The Appalachian Trail
In April of 2022, Amy graduated from college, Alex quit his job, and they attempted to thru-hike the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine together.
It was a massive endeavor, and they soon learned that climbing mountains is one of those things that doesn’t necessarily get easier over time. Along the trail, they faced obstacles ranging from hungry black bears to torrential downpours to heat waves to stomach viruses. In spite of this, or perhaps as a result, they had the time of their lives’ as they trudged their way northbound.
In September of 2022, after nearly five months of hiking every day, they summited Mt. Katahdin in the remnants of a hurricane and were finally victorious. Alex wrote a journal entry each of the 147 days they spent hiking. Check them out below.
June 18, 2022
6/8 ‐ Day 39 20.1 miles from Knot Maul to Jenkins Shelter We lazily refused to walk down a steep 0.2 mile spur trail …
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June 26, 2022
6/14 – Day 45 19 miles from Pine Swamp Branch Shelter to House Ruins This morning, Candyman and I woke up in a puddle. …
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July 2, 2022
6/21 – Day 52 19.2 miles from Black Rock Overlook to Glasgow It was the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, better …
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July 8, 2022
6/26 – Day 57 7.7 miles from Stanimals 328 Hostel to Calf Mountain Shelter Up to this point, whenever we hiked a half day …
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July 20, 2022
7/4 – Day 65 23.8 miles from Jim & Molly Denton Shelter to Buzzard Hill Following two neros and a zero, it was time to …
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July 26, 2022
Spout is fired. She was supposed to be journaling the last four days but instead used her limited leisure time on things like “looking at …
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Gallery
Sunrise through the trees at Tray Mountain
Amy by a field of wild germanium
View approaching Springer Mountain
Alex and Amy at the start of the AT Approach Trail at Amicalola Falls State Park
Riding in Roy's old pickup truck
Webs, Happer, Amy, Alpha, Alex, Mosha, and Onion at the GA/NC border
Brief clearing of the fog from the fire tower
Timber rattlesnake spotted on Cheoah Bald
Alex and Amy on Clingman's Dome observation deck
Lakeside view across Fontana Lake
Small island on Fontana Lake in the morning
The view from the top of Shuckstack
Amy walking through the tall grass
Climbing to Clingman's Dome
Amy next to a massive tree in the old growth forest of the Smokies
Amy and Morpheus hiking as rain clouds roll in
Pretty flowers make good filler pics
Roan High Knob trail washout
Beautiful field on Roan High Knob
Trail north of Carver's Gap
Alex and Spout, going all the way
Spout climbing Grassy Knob
Interesting turtle with a white shell we spotted on the trail
Opposite side of Watauga Dam
Spout standing in a pasture
Pastures leading towards Virginia
So long NC, and thanks for all the fish
Spout walking through a stand of spruce in the fog
Happer, Spout, Candyman, Cabbage
Candyman on a bridge along the Creeper Trail
Candyman, Spout, and Happer on Mt. Rogers
My fiancé looking amazing sitting on a rock
Grayson Highlands State Park
Our campsite the night before in Grayson Highlands
Overlook of Walker Mountain
Spout walking past the Settlers Museum
We passed mile 500 the other day!
Sunset at Settlers Museum
I have no pictures of today, so here is a rat snake. We've been seeing these all over Virginia
Beautiful Virginia landscape
Candyman on Tinker Cliffs
Candyman Standing on Dragon's Tooth
The slope of Killington Peak
Spout eating some ice cream from the farmer's market
Finally found more dark chocolate buckeyes!
Spout fighting the wind on the "plateau" section
Season Pass, Spout, Candyman, Carrie, and John at the AT Lodge in Millinocket, ME
Spout signing the ceiling panel of the Appalachian Trail Cafe
Spout climbing the boulders before The Gateway
Candyman and Spout, less than a mile from thr summit of Katahdin
The endless lakes of the 100 Mile Wilderness from Katahdin
Spout and Candyman on Baxter Peak, Mt. Katahdin
Looking north from the summit
Dressed for the arctic tundra
Spout sitting around the fire at The Birches
Mt. Katahdin behind Daicey Pond
Close-up of Mt. Katahdin on Daicey Pond
Beautiful fall foliage in Baxter State Park
The first bridge we crossed in Baxter State Park
Bog near the park entrance
Stryder, Candyman, P.I., Spout, and Season Pass
Blurry shot of Rainbow Ledges
Campfire on Thompson Brook
Mt. Katahdin from the summit of Mt. Nesuntabunt
Campfire at the Antlers Campground
Plane wreckage in the Chairbacks
Candyman and Spout at mile 2,100
Spout following a man through a stream
This is what the majority of the trail looked like
Whitecap Mountain, the tallest peak in the 100 Mile Wilderness
Blanket of clouds from the top of Chairback Mountain
Plane crash debris on the Chairbacks
Lake in the 100 Mile Wilderness
Spout chilling in the yurt
A lady at the ATC Visitor Center in Monson, ME explaining the routes up and down Mt. Katahdin
View from Moxie Bald. Bigelow Mountain pictured in the distance
Common area of the Maine Roadhouse
Polaroid now hanging on the wall of the hostel
Candyman paddling across the Kennebec River
Reindeer moss on the summit of Pleasant Pond Mountain
Chilling in a hottub at Kennebec River Brewery
Stryder and P.I. on a canoe
Lake at the base of Bigelow Avery
YaYa on the summit of Bigelow
We cooked pierogies for dinner at the hostel
Sunset while hiking down Sugarloaf
Candyman and Spout at mile 2,000
I thought we were done rock climbing...
Season Pass looking at The Horn
Top of Saddleback Mountain
Sunset hike in the Whites
Candyman climbing down a ladder
Coming off Wyman Mountain
Tyler, Spout, Candyman, and Olivia on Old Speck Mountain
Now this is a hiking trail
Spout climbing through Mahoosuc Notch
Spout and Season Pass descending
Mt. Washington in the rear view
Rocky stream near the base of Mt. Madison
Sunset in the Whites before we reached the hut
Spout climbing down to the Madison Springs Hut (feat. Mt. Madison)
The Presidentials clearing up
Descending Mt. Washington
Candyman, 8 ball, and A.O.
Meal at the Purple Tomato
Candyman and Season Pass walking backing to the motel
Beer break on Franconia Ridge
The Nuts Family children have signed every logbook like this since Georgia
Candyman and Spout on Franconia Ridge
Candyman and Season Pass on Mt. Liberty
Candyman and Spout on Mt. Moosilauke
North face of Mt. Washington
A break in the clouds leading up to the Presidentials
Intimidating trail leading to Mt. Washington
Mt. Lafayette from the summit of Mt. Wolf
Candyman, Spout, and Season Pass on Mt. Washington
Gradient of mountains from Webster Cliffs
Boulder campsite on South Twin
The descent of Mt. Lafayette
Spout climbing down Mt. Moosilauke
Candyman, Strongman Finals '22
The roof of the Lookout Shelter
Carrie, Candyman, and Spout at Tuk Tuk Thai Cuisine
View from the summit of Smarts Mountain
Spout v.s. Freedom in a grudge match
Detached bunk house at Hikers Welcome Hostel
Spout and Season Pass sitting by the fire
Whale-bird-deer thing painted on the outdoor shower
Spout at the Hexacuba Shelter
Yellow flowers, white trees
Spout contemplating eating some apples
Roaring Falls during the dry season
Candyman on the climb to the summit of Killington Peak
Ski lift on Bromley Mountain
Communication tower on Killington Peak
Season Pass, Spout, and Candyman going for a night hike
Spout working the bean fields
Cute dog that drove up to the post office in a convertible
The dining room of the Yellow Deli
Beautiful stretch of trail after Beacon Hill
Porcupine relaxing in a tree
Mossy rocks on the AT/Long Trail
A white blaze denoting 3/4 of the way to Mt. Katahdin!
Sunset on top of Stratton Mountain Fire Tower
Spout crossing a footbridge
Small beaver pond in Vermont
Observation tower on Mt. Greylock
Spout with a full bucket of berries
VT/MA border and the southern terminus of the Long Trail
Free pastries at the Break Room
The Adirondacks (New York) and Green Mountains (Vermont) from the top of Mt. Greylock
What 600 miles of rocks does to a shoe
Season Pass in the back of car
Resupplying is the most difficult part of thru-hiking
Tom Levardi's backyard packed with tents the day before
Pick-your-own blueberry stand
Swimming off the dock at Upper Goose Pond
Our canoes on the pond island
Dirty socks on a pretty lake
Are we going the right way?
The Great Barrington Travel Lodge
Candyman hanging on by a thread
Spout descending Mount Everett
Connecticut high peak selfie
Spout and Candyman at mile 1,500
Swimming in Great Falls and the Housatonic River
Spout squeezing between two rocks
Candyman, Season Pass, Wraps
Beach near concession stand
Icarus, Season Pass, Spout, and Candyman stepping into New York
Hiker party on the porch of Cinderella's house
Trail magic at Culver Gap (Moose not pictured since he left to fill up water jugs)
Spout and Season Pass scrambling
Pink sunset clouds at the Spiritual Center
Candyman, Tarzan, and Spout reaching mile 1,400
Spout in the Lemon squeezer
Season Pass floating away on his sleeping pad
Sunset on Mombasha High Point
Candyman and Spout near Pinwheel Vista
The coolest retro campsite you'll ever see at the Warwick Drive-in
Spout living her best life on a wooden tractor
Drinking at the Pennings Cidery
Jake grazing majesticly under the sunset
Rainbow on Mombasha High Point
Spout leaving Sunrise Mountain
Spout swimming in the lake
View of Kittatinny Lake and Bridgeville from our campsite
Jake approached us while we were eating breakfast the following morning!
Candyman and Spout on Catfish Fire Tower
Trail magic (Moose not pictured as he temporarily left to fill up water)
Mom, Dad, and Candyman trying to figure out the thermostat
The living room at our AirBnB
Candyman, Mom, and Dad using their collective brain power to figure out the thermostat
Finding peace among chaotic rocks
Candyman eating crabby tots
Photo of rocks (actual size)
One last selfie with the family!
Candyman, Spout, Bill, and Devani at the Apple Pie Bakery, Delaware Water Gap, PA
Traversing Wolf Rocks in the rain
Climbing out of Palmerton
The view from the Lookout Hostel
