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No, we are not lost. My son and his girlfriend are

No, we are not lost. My son and his girlfriend are on the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon the same day we were on the Appalachian Trail in CT. Bicoastal hiking!

Next up in NY: Rock puzzles, mazes and lots of up,

Next up in NY: Rock puzzles, mazes and lots of up, down and up. We also went thru the famous “lemon squeezer” and beautiful hiking on a former estate now turned into gorgeous Harriman State Park. All very difficult in 85+ F heat.

We took a few days off to rest our weary legs in N

We took a few days off to rest our weary legs in NY. We stayed at the lakeside Breezy hotel in Greenwood Lake cared for by Paul and Eileen. Paul, a former session player and recording engineer, gave us a private concert. And a great friend, Ron S, followed our satellite tracker to the hotel, surprised us, and spent the night. Good fortunes continue!

NY made a statement early with massive rocks to cl

NY made a statement early with massive rocks to climb using ladders, up and down cliffs and long views. We survived day 1 to roll into town for a hiker feast and to say goodbye to our hiking companion across all of NJ, Carole, aka Coyote!

AT Jersey Gems #4. Our last day in NJ took us thro

AT Jersey Gems #4. Our last day in NJ took us through gorgeous farms, fields, swamps, and rock gardens. It was a great end to the most beautiful state so far. On to NY and great delis.

Jersey gems #4. Spectacular views from ridge walks

Jersey gems #4. Spectacular views from ridge walks. Cool fire towers on mountaintops. A picture perfect beaver pond. Sharon and her growing family who help to maintain the AT and paint trail blazes. And Jersey has Bruce Springsteen. Best state so far on the AT!

2051? If I eat a freeze dried backpacker meal with

2051? If I eat a freeze dried backpacker meal with this expiration date, will it help me live this long? Should I eat something with this long a shelf life?

Jersey gems #2! I got these awesome custom M&Ms wi

Jersey gems #2! I got these awesome custom M&Ms with my face and a message from my team at work. They were made right here at Mars Hackettstown, NJ factory. Best part of my trail mix every day!

Jersey Gems #1. No more bashing NJ. The trail is

Jersey Gems #1. No more bashing NJ. The trail is beautiful here with gorgeous ponds, 40 mile views and we had a great stay with Mark and the crew at the Mohican Outdoor Center— and NJ is the home of Bon Jovi!

Had a very memorable shared AT birthday (with my s

Had a very memorable shared AT birthday (with my son), family good friends, new and long held, and some great hiking. Another fantastic trip around the sun!

We finished the PA section of the AT today. We did

We finished the PA section of the AT today. We did so thanks to the support and love of our families, our great friends-Donna, Bob, Roger, Jessica, new friends like Randy, Dan, Phillip, and more and the kindness of many strangers whose names we do not know—thank you for the free meals and water when we needed it most. Very grateful. On to NJ—home of the boss!

On the Pennsylvania AT these are called “trails.

On the Pennsylvania AT these are called “trails.” We helped out the “trail builders” by throwing some extra rocks onto those sections that did not have enough! 52 miles on this stuff the last 2 days. Anyone have ibuprofen and an extra Snickers?

Today I walked 24.2 miles on the Appalachian Trail

Today I walked 24.2 miles on the Appalachian Trail in support of and honor for friends whose son died of suicide. His light was extinguished far too soon. #EmergePreventingSuicide

These are my first pair of boots to die on the AT!

These are my first pair of boots to die on the AT! I walked the first 120 miles in used boots from my son—prompting me to reflect about being the father of such a fine young man, how I can be an even better father, and how hard it is to “walk in someone else’s shoes.” I have a new pair (and some rehabbed toes) and am back on the trail tonite.

This past weekend we descended into the lush Cumbe

This past weekend we descended into the lush Cumberland valley in PA and crossed the 100 mile mark. The valley is the ancestral home of the Susquehannock and Delaware tribes. Today it is rich farmland with the beautiful town of boiling springs in the center. The town is built around a lake fed by an artisanal spring that pumps 22 million gallons of water a day. “Hiker hungry” is also starting to kick in. We are eating all the time.

No one knows how long the AT is for 2021! It chang

No one knows how long the AT is for 2021! It changes between 2180 and 2230 miles every year based on closures and reroutes. This week we passed 5 different yearly mid points over a 10 mile stretch. The first photo is from the original midpoint on top of a mountain in Southern PA.

Pennsylvania is throwing everything at us so far.

Pennsylvania is throwing everything at us so far. Sub freezing temps, snow, rock mazes on high ridges and tough climbs. Covered 17 miles today

Finished our first section yesterday in rocky Mary

Finished our first section yesterday in rocky Maryland. Off to the even rockier Pennsylvania and our highest mountains yet.

Trail magic! There is a long standing practice of

Trail magic! There is a long standing practice of people doing kind, selfless acts for AT thru hikers. In Maryland, when the water was turned off at a key park, this man drove 5 miles to his house to get us water. A man stopped to give us a ride to town. He was the district attorney in my town 200 miles away! And people gave us food twice. Magic!

First sunrise in camp on the AT today after a cold

First sunrise in camp on the AT today after a cold night. Trekked thru the Maryland mountains with valley vistas, tough climbs, a freeway? and a side trip to the first Washington Monument ( I thought the one on the national mall was the original)

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