Finally out of the mud hole that was Vermont. There were actually some really nice peaks (Glastenbury, Stratton, Bromley, Killington), but a lot of muddy tread way in between. Rob and I got a lot of trail magic in Vermont, starting of course with Uncle Don. The next day New York Minute ('08 thru-hiker) and Val had a grill set up at a road crossing, with hot dogs, hamburgers, fruit, and cold soda. On the 23rd we met Leo and Ana from Boston--they were really excited to meet a thru-hiker, and gave me a little bottle of Irish Whiskey. I redeemed my "Get out of trail jail free" coupon that Rob gave me for Christmas by getting a shower, laundry, and a bed a their house in Richmond for the night on Thursday. Very nice after getting drenched in a downpour earlier that day. Rob ended his trip 10 miles short of NH, to match Rosemary's schedule for picking him up.
June 24
Rob dropped me off in West Hartford, VT and I walked into New Hampshire. The last stretch was really easy, through a pine forest. I found a cooler of watermelon and sweet bread by the road in Norwich, VT. It was very much appreciated because it was a long hot road walk into Hanover, where I was met by Dan Mott. We spent the afternoon eating Ben and Jerry's and playing cribbage. Rachael joined us in the evening for dinner and Toy Story 3 (in 3D). It was very funny. I enjoyed it.
While in Vermont we met Kite and Sandpiper, Beans, Wazi, Tommy (PA to ME), Freedumb and Redtail (PA to ME), Cookie Monster, Olaf, Cool Tool, Yukon and Litterbox, Turtleback, The Roaming Gnomes (POW and TLC, finishing their thru hike from 08 and 09), Roaring Lion, Cakon, and Camp Chair. Most of them are now ahead of me.
I'm looking forward to Moosilauke and the White Mountains!!! Updates may be few and far between for the rest of my hike, as I don't have many town stays planned, but I will do my best.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Radical Rob Joins the Hike
It's hard to believe June is almost over already. The New England states are going by much more quickly than the Southern states. We have a very brief update for now, hopefully more later.
On June 8 Emily made it into Massachusetts. She hiked 20 mile days to meet up with Rob in North Adams. The mountains were getting bigger, which was exciting.
On June 12, Rachael met her in North Adams, MA for breakfast, before Rob and Emily hit the trail to Vermont.
On June 13, she met up with Radical Rob (his trail name) and they began hiking Vermont on the combination AT/Long Trail.
On June 19, Trail Angel Uncle Don showed up at VT. Rt. 104, with bags of fruits and vegetables and other trail magic. He had walked down the trail for a couple of miles hoping to meet them as they hiked northward, didn't see them but did meet Snow White and Rooster. Eventually Switchback and Radical Rob appeared and they had a good ol' lunch and filled their packs with provisions. Uncle Don Burchard was officially dubbed as a "Trail Angel" by Switchback.
On June 21, they got slowed down because Radical Rob re-injured a bad knee, so they are only doing about 7 miles a day. Weather has been hot & humid at the lower elevations but quite nice and comfortable up high.
Expected arrival dates in the future:
Glencliff, NH June 28
Crawford Notch July 3
Pinkham Notch July 8
Rt. 2 in New Hampshire July 10
Maine July 14
On June 8 Emily made it into Massachusetts. She hiked 20 mile days to meet up with Rob in North Adams. The mountains were getting bigger, which was exciting.
On June 12, Rachael met her in North Adams, MA for breakfast, before Rob and Emily hit the trail to Vermont.
On June 13, she met up with Radical Rob (his trail name) and they began hiking Vermont on the combination AT/Long Trail.
On June 19, Trail Angel Uncle Don showed up at VT. Rt. 104, with bags of fruits and vegetables and other trail magic. He had walked down the trail for a couple of miles hoping to meet them as they hiked northward, didn't see them but did meet Snow White and Rooster. Eventually Switchback and Radical Rob appeared and they had a good ol' lunch and filled their packs with provisions. Uncle Don Burchard was officially dubbed as a "Trail Angel" by Switchback.
On June 21, they got slowed down because Radical Rob re-injured a bad knee, so they are only doing about 7 miles a day. Weather has been hot & humid at the lower elevations but quite nice and comfortable up high.
Expected arrival dates in the future:
Glencliff, NH June 28
Crawford Notch July 3
Pinkham Notch July 8
Rt. 2 in New Hampshire July 10
Maine July 14
Monday, June 7, 2010
Emily Meets a Celebrity
June 1-6
It's been hot and humid, making hiking a lot of work. A lot of swamp walks too, with mosquitoes of course. I hiked a marathon on June 1--26.7 miles...in some massive thunderstorms. It was a long day, but not too tough (I didn't want to do just a 12mile day). I crossed into New York on that day and climbed over the Lemon Squeezer. It was a narrow crack in the rocks, followed by a 7 foot rock wall. Challenging because it was so wet.
June 2 I climbed Bear Mtn...it was pretty crowded. On the way down I got interviewed by a local newspaper reporter about the new trail on Bear Mtn. Grand opening on June 5...so I was a couple days too early. The trail-side zoo was small but neat. The lowest point on the AT is right in front of the bear pen. New York is a deli walk--you can stop at a store almost every day for food. I actually started skipping some because I wasn't really craving anything store-bought.
June 3 the Cambridge Boys (Walleye, No Point, Nap Time) and I were at RPH shelter eating supper, and David Miller (Awol) showed up to take photos of the shelter. Nap Time recognized him (he's the author to our guide books!), and he gave us some trail magic--apples, hohos, water. An AT celebrity. Too bad we didn't think to get his autograph. I heard that Nature Boy and Toeman have summited Katahdin already!!!
June 5 NEW ENGLAND!!! Crossed into Connecticut, and passed the largest oak on the AT.
June 6, Lauren (a college roommate) came to pick me up and I'm spending the night at her place for a nice relaxing evening.
Editor's Note: New England already!? Time for another round of superlatives! Get your submissions in now, via comment or email.
Also, two new verses have been added to Emily's song... go back and check it out
It's been hot and humid, making hiking a lot of work. A lot of swamp walks too, with mosquitoes of course. I hiked a marathon on June 1--26.7 miles...in some massive thunderstorms. It was a long day, but not too tough (I didn't want to do just a 12mile day). I crossed into New York on that day and climbed over the Lemon Squeezer. It was a narrow crack in the rocks, followed by a 7 foot rock wall. Challenging because it was so wet.
June 2 I climbed Bear Mtn...it was pretty crowded. On the way down I got interviewed by a local newspaper reporter about the new trail on Bear Mtn. Grand opening on June 5...so I was a couple days too early. The trail-side zoo was small but neat. The lowest point on the AT is right in front of the bear pen. New York is a deli walk--you can stop at a store almost every day for food. I actually started skipping some because I wasn't really craving anything store-bought.
June 3 the Cambridge Boys (Walleye, No Point, Nap Time) and I were at RPH shelter eating supper, and David Miller (Awol) showed up to take photos of the shelter. Nap Time recognized him (he's the author to our guide books!), and he gave us some trail magic--apples, hohos, water. An AT celebrity. Too bad we didn't think to get his autograph. I heard that Nature Boy and Toeman have summited Katahdin already!!!
June 5 NEW ENGLAND!!! Crossed into Connecticut, and passed the largest oak on the AT.
June 6, Lauren (a college roommate) came to pick me up and I'm spending the night at her place for a nice relaxing evening.
Editor's Note: New England already!? Time for another round of superlatives! Get your submissions in now, via comment or email.
Also, two new verses have been added to Emily's song... go back and check it out
Monday, May 31, 2010
New Posts
We've got a lot of new updates for you! The central portion of the trail is going well, albeit not very challenging.
Emily requests that no one plan to send care packages to Kent, which she will be arriving at on June 7th. She has put a forward on any packages from the past few mail sites and expects to receive them in Kent. After that, she will be stopping in Dalton MA June 11th. If you're sending mail, send it there. Remember, the post office will hold mail, so get your letters/packages in the mail with plenty of time to spare.
After Dalton, big brother Rob will be joining Emily on the trail for a while. Many adventures to ensue, I'm sure.
Emily requests that no one plan to send care packages to Kent, which she will be arriving at on June 7th. She has put a forward on any packages from the past few mail sites and expects to receive them in Kent. After that, she will be stopping in Dalton MA June 11th. If you're sending mail, send it there. Remember, the post office will hold mail, so get your letters/packages in the mail with plenty of time to spare.
After Dalton, big brother Rob will be joining Emily on the trail for a while. Many adventures to ensue, I'm sure.
Maryland
Maryland--a flat, easy ridge-walk with VERY nice shelters (Potomac ATC has lots of $$). The hardest part was some super humid days. A lot of people did the 4 state challenge--VA, WV, MD, PA-- in one day. I chose NOT to. The trail in Maryland has a a lot of history...battle sites (civil war), and the first monument to be built for George Washington. Otherwise MD was not very exciting.
Half Way! (physically)
Entered PA May 15 and there was a series of cute little pairs of shelters (2 per site).
May 17 reached the Halfway Point...in the rain. The trail was still really easy. We met a guy heading south who told us the store at the halfway point was closed. This is where the traditional Half-Gallon Challenge takes place--eating a half-gallon of ice cream. We decided to eat lunch on the porch, and the store's door was open. Mellow Yellow ate a half gallon of Cherry Jubilee in about 1hr 30min. I ate 3/4 of a half gallon of chocolate...and was happy to keep it all down, followed by an 8 mile hike to the next shelter. In the rain. We wore fleece jackets and hats during the challenge because it was pretty chilly. Half the trip is over...but Maine still feels ages away. I don't think I'll feel more than half way done until I cross into New England. Stayed in Boiling Springs the next day because we got soaked in the rain. Great deal at the Allenberry Resort and Playhouse (they do dinner theater in the summer for only $25).
May 17 reached the Halfway Point...in the rain. The trail was still really easy. We met a guy heading south who told us the store at the halfway point was closed. This is where the traditional Half-Gallon Challenge takes place--eating a half-gallon of ice cream. We decided to eat lunch on the porch, and the store's door was open. Mellow Yellow ate a half gallon of Cherry Jubilee in about 1hr 30min. I ate 3/4 of a half gallon of chocolate...and was happy to keep it all down, followed by an 8 mile hike to the next shelter. In the rain. We wore fleece jackets and hats during the challenge because it was pretty chilly. Half the trip is over...but Maine still feels ages away. I don't think I'll feel more than half way done until I cross into New England. Stayed in Boiling Springs the next day because we got soaked in the rain. Great deal at the Allenberry Resort and Playhouse (they do dinner theater in the summer for only $25).
Pennsylvania
Southern PA was very flat and easy. It got rocky only in the last couple days, and it was a full variety of large boulders, rocks, and fist size angular cobble. All making it really hard to maintain a steady pace and not stress ankles/feet.
May 20 stayed at Peters Mtn. Shelter. There was a large black snake on the porch all evening. After dark it started crawling inside the shelter to try to get to a bird nest. I knew it wouldn't harm me, but it made me uneasy. LOTS of chipmunks on the trail--shrieking as the run away from you. I've also seen 3 rattlesnakes, all in the middle of the trail...they rattled when they saw me and refused to move, so I had to go off trail to get around them. One rocky ridgeline was COVERED in poison ivy. I tried to use my poles to keep the plants away as I hiked, but I'm sure I hit some. We'll see if I'm immune or not. It was impossible to avoid it.
May 22, Rather than staying at 501 shelter (right next to a busy road, full of boy scouts and thru hikers), I hiked an extra 6 miles to camp by a stream (near some more boyscouts). They saw me go by, and later came down to my site and said, "This may seem weird, but we have too much food, and we thought that since you're a long distance hiker you might want some extra fresh food. Here's a fresh, cooked trout". !! It was DELICIOUS!!! Gotta love trail magic!
"Rocksylvania" lived up to its reputation the last couple days in the state. It helped to pretend I was just walking along the rocky Maine coast, since there were few views from the ridges. There was a really nice climb out of Lehigh Gap (supposedly the hardest climb until New Hampshire...I guess it's going to stay fairly easy until then!). It was steep boulders and ledges...but a pretty short section. Then you get up onto a ridge-line that has been decimated by zinc mining (very little vegetation). The tics are out in full force, as are midges. I've given up staying in shelters because they kept me up a couple nights.
May 27, hiked into Delaware Water Gap with Mouse and Wazi. We got poured on right before town. Decided to split a motel room rather than stay in the crowded hostel (a good thing, because some drunken craziness occurred that night we heard). Showered, then went to Stroudsburg to see a movie (Robin Hood) for a break. Hung around in town until 2pm with Mouse, Yukon, and Litterbox. Good bye to Pennsylvania!!!
May 20 stayed at Peters Mtn. Shelter. There was a large black snake on the porch all evening. After dark it started crawling inside the shelter to try to get to a bird nest. I knew it wouldn't harm me, but it made me uneasy. LOTS of chipmunks on the trail--shrieking as the run away from you. I've also seen 3 rattlesnakes, all in the middle of the trail...they rattled when they saw me and refused to move, so I had to go off trail to get around them. One rocky ridgeline was COVERED in poison ivy. I tried to use my poles to keep the plants away as I hiked, but I'm sure I hit some. We'll see if I'm immune or not. It was impossible to avoid it.
May 22, Rather than staying at 501 shelter (right next to a busy road, full of boy scouts and thru hikers), I hiked an extra 6 miles to camp by a stream (near some more boyscouts). They saw me go by, and later came down to my site and said, "This may seem weird, but we have too much food, and we thought that since you're a long distance hiker you might want some extra fresh food. Here's a fresh, cooked trout". !! It was DELICIOUS!!! Gotta love trail magic!
"Rocksylvania" lived up to its reputation the last couple days in the state. It helped to pretend I was just walking along the rocky Maine coast, since there were few views from the ridges. There was a really nice climb out of Lehigh Gap (supposedly the hardest climb until New Hampshire...I guess it's going to stay fairly easy until then!). It was steep boulders and ledges...but a pretty short section. Then you get up onto a ridge-line that has been decimated by zinc mining (very little vegetation). The tics are out in full force, as are midges. I've given up staying in shelters because they kept me up a couple nights.
May 27, hiked into Delaware Water Gap with Mouse and Wazi. We got poured on right before town. Decided to split a motel room rather than stay in the crowded hostel (a good thing, because some drunken craziness occurred that night we heard). Showered, then went to Stroudsburg to see a movie (Robin Hood) for a break. Hung around in town until 2pm with Mouse, Yukon, and Litterbox. Good bye to Pennsylvania!!!
New Jersey
May 28, State #8 New Jersey. Rocky, but not as bad as PA. Way more views too. I've felt since the end of the Shenandoahs that the trail is just a connector between the southern mountains and New England. I wonder when I'll feel that the trail itself is a destination again. I'm getting tired of these long, view-less ridges and easy walking. I want to do some real mountain climbing again! Passed Sunfish Pond...the southernmost glacial pond on the AT. Very pretty, but plastered with No camping and No swimming signs. I finally met Rocker, Rooster, Snow White, 40oz (they've been just ahead of me the whole trip).
May 30, took the side trail to New Jersey's highest point, home to a large obelisk monument (like the Washington Monument in DC). I climbed up the humid tower but the views were almost the same as from the base. This afternoon the trail dropped off the ridge into farmland and swamps. I got to Unionville NY to resupply and camp in the park, only to find out there's no camping anymore. Luckily the Outhouse Hostel is in town. $10 donation for bunk, shower, laundry, dinner, and breakfast. Sweet deal, plus a southbounder I met on the road right before here paid for me. Trail Magic!!!
May 30, took the side trail to New Jersey's highest point, home to a large obelisk monument (like the Washington Monument in DC). I climbed up the humid tower but the views were almost the same as from the base. This afternoon the trail dropped off the ridge into farmland and swamps. I got to Unionville NY to resupply and camp in the park, only to find out there's no camping anymore. Luckily the Outhouse Hostel is in town. $10 donation for bunk, shower, laundry, dinner, and breakfast. Sweet deal, plus a southbounder I met on the road right before here paid for me. Trail Magic!!!
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