Papa Bear
05-21-2003, 11:24
I just finished a section hike from Harpers Ferry to Duncannon. I will be posting a trip report very shortly but I thought I'd mention the thru-hikers I met along the way.
I did not expect to see many NOBOs in May this far north. I was wrong, I met over 20 of them and for the most part they were all moving very fast. Seldom would I meet them more than once either on the trail or overnight at a shelter. With a few exceptions they were male, young (20 - 30) and competitive. These were the front of the pack (although the actual absolute front of the pack was probably close to New Jersey by this point). They liked to say which number there were in passing through Harpers Ferry. "I was #26", "I was #42". Several of them had hiked Maryland (41 miles) in one day, which is a thing (I guess like the half gallon challenge) that thru-hikers do. Or a few of them at least. There were also a few who did not fit this demographic. A few older and wiser sorts whom I stayed with for several days.
Here is a list of whom I met and on which date. I started in Harpers Ferry on May 10, and finished in Duncannon on May 19th, so you can figure more or less where these folks were at the time.
5/10
Cakes and Jackass (aka Donkey), overnight at Ed Garvey Shelter. Cakes wanted to be in Massachusetts by sometime in June (to get to a batchelor party) and said he needed thirty 23 mile days without a zero to make it.
5/11
Jake, overnight at Rocky Run Shelter. Not really a thru-hiker (he had done one in 1987). A retired fellow who was "going as far as he feels like". Moved a little faster than me.
5/12
Ankle Bear and Sleepy Jean, on the trail. Moving slowly. I passed them! A couple of 50s women. I'm not sure how long they were out but I assumed theirs was a multi-year undertaking.
Witt (an 18 yr.old from Atlanta) doing the Maryland Challenge, passing through at Ensign Cowall Shelter. 9 miles to go to get to Penn Mar. He did not look in great condition at this point.
Lucky Day passing through at Ensign Cowall Shelter to the next shelter.
Nickel, Dime and Ben. also doing the Maryland Challenge, passing through at Ensign Cowall Shelter. They were with Witt (but 2 hours behind) but looked in much better shape.
5/13
Shuk, 40s, from Canada, overnight at Deer Lick Shelters. Very nice. Name was originally Anuk Shuk, an Inuit name given by his wife. Look it up, cool name. That day he had hiked in from Rocky Run Shelter, 29 miles!
Firewood, overnight at Deer Lick Shelters. Late 30s, quiet.
5/14
I passed Witt and Ben who were sleeping late at Tumbling Run Shelters. They were still recovering from the Maryland Challenge.
Southern Yankee and Lieutenant, on the trail.
Sub Man, overnight at Rocky Mountain Shelter. Late 40s.
Moose Killer, overnight at Rocky Mountain Shelter. About 70. Not really a thru but worth note. SOBO moving very slowly. Had started on the IAT SOBO in 1998 and was working his way down. Amazing guy, talked my ear off. Interesting story on his name. Had done the ADK 46ers and all but 4 of the NE 4000s.
5/15
Demean (pronounced Dee-me-an), on the trail, moving fast. Young guy (20?). See below for story.
Whisper, taking a break at Birch Run Shelters. From Hanover NH, knew neither Baltimore Jack nor Bill Bryson :).
A-Train (from Brooklyn), Squirts and Grunt, passed through Birch Run. A-Train had been with Sub Man. I talked briefly with him about NYC.
5/16
Loki and Pokey, overnight at the AYH Hostel at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. 40s, school teacher on sabbatical and forester who quit his job. From Bethel Maine. Nice couple, more my speed. Finishing a yo-yo stated last year.
Southern Yankee, overnight at the AYH Hostel at pine Grove Furnace State Park. Did not realize he was at the Hostel till the next night.
5/17
Southern Yankee, overnight a Campground near Alek Kennedy Shelter (which was overrun by Boy Scouts). 40s, he was from Ohio but had lived in Atlanta since college, hence the name.
Loki and Pokey, overnight Campground.
Flick, overnight Campground. 30s with a strong drawl, from Georgia.
5/18
Loki and Pokey, overnight at Darlington Shelter.
Flick, overnight at Darlington Shelter.
Afterburner. Showed up at Darlington around 11:00 PM and slept under the picnic table. I found him when I went for a pee at 11:15. He was reading a book. He had hiked 36 miles that day.
5/19
Loki and Pokey, at the Doyle.
Flick, at the Doyle.
A-train, Squirts and grunt, at the Doyle.
Shuk, at the Doyle.
Best thru-hiker story, as related by several others:
It seems that Latch (whom I never met), Demean and an unidentified section hiker were in Waynesboro VA, and decided to get a canoe and "Aqua Blaze" down the Shenandoah River, about 70 miles, to Harpers Ferry. So they piled everything into the canoe and got out on the river. They were soon stopped by a ranger who ordered them to shore. They got a ticket for overloading the canoe and the section hiker had to get out, leaving just the two thru-hikers. The section hiker was given a ride to Harpers Ferry (he was the lucky one) and the other 2 started off again. The ranger made them tie their packs down.
About 10 miles from Harpers Ferry they hit some rough water and capsized. They lost various items of gear and Latch related that he almost drowned. They managed to get to shore and stowed their gear under the canoe. Totally soaked, they walked into some town for lunch and then returned to the river where they discovered that their packs had been stolen. Latch had just bought all new stuff in Damascus reportedly for $1400.
After a few days to recover, they were both back on the trail!
More on this trip to follow.
Pb
I did not expect to see many NOBOs in May this far north. I was wrong, I met over 20 of them and for the most part they were all moving very fast. Seldom would I meet them more than once either on the trail or overnight at a shelter. With a few exceptions they were male, young (20 - 30) and competitive. These were the front of the pack (although the actual absolute front of the pack was probably close to New Jersey by this point). They liked to say which number there were in passing through Harpers Ferry. "I was #26", "I was #42". Several of them had hiked Maryland (41 miles) in one day, which is a thing (I guess like the half gallon challenge) that thru-hikers do. Or a few of them at least. There were also a few who did not fit this demographic. A few older and wiser sorts whom I stayed with for several days.
Here is a list of whom I met and on which date. I started in Harpers Ferry on May 10, and finished in Duncannon on May 19th, so you can figure more or less where these folks were at the time.
5/10
Cakes and Jackass (aka Donkey), overnight at Ed Garvey Shelter. Cakes wanted to be in Massachusetts by sometime in June (to get to a batchelor party) and said he needed thirty 23 mile days without a zero to make it.
5/11
Jake, overnight at Rocky Run Shelter. Not really a thru-hiker (he had done one in 1987). A retired fellow who was "going as far as he feels like". Moved a little faster than me.
5/12
Ankle Bear and Sleepy Jean, on the trail. Moving slowly. I passed them! A couple of 50s women. I'm not sure how long they were out but I assumed theirs was a multi-year undertaking.
Witt (an 18 yr.old from Atlanta) doing the Maryland Challenge, passing through at Ensign Cowall Shelter. 9 miles to go to get to Penn Mar. He did not look in great condition at this point.
Lucky Day passing through at Ensign Cowall Shelter to the next shelter.
Nickel, Dime and Ben. also doing the Maryland Challenge, passing through at Ensign Cowall Shelter. They were with Witt (but 2 hours behind) but looked in much better shape.
5/13
Shuk, 40s, from Canada, overnight at Deer Lick Shelters. Very nice. Name was originally Anuk Shuk, an Inuit name given by his wife. Look it up, cool name. That day he had hiked in from Rocky Run Shelter, 29 miles!
Firewood, overnight at Deer Lick Shelters. Late 30s, quiet.
5/14
I passed Witt and Ben who were sleeping late at Tumbling Run Shelters. They were still recovering from the Maryland Challenge.
Southern Yankee and Lieutenant, on the trail.
Sub Man, overnight at Rocky Mountain Shelter. Late 40s.
Moose Killer, overnight at Rocky Mountain Shelter. About 70. Not really a thru but worth note. SOBO moving very slowly. Had started on the IAT SOBO in 1998 and was working his way down. Amazing guy, talked my ear off. Interesting story on his name. Had done the ADK 46ers and all but 4 of the NE 4000s.
5/15
Demean (pronounced Dee-me-an), on the trail, moving fast. Young guy (20?). See below for story.
Whisper, taking a break at Birch Run Shelters. From Hanover NH, knew neither Baltimore Jack nor Bill Bryson :).
A-Train (from Brooklyn), Squirts and Grunt, passed through Birch Run. A-Train had been with Sub Man. I talked briefly with him about NYC.
5/16
Loki and Pokey, overnight at the AYH Hostel at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. 40s, school teacher on sabbatical and forester who quit his job. From Bethel Maine. Nice couple, more my speed. Finishing a yo-yo stated last year.
Southern Yankee, overnight at the AYH Hostel at pine Grove Furnace State Park. Did not realize he was at the Hostel till the next night.
5/17
Southern Yankee, overnight a Campground near Alek Kennedy Shelter (which was overrun by Boy Scouts). 40s, he was from Ohio but had lived in Atlanta since college, hence the name.
Loki and Pokey, overnight Campground.
Flick, overnight Campground. 30s with a strong drawl, from Georgia.
5/18
Loki and Pokey, overnight at Darlington Shelter.
Flick, overnight at Darlington Shelter.
Afterburner. Showed up at Darlington around 11:00 PM and slept under the picnic table. I found him when I went for a pee at 11:15. He was reading a book. He had hiked 36 miles that day.
5/19
Loki and Pokey, at the Doyle.
Flick, at the Doyle.
A-train, Squirts and grunt, at the Doyle.
Shuk, at the Doyle.
Best thru-hiker story, as related by several others:
It seems that Latch (whom I never met), Demean and an unidentified section hiker were in Waynesboro VA, and decided to get a canoe and "Aqua Blaze" down the Shenandoah River, about 70 miles, to Harpers Ferry. So they piled everything into the canoe and got out on the river. They were soon stopped by a ranger who ordered them to shore. They got a ticket for overloading the canoe and the section hiker had to get out, leaving just the two thru-hikers. The section hiker was given a ride to Harpers Ferry (he was the lucky one) and the other 2 started off again. The ranger made them tie their packs down.
About 10 miles from Harpers Ferry they hit some rough water and capsized. They lost various items of gear and Latch related that he almost drowned. They managed to get to shore and stowed their gear under the canoe. Totally soaked, they walked into some town for lunch and then returned to the river where they discovered that their packs had been stolen. Latch had just bought all new stuff in Damascus reportedly for $1400.
After a few days to recover, they were both back on the trail!
More on this trip to follow.
Pb