Appalachian Trail – Page 3 – Trailblazing Next

Appalachian Trail Hiking Maine

Day 4 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #14

Kim FordAugust 7, 2024471

Kim and Christine in the 100 Mile Wilderness

Today, was full of decisions. Some sections were quite difficult to navigate, with not one clear, easy path. They demanded swift, yet thoughtful choices, mirroring life's complex dance of risk and reward

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Appalachian Trail Hiking Maine

Day 3 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #13

Kim FordAugust 5, 2024572

AT Maine

The trailhead welcomed us with open arms, Karen and Danya leading the way, with the serene Nahmakanta Lake gracing our journey. A slight drop in humidity and the sporadic lake breeze were nature's small mercies. Amidst the chatter, I…

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Appalachian Trail Hiking Maine

Day 2 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #12

Kim FordAugust 5, 2024448

Appalachian Trail Maine bog boards

We all face different challenges, some known and some that catch us by surprise. Today, I encountered both. My apprehension towards water crossings was unfounded, as they were mostly dry, making them an easy feat. However, the real test…

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Appalachian Trail Hiking Maine

Day 1 – Slackpacking Maine – AT Hike #11

Kim FordAugust 3, 2024545

Bears eating the food in Baxter State Park, Maine.

Curiosity drew some of us towards these mysterious visitors, and we soon learned they were bear baiters. The barrels, it turned out, were containers for luring bears—a practice unfamiliar to me. They even shared a glimpse into their world…

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Appalachian Trail Hiking Maine

Day 0 – Slackpacking Maine

Kim FordAugust 3, 2024545

Slackpacking Maine 2024

Our destination, the Appalachian Trail Hostel & Outfitters, was a beacon at the edge of downtown Millinocket and our Maine trail home.

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- Appalachian Trail, Hiking, Pennsylvania
- December 4, 2023
Hike #2 | 8.71 miles | Pennsylvania | Bernheisel Bridge Road to Boiling Springs

I didn’t dare ask my husband if he would hike the Appalachian Trail with me again, at least for a couple of days. When I saw the weather forecast for the weekend, I could no longer resist. “Why honey, the weather looks really good this weekend. It’s going to be 60 degrees in the Carlisle area,” I said. Trying to not make the same mistake as the last hike. I figured out how to create a custom route on the Far Out app, in the correct direction, and found a section with a lot fewer squiggly lines. I screenshot the route and sent it to him. He showed up with a bag of supplies the next day. Boom!!! Without saying yes, he said yes! This time, we thought it would be wise to buy some cool headlamps and to start our next hike with additional daylight. My husband tested the headlamp out around the neighborhood when he walked the dog. I’m sure our neighbors think we are complete dorks now (if they didn’t already). We checked in at The Carlise House, a beautifully restored 1826 Civil War House in Carlisle, PA then walked to dinner at 1794 Whiskey Rebellion. I’ve,...
- Appalachian Trail, Beginning, Hiking, Massachusetts
- June 9, 2024
Day 0 – Slackpacking Massachusetts

Today was arrival day, the day I got to meet the 11 strangers I would be spending the next 6 days with. I met Barb and her sister Linda in the driveway and instantly knew this group wouldn’t be strangers for long. Barb, whom I call water woman, is brilliant, and loves tech. Yep, loved her instantly. It was great to meet the other ladies throughout the evening as well as our 3 guides. I was impressed to learn how experienced each of the guides were with the Appalachian Trail and that they are all Woofers (see below) and one is an EMT. I certainly hope I don’t need to be carried off the trail. The home is quintessential New England, but happened to be built by the DuVal’s (a Pittsburgh family), in the early 1900’s. Pittsburgh always seems to find its routes in every small group anywhere I go in the country. After a delicious dinner, we sat down for our daily debriefing about the next day. I’m not going to lie, I felt a bit defeated as the guides talked about these hikes being a Level 5, the most challenging, Adventures in Company offers. I immediately started questioning,...
- Appalachian Trail, Hiking, Pennsylvania
- November 20, 2023
Hike #1 | 9.05 miles | Pennsylvania | Sheet Iron Roof Rd to Boiling Springs

We were ready for our first hike on the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, or were we? I joined multiple Facebook groups, bought the AT trail guide, and even bought the map bundle for the entire trail on the highly recommended Far Out app. I used the app to try to figure out the mileage and came up with a route around the 8 to 9-mile range. I thought that was the perfect distance for first-timers and our previous hiking experience. My husband took a peak at the route and mentioned that the elevation changes looked pretty challenging. I brushed off his comment thinking the squiggly lines were just little ups and downs and we would be okay. To be honest, I had tried about 10 other routes and the squiggly lines were even taller. We had hiked together many times over the years, including training for the Rachel Carson Challenge so I figured this would be just another walk in the park. We drove from Pittsburgh and parked in downtown Boiling Springs PA just across from the TCO Fly Shop. Then we took an Uber to the AT trailhead on Sheet Iron Roof Road. So far my plan was executed,...