Appalachian Trail / Backpacking / Hiking

[Greg Peters]

OK hope this is the right place to post this.

Am moving into The Villages from CT, but my heart is still up in the mountains.

Have been hiking the "AT" since 2000 and have 1760 miles of it done. Looking for hikers that also like to backpack and do it at a reasonable pace. I go slow because I love to take pictures and carrying 8 lbs of camera gear plus 25 lbs of regular equipment sort of hinders me from making miles fast. Oh and there is the fact I am getting old but we will not go there. :icon_wink:

Prefer to slack-pack or do 3 day 2 night trips. Lately been taking off for a month. Now the "AT" is not exclusive open to other trails.

Hike the "AT", "CD", "PCT" or any other trial system, want to share stories and pictures?

[kittygilchrist]

3 days sounds doable...if you wanted to guide a trip, count me in. bucket list item 153.

[Greg Peters]

3 days sounds doable...if you wanted to guide a trip, count me in. bucket list item 153.

My next "AT" trip will probably be either Late May / early June or late Aug. / early Sept. Most likely lower VA and Central TN.

I have done Graysons Highlands / MT Rogers state park but loved it so much I may go there. Have a lot to do between now and then. Moving in Oct 12th.

[Tawarmbrod]

Hiked the AT in 1998 & 1999. Little over 1500 miles first year and finished up the next. In summer 2007 hiked south from harpers ferry to Roanoke. That's when I decided to give it up or get back in shape. Really haven't done anything about getting back in shape and don't see it happening. Lol.

[bkcunningham1]

My next "AT" trip will probably be either Late May / early June or late Aug. / early Sept. Most likely lower VA and Central TN.

I have done Graysons Highlands / MT Rogers state park but loved it so much I may go there. Have a lot to do between now and then. Moving in Oct 12th.

This is the near the part of the world where I'm from. Beauty beyond compare.

[Dougout]

I just finished a wonderful book on the AT. It is called "Hiking Through" by Paul Stutzman. For many years we lived in a town in PA adjacent to the AT and I frequently hiked in that area.

Also, there is a recently published book on the PCT called "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed which I also enjoyed.

[Greg Peters]

I just finished a wonderful book on the AT. It is called "Hiking Through" by Paul Stutzman. For many years we lived in a town in PA adjacent to the AT and I frequently hiked in that area.

Also, there is a recently published book on the PCT called "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed which I also enjoyed.

Never read it, "Hiking Through" ??? may have to look it up. One of my favorites is, Walking on the Happy Side of Misery" by JR Tate (Model T).

My Son just gave me that book, "Wild". After I finish, "A Memory of Light" will be starting that.

[Greg Peters]

This is the near the part of the world where I'm from. Beauty beyond compare.

Love the Wild Ponies. I have a really beautiful picture of them. Big white fluffy clouds, nice blue sky, rock formation behind them and there is a post with the White Blaze on it flanked by a filly and her colt. One copy framed and is hanging in my doctors office waiting room and been offered money for it many a time.

A little bite of a climb coming from the south but others wise a real nice walk.

And the town of Damascus close by.

[Pepperhead]

I hiked the entire width of the AT last August. It was at least three feet wide at that point on Hwy 19E in Tennessee near the NC state line. On a serious note, I have hiked the entire Northern Section of the Florida Trail. I did the Suwannee River segment in both directions. Also hiked a large amount of the E1 European Long Distance Path, I think my hiking days are over...maybe new knees might get me jumpstarted, though.

[Greg Peters]

Hiked the AT in 1998 & 1999. Little over 1500 miles first year and finished up the next. In summer 2007 hiked south from harpers ferry to Roanoke. That's when I decided to give it up or get back in shape. Really haven't done anything about getting back in shape and don't see it happening. Lol.

LOL That couch will kill you. Time to get back in shape.

[kittygilchrist]

I'm going up to Beech Mt in October. Any advice from AT pros? I'll be staying at the family home, but would like to add an adventure on the trail. zipline is also on the bucket list.

[Pepperhead]

I'm going up to Beech Mt in October. Any advice from AT pros? I'll be staying at the family home, but would like to add an adventure on the trail. zipline is also on the bucket list.

Love Beech Mt. I'm a NOLA/Gulf Coast guy, and must say Archers has the best shrimp and grits dish I've ever had. Sorry to Hijack the thread. As you probably know, you can access the AT just over the Tennessee line on Hwy 19.

[Greg Peters]

I'm going up to Beech Mt in October. Any advice from AT pros? I'll be staying at the family home, but would like to add an adventure on the trail. zipline is also on the bucket list.

Sorry but I have no idea what Beech MT is. I know it is not to far from the "AT" and Roan MT TN. and that it is a resort area but that is it.

[bkcunningham1]

Love the Wild Ponies. I have a really beautiful picture of them. Big white fluffy clouds, nice blue sky, rock formation behind them and there is a post with the White Blaze on it flanked by a filly and her colt. One copy framed and is hanging in my doctors office waiting room and been offered money for it many a time.

A little bite of a climb coming from the south but others wise a real nice walk.

And the town of Damascus close by.

What a picture that conjures up in my mind's eye. Those mountains put you in touch with a real peace. Aren't the people in Damascus the best? Just the image of the area pulls at my heart. Maybe, one day I'll hike the Trail like Grandma Gatewood.

[bkcunningham1]

I'm going up to Beech Mt in October. Any advice from AT pros? I'll be staying at the family home, but would like to add an adventure on the trail. zipline is also on the bucket list.

Beech Mountain, NC, between Winston-Salem and Johnson City or Beech Mountain Mountain, NC, near Asheville? We use to go there in the summers when I was a kid. We'd pile into the station wagon and make a day trip to Banner Elk, Tweetsie Railroad, Grandfather Mountain, The Land of Oz or wherever those crooked roads led. My dad would gear that old station wagon down coming off those mountains and you could smell the brakes burning. Oh, the memories.

That was funny, @Pepperhead.

[Greg Peters]

What a picture that conjures up in my mind's eye. Those mountains put you in touch with a real peace. Aren't the people in Damascus the best? Just the image of the area pulls at my heart. Maybe, one day I'll hike the Trail like Grandma Gatewood.

Stories about her are amazing and she is only one of many like her. Tell people all the time anyone can do it.

Damascus was great. Like I said in previous post would not mind one bit going back there. As of now these are the top 3 spots I would like to redo. Maybe as I get south of Fontana Dam I will find others, but to make the top 3 would be hard.

1) Katahdin Katahdin : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost (http://www.summitpost.org/katahdin/150219)

2) Mcsfee Knob
https://www.google.com/search?q=mcafee+knob&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=cixIUpOtBPbd4APTrIHIBg&ved=0CDIQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=947&dpr=1

3) Grayson Highlands https://www.google.com/search?q=grayson+highlands&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Fi1IUvmdHsTh4AOZ9IGgCw&ved=0CEUQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=947&dpr=1