The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately 2,181 miles long. The path is maintained by 30 trail clubs and multiple partnerships,and managed by the National Park Service and the nonprofit Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The majority of the trail is in wilderness, although some portions do traverse towns and roads, and cross rivers. The Appalachian Trail is famous for its many hikers, some of whom, called thru-hikers, attempt to hike it in its entirety in a single season. Along the way, the trail passes through the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

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Friday, August 12, 2011

Chilly in Vermont 8/12

We had a brief call from Ryan Thursday afternoon.  He was on a fire tower on the top of a mountain.  Phone service is very sketchy throughout Vermont and for the balance of his trip.  He said he was doing well.  He's averaging right around 20 miles/day but it is taking a lot longer to make this mileage than it has been.  He needs to get into Wallingford before noon on Saturday to get his package. If he doesn't make it he will have to hold over in Wallingford until Monday.  This package containes what ID we could get together, cash, and his ATM card replacement.  Oh yea, honey buns. 

We're immediately trying to get another drop set up for Hanover, New Hampshire.  He's in summer weight clothes and sleeping gear.  He wants his sleeping bag and some warmer clothes ASAP.  They were taken by surprise by the rapid drop in temperatures in Vermont.  For the past two weeks he's headed almost due north.   Right now they are about level with Upper Michigan so the temps will continue to drop.  The average temperatures in Vermont is still fairly high but there can be wild swings due to storms and the altitude through the White Mountains.  Nighttimes temps under freezing is not uncommon.  I checked yesterday and the temperature on Mount Washington was a low in the 30's with 85 mile per hour winds.  He's still a few weeks out from here but will be near this elevation several times in the coming weeks. 

He's been using a "pay as you go" ATT phone.  Looking at the coverage map he will start to completely lose service by the first of next week.  There appears to be some 3G coverage through N.H. and Maine.  We're going to try to get his Iphone hooked back up so he will have some sort of phone service in the coming month. He has his Iphone with him but is mainly using it as an Ipod. 

As long as he gets his package in Wallingford he'll be fine. I should know by Saturday afternoon. He told me Monday he was carrying enough food to get him into this coming weekend.  I'll post as soon as I find out.
He sounded in good spirits and was really enjoying Vermont.  He's never excited about hiking with a specific time agenda but making it into Wallingford is critical. 
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