Greg's 2022 AT Journey

Destination: Cove Mt Shelter Date: Tue, 31 May Camped w/ Nhan who found this little guy trying to get into his tent Nhan (aka Hands & Mouth)  fm Carlisle PA Ten miles across open fields today. Good thing heat index was only 100... haha Mostly flat trails today but only accessible by miles of walkway And finally ... some pretty things I'll be passing thru Ducanon for lunch tomorrow.

Destination: Old Stonehouse Rd Date: Mon, 30 May Lost my gray hanky at mile 1060 then found it tied to a tree... 70 miles later!!! The Hoyman family was returning fm a hike as I left Boiling Springs. Dad is West Point grad serving with Corps of Engineers and attending War College in Carlisle PA. PA has lots of beautiful farms Enjoyed a Zero day on Sun with my friends Steve and Ruth in Lancaster. They took me back to the trail at 3p Mon, so I only hiked 6 miles.

Destination: Boiling Springs, PA Date: Sat, 28 May ... and 2 Hero's (half days). Only 8 miles to meet my good friends Steve and Ruth Beck hosting me for a day off. Get to celebrate his BD on Sun and Memorial Day before heading back to the trail... and let's not forget ALL the great Italian food! Ruth was raised in Rome. But a HARD 8 miles! Took an hour to go thru 2 of these boulder mazes... training for Mahoosuc Notch? New reunion record... 77 days! Haven't seen Stump Knocker since Day 1 Centerpoint Knob Memorial... one of the coolest I've seen. This pic doesn't even begin to capture the feeling of stepping out of the woods and into the countryside... even feels like PA Entered Boiling Springs with the most majestic fly fishing stream and pond... what a fabulous community resource! This swan is right out of a fable... 

Destination: 4m past James Fry Shelter Date: Fri, 27 May Aaaargh... I got turned around and went backwards on the trail for 2 miles. Right past my campsite AND the halfway sign. Wasted the first 2 hrs of my day 😭  Passed yet another 100 mile mark! Dried out with Dave fm Burlington VT after a torrential downpour! Instead of the ice cream challenge, I ate the famous Hiker Burger at Pine Grove Furnace. It's OBSCENE!!! 1/2lb patty, bacon, 2 egg omelet, avocado, tomato and lettuce on awesome focaccia! 10 minutes later while hiking thru the State Park, I met Amy and Chris fm York PA. What a sweet couple... but they had NO food 😢 Ended up doing 23 miles (only 19 counted) and didn't get to my campsite until 9p. What a day!

Destination: 2m past birch run shelter Date: Thu, 26 May Crashed the PennDot Annual Employee Appreciation Picnic at Caledonia State Park... they fed me soda, donuts, cookies and brownies! Wow... PA doesn't have shelters... they're chalets! At Birch Run Shelter, I met 20 youth camping for 5 days with Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School (pix not allowed, but see their website at  Chesapeake Outward Bound . It's one of the best programs for troubled teens. Super friendly group... But they did NOT feed me 😢 Camped right at the halfway point (1097.15 miles)... they really spared no expense on the new sign #@$!? Here's the really old one (1090.5)... trail changes to much to move it.

Destination: Tumbling Run Shelter Date: Wed, 25 May On the border near PenMar Park Alaska, fiance Kowabunga and dog Tahoe The Palsgrove Family having a reunion at P enMar Park. Most line in New Windsor MD, but 4 just for in fm Modesto CA. Mom is 92 and her husband was a magician too!!! Zach and Grace fm Bethesda MD  Lollygag fm West Palm Bch Lucky looking for blaze among the rocks John fm PA and friend Steve who gave me a red hanky that is now going to the top of Katahdin. Thanks Steve!!! 

Destination: Warner Gap Hollow Date: Tue, 24 May My oldest Lauren says I have to finish so I can help my grandson do something great like the AT some day. Needless to say I was highly motivated on today's hike. Sharpest group on the trail so far is from Gunston School College Prep. They're hiking Pine Knob to Harper Jumped off Trail in Smithsburg to grab a pizza thanks to Sarah who gave me a ride. She has a dog Jack and 2 cats, Sullivan and Monkey Came back and shared pizza with Forest Lore'ist and several others in camp Dogs Presley and Daisy out for a walk with Determinator and husband Sweet D fm St Augustine. They have 3 boys, 2 girls and 5 grandchildren with a 6th on the way! She's hiked all but 100 miles of the AT. Got to camp and hike with Alaska who lives an hour from Baxter State Park, ME. 

Destination: Dahlgren Campground Date: Mon, 23 May Hiking into Historic Harper's Ferry The C&O... a GREAT trail! Darren and Emily... first people I've met from Texas (San Antonio). They're hiking Harper to PenMar which is VERY popular. Jim and Sharon fm Winchester VA where fun to chat with...  especially about grandkids!

Most cheerful and thru hiker friendly people on Skyline Drive are the Park Rangers! While eating my lunch, I had a long chat with Bob who worked for Eastern Shore MD Fish and Game then retired to Shenandoah's as a park ranger. His father was from North Conway! Jessica is a first year trainee. Jean helps with the gardening and says Cindy should call Wendy Cass to volunteer And you can't hike very far without seeing trail volunteers like Richard of Potomac ATC

Destination: overlooking Harper's Ferry Date: Sun, 22 May Crocks, caretaker for Blackburn Trail Center gave me a free Mt Dew and shower! Really enjoyed sharing the trail and dinner with Rainbow fm Ohio. Tracy, our cook at Sweet Springs Country Store put an extra patty on my burger making her my Trail Angel of the Day 😇 Ended up near Harper's Ferry... hiked extra 2 miles finding water!  And yet another amazing campsite sunset