Well, I am less than a week away from when I was supposed to start my 300 mile section hike on the A.T.  It was hard to cancel the trip that was going through PA, NJ, NY and CT.  But today the CDC issued a warning for the area.

It sure looks like I made the right call.  Instead I’ve been on point for the past 2 weeks in the COVID-19 battle in St Louis.  It’s OK though, I signed up for this…

Time will say nothing but I told you so, Time only knows the price we have to pay; If I could tell you I would let you know. – W. H. Auden

Things sure have changed since my last post. I was here getting all ready to go back for my next section and the country blew up with Covid-19! After a lot of deliberation and watching the ever changing situation evolve, I have decided to postpone my section hike that was due to start in a little over 2 weeks. Utilizing multiple modes of transportation to get to and from the trail, visiting hostels / hotels and hiking through the most populated region of the Appalachian Trail just posed too much of a risk. Instead, I’m looking at a 100+ mile section hike on the Ozark Trail here in Missouri. The start date will likely be mid-April. I’ll be hiking the Taum Sauk, Trace Creek and Courtois setons of the trail. More details to follow…

If you’re interested in how I expect the Coronavirus Pandemic to affect hiking on the Appalachian Trail, I posted a video today: Puffin’s Covid-19 YouTube video

Failed plans should not be interpreted as a failed vision. Visions don’t change, they are only refined. Plans rarely stay the same, and are scrapped or adjusted as needed. Be stubborn about the vision, but flexible with your plan. – John C. Maxwell

I thought it would be worthwhile, for me at least, to remember the sections of the A.T. that I’ve done so far. I’ve been reviewing my blog posts recently and that’s brought back at lot of nice memories. So, here we go:

Section #1
Harpers Ferry, WV to Daleville, VA
June-July 2015
295 miles  28 days (1 zero)  Avg 10.5 mi/day
Most memorable day:  My first day on the trail.  It rained like stink but I was bound and determined to get going on the trail.  I hiked NOBO from Bears Den to the Blackburn Trail Center with my brother in-law.  I bet he thought I was totally nuts!
Best day:  Hike into Skyland in Shenandoah National Park.  Summited Mary’s Rock, the Pinnacle and Old Stony Man all in the same day.  Booked a cabin that evening for a zero the next day.  Ate blackberry cobbler at the restaurant too!  After Skyland I felt like I belonged on the trail and haven’t looked back.

 

---

Section #2
Hanover, NH to Great Barrington, MA
August 2015
218 miles  21 days (2 zeros)  Avg 10.4 mi/day
Most memorable day:  Hiking into N Adams, Mass.  I hiked with Wildcat for part of the day as we finished off Vermont.  We ran into Dixie and I couldn’t believe someone like her was hiking the trail.  Little did I know how famous she would become!
Best day:  Hiking out of N Adams, Mass. After spending my zero day with my brother Nat,  I hiked down off the summit of Mount Graylock all the way to Dalton, Mass.  I found Wildcat again and we ate an awesome meal at the local pub.

---

Section #3
Great Barrington, MA to Great Barrington, MA
July 2016
7 miles  2 days (No zeros)  Avg NA
Most memorable day:  It was hotter than stink when I left Tom Leonard shelter before 7 am on Day #2.  I couldn’t to sleep in the shelter overnight and ended up getting up in the middle of the night to set up my hammock.  I hiked about 5 miles in the heat, fell once, broke a trekking pole and had a trail side cat hole accident, which I won’t discuss further.  When I ran into a NOBO hiker he told me that he hadn’t seen any water for many miles.  I only had 1 liter with me, so I took the bus to Albany, flew to BWI and visited Betsy at the beach!  My hiking plans for 2016 were a bust…
Best day:  On my first day, the 2 mile uphill hike to the shelter was manageable and it felt nice to be back on the trail.

---

Section #4
Harpers Ferry, WV to Duncannon, PA
March 2017
124 miles  10 days (No zeros)  Avg 12.4 mi/day
Most memorable day:  Hiking in the rain and the cold weather.  I finally felt like I had adjusted to the elements and managed just fine.
Best day:  Slack packing from Pine Grove Furnace to Trail of Hope Hostel.  The weather was beautiful and it was my first 20 mile day on the AT!

---

Section #5
Duncannon, PA to Port Clinton, PA
June-July 2018
69 miles  6 days (No zeros)  Avg 11.5 mi/day
Most memorable day:  OMG What a storm!  There were 6 inches of rain in 2 1/2 hours overnight.  I stayed dry under my hammock, the the trail was flooded out the next day.  Several of us spent most of the day finding ways around flooded out sections of trail.
Best day:  Day #1, I hiked up to the ridge from Duncannon and camped overlooking Harrisburg, PA.  It was a very pretty night.

---

Section #6
Daleville, VA to Damascus, VA
May 2019
259 miles  23 days (2 zeros)  Avg 11.3 mi/day
Most memorable day:  Slack packing from the Dragon’s Tooth back to Jake and Christie’s place for the night.  The sights were great and the second part of the hike was some of the best trail I’ve done.  This was all in spite of pouring rain!
Best day:  Hiking through Grayson Highlands to Mount Rodgers.  It’s just an epic part of the trail.

---

So that’s it.  Six section hikes over 5 years, totaling about 975 miles on the Appalachian Trail.  I’m not expecting this next section to be particularly beautiful or memorable.  It’s going to be all about the challenge of getting 300+ miles done and hooking up all of the above sections.  If it goes as planned, I will have done from Hanover, NH to Damascus, VA.  1,280 miles!

---

 

No dream is too big. No challenge is too great. Nothing we want for our future is beyond our reach. – Donald Trump

 

So, now that the section is finished, I’m thinking back about it all. 🤔

But first some final stats:

• Daleville, VA to Damascus, VA
• 259.2 miles
• 23 days
• Avg daily miles 11.3

I have now completed:

• Port Clinton, Pa (1,219.2) to Damascus, VA (470.6) – 748.7
• Hanover, NH (1,749.8) to Great Barrington, MA (1,522.8) – 227.0
• Total distance ~ 975 miles

My reasons for hiking served me well. Especially when I had those moments when I said to myself, “What in the hell am I doing out here?”

• Spiritual: There were numerous times when I saw the hand of God; whether it was on a mountain top, in the other hikers or in the thousands of fireflies 💡 at the Quarterway Inn.
• Challenge: I challenged myself every day. Most of all, I’m ecstatic that I completed my goal on time and without injury. (Actually a day early and with one small blister.) 🦶
• Outdoors: Yes, I spent weeks outdoors. Even more importantly, I’m going to appreciate the indoors! 🛏
• Rest: I had a great break from the rat race. Unfortunately, I’m turning my work e-mail back on today. (300+ to read!) 🐀
• Exercise: No comment here; just look at the before & after pictures below. 👀

And that’s a great reason to hike! SCORE!

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

© Max Ehrmann 1927