The Green Mountains of Vermont stand apart from the Appalachian ranges we have walked thus far. Even the colors seem somehow more vibrant here. Here the trail is full of muddy pockets that will swallow your feet. Wet moss blankets fallen trees and stones edging our squishy, brown path. The mountains continue growing taller, foreshadowingContinue reading “Mosquitoes, Mountains, and Mud.”
Author Archives: Daniel Alexander
A Day on the Trail in Mass
We had run out of food that morning. All that was left were some very crushed up Belvita breakfast cookies. We were drinking these crumbs as we tried to push our way to town. Just around lunchtime we pass another thru-hiker, heading southbound, who told us that some lady is handing out cookies up ahead.Continue reading “A Day on the Trail in Mass”
Appalachian Trail: New Jersey to Connecticut
Since we left Pennsylvania the days have flown by.The trail community is different up here in the north. Hitchhiking is illegal in New Jersey and New York. There aren’t as many hostels, or shuttles. Hotels are more expensive. The people in towns are less familiar with hikers. We look progressively more homeless than we didContinue reading “Appalachian Trail: New Jersey to Connecticut”
On Hitchhiking
Have you ever felt like you were a character in a horror movie? This one time we hitched a ride into Smithsburg Maryland to eat at a local deli and grab some supplies at dollar general and our ride back out to the trail felt like we were riding into the latest installment of theContinue reading “On Hitchhiking”
Pennsylvania Rocks and Trail Magic
Pennsylvania is the next big challenge after Virginia. Here, it isn’t the grade that’s difficult; it is the terrain. There are rocks everywhere on the trail. Small and sharp rocks, big and loose rocks: for miles and miles. In addition to the rocks it has been hot. Like heat advisory hot. Imagine this; you’re tryingContinue reading “Pennsylvania Rocks and Trail Magic”
Cooking on the Trail: What we sent back home
We’ve cooked in these pans for months. They’ve fed us out West as we hiked National Parks, they’ve made some pretty darn tasty burritos after a day of hiking and exploring. They’ve whipped up the best stir fry of fresh veggies a person can eat over a campfire after a long day! We trust themContinue reading “Cooking on the Trail: What we sent back home”
All About Hiking Shoes For Thru-Hiking The Appalachian Trail in 2021
The appalachian trail is a tough place to learn lessons about shoes. Shoes are the most important piece of gear to any thru hike and figuring out the right ones for your feet has proved trickier than it may seem. No wonder they are the most talked about piece of gear on trail. When lilContinue reading “All About Hiking Shoes For Thru-Hiking The Appalachian Trail in 2021”
Out of Virginia
After the ordeal that was aqua blazing, we decided it would be best iF we booked it out of Virginia. The “Virginia blues” are a real thing. (But the southern half was great) though southern Virginia was beautiful, the latter portions weren’t all that glamorous. The rolling green hills and farmlands of southern Virginia wereContinue reading “Out of Virginia”
Canoe disaster on the Shenandoah River
Ok. So, we ended up “Aqua-Blazing” this week. That is, when you go down the river instead of hiking the trail. Truth is, we hiked 50 miles into the Shenandoah National Park and weren’t that impressed. It was about 90 degrees out and humid as hell. This part of the trail was like a neverContinue reading “Canoe disaster on the Shenandoah River”
IF your friends jump off a bridge
IF your friends told you to jump off a bridge, would you?” Depends on the friend, really. There are certainly friends who I would ignore, should they ask me to jump off a bridge, but there are others that I trust enough to jump off a bridge, were they to ask. But let’s say theContinue reading “IF your friends jump off a bridge”
from the other side 