T18:16:00.000-07:002012-07-07T18:16:01.366-07:00Can't Beat Father TimeCrossed into Maine from New Hampshire around 3 o'clock today. I'm at about mile 1901 with about 279 miles to Katahdin. It's 8:30 P.M. and I'm tired and leg weary. <br />
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I'm in a valley between Mt. Carlo and Goose Eye Mountain about 2 or so miles inside Maine. Muldoon is hiking with Ruffles, a hiker friend from last year, who joined us at Mt. Success. I'm sure they made it to Full Goose Shelter. I just couldn't make it that far tonight. I did eat tonight... unlike last night.<br />
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Yesterday we got a ride with Rock Dancer, a hiker friend who lives up this way, into where the trail begins at Gorham, NH. That's exactly where I left off last year. We hiked about 12 miles to Gentian Pond Shelter. It was almost dark when we got there. I was so tired, sore and thirsty that I set up my tent and didn't even eat. I guess there was a bad thunderstorm last night, but I didn't hear it! I wish I could sleep that soundly at home. I felt really good this morning though.<br />
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Some hikers from Nova Scotia who are southbound told me about the Mahoosuc Notch Trail which I will hit tomorrow. Apparently it's boulders that you go over, under and in between. They said that you have to take your pack off and push it ahead of you and kind of crawl through. Should be an interesting day. <br />
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The weather is good. At times I felt a cool breeze....unlike the 100+ degree weather in Maryland. A very cold jug of water would taste mighty good right now! All in all I feel like I'm doing okay. I just need to get my "trail legs" back and my pack a little lighter and I'll be good.<br />
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Thanks to all of you for your well wishes. I feel real good about finishing even though I can't keep up with Muldoon and all the youngsters. I have to remember that I have about 30 years on them!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>"Walking takes longer....than any other known form of locomotion except crawling. Thus it stretches time and prolongs life. Life is already too short to waste on speed."</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">-Edward Abbey, "Walking"</span></em>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-79209962177392826392012-07-04T20:00:00.000-07:002012-07-04T20:00:29.846-07:00Packing to go back on the Trail AgainDoing last minute packing for my trip to Gorham, NH to finish the last 298 miles to Katahdin. Muldoon, my hiking buddy from last year, is picking me up and driving me up there tomorrow. We plan to start hiking on Friday morning. I've checked the weather forecast for Gorham and it looks like decent weather with the highs in the low 80s. <br />
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If everything goes well, I should complete the last leg in about 30 days. Muldoon is hiking with me for the first 30 miles or so. He completed the AT hike last year on October 15th. So he is familiar with the last part of the hike and has given me some helpful information.<br />
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Will hopefully add a new post every few days or so. Thanks to Muldoon for the lift up to Gorham and his encouragement!<br />
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<span style="float: right;"> </span><span class="sqq">“To finish the moment, to find the journey's end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom."</span><br />
-Ralph Waldo EmersonDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-66484412691044686832012-06-23T18:09:00.000-07:002012-06-23T18:10:41.443-07:00Spring Time Hike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On May 19th, Amy, Brian, and I did a two-day hike on the Maryland portion of the AT. We left Amy's car at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and Jan dropped us off where the AT crosses over I-70 near Myersville, Maryland. On Saturday, we hiked 12 miles and camped at the Crampton Gap shelter. We set up our tents near the shelter and made a gourmet meal of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner. </div>
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The next morning we got up, had some breakfast, and continued hiking towards Harpers Ferry. Compared to other parts of the AT, the Maryland portion is relatively easy. We hiked 10.5 miles to Harpers Ferry without any problems. Amy and Brian consistently hiked faster than me and had to stop to allow me to catch up. One of the obvious advantages of youth, but I'm a conniving old man, and that counts for something! We pulled into Harpers Ferry right around 1 PM, had a good lunch of barbeque sandwiches and cold Bud Lights at Hannah's Train Depot restaurant. They tasted <em>so</em> good! Before leaving for home, we got ice cream cones for dessert. Then, we were headed back to Bel Air. </div>
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I really enjoyed Amy and Brian's company and as usual, quite a few jokes were cracked. It was a good chance for me to prep for my return to the AT in Gorham, NH in July.</div>
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Planning to have lunch with Muldoon on Sunday, June 24th for final planning for my return to the AT. He's graciously volunteered to drive me up to Gorham and we will hike together for several days. </div>
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At the start close to Myersville, MD</div>
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Washington Monument State Park in Middletown, MD</div>
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Washington Monument State Park</div>
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Brian and Amy acting goofy</div>
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Our campsite at Crampton Gap shelter</div>
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My tent at the shelter</div>
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Amy and Brian on the C&O Canal Towpath near Harpers Ferry</div>
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Brian and I on the Towpath</div>
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Amy in Harpers Ferry</div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-72400064612753399322012-05-07T19:24:00.003-07:002012-05-07T19:24:46.065-07:00Trail MagicJanet and I just arrived back home from a day of trail magic for some AT hikers. We headed up to Dahlgren, Maryland near Boonsboro with food and drinks. We set up around 11 A.M., put up a "Trail Magic" sign and it wasn't long til a hiker arrived. His trail name is Bomber and he is from Rochester, NY. In the next 3 hours or so we ended up with 4 other hikers. Swiss Miss and Alien are from Winterthur, Switzerland. Zoso from Philadelphia soon came by and then Metro North from Brooklyn, NY arrived. We greatly enjoyed meeting and talking with the young thru-hikers and they were glad for some grub. They are all hiking about 20+ miles each day!<br />
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I've decided to delay my return trip to the trail until July 5th. I was told the black fly season this year is supposed to be bad, so to save myself some nasty bites...I'll wait til it is over. My hiker friend Muldoon has offered to drive me back up to Gorham, NH to continue the hike. <br />
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Brian, Amy and I are going to do an overnight 22 mile hike in a couple weeks. It should be fun. I will let you know how it went with my next post. <br />
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<div class="quoteText">
“The mountains are calling and I must go.” <br />― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5297.John_Muir">John Muir</a> </div>
<br />Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-38627010729714514192011-10-04T08:25:00.000-07:002011-10-04T08:25:54.995-07:00To Be ContinuedIt's been over two weeks since I left Gorham, NH and the AT. I came home to give my staph infection a chance to heal. The infection has shown marked improvement, but it's still lingering. The doctor advised me to stay off the trail until that toe looked as healthy as the other toes. I decided to give it until October 1st to make a final decision. I knew I needed at least 3 weeks to finish and also good weather in Maine. It's past October 1st and I've decided to wait until next spring to finish my last 298 miles. <br />
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I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to complete the hike at one time, but my family told me my health is more important than my goal. I was very thin when I arrived home and have put on some weight, and feel and look much healthier.<br />
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Thanks to all my family, friends and AT blog followers for your support through these 6+ months. Look for a new posting the first week of May 2012. If any of you want to take a "walk in the woods" with me then, just let me know. I'd love to have company!<br />
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<strong><em><span class="body"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">The gratification comes in the doing, not in the results.</span></span> <br />
<span class="bodybold"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jamesdean316699.html"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">James Dean</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><br />
</em></strong>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-52106773235309328832011-09-18T18:19:00.000-07:002011-09-18T18:21:56.971-07:00Home to HealDecided yesterday to head home for a while to help this staph infection heal and gain some weight. Yesterday morning I woke up and decided I was tired of hanging around the hostel. So I took a bus from Gorham, NH to Boston-Logan Airport. I booked a flight to Baltimore on Jet Blue and landed around 4 PM. Brian picked me up and we were home shortly after that.<br />
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I'm getting an appointment with my family doctor to see if there's anything more I can do to speed up the healing process. If I'm healthy by October 1st, I'll fly back to Bangor, get a bus to Millinocket, a ride to Baxter State Park and get an early start up to Mt. Katahdin. Then I'll head south to Gorham to finish the trail that way. We'll see what happens...<br />
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Thanks for all your well-wishes. I'm still as determined as ever and hope everything works out. It will be great to see family and friends for a few days. Until then, hasta la vista! <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="huge"><strong><em><span class="goog_qs-tidbit goog_qs-tidbit-0">I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade.</span>.. And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party.</em></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><em>-<span class="bodybold"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/ron_white.html"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-size: x-small;">Ron White</span></a></span></em></strong></span>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-15548461157414727232011-09-12T21:42:00.000-07:002011-09-12T21:52:07.740-07:00Still in NHSpending a couple days here in Gorham, NH. (Mile 1881) I'm 297 miles from Katahdin. I developed a staph infection in my toe and went to have it treated at an ER today. They drained it and gave me some antibiotics, but suggested I stay off it for a few days until the lab report comes back. So I'm at the Mt. Madison Inn for a few days, eating lots of food and getting rested up. The people here have been very nice, but I need to get moving and get finished! I also had some intestinal problems this past week which I think might have been caused by taking too many ibuprofen. Or maybe it was the chili dogs at the Mt. Washington snack bar.<br />
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Yesterday morning I was hiking and came upon some young hikers. They asked if I had seen the flags and I didn't know what they were talking about. They told me that every Sept. 11th. since 2001 volunteers go to all the peaks of the White Mountains in NH that are over 4000 feet and hold flags from 12-2 P.M. There are 48 peaks over 4000 feet in the state. It is an honor to be one of the flag holders. Unfortunately, I didn't see any, but can you imagine being there and seeing that?<br />
<br />
On Saturday I hiked to Carter Notch Hut. The huts are places with small snack bars that cater mostly to day and section hikers. I had a cup of soup and talked with some very nice people. It was a very nice day, cold and windy but I found a spot behind a huge rock to camp at night which protected me from the wind. Once I got in my tent and in my sleeping bag it was warm and toasty.<br />
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I didn't make very good mileage last week. Only 5.6 one day, 4.5 another. On Thursday I was hiking Mt. Madison (Elevation 5,366 ft.). It was very steep and rocky with big boulders. I was trying to reach Pinkham Notch, but couldn't make it there before dark. Going down it was worse than PA. I was sliding down on my behind! It was very slippery too!<br />
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Last Tuesday we started off at Crawford Notch (a notch is like a gap in the South) and hiked Mt. Webster, Mt. Jackson and Mt. Pierce. We stopped at Mizpah Spring Hut for lunch. It was foggy, but not raining. There was a beautiful sunset at Lakes of the Clouds Hut. Between Crawford Notch and Pinkham Notch is 25 miles of ridge-walking mostly above treeline (4,400 feet). This is the area called the Presidential Range, the highest part of the AT in New Hampshire. We "worked for pay" and got bunkrooms ready for mostly day hikers. For that we got to sleep on the floor in the dining hall!<br />
<br />
Wednesday we hiked to Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast and 2nd highest on the AT. It was windy and rainy. I missed the side trail and had to hike back a few miles. So I only hiked 5.6 miles that day. There was a snack bar and gift shop so I had lunch there.<br />
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All in all, the past week to 10 days have been a "wash-out." Between the hurricanes and my other dilemmas I've only made a little over 100 miles. Gotta get moving to finish!<br />
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<span class="sqq"><strong><em>“Is it time to go home yet? I keep clicking these damn shoes, but nothing happens."</em></strong></span><br />
<strong><em>-Robin Hecht</em></strong>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-60875082183090531392011-09-05T16:17:00.000-07:002011-09-05T16:17:35.240-07:00Photo Update!<div style="text-align: center;">Here are some of my photos from the last two months on the trail. Less than 400 miles to go! </div><div style="text-align: center;">I think I can, I think I can...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5NeA0O0hhYo/TmVNVZawexI/AAAAAAAAARQ/Dzy2RHs3ir0/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5NeA0O0hhYo/TmVNVZawexI/AAAAAAAAARQ/Dzy2RHs3ir0/s320/IMG_0095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Copperhead Snake at Clarks Ferry Shelter (7-6-11)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZunDurJO74/TmVNWMsW_RI/AAAAAAAAARU/JrgTeHonCeM/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZunDurJO74/TmVNWMsW_RI/AAAAAAAAARU/JrgTeHonCeM/s320/IMG_0096.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Pennsylvania Countryside from Fisher Look-out</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DctCijx_E7g/TmVNX6NF7MI/AAAAAAAAARc/iCMO30Gxfq0/s1600/IMG_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DctCijx_E7g/TmVNX6NF7MI/AAAAAAAAARc/iCMO30Gxfq0/s320/IMG_0098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The trail in Eastern PA is very rocky! (7-8-11)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tEc3WI68opU/TmVNYryUgBI/AAAAAAAAARg/8bznxw4O50w/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tEc3WI68opU/TmVNYryUgBI/AAAAAAAAARg/8bznxw4O50w/s320/IMG_0099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> More of the rocky trail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AVOWDfxYX5A/TmVNZXsu_6I/AAAAAAAAARk/GmjdakSF1FU/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AVOWDfxYX5A/TmVNZXsu_6I/AAAAAAAAARk/GmjdakSF1FU/s320/IMG_0100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> St. Peter's Church Youth Group on the trail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tM6NHjTmKDI/TmVNcNVOJ8I/AAAAAAAAARo/t5gcNHL5GrA/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tM6NHjTmKDI/TmVNcNVOJ8I/AAAAAAAAARo/t5gcNHL5GrA/s320/IMG_0101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Rough hiking in Eastern PA</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JVd28xw8b_g/TmVNdNMDELI/AAAAAAAAARs/C-Ij4HIX5gI/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JVd28xw8b_g/TmVNdNMDELI/AAAAAAAAARs/C-Ij4HIX5gI/s320/IMG_0102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Boy, was I glad to get out of PA!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UP8aqjTZrIg/TmVNdzfxKUI/AAAAAAAAARw/saZcBKoUJws/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UP8aqjTZrIg/TmVNdzfxKUI/AAAAAAAAARw/saZcBKoUJws/s320/IMG_0103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> My buddy, Jim M., came to visit in Port Clinton, PA</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q--xaGHenWg/TmVNeEOmzhI/AAAAAAAAAR0/k6Yb5jKfjlg/s1600/IMG_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q--xaGHenWg/TmVNeEOmzhI/AAAAAAAAAR0/k6Yb5jKfjlg/s320/IMG_0104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Torch and the PA countryside</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Po6keLD22U/TmVNfGrRPEI/AAAAAAAAAR4/5ZxSlS6D2As/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Po6keLD22U/TmVNfGrRPEI/AAAAAAAAAR4/5ZxSlS6D2As/s320/IMG_0105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Beautiful views of PA!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b8Fp-fHebpE/TmVNgXQCeQI/AAAAAAAAASA/FJaMHWMhlAw/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b8Fp-fHebpE/TmVNgXQCeQI/AAAAAAAAASA/FJaMHWMhlAw/s320/IMG_0107.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Eckville Shelter in PA</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Btpgn9jlL-Q/TmVNhWULhVI/AAAAAAAAASE/XdalCwfFM7I/s1600/IMG_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Btpgn9jlL-Q/TmVNhWULhVI/AAAAAAAAASE/XdalCwfFM7I/s320/IMG_0108.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Pick-Wick at Eckville Shelter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mezRVMXLf7g/TmVNjXf21XI/AAAAAAAAASM/T1F4sT9Kt6g/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mezRVMXLf7g/TmVNjXf21XI/AAAAAAAAASM/T1F4sT9Kt6g/s320/IMG_0110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> More of the PA trail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-whWvyq9jQ/TmVNkHfi8xI/AAAAAAAAASQ/7aLyRenxY3k/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-whWvyq9jQ/TmVNkHfi8xI/AAAAAAAAASQ/7aLyRenxY3k/s320/IMG_0111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Rocky climb in PA</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LcnC4Dzj1es/TmVNlgfyVVI/AAAAAAAAASY/GwAje-7jeTs/s1600/IMG_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LcnC4Dzj1es/TmVNlgfyVVI/AAAAAAAAASY/GwAje-7jeTs/s320/IMG_0113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Tricky hiking in PA</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tNmoPmoqsW4/TmVNog6eK9I/AAAAAAAAASk/j0TFzzwchq0/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tNmoPmoqsW4/TmVNog6eK9I/AAAAAAAAASk/j0TFzzwchq0/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Just when you've thought you've see enough rocks, there are more!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2k6N-sz5eLk/TmVNqCEj8nI/AAAAAAAAASs/yBzm-dOsels/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2k6N-sz5eLk/TmVNqCEj8nI/AAAAAAAAASs/yBzm-dOsels/s320/IMG_0118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Timber Rattler in PA</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbFF5-i1UiM/TmVNr6Bk8eI/AAAAAAAAAS0/j2elh0CZ0IM/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gbFF5-i1UiM/TmVNr6Bk8eI/AAAAAAAAAS0/j2elh0CZ0IM/s320/IMG_0120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> There he goes! Thank goodness!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o9p5cvClAGE/TmVNs2l8rvI/AAAAAAAAAS4/qDPVL3U3ngw/s1600/IMG_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o9p5cvClAGE/TmVNs2l8rvI/AAAAAAAAAS4/qDPVL3U3ngw/s320/IMG_0122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Amy and I hit the trail for the weekend</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L5zI7yV0Ww0/TmVNtuZGy3I/AAAAAAAAAS8/Laf17u8B6Zs/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L5zI7yV0Ww0/TmVNtuZGy3I/AAAAAAAAAS8/Laf17u8B6Zs/s320/IMG_0123.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Amy on the AT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yei_hpq0f0/TmVNuQeY9jI/AAAAAAAAATA/yE2jtMIYsdw/s1600/IMG_0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yei_hpq0f0/TmVNuQeY9jI/AAAAAAAAATA/yE2jtMIYsdw/s320/IMG_0124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Taking a break...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n7pUVUgcTQM/TmVNv94E_sI/AAAAAAAAATI/NfobmPDmPUs/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n7pUVUgcTQM/TmVNv94E_sI/AAAAAAAAATI/NfobmPDmPUs/s320/IMG_0126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Amy and the AT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oGd9VYlZgHw/TmVNw3kpZNI/AAAAAAAAATM/_RDemPQaeGI/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oGd9VYlZgHw/TmVNw3kpZNI/AAAAAAAAATM/_RDemPQaeGI/s320/IMG_0127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Torch on the AT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WX9AvoCnqi8/TmVNxcXo0MI/AAAAAAAAATQ/g8jydbuh_SU/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WX9AvoCnqi8/TmVNxcXo0MI/AAAAAAAAATQ/g8jydbuh_SU/s320/IMG_0128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Monument on the mountain top in New Jersey</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mC4k0uVN5Bo/TmVNyBdCE5I/AAAAAAAAATU/KGAOvWD76JU/s1600/IMG_0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mC4k0uVN5Bo/TmVNyBdCE5I/AAAAAAAAATU/KGAOvWD76JU/s320/IMG_0129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> No, that's not me climbing that tree...it's a black bear in NJ!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6OOXP1vWdPI/TmVNzNRBiRI/AAAAAAAAATY/i4T1biNAh8E/s1600/IMG_0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6OOXP1vWdPI/TmVNzNRBiRI/AAAAAAAAATY/i4T1biNAh8E/s320/IMG_0130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Jim Murray's property near the AT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNMimPZS2X4/TmVNzxTu_iI/AAAAAAAAATc/S8sdUbYcKZ8/s1600/IMG_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNMimPZS2X4/TmVNzxTu_iI/AAAAAAAAATc/S8sdUbYcKZ8/s320/IMG_0131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pmKvrrVjCeQ/TmVN2e2FfvI/AAAAAAAAATk/YjN6w9uou7U/s1600/IMG_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pmKvrrVjCeQ/TmVN2e2FfvI/AAAAAAAAATk/YjN6w9uou7U/s320/IMG_0133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> VFW in Vernon, NJ</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_gn-U-gD4ag/TmVN23H_k0I/AAAAAAAAATo/3cZmiP8TvoU/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_gn-U-gD4ag/TmVN23H_k0I/AAAAAAAAATo/3cZmiP8TvoU/s320/IMG_0134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> New Jersey/New York line</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P2NZr-b4lE8/TmVN4tChc1I/AAAAAAAAATw/RhG4ZRg_g9k/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P2NZr-b4lE8/TmVN4tChc1I/AAAAAAAAATw/RhG4ZRg_g9k/s320/IMG_0136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Muldoon at the NJ/NY line</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ciWXBqE4lTE/TmVN5ZaJqfI/AAAAAAAAAT0/C_HnpL9KwQA/s1600/IMG_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ciWXBqE4lTE/TmVN5ZaJqfI/AAAAAAAAAT0/C_HnpL9KwQA/s320/IMG_0137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Lemon Squeeze Rock Formation in NY</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O4MqFHQbGPo/TmVN6F9DuGI/AAAAAAAAAT4/4MRBl1vdP98/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O4MqFHQbGPo/TmVN6F9DuGI/AAAAAAAAAT4/4MRBl1vdP98/s320/IMG_0138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> More of the Lemon Squeeze Rock formation</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UGIJcpuQRWo/TmVN70P7L9I/AAAAAAAAAUA/P1SpuOEYOp8/s1600/IMG_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UGIJcpuQRWo/TmVN70P7L9I/AAAAAAAAAUA/P1SpuOEYOp8/s320/IMG_0140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Muldoon at Lemon Squeeze Rock</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rX64kp0WM-U/TmVN8XDWZ8I/AAAAAAAAAUE/XPKAwi1nGes/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rX64kp0WM-U/TmVN8XDWZ8I/AAAAAAAAAUE/XPKAwi1nGes/s320/IMG_0141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Direction and mileage sign on the AT in NY</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sKKe2gYVA4A/TmVN9E7I_EI/AAAAAAAAAUI/_5HfL4Gdvpk/s1600/IMG_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sKKe2gYVA4A/TmVN9E7I_EI/AAAAAAAAAUI/_5HfL4Gdvpk/s320/IMG_0142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> View from Bear Mountain, NY</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xmlx3z2P6ok/TmVN9gSOnXI/AAAAAAAAAUM/cdHHJy0Suc8/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xmlx3z2P6ok/TmVN9gSOnXI/AAAAAAAAAUM/cdHHJy0Suc8/s320/IMG_0143.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> View of the NYC skyline (you can just barely see it!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nWydGXNPCDo/TmVN-UhuaLI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/5ZfDqfAlotI/s1600/IMG_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nWydGXNPCDo/TmVN-UhuaLI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/5ZfDqfAlotI/s320/IMG_0144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Muldoon and I at the Bear Mountain Zoo</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BVYrNJBcXw4/TmVN_ZA-fFI/AAAAAAAAAUU/U1BwHwO8VxA/s1600/IMG_0145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BVYrNJBcXw4/TmVN_ZA-fFI/AAAAAAAAAUU/U1BwHwO8VxA/s320/IMG_0145.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Bear Mountain Zoo</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gOv8yN9x0M8/TmVOB2e9vuI/AAAAAAAAAUc/rFuE6xRaDn0/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gOv8yN9x0M8/TmVOB2e9vuI/AAAAAAAAAUc/rFuE6xRaDn0/s320/IMG_0147.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FufAqExV0mk/TmVODYs1-SI/AAAAAAAAAUk/ynI2nXq39I0/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FufAqExV0mk/TmVODYs1-SI/AAAAAAAAAUk/ynI2nXq39I0/s320/IMG_0149.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Bears in the Bear Mountain Zoo (Glad they are in a cage!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4LTDF0_xvw/TmVOELt-98I/AAAAAAAAAUo/DIXae_S4Heo/s1600/IMG_0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4LTDF0_xvw/TmVOELt-98I/AAAAAAAAAUo/DIXae_S4Heo/s320/IMG_0150.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Wiley Shelter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pWmoSeHV884/TmVOE9kS_qI/AAAAAAAAAUs/0VT4K5KWwRM/s1600/IMG_0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pWmoSeHV884/TmVOE9kS_qI/AAAAAAAAAUs/0VT4K5KWwRM/s320/IMG_0151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Wiley Shelter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gS7vBiWYdOo/TmVOFuX4kaI/AAAAAAAAAUw/z13OTmCKeck/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gS7vBiWYdOo/TmVOFuX4kaI/AAAAAAAAAUw/z13OTmCKeck/s320/IMG_0152.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Rock formation in CT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OIzzOQ0fHPU/TmVOGWedo3I/AAAAAAAAAU0/PtAAxrQV6b0/s1600/IMG_0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OIzzOQ0fHPU/TmVOGWedo3I/AAAAAAAAAU0/PtAAxrQV6b0/s320/IMG_0153.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Strange rock formation in CT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TbaptGLMVW4/TmVOG3lcmNI/AAAAAAAAAU4/2EIQIpLNpCo/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TbaptGLMVW4/TmVOG3lcmNI/AAAAAAAAAU4/2EIQIpLNpCo/s320/IMG_0154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> CT countryside</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tXFs5fUAPt0/TmVOHeUUGxI/AAAAAAAAAU8/GcKjJroxpeo/s1600/IMG_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tXFs5fUAPt0/TmVOHeUUGxI/AAAAAAAAAU8/GcKjJroxpeo/s320/IMG_0155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> CT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuH6YW43ojQ/TmVOIFrWthI/AAAAAAAAAVA/H-Vjq5qEN_A/s1600/IMG_0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuH6YW43ojQ/TmVOIFrWthI/AAAAAAAAAVA/H-Vjq5qEN_A/s320/IMG_0156.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Torch in CT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hHvOhzCitdM/TmVOJoZ77WI/AAAAAAAAAVI/Xq4J-lMYRWM/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hHvOhzCitdM/TmVOJoZ77WI/AAAAAAAAAVI/Xq4J-lMYRWM/s320/IMG_0158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Torch and Muldoon at Goose Pond, MA</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2I1W-vdyTJU/TmVOKXgrjoI/AAAAAAAAAVM/k2cF8-TFi30/s1600/IMG_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2I1W-vdyTJU/TmVOKXgrjoI/AAAAAAAAAVM/k2cF8-TFi30/s320/IMG_0159.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Shelter at Upper Goose Pond</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEXldIeicuw/TmVOLfAyj-I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/2CraaYkYNm0/s1600/IMG_0160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEXldIeicuw/TmVOLfAyj-I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/2CraaYkYNm0/s320/IMG_0160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mt. Greylock</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCIeTN25xGQ/TmVOMeFZ6VI/AAAAAAAAAVU/IBJ7J424krE/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vCIeTN25xGQ/TmVOMeFZ6VI/AAAAAAAAAVU/IBJ7J424krE/s320/IMG_0161.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Quote by Thoreau</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1qJuRFXCcg8/TmVONdeC45I/AAAAAAAAAVY/8S2YSYaWpM0/s1600/IMG_0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1qJuRFXCcg8/TmVONdeC45I/AAAAAAAAAVY/8S2YSYaWpM0/s320/IMG_0162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Torch and Thoreau</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wmDPIHsWb9Q/TmVOSMTGaKI/AAAAAAAAAVg/RpDcq-A_T7U/s1600/IMG_0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wmDPIHsWb9Q/TmVOSMTGaKI/AAAAAAAAAVg/RpDcq-A_T7U/s320/IMG_0164.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Crossing into VT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9NdWwhkgvnE/TmVOSsHnsQI/AAAAAAAAAVk/lFpv-QAZ4YI/s1600/IMG_0165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9NdWwhkgvnE/TmVOSsHnsQI/AAAAAAAAAVk/lFpv-QAZ4YI/s320/IMG_0165.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Moose on the AT</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lqRfR7Xniyw/TmVOTQ0FHcI/AAAAAAAAAVo/1ZARKH19QyI/s1600/IMG_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lqRfR7Xniyw/TmVOTQ0FHcI/AAAAAAAAAVo/1ZARKH19QyI/s320/IMG_0166.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> There he goes...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InLySAXyhio/TmVOTycZkwI/AAAAAAAAAVs/LXdnxLmRcYA/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InLySAXyhio/TmVOTycZkwI/AAAAAAAAAVs/LXdnxLmRcYA/s320/IMG_0167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SzaMdcm-c9Q/TmVOUYB1M-I/AAAAAAAAAVw/9VzUbAVM0tQ/s1600/IMG_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SzaMdcm-c9Q/TmVOUYB1M-I/AAAAAAAAAVw/9VzUbAVM0tQ/s320/IMG_0168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ao3o2250kKk/TmVOVFPAiZI/AAAAAAAAAV4/i6FPXTYJW4M/s1600/IMG_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ao3o2250kKk/TmVOVFPAiZI/AAAAAAAAAV4/i6FPXTYJW4M/s320/IMG_0170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UYHETERFTfg/TmVOVg4AVPI/AAAAAAAAAV8/goMH4ClGMAQ/s1600/IMG_0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UYHETERFTfg/TmVOVg4AVPI/AAAAAAAAAV8/goMH4ClGMAQ/s320/IMG_0171.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Muldoon and I on top of Mt. Kittering</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oWUn2X-bm5o/TmVOWSNTbsI/AAAAAAAAAWA/FtWHFqNCcFg/s1600/IMG_0172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oWUn2X-bm5o/TmVOWSNTbsI/AAAAAAAAAWA/FtWHFqNCcFg/s320/IMG_0172.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Mt. Kittering</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k2-tk1rITOs/TmVOXPC6hyI/AAAAAAAAAWE/e5_7BmnKDv0/s1600/IMG_0173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k2-tk1rITOs/TmVOXPC6hyI/AAAAAAAAAWE/e5_7BmnKDv0/s320/IMG_0173.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Trail Magic at the 500 mile marker (500 miles left to go!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBmHvRTkjbE/TmVOYMwxT5I/AAAAAAAAAWI/q5jXJXKd-Es/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QBmHvRTkjbE/TmVOYMwxT5I/AAAAAAAAAWI/q5jXJXKd-Es/s320/IMG_0174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Iced cold drinks! Almost heaven!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Rkuyvmyzog/TmVOY-osjlI/AAAAAAAAAWM/Q3zVNOX5zaQ/s1600/IMG_0175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Rkuyvmyzog/TmVOY-osjlI/AAAAAAAAAWM/Q3zVNOX5zaQ/s320/IMG_0175.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Torch in VT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kK0mJCzfEME/TmVOZYS6IcI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/fvu0UuBRSpM/s1600/IMG_0176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kK0mJCzfEME/TmVOZYS6IcI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/fvu0UuBRSpM/s320/IMG_0176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Views in VT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--0igc4Ke9vY/TmVOaCBMt-I/AAAAAAAAAWU/1XAdMlwghbU/s1600/IMG_0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--0igc4Ke9vY/TmVOaCBMt-I/AAAAAAAAAWU/1XAdMlwghbU/s320/IMG_0177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> More views of VT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aDaJBITfDUM/TmVOa4wPv3I/AAAAAAAAAWY/DjkoArlCSYw/s1600/IMG_0178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aDaJBITfDUM/TmVOa4wPv3I/AAAAAAAAAWY/DjkoArlCSYw/s320/IMG_0178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Inn at Long Trail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hhGGVlxb2bQ/TmVObr9uz7I/AAAAAAAAAWc/hlzR8LkOhxA/s1600/IMG_0179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hhGGVlxb2bQ/TmVObr9uz7I/AAAAAAAAAWc/hlzR8LkOhxA/s320/IMG_0179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Campsite at Long Trail Inn</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7YB_tEHZCHc/TmVOcGQCZdI/AAAAAAAAAWg/Y-n1mHEh7jQ/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7YB_tEHZCHc/TmVOcGQCZdI/AAAAAAAAAWg/Y-n1mHEh7jQ/s320/IMG_0180.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Inn at Long Trail</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-28177855385553704162011-08-30T19:57:00.000-07:002011-08-30T19:57:42.117-07:00Flooded Out in New HampshireSpent Saturday night off Route 25A near Wentworth, NH. Woke up in the early morning on Sunday and everything seemed okay. Next time I woke up I felt like I was floating....tent and all. I think I was! I had set up my tent on a soccer field, apparently near a stream near Camp Merriwood. So my boots were floating and I had to catch them. Everything got wet! I lost my belt and a couple other things, and got my cell phone, camera, and ipod wet. My journal and hikers' book also got soaked. The people at Camp Merriwood, a day camp for girls let me dry off in their office. They were very helpful and also let me do some laundry to get my things dry. I was very thankful that they were close by.<br />
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Yesterday I hiked 10 miles to a Hikers Hostel in Glencliff, NH and joined a group of hikers there. I got a shower and felt much better. I weighed my pack and it is about 40 pounds...way too heavy! I was able to use their phone and left a message at home. They had lost power in MD and so didn't get my messages and were worried too. I did get to talk with them later last night. Everything at home is fine now too.<br />
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We got word last night that the Forest Service was closing the AT until they could check to make sure it was safe for all of us. This morning, though, we got the okay to continue on. We heard that there is a group of about 40 hikers stuck in Vermont who may not be able to continue today. We are about 398 miles from Katahdin and heading in to the White Mountains. They tell us we should expect all kinds of weather conditions...snow, sleet, and rain even now. From an elevation of 1,000 ft to 4,800 feet in only about 8 miles. It should be a difficult 10 days or so.<br />
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I've been very impressed with the friendliness of the people in New Hampshire. Last week I hiked into the little town of Lyme Center, hoping to get a cold soda. There was a small building there which turned out to be the post office. I was sitting outside the building drinking my water and a lady came out. I asked her if there was a store or something downtown and she said that this was about all I would find close by. Anyway she left and then another lady came by and asked if I was a hiker and we started to talk. While we were talking, the first lady came back with 2 Cokes and apologized for not giving me a ride. She said, "I didn't know you and so I was afraid to give you a ride, but here are some drinks for you." The other lady then brought me homemade cookies that she had just baked. Then another gentleman came by and sat and talked with me. They all told me to be careful in the hurricane. Then the man gave me a ride back to the trail! Very, very nice people in that town!<br />
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<em><strong><span class="body"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.</span></span> </strong></em><br />
<strong><em>-</em>Anne Frank</strong><br />
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Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-37402529997319175792011-08-24T16:33:00.000-07:002011-08-24T18:35:22.265-07:00Last Stop in VermontSpending the night at the home of Betsy(Short and Sweet) and Bill(Gray Beard), section hikers here in Norwich, VT. They had trail magic on the trail in front of their house with a note to call if you needed a place to spend the night. So I called and asked if I could pitch my tent in their yard and they invited me in to their home. I asked if there was a place to get a bite to eat and Betsy directed me to the Norwich Inn in town to get a bite. So I'm having ribs, fries, cole slaw and a couple beers before heading back for the night. This Inn is reported to be the inspiration for the Bob Newhart TV show and was built in 1791. I'm looking for Larry, Darryl and Darryl!<br />
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This will be my last day in Vermont. I'm about a mile from the New Hampshire border.(Mile 1738.7) I hiked 15 miles today. Tomorrow I will hike through Hanover, NH which is the location of Dartmouth College. I'm hoping to get a hair cut there as I'm looking kind of shabby.<br />
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Saturday we stopped at McGrath's Irish Pub in Killington for some good food and then camped in an open, grassy area near the Pub. On Sunday we were getting packed up and it started to rain heavily. So Muldoon and I got a room at the Inn at Long Trail and spent the day and night there. Some of the young hikers went on a tour of a microbrewery, but I took a $2 bus ride in to Rutland to the Walmart, got some supplies, then just chilled. On Monday we had a long hike on the muddy trail and I fell. I got a bump on my head and a small cut, but Muldoon and I cleaned it up and put some neosporin on it with a band-aid. It seems to be fine now. <br />
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I saw my first moose last Tuesday. I haven't seen any since. We hit the 500 miles to Katahdin marker last Friday and were greeted with cold Cokes and Mt. Dews compliments of a local thru-hiker named Mad Hatter. It was great! <br />
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I'm still hoping to finish in early October. I'm glad to have my sleeping bag and warm clothes as it gets chilly up here at night. One of the other hikers asked me what I'm going to do with myself once I'm finished. I told them I have lots to keep me busy when I get home. Can't wait to spend time with the new little guy and the rest of my family. Just got a picture text and I can't believe how big he's getting. <br />
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<strong><em>“Camping: nature’s way of promoting the motel industry.” </em></strong><br />
-Dave Barry<br />
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Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-25742848135363896962011-08-14T07:25:00.000-07:002011-08-14T07:25:43.767-07:00In VermontHiked 17 miles in to Bennington, Vermont on Friday and stayed at a fleabag motel. No bed bugs...but not the Ritz Carlton either. I did have a great spaghetti and meatball dinner. Muldoon's friends came to visit him yesterday so I got to tag along too. The town of Bennington is really nice and we got to see more of it thanks to his friends. Ended up having a good lunch and Friendly's ice cream with them before they dropped us off back at the trailhead. We took a short hike to Melville Nauheim Shelter. Not a lot of water around here. I wish I had brought more water from Bennington. Only 576 miles to Katahdin.<br />
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The AT joins the Long Trail(LT) for about 105 miles at the VT-MA line. When we get to Maine Junction at Willard Gap the AT heads toward Maine and the LT heads toward the Canadian border.<br />
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We are headed into Manchester Center, VT on Tuesday. My air mattress has turned out to be a piece of junk so the company is sending me a new one there. It constantly loses air and I've had to fix multiple leaks. In the middle of the night I ended up waking up and having to blow it up again. Not fun! I do not recommend it.<br />
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Jan sent me my sleeping bag and some cold weather clothes there too. Nights are getting cooler up here and I don't want to take any chances of getting too chilled and then sick. I'm hoping she sent me a Zagnut or Payday as well!<br />
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Vermont is 150 miles long so we will be here for at least a week or so. Then New Hampshire is about 161 miles and once we're in Maine it is 281 miles to Katahdin. I think I can...I think I can...<br />
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Thanks again to all of you for your well wishes, emails and comments. Can't wait to get back home.<br />
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<strong><em><span class="body"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">"The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned."</span></span> <br />
<span class="bodybold">-<a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mayaangelo386838.html"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Maya Angelou</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><br />
</em></strong>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-51331632286134904252011-08-09T18:39:00.000-07:002011-08-09T18:39:39.963-07:00622 Miles to GoHiked into Massachusetts on Friday morning. I camped at the Race Brook Falls Trail on Friday night. Saturday was a 16-mile day and we stayed at the Tom Leonard Shelter near Monterey, MA. Yesterday Muldoon and I hiked into Lee, MA and stayed at the Pilgrim Inn. We had dinner at a little Italian restaurant, did our laundry and got some food and supplies.<br />
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Today we hiked about 16 miles, the last 4 miles in the rain. At Washington Mountain Road we hiked a short distance to the home of the "Cookie Lady." Marilyn Wiley and her husband Roy live on a blueberry farm and allow hikers to get water and pick blueberries to purchase. Marilyn had homemade cookies for us and we watched hummingbirds at her feeder. Muldoon needed to get a package in the town of Becket so Roy took him into town while I stayed back and enjoyed the cookies! Then we hiked 7 more miles to the Kay Wood Shelter. Kay Wood was a 1972 hiker, is in her 80s and still helps maintain the trail in the area.<br />
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Tomorrow I need to stop in Dalton, MA to get a package and some fuel for my stove. Then we'll only have about 27 more miles in Massachusetts. We'll hike to Mt. Greylock, the highest peak in MA.(3,491 feet)<br />
At the top they say you can see the Green, Catskill and Taconic mountains. The mountain is said to have inspired both Thoreau and Hawthorne. Maybe I'll be inspired too! We'll be in Vermont hopefully by the end of the week.<br />
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Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-49612357980742079532011-08-01T19:52:00.000-07:002011-08-01T19:52:14.853-07:00Made it into CTHiked 16 miles yesterday to get in to CT. The AT in CT is only 52 miles so I'm hoping to make it to MA by the middle of the week with any luck. <br />
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It took us exactly one week to get through NY. Last Sunday night we were in Greenwood Lake, NY looking for a place to stay. A guy named Jimmy with a heavy New York accent stopped and asked us if we were thru-hikers and what we were looking for. We told him that we were hoping to find a place to camp and he said, "I'll hook ya up." So he took Muldoon (Patrick) and me to his friend Walter's Place and he let us camp right near Greenwood Lake. Then he gave us a ride to a local restaurant. So at 10 o'clock at night we were sitting there eating fried chicken. Then he took us back to Walter's Place. It seems like the area is a little getaway for people who live in NYC.<br />
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Hiking conditions last week were very nice. We hiked to the top of Bear Mountain on Tuesday and could see the NYC skyline. Then on Friday we were staying at the RPH Shelter (Mile 1420) and a local hiker named Bill came by and invited us all to his home in the morning for breakfast. It was a delicous waffle breakfast and he also allowed us to do our laundry. It was a great day!<br />
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New Yorkers have been very hospitable. On Saturday night it was getting late and I needed to find a place to camp. I saw some local hikers near Nuclear Lake about a mile from Poughquag, NY. They said that there was no camping allowed around the lake and there is a grouchy old lady that comes by and patrols the area. Well, I couldn't go any farther so I found a spot away from the trail and set up my tent and had something quick to eat. It was getting dark and I soon heard her. She was harrassing some guys who were fishing from shore and had a little campfire going. I kept expecting her to come and find me....but I must have been far enough off the trail that she never saw my tent. About 9 o'clock that night there were fireworks over the lake and it was so beautiful. Apparently this was the site of a nuclear fuels processing and research facility until 1972 and then the Parks Service acquired the land for the AT.<br />
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The next day (Sunday) I had lunch at a little deli not too far from Pawling, NY, finished my hiking through NY and made it to Ten Mile River Shelter in CT (Mile 1449). Only 731 miles to Katahdin and I think I can make it...<br />
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Today I stopped in Kent, CT to pick up a package at the post office from our friends Marcia and Del who live in Beaver Falls, PA. Thanks to them for all the goodies! While I was in town I stopped in the library and read the newspaper, did some laundry and had a hot pastrami sandwich. MMM!Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-81837144560088583652011-07-25T06:36:00.000-07:002011-07-25T06:36:30.488-07:00Gator Takes a Hike!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Good morning! It's Amy again. If you read the post I submitted last week, you will remember Gator, my dad's trusty companion/water bottle. It seems that Gator is really enjoying himself (herself?), despite the high temperature. My dad sent me this photo of a flowered Gator:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YvD8i665iUg/Ti1wqB11gyI/AAAAAAAAARM/vsqjEnGsMbc/s1600/downsized950722111215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YvD8i665iUg/Ti1wqB11gyI/AAAAAAAAARM/vsqjEnGsMbc/s320/downsized950722111215.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's quite possible that Torch has finally lost it!! Ha ha!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">He did get some recovery time in, according to my mom, and is feeling better. Expect another update soon.</div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-20335179229177619322011-07-23T19:46:00.000-07:002011-07-23T19:49:09.638-07:00NJ to NYWhat a week to be hiking! The temperatures up this way have been very similar to those at home. When I was hiking in the woods it wasn't as bad, but yesterday I had to hike on a boardwalk across a swampy area and it was ungodly hot and sunny! So I decided to try to get a place at a local motel in Vernon, NJ. (Mile 1348) There was no room at the inn, so I decided to try to make it into Vernon anyway and find a local hikers hostel there. There's not a lot of water in this area, so you will see trail angels have left jugs of water along the trail. Thank goodness for that. It probably saved me from having heat stroke. I was walking towards a little farm market just a tenth of a mile off the trail and some lady started talking to me. I was so out of it I couldn't understand a word she said. She asked if I was okay and I said I just needed to get my pack off and rest awhile. So I dropped my pack outside the market, went in and had some water, gatorade and a snack and started to feel a little better.<br />
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I hiked to the hostel in the basement of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. There isn't air conditioning, but a fan and it felt much better there. I got some spaghetti to eat at a local place and it was delish! I slept pretty well last night and decided to take a zero day today, which was probably a good idea. I think it got to 102 degrees here.<br />
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This morning I had a good breakfast, got my laundry done, and got some things organized. Then I went to the A & P and hung out there for a while in the frozen food section. Later we walked to Burger King for some air conditioning and lunch and then found a VFW and spent the rest of the afternoon having a few beers and swapping stories. I think they were glad to have the business.<br />
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My hiking buddy Patrick and I are hoping to get an early start tomorrow morning and should be in NY by mid-day. I think I'm only about 8 miles away from the line. From Vernon (450 ft.), we will be hiking up to about 1433 ft. to Prospect Rock, the highest point on the AT in New York. It looks like water will become a little scarce so we will have to get it when we can. <br />
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For those of you who read Amy's blog about our weekend, I got a second smaller Gatorade bottle yesterday. So "Gator" now has a little sis, "Little Gator" or "Gatorette!"<br />
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<em><span class="body"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Reminds me of my safari in Africa. Somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water.</span></span> </em><br />
<span class="bodybold">-<a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/wcfields389150.html"><span style="color: #0000cc; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>W. C. Fields</strong></span></a><strong><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></strong></span>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528936979411821536.post-73807231111491578202011-07-21T08:32:00.000-07:002011-07-21T08:32:16.302-07:00GUEST POST: Amy Takes a Hike!!Hello Readers!<br />
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This is Amy (Torch's daughter.) I wanted to tell you about the great time I had hiking with my dad last weekend.<br />
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We started in Easton, PA and had two days of hiking, ending up in <a href="http://www.nps.gov/dewa/index.htm">Delaware Water Gap</a>. Hiking in Eastern PA is challenging because it is so rocky. You have to watch every step, which is obviously taxing both mentally and physically. In one of the shelter notebooks, a hiker wrote: EASTERN PA: WHERE BOOTS COME TO DIE. Torch is happy to be out of PA!<br />
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We camped a little off the trail after eating a gourmet dinner. We hung our food bag pretty far from our tent. I was hoping that some bears would try to play tetherball with our food bag, but alas, it remained untouched. <br />
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This was an incredible experience. Being away from my cellphone, computer, commute and cubicle (The Four Cs!!) was the best! Also: no mirrors! On the trail, it doesn't matter what you look like (or smell like, thankfully.) For me, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I mean, I will definitely hike and camp again, but doing it alongside a real THRU-HIKER, who is also my dad, was remarkable and I will treasure this weekend for the rest of my life!<br />
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We had a lot of laughs over the weekend but what I found most hilarious was my dad's attachment to his Gatorade bottle. He re-uses the same plastic bottle over and over and is always super-conscious about having it in his pack. To me, it seemed that this Gatorade bottle was like a friend to him, and not just a water vessel. If you've ever seen the movie Castaway, you probably remember Wilson:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fb/Wilson_The_Volleyball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fb/Wilson_The_Volleyball.jpg" /></a></div><br />
(the volleyball anthropomorphised by Tom Hanks' character in the film.) It seems that this Gatorade bottle provides a similar function to my dad on the hike...so much so that I decided the Gatorade bottle needed a name. Hence, he was christened "Gator":<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://image.become.com/imageserver/s4/1001569964-75-75-5-32/wide-mouth-gatorade-bottles-20-oz-case.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://image.become.com/imageserver/s4/1001569964-75-75-5-32/wide-mouth-gatorade-bottles-20-oz-case.jpg" /></a></div>(What a pal.)<br />
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Thanks to my DAD for having me on the trail, if only for a few days! I highly recommend joining him for a hike if you are able. And, thanks to my MOM for getting up to Easton and waiting around for us while we enjoyed the great outdoors.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730788104453212810noreply@blogger.com4