1000

All Over the PlaceWednesday, February 26, 2020 Two things made this difficult. The first is that on some days, when I felt ill and barely had energy to keep moving, I was able to make it around the block. The second was carving out the time, especially on travel days.  So it became day or… Continue reading 1000

1000

All Over the PlaceWednesday, February 26, 2020 Two things made this difficult. The first is that on some days, when I felt ill and barely had energy to keep moving, I was able to make it around the block. The second was carving out the time, especially on travel days.  So it became day or… Continue reading 1000

Thru Hiker

Bigelow WildernessMaineAugust  1992 Ever since I first heard of the Appalachian Trail, and since the first time I carried a backpack through a weekend, I thought of the long distance hike from Georgia to Maine.  I’ve been very lucky throughout my backpacking career, in some seasons spending as many as 80 nights on the trail. … Continue reading Thru Hiker

A Matter of Mattress

not really any wilderness location at all1992 1The sales guy spends so much time telling me why his mattress is superior to everyone else’s mattress that I become suspicious.  Also tired. 2Lisa suggests I go to Costco for a new mattress.  I’m sure I will be able to find something I like at a great… Continue reading A Matter of Mattress

Manypede

Duff ParkMurrysvillePennsylvaniaOctober  2013 Training day.  Duff Park.  Altitude gain of about 200 feet in a tenth of a mile on Round Top Trail.  Once.  Twice.  Many times. Lots of people on the lower, flatter elevations, running, walking the dog, picking invasive garlic mustard.  Trillium, skunk cabbage, may apple, squaw root, the last of the trout… Continue reading Manypede

Speaking French

Cheaha MountainAlabamaNovember  2013 This is some tough climbing.  It’s a 1.2-mile hike that gains 1143 feet in altitude.  What makes it more fun is that almost all of that uphill is in the second half of the hike and as you get closer to the summit, it just keeps getting steeper.  Okay, that’s what we’re… Continue reading Speaking French

One N or Two?

Mount GreylockMassachusettsMay  2014 Through the burbs and suburbs and exurbs we go until we get to North Adams where we spend the night.  North Adams in Massachusetts, I believe, is the location of the southern terminus of the Long Trail, the oldest long distance hiking trail in the U S of A.  It was completed… Continue reading One N or Two?

Who’s a Pepper?

Rural RetreatVirginiaJuly  2014 We stay the night in Wytheville after our summit climb of the Old Dominion state, Virginia.  First thing in the morning, we’re on the road to visit the nearby rural retreat called Rural Retreat, a town of 1500 living residents, and one dead resident in particular. In the pursuit of knowledge, we… Continue reading Who’s a Pepper?

Yoda’s Lineage

On the drive from Mount Driskill to Mount MagazineLouisiana to ArkansasJune  2012 Highpointing racks up a lot of miles on the road.  Brings up random, but essential, existential issues.  To wit… Kermit + whiskey + cigarettes = Yoda. Or alternately… Kermit + Tom Waits = Yoda.