2022 Appalachian Trail I – Day Fourteen – Hot Hot Hot

Tuesday, 31 May Destination: Old Mine Road (1398.3) Today’s Miles: 10.3 Start Location: Stream (1388.9) Trip Miles: 137.8 I did not get a good night’s sleep last night. Road noise from the nearby New York State Thruway lasted all night and the low temp was only 62. Bob and I were up early to try to beat the…

2022 Appalachian Trail I – Day Thirteen – Trail Magic

Monday, 30 May Destination: Stream (1388.0) Today’s Miles: 10.4 Start Location: Wildcat Shelter (1377.6) Trip Miles: 127.5 Although the low temperature overnight was 49 and sleeping was good, the morning was already warm and humid. Our gear dried out nicely. Food survived the night in the bear box even though it had holes in the bottom to that…

2022 Appalachian Trail I – Day Twelve – Hell(o) New York

Sunday, 29 May Destination: Wildcat Shelter (1377.6) Today’s Miles: 12.2 Start Location: Wawayanda Shelter (1365.4) Trip Miles: 117.1 Today’s title is courtesy of Bob. A big thunderstorm arrived last night after Bob and I were snuggled in our tents. The price of a good backpacking tent seems steep but when you are in a deluge and stay dry…

2022 Appalachian Trail I – Day Eleven – Stairway to Heaven (Hell)

Saturday, 28 May Destination: Wawayanda Shelter (1365.4) Today’s Miles: 11.6 Start Location: Pochuck Shelter (1353.8) Trip Miles: 104.9 There was a steady rain overnight that finally stopped in time for breakfast but Bob and I packed wet tents. The nice trail yesterday was balanced by the rocks at the start today and light rain. We planned to cross…

2022 Appalachian Trail I – Day Ten – Take It Easy

Friday, 27 May Destination: Pochuck Mountain Shelter (1341.5) Today’s Miles: 12.3 Start Location: High Point Shelter (1341.5) Trip Miles: 93.3 The overnight temperature only dropped to 60 but the sound of the streams made for good sleeping. Bob and I awoke to a few more tents. Probably around a dozen hikers in and near the shelter. My sleeping…

2022 Appalachian Trail I – Day Nine – Back on the Trail

Thursday, 26 May Destination: High Point Shelter (1341.5) Today’s Miles: 7.0 Start Location: Deckertown Turnpike (1334.5) Trip Miles: 81.0 Today Bob and I had the chance to sleep in a while at Joe’s house. Bob, Joe and I had coffee. We fiddled a bit with our gear before heading to breakfast at the Hibernia Diner. Something I had…

2022 Appalachian Trail I – Day Eight – On the Eighth Day They Rested

Wednesday, 25 May Destination: Deckertown Turnpike (1334.5) Today’s Miles: 6.0 Start Location: Gren Anderson Shelter (1328.5) Trip Miles: 74.0 Last night five other hikers came into the campsite above the shelter. An additional three hikers camped near the shelter. Bob and I seem to have about 6-10 hikers, thru hikers, flip floppers, and long section hikers, when we…

2022 Appalachian Trail I – Day Seven – Hopes Crushed

Tuesday, 24 May Destination: Gren Anderson Shelter (1328.5) Today’s Miles: 10.9 Start Location: Tentsite (1317.6) Trip Miles: 68.0 Yes, Gren Anderson Shelter is spelled correctly, I double checked. Last night got nice and cool, 50, great for sleeping. I did run into one minor problem, a slow leak in my sleeping pad. I had to add a couple…

2022 Appalachian Trail I – Day Six – Dam New Jersey

Monday, 23 May Destination: Tentsite (1317.6) Today’s Miles: 10.1 Start Location: Mohican Outdoor Center (1307.5) Trip Miles: 57.1 Bob and I slept in comfort last night with sheets and air conditioning and had pizza delivered. Not every day is like this. It has been five days since our last shower. We hike six plus hours each day carrying…

2022 Appalachian Trail I – Day Five – Mohican Outdoor Center

Sunday, 22 May Destination: Mohican Outdoor Center (1307.5) Today’s Miles: 5.8 Start Location: Backpacker Campsite (1301.7) Trip Miles: 47.0 You can always tell when the weekend arrives because there are lots more hikers out. There were probably 25-50 campers last night including a Boy Scout troop. Bob went for a walk down one of the side trails and…