I hiked the whole AT in Maryland at least twice in the early 1970s. And if you count the loops I did north of Harpers Ferry, WV for backpacking trips when I taught at Harford Community College, you can add another 3 or so.
How about some pics?
Several of these shots are no longer on the AT due to a relocation through Harpers Ferry.
Probably the most frequent section of the AT I hiked was in Southern Pennsylvania between Caledonia State Park and Pine Grove Furnace State Park.
I liked the area since you could loop on the variety of trails and gravel roads. CSP, PGFSP or Michaux State Forest.
Look at all the possible routes!
This last picture is me and Brindle, a great dog.
We need to celebrate Earth Day, every day. It is like those who donate food to a local food panty on Christmas. I mean, don't people eat every day?
Pick up trash in your neighborhood for starters.
And properly dispose or recycle it.
So, let's make this day the first of our global challenge to protect our planet. Do your part and encourage others.
Today, as April 20th or 420, we can celebrate cannabis. Recreational use of Marijuana is legal in 18 states in the US. (compare this to 50 states where alcohol is legal).
In today's Southern Illinoisan, an article reported on the tax benefits in Illinois based on, for example the $1.4 billion in sales in 2021 that yielded $408 million in tax benefits.
Stay safe.
Seems there has been a lot of stormy weather hitting the Appalachians. So here are some rainy day hiking pictures.
"Top Countries of Total International Air Traffic Passenger Enplanements to and from the United States were Mexico 3.37 million, Canada 1.49 million, the United Kingdom 865k, Dominican Republic 790k and Germany 464k (Note: Air travel to/from Europe totaled 3.0 million passengers, up 862% over March 2021).
Top U.S. Ports serving international locations were New York (JFK) 1.84 million, Miami (MIA) 1.74 million, Los Angeles (LAX) 1.08 million, Newark (EWR) 840k and Chicago (ORD) 547k.
Top Foreign Ports serving U.S. locations were Cancun (CUN) 1.27 million, London Heathrow (LHR) 789k, Toronto (YYZ) 673k, Mexico City (MEX) 596k and Paris (CDG) 420k."
For this and more, visit https://www.trade.gov/data-visualization/apisi-92-monitor
On 6 April 1975, I hiked down the mountain to Duncannon, PA, where my dad picked me up. I would return to the trail later that spring. Stay tuned.
Here in 2021 and 2022, I am still writing about the Appalachian Trail. A BIG thanks to my coauthors Julie Judkins, from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Jessica Schottanes, MRP and MS in Geography from UMass - Amherst.
Get your copy from CABI.
Enjoy chapter 2 in particular: Appalachian Trail Communities: Gateway Partners in Parks and Protected Area Management
See a preview here.
24.6 miles.
From Rausch Gap LT (pic below) to Susquehanna LT.
Arrived at LT at 7:05 PM and was very tired.
To date I had hiked 1750 miles of the AT.
That night I enjoyed a cup of Hot Chocolate before bed.
The AT intersects with the Horse Shoe Trail in Pennsylvania. Here is the trail junction
Back to the trail talk, so I stayed at the New Windsor Furnace LT on the first, Neys LT on the second, after a stop in Port Clinton to phone home for a pickup at the Susquehanna River on Sunday. The Pinnacles (below) offered a great view, and I note in my journal that "I could not find the caves." Extremely rocky trail in the area too.
You can see the scratch in the film in the picture above. Maybe I can "photoshot" it to remove, but that is the scan of the 35 mm slide.
My camping companions were father - son, Hugh and Mark, nice people.
On the third, the day had "rain, wind, sunny & snow" and I camped in my tent this night at the Hertlein Camp Site (below).
I wrote in my journal about the need for a LT in this stretch. And several times I wrote the need for sneakers to wear in camp, oh well.
I had first wanted to write a satire about some Republican Politician, and their greed, disdain for the needy and lack of support for the environment, but that is too much true. So where is the fun in that?
Anyway, the actual registered head count for the season so far is more like 60 to 70 hikers per day. Still crowded, but not as crazy at 1,000.
Here is a shot of Brindle, my hiking companion in the early 1980s.
After two seasons of Covid-19 restrictions, a record number of hikers begin their trek north from Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Over 1,000 backpackers registered at the summit.
In anticipation of the crowds, special RV's are parked at trail crossings to offer food and first aid to the hikers. "We are also contracting with local Porta-potty companies to place outhouses to remove waste" adding Ms. Sushi.
It is expected that most will drop off the trail before the North Carolina Border.
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