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AT 2025 🥾🏕️
  • Kev McG
  • Kev McG

AT 2025 🥾🏕️

Hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine! Please pop by often to follow along and say hello! Read more
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  • Kev McGAT 2025 🥾🏕️Traveler

    Lonesome Pond

    June 20, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Met Zig Zag in the forest when we were both trying to find the trail- I’d say that NH has some confusing conventions in terms of trail blazing and signage… but we figured it out together. We got lunch/snack at the “Hut” facility here which was pumpkin curry soup and hot tea! After a long morning of rain it felt well deserved! No photos of the hut but here is the namesake pond.Read more

  • Kev McGAT 2025 🥾🏕️Traveler

    🌜Liberty Springs Campground

    June 20, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Mile 1827.8

    Hiking in the White Mountains all day today- getting a real taste of the topography and forest. I got an early start at 6am and managed to keep my feet dry until about noon, but ultimately the rain and the stream crossings did me in. The surging water levels meant rock hopping was not possible- forging across was the only option, and I did it was great care as the currents were swift.

    I peaked South Kinsman Mountain (4333 ft elevation) and North Kinsman (4268 ft elevation) as well as getting to my campsite at 3872 ft. So a lot of ups and downs- total elevation gain for the day was over 5,000 and about 11.5 miles of hiking!

    More highlights today- summiting the Kinsmens in the middle of a wicked rain cloud/storm, meeting Zig Zag and hiking with her for a few hours, hot soup and tea at the Lonesome Pond Hut. The sun coming out at 4pm ☀️😎 Setting up my tent on a platform (first time trying 🤞). I have a cool neighbor on the tenting platform- “HP” from Florida who is trying backpacking for his first time ever- long weekend for him.    Read more

  • Kev McGAT 2025 🥾🏕️Traveler

    🌜Guyot Shelter

    June 21, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    14+ miles of hiking
    Mile 1841

    Big highlights today were the Franconia Ridge section- hugely popular with weekend day hikers and trail runners, and why not? It was a beautiful day and the mountains were impressive! Three peaks over 4,000 feet in close proximity.

    There was almost no water available apart from the puddles and run-off from the trail (and I did see people collecting this for filtering and drinking-but I wasn’t that desperate). When I got to the Garfield Campground it was like a magical oasis, so many northbound hikers were relaxing in the shade and enjoying super cold spring water. Talked to a few folks and they were excited for my hike. I got a few gifts: an apple and some electrolyte drink mix… and perhaps the best trail magic of all: someone offered to take all of my trash!!😍 Earlier at Mt. Garfield someone gave me a maple syrup shooter(!) and a snack cake. People around here are so excited to meet through-hikers😎

    I met up with hiker “HP” from Florida at the Galehead Hut and he was seemingly low on motivation (long day he said- and this is his first backpacking trip so it’s all new/challenging) so we decided to hike together to the Guyot shelter- which was fun. One major climb up and down. The shelter/campsite was super packed. There are so many trails in this area (not just the AT). I took a spot in the shelter since rain was forecasted overnight and HP tented. The rain did come as promised before midnight and I was happy with my decision, even though there were disruptions in the shelter (people arriving late, etc).

    Tomorrow might be a later start- not sure about the weather 🤷    Read more

  • Kev McGAT 2025 🥾🏕️Traveler

    Reminder: always check the hiker box!

    June 22, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Many locations (campgrounds, hostels, restaurants, businesses, etc) will maintain a “hiker box” where you can leave unnecessary food/equipment. Today I scored some peanut butter, electrolytes, and some chocolate covered cashews! There was more too, but I didn’t want to be greedy. I also lucked out here because there was leftover oatmeal from breakfast~ with real maple syrup!!Read more

  • Kev McGAT 2025 🥾🏕️Traveler

    🌜 Stealthy Camping near Mt Webster peak

    June 23, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Mile 1856.1

    My day started hiking out of Guyot campground, which was essentially enveloped in the most hectic rain cloud. The winds were easily gusting at 45 MPH making it hard to traverse! As soon as I crossed over the ridge to the other side the wind died and the rain stopped- and I was able to get some good mileage in… about 16 in total for today.

    My favorite experience today was reaching the top of Mt Webster as dusk transformed the clouds and distant peaks into a swirl of pinks and purples. Several sections of the trail were more akin to rock climbing (which I love, of course) and the views en route were awe inspiring. I discovered a stealthy campsite nestled in the twisted pine trees near the summit just in time to pitch my tent and enjoy the final rays of today’s sun.    Read more

  • Kev McGAT 2025 🥾🏕️Traveler
    1

    Mt Washington

    June 23, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Mt Washington is the Eastern US’s highest summit at 6288ft. The peak can be reached by car, a unique cog railroad, or by hiking (as I did on the Appalachian Trail). They say it has some of the most extreme weather conditions in the world, wind speeds of 200 mph have been recorded here🌤️🌬️😱. When I was there I think winds were closer to 70mph… visibility was initially pretty low but things ultimately cleared up as I got a snack (or two) in the visitors’ center. So glad I got a good view because I really had to work for it.Read more

  • Kev McGAT 2025 🥾🏕️Traveler

    Descending Mt Washington

    June 23, 2025 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Coming down Washington took _FOREVER_ …the “trail” in this area may better be described as a string of cairns across a slanted field of boulders. I grossly underestimated how long it would take to climb down 😱 …I almost completely lost daylight by the time I arrived at the Madison Spring Hut. There was no space for me as a late arrival so I had to get creative, but it was a clear and calm evening from a weather standpoint- so I enjoyed staring at the stars as I drifted off to sleep.Read more

  • Kev McGAT 2025 🥾🏕️Traveler

    Hillbilly laundry and chill

    June 24, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    It was one of the hottest days NH had ever seen on record… I was mostly up in high elevation so it wasn’t too bad but when I descended into the valley it seemed like a good spot for lunch, washing my clothes in the creek, and a refreshing swim!Read more

  • Kev McGAT 2025 🥾🏕️Traveler

    🌜Bethel Inn and Suites

    June 28, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Beautiful historic hotel… Guess which room is occupied by the hiker trash? Haha. All of our tents and packs were soaked with rain once we descended Old Spec Mountain. There was a trail angel named Pastor at the trailhead there who kindly provided snacks, took our trash, and ultimately offered us a ride to town. It was so tempting and we decided to do it, with some intention of returning to trail later in the day…. BUT the Gemini café was so good and a tempting hotel stay presented itself with a sauna… we called it a “near-o” and plunged into the opportunity. After all this ride to Bethel was significantly longer than expected and Pastor promised to get us back to trail in the morning.
    We went out for sushi and Korean food and it was time for bed soon afterwards.

    Mile 1931.1    Read more

  • Kev McGAT 2025 🥾🏕️Traveler

    Canoe Lap at a Pond

    July 1, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    I stopped by this campsite to water from the creek and discovered a secluded pond with a couple canoes… I couldn’t resist taking a lap around the shoreline. There were lots of frogs swimming in the water, sometimes pretty far from the shore, also I followed a beaver for a while but he got crafty and dove down and I lost him. Blooming lilly pads… it was a fun diversion.Read more

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