Gray Ghost’s A.T. Thru-Hike

March 14 to August 8, 2008

Food drop boxes and gear, in Wisconsin

Support crew: Gordy and Judy

Zero miles: Springer Mt., Georgia

Icy backpack, cold Georgia morning

First “trail magic”, Easter weekend, NC

Smoky Mountains (well-named)

Rhododendrons, below freezing, NC

Rhododendron tunnel, NC

Rhododendrons on a warm day, TN

Rhododendron in bloom, VA

Trillium Sessile, in NC

Trail in Smoky Mts. Natl. Park

SMNP: privy pet (turkey)

Great Smoky Mts. National Park, NC

Laundry day, Standing Bear Farm Hostel, TN

Double-blaze trail, NC-TN border

Squaw Root, still winter (Apr. 7)

Squaw Root, spring (Apr. 19)

Roan Mountain, NC-TN border, April 16

North Carolina – Tennessee border

Trail across Balds

Blood Root blossoms

Fence crossing

Mountaineer Shelter, with carved bear, TN

Mountaineer Shelter’s carved bear

Prescribed burn, Tennessee

Grayson Highlands, Virginia

Feral ponies

“Limestone,” “LT” & “Knuckles” at Wise Shelter, VA

Partnership Shelter, after a day of 24 miles

Spring-fed pond, another water source

“fresh air”

Parasitic thorns ?

Dogwood

Water source, with polliwogs

Dwarf Iris

Hurricane Jeanne 2004washed out the bridge

Stony Creek:

Trail magic: “Dark Horse” and “Tear Gas”

Rocky ridge trail in Virginia

More trail, Virginia

Gray Ghost on McAfee Knob, Virginia

Trilliums

Shenandoah Natl. Park with son (“Outsider”)

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Trail in Shenandoah Natl. Park, VA

Volunteer trail crew

Mica Cap, aka Glistening Inky Cap

Slippery when wet

“nature at its best”

Quarry Gap Shelters, PA: end of 30.3 miles

Trail midpoint, Pennsylvania: 5-23-08

Earl Shaffer (the1st thru-hiker) built this shelter

Red (Eft) Newt

Dee Jay’s start in PA; 1007.4 miles to go

Milk snake

Eastern American Toad

Trail!

Trail – northern Pennsylvania

Black Rat Snake

Mountain Laurel

Mountain Laurel in full bloom

Gypsy Moth Caterpillars

Departing porcupine

Box Turtle

Jim Murray “secret” shelter, NJ

Climbing the trail, New York

Old rock fence, New York

Morgan Stewart Shelter, evening

300 year-old Dover Oak, in NY

Enjoying the view, Massachusetts

On a grass hummock, in an evergreen swamp

Fence crossing in Massachusetts

Bird Cage Hostel, Mass.

Witch’s Hat, aka Conical Waxy Cap

Very wet trail in Vermont

Stratton Pond, Vermont

White-Throated Sparrow

“The 4 Sisters,” at Trapper John Shelter, NH

Junco eggs

Trail, White Mts., New Hampshire

Galehead Hut, White Mountains, NH

Fog over the trail, White Mts.

Packboards for hut crew re-supply

The Raven

Mount Washington, 6288 feet

Crossing over Mount Madison

not from an airplane

if at first you don’t succeed . . .

Another view in the White Mts.

Horn of Plenty

Ice in Mahoosuc Notch, Maine, July 18, 2400 ft.

Maine mountaintop trail

preparing breakfast

Cribbage, anyone?

Wet trail in Maine

Indian Pipes in Maine

“doctor’s orders”

South Branch Carrabassett River in flood

42 hours later

“shelter” on Bigelow Mt., Avery Peak

Sunrise from Avery Peak

Yellow Coral Fungus in Maine

Kennebec River ferry crossing

Beginning of 100-mile Wilderness

Woolly (aka Scaly) Chanterelle mushrooms

White House Landing, Maine

Mount Katahdin in the clouds

Fresh fruit

long time coming

not recommended above tree line

Dutch, Jake, Topo, Gray Ghost, Dee Jay, Poz

View from below clouds on Katahdin

Dee Jay & Gray Ghost at the goal

2176 miles, 3 pairs of boots, 148 days