April 8 - Cornelius to Black Rock overlook. Next came yet another steep climb to the top of Apple Orchard Mountain, the highest point on the trail for nearly 800 miles. Then on and on past Thunder Hill Shelter and Petite's Gap, over Highcock Knob and past Marble Spring, a groundwater source that is hardly…Read more Companions on the trail

April 7 - Down Buchanan Trail, through the wet glens that mark the approach to Jennings Creek. Next came the sharp incline up Fork Mountain to Bryant Ridge Shelter and from there the 2100 foot climb to the tip of Floyd Mountain. Cornelius Creek was just beyond. 12.6 miles.   My first night in a…Read more Thunder on high 

The April 6th Overview: April 6 - Wilson Creek over Black Horse Gap and the overlooks.  Down some leaf-littered mountain trails to the Peaks of Otter and Mills Gap. Then up from Bearwallow Gap to Cove Mountain and along the rocky trail to Cove Mountain Shelter. 14.7 miles. Much to my relief I survived that first…Read more Climbing to new heights

Fair warning: due to the exhaustive nature of the enterprise I've (foolishly) committed to, my posts will not be as timely and predictable as your morning newspaper. Here's the first piece of the tale to come. It's not lengthy, ornate, or evocative, but bear with me, the frozen-fingered hiker makes for a poor typist. Some…Read more First Night

Tomorrow I'm off to start the Appalachian Trail. In pursuit of its promise of a new horizon each day. In spite of it's reputation for breaking ankles as well as wills.  Drawn by the lonely path, I fear neither the bear nor the banjo music ringing in the deep wood.   In short, I'm done watching…Read more A Million Steps