Chip Leonard

[TOW]

Any of you remember Chip Leonard? I met him north of Hot Springs in January 2001 on the trail. At first I thought we were going to duke it out, the way he approached the camp.

He says, "Can I stay here?" real sarcastic like.

I says, "yeah pal, I don't own nothing here."

"Well all your junk is spread all over the place, I figured you thought you owned it? I'm gonna go get some water, have my half of the shelter cleared by the time I get back," he says.

"Go get your water, but don't get smart with me," I replied.

As he strode off he looked at me out of the corner of his eye to see if I meant business? I think he noticed I did.

While he was gone I started placing equalizers all over the place within easy reach. When he returned he just strode past the shelter peering inside to make sure his part was cleaned, I hadn't touched a thing. None of my "junk" was even near being strung all over "his" half.

He went around back and I heard him poking around looking for a campsite I suppose. He then came back around to the front of the shelter, dropped his pack and from a standing position he jumped up on the platform. Scared the crap right out of me!

Stretching his arms, he measured the shelter and paced it out. He says "this half is my half, that half is your half. Any questions?"

"Are we going to have problems? Because if we are, let's quit this silly crap and get it over with!" I replied.

He jumps in the air and to the ground and goes into a stance like the "Karate Kid." Another move that made me want to crawl deeper into my skin. I figured one of us was about to die?

He goes, "I know self-defense!"

I says, "I got a few moves of my own too pal!"

As this is evolving between us I began to think that this guy is as scared as I am? So I says, "Wait just a minute here, this is bull****. Let's start over. My name is Larry The Wanderer. What is yours?" I extended my hand.

He stops, pauses as he drops his mouth and says, "I've heard of you, Dan Gallagher said you were ahead of me and Miss Janet says she just met you yesterday. They said for me to be good to you, that your okay. I guess it's okay to shake your hand?"

I knew then that something wasn't ticking right and he says, "my name's Chip Leonard" and we shook hands.

I told him that I had heard of him and read about him in the book "A Walk In The Woods."

After that I got to know him a bit and we had a good laugh about it all, but I could never get a word in edge wise. As he spoke, I recieved a wealth of info about hiking dos and don'ts. And he told me about some of his troubles on the trail. Also I believe he said he was on his 18th thru hike? I can't remember. He said he would just go to one end of the trail, turn around and go back to the other. He had been doing it for awhile he said.

I thought I was going to have to sleep with one eye open that night but he talked me right to "nana land." The next morning after we arose and ate and packed our packs, he said "I'll meet you at the next road north." That was at 7 am and he was gone.

I never did see him again but I did hear alot of tales about him. I heard that he was arrested and sent to prison for harrassing a female. Then I heard it was for harrassing a trail work crew in SNP. Then there was another story and so on?

Does anyone know what happened to Chip?"

Wanderer

[weary]

Any of you remember Chip Leonard? I met him north of Hot Springs in January 2001 on the trail. At first I thought we were going to duke it out, the way he approached the camp.
......Does anyone know what happened to Chip?"Wanderer

Nope. And I've told this story before. But since you ask.....

I met Ward Leonard twice in 1991, while walking Maine with a 9-year-old grandson -- once as he passed us in the 100-mile-wilderness while he was heading for Katahdin for the second time that year and again after he had summited Katahdin and was heading back to Georgia.

The registers had been full of complaints about Ward being belligerant and insulting. But when he passed us the second time I screwed up my courage and asked Ward if he expected to make it all the way to Springer, given that it was already late August.

"I don't know," he replied, "I have financial and emotional problems."

Then he demanded, "Is that your grandson?"

"Yep," I replied.

"Good," Ward said. "He's the only person I've met on this trail bright enough for me to talk to."

My grandson was a bright kid. But he had never been able to learn to read or write at more than a very elementary level. He communicated with the world by asking questions. Everyone he met on our 283 mile walk was grilled. Even Ward Leonard.

Weary

[TOW]

wow........

Nope. And I've told this story before. But since you ask.....

I met Ward Leonard twice in 1991, while walking Maine with a 9-year-old grandson -- once as he passed us in the 100-mile-wilderness while he was heading for Katahdin for the second time that year and again after he had summited Katahdin and was heading back to Georgia.

The registers had been full of complaints about Ward being belligerant and insulting. But when he passed us the second time I screwed up my courage and asked Ward if he expected to make it all the way to Springer, given that it was already late August.

"I don't know," he replied, "I have financial and emotional problems."

Then he demanded, "Is that your grandson?"

"Yep," I replied.

"Good," Ward said. "He's the only person I've met on this trail bright enough for me to talk to."

My grandson was a bright kid. But he had never been able to learn to read or write at more than a very elementary level. He communicated with the world by asking questions. Everyone he met on our 283 mile walk was grilled. Even Ward Leonard.

Weary

[weary]

wow........

BTW. You are not the "only" wanderer. Among my grandson's demands of hikers he met was a trail name. Finally, someone announced he was the "Weary Wanderer." Since he wasn't much for writing, I took to signing the registers as the "Weary Wanderers."

When I hiked north from Springer two years later, I reverted to the singular, "Weary Wanderer." That quickly changed to just Weary.

And now you know the rest of the story.

[TOW]

BTW. You are not the "only" wanderer. Among my grandson's demands of hikers he met was a trail name. Finally, someone announced he was the "Weary Wanderer." Since he wasn't much for writing, I took to signing the registers as the "Weary Wanderers."

When I hiked north from Springer two years later, I reverted to the singular, "Weary Wanderer." That quickly changed to just Weary.

And now you know the rest of the story.

Yea I know...............

[neo]

i have heard that ward leonard is one hell of a hiker,i have heard that 30 to 40 miles a day is a normal average for him. neo

[TOW]

i have heard that ward leonard is one hell of a hiker,i have heard that 30 to 40 miles a day is a normal average for him. neo

He told me that he once did a 120 miler in 23 hours..........wanderer

[Clamslayer]

I had the unplesant fortune to meet ward at Wilcox North shelter mass (and in vermont just befor Bromley). I was to only one there he came in at dark and told me that this shelter was public property. Nice way to start off. I knew who he was and did not like the guy from the get go. If you've meet him you know what I mean . He told me to move my gear out of his way I told him to #%^& off. We were the only ones there. I made this clear to him. He then told me he had a lawyer and he would sick him on me. Another mistake. Ward is a skinny medium tall guy that maybe weighs 150 lbs. I'm 6'2 260 lbs I stood up and told him I was going to issue him a beating. He fianlly got the message. I told him I knew who he was and he had a bad reputation on the AT. He laughed and said " how many miles did you hike today two"? Another hiker came in shortly after this and ward started on him too. I did'nt know him he was behind me a way and said"your ward lenard huh"? Ward started up with this guy "theres a guy comming up behing me that wants to meet you". "he wants to kick your ass" That was it ward left in the dark heading to goose pond cabin. I bet he was a big hit there. When I finished the trail I got a job with the forest service in VT. I was working in the forest cutting brush around wild apple trees growing in an abanded orchard there when I saw him , passing the primitive capsite . He was talking to himself or laughing .

The reason he makes so many miles is he carries nothing but peanut butter sandwiches a water bottle and a bivy sack. whats that all of 9 pounds? My pack was 8800 cubic inches Dana Designs Arkflex ll and it was full. Yea he pissed me off but I got over it.

Anyone remember bill the blind hiker? The roving wanderer ? he carried that dog thru the smokies that he found on the trail . Vagabond Lou? hell of a nice guy. Gutless? Strider? Marmot? Lagunatic? did she ever make that AT movie?
Lots of good memories


ME-->GA 91
Long TRAIL 92





clamslayer

[Lone Wolf]

I remember all those folks, Clamslayer. I was out that year too. Was helping Maineak do his speed hike. I'm from Saunderstown.

[MOWGLI]

I told him I knew who he was and he had a bad reputation on the AT. He laughed and said " how many miles did you hike today two"?

That's pretty funny though. LOL

[Clamslayer]

saunderstown RI ? Wolfe

[Lone Wolf]

Yes. Born and raised in North Kingstown actually. Sister and step mom live in Saunderstown.

[MDSHiker]

I ran into "Chip" in Georgia...I'm thinking it was 2001. All I remember was that it was very hot out that day and he was hiking in rain pants and rain coat. I thought that was odd. I had heard about Chip before actually running into him on the trail. He wasn't hard to identify.

[Mags]

FWIW, grew up in the Anthony section of Coventry, RI.

Miss Del's, Dunkin' Donut's iced coffee, Clam cakes and chowda and a hit of coffee milk once in a while.

[Clamslayer]

remember that steak place with the bar on rte. 7 in mass They let us stay over nite in the back. The roving wanderer stopped there for a steak and a beer. I guess he did'nt see that the 100 deet insect repelent leaking from the bottom of his pack. He liked to wear those spandex short pants.... It leaked out and disoulved the fabric of his shorts. His ass hung out and he did'nt wear underware. No one told him til he got to TomLenard shelter. I guess he thought all those people beeping thier horns on that road walk were saying hi. Aint that a kick in the corn..

[Clamslayer]

I live in Oakland beach Warwick. I'm a commercial Shellfisherman now or Quohogger to us Rhodeislanders

[Skyline]

If Ward (Chip) is taking his meds as prescribed he's not such a bad guy. And he IS one hell of a hiker--very strong and focused. Problem is, he doesn't stay on his meds.

[Clamslayer]

Anyone seen him lately? dosent he live in Steamboat Springs CO. ?

[MOWGLI]

I live in Oakland beach Warwick. I'm a commercial Shellfisherman now or Quohogger to us Rhodeislanders

I've spent alot of time tossing live eels and plugs to the stripers at Watch Hill, Quonny, Weekapaug, Charletown Breachway, Point Judith and lots of other places. I really miss RI. I've caught some big 'uns up there. Great state! My wife just found a receipt from a cafe at Watch Hill from the early September '01. Brought back lots of memories - both good & bad.

[Mags]

I live in Oakland beach Warwick. I'm a commercial Shellfisherman now or Quohogger to us Rhodeislanders

Oakland Beach? I have one phrase for you:
Doughboys at Iggy's!

Yum. Yum. (Had a cousin who worked there during high school as well).

I lived in Rhody until untl 1999.. (25 yo). Suspect will always be a Rhode Islander at heart.