Archive for November, 2009
Morgan Stewart Shelter
Here’s a great video I found today. The author’s description: “The shelter is in New York on the Appalachian Trail, 3.3 miles west of Rte 55, as you are going south on the Trail, and 8.7 miles from where the AT crosses the Taconic State Parkway, to the south and west of the shelter. It was clean when I was there and is a solid shelter with good water supply from a nearby pump (water needs to be purified!).”
Mountain Goat – Manchester, VT
Mountain Goat is a locally owned and run outfitter. It is just five minutes from the Appalachian Trail.
REI Black Friday
REI has free shipping on Patagonia, Marmot, Keen, Garmin, and Columbia from today through 11/30 . I also found a code for 15% of an REI brand item. Use GPMSN9
Appalachian Trail high above Fontana Dam, NC at Sassafras Gap
Someone with little fear of heights shot a beautiful view of the trail.
A hiker hostel steeped in history
Sharla Bardin
sharla.bardin@roanoke.com, 381-1669
PEARISBURG — The hostel tucked away in Giles County’s woods is more than a place for hungry and exhausted hikers to rest a bit.
It also gives them a taste of home.
And Brian Scheller welcomed that feeling last week when he left the Appalachian Trail for a few nights’ stay at Wood’s Hole Hostel. The hostel is on Sugar Run Road, nestled in the gap between Pearis and Sugar Run mountains.
Scheller, 22, who started his journey on the trail in Maine in July, saw a flyer about the hostel and decided to check it out. He found the log cabin and adjacent bunkhouse inviting and was impressed with its rustic and down-to-earth vibe. Read the rest of this entry »
PR-B graduate Thundershield hikes Appalachian Trail
By Kelly Virden
Pine River Journal Editor
For Trevor Thundershield, a more than six-month adventure hiking the Appalachian Trail taught him about physical perseverance and the best sides of human nature.
The 2003 Pine River-Backus graduate was living in Florida when he got the idea to hike the entire trail from a friend.
He didn’t know much about the 2,178-mile long trail that stretches through 14 states, starting in Georgia and ending in Maine, but decided to do it anyway.
Thundershield started his journey on March 29 by himself. Read the rest of this entry »
Hike to Mount LeConte
Sunsets alone were enough to make climbing the mountain worth it.
The incline near the summit of Mount LeConte is markedly steeper than other part of the trail.
Steve Huffman relaxes at a lookout during his hiking trip to Mount LeConte, Tenn.
Those taking part on the trek along the Appalachian Trail stopped just west of Cherokee and just inside Tennessee.
By Steve Huffman
news@salisburypost.com
MOUNT LECONTE, Tenn. — We arrived at the Icewater Spring shelter in the early afternoon of Friday, Nov. 6. It was a gorgeous day, the temperature in the mid-60s and the sky clear.
Darn exceptional weather to be deep inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a couple of my hiking companions reminded me, especially considering the time of year. Someone was looking out for us.
The three-sided (and a huge tarp had been draped across its one open end) shelter there at Icewater Spring, located along the Appalachian Trail, sleeps 16. There’s no charge for its use, but reservations made through the National Park Service are required of those spending the night. One over-nighter (he’d driven from Cincinnati, he said) had already taken up residence by the time we arrived. Read the rest of this entry »
Trail Magic
My wife and I have provided trail magic for years by either feeding hikers or giving a ride to town just like other trail angels. It’s fun to see the look of relief on the face of a tired hiker when you offer food or a ride to town. I’ve read on A.T. forums trail angels should be feeding the homeless and not hikers who shouldn’t need help. Although, we’ve found many each year who do need help. It is also suggested if we want to help the trail, do some trail maintenance. In the south, during the peak of the thru-hiker season it’s hard to find a road crossing without a grill set up or someone giving out food of some type. Some say planned trail magic is not magical at all. What is trail magic to you? Do you like to see a face or just a cooler with a sign?
Restaurant Review: Hiawassee, Georgia
Going Northbound, Hiawassee is about a week into your hike. If you decide to go into town, I highly suggest Daniels Steakhouse. Daniel’s is better known for it’s buffet. There is a full menu but the bargain is the buffet. My favorite food on the buffet is the real southern fried chicken. There’s a salad bar too for the vegetarians. The decor is sort of a combination of Gone With the Wind and Denny’s. The staff and locals are hiker friendly and expect your hiker attire. There are 3 motels nearby. The Holiday Inn Express is right next door.
