Trail Progress
June 30th
Mark is in Kent, Connecticut . His friend has arrived. They made 12 miles together yesterday to end up in Kent. As of 4:00 this afternoon they were at a shelter for the night after only 7 miles. Blisters have slowed Mark's hiking buddy down. Mark has been very blessed to only have had one blister during the entire trip.
June 28th
Today, Mark is in Wingdale, NY, waiting for a friend to arrive to hike with him for 3-4 days. He'll be crossing in to Connecticut tomorrow. That means only 4 more states!
June 20th
Mark is at Highpoint State Park in New Jersey this evening. About 840 miles left to go. He's been making 20 mile days, but is slowing down now to await hooking up with a friend from Holland who will be hiking with him for a few days.
June 18th
Diane and I will part company at the Camp Mohican Outdoor Center just across the river in New Jersey.
June 14th
Arrived in Palmerton, Pennsylvania today. I was set to spend the night in the old jail, now a hostel, but Diane made excellent time on the highway and found herself only 28 miles away at nightfall. We'll have a few days off and do some hiking at the Delaware Water Gap, where I first got the idea to hike the trail years ago as a Boy Scout.
June 4th
Mark reached the geographical half way point on the trail today. In honor of the halfway point, some trail angels serve up burgers and fries, followed up by a half gallon of ice cream. Anyone that knows Mark will not be surprised to learn that he met the challenge and polished off a half gallon mint chip ice cream. Now the states will start to pass by quickly again. He's off the trail on Monday and Tuesday visiting with his mom and sister in Pennsylvania.
May 30th
Mark has just left Harper's Ferry,Virginia. It is not the true geographical midpoint of the trip, but most hikers consider it the halfway point psychologically. At a hostel just past Harper's Ferry, Mark was able to reconnect with a hiker he hadn't seen for 40 days. It is an exciting prospect for Mark to have someone to hike with again since traffic on the trail has thinned out considerably.
May 16th
Mark is enjoying a brief rest at his dad's in Richmond, Virginia.
May 12th 2010
Tonight's stop is a Howard Johnson's in Daleville, VA. Today's climb was very similar to the Devil's Causeway on Katahdin. Good practice I guess.
May 7th 2010
Mark is in Pearisburg, VA today. The terrain has leveled out so he is able to make 18+ miles per day.
Mark is in Pearisburg, VA today. The terrain has leveled out so he is able to make 18+ miles per day.
April 28th, 2010
Mark is in Virginia, Stopping at the Hurricane Shelter for the night. Yesterday was a long cold day of hiking with 60 mph winds and a fierce snowstorn on Mount Rogers.
Mark is in Virginia, Stopping at the Hurricane Shelter for the night. Yesterday was a long cold day of hiking with 60 mph winds and a fierce snowstorn on Mount Rogers.
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