UNITED STATES
APPALACHIAN TRAIL
The world’s premiere long distance footpath, the “AT” is located in the mountains of the eastern United States. It extends nearly 2,200 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine passing through 14 states.
Appalachian Trail: Ruins to Damascus
It’s only a short hike into Damascus for Trail Days and the end of my one-month quest, one well worth the effort.
Appalachian Trail: Nick Grindstaff Memorial to Ruins above Damascus
The “Tennessee Thruway” is an easy rollercoaster on a ridge with several trail magicians with food to share.
Appalachian Trail: Riff Raff to Nick Grindstaff Memorial
The night at Riff Raff is such a loud nightmare, I opt to hike out in rain with limited views just to have a camping spot in the woods.
Appalachian Trail: view above Hampton to Riff Raff Pre Daze Camp
It’s a short day to the Riff Raff pre Trail Days magic of food, beer, camping, slack-packing ad general mayhem.
Appalachian Trail: Apple House to view above Hampton, TN
The trail is mostly in forest past stunning cascades where a friend from last year’s trail brings us food.
Appalachian Trail: Little Rock Knob to Apple House
On likely the most exceptional section of the Southern AT over high, exposed balds, I get perfect sparkly weather.
Appalachian Trail: Curley Maple Gap to Little Rock Knob
It’s an extraordinary day from the “Beauty Spot” to fairy forest Unaka and finally sunset from a knob.
Appalachian Trail: Whistling Gap to Curley Maple
A well-placed hostel with some resupply offers a taste of “trail life” as I walk all day, but fit in charging and eating in between downpours.
Appalachian Trail: Flint Mountain to Whistling Gap
It’s hard climbing in pouring rain which finally clears for a flower-lined trail to Bald Mountain.
Appalachian Trail: Little Laurel to Flint Mountain
Spectacular views are completely in mist and it’s a race to a shelter before a terrifying thunder storm.
Appalachian Trail: Pump Gap to Little Laurel
It’s a roller-coaster day and heavy rain threatens, so I cut it short and sleep in a shelter.
Appalachian Trail: Lemon Gap to Pump Gap
The AT passes right through the town of Hot Springs where I camp above and am pounded by two thunderstorms.
Appalachian Trail: Green Corner Rd to Lemon Gap
The trail goes steeply up from I-40 climaxing at the extraordinary grassy bald Max Patch with views for miles.
Appalachian Trail: Tri-Corner Knob to private cascades
The rain holds off to allow for a visit to the cool Mount Cammerer Lookout and camping by falls.
Appalachian Trail: Mt. Collins to Tri-Corner Knob
It’s another gorgeous walk on top of long catwalk ridges including to Charlie’s Bunion.
Appalachian Trail: Spence Field to Mt. Collins
One in thirty days are this gorgeous in the Smoky Mountains and we hike all day to soak it up and get to Clingmans Dome.
Appalachian Trail: Birch Spring to Spence Field
It’s a wet day with thunderstorms expected in the Smokies, so we hike from shelter to shelter and see a bear and cub.
Appalachian Trail: Hogback to Birch Spring
At Fontana Dam where I decide to take advantage of good weather and enter Smoky Mountain National Park.
Appalachian Trail: stealth site above NOC to stealth site near Hogback Gap
It’s a monster climb to Cheoah Bald, then down and another biggie in gorgeous sunshine with a new pal.
Appalachian Trail: Wayah Bald to past NOC
It’s a long hard day with mist clearing, a huge descent to the Nantahala and back up again.
Appalachian Trail: Rock Gap to Wayah Bald
Big climbs and views plus a mountainside of woodland flowers end with a zero day.
Appalachian Trail: Standing Indian to Rock Gap
The day is cloudy which adds to the drama atop Albert Mountain lookout with new friends.
Appalachian Trail: Dicks Creek to Standing Indian
A spectacular arrival in North Carolina ends with sunset/moonrise camp atop a 5,000-foot peak.
Appalachian Trail: Unicoi to Dick’s Creek
The day after spitting rain and a town rest is glorious with views to Lake Burton and camping alone.
Appalachian Trail: Poplar Stamp to Unicoi Gap
As forecasted, it rains all day, but even in mist, the forest is magical – as is the wee German town of Helen where we get dry.
Appalachian Trail: Blood Mt to Poplar Stamp Gap
It’s a five mountain day through Neels Gap and into a spectacular spring day.
Appalachian Trail: Gooch to Blood Mountain
It’s a fantastic day of up and down with magical spring green mountain views and sunset on the highest peak on-trail in Georgia.
Appalachian Trail: Springer to Gooch
The real first day is glorious, though hot, with birds singing loudly and flowers lining the walk.
Appalachian Trail: Amicalola Falls to Springer Mountain
I add nine miles on the ‘approach trail’ through Amicalola Falls State Patk, the highest cataract in Georgia, walking to mile 0.
Appalachian Trail: Atlanta
I’m reading about a pro long distance walker as I set out for Springer Mountain. Edward Payson Weston preached of walking’s benefits at the dawn of the automobile age.
Appalachian Trail: Gorham to Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire
The Wildcats are considered some of the hardest hiking in New Hampshire with sketchy rock climbs.
Appalachian Trail, Grafton Notch, Maine to Gorham, New Hampshire
The short section that straddles Maine and New Hampshire is considered one of the hardest with bouldering and dangerously steep descents.
Appalachian Trail: East Andover to Grafton Notch, Maine
It’s incredibly steep up and down on rock with a glorious reward of open balds above treeline.
Appalachian Trail: Rangeley to East Andover, Maine
The trail hits dangerous rotting boards over deep bogs plus an alpine climb of Beamis and Old Blue Mountains.
Appalachian Trail: Stratton to Rangeley, Maine
Two 4,000-footers– Spaulding and Saddleback Mountains – are on trail as well as a 3-mile alpine exposure.
Appalachian Trail: The Crockers, Maine
The Crockers are two of the easiest 4,000 footers in Maine with one side gradually ascending, the other, a steep boulder field.
Appalachian Trail, Caratunk to Stratton, Maine
The Bigelow Range is a classic ridge walk with huge elevation, plus gorgeous lakes and ponds.
back where we left off
I’m back in Maine and ready to start where I left off, considering how to measure the rewards from my engagement as a changed person.
Asian Kale Chips recipe
Try this delicious kale chip recipe packed with calcium to keep bones strong.
Appalachian Trail: the return
After a tough four months managing a cancer diagnosis and healing from surgery, I’ll return to the trail.
Appalachian Trail, Monson to Caratunk, Maine
It’s a short distance from Monson to Caratunk, but the sun comes out and I finally have stupendous views.
Appalachian Trail, Mount Katahdin and the 100 Mile Wilderness, Maine
Mount Katahdin and the 100 Mile Wilderness are some of the hardest – but most special – miles on the AT, especially in rain and cold.
Pre-Appalachian Trail
On the way to the start of the Appalachian Trail, I visited friends in Camden, Maine.
Meet “The Old Lady on the Trail”
My heroine is 81-year old Mary Davison who called herself “The Old Lady on the Trail.”
