Archive for the 'Appalachian Trail' Category

Franconia Notch Loop Hike

June 29, 2008

Mileage = 11.4
My brother Roy and I staggered into our campsite at Russell Pond at about 3:30 PM today. It was supposed to be a short day of 6.2 miles, but we ended up making choices that doubled it. So whose to blame? Neither of us, its the Polish way!
Camping with my brother [...]

Day 1, Maine Memorial Day weekend, 2008

June 8, 2008

      In the past year, I’ve walked in tears, I’ve walked in awe, I’ve walked in sweat, I’ve walked over ice, but this weekend, I walked in glory.
      Initially, it seemed that the idea of this hike was vaporizing me, hanging on my horizon, never really real. General Tso, Rangoon, and [...]

Hiking the AT in VA, day 3

June 5, 2008

May 20, 2008 -  12 miles traveled
Awoke to cloudy skies, but no rain. I was out of the tent first, where I was immediately hobbling around. My calves were tight, sore, and protesting.   Right, this is what would happen , after leaping right onto the AT with the Speedy Sisters and downing 16 miles yesterday?
I [...]

Trail Days 2008

May 29, 2008

( written on May 18, 200
Back in Damascus, VA,  exactly one year, to the day,  after being here in 2007 for Trail Days, or Trail Daze,  a 25,000 person backpacking party.    I’m here tonight at the Biker Barn,  in the company of my wife Auntie Mame, and her twin sister, V8. Both are [...]

I’ve Been Backpacking…

May 27, 2008

in Virginia and Maine.  I have all sorts of adventures to post, and have got to get started.  I’ve put the piece about Gene Espy on tonight, and will just say that I’ve backpacked 6 of the last 9 days; in two stints on the AT, down south and up north.
I have just finished over [...]

How About Hiking the AT in 1951 ?

May 27, 2008

The highlight of the offerings at Trail Days was the talk given by Gene Espy,who was the second person ( Earl Shaffer was #1) to thru-hike the AT. Gene did it in 1951, at 24 yrs old.
He had no idea at the time that he was only the second person to do it as [...]

Mostly Good Influence

May 10, 2008

Great day of riding 320 miles ( motorcycle) into the great White Mountains of New Hampshire.  I left the house at 9:30 AM  and figured I had to put down 150 miles  if I were to make lunch with my  infamous Appalachian Trail friend, and increasingly famous Vermont trail angel,  Bad Influence.  I didn’t [...]

Mr. T , the tic man..

May 6, 2008

“Tics are parasites- They live by feeding on the blood of others: birds, mammals, and reptiles. They remain attached to the host for several days while feeding , attached by their strong mouth parts. Some species pass on diseases, such as Lyme disease, as they feed. size 1/16-1/8 “ long, # [...]

You Name It, Exercise helps It ..

May 2, 2008

Great article in the 4/29/08 New York Times with the above title written by Jane Brody. (Hit the link in the last sentence to get the full article.) The article not only covers the protective role of exercise in the ability to lower the risk of a litany of diseases but discusses [...]

April 25 and I’m Springing Ahead

April 25, 2008

Today I received a postcard from my sister in law , V8.
On the front was a ” ‘Life Is Good’ at Uncle Johhny’s” photo.

Johnny’s is a constellation of little cabins, camping sites, dorm style beds, and outfitter’s store on the banks of the Nolichucky River in Erwin, TN. v8 [...]