guest blogger/hiker: mad hatter (aka Jack)

I joined billy goat and little pony on the trail at north adams, ma - joined them with trepidation. I was tentative about inserting myself into the middle of their pilgrimage - worried that I would slow them down or break their stride or interrupt the delicate balance. To my delight and amazement hiking through vermont, sharing the trails, has been one of the most exhilirating experiences of my life. The rhythm of the trail has a sort of elemental, spiritual quality to it. One falls into a satisfying routine that rises almost to the level of ritual, rising early in the morning with the sunrise to prepare a simple meal - finding the trail with stiff muscles - falling into the dreamstate of prolonged rigorous exercise - brief joyous pauses throughout the day to rehydrate and refuel - the ecstasy of reaching shelter at the conclusion of the day every muscle in your body alive.

the gratification of being in such constant physical beauty literally scrubs your spirit clean. Everything on the trail is so real - it is a dramatic equalizer. The people you meet on the trail have all walked the same miles and mountains. I'm hooked on the appalachian trail. I'm coming back to section hike the whole thing. Billy goat and little pony are more vital on the trail than I have ever known them and I owe them a great debt of gratitude. - jack "mad hatter" cromie

Insult to injury

The AT's got plenty of places where you can really messv yourself up. But many injuries we've heard about come from seemingly innocuos things. One guy, alone in a shelter awoke for a nocturnal pee. He brushed against his hanging pack, startled, fell off the shelter platform and broke his hand. He's ok though. He did 29 miles overnight. Another guy finished the gnarliest climb in PA--only to slip on a pebble and cut his head to the skull. He took some time off, but is now walking southbound. I've had some silly injuries, too. After I switched from heavy climber's rope to cheap, light synthetic line, a tactical miscommunication left me with rope burn on the knuckles. And the one time I lit the stove, I neglected to prime it, instead opening the valve all the way and flicking the Bic. I didn't need that particular patch of leg hair, anyway. - billy goat

Attrition

By the time we started walking the AT from Harper's Ferry, about half of the 1200 or so who started at Springer Mountain, GA had already quit. About 20 percent historically make it all the way to Mt. Katadhin, the AT's northern terminus. Several hikers we've met in passing or got to know pretty well have left since then. The factors vary from Lyme's Disease to injury, to trail fatigue. They all fall under one umbrella--the Trail is just plain hard. We miss the hikers we've walked with and chatted with. And we're pulling for the ones remaining to make it all the way.
Billy Goat