A Map and Numbers: Appalachian Trail / East Coast Hike & Bike

Blue is my bike route down to Georgia, white is the AT, red is my bike route back to CT. Click on map and zoom in for more detail. The bike routes are my actual GPS tracks using my Garmin Forerunner 410 watch. The AT GPX files are courtesy of www.guymott.com. I wasn't willing to carry my watch and deal with keeping it charged while hiking.

Mile 2189.2

As expected, New Hampshire and Maine are the hardest and most beautiful sections of the AT, by quite a bit, I think.  Lots of the sections looked familiar, and I remember my dad and I slogging up some of those ridiculously steep rocky trails with 40-50 lb packs when I was a teenager.  My pack was much lighter, but still the terrain seemed just as hard. Probably because I got used to being able to hike at 3 mph doing 20-25 miles/day. I felt like we were moving at a snail's pace, which didn't really matter except for the psychological component of progressing slower.

Mile 1790.5

The last 300 miles of hiking has been a good stretch. The temperature and humidity dropped once we hit Greylock and the bugs have largely disappeared. We've also had lots of company and support from friends, family and strangers. Now the weather has turned back to heat wave status so we are laying low and extending our break in Plymouth, NH with Effie's family. Only about 400 miles to go with the biggest most beautiful mountains to come.

Hiking out of CT. Rands View looking at the ridge along the MT Everett state reservation.

Mile 1490

Over 700 miles without a post.  We picked up the pace as we got closer to CT and I haven't had the time or  energy.  The brief summary: northern VA got better.  The trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah NP is scenic.  Luna, the trail dog, went home in Shenandoah. PA is a bit boring in the south,  but has amazing shelters and good spring water.  The trail is less glamorous in the north with lots of rocks and suboptimal water.  NJ and NY were surprisingly beautiful.  Now back in New England with 700 miles to go.   The picture story:

Mile 727

Since leaving Damascus we've picked up the pace and trying to get at least 20 mile days in except for town days. I pasted my mileage log at the bottom for numbers people.  We is now me (Diva Dan), Effie (Baby Wipe), and Luna the trail dog (Luner).  The others we were hiking with are a couple days behind but will hopefully catch up. On the plus side as we go faster we get to meet totally new groups of hikers.

So far Virginia is my least favorite state.  Sorry Virginia, but you are hot as hell  (90+ and humid), prone to severe thunderstorms, have many biting insects, and have long stretches with no water, which isn't particularly cold, clean, or flowing when it is available. On the other hand the wild berries are increasingly abundant and the trail magic has been the best yet (certainly most appreciated). And of course there have been some scenic stretches, notably around Grayson Highlands, Mt Rogers and McAfee Knob, and some beautiful meadow hiking. The most scenic stretches of VA are still to come along the Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah NP.