The People's Trail

The Appalachian Trail experience can be a social experience for those who want it. Not quite on par with the European trail systems' cultural experience, this trail is for people who desire a total immersion in wild nature. The trail people, especially thru-hikers, want to exert themselves physically on insanely technical and rugged terrain. But most people say their favorite part of the experience is the friends they make along the way and the commaraderie. This year, over 1,100 people attempting a thru-hike passed thru the trail's halfway point in Harper's Ferry, WV. 

Here are some the characters I have met so far...

Beans: first Appalachian Trail thru-hike attempt; so far so good. A 'thru-hike' means hiking the entire trail start to finish (Georgia to Maine typically). The average time people take to do this is 5-6 months.

Grey Ghost: began his thru-hike in March and halfway thru realized he had two broken bones in his foot. He got off trail for the 11week recovery and then began hiking southbound from the northern terminus on Mt Katahdin in Maine southbound. He decided to reverse directions to avoid severe winter weather up north.

McGuyver: got his trail name as he is pretty handy making useful things out of nothing. He made these really cool chainsaw carvings at the white mountains lodge and hostel  in Gorham, NH.

Hudson: attempting his first thru-hike. But he's no stranger to the trail. Hudson operates a hiker hostel in Falls Village, CT. He's showing off his rad AT tattoo in photo below.

Jo Cool and B-Man from Pittsburg are out hiking a section NOBO.

Poppy: Waiting outside the Andover, Maine post office to mail unnecessary gear home. Shedding some extra pack weight will help his efforts over Maine's mountains.

Rizza: from Winston-Salem,NC. In this picture he is stoked to be in Monson, ME at the doorstep of the infamous hundred mile wilderness. This will be his final 6 days on a months-long journey north from Springer Mountain, Georgia. We got to hike with this energetic and positive hiker personality.

Hillbilly Dave: not a thru-hiker but instead the legendary ferryman taking hikers safely across the trail's most formidable ford, the Kenebec River. Dave Fletcher has been running the ferry for the last eight years May-October six days a week!

Hillbilly Dave coming to pick up NOBO (northbound) thru-hiker Indy. Indy is another Marylander (from Cecil County).

Hangin around town. The post office in

Caratunk, ME September 27, 2014

(r to l) Chewy, Tesla, and Rizza in a frenzy around the hiker box in Caratunk. They are all becoming increasingly excited as they approach their final 150 mile crescendo atop Mt Katahdin.

Nan: a 'trail angel' in Caratunk, Maine. She leaves baked treats for the hikers in a box at the post office.

Marie: Caratunk, Maine post master. She has helped hikers and other mail patrons for 25years and retires on the 30th.

Photo taken back in Caratunk after my last leg of hiking to Monson on September 29th 2014

Miss Janet: a legendary trail angel providing vehicle support and many others fabulous forms of trail magic. Hailing originally from Alabama, she is getting to know the strategic road crossings quite well from Dahlonega to Millinocket. She rode me back to my vehicle in Caratunk when I arrived in Monson, ME. Thanks Miss J!

September 29th 2014

This gal/guy is not a person but it appears that (s)he spends a lot of time around people, so I am including him/ her in this post. Meet Theo!

Sandy: at White Wolf Inn and Cafe takes good care of hungry hikers. Here she presents the Wolf Burger!

Dawn: owner and operator at Shaw's. A hiker hospitality since the '70s. Shaw's serves the heartiest hiker breakfast in Monson!

A gathering at Shaw's. 

September 29th 2014