Thru Hikers, True Heroes

[Xipe Totec]

I had the great privilege of meeting these thru hikers on the trail in 2008:

Bogie & Bacall


The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is more than 2,175-mile long footpath stretching through 14 eastern states from Maine to Georgia.

They hiked it from the foot of the Appalachians in Georgia, all the way to Maine. I met them in Madison, Hut in the White Mountains of Vermont.

He is a retired Physicist from Oak Ridge. She a School teacher. The finest people I have ever had the privilege to meet on the trail.

I'll be up at the Whites next Labor Day. Chances are I will not bump into them again.

But I will be thinking about them...

Here is their journal:

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=7285

[charlie and algernon]

1. If I had $5-7,000 to spend and 5 months free, that'd be the first thing I'd do

I'd LOVE to hike the AT, but I have neither the time nor the money for equipment and food.

[Xipe Totec]

2. Few of us do

That's why these people are heroes.

They have done their service to society; They are retired.

Did I mention he was a retired physicist from Oak Ridge? I wish I had his credentials!


Now they have time to devote to what they love to do together, and that's hiking.

[charlie and algernon]

3. Yup, and I can only hope I'm in that good a shape whenever I retire

the ability to hike the AT in your 60s is a wonderful reward for a lifetime of working.

[Xipe Totec]

15. A lifetime of service to the nation

One a school teacher, the other a physicist working on this nation's defense, at one of the nation's most prestigious nuclear sites.

And having seen them together, face to face, they truly love each other.

A rare sight, and a privilege.

[NightWatcher]

4. lucky bums. I want to do a few day hike this fall

I cant afford, nor could I hack, the whole AT, but I'd love to do a few day hikes up the trail. Will be starting in Georgia or NC. Now depending on the water levels maybe I can get some whitewater in as well

[rug]

5. Interesting journal. What day did you meet them?

[Xipe Totec]

7. Labor Day, 2008 - September 1st

Quote from their journal:

"The Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch is home for the evening. Another one of our favorite days! This was across Mt. Madison at 5363' which is one of the longest ridgeline traverses above treeline on the AT. There are gorgeous views for hours on end. It was 40 degrees when we started out this morning with a wind chill factor of 25 degrees per the Mt. Washington weather observatory. The sustained winds were supposed to be 70 mph with gusts of 100 mph. I believe we had every bit of it! It was great fun but really slow going. The wind blew us all over the mountaintop and we would scurry from rock cairn to rock cairn in between gusts. We have had a good hot shower and a big dinner and are just about ready for bed. Incredible views in all directions of mountains as far as you can see."

We were traversing from Jefferson to Madison. I can vouch that the traverse was every bit as treacherous as they describe.

Bogie & Bacall told us, at Madison Hut, that this stretch of the Appalachians was the roughest piece of the trail they had ever had to traverse!

I have to agree; it nearly killed me.

[rug]

9. Windy day. I envy your memory.

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=251803

[Xipe Totec]

10. I updated my reply...

:hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. About 25 years ago, my mom and I ran into two 80+ year old brothers on the AT

They'd hiked from GA to Stony Man trail in VA. They had hoped to do the entire trail one last time; but they'd decided they were too tired, and planned to end at Harper's Ferry.

What an amazing couple of guys! :D

[seemunkee]

8. What a great adventure

I've done from the MD/PA border to the southern tip of Sheandoah National park. Most of it with a couple of friends back when we were in high school and college.

[Xipe Totec]

11. I limped

limped, I tell you,

down from Maddison Hut.

One of the most challenging hikes I have ever done!

This year, it's the knife's edge...

[pokerfan]

12. Is that the trail

that runs from South Carolina to Argentina?

[Xipe Totec]

13. No, that's the "Don't Cry for me, Argentina" BJ trail.

[handmade34]

14. wonderful picture and story

...a dream I hope to live out soon enough. I have hiked the Long Trail and been up most of the peaks in the White Mountains. I would so love to do the Appalachians. I climbed the Amicalola Falls a year ago as a symbolic start to my dream... thanks for the reminder :)

[graywarrior]

16. I've met them all when I was working at the AMC/Pinkham.

[Xipe Totec]

17. You would, you luky so and so!

:hi:

[graywarrior]

18. It was a tough gig.

Hut croo was harder, tho.

[Xipe Totec]

19. If I'm anywhere near Pinkham this labor Day I'll let you know ahead

I'm going to TRY to do the knife edge....

[graywarrior]

20. Yipes, that's a challenge!

I like Glen Boulder...fastest and shortest route to above tree line. Of course, it will make you cry.

BTW, I am in MA now.

[greendog]

21. A few months ago I met a guy who was bicycling from Inuvik, NWT to...

...Tierra del Fuego. And get this: Instead of taking the customary easy coastal route through the U.S. he was following the Continental Divide. I met him in a little Montana town only accessible by a really rough gravel road.

[Xipe Totec]

22. Let's hope he will keep us posted on his travels!

it sounds absolutely awesome!