Tim On The TrailFollow me on my hike

Aug 24th Leaving New Hampshire

The last 16 miles of New Hampshire beckon today.  I finished the Wildcats, the last of the White Mountains on the AT, then took some time to rest my knees.

The Whites were like hiker college — knowledge gained, a challenge met — but I’m glad they’re behind me.  There were rewards after tough climbs, yet I’m ready now to move on to the next challenge.

This is at the start of the Wildcats, across the road from Pinkham Notch.

And that challenge will come in Maine, at Mahoosuc Notch.  It rained last night.  Let’s hope the rest of the week stays relatively dry for the Mahoosucs.

Thanks to all who contributed to my crowd sourcing fundraiser. Its online life ended a couple of days ago.  I know others may still want to help.  Post a comment on this website, and we’ll contact you off-line.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Aug 19th Presidential Update

It’s ironic, given my current career, that I just spent the last four days in New Hampshire’s Presidential Range.

First View of Mt. Washington

From Mt. Adams to Mt. Jefferson

Approaching Summit of Mt. Washington

Jackson, Pierce, Franklin, Washington, and Madison tested my will — as well as my knees. I did not summit Adams, Jefferson, and Monroe (the AT led near but not up to those peaks), but they contributed to the ache in my knees.

My highest peak so far.

View from Mt. Adams in the Presidential Range

It was good to return to the Trail, yet difficult to readjust my mindset to the hike. I’ve said before that the Trail provides and it was proven again yesterday.

As I worked my way to Pinkham Notch and a care package (thanks Maris!), I met a couple of day hikers. They gave me a plum, we had a nice conversation, and I continued my hike.

After lunch and picking up the package, I happened upon them again. They then gave me more food and a ride to The Barn, a hostel in Gorham.

Bear and Moose are popular — and populous in NH.

Bear and Moose are popular in NH.

As I start The Wildcats (the last of the White Mountains), I need to remember Trail karma.

P.S. One of the hikers with whom I started just summited Mount Katahdin. Good job, Spice Girl!

Aug 13th Another New Pair of Boots

Well, it’s back to the trail today.

The old ones started showing alarming signs of wear.

With new boots (the Hi Tecs I bought in New Jersey developed a hole); a somewhat new backpack (Maris and I got it in Lebanon, NH when she visited); and a haircut, I’ll tackle the Presidential Range in the Whites.

New boots (right) are 1 lb. lighter than the old ones.

My Mom and Maris have tried to fatten me up.  We’ll see if it helps me climb faster and hike longer.  Soup at the huts will help too.

I’m looking forward to the challenge, something I haven’t always done on this hike.  The next two weeks will be tough, but I’ll make Maine in a week.

The prospect of meeting a moose might keep me going as much as the food.  Root for the moose, all you hordes of readers.

Aug 2nd August 2nd Update

800 miles.  It’s a long way for a road trip in a car, let alone for a hike.

While my feet and knees might disagree, the experience has been memorable.  I think it’s helped sharpen my focus on what I hope to accomplish and who I hope will be along for that ride.

Monk was disappointed that he didn’t see the mother moose with her calf that have been spotted on the far shore.

This knight’s helmet was at the Greenleaf Hut, below Mount Lafayette.

It has also shown me there’s more drive inside me than I thought.  Getting up a five thousand foot mountain is good practice for the political chores that need doing.

The View From Atop Mount Guyot.

Can you see the sun’s rays on the mountain?

Monk and I have had fun, met many new people, and talked about many subjects — mostly not politics.  Now we’re taking a break to celebrate a wedding before climbing Mount Washington.

More posts and photos to come soon.

Jul 31st 89 Days on the trail and counting

Monk is ready to start the five peaks.

Maris reporting on 7/31/15:

Well it’s day 89 on the trail.  Tim is in The White Mountains of New Hampshire and has hiked 5 peaks in 2 days on the Franconia Ridge.  He has lost 40 lbs. and is between a 32 and 34-inch waist.  He has hiked more than 750 miles and has about 300 or so left to reach Mt. Katahdin, Maine (100 of those will be the 100-mile wilderness in Maine).

I was able to visit him in Vermont and we took a trip to LL Bean and EMS in Lebanon, New Hampshire to get him outfitted with a lighter weight pack and new detachable pants/shorts as his old stuff was now hanging off him.  Tim reports these past few uphill climbs of Mt. Lafayette and Garfield have been scary and strenuous.

Atop Mt. Garfield. Looking toward South Twin Mountain.

Approaching Mt. Lafayette. This two-mile stretch was all above treeline.

Tim summits Lafayette. It was windy and hard to get a good pic.

At Lafayette summit. Morning Fog — Monk called it spooky, but I thought it looked cool.

It is steep climbing with very rocky uphills that are more like bouldering than upright walking on a trail.  I had no idea how rough the trail was until I hiked a relatively easy part in Vermont.  Now I am even more impressed with Tim and all the other hikers’ endurance and perseverance in achieving their goals.

As seen from Mt. Lafayette. This descent was hard on my knees as was the descent from Garfield.

A highlight for Tim has been the work-for-stay huts where he enjoys large meals (left-overs after the paying guests are finished) for dinner as well as breakfasts.

He said Lincoln was almost as good as rock hopping.

Looking forward to more photos and to hearing from Tim when the phone gods allow.

Hike on Tim and be safe.

Jul 27th The Whites

I’ve arrived at the most challenging part of the hike so far — New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

Four days ago I hiked a 4,800-foot mountain called Mount Moosilauke. A more experienced hiker who manages a hostel suggested a north-to-south climb, and that was good advice.

The wind was strong enough to knock down small children.

For the first time, I enjoyed the uphill climb, which followed a cascading brook for more than a mile up the mountain.

On the north side of Moosilauke. They’re a mile long; the AT follows its banks to the top.

When I reached the summit, Moosilauke rewarded me with sunshine, though I had to brave winds that felt like 40 miles an hour.

Ominous clouds greeted me and “Pack.”

Of course the next day it rained as I hiked up Mount Wolf.  And the following day as I hiked the Kinsman peaks.  More rain is expected for my next hike too.

View from the South Peak

Guess I’ll need to remember that the trail will provide. Sometimes it’s giving me what I need — whether I asked for it or not.

The mud hole came up to my thigh.

Kind of like life.

Jul 24th Maris Visits Tim On (and off) the AT

(Barbara reporting:)

Maris flew to Burlington, VT July 16th, then drove to meet up with Tim. who had taken a nasty fall which he survived but his phone did not.  Luckily, Tim was able to walk to a nearby artists’ colony where he met lots of nice folks.  They put him in touch with trail angel Daniel Q.  He helped Tim out with a ride and a place to stay where he was able to order a new phone for next day delivery.  Daniel Q. took Maris & Tim to a fun gathering with food and music where they were able to forget the day’s mishaps.

Maris hiked a (very) small portion of the trail with Tim and reported it was no fun navigating tree roots, rocks and uphill climbs.  No walk in the forest this!  She said that was enough of a taste for her and it gave her a new found respect for all those who have tackled the AT!

The visit was a great morale boost for Tim and Maris and the kids, Monk and Berry Bear, but alas the time went too quickly.  On Monday July 20th, Maris drove Tim to the trail head to continue on his trek as she continued on to the airport.  Luckily, they will be seeing each other again when they head to Cleveland for Tim’s cousin’s wedding in August.

Monk & his pal Berry Bear are reunited.

Tim and I reunited.

Tim & Daniel Q., Woodstock, VT

Tim ready to start his hike from Woodstock to W. Hartford

Maris, Tim, Berry Bear & Monk

Jul 13th Hikers Are Talkative Folks

One of the best things about hiking the AT is talking with hikers — either at a shelter

At the Green Mountain Hostel.

after the day’s hike or when taking a break on the Trail.

Hikers tend to be well informed and insightful. They’ve thought about what interests them, and will tell you their thoughts when asked.

This cerebral bent applies to all ages and backgrounds. One of my best conversations on the Trail was with an 18-year-old headed to college in the fall.

I didn’t expect to find thinking people willing to talk after a 15- to 25-mile day, but it’s the case.

Cool View

Monk thought it was a boat.

Of course, we like to talk about the adventures we’ve had on the Trail. And the sights and challenges. I’ll let the pictures I took recently tell my story.

Monk befriends a moose.

Art comes in lots of different forms.

Wild art exhibit in Vermont.

On another subject, I am proud of South Carolina these days. Of course it took them decades too long, but that damn flag is now down. Think expanding healthcare might be next?

Jul 9th More Than Halfway Through Flip Flop Hike

[Maris reporting:]

It’s been a little more than 2 weeks since I posted, so I’ll try to fill in the ground that’s been covered.

Connecticut and Massachusetts are a blur even though Tim has some cool photos from both places.  He climbed Mt. Greylock, the highest point in MA,

A war memorial built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

took notice of colorful mushrooms,

Liked the colors.

and yet more rocks.

Tim is well into Vermont now — or ‘Vermud’, as it is often called due to wet and muddy trails.  Coming down a steep descent into Bennington, Vt. he bent his trekking pole which was quite disconcerting as he had come to rely on it for stability.

The pole that saved me from many falls bit the dust .

He saw some interesting sights including an old jeep on the trail.

Didn’t know they hiked too.

He climbed Stratton mountain and is on his way to Manchester Center and then his next challenge will be yet another Bear mountain.

Tim reported that he had a very nice visit with his nephew David and wife Avery who drove from Connecticut to have dinner with him in Bennington, Vt.  Thanks to their generosity Tim was able to enjoy two yummy meals and replace his trekking pole.

In Bennington, VT, with  Dave (&  Monk!) after breakfast with Avery.

He is in good spirits, appears to have his trail legs and has been enjoying the solitary hike mixed with the camaraderie of fellow hikers at campgrounds, shelters and hostels. Tim has been hiking with a man named Lipo.  (Pictures coming soon.)

While trying to live in the moment and be aware of the experiences of today, Tim (and Monk) and I are excited about my upcoming visit to hike a little (very little for me) and explore the beautiful villages of Rutland, Killington and Burlington, Vt.

Tim has covered about 610 miles, and is more than half way to his goal of Mt. Katahdin in Maine. He is hoping to finish the remaining miles before taking a break for a family wedding in Ohio.  This first part of his flip flop through hike is 1,166.4 miles.

Keep on Hiking Tim, and mind your P’s and Q’s, Monk!

“What’s My Fortune?” asks Monk.

Jul 2nd Reflecting on 500+ Miles

It probably comes as no surprise that the Appalachian Trail goes through or near mostly small towns.  Many don’t have so much as a McDonald’s.  Some don’t even have (gasp) a coffee shop with WiFi access.

Monk was hungry as he studied the AWOL Guide.

That’s one reason I haven’t been able to post as often as I would like.  But it’s also a blessing, as I get to see a cross-section of small town America.

It’s not a bad thing.  I have met generous people who help even when it’s inconvenient. There are those who wonder why I choose to walk in the rain and mud (I tell them lunacy), but they still respect someone who has hiked 500-odd miles.

What I’ve come to see is there are places the chain stores have yet to enter, where people are accepted as they are, and where character trumps conventional wisdom.

They fattened me up with amazing food and friendship.

That gives me hope for the future.  I also gain hope from the younger hikers and their attitudes and outlooks.  And me being hopeful is a step forward.

Grizzly Tim on Bear Mt. Top!

More to come, as the Internet gods allow.

TJL