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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Thursday, August 25, 2011

Glencliff, N.H. / White Mountains 8/25

We have not heard much from Ryan and Company since Hanover, NH.  They spent a down day near Dartmouth College sometime last weekend.   He made a couple of attempts to call but the connection was bad and the call was short.  He sent a GPS ping around 3:00 this afternoon putting him in Glencliff, NH.  They are officially in the White Mountain National Forest.  At Glencliff, he has hiked 1,782 miles.  He has exactly 400 to go. 
 
From what I could understand a few of the hikers he is with are running out of money.  There was a prospect of staying in Hanover an extra day and doing some kind of work for someone.  I never was able to get the details.  Ryan appeared to be on the move by Monday morning.  He did miss a couple of GPS pings but his progress indicated he has been on the move the entire week.
The Whites and the Presidential Range promise to be a challenging hike by not only altitude but also weather extremes, bears, and moose.  Checking the park bulletin board, they are warning of considerable bear activity in the park.  The ultimate challenge in the Whites will be Mount Washington. At 6,500 feet Mount Washington holds the world wind speed record and many temperature records. During a wild April storm in 1934, a wind gust of 231 miles per hour (372 kilometers per hour) pushed across the summit of Mount Washington. This wind speed still stands as the all-time surface wind speed observed by man record. 80 mph is common on most days.

The predicted track of the hurricane heading up the east coast takes the storm right up through Hew Hampshire and into the White Mountains.  That should add another level of excitement.  Last week Ryan was telling me how much they enjoyed heavy rain and hail.  His theory was that after walking 1700+ miles it took a lot to add challenge.  A good storm added to the challenge and excitement.  They looked forward to bad weather.
Thee will be few chances to hear from him for the next few weeks. I believe he sent another picture card from Hanover. If so, it should come today or tomorrow. 

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