May/June 2010 - Appalachian Trail Conservancy

of hikes of the entire A.T. posted to its register of 2,000-milers.
This includes 633 reports, which were received since last year’s listing.
Of those, 560 thru-hikers and section hikers completed the Trail in 2009.
h
2010
* Brown, Bruce
Santiago, Joseph A.
2,000
-milers
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) now has more than 11,280 reports
2009
Compiled by volunteer Greg Stover
Floater
Acimovic, Phil
Ninja
Ackley, David
Stewball
Akery, Matthew Jason Speedstic
*Albritton, Rachel
Katchup
*Aldworth, Don
Cruiser
*Allen, Mark P.
Bison
Alley, Matt
Snarky Snarkerson
Alloway, Aaron HeathAngry Hippie
*Almendinger, Ron Loan Arranger
Altice, Charles Aaron
Dude on Couch
Anderson, Michael
Gezza
Anderson, Roxanne
Top Shelf
Arabie, Anthony J.
Union Break
Arensberg, Alex
Splinter
Armstrong, James
James
*Arnold, Jeffrey R.
Longhaul
Arnold Jr., Jack
Wishbone
Arteaga, Marcelo
Don Coolio
*Arterburn, Brad
Ringmaster
*Ashbacker, Rick
Deer
*Atwood, Wes
Cy
*Aue, Ashley
Holdout
Aydelette, Karin
Tumbleweed
* Babarskas, Craig
Otter
Baer, Jonathan E.
Sneaks
Baker, Kathy
Honey Bee
* Baker, Richard
Daredevil Dick
* Baker, Robert F.
Ball, David
Yukon Rasputon
* Ball, Jaron
Big Bear
Ballard, Kim
2 lbs.
Basinger, Nicholas
Rojo
Baumgartner, Christine
Rock Lobster
Beares, Erin
Das Boot
* Bevan, Randy
Handyman
Biviano, Robert
Sunnuke
Blackley, Shay
Wander
Blackman, Todd
Sparky
Bloink, Joshua
Natty Bumpo
* Bowen, Stephanie
Tinkerbell
* Boxall, David Dave from England
Brady, Matthew
“Older” of the Brothers Rogue
Brake, Jason
Limbo
* Braunlich, Christian
Home Fry
Breit, Joshua
Stink
* Brekke, Bruce E.
Featherfoot
Brewer, Jared
Hoover
* Bridges, Julia Mayer
Okefenokee Pokey
Briggs, Sally
T-Toe
Brokaw, Jones M.
Bonesey
* Brown, Glenn S.
Yak
Brown, Jordan
Liquid
* Brown, Trevor
T-Bone
Brueck, John
Spiceman
Brundage, Jonathan Moontower
* Bufano, Paul
Boof
Burge, Will
Billy Goat
* Burger, Ron
Gray Beard Beaver
Byrd, James W.
jaybird
* Calder, Mary A.
Gofar
Campbell, Caroline Sancho Panza
Campbell, Christopher
Moses
Campbell, Jacob
Pit Stop
* Campbell, Tom
Pac Man
* Carroll, Edward
Walky Talky
* Chaffee, Adam
Black Toe
* Chamberlain, David
Goose
* Charlton, Jeremy
Car Hop
* Christmann, Heinz
Heinz the Walker
Church, Kyle
Strider
Clark, Elizabeth
Chewy
Clark, Nathan
Tekla
* Clark, William
Roots
Clohan, Gary
Canada
Collins, Joseph
Sunday
* Conlin, John
Gator
* Connelly, Brian Harrison General
h
* Corey, Dorothy
Snowy
Costanzo, Kelly
Snuggles
Costner, Stacey
Wishy-Washy
Cotter, Zachary Burson Incognito
* Cowdery, Eileen
Jukebox
Crosby, Clay
Chief Walt
* Cuddihy, Ryan
Highlander
* Cutting, Linda L.
Nanigoat
Czaka, Zoltan-Laszko
* Daileader, Richard
Da’Leader of the Trail
Dani, Lino
Icarus
Dansky, Caleb
Hill Raiser
* Darr, Alex
Postman
* Darr, Gregory J.
Toubab
Dasek, Nick
Daddy Longlegs
Davila, Jorge
Bearbait
* Davis, Brett A.
Poptart
Davis, Carson
Stuff Sack
Davis, Nate
Drunken Sailor
* Davis, Terri
Munchi
* Dawes, Chris
Tea Bags
Day, Eric
Brown Chicken
Dearborn, Peter Joseph Poo Bear
* Delisle-Mitchell, Donna
Nature
* DeLuca, Marc
Spokes
Dennison, William H.
Firebug
dePolo, Chris
Chance
* DePriest, Sherri Elaine
Dreamcatcher
* Dever, Chris
Daddy Goose
* DeVoe, Chad
The Teacher
Diehl, Krisdin
Threshold
Dillman, Ashley
Pickle
* Dixon, Grey
Greybear
Doddo, Crystal Beth
Birch & Fancy Pants
Dolci, Emily
Half Full
* Doughty, Ellie
Lady Samantha
Douillard, Mike
Smiley
Dow, Mike
TBD
Down, Jacob
Don’t Panic
Doyle, Jordan
Boofer
* Drew, Janna
Jabberwocky
* We would like to express our appreciation for these 2,000-milers who have chosen to support
the Appalachian Trail as Appalachian Trail Conservancy members (current as of April 1).
22 a .t. j o u r n e y s m ay–j u n e 2 010
Driver, Madison
Spoon
* Duckworth, Chris
Stuts
* Dunn, Alexander
Ruin
* Dunn, Peter
Stonebrown
Dupont, John Paul
Duckman
Eanes Jr., Billy C.
Memo
*Edwards, Tim
Will
*Edwards, Vickie
Way
*Eilers, Sue
Getsupearly
Ellison, Marvin
Hoosier Ben
Emmons, Nathaniel Gritty McDuff
Engels, Wade
Bushwacked
*Erskine, Amy
Wags
Eun Jung, Yoon
MT Love
*Evans, Richard
Pacer
* Faassen, Graham Minne’Sota’ I.P.A.
* Facemire, Jon
Pooh Bear
* Fair, Stephen
Rugged Shark
* Fallis, Bruce M.
Juice
* Fallis, Marcia
MommaLlama
Farrell, Nick
UCOC
* Fissel, Rob
Foxtrot
* Flanagan, Douglas
* Flanagan, Peter
* Fleetwood, Cynthia
Ms. Muster
Fletcher, Kevin
Fletch
* Floyd, John W.
SWC
Foley, Dave
Dah Wah He
* Foster, Judith
Novia
* Foxx, Dan
DUBS
* Fraher, Ian W.
WolfPack
Francour, Brittany
Dirty Mess
Francour, Kirstin T.
Too Klean
* Freeman, Allen
Monkeywrench
* Freifeld, Margaret
Ultimate Flipflopper
French, Kimberly A.
Petunia
French, Ronald C.
Treehugger
Fromm, Mark
Country Runner
* Frye, David Trevor Flying Scotsman
Gannon, Patrick
Kuru
* Garren, Bill
Baltimore
Gay, Brandon
Goof
* Gay, Marit Anderson Moonwalker
Gemmer, Andrew
Fidget
Gerome, Nicky
Hotsauce
* Gilchrist, Andrea
Willow
Gilchrist, Eryn
Lightning
Gips, Rachel
Snorkel
Given, Madelyn K.
Madelyn from Maine
* Goad, Arlie A.
Ace
* Goloub, Janet
Gomlak, David
Topofgothics
* Gordon, Chris
Flash Gordon
Gordon, Louis
Sweet Lou
Gornto, William
Wanderlust
Grabon, Jeffrey
Unplugged
* Graham, Michael Child of Fortune
Graper, Ian
Mudslide
Graper, Kendra
Pudgie Pie
Graves, Liz Klehm
Hobbit
Green, David
Green Lite
Green, Stephen
Mr. Green Tea
* Green, Suzanne
Grace
Griffith, Alan
Thunderbird
Grimm, David
Chomp
Gruszewski, Tyler
.2 (point-two)
Guild, David
* Gunther, Fred
Hazard
* Haegele, Elizabeth
Rocket
Hale, Terry L.
Buffalo
Hall, Arthur
Blazer
Hamilton, Rebecca
Squeegie
* Hamlet, Anthony
Pyrofly
* Haney, Carol A.
Rockamimi
Hankes, Benjamin
Gastank
Hankes, Nathan B.
B.B.
* Hanlin, Neal Walker O.G. (Old Gear)
* Hardin, Kel
George & Gracie
Harlan, Steven R.
Fleegle
* Harner, Dede
Skittles
* Hassler, Brad
Hoosier
Hawthorne, Shannon Short Bus
* Haxby, Sara
Joker
* Headley, Todd
Frankenfoot
Heavner, Patrick
Windbreake
Hemberg, Matthew
MudD
* Hennig, Chris
Feed Bag
* Henson, Michael
Tabasco
* Herman, David
Turtle D
* Herman, Marrion
Turtle M
* Hess, Jason C.
Two Lions
* Hewitt, David L.
Ironman
* Higgs, Rocky
Skunk Ape
Hill, Greg
Bacon
Hill, Jim
Wingo
* Hitchcock, Charlotte R.
Eeyore
Holcomb, Jean
Calamity Jean
* Holladay, Cori Alice
Grommet
* Holland, Carolyn
Soaring
Holloway, Daniel
Mr. Right
Horne, Benjamin
Sideshow
Houston, Michael WilsonCoondog
Howe, Katie
Wing It
Hrycik, Ben
Camel
Hubbard, Keith A.
Huck Finn
Hunter, Chris
Hurley, Ryan Keane
Hitch
Hutcheson, Steve
Tully
Irwin, Steven
Screamin Steven
Jaanimagi, Erik
Brown Cow
*Jackson, Martha
Kiwi
*Jackson, Ray
Papa Kiwi
James, Rebecca Rentz Cantelope
*Jardine, Ray
Plain Ol’ Ray
Jarsulic, James
Jim Dandy
Jeck, Jon
One Shoe
*Jeffcoat, Eric
Tweak
*Jobe, Kenneth L.
Slagline
Johnson, Bryce
Tarzan
Johnson, Chris
Mr. Buffalo Man
*Johnson, Cody
Gordon Bombay
Johnson, Sherri
Bubba
Johnson, Tord M.
Johnson III, David
*Johnston, Wendy
Shimmy
Jones, Roland
Grizzly Jones
Joseph, Jessica
Angry Beaver
* Kapoor, Maya
Jungli
* Keenan, Tim
Naneek
* Kelley, Ralph
Mountain Man
Kelogg, Samuel
Spirit Fingers
* Kelso, Rich
Dioko
* Kiehn, Tina
Chunky
* Killian, John K.
Spin Master
Killion, Graham
Kimmel, Douglas
The Phoenix
* Kinder, Russ
Trusty
King, Edward R.
Shagbark
King, Elijah
Apache
King, Tyler
Patches
* Kinsella, Tom
Lakota
* Klehm, Carrie
Knickers
* Kloehn, Joshua
Motor
Klotz, Dustin
Spicoli
Koski, Jessica
Peanut
Kraft, Matthew
Lunch Box
* Kressler, Karelyn
Little Dipper
* Kuehn, Tori
t Suds
Kuehne, Jeffrey E.
Phoenix
T r e v o r “ Sn ags” P e l l i n e n a n d A n n i e M ac W i l l i a m s by “ B ac k ya r d B o o g i e”
a .t. j o u r n e y s m ay–j u n e 2 010 23
633 h i k e r s— f o u r s t y l e s o f t r a i l co m pl e t i o n :
Kurzban, Claire
Memere
* Kviatkofsky, Nick
Tex Redwood
* Kviatkofsky, Sara
* La Coss, Ron
Bird
Lambiasi, Anthony R.
Mason
Landgren, Jeffrey
Karjon
Lane, Larry
Rockskar
Larsen, Joshua
Porkchop
Laub, Andrew
Camel
Lawrence, Ryan Thomas
Ox
Lawson, Anita
Lightweight
Lawson, Ian
Mr. Ed
* Leachman, Cortney
Berry
* Leachman, Joel
Bark
Leatherman, Marcia G.
Mossy Brown
LeDoux, Chris
Ducky
Lee, Harrison
Indy
* Lee, Jonathan M.
Leeman, Samuel
Stud the Dud
* Leichnetz, Sarah Tufted Titmouse
* LeMay, Michael Jeremiah Johnson
406 68
G e o r g i a to M a i n e
(G A- ME ) t h r u - h i k er s
Mangiardi, Ian
Dusty
*Manning, Lee J.
One Step
Maron, Sam
Samwise
Mars, David
Sky King
Martel, Jocelyn
Frenchie
Martin, Anne Marie
Hardcore
Martin, Nevena
Gangsta
Martin, Robert
Big Tuna
Martineau, Stephanie Lucky Star
Mason, Kim
New Day
Mast, Gerald
Freebird
*Mauer, Jonathan
Blacklist
Mazzone, Luke
Mazzone, Matthew E.
McCann, Whitney
Stickcake
McClish, Chuck
Bugman
McCollum, Mike
Steamboat
*McCombie, John
Wis-pee
McDonald, Rebekah
Bound
*McLemore, Samuel A.
Poncho
*McNair, Stephen
Big Tuna
*McPherson, Douglas Ramble On
A fellow thru-hiker once wrote,
I’m never going to forget,
or fail to appreciate
things like ‘new sock day.’
I think that pretty much sums it up.
K a r i n “ T u m b l e w e e d ” Ay d e l e t t e G A- ME 2 0 0 9
Lemieux Jr., Paul D.
Blessed
* Leon, Robert
Maya Guez
Lesmerises, William
Crash
Lewis, Andrew
Zombie
* Liles, Joe
Braid
* Lippe, Robert
Chili
Littman, Dori
Outloud
Litwiller, Megan
Nutmeg
* Look, Elizabeth A.
Lydon, Joseph C.
Indiana Toad
Lynch IV, Thomas A.K.
Leon
Lynsky, abina A.
K Bar
MacDade, Lauren
Bob-bon
MacDonald, Faren
Castle
*Mackey, Stephen
Legs
MacNab, Robert
Chinese Tourist
Maguire, Christopher
Maineac
Maguire II, John Phillip Corporate
Maker IV, Archie D.
Scarecrow
*Maliszeski, Steve
Big boots
*Malkemes, Ken
Never Got One
*Maner, Michael Lake Sharp Tooth
*Manger, David
Fat Kid
24 a .t. j o u r n e y s m ay–j u n e 2 010
*McPherson, Dwight
Rookie
*McQueen, Dan
Tidanium
Rolling Stone
*McRoberts, Eric
Meserve, Jonathan
Tuts
*Meservey, Ronald
R.B.
*Metroka, Chris
Firebuilder
*Miller, Alex
Padre
*Miller, Duane
Longgun 5
Miller, Loretta
Lil’ Dipper
Miller, Mathew
Hermes
*Millis,Bill
Doc
*Mitchell, Amanda
Plunger
*Mitchell, Preston Lee
Bojangles
Moor, Robert
Spaceman
Moore, Karen
Loon
Moran, Daniel
Stickcake
*Morley, Kimberly
Couscous
*Moulton, Dennis M.
Y-Knot
*Mounce, Abe
12-Pack
*Mudry, Linda
Katydid
*Mullee, Alec
Sunny
Murphy, Mary C.
Penny Whistle the Dueller
M a i n e to G e o r g i a
(ME - G A ) t h r u - h i k er s
*Myers, James J.
Ranger
Myers, Mary
Grommet
*Myers, Russell Fisherman’s Friend
Naone, Gwendolyn
Cyborg
Nedde, DonnaTenacious Turtle (T.T.)
*Nickle, Gabriel
Skip
Nora, Patrice
Storm
Norton, Byron
TNT
Nowakowski, Malgosia Lake 2 Lake
Nowakowski, Tomasz Manynames
*Olson, Bob
Big Bob
O’Shaughnessy, Eric
First Date
Osner, Noah
Honey-Do
Oster, Ian
Laid Back
* Pacek, Wendy
Tiger Bomb
* Palmer, Adam J.
Topo
* Palmer, Robert
Methane
* Papp, Michael
Rock
* Parkinson, Pam
Burly Girl
* Parkinson, Thomas
Bugsy
Parrott, Philip M.
Grits
Pasini, Joe
Patey, Nicholas G.
Doc
Pattison, Greg
Early Bear
Paulding, Alice
Snooze
* Paulson, Katelyn
Lupine
Peacock, Corelia
Gaia
* Pegram, Tim W.
Footnote
Perdue, Greg
Poseidon
Pesek, Chesley
Dance Party
Peterson, Carl Michael Sawman
Pettingill, Tim
Cargo Pockets
Pettit, Nathaniel
Elroy
* Phillips, John B.
Low Clearance
* Phillips, John M.
Wizard
* Phillips, Trudy
Blueberry
Phoebus, Betsi
Firecracker
* Piccone, Stefan
Big Fish
Pickard, Richard
Titeloops
Pinion, Dustin
Myco Polo
Poncet, Virginie Frenchies Blah-Blah
* Pouss, Matthew A.
Tiger
Price, Michael
Lumpy
* Pugh, Michelle
Cricket
Putnam, William
Giddy-Up
*Rahaim, Sarah Fender
O.Rose
Rathbun, Eric
*Redding, Erin
Little Tree
Reighart, Stephanie
Evergreen
*Reinhart, Martin
Wildcat
Relyea, Peter
ACE
Renne, Rachel R.
Racheopod
Reynolds, Chase Feels Like Today
Rice, Adam
Blondie
Richardson, Benjamin Barron
Mission
Rightor, Eric
Ahab
*Robertson, Danny
Stretch
Robinson, Will
Choo Choo
Rodriguez, Luis
Freeze
Rolax, Lance
4X4
Ross, Judith E.
Sweet Sixteen
*Ruddell, Evan
Straight Jacket
Ruggiero, Daniel
Hi-C
Runnels, Jessica
Yogi
Russell, Christopher
Hard Core
*Ryan, Bradley Sebastian
Hellbender
*Ryan, Tom
Tumbleweed Bagins
*Sands, Benjamin A.
Catfish
Santa, Stephen
Splice
Sarfas, Edward
Kea
Schipp, Scott
Scooner
*Schley, William E.
Tailwind
*Schmidt, Charles
Sarge
*Schmidt Jr., Wesley
Bronco
Schoell, David Mark
Hawkeye
*Schoen, Travis
Curse
Scott, Ryan Beauregard Shagnasty
Seese, Scott
Left Toe
*Seibel, Amanda
Egg
*Seibel, Bob
Buffoon
Self, Darren
Jukebox Hero
Serre, Dorian Frenchies Blah-Blah
*Shafer, Blake B.
Lil’ Wayne
*Shafer, Edwin “Win”
Birdman
Shahidi, Nima Linus Cloudbuster
Sharp, Dustin
Bullet
Shaw, Robert C.
Tumbleweed
Sheaffer, Christopher Mr. Freeze
*Shouse, Cathy
No Nails
Simons, James M.
Otter
*Sims, James S.
Purist
*Singh, Kabir David Harricharan
Hummus
*Skinner, Colin
PI
Slade, Jr., Bill
The Bills
Slaughter, Tracey
Pokey
*Smalley, Jane
Big Sis
Smalley, Lauren
Double Vision
Smith, Dustin S.
Dusty Bottom
Smith, Edward
(one of) The Smith Brothers
Smith, Jacob
Toothpick
Smith, Michael S.
(one of) The Smith Brothers
Smith, Mike
Ironwood
Smith, Robert T.
(one of) The Smith Brothers
Smith, Sean Stephen
Safari
Smith, Talitha
Crazy Lady
Sneider, David
Oddjob
Snowden, Robert E.
Lost Rob
Snyder, Alex
Spice Rack
*Spanogle, Steve
Spreadsheet
Spencer, Gabrielle
Solar System
*Splittgerber, Robert
Padre
*Stacy, Clark
Bones
Stanforth, Wes
Panama Red
*Stegman, Ted
Carolina
45
fl i p - flo ppe r s
Stephenson, Drew T. Statesboro
*Sterling, Patricia
Double Shot
Stewart, Mathew Fin Lunch Lady
Stiteler, Brendan
Don Quixote
*Storm, Leslie A.
More Sunshine
Strelbicki, Joshua W. Prairie Dog
*Stroud, Neal
Gnarwhal
Stryffeler, Diana
Bird
Suhar, John
Sullivan, Sean P.
Trampoline
Sutton, Jacob
*Suydam, Hank
Bunyan
*Swaim, Zach
Rocket
*Swart, John
Zan Dawg
*Swartz, Michael
New Knees
Tarpley, Ben
Gentle Ben
Taylor, Adam H.
Magic
Taylor III, Robert N.
In Deep
*Telford, Steven P.
Just Steve
Terrano, Robert
Boston
*Thomas, AndyAndy from Baltimore
Thomason, Levi
Bottom Bunk
Thompson, Ben
Rusticus
*Thompson, Gary
Happy
*Thompson, Jeff
Penn - J
Thundershield, Trevor
Hatchet
*Toledo, Len
Amante
Tomlin, Blake A.
Spider
Tretter, Megan
Ferdy
Truitt, Brian
Professor
Tsuboi, Natuski
MIJ
*Tulip, Joanne M.
Tulip
Tumidalsky, Joseph R.
Blue
Tunstall, Greg
Detour
*Turner, Gerald W.
Kanati
*Tyson, Chris
Amero
Underwood, Emily S.
Chocolate Chipmunk
* Valvanis, Kristin
Sled Dog
* van Dijk, Daniel
Blu Ray
* Van Dyke, Robert T.
Waterboy
Vandette Jr., Joseph M.
Hot Chocolate
Vickery, Stephen A. Veggie Steve
Villanueva, Andrea Mocking Bird
Villanueva, Jessica Humming Bird
* Voris, Jennifer
Billyhoot
Wachs, Jason
Steam
Wade, Dan
WD-40
* Waggott, Richard
Sir Richard
Walker, Chris
Odin
Walker, Don
Allgood
Wallington-Smith, George Wally
Walls, Jim
Vista Jim
Walsh, Chad
McBride
* Ward, Connie L.
Tag-along
* Ward, Dane
Tagless
* Warren, Benjamin
Primitive
* Weick, Bethann
Beth
* Weick, Maria
Maria
111
se c t i o n h i k e r s
Weisbrod, Samuel
Buckeye
Weldon, Bryan
Brewer
* Wells, Jack
Two Weeks
West III, James L.
G Fog
* Wetherbee, Pat
Saint
* Wetherbee, Sarah J.
Wind Up
Wetherby, Benjamin
Hatchet
* Wheeler, Karl
Desert Fox
Wiggins IV, John L. Space Cowboy
Wilke, Arthur
Croc Star
* Wilkins, Melinda
Many Names
* Williams, Harvey
Jolly Rancher
Williams, Leigh Anne
Denali
Williamson, Aaron
The Kid
Williamson, John W.
No $
Willson, Nathaniel
Chert
Willson, Shawn
Grizzly Adams
Wilmot, Michael
Nordic
* Wise, Amanda
Truckin’
Wolford, Brian
Col. Mustard
Wood, Jonathan
Slick Wood
* Wood, Matthew T.
Wright, Brad
Pusher
*Yannuzzi, Jason
Sailor J
* Zaccaro, Justin
Tank
Zapp, Jaroslav
Walkabout
* Zhan, LiJun
Highway Man
Zirkle, Jon
Birches
* Zuk, Mary
White Eagle
Zurbellen, Cody
C-Zur
* Zuroff, C. Peter
Alf
2008
* Bartkus, Arunas
Arius
Buckhanan, Matt
Buck
* Carbonell, Rick J.
BearWalker
Carter, Jason
New York Minute
Cheslak, Samuel T.
Leftfield
Cummins, Lane
Diesel
Dusenbury, Emma
NoAmp
Ellis, David
Big Brown
Farahan, Daniel
Chewbaca
Foster, Ryan L.
Indian Summer
Geymann, Tyler
Mudbug
* Hafner, David A.
Thorny
* Halliday, Agatha
Moonshadow
* Harris, Tyler
Skuter
Hart, Cary
Borders
Hodges, Kevin
Kbomb
*Johnston Jr., Charles W. Free Will
* Kenealy, Deborah
Spidey
Lampas, James
Six-Toe
Lampas, Mary
Fjord
McGee, Jr., Mark Allen
Crush
*McNulty, James W.
Dozer
Miller, Kirk
Kirk or AYCE
*Newsome, David
Java Man
*Newsome, Jane
Tea Sip
Perrett, Benjamin
Daisy
M i c h e l e “ c r i c k e t ” Pu g h
Pipes, Matt
Chip
Powers, Kris
Scout
Quimby, Bradley
Shitty Forecast
*Renninger, Warren
Lake
Roberson, Nikki
Flop
Rollins, Steve
Flip
Rooks, Bethany
Naps
*Rowat, R. Winona
“nona” from nowhere
Simons, Gregory
Greg
Stewart, Samuel The Highlander
* Walden, Jeff
Mercury
* Walker, Christopher
Kit
Wimberley, MichaelEmergency Shit
2007
Barczynski, Hoshaiah
Brisk
Conroy, Patrick
Hold On
* Forsman, Roderick
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Getter, Bonnie Diamond / Diamo
* Grembi, Jessica
Lady
Groman, Andrew
Juice
McDaris, Michael
Movin on
*Nickerson, Blaine
Blue
Pigeon, Carie
Scuffles
*Rohr, Adam
Larry
Solinsky, Chris
Spartan
Williams, Brady
Tater
2006
* Brothers, Jim
Running Bear
* Kanoy, Gary
Bucky
* Latkovski, Christopher
E.T.
O’Hara, Michael T.
Pardi, Frank
Shy, Eric C.
Bonesaw
Rael
Treefingers
2005
Gregor, Sean
Silver, John
Tamplin, Sadie
2004
Rest Stop
History
Goldfish
*Segel-Moss, Adam
Cliff Dancer
2003
Dabal, Richard P.
Lost-n-Found
* Gabrielsen, Robert Sir-Packs-A lot
Shaklan, Paul
Junkie
1999
Pedersen, Larry
1995
Byrd, James W.
1993
Byrd, James W.
Pocono Professor
jaybird
jaybird
1976
Youndt, Dean
1974
* Whitehill, Lynn
1972
* Porter, Joe
a .t. j o u r n e y s m ay–j u n e 2 010 25
As I See It
I
first heard of the Appalachian Trail in my
early teens. My younger cousin Ryan, talked
about the Trail and his dreams of hiking it
one day. I remember thinking, “sounds neat,
maybe I’d like to do that too.” Time went on
and I had long forgotten about the A.T. until I
was 15 years old and went on my first official backpacking trip in Joyce Kilmer Wilderness, North
Carolina. I was in love, and the thought of one day
thru-hiking the Trail resurfaced. The dream continued to linger in the back of my mind as I made my
way through the mandatory
process of high school and college. I would announce on occasion that I would one day like
to hike the A.T., but had no idea
when or how to tackle the planning of undergoing such a huge
expedition.
It wasn’t until the summer
of 2006, that my dream of attempting a thru-hike began to
manifest into a possible reality.
I was in my first year of graduate
school. I had been working since I was fifteen and
had done little for myself over the years. I was focused on work and school, barely keeping my head
above water. Although I wanted a career, I also deserved to do something for myself before joining the
work force. After some deep contemplation and
conversations with friends I decided that after
graduation, I would attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.
Why a thru-hike? Because I wanted to. There was
something inside of me screaming to get out. The
answer seemed simple and un-gratifying to most who
asked me why. Others just thought I was crazy. A
thru-hiker once stated that the desire to hike the A.T.
is something that you can feel deep within yourself,
but cannot find the words to express. I could not
agree more.
From March to September, 2009, I lived out my
dream. When I returned, the question on everyone’s
mind was “how was your thru-hike?” How in the
world do you sum up a 2,179 mile thru-hike from
Georgia to Maine? Don’t get me wrong, I love that
my friends, family, and even complete strangers, are
totally enamored by my experience and want to know
more. But how do you even begin talking about the
last 6 1/2 months of your life? I hiked. I hiked
through sun, rain, snow and mud, with biting bugs,
with pain, during the day, and at night. I just hiked.
Yet I know that my thru-hike was much more than
putting on my pack everyday and moving forward.
I still have yet to comprehend what I really did.
So how do I answer this question? “Incredibly
life-changing.” Before leaving on my hike I had a list
of goals I wanted to achieve; getting fit, becoming
"A thru-hiker once stated that the desire
to hike the A.T. is something that
you can feel deep within yourself,
but cannot find the words to express."
more spiritual, and becoming
more confident. The list went
on. I admit that I had no idea
what I was getting myself into.
Still, I knew I had the drive and
passion to stand on top of Katahdin in the end. Did
I achieve what was on my list? In many ways, yes,
but more importantly I believe that I gained what I
needed from my hike. This experience provided me
the opportunity to wake up to things in my life that
I had either been asleep to or too emotionally weak
to let go of. I will never look at the world the same,
nor will I ever view myself the same.
I chose to get real with myself. It’s easy to be honest with others, but not as easy to be honest with
yourself. I began to appreciate the truth and felt
empowered to change. I have spent much of my life
striving to meet the expectations and desires of others and have almost always put myself at the bottom
of the list. I blame no one but myself. This has been
a clear pattern throughout my life, and even throughout much of my hike. It took nearly 1,800 miles for
me to wake up to the reality of my actions, but I
woke up. I got real. I have no regrets. My hike was
meant to be what it was meant to be for me. My hike
was life-changing.
Rachel “Katchup” Albritton lives in Lenoir, North Carolina.
“As I See It” is a monthly column from guest contributors representing the full range of ATC partners, members and volunteers.
To submit a column for consideration, please email [email protected] or write to Editor/As I See It, Appalachian Trail
Conservancy, P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425.
a .t. j o u r n e y s m ay–j u n e 2 010 47
Black Bear
Neighborhood
The American black bear,
ancient denizen of the
primeval Appalachian forest,
is reclusive and rarely seen.
However, wildlife managers report that both
its numbers and range
appear to be increasing along the Appalachian Mountains.
By Bob Proudman
and Susan Daniels
12 a .t. j o u r n e ys m ay–j u n e 2 010
a .t. j o u r n e ys m ay–j u n e 2 010 13
any A.T. hikers still consider a black bear sighting
relatively rare, and a special treat. One thru-hiker
recollected his Vermont sighting as his deepest
spiritual experience, writing of his long walk many
years later in the Tidewater A.T. Club’s newsletter.
Nonetheless, negative encounters along the Appalachian Trail, particularly at shelters and campsites
where hikers and others fail to follow good foodstorage practices or leave garbage behind, may be on
the increase.
Ed Reed, wildlife biologist for the New York
Department of Environmental Conservation, says
that black bears naturally fear people and generally
avoid human contact, even in park settings where
encounters are likely. However, bears can become
habituated to people and may grow to tolerate or
ignore them. If people fail to follow good foodstorage practices, this habituation can lead to the
serious problem known by wildlife managers as a
“food-conditioned bear”— one that associates humans with acquiring food. The mother bear, or sow,
teaches this behavior to its cubs and yearlings during
their first year spent foraging together. Research in
American black bears have sharp, curved claws that make them excellent
tree climbers. Although their natural diet is about 75 percent plant based,
black bears are highly adaptable omnivores and opportunistic feeders.
P h oto s (p r e v i o us pag e a n d a b e lo w ) by Va n H i l l .
14 a .t. j o u r n e y s m ay–j u n e 2 010
the western U.S. has shown that a bear will become
food conditioned if it is successful as few as two times
in 50 attempts to obtain human food. A bear that
successfully obtains food by aggressive behavior
becomes more dangerous.
In the worst cases, a food-conditioned bear will
begin daylight foraging for food at shelter and camping areas. It may be hard to chase off. (Banging pots,
yelling, and throwing rocks will generally discourage
a bear from approaching.) It is difficult to change
the behavior of a habituated bear, but land managers
may use “aversive conditioning,” including firing on
it with rubber slugs or bean bags. Bears may be
captured, tagged, and tattooed for future tracking.
If the problem bear’s behavior worsens, remediation
requires moving the bear to another location or euthanizing it.
Although the natural diet of Ursus americanus is
about 75 percent plant based — soft mast (berries,
apples, and other fruits) or hard mast (nuts such as
acorns, beech, or hickory nuts) — these highly adaptable omnivores are biological “generalists” — they
will claw through a tree for bee honey, rob squirrel,
bird, and insect’s nests, prey on fawns, and eat carrion. They are opportunistic feeders.
Black bears are strong, with sharp curved claws
that make them excellent tree climbers. The males
grow larger and wander farther than mature females,
ranging over almost 60 square miles of habitat. This
underscores the need to secure wildlife corridors as
part of broader environmental goals. In fact, the
Appalachian Trail, augmented by the many state and
federal forests, parks, and game reserves along its
length, may be an important travel corridor for the
American black bear and other wildlife. Appalachian
Trail Conservancy (ATC) director of conservation
Laura Belleville has worked with Dr. Bill McShea of
the Smithsonian Institute to survey wildlife along
the A.T. in the mid-Atlantic area. This survey work
has helped us to understand where wildlife species,
including black bears, occur along the Trail in this
region. Surveys such as this one, as well as studies to
better understand landscape dynamics, will help A.T.
managers enhance corridor protection for migrating
fauna and flora. Recently, A.T. MEGA-Transect
scientists have been engaged in developing a decision
support system for managing Trail lands.
Nancy Bell with the Conservation Fund (TCF)
has worked with ATC and state officials in Vermont
and New Hampshire to identify and conserve blackbear travel corridors through the Green Mountains
from southern Vermont to Killington and eastward.
And, more recently, TCF and others working on the
Mahoosuc Initiative, have been instrumental in connecting the Mahoosuc Range with the White Mountain National Forest boundary near the Rattle River,
where black bears have been observed swimming
across the Androscoggin River. At its best, the A.T.
enables a symbiotic relationship — it protects and
provides vital thoroughfares for the wildlife that
make it their home, which in turn enriches the Trail
experience for hikers.
But at its worst, human-bear problems may grow
acute where both populations are on the increase,
where people have moved into prime bear habitat at
the “wildland interface,” or where bear habitat improves as former farms revert to forest, old orchards
become overgrown but still produce fruit, or (more
problematic) where exurban and suburban homes
have unprotected outdoor trash cans, bird feeders,
and pet food. One such area along the A.T. is New
Jersey, one of our nation’s most densely populated
states. There — in the northwestern corner, where it
borders Pennsylvania and New York, and the A.T.
follows both states’ borders — one finds rich natural
black bear habitat augmented by suburban foraging
opportunities. New Jersey wildlife managers report
that bear populations are spreading, with bear sightings, road kills, and population growth now occurring further east and south in the Garden State.
In December, New Jersey will hold its first blackbear hunt in six years, a controversial decision despite
nuisance bears invading residents’ garbage and bird
feeders, or worse, attacking pets, killing livestock,
New York biologists prepare to attach a GPS tracking collar to a black bear
captured as part of a research study on bears and backcountry camping.
co u r t e s y N e w Yo r k S tat e D e pa r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n ta l Co n se r vat i o n
and causing significant property damage at private
homes or farms. The New Jersey Fish and Game
Council’s Draft Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy, required as a result of a 2005 New Jersey
Supreme Court decision, should help wildlife managers to proceed with an integrated management
approach that includes hunting. Sadly, it appears too
costly to rebuild the state’s solid waste infrastructure
to require bear-proofing trash collection facilities.
Is the American black bear dangerous? Compared
to its cousins, the grizzly, brown bear, or polar bear,
attacks on humans are extremely rare. In the eastern
U.S., the black bear is a benign animal for the most
part. However, there have been three reported killings by black bears in the eastern U.S. in the past 10
years — two in Tennessee (in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park and Cherokee National
Forest) and one in New York. In those attacks,
a .t. j o u r n e y s m ay–j u n e 2 010 15
Above: A tranquilized, male black bear has been fitted with ear tags and
a GPS tracking collar after being caught in a culvert trap. The combination
of habituation, food conditioning, and rewarding aggressive behavior
can increase the chances of a bear causing serious injury to a person.
co u r t e s y N e w Yo r k S tat e D e pa r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n ta l Co n se r vat i o n
the bears were acting in a predatory manner, not just
attempting to get food from someone.
Black bear expert Steven Herrero believes that the
combination of habituation, food conditioning, and
rewarding aggressive behavior increases the chances
of a bear causing serious injury to a person. In contrast, Herrero believes that bears involved in human
fatalities are more likely to be found “in rural or
remote areas — where they have had relatively little
association with people,” which he states in the book
Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance.
Almost every year, reports come in of bears stealing food, damaging tents or packs, or being highly
persistent and difficult to chase off at various shelters
and campsites along the Trail. There have been two
serious reported incidents at overnight sites. The first
occurred in Pennsylvania in 2004, when a woman
sleeping in a bivy sack at a campsite on state game
lands suffered bruises after being dragged about 35
feet by a bear. In 2005, at a shelter in New Jersey, a
bear grabbed a sleeping camper by the leg and
16 a .t. j o u r n e y s m ay–j u n e 2 010
dragged him in his sleeping bag before being chased
off by other campers. That bear was later trapped
and euthanized by state officials.
While there have been no serious injuries reported, there have been other incidents of concern
on the Trail. In one, a day-hiker with a child in a
carrier on her back was knocked down by a bear
after the hiker’s dog confronted the bear. In another
incident, a hiker sitting on his pack while eating a
snack was knocked over by a bear, which then ran
off with his gorp. Problems are most likely to occur
where campers fail to follow Leave No Trace practices, do not keep shelters, tents, and bedding free
from food spills and smells, and do not store their
food properly. Two A.T. shelters in Tennessee were
closed for several weeks last summer due to bears
attracted to trash and food left there. Persistent bears
also were reported at shelters and overnight sites in
North Carolina, Maryland, and Vermont. A.T. hikers have had packs dragged off by bears while they
were taking down their tents or using a privy. In one
instance, a hiker was awakened in his tent by a bear
standing on him while it tried to reach the pack he
had hung overhead. Bears that have learned to associate packs and tents with food may go after such
gear even if it does not contain food.
ATC’s Trail crews have not been immune. In the
Smokies, the National Park Service provides an
electrified bear fence around the Rocky Top crew’s
food and cooking area, but on returning to the
campsite after breakfast one day last year, they found
a tent and some equipment destroyed. Also in 2009,
four tents used by the SWEAT crew (which uses a
bear in its logo) were destroyed by bears. In 2002,
the mid-Atlantic crew van was damaged by a bear
apparently trying to get at food that was stored inside.
A number of A.T. maintaining clubs have recently asked ATC for more comprehensive guidance
to prevent or minimize negative bear encounters
along the Trail, particularly at overnight sites. ATC
and its state and federal wildlife management partners need to share findings and invest more effort to
prevent future problems with black bear/hiker encounters. Some clubs are installing food-storage
systems, such as bear poles, food-storage cables, or
“bear boxes,” at their shelters to prevent bears from
gaining access to hiker food. These are effective as
long as they are used properly, but there have been
some problems. Some cable systems at shelters have
had problems with hanging cables becoming
wrapped around the top cable or have been damaged
by people, requiring club work trips to make repairs.
Bear boxes have been used as trash receptacles. An
enterprising raccoon that learned to climb the bear
pole at one shelter had to be relocated.
How can hikers protect themselves, fellow hikers,
and the bears whose home the Trail passes through?
n Pack food carefully to reduce spills and
smells on your gear; launder tents and bags
if necessary.
n Practice Leave No Trace camping. Do not leave
excess food behind. Pack out all trash.
If you can, remove trash left behind by others.
Problems are most likely to occur where
campers fail to follow Leave No Trace
practices, do not keep shelters, tents,
and bedding free from food spills and smells,
and do not store their food properly.
n Use food-storage devices properly. Do not
place trash in privies or bear boxes.
n If there are no food-storage devices, hang food
properly from a tree, at least 12 feet up and at
least six feet from the tree trunk or substantial
branches. Techniques for hanging packs and
food bags can be researched on the Web.
n Use bear bags or bear canisters. Ed Reed of
the New York Department of Environmental
Conservation reports that the required use
of bear canisters for food storage in the High
Peaks region of the Adirondacks, an area that
previously had many bear/hiker problems,
has achieved a 95 percent compliance rate
among hikers and reduced black bear foodconditioning to near zero. Bear-resistant
products can be found on the Web.
n Do not cook near your tent or keep food in it.
n Never deliberately feed a bear. In some
locations, it is illegal even to feed them
inadvertently. Feeding bears and storing
food improperly in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park can result in fines
of up to $5,000 and jail sentences lasting
up to six months.
n Never run from a bear. In the very unlikely
event of an actual attack, fight back.
As visitors to the bruin’s neighborhood, we owe the
black bear, superbly adapted to sniff out foodstuffs,
better behavior. Our simple failure to put away the
Oreo cookies may ultimately result in the death of
a bear, or worse. Let’s clean up our acts.
For more information visit:
www.appalachiantrail.org
www.edc.uri.edu/ATMT-DSS/default.html
www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw
According to Leave No Trace standards, bear bags should be
hung properly from a tree, at least 12 feet off the ground.
p h oto co u r t e s y L e av e N o T r ac e C e n t e r f o r O u t d o o r E t h i c s
a .t. j o u r n e y s m ay–j u n e 2 010 17
Haven at the
Halfway Point
DUNCANNON
P E N N S Y L VA N IA
Text and Photos
By Chris A. Courogen
T h e h a l f wa y p oi n t of the Appalachian Trail is roughly 45 miles south of Duncannon, Pennsylvania, near Pine
Grove Furnace State Park. It’s at the little general store in
the park that northbound thru-hikers traditionally celebrate
reaching the midpoint of their trek by consuming a halfgallon of ice cream.
If you sit on the porch of the store, though, and talk to those
dairy gluttons, you’ll soon learn that as much as they enjoy
gorging on that carton of Rocky Road or Neapolitan, the celebration most of them are really looking forward to will come
a few days later when they reach the legendary Doyle Hotel.
Originally built by Adolphus Busch, the co-founder of the
Anheuser Busch Brewing Company, the Doyle maintains its
sudsy tradition, serving a solid variety of brews, including that
unofficial, official beer of the A.T., Yuengling Lager, the choice
of most hikers as they toast having passed the midpoint of
their journey.
Since Pat and Vickey Kelly took the place over in 2001, the
Doyle has also been known for Pat’s fine cooking. Burgers as
big as your head and plates of fresh cut fries piled nearly as high
as nearby Cove Mountain are probably the most popular menu
items with hikers, who make up more than 50 percent of the
Doyle’s clientele; though beer and burgers are hardly all the
place has to offer its walk-in crowds. The hotel offers a full menu
of southern-influenced entrees, cheap rooms, hot showers, free
internet service, and one of the best juke boxes you will find
anywhere, filled with an eclectic mix of CDs handpicked by Pat
Kelly himself. Since taking over the Doyle, the Kellys have
worked hard, both at their hotel and with other businesses in
town, to make sure hikers can find what they require when they
hit Duncannon.“We’re like concierges,” says Vickey Kelly. “We
try to find out what the hikers need.”
That philosophy resulted in an arrangement with a local
doctor who works hikers into her busy schedule when they need
medical care, and a shuttle to the local supermarket, which
carries a lot of hiker-friendly items.“Pat will tell me what they
are looking for and we try to get it in,” says Stan Mutzabaugh,
of Mutzabaugh’s Market, who agreed to run a shuttle for hikers
looking to resupply after Pat and Vicky explained how dangerous the one-mile road walk was from the hotel to his store.
Most hikers who spend a night in one of the Doyle’s 17 rooms
start their day across the street at Goodies, an unpretentious
Left: An A.T. hiker is featured prominently on the
Duncannon Community Mural, which was completed
in 2004. More than 600 members of the community
helped paint the mural, located on the side of a local
house along the Trail.; Above: Doyle Hotel owners
Pat and Vickey Kelly chat with thru-hiker Duane
“Long Gun” Miller, as he signs the Doyle’s Trail registry
during a beer break from his hike.
a .t. j o u r n e ys m ay–j u n e 2 010 31
Clockwise from right: The Trail, enters Duncannon from the south
and runs right down Market Street; the Norfolk Southern
Railroad’s main line runs along the Susquehanna River through
Duncannon. From the river bank, northbound hikers can preview
what is ahead; the public library, located in one of the town’s
churches, welcomes hikers and offers free internet service,
drinks, snacks, and supplies; “Trailangel Mary” Parry points
to her 1984 Dodge Diplomat “Hikermobile.” Parry had hikers,
who rode in her car, sign the unique Trail register on wheels.
Though it was retired in March, the roof, trunk lid, and front hood
will be part of the new A.T. Museum’s collection.
little eatery that gets so much hiker traffic from mid-May
through early July — the peak of thru-hiker season in Duncannon — they actually have to hire extra seasonal help. “We get
pretty full with hikers. They go crazy over our pancakes,” says
Katrina King, the owner’s daughter, who credits Vickey Kelly
with helping fuel the restaurant’s popularity with hikers by
sending them across the street for breakfast.
Duncannon has a real appreciation for the hikers who pass
through, says Fred Lauster, the former president of the borough’s
council who, in his role as chair of its parks and recreation
committee, helps facilitate the annual Billville Hiker Feed and
Feast, held each summer in the town’s community park.
Hikers camp for free on the park’s baseball field, and hang
out under the park’s pavilion while stuffing themselves on a
three-day feast served up under the watchful eye of Duncannon
resident Mary Parry, better known to hikers as “Trailangel
Mary.” “Duncannon is known as a hiker friendly town. We sort
of cater to hikers,” says Lauster. “The town takes pride in having
a mile of the Appalachian Trail run right through Duncannon.”
“It’s a quiet town,” says King, “it’s probably the biggest thing of
the year when the hikers come through.”
The appreciation is a two-way street. “The people in Duncannon really focus on the hikers,” says Larry Luxenberg, president
of the Appalachian Trail Museum Society, who walked through
the town on his way from Springer to Katahdin in 1980. “It is
a great Trail town. The people are very welcoming.” Hikers will
32 a .t. j o u r n e y s m ay–j u n e 2 010
tell you that attitude is what sets Duncannon apart from some
other towns along the Trail.
“I love the town. It’s so neat to walk through. As I hiked out
of town, I passed kids on their way to school. They all waved
and said hello,” said Harold “Over the Edge” Fred, a section
hiker from Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. “The whole town really loves hikers.”
What’s not to love? “They are really friendly people,” says
Mutzabaugh.“It brightens my day when I am able to greet hikers and they stop to talk to me,” says Duncannon resident
Daphne Cotton. “It is an enjoyable experience to communicate
with them.” Cotton says the hikers give her children a window
on the world that is not commonly found in such a small, rural
community. “The kids like to hear about where they come from,
where they are going. In a town this size, it helps; you realize
the rest of the world is alive and well.” The A.T. is “part of what
this community is about,” said borough manager Tanuya Matter. “It’s a part of the town.” “We are proud of the relationship
we have, being where we are on the Trail,” added
Cotton. “There is an attitude in town that
we want to embrace them.”