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”)
?????
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