Pics From The Hike

Kinda boring, I know. But there's nothing else going on out here. There are no other hikers. I'm freezing. Just trying to finish this trail and get home. 

This is the beer that I used to celebrate the end of the AT and the beginning of the BMT. The amazing thing about this beer is that it was stashed in the woods about a month earlier by Sarah 'Two Braids' Hillier. Amazingly, she is of no relation. Just another hiker who reached Springer Mountain way before me and cached this beer. She sent me this map:

I can't believe I found it. Thanks, Two Braids!

The picture above was taken on a very foggy morning but this is the tree in front of the Mountain Crossings gear store. Every year, hundreds of northbound AT hikers hit this store just a few days into their hike and then realize that their feet are sore because they have the wrong foot gear. They re-fit and chuck their old ones into this tree. 

This guy was stalking a shelter on the AT. That's a full-size lighter for perspective.  

This was a random entry in a shelter journal. For some reason, it just cracked me up. "I have a bag for poptarts now and it's fer sure not okay."  What does that even mean? Live!

Frost on my pack every morning. Everything not IN my sleeping bag with me is frozen solid. Every morning. This aspect of the hike is getting old. 

My two favorite things. 

All sewn up. All these miles have been pretty hard on my gear. One more reason to hurry up and finish this hike. 

This means me. 

Overall, this is a beautiful trail and I'm lucky to be out here. Many volunteers have worked very hard to keep this trail well-blazed and maintained. I am grateful to all of them for making this such an amazing experience for me. Soon, I'll be back in Michigan and missing the trail like crazy. Best to appreciate these last couple weeks and to spend them reflecting back on what a great adventure this has been.

Please feel free to leave me a comment below.