Category People of the A.T.

Working for an individual twice my age (in my 40s) means that death is a constant companion and the infirmities of existence are omnipresent.

Moments of solitude in which I can simply exist without external pressures are still very necessary and appreciated.

While around civilization and not performing any epic travels, I decided to blog about simpler things: like packing up camp.

This video was shot with a new camera and edited with new software, and demonstrates the packing procedure start to finish.

I also did some experimenting with live streams. I was able to successfully stream for 48 seconds. Nothing exciting was recorded. I didn’t have anything planned because I didn’t expect it to work.

I shared a lunch recently with 2 southbounders: Stinky on the right and Turd on the left. Not true to their names they seemed like fairly regular humans. Stinky from Texas and Turd from Northern Virginia, both of them seemed fairly weathered and ready to complete their journey.

Last week I met a weary traveler by the name of Wonder Woman who insisted I had superpowers. Naturally, this irony amused me.

If any sufficiently advanced technology is perceived as magic, I reckon the same holds true in other constructs: once removed far enough from the objective perspective any subject seems magical.

No superpowers were required for cooking chili dogs over a fire on a mountain top. Nor are there any requirements for opportunistic scavenging. Just ask the bear.

The Holy Family Hostel is one of the oldest on the trail that is still in operation. It has a full kitchen, shower, washing machine, sleeps 12- 18, and is within walking distance to wal mart.

Recommended donation is still just $10.

The barn was given new purpose in 1977 and continues to this day in 2025, nearly 50 years.

The church property has some of the biggest and beautiful trees in the area.

It’s currently managed by caretaker Twig, who has been there during the season since 2015 after LASHing from Georgia to Virginia. Twig is an avid bicyclist and snowbird who spends the colder months down south. Twig also had a cameo in the movie “A Walk in the Woods”

Late last night/early this morning around 1am I had a visit from a nosey bear. It never got more than 50 feet from the shelter but it did get in my head a bit and keep me from sleeping. I wish I had a camera crew to film the ruckus I made. I bet it was quite a show. I banged my sticks on the picnic table, gathered rocks, and made a big fire. I had some difficulty falling asleep and got a very late start.

Sarver Hollow is a great shelter, spacious with a covered deck so you can sit at the table out of the rain; but it is very far off trail and very steep. The water is very good, cold and delicious, but also far away. Even the privy is far away. The terrain is very rocky and while there’s space for camping I don’t imagine it’s very pleasant.

On the ridge I found a few cairns.

I finally left camp about 10 am. The day was somewhat uneventful. I came down from sinking creek mountain, pausing to lay on a shaded boulder to cool off before strolling through some pasture.

I found some berries and I only picked up one tick coming through the pasture.

Leaving camp at 10 it was already super hot. I found a friendly amphibian coming down sinking creek mountain.

Right as I was almost out of the pasture I got hit with a rain. I snacked under my poncho and went up into the woods before coming down to laurel creek shelter. On the way I found a pretty purple fungus.

And the previously majestic Keefer oak.

The water at laurel creek I would describe as cool and refreshing, not quite as cold as Sarver Hollow. I stayed here for an hour waiting out another rain.

I don’t need to be a scholar to know the trees are in trouble.

I packed up and went up again, finding my only phone signal for the day. Right when I reached the top I got another rain, more wet than the first two. I trudged along a ridge and then down to War Spur shelter. My boots were completely waterlogged.

At the shelter I found 3 friends: High Maintenance, Pivot, and Mama Duck. We enjoyed some conversations and I assisted with the finer nuances of bear hanging around a fire.

I didn’t document much fighting the rain all day. When it’s raining on the go I just try to get through it. I waited for the fire to burn down to embers before closing my eyes for sleep, hoping for an early start to beat the heat.

I had a hard time waking up this morning. Last night I smacked my eye with a branch while gathering firewood. It wasn’t comfortable, but I can still see which I’m grateful for.

I marched down to the Mcaffees knob parking area just in time for a chance encounter with Mr Freeze from 4 pines hostel. He hitched me back to the hostel where I cleaned up myself, my laundry, and the last of a breakfast fritata courtesy of Thornberry. 4 Pines has been an institution on the trail as long as I’ve been walking it.

After charging my power Bank I set out towards the Dragons Tooth, but not the normal way. I took the road walk to the Dragons Tooth parking to connect to the Appalachian Trail.

At the junction I stopped for a snack, knowing the terrain ahead is brutal and I may not hit a good stopping point for a while. I had a friend protect me from bugs in exchange for some salt.

After a very strenuous walk on the ridge, a rollercoaster of anklebusters, I began switchbacking down. I met a section hiker named Saunter walking to Harper’s Ferry, and a local named Bilbo Baggins who hiked the trail in 93 and traveled with a dog named Buddy.

I walked down to the 620 trail crossing to camp and performed my nightly routine involving fire, bear hangs, and food, drying my clothes under a shade umbrella, and push-ups. I even got to eat mayapples in July and drink Dr Pepper. It’s quite remarkable what the locals have done to enhance this camping area.

Shortly before dark, Bilbo and Buddy came off the hill and chatted a bit about the Roosevelts and eminent domain and the possibilities that exist for a positive outcome even in a difficult situation.

Now with the fire as my companion, I finish second supper and wait for sleep to come.