Here are some of those 716:
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| Three wacky hikers in their even wackier tights. The buddy who dropped them off showed his solidarity by running to the summit of Springer in a matching pair--no shorts on top. |
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| Sunshine (left), Thumper, his mom Leftovers, and Cannibal Curious (right in hat). Sunshine and I had a lengthy discussion of trail fashions--specifically hiking skirts and gaiters. I think Cannibal was relieved he could just tune that out.... |
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| Spencer (left) and John from Durham, NC. A very stoic kid, despite the big smile. He asked about getting in and out of town (hitching) "in a timely fashion." I cracked up and suggested he should re-evaluate his ideas about "timely fashion," much to his dad's amusement, as well. |
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| Alf (seated) and Sable (reclining) preparing to enjoy a hotdog. Alf is a repeat offender (hope I'm getting her trail name right), who's planning to take her time on this hike, after traveling with an overly motivated partner on her last thru-hike. |
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| Old guard meets new.... Maymay in the middle of two old school repeat offenders, Geek (left) and Boudin (right). Geek is somewhat notorious as the first to thru-hike with a cat. He paddled the Mississippi then hiked the AT with his kitten, Ziggy. Ziggy would sit on top of his pack as he hiked and eventually got up to 14 pounds. Carrying that extra weight is definitely a drawback, though having a mouse-hunter in the shelter makes up for it! |
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| Bill on his way up the Approach Trail to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his thru-hike in 1973. He's wearing the shirt he had on at the start and carrying the same pack. Sadly, the friend who hiked with him passed away 2 years ago, so he was celebrating alone. |
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| I ran into One O on the trail just north of the Springer parking lot. He saw my Ridgerunner hat and asked how far to the lot. When I told him half a mile, he couldn't believe it and said he was going to cry. Getting a little suspicious, I asked where he was coming from.... He's a SOBO. One and a half miles from the end of his journey from Maine. I let out a huge whoop! I've walked that last little bit myself and know the joy and sadness and relief he's feeling. He told me it was the hardest thing he's ever done. |
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| Meet Neva, now going by Chipmunk on the trail. She is a 14-year old badass, hiking the trail solo. Her folks are shadowing her in an RV, meeting her at road crossings and providing some extra support. They all did a 3800 mile bike trip around the US last year, so she already has plenty of trail cred. |
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| Chipmunk had to show off her styling nails, with little AT symbols. Awesome! This might be the coolest girl ever. |
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| Roadside, starting the hike with a mighty fine beverage and a mighty impressive beard. |
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| Kimberly and her son (!) Josh. I know--she doesn't look old enough! They're hiking to NC. Josh is my first trail name--his beautiful hiking staff has a dolphin carved on the top. He refused to go by dolphin, though people were already calling him that. So, I suggested Flipper and it stuck. |
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| Zita, a gorgeous Ridgeback, and her dad. Apparently not too big to be a lapdog.... |
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| Sam, Deputy Ridgerunner. |
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| Members of the GATC maintenance crew hard at work... |
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| and taking a well-deserved break. The crew was switching the bins in the privy at Stover Creek shelter, a tough and stinky job. Unfortunately, too many people are lazy and throw their trash into the privy. Someone--like these folks--has to remove that trash. We are SO lucky here in Georgia to have an amazingly dedicated group of trail maintainers who keep the trail and shelters in terrific condition. I had a great time working and hanging out with these guys! |
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