Allagash, Jen and Phils 2023 AT Hike

Day 44 May 28 Days miles 8.2 AT Mile 610 Started at 618.2 Final NOBO Mile 677.8 Hiked out to Zero off trail Hiking time 3.25hr Pass plus/minus - +1 Critter Rescue -  0 Total Deer seen - 2 today 14 total Bear cub - 1 We got up early and was hiking at 630 am with the intent of getting to our destination, the hostel before it rained.  We got withing an hour away from the hostel before it started to rain.  This is Jen in her rain gear and custom trash bag pack pack cover! We also saw two more deer today! Only got a pic of one. Made it to the hostel in record time, only to find they didn't have a room for us because we were a day early but they were fine with it so we took off to meet up with our friends Laura and Paul who were in Roanoke.  We met up with them, had linner (lunch and dinner) with them and then hung out in the hotel with them.  They are headed back on the trail tomorrow at mile 677 as we will be the followi...

Day 43 May 27 Days miles 22.6 AT Mile 618.2 Started at 640.8 Tented at Wapiti shelter Hiking time 11hr Pass plus/minus - +5 ! Critter Rescue -  50+ lost count Total Deer seen - 2 today 12 total Bear cub - 1 Total So we stealth camped about 3 miles outside of Pearisburg and I do not know what industry is running product through the town on trains but there were trains going through town all night about every 40 min and would blow the horn at road crossings, like 10 times!  It was so loud even ear plugs didn't stop the noise, no sleep for Jen and Phil again...   Prior night we slept in a shelter and was next to a high intensity snorer! Today again we hiked SOBO again and we should have considered the elevation gain direction, it was mostly up all day, and a huge 2k feet up right off the bat! This screen shot is looking back at what we did so the descent number is what we climbed today in elevation. Here is Jen climbing one of the many rock stairs. ...

Day 42 May 26 Days miles 19.8 AT Mile 640.8 Started at 660.6 Stayed stealth site off trail Hiking time 11.5hr Pass plus/minus - nill Critter Rescue - 14 Total Deer seen - 1 today 10 total Total Bear cub - 1 Hiked sobo again, It was a day of seeing friends, saw Kid Rock and Laura and Paul and Pauls brother who came out for a week to hike with them. We spent like an hour visiting just with them. So I know I had said we had trail names but they were ones we came up with ourselves, but Jen felt we should be named by someone else on the trail. Laura and Paul aka Snail and All Day asked what our trail names were, told them the story and Laura said well you need names, I name you Lost and Found!  You can figure out whose is who.  The ATC clubs down here know how to build bridges. Saw a button buck, up close even, it was walking near us. We had some great views during our walk up on a bald today. Rescued several ...

Day 41 May 25, Days miles 17.1 AT Mile 660.6 Started at 677.7 Stayed in Bailey Gap Shelter Hiking time 9hr Pass plus/minus - nill Critter Rescue - 12 Total Deer seen - 1 today 9 total Bear cub - 1 So we are doing something different and are hiking SOBO (southbound) this section. We have our car with us and being unconventional so have to be creative. We started at mile 677 and are hiking back to Weary Feet hostel at mile 610. The day started out with hiking in pastures which was cool other than we instantly had wet feet.   The day also involved a lot of elevation change, dam knobs, seems the rule to making trails on knobs is to be straight up or down.   The other interesting thing about today was rocks, lots of rocks which are tough on the feet and ankles! Saw another deer today, no picture it was fast. Saw some friends we have hiked or stayed at a shelter with before, Toby from Germany and Huckleberrys mom and Huckleberry! Looks...

Day 40 May 24, Days miles 6.3 AT Mile 610 Stayed at Weary Feet hostel Hiking time 3hr Pass plus/minus - 3 Critter Rescue -  0 Total Deer seen - 9 Bear cub - 1 Short quick hike to the hostel where we are resupplying, washing clothes and getting to take a shower! Jen also took me out to a local brewery pub for my birthday! Tomorrow hopefully we get shuttled north 67 miles to hike back here to our car, will see how that goes.

Day 39 May 23, Days miles 17 AT Mile 603.7 Stayed in tent at Jenny Shelter Hiking time 8 hr Pass plus/minus - nill Critter Rescue - 5 Total Deer seen - 3 +6 = 9 Bear cub - 1 So today is my birthday and the trail gave me the gift of wildlife today. Saw a lot of deer 6, and Jen saw a bear cub and we saw a bunny. Had a great breakfast sandwich at a trailside store, but no diet coke. Seams like hikers want the calories so these trail side stores dont stock diet sodas.  The sandwiches powered us all day, I usually eat 3 or 4 protein bars or crackers and today I only ate one on the trail. Some views from today. Crossed a major highway. Crossed the 600 mile marker. It was a good day hiking, we got to the shelter early and had time to socialize with the other hikers as they came in.

Day 38 May 22, Days miles 17 AT Mile 586.7 Stayed in tent along trail Hiking time 9 hr Pass plus/minus - -2 Critter Rescue -  12 Total Deer seen - 3 Today started out awesome with a gorgeous sunrise over the valley below and a sea of fog.  Truly beautiful site to see.  I told you about where we were and showed you the cool shelter but I did not show you a picture of the view we had last night as I didn't want to take away from the views we had of the pastures on the bald and mountains in the background. Well here is the view from yesterday. And here is the sunrise view we had this morning! I hope the pictures do it some justice. The hike today was pretty standard. Lots of ups and downs, some ridge walking and crossing a few bridges.  We did see some interesting things like these trees growing out of an uprooted tree. We also saw another deer close up, that's 3 in th...