Sunrise in Maine

I can tell you that it feels great to be in Maine and to see the sun rise and to feel the end of this great journey coming. To think back on all that's happened and all that will happen.

Entertaining

The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) operates several full service lodges through the White Mountains. Many are located right along the Appalachian Trail. They have a work for stay option for thru-hikers, which is very nice. The usual chores are doing dishes, sweeping the floors, or chipping ice off the freezer. Anitra and I put together a 45 minute set of songs and stories from the trail and performed for Madison and Zealand Falls huts. A nice time was had by all.

Makin' Tracks

The Mt. Washington scenic cog railway chugs its way 6,288 feet up the mountain on these tracks.

Outstanding Views

The Presidential range as seen from the summit of Washington.

Out of this World

As we approached the summit of Mt. Washington, the weather observatory loomed against the clouds and looked kind of like the surface of another planet...

Looking Back

A nice view of Lakes of the Clouds hut.

Mt. Washington

This was taken on the way to Lakes of the Clouds hut. The temperatures were in the 30's and 40's with incredible winds all through the Presidential range. Most of the peaks, like Monroe on the right, were clear. But Washington just seems to be a cloud magnet. Luckily, we summited the following day under almost completely clear skies and almost no wind.

The Same Day

See, I told you we were happy.

Franconia Ridge

This was definately one of our top ten days out here. We took a zero the day before because the weather on the ridges looked nasty and this was our reward. Once we climbed above treeline, the whole rest of the day gave us infinite views.

Approaching the Whites

We were getting closer and closer to the biggest, baddest mountains on the trail. You can see the dark clouds in the top corners of the picture and the fair clouds throughout. The weather changes about every hour or two except on the best and worst days. Very unpredictable.

A Visit With Friends

Our friends Rob and Lisa Rankin joined us in Hanover for a couple of days. We had a BLAST! This was taken outside of Peg's, home of maybe the greatest breakfast on the trail - the Hungryman.

Pine Grove

The landscape out here is constantly changing, and once in a while we walk through a really unique grove, like this stand of young tall pines with a forest floor covered with ferns.

Sunlight in Vermont

Great views of the sunrays after a rain.

What Do they Mean?

All along the trail, there are little piles of rocks made by different people because...well, who knows? There were probably 200 different piles in this little grove - each one different.

Green Mountains

Fog rolling up a valley in Southern Vermont.

Massachusetts Magic

If you recognize this face, then you know exactly what trail magic is. This man has been feeding, housing, and encouraging hikers for 20 years.

Welcome to Massachusetts!

Crossing a state line is always a happy moment in the journey.

While on the road to Cornwall...

...we encountered this quixotic piece of art in the middle of nowhere, just poking out of the weeds.

Conneticut Sunrise

We rarely get to see the sun rise over the horizon because we're often camped in a valley. But the low angle of the sun creates rich colors and interesting shadows on the forest floor.

Dover Oak

The largest tree on the Appalachian Trail, the Dover oak is over 300 years old.

Hudson Valley

Taken while crossing the Bear Mountain Bridge. The most beautiful river crossing so far.

Bear Mountain Bridge

An exquisite piece of architecture spanning the Hudson River near Harriman state park.

Epitome

This is the m

ost shining example of a bog bridge. It extends for a mile or more continuously through this valley. This shot was taken from a suspension bridge spanning a small river running through the swamp.

Bog Bridges

From New Jersey north for a long way there are many swampy and muddy stretches of trail. So we walk on bog bridges, some of which are well constructed, like this one, and some of which are falling apart and do almost more harm than good. Always an adventure, though...

The full group at a diner on

our last night together.

Pennsylvania Slackpackers

After getting rather sick from an unknown virus in Duncannon, we were able to convalesce while making some miles by slackpacking with this fine crew all the way to Delaware Water Gap. Many fine memories.

Summertime...

...and the hikin's easy. At least through the cornfields of central Pennsylvania. This was before we encountered the infamous Pennsylvania rocks.

Almost done...not!

We couldn't believe it...finally halfway!

Half - Gallon Challenge

This is our friend Hungus, in

the process of [successfully] completing the half-gallon challenge - a hiker tradition at the halfway point on the trail.