One Week

Only 6 days until the big event! As usual, I am wondering where the time has gone. This past week, I accomplished quite a bit, including finally being done with the DMV! However, I feel as busy as I've ever been. The stack of work is huge!

In meetings with Colin of the GWLT and Jess of the Barred Owl, however, the LEEP Project is taking shape. I'm continually reading through my journals, blog posts, LEEP Project proposal, and memories as it gets closer. There should be a lot of great material.

It looks like the first meeting will focus mostly on background. I want to talk about life on the trail and life since. Towards the end I'll be sure to get into some of the more theoretical parts of my thinking. I also want to talk about things y'all are interested in, so come with questions! Can't wait to see everybody.

Ted

DETAILS!

Appalachian Trail Dialogue Session

Saturday, September 26, 2015

12:00 PM

Barred Owl Retreat

88 Marshall Street, Leicester MA 01543

It's Not Over!!!

What is up?! I'm so sorry that I have not posted since finishing the trail. It's been a month since I summitted, and what a crazy month it's been crazy since then. Basically, I summitted August 13th, came home August 14th, and had about 2 days to do nothing. That was wonderful. It didn't take long, however. Pretty soon I was locked into a battle with the Connecticut DMV (still ongoing) and trying to settle into a new semester at Clark (not quite settled yet). Most difficult of all, everything seems so crazy since I've been used to worrying about very little. The way I see it, I spent five months essentially having to only worry about staying dry and warm, eating food, and hiking. Now, all of those things (ok, maybe not hiking) are pretty much taken for granted. So all of the "frilly" stuff, like classes and the LEEP Project, don't seem as important. Or at least, I have no real sense of urgency. But I have a LEEP Project to do...oh yeah...

THE LEEP PROJECT!!!

Okay, so believe it or not, I have still not put near enough thought into this. The good news, however, is that I have a date set. The project (which will be held in the form of a dialogue session) will be on September 26, 12:00 PM at the Barred Owl Retreat in Leicester, Mass (see below). I am wicked excited to have y'all over to just talk. What I want to accomplish with the dialogue session is to just give an overview of why I decided to hike the Appalachian Trail and to describe what I experienced. I want to tell you what I did this summer and hear your questions. The session is open to the public and there will be another one the next weekend.

DETAILS!

Appalachian Trail Dialogue Session

Saturday, September 26, 2015

12:00 PM

Barred Owl Retreat

88 Marshall Street, Leicester MA 01543

Final Progress Map (Week 21)

Final Progress Map
Week 21

Reflections on the Finish

What a last 72 hours it has been. I suppose it started with the morning of the Mount Katahdin summit.

When I woke up, it did not feel like any sort of special moment. Five, Firestarter, and I all headed up together, remarking on the slowness of the day hikers (nothing against day hikers!) and playing infinite questions. But as we got higher, I started slowing down and falling behind them. I think it was seeing the higher reaches of the mountain ahead of me. This was my last summit, the last mountain in a mountain of challenges. 

At the Table Land, a flat alpine area with very little vegetation, it really started hitting me. I thought about Georgia, and everything in between, and all of the hard times. Then I thought of all the good times. And then I thought of everything that was beyond my thru-hike. I thought of my family and friends who were pulling for me with every step and of all the people I hardly knew or didn't know that were also following my journey on the blog. Realizing that I was not alone on the mountain was very powerful. It felt so good to know that I had come through and succeeded not only for myself, but everyone following along.

All of these thoughts flooded my head as I looked at the top of the mountain ahead of me. I could even see people standing next to the KATAHDIN sign. Strangely, however, when I got to the top, nothing happened as I thought it would. There was no crying, no kneeling before the sign, no flood of relief or accomplishment. Even the sign was smaller than I imagined it would be. Instead, I was just in a sort of daze, looking from the sign to the view to the friends around me. My friend Vulture offered to take some pictures of me at the sign and it felt strange standing behind and feeling done. I couldn't make myself feel done!

Slowly but surely, however, it has hit me exactly what has transpired. I'm coming around to the fact that I have no hiking to do tomorrow, or the next day, or the next day. And Mount Katahdin is not a goal that lies in the future, its something that I did on August 13th. Even right now, writing this blog update from my computer, I'm realizing that I'm home. I have all the comforts of my house. And I'll be sitting in class in just a few days. It's very strange!

People at home have been asking me, "Is it like you're on another planet?" No, not really. It's more like I'm living somebody else's life! Who is this guy who uses toilets and sleeps in a bed and writes emails?! Me and the rest of the thru-hikers, we all said good bye to our trail names in a way when we said good bye to each other. No one knows me as Scribbles like Tate and Firestarter and Five knew me as Scribbles. I think that leaving this wonderful thru-hiking community will be the hardest part of the transition back.

With all that said, I'm glad to be back. I'm glad to be listening to WCUW, and playing vintage baseball, and watching the Yanks on TV. I'm glad to be in one spot, and playing guitar, and seeing my girlfriend and family and everyone who I've missed. I've already reunited with a ton of people who I haven't seen since March or earlier! Even though the transition's not going to be easy, I am happy that I've hiked 2,189 miles and there is no more to do.

I'm at my mom's in Connecticut right now, seeing friends and re-setting for the real world. More to come soon, as the transition continues! Pictures for sure.

- Scribbles (aka Ted)

8:44 p.m. 8/15/2015

TREK COMPLETE!

0 miles left

I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to collect my thoughts until now, but yes, I am done. I summitted yesterday, the 13th at 10AM. And it felt awesome.

All I think I have the brain power for right now is a sort of string of events. Later today I promise to send the important stuff!

First was Abol bridge, 10 miles before Katahdin. We (Firestarter, 5, and I) got there on a rainy cold day, and were gratefully met by Fives parents. They ended up totally hooking us up, bringing us from Abol to another place where they set us up with dinner and a dry place to stay. They also later shuttled us in to Millinocket. Well, all the trail magic inspired us. We knew some of the hikers that would be at the base of Katahdin, so we decided to suprise them with a little food. In all, we carried 9 steaks, 9 ears of corn, and 3 pounds of hot dogs to our friends Vulture, Obsolete, Caboose, and Mystyr Lynyrd. It felt great to give back to the people who made the trail so special, and the steak tasted pretty good too!

Yesterday just went by too fast. I was on the trail at 7, and three hours later I was there. Katahdin. Done. It was crazy. Another post will go into much more detail about the final summit but I assure you it is a feeling unlike any other. After the pictures were taken and the PB&Js were eaten, we hiked the Knife Edge (full packs!) and descended Pamola. And now I need to adjust to NOT hiking every day. Alright, more will come later. For now, I'm going to enjoy being an official 2015 thru-hiker!

-Scribbles (aka Ted) 

10:13 a.m. 8/14/2015

Completed on Day 152

Day 150 - Nesuntabunt Mountain

Nesuntabunt Mountain, 35

After a journey of more than 2100 miles, it's hard to believe that a measley 35 miles of hiking separates me and Katahdin. From this mountain where I'm camped, I can see the end! I have a gameplan, I know how many miles to do each day, what I'm doing after summiting, how I'm getting home, it's nuts! The journey is almost over. 

 

The biggest dilemma I'm dealing with is whether to be happy or sad about the hike ending. The truth is, I am both. On the one hand, here's this awesome accomplishment at my fingertips that I've worked so hard for. How could I not be psyched out of my mind?! Plus I'll get to return to my friends and family, and start yet another chapter of my life, in which I tackle a 5-class workload and the LEEP project in my senior year. It's going to be tough, but I'm very excited.

Yet something is making me feel a bit sad, too. It's the end. A few nights ago I sat at the edge of a deserted lake, alone, just watching and listening to the forest. When's the next time I'll be able to do that? In some ways, it feels like I'm about to witness the death of good old Scribbles as I return to being Ted. Not that there's anything wrong with that of course. I can't stay out here forever! 

 

So here I go again. The plan is to summit Katahdin with a bunch of trail friends on Thursday, then on Friday I return home and revert back to a completely new way of living!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
8:36 a.m. 8/11/2015

Week 21: Ted is in the Home Stretch! Katahdin!

Ted is in the Home Stretch!
Katahdin is now in sight!

Day 146 - No Service in Monson

That's right, Monson, Maine! I have a mere 115 miles left in my journey and I am at the southern end of the 100-Mile Wilderness.

But how did he get here? And what does he want? You may ask... Well, what I want is simple: to finish up the Appalachian Trail on a sunny day, preferably August 13th or 14th. But how I got here (a MacBook Pro at Shaw's Lodging here in Monson) is quite the story...

We left off when I was just outside Stratton, a few miles past the 2,000 mile mark. If you recall, I had just survived a hail storm, my first real hail-acious experience on the trail. Well, the next day I had the Bigelows to tackle, which leads to exciting trail story number one.
Exciting Trail Story #1: To hail or not to hail?

The day started off great. I got out a little late, but the weather was beautiful. I topped Bigelow and was feeling the best I had since Old Blue. A cacophony of "OLD BLUUUE"s rained down on the Maine lowlands that day. But at the second peak of Bigelow, named Avery Peak after Myron Avery (one of the founders of the AT), I saw some seriously dark clouds to the east. The clouds mostly just made Avery Peak one of my favorite views on the AT so far. I had super dark clouds what seemed like mere feet above my head, then a shadowy area near the mountain, and in between was a sunny greenish-blue area where Flagstaff Lake was. Just incredible! I was admiring the view until I saw a big ole flash of lightning descend from a cloud and hit the lake, followed by thunder, followed by a clear band of rain to the east. Being above treeline, and especially being at 4200 feet, is not a good idea in a thunderstorm! So I admired one more lightning strike and ran down to Safford Gap, which is a little haven of sub-alpine area between Bigelow and Little Bigelow.

Oddly enough, upon arriving at Safford Gap, the thunder went away and the clouds cleared up. What I thought had been imminent hail turned into cloudless skies. "Great, let's do some Little Bigelow!" I thought. So Little Bigelow it was...for about a half mile. Then it got ominously dark...then the thunder came back...then it started to hail. I was not yet above treeline, but I kept going anyway, straight in the direction of the thunder. My thinking was that if I could just keep moving, I'd get to the shelter on the other side of Little Bigelow and be safe from the elements. And all that separated me from the shelter was, well, five miles of alpine zone, most of it above treeline. Oh well, the hail had died down, and I wasn't quite up to exposed rock yet so I felt pretty good about the decision.

I'll tell you what though, having pine trees above your head and a thin layer of needles and branches to protect you can make you feel good about a lot of things. The thunder only got louder, the sky only got darker, and Little Bigelow only went up and up and up. I finally found myself on a treeless slab of rock looking at a big ole storm approaching. And I was scared! The hail wasn't even too much of a concern. It was the lightning. I was definitely the highest thing up there, and I still had miles to go. All I could do was go as fast as possible and pray for the trail to start going down.

Now that Exciting Trail Story #1 has you excited, I might as well give you the most anti-climactic ending possible: just when I thought I was about to get slammed with the storm, the trail DID start going down. And I made it to the shelter. And I didn't get hailed on. And you all feel slighted after having read the previous three paragraphs.
It actually got sunny again, and I got to Flagstaff Lake to swim and camp. I was right on the edge of the lake, in what was probably my best camping spot ever. And the next day, I had the best hiking day ever, and I also had Exciting 

Trail Story #2...

Exciting Trail Story #2: Ultra-Marathons and Blueberry Gods

I'll try to keep this one a little shorter. Basically I hiked 34 miles on Wednesday. BAM.

The terrain was just oh-so flat, after a month of it being oh-so mountainous. And I am currently reading Born to Run, about the Tarahumara indians in Mexico who can run forever, so I was very inspired. I was going to stop at 25, but if I stopped at 25 there would be no reason to include "Blueberry Gods" in the title to Exciting Trail Story #2.

I got to a shelter at 4:30, and being relatively tired and having done 25 miles, felt that it was a good place to end the day. But amidst a friendly conversation with some section hikers, the names "Five" and "Firestarter" were brought up. Some of my best trail buddies? Just left here at 3? Next shelter? Forget camping! I got my stuff together and started the last 9 miles at around 5. If I hustled, I'd be at the next shelter around 8.

After slamming a considerable amount of Mio, I sprinted up Pleasant Pond Mountain and was down- wait! No, how can I leave this mountain when there are literally too many blueberries to eat up here!? I considered my options; keep going and get to the shelter, pick some berries and get there at night, pick some berries and camp short of the next shelter... Naturally, I chose "spend an hour picking a 591 mL Smart Water Bottle full of blueberries and then run (literally) to the shelter to avoid night-hiking." That evening, after running the final 7 miles to the shelter in a little more than an hour, and arriving with blueberries for all, I became Scribbles, God of Blueberries.

And that's my last few days! I skipped over yesterday, because it was a terrible 20 mile day that I want to forget. But today will be an easy  10-ish day whenever I start, and I'll be entering the 100 mile wilderness! I'm very excited. Crazy to think that I have about a week left out here. No promises with the service in the Wildy, but I will do the best I can to provide more updates!

- Scribbles (aka Ted)
10:54 a.m. 8/7/2015

Day 143 - Cranberry Stream Camp

Cranberry Stream camp, 186

I was going to send an update from Crocker Mountain, but a thunderstorm chased me down before I could...and then it turned into a hail storm. Some of the craziest weather I've faced on the trail. Marble-sized hail, and so much of it that when the storm was over, there were places where you could scoop a couple dozen into your hand! I even had to stop hiking and take refuge under a tree.

I have now hiked 2000 miles, 2003 to be exact. I kicked off the new millenium of hiking with a bad night of sleep however, resorting at one point to reading until tired. Maybe I was just looking forward to this update! Anyway, it's time to hit the trail and hike Bigelow. The last 4000 footer until the end! Also, I have a preliminary goal of summiting August 14, with the 15th a bad weather/way too tired backup. The 14th would finish me under 5 months (remember it was the Approach I did on March 14), and the 15th would be 5 flat. So I gotta keep up the pace!

- Scribbles (aka Ted)
9:34 a.m. 8/4/2015

Day 141 - Saddleback

Saddleback, 215 

 

I'm back! I just took a weekend off the trail to hang out with some friends from home. It was great!! We had a nice campsite in Blue Mountain State Park, we hiked a 13 mile section of the AT, and got to swim in some awesome ponds. Without a doubt, the highlight was a canoe adventure on Webb Lake, where two of my buddies capsized and had to be helped back to shore. Everyone was all right, of course. What an experience though...

With the fun times with friends past me, the main event now is getting to Katahdin. There are no more big meetups planned. The next thing to look forward to is finishing. It is me vs. the trail for the next 200 miles. Hard to believe I'm only about 2 weeks from finishing!

A few more quick notes: As usual, the views here are incredible. Maine is a rugged, beautiful state and I have loved every minute. Saddleback, where I am now, is a 3 mile above treeline stretch with views in all directions. Amazing! Also, I ascended Old Blue after Moody Mountain and although Moody didn't make me too moody, Old Blue made me feel a little blue. It went up and up and up and my legs were absolutely on fire. By the time I reached the top, I was as tired as I've ever been on the trail. I did relish yelling "OOOOLD BLUUUUUE!!!!" upon summiting however! I think yelling that phrase might become a habit...

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
6:34 p.m. 8/2/2015

Day 137 - Moody Mountain

Moody Mountain, 249  

 

I'm feeling particularly Moody this morning... Ok, not actually, but Moody Mountain did not disappoint. Progress is still slow through Southern Maine. I've only gone about 12 miles since the last post! One of the hurdles that goes along with tough terrain is that you underestimate the amount of food you need. I had to make a stop into Andover to pick up an extra day of food to get me to Rangeley. And man, Andover was very reminiscent of those nowhere towns in Virginia and Pennsylvania. The guy who we hitched a ride from to get back didn't even know about the trail!

Since getting back on trail after Grey Fox, I've been in a completely new bubble. And that's to say, there's no bubble! I've seen about five separate fellow northbounders since returning. Mostly I've been hiking with Five and Firestarter, two guys who I haven't seen since Shenandoah. Firestarter makes legit egg sandwiches for food, complete with kielbasa, cheese, fresh eggs, the whole kit and kaboodle! It's pretty impressive.

Well, back to the trail to face the next challenge: Old Blue!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
10:00 a.m. 7/29/2015

Day 136 - Baldplate

Baldpate, 263

He's a Maine-iac! Wow! 13 states down, 1 to go. I really liked New Hampshire, and Maine is already similarly beautiful. Right now I'm up on Baldpate, a big rock slab 3800 feet up, looking around at a 360 degree view.

Maine has a lot more to offer than views. How about crazy bouldering adventures, endless rock mazes, and impossibly steep ups and downs? I've gotten all of that over the last couple days. I'd go so far as to say that the last two days have been the hardest two day span of my entire hike!

Two days ago I crossed into Maine via Mount Success (aptly named). Success was really difficult; it took me 3 hours to go 4 miles. Then yesterday I was faced with the "most difficult mile of the AT": Mahoosuc Notch. In the notch, I had to navigate some crazy boulders, tunnels, ledges, everything. My favorite point was when I had to sneak under some branches along a ledge, so I went belly-down with a 20 foot drop just to my left. Or maybe it was when I was trying to fit through a rock crevasse with my pack on, finally gave up after a 10 minute effort, and just carried my pack through. I don't know, but it was super challenging! I ended up getting through the 1 mile notch in an hour and fifteen minutes, which is actually pretty quick.

Southern Maine is certainly no piece of cake, but it is as pretty as any part of the trail I've been on. And it's humbling; no longer am I racing to some endpoint for the day. Instead, I need to simply focus on each mile. 

Next up, the infamous Moody Mountain, with its 1500 foot climb in .8 of a mile!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
10:26 a.m. 10/28/2015

Day 134 - Trident Col Campsite

Trident Col Campsite, 291 

Man oh man, hiking is hard right now. I think it has something to do with the crazy slack pack I did a few days back. I was really sore yesterday, and today I am having a lot of trouble getting out of my hammock...it's almost 11!!! The bottom line is that I've felt lazy like this before, and I've found that the best thing to do is to wait it out and then ride the surge of energy that predictably will come afterward. So I will continue to try motivating myself... 

Looking back at the last week, it's pretty impressive the terrain I've covered. There were some big mountains in there! I'm still getting over how fast the Whites came and went. But I have more to do. There are no more Mount Washingtons, but there's still some really hard terrain. Most southbounders I've talked to said southern Maine is harder than the Whites. If that's true, then I sure hope I get that energy back soon! 

Anyway, yesterday I met up with my friend Stefan from Clark. He's a counselor at a nearby camp, and it was great to do a little hiking with someone familiar. We made it up Hayes Mountain and ate some wild blueberries before we had to split up. It was a nice recovery day.And now, after an additional recovery morning, I am ready to hike. The sun is trying to peek through after a cold and rainy night and morning. On to MAINE!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
10:57 a.m. 7/26/2015

Ted's Progress Map: Week 19

Ted's Progress Map: Week 19

After time away at the music festival, Ted is back at it, and about to leave New Hampshire!

On the cusp of Maine!

Go Ted!

Day 133 - Gorham

Gorham, 298 

Where has New Hampshire gone?! I only have 17 miles left in the Granite State, and no landmark mountains either! The Presidentials are behind me, as are Wildcat, the Carters, and Moriah. Now, it really feels like all I have left is Maine. 

Two days ago was the test from Mother Nature. With fog settling and the wind whipping (I think the official report from Mount Washington was 75mph gusts), I tackled the northern Presidentials. It was kind of a blur. There were no views, but it was a lot of fun balancing myself between the uneven rocks and the wind. And then once in a while the Gulf Edge trail would take me right up next to a precipitous drop off. Good thing the wind was blowing away from said drops! 

There was a certain air of morbidity in the hike two days ago. At Mount Washington, there was a list of 155 people who had died on the mountain, from the 1800s to one month ago. Easily the scariest names were those who died of hypothermia and exposure...in the summer. It's possible. It was in the upper 40s with strong wind, so all it would take is some rain and a little unpreparedness... 

The good news is I survived with flying colors, and ended the day at a hostel. The hostel offers a slackpack for the 21 miles from Pinkham Notch to Route 2, and I decided to break down and enjoy my first ever slack.And what a slack it was. 21 miles!  

While that's doable pretty much anywhere else, in the Whites it is really difficult! I am pretty sore this morning after scaling three sets of mountains yesterday, all 4000 footers. First it was the Wildcats, which are crazy steep on the way up. Without a backpack, I felt like a god at first. I raced to the top of Wildcat, where there is a ski gondola, in one hour. Then it was Carter Dome, Mt. Hight, and Middle and North Carter. These were a long ridge walk, with some nasty ups and downs along the way. By the end of this I was pretty tired. And then it ended with Mount Moriah, which by the end I was just dog tired. 20 mile days are not recommended here! 

So today will be easier, and tomorrow I'll be in Maine. Wow. My goal end date is in a mere three weeks, August 15. Also wow.

- Scribbles (aka Ted)
8:00 a.m. 7/25/2015

Day 131 -Mount Washington

Mount Washington, 333

I'm on top of the world! At least it seems that way. Currently, I am at the summit of Mount Washington, 6288 feet up. Outside, it is a whiteout, with gusty winds that are very audible even from where I am, in the basement of the visitor's center. The mountain with the worst weather in the world is in full force today! 

Okay, so I haven't updated since Franconia Notch on account of never having service, and a lot of stuff has happened since then! The quick rundown: poured on Sunday night, beautiful on Monday, Franconia Ridge was spectacular, worked for stay at Galehead Hut, terrain is crazy in the Whites, had a big climb yesterday to Lake of the Clouds Hut, weather is pretty crazy too. Got all that?

I'll start with Franconia Ridge. It was incredible. It might even be my favorite part of the trail yet. I had beautiful weather, and there was almost no one there too! I kicked it off with a side trip to Mount Flume, which I've been to a few years ago on a trip with some buddies. And then the party really got started. The ridge traverses a bunch of really high mountains above treeline. So basically it feels less like hiking and more like flying. On the way down Lafayette, the view just spread out before me.

With the great views, however, comes some really tough terrain. I've already had a few 3500+ foot climbs. And even the "flat" stuff goes up and down, just not as much. On top of that, sometimes those ups and downs involve really steep, technical stuff. You always have to be on your toes up here!

One nice thing about the Whites is the options for camping. There are many good stealth sites, but even nicer than that are the AMC huts. The huts are way up at some gorgeous locations. The Lakes of the Clouds hut is only a mile and a half from Mount Washington, and 5200 feet up! Customers get a bed, dinner, and breakfast. But thru-hikers pay no money and instead work-for-stay. I've swept floors, done dishes, and folded blankets. It's easy work, and you get to sleep on the floor and eat all the leftovers from it! Not bad. Anyway, the huts seem like a pretty cool system for those who use them.

Well, I need to be hitting the trail. The weather is stinky, and I don't particularly relish being windswept at 6200 feet, but the trail doesn't hike itself, and my theory is that by hiking in bad weather, you gain weather karma. And I plan to cash in my karma at Katahdin! So 50 degree weather and 50 mph winds, here I come. Next stop Pinkham Notch!

Also, the mileage I put next to my location is the miles to go. I'm going to keep doing that til the end.

- Scribbles (aka Ted)
8:50 a.m. 7/23/2015

Day 128 - Franconia Notch (again)

The music is flowing through me right now. As usual I left Greyfox with a renewed motivation to get better at playing bluegrass on whatever instrument I can. I also left with six zero days worth of rest and a fresh mind for the trail ahead.

The festival was awesome like always. I got to see the people that I've been used to seeing over the years. I also met new friends, and of course I saw some wonderful music. It's always hard to choose your favorite act, but I thoroughly enjoyed the Stray Birds, The Wiles, Frank Solivan, Rushad Eggleston, the Steep Canyon Rangers, and Sam Bush, among others. Just an all around fun weekend.

It was also a somewhat strange weekend. I did not feel like my usual Grey Fox self until the end. Usually I'm all about endlessly going from stage to stage, staying up all night and then doing it again the next day. This year was different. I often found myself watching a band and being surrounded by people and saying "I think I need to take a break alone in my hammock." On one occasion, I found myself relishing a bathroom break in a port-a-potty. Some nice alone time. Perhaps being on the trail has gotten to me a little. I'm just not used to having so many people around me! 

All of the rest has certainly benefitted my body. I can feel it, walking around the last few days and even waking up this morning. I no longer feel like the tin man who needs oil! And on top of that, there is no fatigue in my muscles.And now it's time for the Whites! After being poured on last night (but staying dry!), today I will hike Franconia Ridge. I'm so so excited to be up above treeline! The sun is out! Mount Lafayette here I come!

- Scribbles (aka Ted)
6:41 a.m. 7/20/2015

Day 122 - Granny, Connecticut

I owe y'all an explanation. I can see the confusion now. "It's been three days!" "Why did you go back to Connecticut?!" "Where is Franconia Notch!?" Well, I have answers, and they lie in the story of a few jam-packed days.

I left y'all at Mount Moosilauke, which I've since decided has been my favorite and the most physically challenging mountain of the trail. Yes, I have raved about McAfee Knob, Bear Mountain (NY), and Killington, but after three days I'm still itching for another climb, view, and overall hike like Moosilauke. And yes, several mountains pushed me much harder than Moosilauke (I'm thinking Roan Mountain in TN or Chestnut Knob in VA), but putting weather and mental state aside, it's hard to argue with 3800 vertical feet over 5 miles up and a section of 2500 vert over 1.5 down.It took us 2 hours to do the latter. For those keeping score at home, that's 0.75 mph! (My usual speed is more like 2.75 mph). But slow and steady was the name of the game, especially with 15-30 pounds on our backs. One sign along the way warned inexperienced hikers to seek an alternate route and avoid "tragic results." That is some seriously scary wordage. At the bottom, we decided that we had earned a big 90 minute break.

The rest of that day was all about balancing progress with recuperation. As I mentioned in the last blog entry, Mount Moosilauke was one heck of a place to drag Uncle Phil and Nick into, and the predictable second-day slump hit us hard. Day 1 was 7.5 miles over Moosilauke, giving us a technical challenge, and Day 2 was 9.0 over the much smaller Mount Wolf, giving us a distance challenge. Honestly, Day 2 was harder, with Nick and especially Phil feeling the effects of the previous day.

But we made it, and bouced back remarkably well yesterday. Maybe it was the fantastic night of sleep, or the diminished pack weight from eating our food, or more than likely just those guys getting used to the hike and beginning to find trail legs. Whatever, we smoked 8.8 miles over Kinsman Mountain (I considered it a combination of Day 1's terrain and Day 2's distance) by 3PM! Then it was a short walk to the car, a stop back in Hanover to get a bite of food, and back to Connecticut.

We all went over highlights of the trip on the way home. The obvious one was Moosilauke, seeing all the massive, impossibly steep mountains to the east. Another oft-mentioned moment was the pit stop at Lonesome Lake for a swim in the crystal-clear water, with a similarly stunning view of Franconia Ridge. And then there's all of the gorgeous mountain streams we saw along the way. But for me, the highlights are less nature-y. I liked taking the hour long breaks for food and setback. I liked hanging out with a family of 6 the first night and then a bunch of thru-hikers the second night. And of course I liked doing all that with my uncle and cousin, sort of giving them a peek into what my life's been like for the past 4 months. Those guys did great. Hiking 25 miles over 3 days in the White Mountains is no small feat.

And now I'm in Connecticut, my home state. Way back in August of last year, when I was first planning this, I remember thinking "How can I still get to the Greyfox Bluegrass Festival?" As the plan begame more and more concrete and viable, Greyfox remained a part of it. And now, I am days away from a weekend of picking and singing. The festival, simply, is something that I decided to never miss again. It's a blast. I have friends there that I only see once a year. Each year it's been more and more fun, ever since my mom convinced me to go a few years back. The plan is to drive up today, set up camp tomorrow, and then watch music, jam out, and get very little sleep Thursday-Sunday morning. Then I'll be back on trail Sunday evening (most likely camping five steps from where I'm dropped off), and Monday I'll do the 4000 foot climb up to Franconia Ridge. Wow!

So as you watch the All-Star game tonight, consider this my All-Star break. 6 days off the trail, not hiking, and not even thinking about it. I'll be sure to send a mid-festival update, and of course update you again on Sunday. I think it will be strange to be off the trail for so long. To tell you the truth, being at my cousin's house is already weird! But I'm excited. Incredibly excited.

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
7:16 a.m. 7/14/2015

Ted's Progress Map: Week 17

Ted's Progress Map for Week 17
Ted begins the trek in the White Mountain National Forest.

Day 119 - Mount Moosilauke

I'm doing super here on the trail. Right now I'm with my Uncle Phil and cousin Nick, atop the 4800 foot Mount Moosilauke. It's the first of three days hiking with them, and we'll be at Franconia Notch when we're done.

The last few days were tough. It's like every mile feels like two. Not because of terrain but just because I've been so tired! I've been going pretty steady since Manchester, and it kind of got to me the last few days. Two days ago I woke up at 9! I still managed 20 miles however, and got over Smarts and Cube Mountain. Then yesterday I finished off the pre-White Mountains part of New Hampshire, and got to the Hikers Welcome Hostel.And now it's great. My uncle and cousin drove up last night, and now I get to hike 25 miles with them over three days. We made it up Moosilauke, which was a pretty hard spot to start! But man, what a view. The mountains out to the east are immense. Can't wait to hike em! Tonight we're headed to Beaver Brook Shelter, and then it's another 9 miles tomorrow.

So the trail is really great right now. My schedule is three 8ish mile days, then six zeros for Greyfox Bluegrass Festival, and then then back to the trail for the hardest part. I should be well rested! Oh, and a sidenote: the tahini was so bad that I ended up dumping it. It's back to peanut butter for me!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
4:12 p.m. 7/11/2015

Day 116 - Moose Mountain

I'm in New Hampshire!

I've actually been in the Granite State for about 30 hours now. As always, there is a certain rush of energy and excitement that comes with being in a new state. But it seems even more so with this one. All of the states before, they sort of ran into each other naturally. The end of New Jersey was pretty similar to the start of New York, then New York and Connecticut, then Connecticut and Massachusetts, and so on. But now I'm at the start of the Whites. Mount Moosilauke is a mere 30 miles away, and I know that it and the mountains that follow it will be unlike any I have done yet.

If you just look at the first 15 miles of New Hampshire, they are similar to Vermont. Small, steep hills. And a totally cool town! The Norwich/Hanover town combo might have been the best trail towns yet. They're super funky, with all types of people living and working there. They're also a lot of fun. And, most importantly, they're friendly! I was amazed; upon entering Norwich, I came across 4 houses with trail magic on the road walk. There's an official list of trail angels too, which directs you to the kind folks who will let you crash at their house! In this town, thru-hikers might as well be rock stars.

I didn't end up staying at a trail angel's place, though. My friend MoJo got a hotel and let me take the second bed. Score! It was nice to be centrally located. We (me MoJo and Tate) ate at several places (my favorite was Lou's Diner), and just explored the town, which owes a lot of its character to Dartmouth College. Being in a college setting for the first time in months was quite the trip! Dartmouth has a sweet green, and me and Tate got some good frisbee tossing in.

Today was back to the trail, but not before sleeping in and waiting out the rain. I stopped at the Co-op for resupply, which had a remarkable selection. I took a chance on another peanut butter replacement (did I mention I'm sick of PB?). Unfortunately, sesame tahini is not what I expected. Oh well, live and learn. Hopefully the strange taste of tahini will be offset by the mountain views.

Live free or die!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
8:44 p.m. 7/8/2015

Day 114 - West Hartford

This will be my last post from the state of Vermont. What a week and change it's been here. I really enjoyed the Green Mountains. The climbs, views, and most of all the people have been awesome. Today was a great example of all that.

I woke up with the view. Sleeping atop the Lookout was fricken incredible. The stars and moon were out, it was nice and cool, and the sunrise had me up at 4:30 this morning. The Whites were much more recognizeable against the rising sun. Then, once it was up, I was looking down into cloud-filled valleys.

Next were the climbs. Per usual, today had tons of ups and downs. Perhaps it's because it was hot, or perhaps it's because I've done like three straight half-Juricks, but I got tired really fast. No big climbs, but a lot of little steep ones. Reminiscent of New York. I did 19 miles today but I swear it felt more like 30.

And finally, the people. Like I said, I was dog tired 19 miles in, and luckily enough for me, 19 miles put me in the town of West Hartford, Vermont. West Hartford is the home of Randy, trail angel extraoridinaire. I got into town (which consists of about a half a dozen houses along a stretch of Route 14), and there he was, ringing a bell and yelling at me to come on over. I did, and man am I glad!

Randy totally hooked me up. Chicken and pasta salad, cold sodas and beer, a bed to sleep on, and most importantly great company. This isn't a hostel, but that's what Randy says he's working toward. In the meantime, it's just a totally dope and completely unadvertised place to hang out! I spent all evening talking with Randy and a fellow thru-hiker Joe, as well as the various local friends and family who have come to visit. This place was the perfect pick-me-up after a day that left my legs tired and my feet sore.

I only have about 10 miles left in the Green Mountain State, and I promise you they will not be easy. I just want to hang out here! But it's onward, New Hampshire awaits!

- Scribbles (aka Ted)
10:20 p.m. 7/6/2025

Day 113 - The Lookout

Today has been amazing. It started at Killington, watching a cloud whiteout turn into an incredible view. And it ended here, 24 miles later at a platform atop a cabin called "The Lookout".

Sleeping in the tent was great, and it was worth it. There wasn't any view from Killington at first, all clouds. But me and Tate waited and ate breakfast and the cloud disappeared around 8:30. Literally in a second it went from whiteout to view. We didn't start hiking until 9 and made it to town at 1. Tate had some packages so we split there. At Killington town, the Long Trail splits from the AT and goes north toward Mount Mansfield, while the AT goes east toward the Whites. I have to say I quite enjoyed my 100 mile foray into the Long Trail, as wet and muddy as it was!

Despite having already done 10 miles into Killington, that was where my day really began. I got into serious hiking mode, going 15 miles in 5 hours! My destination was here, The Lookout. I had heard it was a great view, and figured I'd shoot for sunset. I got here at 7:30 and have the place all to myself! Basically, it's a mountain with a cabin on top. There's not much of a view from the ground, but the cabin has a platform on top of it that allows you to see for miles. Being alone here tonight, I've decided to put last night behind me and try another cowboy camp up here.

But let me describe the view. To the northwest is the Green Mountains that the AT misses, including Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest point. To the southwest is Killington Mountain, where I started today. Amazingly, I have never ended a day with a view of where I started the day. The result is breathtaking. Killington is waaaaay far away. I can hardly discern the radio towers on top of it! It's hard to believe I was right near those towers this morning.

But what's really great about this view is to the east. There, way out on the horizon, is a dark squiggle through the sky that outlines the peaks of the furthest mountain range: the Whites. I am so excited to finally have them looming before me. It'll take a few days, but I'm almost there. I can see them!

Anyway, the 25 miler was totally worth it. After being in a big ole hiker bubble yesterday, I'm on my own again. And tonight I can see stars. No rain this time!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
10:00 p.m. 7/5/2015

Ted's Progress Map: Week 16

Week 16 Progress Map

Day 112 - Killington Mountain

Alright, where to start? It's been a super fun, tiring, and above all busy two days! It all started a half mile before Manchester, where I set camp up as the last rain fell on Thursday night. Since then, the weather has been perfect.

On Friday I went into Manchester planning to quickly resupply, as well as get my new gear and shoes, and then head back out and camp on Bromley Mountain. Well, I was just getting ready to hitch back out of town when my Mom called me and, guess what?! She was coming to visit! It ended up being an awesome evening with Mom. We got a room at the Palmer House, which has croquet and a jacuzzi! I ended my day having hiked a half mile.

The next day we dropped off her bike at Mad Tom Notch and hiked 5.5 miles over Bromley. Part of the climb was up a sunny ski slope, covered in wildflowers. It was a great view, and even better with all the snacks we brought up. And here's where it really gets good. Because of my slowed pace over the last month, I have drifted all the way back to my friends from Virginia and earlier. They all showed up at Bromley. Cliffhanger, Ox, Hot Pants, Forrest, and Tate of course. It's been a while since I've seen these guys.

Me and Mom hiked down to the bike, and it was goodbye again. Man, though, did I love the suprise meet-up! After she left, I hiked with Ox, Cliffhanger and Hot Pants for the rest of the day. We hiked 16 more miles from 2 to 8 pm, and ended the day with bratwursts over the fire. Not bad!

So that was yesterday. Today has been more miles. I hiked another 24 and ended Independence Day at Killington Mountain, 4200 feet tall. The day was punctuated of course by Killington, but also the Whistle Stop, a restaurant where we spent 2.5 hours eating and playing cards. I finally had to remove myself from the game and get back on the trail, or else I still might be there!

There was also some super steep terrain towards the end of the day. The climb out of Clarendon Gorge was intense, and made worse by the burger in my belly. And then of course Killington had its vertical points.

But right now hiking feels good. And the company is great. I'm in the biggest bubble I've been in since Delaware Water Gap, with a good 15 thru-hikers here at the Killington Shelter. We watched fireworks for much of the night from all over, every direction. Enjoying moments like this in a group makes it just a little better. Tomorrow I'll do my last Vermont resupply. Hanover is only 2 days away!

Oh, and a sidenote. This update comes from a tent! First time in a tent for me on the AT. I was going to cowboy camp at the peak of Killington, but then it started drizzling. Thank goodness I have a buddy like Tate, who has a two person tent and is willing to share. Here's to a dry rest of the night!

-Scribbles (AKA Ted)
10:44 p.m. 7/4/2015

Ted's Progress Map: Week 15

Ted's Week 15 Progress Map (a little delayed at the blogging crew was hiking last weekend in the Mahoosuc Range. Sorry guys!)

Day 109 - Stratton Mountain

There's an old folk tune who's chorus goes "Oh, the dreadful wind and rain." I think Jerry Garcia does a version. Anyway, all I can say is whoever wrote it would have loved to hike with me today! The wind and rain were in full effect. 

I summitted Stratton Mountain in the morning, after waiting out a thunderstorm in my hammock. Luckily, the rain was not too bad up there. But there was no view. Stratton Mountain is where James Taylor had the idea to build the Long Trail more than a hundred years ago. Then, it is where Benton McKaye had the idea for what became the Appalachian Trail. Pretty cool if you ask me! The only idea I had at Stratton, however, was to knock out miles and get warm and dry again. 

The day proceeded with periods of sun, followed by thunderstorms and heavy rain, followed by drizzle, clouds, and back to sun. It was weird. And of course, I was in the midst of a thunderstorm when I set up camp.\ 

But rain today doesn't bother me, you know why? The weather reports I've heard say blue skies and sun for the next week. That's enough time to get to New Hampshire! 

Tomorrow I'll do a short day, only into and out of the town of Manchester for resupply. I also have to hit up the outfitter where my third and final pair of shoes is waiting. And, as of two days ago, I have a broken water bladder and trekking pole that need to be replaced. I'm ready to be on two poles again, it really makes a difference!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
8:22 p.m. 7/1/2015

Day 108 - Deerfield River

Mud, mud mud. It's a little like the Pennsylvania rocks, the Vermont mud. The big difference being rocks hurt, and mud is just uncomfortable. Also, at least in Vermont I'm climbing mountains.

Today was awesome. The rain held off, and I topped Glastenbury Mountain. The hike up was through this dense pine forest, and at the top was a big lookout tower. From there, I could see forever in all directions. I saw Bennington to the west, Mount Greylock to the south, and Stratton Mountain to the north...as well as tons more mountains.

I am so excited to be in big mountains again. I haven't had such big climbs since The Priest, really. That was way back before Waynesboro! The feeling of reaching a point significantly higher than anything around you is unmatched, and of course the views are pretty spectacular too. The view today was so refreshing. There's a lot more Green Mountain National Forest to go, so I've got more climbs ahead of me. Tomorrow is Stratton...in the rain!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
7:42 p.m. 6/30/2015

Day 107 - Nauheim Shelter

I had a business-like day today. I churned out another 20 miles as I delved into the heart of Vermont, and my feet delved into endless mud. I actually didn't start until 11. I was so tired from yesterday's Greylock adventure that I slept until 10:30. What a luxury that was.

But then it was off to the races. Massachusetts said goodbye with a steep uphill, and at the top, BAM! Vermont and the Long Trail! It's great to be on my 3rd to last state and Vermont promises to be very pretty. Right now, however, I just can't get past how muddy it is!

I know we just got a lot of rain, but the mud is really something else. There are points where it's so deep that your entire foot submerges into it. And the best part is that once and a while you come to a row of footbridges, like they're saying "here, have a little break," and then the footbridges end and your first step is a SPLAT! I'm worried that one of these steps is going to be my last, and the mud will go down and down and swallow me whole!

But actually, I can deal with the mud. Aside from my shoes and socks being a bit damp and cold in the morning, it's no big deal. Not when I've got some massive mountains ahead of me! I'm psyched for the Green Mountain State.

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
8:00 p.m. 6/29/2015

Day 106 - MA/VT Border

At one point on this hike, I think it was in Pennsylvania, I was worried that I didn't have enough to write in my updates. After today, it's clear to me that it wasn't me becoming blind to little things I picked up in Tennessee or Virginia. Rather, I think that the southern states were just much more difficult! And today was like the Roan Highlands all over again.

Now, I don't mean to say that Pennsylvania through Massachusetts was easy. Those states certainly had their challenges! But thinking back to snow at the NOC, or sideways rain on Big Hump Mountain, or even 30 degree mornings in southern Virginia, there was just a different level of challenge then. And it wasn't just the physical challenge. I was far from home, and a long way away from seeing family. It was just a different world.

Today brought me back to that. With a flash flood and wind advisory in effect, I decided to make the climb up 3500 foot Mount Greylock. It felt like a bad idea when I was up at the top, but lying in my hammock now, I don't think I've been this tired since Virginia. What a great day.First off, it was windy. So windy! Second, it was cold, probably in the low 50s up on top of the mountain. And third, I was walking through a variation of rain, drizzle, mist, and tree pee. So it was wet! And the mud! I had some good old fashioned shin deep puddles, but coupled with those was a new phenomenon: mud that enveloped my entire foot, shoe and all! All this while climbing the ...mountain since Chestnut Knob waaaaaay back in Virginia. To put it simply, it was hard.

But at the end of the day, I feel great. I'm going to sleep like a bambino tonight and feel reassured that I can tackle inclement weather and difficult terrain. And it's nice to take a break from the laid-back hiking I've been doing for a real challenge. It really brings me back...

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
9:01 p.m. 6/28/2015

Day 106 - St. Mary's church, Cheshire

After a great day for hiking yesterday- cool and dry- the rain is back. Luckily, I found refuge at the church hostel here in Cheshire. But man, it poured all night and I just know that I am in for some mud these next few days.

Yesterday was quick, only 12 miles. I skipped through Dalton and made it to Cheshire. In Dalton I met Tom, a real trail angel. He allows hikers to camp in his yard, shuttles people around, and he even invited me into his home for breakfast yesterday! I also enjoyed Dalton because it was the first place I've reached on the trail that I recognize as having been before. Yes, I once stopped for gas at the Cumby's right off the trail! It was last summer with my friend Hector. We were on our way to the Hoosac Tunnel in North Adams. I also crossed MA Route 9, the same road that you might recognize as Park Ave in Worcester! So it was very nice to see some reminders of home.

Cheshire is a cute town just south of Mount Greylock. I'm going to go to mass at St. Mary's today, and avoid climbing muddy Greylock for as long as possible. But it will happen soon, and before you know it, it'll be on to Vermont!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
8:32 a.m. 6/28/2015

Day 102 - Shaker Campsite

Me and Dad are moving right along! Today dear old dad became known as "Fire thrower" after yesterday's episode.

We made it 12 miles. The first 10 were easy, and we were on pace to make it to camp after just 8 hours of hiking. But alas, the last two miles were a steep steep downhill, and Dad had some trouble. It doesn't look like we will make it to Greylock like we had originally hoped. We're opting for the slow and steady "we get there when we get there" approach. Much more enjoyable. We are now shooting for Dalton or Cheshire, two little trail towns about 9 miles apart. Even though it's a little short of the goal, I still get to spend time on the trail with Fire thrower, so I'm happy!

When we got to camp today, we were greeted by about a dozen other hikers, all in a group training for Overland, an organization that brings kids out on sweet outdoors adventures. The guys and girls here are all preparing to lead groups on hiking, biking, kayaking, and writing trips in places as distant as Iceland and Patagonia, and as close as the Whites. The soon-to-be councilors are all about my age. Man, what a great summer job! They're all super nice too. I talked with them all a ton, they gave me some food, and they even let me in on their "power object" routine, where they pass a torch (the power object) around and share highs, lows, and cheers. What a great group! I had a lot of fun.

Today was also beautiful weather, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow, should be nice too. We're hoping to knock out another 9.5 miles, but you never know. We'll get there when we get there!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
9:09 p.m. 6/24/2015

Day 101 - Tom Leonard Shelter

Today is my 100th day on the trail. 100 days sleeping out, hiking all day, eating unfathomable portions, being cold, hot, wet, every extreme it seems. It's been a great hundred days, and what's amazing to me is that I've gone from Georgia, a completely foreign land to me, to Massachusetts, just down the pike from home sweet home! 100 days down, and less than two months left. Wooo!

My dad joined me today on the way out of Great Barrington. It sure was great to see him and my brother, who just graduated high school, for the first time since March! We got a late start, and only did 5 miles. It was slow going, but slow and steady is better than fast and pulled hammy! We made good miles, emphasis on good. We'll be hiking together for 5 more days, and the goal is Greylock.

Now, let me tell you a secret. I think my dad is trying to sabotage my thru-hike! It all started when I was innocently trying to cook dinner. My alcohol stove was on the table heating the water, until Dad came through and "accidentally" knocked it over! Flaming alcohol was everywhere, and I had to squirt water to put it out. I even got a few cinged hairs on my legs. It was a little scary. I know my dad's not actually trying to sabotage me! I just have some things I need to teach him. Tomorrow we're shooting for a 12 miler.

-Scribbles (a.k.a. Ted)
8:46 p.m. 6/23/2015

Day 100 - Kellogg Road Bridge

Here I am at the end of a sublime zero day, hanging over the Housatonic in my hammock, and looking forward to what lies ahead. I have to say, with so many zeros, short days, and rendezvouses with friends and family, I'm getting worried that I've forgotten what it means to thru-hike! I mean, I am supposed to be roughing it, right?

Today I did the opposite. I hiked about a mile to Route 7, where my spontaneous girlfriend was waiting for me. I wholeheartedly appreciated her last minute decision to join me. We did my laundry, ate some Thai food, went to see Jurassic World in theaters, and even managed to do a little stretching in the park (and boy am I tight!). Like I said, pretty much the opposite of roughing it.

It's been strange lately with the easy days and familiar faces. I feel like I should be doing more, like I didn't get the LEEP project and blog site to go to the movies. But time and time again I'm reminded. I did walk here from Georgia, I have been sleeping in the wind, rain and cold, and yes, seeing a movie may as well be part of the experience. And dude, sitting in a big comfy chair and watching dinosaurs duke it out was pretty darn spectacular.

So I've come to terms with my current slowness. And with 4 or 5 days with Dad around the corner, I won't be doing any 30 mile days soon. But that's fine! I'm going to live it up, and when the time comes to make miles, they will be made!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
6/22/2015

Day 99 - Massachusetts!

Greetings from Massachusetts! Today was a good one. It was tough, wet, buggy, steep, and lots of fun. I hiked 18 miles to Route 7, just south of Great Barrington. Tomorrow will be a nero as I await my dad to join me Tuesday. I'm pumped! But about today...

Me and my buddies woke up this morning to torrential downpour, as it had done most of the night. I estimate we got a good 2 inches of rain up here in the CT/MA/NY tri-state region! 

Luckily, it all fell overnight and early morning. We were hiking in light rain by 9:30. The way I estimated our rainfall total was by the amount of water gushing down the trail and pooling along flat stretches. This morning going over Bear Mountain, we were confronted with a real torrent! And on the way down (which is super steep), it honestly felt like we were climbing down a waterfall at some points. We did it, but it took lots of careful steps and assistance from my trekking poles (and trees!).

After Bear Mountain was Sages Ravine. The sun came out and the mountain stream was just gorgeous as we hiked along side. Also, the stream was very high. At the point where we were to cross, we were greeted by no bridge, no stepping stones, nothing but a 25 foot wide waterway! The only way to cross was to ford it. We loved fording the river (my first one yet!), and since we were already pretty well soaked, no one minded the knee-deep water. 

Once the wade was done, we had entered Massachusetts! Being back in the Commonwealth is nice for sure, but what's nicer is knowing I now have completed 10 states and I have 4 to go! The first Bay State challenge was Race Mountain, which afforded some really great views. I don't mean to put my home state down, but the views from the first mountain in Mass. were better than any in CT! After Race, my buddies unfortunately had to head out. I was reminded that yes, most people have jobs 5 days a week! It was great having them along, especially for some of the wettest miles since Port Clinton! Seriously, the top three wettest places for me have to be Roan Highlands, Port Clinton, and Bear Mountain! Thanks for surviving with me guys!

After my friends left, I did another 10 miles to my current location, amid many more puddles. Honestly most of today was spent slogging through water that varied from a half to 5 or 6 inches deep! But what really capped the day was the mosquitos. I'm currently surrounded by dozens of them. Thank goodness for my bug-netted hammock! It's like a cloud surrounding me.

Tomorrow I'm heading into Great Barrington, where I'll dry off, do laundry, and maybe even catch a movie in the theater! I'm looking forward to relaxing after a tough day today.

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
6:06 a.m. 6/21/2015

Day 97 - Riga Shelter

It sounds like there may have bee some technical difficulties with my post yesterday, but one of the things I talked about was the joy of seeing people from home. Having friends and family come out to support me has been such a motivator since Bear Mountain, when my mom and aunt and uncles and cousins first joined me for a day. This past Wednesday and Thursday was happily spent off the trail with my girlfriend, and boy was that awesome. We hung out around Kent and I did as little physical movement as possible, getting plenty of sleep and eating tons of food. As great as it was to take a real zero day, the best part of course was seeing Sarah, who I hadn't seen since January when she left for Seville!

Getting back on the trail yesterday was a bit tough, but I could feel the bodily difference. My legs felt amazing after 50+ hours of not hiking. I hiked 21 miles yesterday, but I may as well have been sitting on a couch. That's literally what my legs felt like. My muscles must have appreciated the rest.

Today it was my mom and friends from Newington who joined me in Falls Village. My mom hiked with us from Falls Village to Salisbury, and my friends continued with me up to Riga shelter, where we're camped tonight.

We had a good 12 mile hike up here. The weather was great until about 3 in the afternoon, when it started to pour. Luckily the worst of the rain hit as we explored Salisbury, so we were under cover. But we got wet on the last stretch up to the shelter. At the shelter we mad dinner and played cards, and now the rain seems to be picking up again. It could be a wet night, and a wet day tomorrow!

Today was also the first time I've done any substantial miles with people from home. What a trip that's been! I feel like I'm watching the past me in my friends. Maybe it's a funky tree, or a field of ferns, or a mountain view. Whatever, there are so many things that my buddies were struck by that I was just kinda like...eh. I've seen all types of trees, and ferns, and views. I'm sort of numb to it all. Which is really too bad in a way! But it was very refreshing to see their excitement.

Tomorrow it's on to Bear Mountain and Massachusetts. It looks like rain, which is unfortunate because I've heard that some of the terrain on Bear Mountain and Mount Everett is crazy. Crazy is tough. Crazy and wet is dangerous. We're going to have to be super careful tomorrow. 

- Scribbles (aka Ted)
8:43 p.m. 6/20/2015

Day 93 -Ten Mile River Shelter

Connecticut! For the first time in more than three months, I'm back in my home state. This is definitely the longest I've ever been away from home in my life. Even during the school year, I find time to make it home once in a while. But not on the trail! Three months and finally the Nutmeg State surrounds me!

I have a strange sense of pride for my state upon arriving home again. I don't know what it is. Seeing "Welcome to Connecticut" on the sign a few miles back just put a big smile on my face. I'm sure glad to be back, and looking forward to the next few days here!

Honestly, ever since Delaware Water Gap I have been in hiking zen. The miles are flying by easily, nothing hurts, every day is fun. I think I'm completely settled into the hiking lifestyle.The 15-20 mile range creates this perfect equilibrium of satisfaction; I don't feel lazy for doing a small amount of miles, but I also don't get burnt out from big days.

With friends and family joining me in the very near future, I'm super pumped to keep on keeping on the slow and steady days. It's crazy, but I am just about exactly 2/3 done!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
11:08 a.m. 6/16/2015

Day 92 - RPH Shelter

Three months ago today I was standing on top of Springer Mountain at 8am, overcome by the vast expanse of mountains ahead of me. They were mountains to be climbed. It was the beginning of a journey. It was incredible. Today is a little different. I'm holed up in a shelter, slowly building the motivation to face the wetness of today and begin hiking. But I think back to that morning in Georgia and wonder, did I ever think I would make it this far? In three months I've walked from a foreign land to, oh, 25 miles outside Connecticut. I'm that close! I don't think it ever touched my mind. Here I am though, and I'm simultaneously trying to remember what life was like before hiking and asking myself where has all the time gone. It's really strange to think that three months are already gone by! Ahh!


Miles are still being made. Like I said, I'm only 25 or so from Connecticut, so I'll be there by Tuesday. I can't wait for some New England! Now I just gotta get moving...

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
9:20 a.m. 6/15/2015

Ted's Progress Map: Week 13

Ted's Progress Map
Week 13

Day 91 - Hemlock Springs

My apologies for no blog posts the last few days. Two nights ago my phone zonked out on me as I was writing a fantastic post about New York City and yesterday was super busy and I didn't get to camp until 10:30 or so! I'll start with Friday...


The gyst of my post on Friday night was this. I was at West Mountain shelter, a beautiful stone shelter with a view of the Hudson River and, just barely from the humidity, New York City. The skyline was faintly visible through the haze. There was something special about seeing New York, it was a feeling I haven't had yet on this trip. I guess the Big Apple is a place that I feel I know, having been there dozens of times. Me and my dad have gone to many Yankees games since I was little, and I've been there a few times just to see the city too. I've gone for several cross-borough walks. It's a place that I consider myself familiar with. And there it was, two nights ago, on the horizon! After being in unknown National Forests (the Chattahoochee, the Nantahala, what?) and nameless towns (Glasgow still has a special place in my heart), I was finally looking at a place that rings a bell. Anyway, it felt good to see the city.


Friday itself was another tough one. Hot, humid, gnatty, and even more rock climbing. I gotta say, I do enjoy the rock climbing. One spot in Harriman State Park was called the "Lemon Squeezer." It was a narrow corridor of rock where I was forced to take off my backpack and hold it in front of me just to fit. Lemon squeezer indeed! Right after that was a ledge so steep that another trail marked "Easy Route" was made around it. As if I was going to go the easy way! I surveyed the challenge ahead of me and decided my best bet was to throw my poles and pack on top of the ledge and then try my luck at climbing. I made it, but only with the help of a well-placed root.


Now on to yesterday. It was simply like none other. There are really good days on the trail, and then there are days when you get to see family. It was awesome. I did a quick 5 miles in the morning to Bear Mountain, and when I got there, New York was as clear as day. It was a fabulous view! I ended up beating my family to the summit, but at 11:30 there was Uncle Phil, Aunt Ellen, Nick and Eva (cousins), and Mom! What a reunion! I haden't seen anyone from home for three months, when I left. We hung out at the top of the mountain, which is pretty well organized with a tower, bathrooms, and a road to the top. We shared stories from the last 3 months, played setback, and ate food. Man, I got hooked up. Sandwiches, salad, fruit, snacks, cookies, beer. It was great to eat some home cooking!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
7:58 a.m. 6/14/2015

Day 88 - Arden Mountain

Hello from a hungry hiker on a hot and humid day in New York! That's right, a new state already! Despite the interstate accomplishment, it was rough today; 90 degrees and the air was thick. I did 19 miles, but it felt like 25. I was so tired when I got to camp at 5, it was all I could do to just set up camp and take a load off. Now, laying in my hammock, I'm still sweating!

New York is tough, not just because of the weather. The hills are more like ledges, and I found myself bouldering or scrambling up a bunch of rocks for much of the day. Unlike those nasty rocks in Pennsylvania, however, at least these were engaging and not monotonous, and I hit some pretty good views. One ascent at the end of the day just about did me in. It was straight the heck up! I had to lift my feet way high to get from rock to rock- like climbing a staircase with 3 foot steps. I had one step where my backpack almost pulled me back if it wasn't for a little rock I used to gain leverage. It was nuts! It seems like down south the mountains were bigger, but less intense, and here the mountains are super steep, but smaller. I'll take these any day... they're more fun!

I'm hoping for a little cooler weather tomorrow, but at least I only have a short distance to cover. I plan on ending at West Mountain shelter, which allegedly is complete with a view of New York City!! And then Bear Mountain on Saturday. Should be fun!

- Scribbles (aka Ted)
6:47 p.m. 6/11/2015

Day 87 - New Jersey Bears!

Hello again!  

The miles are moving along well here in New Jersey. I've slowed down considerably from my 20+ mile per day pace in Pennsylvania. I don't know why, I guess hiking is just more enjoyable here. I'm taking my time!

Yesterday went well. There was thankfully no tornado overnight, and I ended up hiking to Unionville New York. Even though I ended up in a New York town, I still had 20 miles to go in Jersey, of which about 3 are left for tomorrow. I hiked past the aptly named High Point, the highest point in New Jersey, complete with a Washington Monument-esque obelisk at the top! I also saw bears number 3, 4, 5, and 6. The first one came at a pretty inopportune time. I was searching for a soft patch of ground to dig a hole and do some business (I won't get into details!), when a bear shimmied down a tree and ran away not even 20 feet away from me! Talk about suprising! The other three bears I saw together; a mom and two cubs. The momma bear with cubs situation can be dangerous, but luckily I never came within 50 yards of them. From a distance, however, I could clearly discern the bears. One of the cubs was about 20 feet up a tree. It was pretty cool.

Anyway I made it all the way to Unionville, which was an awesome little town. Glasgow-esque, for sure. There was free camping in the town park, and a great little store, and a pub to boot! It was one of those towns with its own character. It wasn't your classic hiker town; a town first and a hiker town second. But everyone was extremely friendly, and I'm still amazed at how many people are fascinated by thru-hiking. I guess it's just because I've gotten so used to it, I forget that walking from Georgia to Maine is pretty extraordinary! On my way to Unionville, I met Brendan and Kelly, a couple of people my age who were very interested. Its always fun to relate some of the stories from the trail.

Today I had another short day. I'm only two days away from Bear Mountain NY and a meet-up with family. Wooo!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
7:29 p.m. 6/10/2015

Week 12 Progress Map

Week 12 Progress Map

Yes, this is delayed, but we here at Ted Headquarters got a little backed up at the beginning of the week.

Day 85 - Stokes State Forest

It's been a busy but slow couple of days on the trail. New Jersey has been great! The rocks did not end at the Delaware River, but they're not as bad as they were and there's some really cool terrain around here. I had no idea New Jersey was so pretty.

Yesterday I hiked past Sunfish Pond and climbed Kittatinny Mountain. A sign declared Sunfish Pond one of the "seven natural wonders of New Jersey," something I found humorous. But it was pretty cool. It's a glacial lake, and it was up at about 1200 feet. The water was super clear. I also saw a second rattlesnake near the lake, always a scary experience.

This morning I woke up to rain, and perhaps due to laziness or maybe as a residual effect from Friday's 30 mile day, I stayed in my hammock until 10! It was so relaxing to take my time waking up. When I finally did get moving, I was unexpectedly greeted by the sun! Today's forcast was for rain all day, but it held off until about 7, when I was all set up for the night.

So it's raining now, and pretty hard too. There's actually a tornado warning, but no tornados yet (I hope none!). Home seems closer than ever. My mom will be meeting me this Saturday, when I reach Bear Mountain and the Hudson River. I can't wait! But I have a bit of hiking to do before then. For now, I'll listen to the rain and hopefully get a good, dry night of sleep!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
8:54 p.m. 6/8/2015

Day 84 - Delaware Water Gap

I'm about to leave Delaware Water Gap, cross the Delaware River, and enter New Jersey.

Pennsylvania was a tough state, no doubt. But it wasn't all bad, and my day here in DWG is proof of that!

I got here early yesterday, and went right to the hostel, the Church of the Mountain, which is the longest continuously operating hostel on the trail. It's a great place, with just what a hiker needs: a bed, water, and a place to chill with other hikers.The group of guys I'm with right now is great company. There's Tate, who I've been on and off hiking with, Forrest, who Tate's been hiking with more, Superman, who I did Springer with, his friend Heavyweight, Blueberry, Ginga T, Green Tortuga...the list goes on. I realize that it's impossible to describe them all! It's been great to hang out and spend time with people who are becoming real friends.

Delaware Water Gap is also a pretty funky town, complete with a diner that tells me I have entered the Northeast, a country bakery with eclairs the size of my head, and a Haitian Restaurant. I like it here a lot.

But I'm all rested up, and like any place along the trail, I'm merely passing through. Today it's on to New Jersey!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
9:28 a.m. 6/7/2015

Day 82 - Lookout Rock, Hook, & Bear!

Today was fun. It started off alright. I finally gave into the rocks, and turned to my radio (bought at Port Clinton) for support. You see, constantly having to watch your feet is tedious, and boring as hell! When I saw the clouds, and the flat terrain with no views, it was decided. So the radio provided a diversion from the monotonous morning miles.

It was the first time I had ever listened to music while I walked, and while it was enjoyable, I think that music while hiking will be kept to a minimum from here on out. It's just different. Instead of hearing the birds, or wind, or the rustle of leaves as a toad hops away, you hear "Uptown funk won't give it to ya, don't believe me just watch!" It was motivating for a hard day like today, but weird.

The music only lasted until about noon, when I ran into Hook, another thru-hiker. We made the usual conversation, but when the start-date question was asked, my jaw dropped. Hook started on April 28!!! He'd been doing 30+ mile days. Today he walked from the Outerbridge shelter, which is before Lehigh Gap, all the way to Delaware Water Gap, another 2 miles from me. His method is simply to start early and finish late. He never runs as you would expect, and in fact I ended up hiking with him for 15 miles at a very manageable pace. He told me some crazy stories of his hike, such as his first day, when he did 43 miles, and the Smokies, when he ate nothing but 70 Snickers bars in his 3 days there. Crazy!

But Hook is used to doing crazy things. He's an ultra-marathoner, or a participant in races more than 26.2 miles. He told me about the time he accidentally set the record for the Wonderland Trail, a 90 mile loop around Mount Ranier, and the time he nearly blew a kidney while qualifying for the US ultra-marathon team. I was thoroughly impressed and fascinated!

By the time me and Hook split up at the Kirkridge Shelter, I had amazingly done 26 miles, and it was only 5pm! I think hiking with an ultramarathoner might have had something to do with it... Anyway, I knew I'd be sleeping in Delaware Water Gap tomorrow, and I was only 6 miles south of it, so I ate dinner and hiked a little farther to perhaps my most epic camping spot yet. I'm on the edge of a cliff, looking over the Delaware River (and I-80), with a huge cliff on the other side too. It's spectacular! I'll sleep well tonight for sure.

Oh yeah, and if all that wasn't enough, I SAW A BEAR!!! Yes, a real bear, and this was no through the trees, get a glimpse before he runs away type of sighting. I got within 60 feet of him! I snapped some really good pictures. It was awesome.Anyway, I don't know how it happened but I did 30 miles today and I'm feeling pretty beat. The good news is that I only have 2 miles to go tomorrow and then it's on th New Jersey!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
9:32  p.m. 6/5/2015

Day 81 - Palmerton Superfun(d) Site

Sometimes I get so caught up in something that it overtakes everything else. This happened yesterday with my anger at the rocks. I omitted a few important things from my update! The first one is that Dave, the writer of the T&G article about this blog and LEEP project, completed an Appalachian Trail hike of his own yesterday. He did much of Northern Virginia, including the Shenandoahs. Way to go Dave! Dave is one of many section hikers, people who want to hike the entire Appalachian Trail, but do it in sections, one at a time. I think it's awesome how the trail ties so many people into it in so many different ways. It's just cool to think that not even a month ago I was hiking the same trail Dave, yet we had completely different adventures.

OK, the other piece of news is a doozy.

Remember back when I started, and I did the approach trail with two other guys? Rowan and Alex. I hiked off and on with Rowan for about the first week and a half, but by the time I got to the Smokies I was ahead of him, and I haven't seen him since. Alex left Springer Mountain on March 15 before me, and I had no idea what became of him...until yesterday!!! Alex is now known as Superman, and he's made it as far as I have! It's crazy; we went two and a half months, 1200 miles, but found each other again. Insane! Remember what I said about the trail tying things together?

No complaining today. The rocks are still a beast, but I'm getting used to them. I went through the Lehigh Valley today, which is notable because of the terrific slopes going in and out of it. The trail in wasn't too too bad, but the trail out...wow! I was practically rock climbing! It was straight up this rock face. The blazes were painted right on the rock and when you look at it from a distance I swear you think "what do they expect me to fly?" But it was a lot of fun.

The other interesting tidbit about the Lehigh Valley is its industrial past, a past which the Appalachian Trail does not escape from. Shortly after ascending Breakneck Rock (I made that up), I encountered a warning sign. And for about three miles, I was walking across a Superfund site; an environmentally damaged site that has federal money allocated for it's remediation. In the case of this site, a zinc-smelting plant in Palmerton (which I think has something to do with galvanizing metal) dumped their waste sludge on the hillside for almost a hundred years. The result was a defoliated slope, which I understand was far worse twenty years ago. Now, there are sparse trees, shrubs, and mostly grass. It's spooky. I feel like I'm on a field trip with my Urban Ecology class!

Anyway, I did another 20 today and Delaware Water Gap is only a day and a half away! Assuming I don't get eaten by a zinc sludge monster tonight...

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
7:03 p.m. 6/4/2015

Day 80 - Rocking Pennsylvania

OK, so have you ever done something for an absolutely atrocious amount of time? Something simple, mind-numbing, something that makes you just succumb to it, like a war of attrition. For example, I used to do this with Google Earth. I'd study it for like 6 hours, then finally pull myself away from the computer, wild-eyed and wondering how I could waste so much time like. I remember going to bed after these episodes, closing my eyes, and seeing digital mountains, roads, and cities flash across my eyelids.

Well, here I am again. The rocks of Pennsylvania have crushed me. One mile of rocks, no big deal. Two miles, your feet get kind of sore and you feel thankful for the less rocky portions. Four miles, and you begin to forget what smooth trail is like. And at ten-plus miles, you enter a state of semi-consciousness, a sort of daze, as you stumble over boulders and smash your feet against even the tiniest stones.

Phew, that got out of hand! But it's true, hiking over millions of sideways rocks is much different than hiking on flat ground. I mean, you can't look around. You have to stare at your feet, with occasional glances up at the trail ahead.Even with the rocks, however, today was a good one. The weather cooperated, and there were some well deserved views. But the rocks man, wow!

Tomorrow promises to be the crescendo of rockery; the Lehigh Gap. I'll hit it toward the end of the day. From what I hear it's incredibly steep. I can't wait!

-Scribbles (aka Ted)
8:05 p.m. 6/3/2015