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  • Ash Berthold

Appalachian Trail

2024 Appalachian Trail trip Read more
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  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler

    Day 58 & 59 - Vermont. What to say?

    August 31, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    I've crossed into Vermont. Didn't see a state border sign but the river in the pictures is the border.

    All I knew about Vermont was that Bernie Sanders is a representative here. I've often wondered if he is related to Colonel Sanders.

    Hills are gentler. Forest is more and more opening up into fields, the long grass leans over onto the trail and I have to brush through it, which makes me concerned about ticks. I haven't had any yet but people say they become more common as you go south.

    Was planning to stay at Happy Hill Shelter but the read the comments. Apparently there is a creepy guy in a ski mask and no gear that hangs out in the upper floor of the shelter and will ask people who just arrived for water and money. Another person said they were outside and could see him peeping out at them through the window. When one of their party used the privy he came out and asked if it was occupied, and paced back and forth until it was available, then he went inside and made moaning noises.

    Wasn't keen to meet this guy, so I went off the trail and deep into the forest to set up my tent.

    Hiked all day pretty uneventfully. Was planning to camp in the forest again in case creepy guys in ski masks ventured further down the trail but on impulse headed to rarely used Cloudland Shelter that was nearby. It is apparently on private land but AT hikers are seemingly allowed to make use of it. Wilson said it should be OK. Setup my gear inside and it was a good thing too because pretty soon it started to rain, and it rained all night.

    Shoutout to Maple who maintains a water cache on the trail, it is very much appreciated. Also to Eeyore and Jasper, who I had a great conversation with. Oh and the collapsed tent thing I found deep in the forest, I think it was a hunters hide before being abandoned.    Read more

  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler
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    Day 60 - More Vermont

    September 1, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Started out from Cloudland Shelter. The trail back to the AT is all torn up by logging equipment. Lots of broken ground, deep tyre tracks, and random debris. Added to that, the loggers also put up their own blazes on the trees that look just like AT blazes. Very easy to lose your way. Best is to keep your eyes glued to the GPS and navigate using that.

    Trail was significantly friendlier than Maine/NH. Far fewer roots and rocks, it is nice to walk along a flat dirt path.

    Met a NOBO named Iron Giant. He raved about this hostel a few miles away. $55 for a bunk, showers, laundry, breakfast, and a shuttle both to and from the trail and to the grocery store. He had bought an enormous steak and cooked it at the hostel. I was very tempted to reenact this side excursion but ultimately decided against it.

    Stopped in at a lovely place called On The Edge Farm Stand. Bought 2 sandwiches (one ham, one turkey), a blueberry muffin, as well a bunch of sugary stuff. Very bad for you but very delicious and full of energy.

    I also bought some ramen and threw out some gross rice noodle things that I'd bought as an experiment.

    Signed the register for the next section, and saw an amusing note of the board (see pics).

    I took a photo of a bridge over a small creek. It was the second very well constructed bridge spanning a small waterway I'd seen today. They do things differently here in Vermont, had this been Maine the crossing would have been white water rapids 20 metres across with a small handwritten sign saying "figure it out yourself, dickhead". I can see why some NOBO's find Maine tough going if this is what they are accustomed to.

    I've also discovered what the open fields full of grass are all about. I'd been kind of mystified because they seemed deliberately planted but weren't part of a farm, nor did the plants seem to be a commercial crop. Found a sign that indicates these fields are food for the Monarch butterflies.

    Staying at Winturri Shelter tonight. Fair number of people here but I got in early and grabbed the best tent site.

    Met a 70 year old NOBO named Gravy. Inspirational. I hope I can be doing this stuff at his age.    Read more

  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler
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    Day 71 - Bennington

    September 11, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    So behind in updates! I must post more frequently.

    Where was I? Ah yes, in the previous episode "More Vermont" I was pushing through fields of Milkweed and commenting on how civilized the trail is in Vermont.

    Part of the reason my updates are getting fewer is because it is getting increasingly difficult to get good photos of the scenery. The mountains are getting smaller and thus I'm rarely above the treeline these days, so I'm relying on gaps in the foliage to see out, which are few and far between. As you can see in the photos, one of the few times I can actually see out over the terrain is where they clear cut around the power lines. Also being lower mean less spectacular views.

    I guess I'm in what they call the endless green hallway, that is you are in a hallway where the walls and ceiling is made of leaves. The leaves themselves are changing colour and beginning to fall to the ground. This attracts loads of tourists referred to as Leaf Peepers who come to see the forest change colour.

    It has been cold the last few days but today it is finally warming up again. I don't really have cold weather gear, so I've been getting by using a combination of constantly moving to generate body heat and also just pretending that it isn't cold.

    I have to do more miles. I sat down and did some mathy stuff, it showed I'm not going to make it at my current pace. I have to take less time off trail, get moving earlier and finish later, and hustle more when I am underway. The getting out of bed earlier will be the hardest part. I write about the actual calculations in another post.

    In the photos you can see a split rock. It has been named Split Rock. The comments in the hiking app rave about how this is one of the greatest split rocks you will ever see. It is pretty cool.

    I hustle past Split Rock because I was in a rush to get to my shuttle. I'm staying in Bennington tonight at the Catamount Motel, awesome place. The pug is the hotel owner's pet, apparently that kind of colouring is rare. Plus a few photos from around town.    Read more

  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler
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    Day 72 - New State of Massachusetts!

    September 12, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Crossed into Massachusetts today! Or Massy as people refer to it. I was very excited to pass another milestone, I kept checking my position in relation to the border and asking people coming the other way how far away the border was. I was very excite.

    When I got there it was anti-climatic. Just a normal section of forest with an unassuming sign. I was expecting, like, a big billboard or something, with MASSACHUSETTS, FUCK YEAH in bold lettering and lots of images of prominent places in the state and 5m tall marble statues of notable Massachusettions, and free beer and snacks, and the governor of Massy there to shake my hand and welcome me to the state.

    Instead I got the simple sign.

    The Welcome to Massachusetts doesn't even take up the majority of the humble sign.

    My disappointment was immeasurable and my day was ruined.

    Another thing to mention is that there has been a lot more people on the trail recently, but these are not ATers, these are LTers. So the northern terminus of the AT is Mt Katahdin, where I started, however Mt Katahdin is only open for certain periods each year. When it starts to snow they close the mountain. So people heading north have to get there before it closes. I'd already passed through "the bubble" (the heaviest concentration of NOBOs), and the number of NOBOs had gradually dwindled down until I was encountering none (no NOBO can now make it to Katahdin from where I am before it closes).

    However the people I am encountering are LTers, which means they are hiking the Long Trail. The Long Trail, as you can see in the photo it is 273 miles long and it overlaps the AT (we share the same trail for about 100 miles). So LTers are the people I've been meeting to lately.

    The southern terminus for the LT is at the Vermont border. Since we AT SOBOs are a rare breed, the LTers mostly assume I'm a LT SOBOer and thus about to finish the LT. So many people have said to me "not far now" and "your almost finished", and I've had to say "excuse me, but I'm actually doing the AT and still have 1600 miles to go. I am not almost finished".

    I've passed the southern terminus for the LT now, so all I'll be encountering are section hikers now or if I overtake an AT SOBO (or if I'm overtaken by one, pfft).

    I also met a couple that had an interesting strat. They have two cars parked at different sections of the trail. They hike to one car and then drive it past the other car further up the trail. They then hike from that car to the previous one and repeat the process. In this manner they proceed along the trail hiking in the opposite direction each day to the way they are travelling. Kind of hard to describe but use your fingers to demonstrate it and you will see. Actually it is quite genius because each day they end up at their car and can drive to a nearby town for accommodation and meals.

    Finished up in Williamstown, an unfortunately named place, at the Williamstown Motel. The receptionist was 8 years old. Pizza for dinner. All is well.    Read more

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    Day 79 - Mt Everett

    September 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    So tardy with my updates!

    Today I set out from the Quality Inn at Great Barrington, walked down the road about an hour to get back to the trail. As soon as I did, there was a trail magic cache!! So of course I had to stop for a break and snacks!

    One of the trail angels rocked up while I was resting and we had a conversation about stuff.

    About 20 minutes later, I met some other hikers that were taking their ease. I stopped to chat and they fed me cheese and meat. :)

    One of them is named Porky, he lives Pennsylvania and will try to catch up with me when I get down that way.

    Also passed the site of the last battle of Shay's rebellion. Very cool reading about it.

    I ascended Mt Bushnell and Mt Everett. The climb was much steeper that is thought it was going to be. It was quite hard going.

    Finished up at Race Brook Falls campsite. There are tent platforms that Massy insists on being used instead of the ground to protect wild plants. As there was no rain and no wind, I didn't bother properly setting up the tent, just erected the frame to hold up the inner tent and fly, once inside I used my gear to push the corners out. It does in a pinch.    Read more

  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler

    Day 80 - Connecticut!

    September 21, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Low on water, creek at campsite bone dry. Most of the water sources marked on the map are dry. There is a lake a couple of miles ahead, I'll fill up there.

    Summited Mt Race. Best views of Massy yet.

    Crossed into Connecticut today! Wow Massachusetts went fast!

    Climbed Bear Mountain but alas... no bears.

    I didn't know it was possible but the border sign was even more disappointing than the last. This one did not even welcome me. And it's size, it is like they went to the sign shop and looked at the smallest sign possible, and said "no, we need smaller".

    Met my first Australian today! Martin from Canberra. We chatted about all things Australia. I told him I missed Kingsley's Chicken, which you can only get in Canberra. He is travelling with Witcher, whom I'd met earlier in Southern Maine. So that was a cool encounter.

    I also met some trail maintainers. They were repairing a log bridge. Spoke to them and had a laugh for about half an hour. They gifted me insect spray and a punnet of tomatoes. Also one of them took $10 out of his wallet and gave it to me to buy a sandwich... I don't know if it was because I look poor or starving, or both. They are some awesome guys.

    Stopped in at Salisbury (they have a great looking church and town hall). The local supermarket did not have sandwiches, so bought orange juice, chips, salad, bread, and salami. Sat at a table at a local graveyard eating it.

    Ran out of daylight. Spent about an hour night hiking using my headlamp. Glad I hadn't ditched it for weight like I'd been considering. I'm at Limestone Spring Lean-to. Loads of people here, not long distance hikers, just overnighters (it's Saturday).

    There were fireworks going off in the distance a while ago. Not sure if it is a special event or just random.    Read more

  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler

    Day 81 - Problem and lunch with friends

    September 22, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    First photos are of the the most beautiful part of the day. I've googled around for the name of the falls but they just seem to be called Great Falls. Not a name that will help differentiate them from other falls that are also great, they need to work on their branding. Anyway they are east of Amesville, NY.

    Spectacular looking falls. Would recommend (name aside). A lot of fun to walk out into the river area along the rocks. The whole Housatonic river is gorgeous and nice to walk along.

    I was warned not to drink the river water though, even with the filter. Apparently there was some factory upstream that had released chemicals into the water and it is still polluted today. There are warning signs up telling people to not swim in the water or eat fish they catch from it. Puts a damper of it but the river still looks great.

    Now for the problem. My tent bag has split and slowly regurgitates my tent as I walk along. I used my rope and wrapped it round tightly to keep it all together but I'll need a more permanent solution. Something to think about.

    Had lunch at the Mountainside Cafe. Very nice food, and they didn't charge me for my second soda. So I was sitting there waiting for my food and in walked Porky and Monarch! Not sure if I'd mentioned them earlier but they are hikers I'd met previously on the trail. They were just finishing up their hike. Porky lives in Pennsylvania and will catch me on the trail when I get down there. Monarch had been attacked by Yellow Jackets (wasps) and had a very swollen ankle.

    We had a very enjoyable lunch and they drove me down to the trail head later.

    Staying the night at Pine Swamp Brook Shelter.    Read more

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    Day 82 - Cyber Day

    September 23, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Late start today. Still having difficulty getting motivated in the morning. Just so tempting to lie in.

    Part of the issue was the loud insect noises for half the night keeping me awake. I used ear plugs for the first time this trip and they worked ok-ish. Kept taking them out during the night to check if the insects had stopped. About halfway through the night they stopped and I was able to get some decent sleep.

    Crossed a tiny stream but managed to slip on one of the rocks, resulting in both my feet plunging into the water. So now shoes and socks are soaked through.

    Had my first ever sighting of a cyber truck today! Looked rad as it flashed past. Gave the driver a thumbs up.

    Stopping in Kent tonight at Fife n Drum, they have special rates for hikers. And saw some cool artwork as I walked through town.    Read more

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    Day 83 - New State, New York!

    September 24, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Yes, New York is also a state! And a large one at that. I feel it kind of gets overshadowed by the city, which according to Hollywood is routinely attacked by monsters and aliens.

    New York is the laziest yet when it comes to border signs. They didn't even bother, instead left it up to Connecticut to let you know you are crossing the border.

    Left Kent today and proceeded down trail mostly along the Housatonic River. Such a beautiful and photogenic river.

    Met a fellow hiker White Cap. We had a long chat and he gave me some food.

    Ran into Devil Dog today! We've kept in touch since meeting up in New Hampshire. We are both hiking south at basically the same speed but we somehow just keep missing each other, sometimes camping just a mile or two apart. Good to finally catch up.

    Took pics of the bridge because the extremely overbuilt concrete and steel again put me in mind of the contrast to Maine's 'rugged individualism' approach to water crossings. Haha

    Other things from today - a very dusty Mercedes, crutches provided at the shelter (just in case you break a leg?), and my rope new strat for pitching the tent on a platform.    Read more

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    Day 84 - Pawling

    September 25, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Late start (again). Devil Dog had already left when I emerged from the tent. Met a hiker that had arrived after I'd gone to bed - played with his puppy for a bit.

    Called in at a garden centre that other raved about being hiker friendly. Filled up my water but did not purchase any plants or bags of compost.

    There was a food truck down the road. I had first ever Philly Cheese Steak. It is something that people in TV shows and movies set in America always eat. It was quite nice, though a heavy meal.

    Photos of a very impressive oak(?) tree. Gotta be like 200 years old.

    Staying at the Station Inn at Pawling tonight and tomorrow night because there is significant rainfall tomorrow.

    Bonus squirrel photo from just outside the hotel. I think he gets fed by the hotel guests because he is much larger than the ones in the forest.    Read more

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    Day 86 - Leaving Pawling

    September 27, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Left Pawling. Noticed there is a collection bin where you can retire your US flags.

    As I was hiking out I was hailed from across the street. A guy named Bill with Harris/Walz stickers over his car offered me a lift to the trail. Saved me an hour and great guy. On his way to work at a hospice.

    On the trail I met Soda Bread, he and his wife are trail maintainers. Today they were out with their pot of white paint and were giving the trail blazes a new coat. Had a long chat, and gave me a banana and some delicious soda bread for which he is named.

    Also saw a plant that feels like Lambs Ear. But the leaves are much larger than the ones I grow at home.

    Fleeting saw two deer as they sprinted away. Mostly just caught sight of their white tails bobbing up and down as they disappeared deeper into the forest.    Read more

  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler

    Day 93 - Leaving Harriman

    October 4, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Set out from Harriman. Instead of going back down the main road and being exposed to traffic on the road with minimal shoulder, I looked at the maps and took a path through the suburbs to what, according to the maps, would lead to a trail back to the AT. Longer and rougher, but saves me an hour of hiking with traffic whizzing by a meter away.

    The suburb hiking was fine. I had my first wild turkey sighting!

    I stopped and drank a bottle of orange juice at Harriman Square Deli. Picking up the trail from the suburbs was easy enough but the roads/trails in this area are not as they are in Google Maps or Far Out. Ended up running out of trail and bush bashing for 45 minutes back to the AT. Annoying but, eh, what can ya do.

    Water sources are getting increasingly uncommon. I'm relying more on spigots at businesses now and less on streams. Shoutout to the Tuxedo team for maintaining a water cache. The logbook was interesting. Plum, Sparkles, Maverick, and Coyote I've hiked with at various points, and had all passed the cache earlier that day. Microchip and Ladybug I keeping hearing about but yet to meet. Wing It I would meet in a few days.

    Planned to stop at Little Dam Lake where there is a large camping area. But when I arrived there was a group of about 10 guys playing music and generally being pretty loud. It's friday and it looked like they were going to be up late. So pushed ahead 2 miles to Kloibers Pond outlet.

    There was a pub about 0.5 miles off trail which I considered going to (and later wished I had). But it was getting dark and I wanted to find a spot and set up my tent while there was still some light. Once my tent was up it was fully dark and I just crawled inside and went to sleep.

    Bonus pic of a rock that had a natural smiley face on it. These are the sorts of things that amuse me throughout the day.    Read more

  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler
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    Day 101 - Pennsylvania!

    October 12, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Woke up to a beautiful morning in time to catch the sunrise (I've got to do this more often!). Recovered my food bag from hanging it the night before, and spent about an hour chatting with my camp mates, lovely people, before setting out.

    Beautiful morning turned into a beautiful day. As I was hiking along a ridgeline I came across a large group of bird watchers - they were very excited and were having a count down to the end of the hour. When the hour was up they were semi-celebrating saying "35 in one hour!!", evidently some kind of record. Scenery was great up there.

    Crossed the Delaware River into Pennsylvania!!! And stayed the night in Stroudsburg. Bit of a dodgy area but that's comes with staying at the cheap hotels. One thing Penny (that's what I'm calling Pennsylvania) has that the previous states didn't is poker machines. They are everywhere. In the hotel, at the convenience store, at the laundromat, etc. Feels a bit tacky.

    The hotel was managed by. Brit that had been in the states for 19 years. He immediately recognised my accent.

    Took the time to buy some new socks - my old ones had lasted 2 whole months of hard use almost every day, so definitely can recommend the Darn Tough brand.

    Also tossed my poncho for weight and replaced it with a waterproof pack cover. I've discovered you can't stay dry while hiking, it's better to just grin and bear being drenched and dry out later. Humidity from your body will soak your clothes over time if you're in waterproof clothing. Just keeping your gear dry is the important thing. So my pack is now marginally lighter which is great - I'll keep making adjustments to get it down even further.    Read more

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    Day 105 - Great views today

    October 16, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Had some cold weather lately. Had to stop and buy some pants yesterday.

    Passed by some lookouts offering great views of Penny.

    Staying at George Bush Outerbridge Shelter tonight. Wanted to continue on but the campsites further along all had comments about bear encounters or, worse, the tent sites not being completely flat. In the shelter I can sleep on a nice flat surface and the bears can only come at me from one direction - I'll funnel them into a choke point where their numbers will count for nothing.

    Tomorrow I hope to reach Eckville shelter, 25 miles away. I've only achieved 20 mile days a couple of times, so it will be a challenge.

    Temperatures to drop to zero tonight. Should be interesting to see how my sleeping bag holds up.    Read more

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    Day 113 & 114 - 2nd shoe replacement

    October 24, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    As the title suggests, I need new shoes. This is my second set that I've burned through on this hike. Interestingly in both cases it was the fabric on top that failed, not the sole.

    My first set, Salomons, I think they did not like being repeatedly soaked by the rain I was encountering up in Maine. The many cycles of getting wet and drying out had weakened the fabric. I'd worn them in Aus as well, ultimately they lasted me about 1000 kms (625 miles).

    My new set, Altras (bought because they are what most of the other long-distance hikers were wearing), have lasted 800 kms (500 miles). The last few days a hole appeared on the right foot and has been rapidly expanding. I'm going to replace the shoes sooner rather than later, and not risk the shoe falling apart on the trail and me having to walk like a Gumby until I can get to a town with a decent shoe shop.

    Pulled off the trail into Lebanon. Tried several of the larger shoe shops but none had good quality hiking shoes. Frustrating. Looked up the next town, looks good because they have a REI (pronounced by saying each letter), which is a large outfitters recommended by Billy who is met way back in Maine.

    I tried Chick-fil-A, a chicken sandwich shop that knew was popular. The food was excellent and their gimmick is their staff are very friendly and engaging, kind of like Gus when he is working at Los Pollos Hermanos.

    Stayed at the Inn At Lebanon. Cheapest hotel I've stayed at by far over here. It was fine. People playing slot machines in lobby made it a bit tacky and the breakfast was underwhelming. Also the walls were paper thin and the couple in the room next door were, like, a little bit having fun with each other. But it was, you know, fine.

    On the trail I arrived at a section that had been turned into a swamp as beavers had choked up the river downstream. What feels like about a month ago another hiker had been telling me about this section - that it was very difficult going and very boggy, and to take the detour because it is faster despite it being twice as long.

    I checked the comments on the app and people were saying they made it through ok. The oldest comment was like 2 weeks old and there had only been hot weather and virtually no rain since then. I decided to take the more direct path and it paid off, made it through by log hopping with minimal difficulty.    Read more

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    Day 115 & 116 - New shoes!

    October 27, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Trail registry has only one name I knew. I was with Deep Dish about a fortnight ago, now he is a week ahead of me. That kid must be fanging it. Maybe all the bears he had seen had given him extra speed (grumble, grumble, grumble...).

    Exited the trail and Ubered into "Mechanicsville". Certainly there were a number of car service centres here, that presumably employ more than a few mechanics. I guess it's not the worst way to name a town. Yes, I'm talking about you Rutland.

    The hole in my shoe had kept getting bigger and is now about 2.5 times larger than the day before. Glad I was able to replace them now and not later. Ubered to the hotel, this was again a very cheap one but none of the issues from the previous one. In fact it was a very nicely appointed room and I felt it should have cost more. My room was next to guest laundry though, but no-one did their laundry so it wasn't an issue.

    Walked about 45 mins to REI. Rough part of town but after nearly 4 months my clothes are scruffy and my hair long and unkempt, without my pack and poles I have the 'desperate homeless man' look, so I felt safe to wander around after dark. Arrived at REI and bought a new pair of Altras. The sole is thicker, meaning they are a bit heavier but also the rocks on the trail now don't poke my feet so much. Trade offs.

    KFC for dinner (yay!).

    My uber back to the trail was in a Tesla! Obviously the driver was very smart and very cool.

    It is the afternoon now. Shoes have held up well enough for the first day.

    Bonus pic of 3 rail lines you need to cross. Always feels a bit sketchy crossing them. In movies/tv there is like a 90% chance of getting your foot stuck (somehow?) and then a dramatic scene trying to free said foot while a train comes screaming along. I always look at them and wonder how would your foot even get stuck? Maybe all the rail lines I've crossed have a different configuration? The not-foot-stucking configuration?    Read more

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    Day 121 - Dramas

    November 1, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    My friend Brian has come over from Aus to join me for a weeks hiking in Shenandoah National Park. But his trip has not started well.

    The first thing that happened is he missed his connecting flight at Dallas. He had little time to make the connection, took a wrong turn at the airport, and ended up missing the flight by 10 minutes or so. His checked luggage (supposedly) left on the plane without him. Frustrating.

    He booked another flight to Washington and flew there. But now his checked bag has gotten lost in the system, they do not know where it is. Calling the airport just gives you an automated system, so he is now going to the airport to talk to an actual person.

    I'd intended to travel to Charlottesville to begin our hike but now going to get off in Washington instead to join Brian. Going to do some tourist things around the city after he has yelled at the airport people.    Read more

  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler

    Day 121 - Drama Summary

    November 1, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    Bullets points of the bag drama:

    - Brian arrived in Dallas but missed his connecting flight by 10 minutes because of a wrong turn at the airport.
    - His checked bag went on plane without him.
    - Booked another flight, arrived in Washington but not sure what happened to his bag. Where is it? Which airport? Calling them is useless, automated answering.
    - I'm travelling to meet Brian in Charlottesville but get off at Washington instead to join him.
    - Book hotel for the night.
    - Airport finds his bag. Brian gives address of hotel we are staying at but they send to other hotel he stayed at the previous night.
    - Next morning we go to the previous hotel to collect it. The bag is not there. He shows them a picture the airport sent us of the bag literally in front of their check-in desk. Still they deny having it.
    - What to do? We sit around the lobby for half an hour considering options. We discuss buying all new gear in town and claiming insurance for lost luggage.
    - Eventually the hotel clerk slithers up to us and lets us know the bag was sent back to the airport (I assume because Brian was no longer a guest when they received it).
    - Brian calls the airport, yes they have the bag (why didn't they inform him???). Where shall we send it? No, DO NOT SEND IT ANYWHERE, he is coming to get it.
    - Brian travels to airport an hour away to collect it.

    Other problems that occurred during the same time period:

    - Went to see the space shuttle at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. It's not there. Instead it's at a "sister building" outside of the city.
    - Train to Charlottesville was two hours late.
    - Hotel in Charlottesville only had one room instead of the two we booked.
    - I whimsically ordered a desert when I wasn't very hungry and it turned out to be a huge serving. Big effort to stuff it all in.
    - Brian can't buy Sudafed over here. It's restricted because it can be used to make meth (source: Breaking Bad)    Read more

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    Day 121 - Washington, tourist things

    November 1, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Outside of the dramas, this was part of our day in Washington. We took a casual walk through the city, hitting all the big tourist items.

    First up was the United States Capital building. The guy on the horse is Ulysses S Grant, he is known for doing important enough things to have a statue of him built in a prominent place in Washington.

    Then the Washington Monument. It is extremely impressive both far away and up close. The way the shadows and light change on it during the day is also very interesting.

    The last picture in the city is the White House. You can just see a tiny bit of it between the trees and the other building. We were not able to approach it unfortunately, the area was closed just prior to us arriving.

    We had lunch. The desert was impressively large.

    Joggers everywhere. Later in the day I mentioned that if I had a dollar for every jogger I'd seen recently, I would have, like, dozens of dollars.

    Stayed at the Yotel. Ultra modern, almost SciFi theme, to the room. Electric futon that used a proper mattress. Water pressure/temperature only ok-ish.    Read more

  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler
    4
    1

    Day 140 - Is there a bear in there?

    November 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Look at it, a perfect place for a bear to hang out. Looks almost perfectly constructed for one. Will today be the day I see a bear???? I'm feeling lucky.

    But no bear :(

  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler

    Day 141 - First snow!

    November 21, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    Just past midday. Been drizzling since I started but definitely can now see snow in the air as well. Not actually that cold, 5 degrees, I'm just wearing a tee-shirt and rain jacket, jogging along the track generates enough heat internally.

    Stopped at David Lesser shelter for a moment. This is the most expensively crafted shelter so far. Professionally poured concrete base with concrete pillars supporting the deck. Multiple sheltered picnic tables. So different to what is in Maine.

    Weather reports are unreliable. A few hours ago it was showing a downpour at 3pm, now it is just a constant drizzle all day. Interferes with my planning.

    Today's destination is Harper's Ferry. 8.6 miles away, the terrain is mild so I'm just going to fang it and jog along the track where possible, hopefully getting there in 4 hours.    Read more

  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler
    221

    Day 141 - Continued...

    November 21, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    The rest of the passed fairly uneventfully. The rain cleared up. Still cold but I didn't need additional clothing. The path was some of the flattest and horizontal terrain that I've seen so far. Jogged along the trail for most of it.

    Passed over the Shenandoah River into Harper's Ferry, which is the "psychological midpoint" of the AT. Kept going for another couple of miles to reach Brunswick. Very cold with snow tomorrow, so going to hide in a hotel room tomorrow.

    The AT kept weaving weaving in and out of Virginia and West Virginia (no cool signs to welcome me or let me know I'm leaving), ended up in Maryland at the end of the day.    Read more

  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler
    31

    Day 144 - Reunion

    November 24, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Started out late from the hotel in Brunswick (11:30). Day is lovely, lots of sunshine and only slightly cool. Is a Sunday so a fair number of people out on the trail.

    Ran into Lost Sauce and Peachy again! They were somewhat surprised to see me travelling north. Great to catch up and see they are still on the trail.

    Last time I saw them was up in Maine crossing the Kennebec river.

    A few other photos throughout the day. Sorry Dave, no descriptions for those ruins!    Read more

  • Ash BertholdAppalachian TrailTraveler

    Day 145 - Washington Monument (again)

    November 25, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Passed by another monument to Washington. Just slightly less impressive than the one in Washington DC.

    Including the information sign for this one due to my critics pointing out the lack of apt descriptions in previous posts! :pRead more

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