Flip, floppin the AT

[J. Dillon]

Well my son Brian aged 48 has been on the AT for almost one week starting in Duncannon PA and heading south for Springer mountain GA. It's roughly half way between both ends. He intends to take a train, bus etc. back to his starting point then proceed north for Mt Katahdin ME. He wants to be a through hiker and use what he experienced on the 2,160 mile trail when he resumes his job as a math and science teacher next Sept. Brian did receive the blessing,envy of the students, parents, faculty and administration. (some reluctantly). He has also been planning & training for this venture for over a year. Brian has been kicking over the idea ever since one haggard and weary soul stumbled into our camp site at the ft. of Mt Katahdin back in 74 and spun a few tales. He was just about to complete his dream and climb Katahdin in the morning.

Any body here do the AT straight through in one year Do you have any similar dreams ?

JD

[ishmael]

Jack,

Never done the AT, but have hiked a bit. Well, I have walked short sections in the Vermont Greens, and in the Berkshires.

You'd like Bill Bryson's, A Walk in the Woods, if you haven't already read it. LOL funny. Your son might gain some perspective from it, also.

Godspeed to all thru hikers! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 03-19-2006, 02:11 PM: Message edited by: ishmael ]

[LisaS]

Jack -

Want to know how small a world it is? He's my son's math teacher.

Lisa

[J. Dillon]

Yes Ish I read that book. As I recall the author didn't quite finish the trail. Nontheless a great tale well told.

Lisa it sure is ....except when you get weary hiking a mere 2,160 miles of it.

JD

[ishmael]

Who's your son's math teacher, Lisa? Not Bill Bryson? Jack's son, Brian.

It is a little tough he didn't walk the whole way. I remember my brother, who measures things in goals, being very disappointed with the book.

But Bryson takes it in stride. And his stories are great American tales of life on the trail. His British-y humor showing. I like how he sets aside the goal, and still walks hard. Makes you wonder just what the goal is. The days in the wilderness of Maine make him okay in my book.

Cheers.

[Rancocas]

I've done most of the North Carolina section.

Relentless sun, torrents of rain, mud, fog, slip-sliding over rocks, tripping over tree roots, up hill and down dale. I ran out of water one day and got dehydrated. Had to lay over at a spring for an extra day while I soaked up the water.
I was expecting a terrific view from the top of the world on a mountaintop, but instead the world was blanketed in fog. I couldn't see a thing!

It was a great experience, but I have no interest in any more long distance hikes. I would rather take a long voyage in a wooden boat.