Daily Miles: 22.1, Total Miles: 1,089.6 The bed felt pretty good last night. I got a ride back to the trail from Soggy. High cloudiness and cooler today which makes for good hiking. The fairly gentle gradient was also a big plus. Despite that, I had my first fall about six miles in. I caught one foot on an upturned rock and went down hard and fast. I was able to turn a bit to avoid landing face first on…
Daily Miles: 6.0, Total Miles: 1,067.5 Light rain off and on all night but clearing skies in the morning. Mostly downhill off the rocky ledges to Pen Mar Park and shortly thereafter, the Mason-Dixon Line and the Maryland- Pennsylvania border. I reached the Pen Mar Road and walked to the Rouzerville PA post office to pick up my resupply box. Next stop was a breakfast sandwich at Sheetz, and finally the Cobblestone Hotel. Early check-in not yet possible so washed…
Daily Miles: 17.9, Total Miles: 1,061.5 I woke up to a cooler, overcast, misty, and drizzly morning and it stayed that way the whole day. I left camp about 7am and quickly arrived at the Washington Monument State Park and refilled water bottles. I made a short detour to the monument itself, a stone obelisk built in 1827. This was nearly 60 yrs before the more famous monument in D.C. I would have had good views there if not so…
Daily Miles: 17.1, Total Miles: 1,043.6 Both flights were on time yesterday and Mark (Strings) got me from Dulles to Harpers Ferry and Towns Inn. I had just enough time to run across the street to the Rabbit Hole for a burger and IPA before they closed. Walked up to the AT Conservatory Office and got my 2024 AT tag. Got quizzed again on Leave No Trace principles. The AT rep would pantomime the correct responses so it was at…
On this day last year, I headed off into the Smokies from Newfound Gap on what was probably my favorite day on the trail for the first half of the AT. After a couple of cool, rainy days, the clouds slowly lifted and were swept away. This left a crystal clear, absolutely gorgeous day with beautiful views from the Smoky Mountains ridgelines. I’m still on track for my second-half start from Harper Ferry on April 18. Walking around the neighborhood…
I’m still about two months out but itching to get started. Preparation is going well, most food and sundries purchased but waiting a bit before I prepare individual meals. I did finish my resupply plan so I can get my resupply boxes put together. A few other future plans in the works. Mrs. Haze will meet me at the end and we’ll drive back together with a few stops on the way. Also looking at a trip to Scotland where…
My schedule is pretty much ironed out – even made my flight, Harper Ferry’s Town’s Inn and shuttle reservations. Mark/Strings, who gave me a ride to Dulles last year, was available for a return trip! Checked out my Big 3 and all look in good enough shape for another long hike. I did clean and lubricate the little zippers. Might be needed to keep the bugs out of the tent in early summer. Bought two pairs of Brooks Cascadia shoes…
The holiday season is upon us and it will be a special one for us. Both of our sons and families are here with our five grandchildren. As usual, I’m sure there will be hike involved, either on or near the Arizona Trail or in Saguaro NP. Just gave Mrs. Haze my Xmas wish list. I don’t think any issues with my main gear but some of my clothing items are wearing thin. Food items are also welcome. I did…
If it isn’t already obvious, I need to declare my intentions for hiking in 2024. Why? Because it helps motivate me to get off my butt and start getting ready. In my quest to finally get serious about knocking off the Triple Crown, I hiked the first half of the AT from Springer Mountain to Harpers Ferry earlier this year, finishing on June 2nd. So different than 10k miles of western hikes but quite the challenge, adventure and a continuous…
It has been ten days since finishing the first half of the AT at Harpers Ferry WV. The hikers after me encountered quite a bit of smoke blowing down from Canadian wildfires. Hope the much needed rains come soon. I have a fishing trip with my boys planned in Ontario late in the summer. Mrs. Haze and I will also be in Nova Scotia in September. I was about 30 pounds down on my official weigh-in, pretty typical after my…
