Shuttles & location advice ???

[shakedown cruise]

Seeking shuttle advice and good shuttle locations for plans to hike 4-5 days with NB thru-hiker Shakedown Cruise mid-late July and through August. I want to be able to hike with hiim for a few days at a time, leaving my car at one location (hike for a few days) and return to move the car further north en route to Katadin.

He is nearly to Front Royal this weekend - and hope to get a plan in place to hike iwth him once he gets through PA. Ideas for pretty (and easy) locations?

Thanks!!! R&R (Ron and the Reverend) or write to me at infj.c@hotmail.com

[Cookerhiker]

Here's the ATC shuttle list (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/atf/cf/%7BD25B4747-42A3-4302-8D48-EF35C0B0D9F1%7D/ATshuttleWEB_Mar_17_2008.pdf) which you should find useful.

[shakedown cruise]

I appreciate the list! Thank you very much. R&R

[Cookerhiker]

You also asked about location. As I understand it, you want to join him starting mid-July and hike together until late August at which time he'll finish at Katahdin; you plan to finish with him. I don't know what "this weekend" refers to since your post was on a Sunday but if he reached Front Royal on May 26, 7 weeks later in mid-July he'll be in Vermont assuming he's hiking about 100 miles/week. Bump it down to 90 miles/week, he's still in Southern Vermont. And keep in mind that as a thruhiker, he's in trail shape and is capable of making 18-20 mile days in MD, PA, NJ.

So you have to figure on joining him at least in Williamstown, MA, more likely in Vermont. You asked about "easy" stretches. Simple answer" there aren't any. Yes, Vermont is easier than NH and ME but coming in cold to join a thruhiker with 1,600 miles under his boots will not be "easy." You'll have up-and-down, rocks, roots, muck.

I don't wish to presuppose you'll have difficulties but the two of you must agree on your pace(s) and while you may not be in total trail shape when you join him, I hope you're at least engaging in aerobic training.

Good luck and I hope you have great hike!

[shakedown cruise]

I have tried to post twice and the message disappears! You are correct in your thinking about our plans. It may well be that Vermont is going to be the locatioin to try hiking for a few days together. And it could also be that we do some hiking together after I pick him up in Katahdin so I don't slow hiim down. He is going about 20-25 mile days with a few 30 milers in there too - few zero days. I can do four to five 10 mile days - but that is pushing it a lot!