More Scenes from the Trail

This is another post without an overarching or high-minded theme. This seems to be the new norm....
Once again, some images of life on the AT.

Had to snap her, since I am also a hiker-skirt-girl.
She made her own fabulous camo skirt, which
kinda makes me want to take up sewing, even
though I know that couldn't possibly end well.

Look closely at the hiker in front. No, you're not imagining
things. Yes, that is a toilet seat among the many things
dangling from the outside of their packs. Yes, they are
supposedly going to Maine. Or maybe not so much. When
I saw this, my words all failed me.
Trail names: Ti-D-Bol and Scrubbing Bubbles.

Woo hoo! These are SOBOs Biggie Smalls (left)
and U-Haul, waiting for their families to arrive and
hike the final mile with them. They began in August
at Katahdin--with lots of days off during the winter,
they completed the trail in 8 1/2 months.

This is the official hand-off of the Warrior Chicken.
For the final 1100 miles, Biggie Smalls carried the rubber
chicken dedicated to the Wounded Warriors. The chicken
is on at least its 3rd thru-hike--once it reaches the end,
it is passed to a hiker traveling the other direction. Biggie
entrusted me with finding a new carrier...

and then along came James. See the chicken's
head poking out at the top of his pack. Biggie
instructed me to find someone "who looks
like they're gonna make it." Even if James
doesn't carry the chicken the whole way,
he'll hopefully find another bearer.

Tortoise (maybe) and Hare.

Cheryl and Shenna. These ladies are hiking to
raise money and awareness to stop bullying
of LGBTQ kids and teens. Please check out their
website at www.learningtoliveoutloud.com and
support this worthy cause!

Prayer flags atop Springer.

Apparently, this hiker was using the same gear
as when they got the 1978 copy of the scout
handbook. Though I haven't actually read it,
I'm pretty sure there would be something about
NOT ditching your 15 pound cotton sleeping
bag on the side of the trail.