National Trails Day 2025

 That time of year to start thinking about ...

American Hiking Society - Protect the Places You Love to Hike

November Hiking

 November is a great time for hikes. Except for hunters*, there are few bugs, and the temperatures are great.

Here some shots from AMC Noble View and map.

Take a hike.

* No hunting on Sunday's in Massachusetts, Yeah!

Fourth of July, 50 years ago

 After a long hot hike, we arrived at Van Deventer LT in Tennessee. My legs and arms were scratched from all the pricker bushes along the AT.  It was a 20 plus mile day from Moreland Gap LT.

About midday, we crossed the river below Laurel Falls.

On Section 4, between Wilbur Lake and Watauga Dam Road, the guidebook said it as 1.58 miles.  My handwritten notes state "this section makes an excellent 3-4 day traverse & should be undertaken only by idiots."  That gives you a taste of the Ups and Downs.

By 730 pm we reached our home for the evening and a fireworks free evening.

Here is Ralph's pic of the leanto.

We only had 45 miles to go to reach Virginia and the town of Damascus, also a mail drop.

Newspaper articles about Appalachian Trail 2,000 Milers

 here is selection of newspaper clips for 2,000 Milers of the AT.

Appalachian Trail Completed on 14 August 1937

 A big day in Maine, when the final two miles connected Sugarloaf (center) and Spaulding Mountains (right).

As viewed on this topo map, we see it followed the crest of the mountains.

An air photo from the seventies gives another view.

Finally, check out this LiDAR image that shows the topography.

Mt Washington, NH Weather

 As many AT hikers approach the Whites in New Hampshire, they need to be aware of weather conditions in the Presidentials.

See this link from the Observatory.  Brrr!

And dress appropriately.

Rain in Maine ...

... is causing some problems in this wild state.  Many AT Hikers can't advance since the numerous streams are at high water stage.  But after all, Maine is 

A journey over it (the Trail) in Maine is definitely one on a wilderness trail.  It probably is more difficult to reach and travel but also affords more of a sense of isolation than any segment of The Appalachian Trail.  Guide to the Appalachian Trail in Maine 1969, p 3-8.

Enjoy.

Naked Hiking Day Summer Solstice 2023

 Some call it a world event, others just put it as something to do on the AT or Pacific Crest Trail.  In either case, it is not sanctioned, and I would caution against going free in Red States where local traditions may be more conservative.

American's are pretty conservative overall regarding nudity, while much of the other Western nations are not.

(brrrr, too cold to hike nude today)

So before you hit the trail nude, be sure to apply sunscreen, bug dope, and maybe have a bandana available to cover yourself when you approach that church group.

You may want to join a group of like minded folks too.

National Trails Day 2023

 

Saturday, June 3, National Trails Day®.

Get out on the trails this weekend.  Take a friend, your dog or go solo, but take a hike!

Round Bald, Appalachian Trail, 1974.

Speak Up for Inclusive Access to Trails: Tell your Member of Congress how much you value outdoor spaces, and ask them to pass bipartisan legislation supporting trails, public lands, and inclusive access for all.  To advocate for trails see this.

Benefits of Trails

 From the American Hiking Society.....

• Trails increase the value of nearby properties. 
• Trails boost spending at local businesses. Communities along trails, often called trail towns, benefit from the influx of visitors going to restaurants, snack shops and other retail establishments. On longer trails, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and outdoor outfitters benefit. Without trails and the protection of them, there may be less travel to communities that rely heavily on tourism, resulting in jobs lost and a decrease in tax revenue for the local government. 
• Trails make communities more attractive places to live. When considering where to move, homebuyers rank walking and biking paths as one of the most important features of a new community.
• Trails influence business location and relocation decisions. Companies often choose to locate in communities that offer a high level of amenities to employees as a means of attracting and retaining top-level workers. Trails can make communities attractive to businesses looking to expand or relocate both because of the amenities they offer to employees and the opportunities they offer to cater to trail visitors.
• Trails reduce medical costs by encouraging exercise and other healthy outdoor activities.
• Trails revitalize depressed areas, creating a demand for space in what were once vacant buildings.
• Trails provide transportation options and cut fuel expenses, offering reliable means of transportation for short distance trips. Nearly half of all car trips are less than 3 miles and more than a quarter are one mile or less.
• Trails provide low or no-cost recreation to families.
• Trails increase tax revenues in the communities in which they are located.

Baker Peak, VT, (Long Trail and Appalachian Trail)

See also this previous post.

Easter 1975

 Easter 1975 was held on Sunday March 30th. On that date I was hiking south on the AT and did 18 miles arriving at Outerbridge LT at 430 PM.  I don't have a picture of this LT, but you can see one here.  And another here.

I wrote in my journal... "Great spring here a (sic) shelter last time I saw anything like this was in N.H. or Maine.   Snowed a little at nite."

"Left Leroy Smith LT at 8:30 am." I think this shelter has been replaced since 1975.

Crossed Lehigh Gap that day shown on this topo from the period/

and an airphoto from 1976.

Allen Gap on the AT 1974 and later

 Left Hot Springs, NC, "carrying (must have been) 50-60 pounds" of new food and my gear after a Henderson Court Motel stay.  The date was 26th of June, 1974 and a Wednesday.

Crossed Allen Gap:

where the State Line Service Station and Cafe was found. We had ice cream (great).

This next shot is a Google Street View from 2007:

and one from 2009:

Google Earth Pro gives you aerial photography of the area back to 1985 but the earlier stuff has a crude resolution.

American Hiking Society Annual Report

 Every wonder what the AHS does?

Read the annual report for the good news.

Baker Peak, VT, south of Clarendon Gorge

 Here is a shot from what I believe to be Baker Peak along the AT in Vermont.  I kinda' think it is actually along White Rocks, east of South Wallingford.

The Clarendon Gorge Bridge was new and needed after a hiker drowned attempting to cross the river.  It is a dark shot since it was taken early in the morning on my southbound hike.

I reached Lost Pond LT after an 18 mile day.  "Alone in the LT tonite."

9 June 1975 in Connecticut

 Hiked from Pine Knoll LT (930 am) to Limestone Spring LT (530 pm) that was just south of Salisbury, CT.  "Had a hard time finding it, but finally did." 

Here is an AT Map for Connecticut from the AMC.

(https://ct-amc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CTATmapbrochureB.pdf)  This is better than the gas station road maps I was using.

At this point, I had hiked about 2,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and had just two more nights of camping.

Pawling NY and trail angels (6 June 1975)

 

Camped at Murrow Park in Pawling, sharing the pavilion with five families that were having a cookout.

Lots of road walking took me directly to the park, where I could get a hot shower too.  

Remember gas station road maps?  Well I got one to guide me through Connecticut and Massachusetts.  I think I may still have this map in a box somewhere.

In the meantime, here is the USGS map, that I didn't have in 1975.  The park in marked with the blue upside down tear drop.

oh yeah, the trail angels here were the families that shared food and the pavilion at the park.

30th of May 1975 on Appalachian Trail

 "Left Bel Air @ 1:00 arrived at Water Gap at 5:00 and hiked to Ed Garvey Spring arriving about 7:00."

My brother and sister drove me up on this Friday.

"Ate rice & gravy with 3 sardines, dumped the rest on the ground"

Hot and humid.

I found this map on the web that shows the AT.

National Trails Day

 So, if you need an excuse to get out and hike try National Trails Day.

June 4th, 2022

Return to the Trail (28 MARCH 1975)

 When I last wrote about my end to end hike of the AT last fall, a lot of things had happened in 1974 and 1975.  I got a job in maintenance at the Korvettes store in the Harford Mall.  I always remember the manager welcoming me to his staff and me thinking the minimum wage pay that yielded $61 after taxes a week was not enough.

Anyway, after the holidays I started full time at Harford Community College.  I was there for two years, but that is another story.

So during my first college spring break, I returned to the Trail to pick up the pieces I missed in 1974.  On 28 March 1975, a Friday, my brother and sister drove me to the Delaware Water Gap and I headed south. My first night was at the Kirk Ridge LT that I wrote was "kind of lousy and the view is fair."  Dinner was a cup-a-soup, noodle beef sauce, chicken, pudding and made tea for later on that night.

NJ on the left and PA on the right.

I hiked 6.7 miles this day.

Spring Break Hiking Trips

 All during college, and after, I would take backpacking trips somewhere in the Central Appalachians.  The trips were frequently on the AT, but I also did circuit hikes in the various state parks within a couple hours of my home in Maryland.  Here are some miscellaneous photos from the trips.