Bear Mountain Steps

Trail Steps up Bear Mountain, originally uploaded by JiBryant.

The NY/NJ Trail Conference has finished the Appalachian Trail section of their Bear Mountain Project. Yea and thank you!

A good thing about Bear Mountain is that millions of people can get to it. A bad thing is that millions of people can get to it. So over the years, the trails have been rebuilt and relocated many times. By the 1990s, it was clear that the Bear Mountain section of the trail, used by a half-million people a year, needed to be rebuilt again. The solution, drawn up primarily by Mr. Walsh and another trail designer, Peter Jensen, was an impossibly ambitious series of steps and walkways supported by native stone.

It would last, one hoped, forever. It would keep neophytes on the trail instead of bounding out into the woods. It would work for urban hikers showing up in tennis shoes and flip-flops, as well as for serious long-haul hikers. And it would be a challenge to build.

That section has always had too much pressure.

Original Shelter Peter's Mountain shelter, originally uploaded by cheflovesbeer.

The Appalachian Trail Museum at Pine Grove State Forest(PA} has reassembled this shelter in the museum.

The resurrection of the Earl Shaffer Shelter is nearing its completion inside the soon-to-open Appalachian Trail Museum at Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

The three-sided log structure, which sheltered Appalachian Trail hikers atop Peters Mountain for over 40 years before it was dismantled two years ago, will be a centerpiece exhibit in the museum, set to open on June 5 in conjunction with National Trails Day.

The over 50 pieces of the last remaining hiker shelter built by Earl Shaffer, the York-area native who in 1948 became the first man to complete the entire Appalachian Trail in one hike

I spent the night in this shelter in my 2001 thru-hike.

They Got Me

A new record on the Appalachian Trail.

I trekked the trail with no major problems and as soon as I got to the end I turned around and hiked right back. The truth is I hiked the Appalachian Trail from east to west. It took me nearly three ... minutes.

The Barefoot Sisters

Have a book out about their 2000 Southbound thru-hike. They hiked north in 2001, the year I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. It seemed I was always a day behind them. I did occasionally see barefoot prints, however from the pictures in the video you can see Teva tan lines on their feet. I suspect they hikrd in Teva's alot.

The book can be purchased through the AT Store.

Stinky Boy Rides Again!

Yellow Indian Springs, originally uploaded by cheflovesbeer.

Stinky Boy(my pack) will be riding on the Appalachian Trail starting tomorrow. Starting in Port Clinton, Pennsylvania and heading north.

Ouch!

Four hikers are injured by lightning on the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey.

Rescuers in Warren County are working to remove the last of four hikers injured tonight when lightning struck nearby during a severe thunderstorm in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Three had been removed from the Appalachian Trail in Worthington State Forest by 7:30 p.m.; a fourth hiker with a head wound had yet to be taken off the mountain, said Deb Nordeen, a public information officer with the National Park Service.

Rescuers reached the group at 6:15 p.m., about an hour after the National Park Service's emergency communications center received a report of the lightning strike.

"They were not directly struck by lightning," Nordeen said. "Lightning apparently hit the ground near them and they subsequently received injuries."

Nordeen said she was uncertain of the extent of the injuries or the ages of those involved.

They were about a mile south of Sunfish Pond in Hardwick Township, which is about two to three miles from the Pennsylvania line.

Hope everybody recovers well.

Watch Out!

A suspected murderer may be on the Appalachian Trail.

Hikers were warned Wednesday that a University of Georgia professor who has been missing since Saturday's triple slaying in Athens, Ga. may head for the Appalachian Trail.Authorities nationwide have been searching for George Martin Zinkhan III, who is wanted in the fatal shooting of his wife, Marie Bruce, Clemson University economist Tom Tanner and Ben Teague.

“Mr. Zinkhan was a hiker in the past and did hike on the Appalachian Trail,” U.S. Park Ranger Eric Barron said.

Federal authorities have also explored the possibility that Zinkhan, 57, could be headed to Amsterdam, where he is an adjunct professor at a university.

A notice posted on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's Web site warns that Zinkhan may have a gun and advises people to call 911 if he is spotted.

Picture at the link.
Update: Zinkhan has been found dead.

Who Knew?

The US Treasury is going to issue new National Sites Quarters in 2010. Vermont has nominated the Appalachian Trail for theirs. I bet Maryland will pick Fort McHenry.

Not Good

Hopefully Ryan is all right.

BRISTOL - A 32-year-old man who said he was walking down the Appalachian Trail to his parents' home in North Carolina has been reported missing.

Police said Ryan McCarthy may be depressed over losing his job recently and they are unsure whether he actually intended to head toward Robersonville.

McCarthy was last seen on February 7 after his roommate dropped him off in the parking lot of the Saint Thomas Rectory Church in Goshen, police said.[...]
McCarthy is 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. He had blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket and blue jeans, police said. He wears wire rimmed glasses.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Bristol Police Department at (860) 584-3000.

If you have seen him let his family know.
Update: Found alive and well. It is cold out this time of year.

Springsteen

Backpacker Magazine is reporting that the Boss has a new song out that has the Appalachian Trail in it.

The song is “Outlaw Pete” on Springsteen’s latest, “Working on a Dream.” It’s a ballad about a gunslinger that rides west to give up his lawless days. But first, he raises hell back east:


He was born a little baby on the Appalachian Trail
At six months old, he’d done three months in jail
He robbed a bank in his diapers and his little bare baby feet.
All he said was “Folks my name is Outlaw Pete”

No word on whether Baltimore Jack is thinking about changing his trail name.

For A Cause

Three guys from California are going to hike the Pacific Crest Trail to help combat veterans. And a gut from Wisconsin is going to hike the Appalachian Trail to raise awareness for safe water in the developing world.

Just once I would like to see someone hike a trail to raise money for the trail. I am not saying either of these causes are unworthy. Just that the trails need money too.

Trevor Thomas

The blind hiker known as Zero/Zero finished the Appalachian Trail on October 7, with broken ribs after a fall on Maine's Saddleback Mountain. A truly amazing feat. The Charlotte Observer has the best of many articles I have seen about Zero/Zero.

On the day he was to start, his acquaintance that was going to hike with him did not show. Undeterred he asked passing hikers if he could walk behind them. The 24th said yes. You should really read it all. But My love of the Appalachian Trail is not so much about the trail but the people. Here is a quote from Z/Z

“I put my life in the hands of complete strangers over and over again,” Thomas said. “And whenever it seemed the darkest, whenever it seemed the magic had run out, someone would be there.”

Things like that make me feel good about the American people. One on one with out politics or religion we do the right thing and help our fellow man.

Code Name

Barack Obama: Renegade
Michelle Obama: Renaissance
Malia Obama: Radiance
Sasha Obama: Rosebud

GW Bush: Tumbler. No respect. I do not know if it is from his cheer leading days or he just falls a lot. That reminds me of a trail name.....

In 2001, on the Appalachian Trail there was a hiker from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He decided that his trail name was The Universal Adventurer. However, the his given name was Tom, and the Universal Adventurer name did not fit as he fell a lot. Certainly someone with the name the Universal Adventurer should not fall often. So despite his protestations, he became the Tumbling Tom.

New Rocky Run Shelter

rocky run shelter sign, originally uploaded by fuzzy bird.

The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club built a new shelter at the old Rocky Run shelter site. They also rebuilt the old shelter. One of 15 left from the Civilian Conservation Corps or CCC. Way to go guys and gals! I was last at the old shelter in 2001. It was pretty run down. Plus the design made for a dreary place. And if that is not enough it is close to where the Blair Witch Project was filmed. I did not feel good about sleeping there!

Originally, the club planned to take down the old log shelter and replace it with a larger one. But, noting its historic significance, Preservation Maryland provided funding for materials to restore the CCC-built shelter and PATC volunteers did the work.

Built of chestnut, several of the bottom logs had deteriorated. Workers jacked the shelter up and replaced them with round white oak logs, rechinked it, put on a new wood shake roof and installed a new wood floor.

Sheaffer said the shelter site was chosen probably because the hillside offers protection and Rocky Run spring bubbles forth nearby. Over the years, two decks, a grill pit, porch swing and a flower bed have been added, making it a homey sight for weary hikers.

The site for the new shelter, just a few hundred yards from the old one, was chosen because it's flat. Built of new half logs, it has three full sides, a wood floor and a plywood-floored loft, and sleeps 16 people. The roof extends over a large wood-deck porch, which could double as sleeping space. Large clerestory windows flood the shelter with natural light. Most AT shelters are dark inside, said Sheaffer.

New shelters typically cost $7,000 to $9,000 and take eight to 12 months of volunteer labor to build, he said. PATC is also building new shelters at Devils Racecourse in Maryland and at Rod Hollow in Virginia. "Every shelter is a little different," he said. "But basically they are three-sided structures."

Pictures: new shelter, old shelter.

I am glad they kept the old shelter.

The Homeplace

The Homeplace is an AYCE (All You Can Eat) restaurant on the Appalachian Trail.

The menu is minimal but effective. For $13, you get your choice of two meats (among fried chicken, roast beef, country ham) or you can get all three for a dollar extra -- they also serve pork BBQ on Thursdays.

Then you get unlimited sides of mashed potatoes, pinto beans, green beans, cole slaw, corn, baked apples and warm homemade biscuits. Oh, don't forget the apple butter (on sale in the waiting lobby) -- to die for.

If that isn't enough to fill you up, dessert is vanilla ice cream with cobbler, depending on what fruit is in season.

I recommend the peach to top it all off.

In 1998, I ate 20 pieces of chicken. In 2001, I only ate 12 but in all fairness it was BBQ night and I had to eat some of that too.

Interesting View Of America

An Australian's view of America from the Appalachian Trail.

"It took me three days to get to the highest point and there are people there in cars complaining about the half a mile walk they had to make on a steady grade," he mused. "Here they are with sweat pouring off them and cans of Coke in their hands. I have never in my life seen obesity like it."

Perrett said he witnessed at least four visible changes in the American people along the way.

"Below the Mason-Dixon Line, in Pennsylvania, it's a totally different world," he said. "Then all of a sudden in New York people are talking at you, they just start asking you questions.

"It really changes again when you hit New England, the people are much more conservative, less inclined to come up and chat. In New Hampshire everyone has got time to talk to you."

But it wasn't until he crossed over into Canada that Perrett felt like he was near his own home, especially when the border officer who questioned him so vigilantly one minute offered him a ride into town the next.

"America seriously felt like four different countries," he said. "Canada is so much more laid back. Everything is a bit of a joke here and people are willing to listen instead of trying to talk over you.

"Americans told me that coming up here was essentially like being in America, but it is an amazing difference."

Appalachian Trail Closure

Fire has closed the Appalachian Trail in Virginia.

The fire is burning on Sinking Creek Mountain in Craig County, about 12 miles northeast of Blacksburg. Schiffer says a section of the Appalachian Trail between Virginia 42 and Virginia 621 is closed.

Happy Anniversary!

Not only is it my brothers birthday(Happy Birthday Jonathan!) but it is the 40th anniversary of the National Trail System Act of 1968.

October 2nd is an important day for all lovers of the Appalachian Trail: It's the 40th anniversary of the National Trails System Act of 1968, passed by Congress to promote preservation, standards and public access on protected land.

The trail was first routed in 1937, but this recognition made certain that it wouldn't disappear. The act also established the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which runs 2,650 miles from Canada to Mexico. Today, 26 trails -- the Appalachian, the Pacific Crest and six other scenic trails as well as 18 national historic trails -- make up the National Park Service's National Trail System.

Randall Lee Smith Is Still Dead

An interesting article about the men who survived being shot by Smith. They recently did a reenactment for NBC's Dateline.

BLUEFIELD, Va. — Scott Johnston was exhausted Wednesday night after almost three full weeks of re-living a few moments of his life that forever changed him. The moments came on Tuesday, May 6, when a gunman shot Johnston and his friend at their campsite near the Appalachian Trail.

“It sort of seems like it happened yesterday,” Johnston said. “A friend of mine called me up about a week ago and said he hadn’t spoken to me in over a month. I couldn’t believe it. Time has been going by so fast since it happened.”

No Goats On The Appalachian Trail

I'm not sure how much gear a goat can carry.

About a month ago we told you the story of a young man who was hiking the Appalachian Trail in the company of a goat. The goat, Ali Baba, seemed to engender good will wherever he went. But man and goat drew a very different response from the people who manage the trail.

Earlier this week, the National Park Service said they’d have to hike someplace else. Goats are considered pack animals and pack animals are not allowed on the Appalachian Trail.

Read it all.