Harry, the 87 year old German

[Slo-go'en]

Harry is an 87 year old German, currently thru hiking the AT. Harry is a remakable man. The first thing he asks when he gets to a town or hostel is "Ver ist da beer?" What is really remarkable and an insperation is Harry has a metal plate in his head and still carries shrapnnel from the war - WW II. He and his departed wife were serious ice and rock climbers, climbing mountains all over the world.

All of us who have meet Harry are hoping he makes it all the way. He has a good chance of doing it too. Like the Energizer bunny, he just keeps going and going. Once Harry finishes the AT, he wants to get a hip replacement and go to New Zeland and do a big hike there.

[T.S.Kobzol]

awesome. Vielen Gluck Harry!

[HikerMom58]

That is awesome... pulling for Harry!

[Feral Bill]

Wow.......................

[Odd Man Out]

Excellent. I have already announced my plans to thru hike when I'm 90 years old (NOBO class of '49). I will have to get some pointers from Harry. He should learn the English phase "craft beer from local microbrewery". Otherwise he might be disappointed with his request.

[MDSection12]

That's awesome for him! I gotta be honest I cringed a bit when I heard he was a German who (presumably) saw combat in WWII... I think there's a term for that... But I guess I'm just being a little too nationalist myself, so I won't give it too much thought.

Regardless of my ethnocentrism, I wish him all the best on his hike!

[prain4u]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch!

[Teacher & Snacktime]

All I remember from my high school german is "guten tag"...."guten gehen" might suffice. Anyway, we wish him the best hike ever!

[hikernutcasey]

Does anyone know where he is at on the trail? Or any way of keeping up with him? It would be interesting to know if he makes it or not. Hopefully folks can update this thread with his whereabouts if they run into him on the trail.

[Water Rat]

Wow! That is pretty amazing stuff. I wish Harry all the best! He sounds like he is making the most of his time on this planet.

[tawa]

Thats what I'm talking about when I say living on the edge and living life to its fullest!!! Yeeeeeeeeeehahhhhhhhh

[Smithwick]

http://www.h-rost.philippines-corner.../Pics/pics.htm

[henry g wilgo]

great for harry..would like to know pack weight and average speed..per day...any other specifics
thankyou all

[Statue]

Does anyone know where he is at on the trail? Or any way of keeping up with him? It would be interesting to know if he makes it or not. Hopefully folks can update this thread with his whereabouts if they run into him on the trail.

Harry was the first hiker I met on this trip as I ran into him at the north springs Marta station it Atlanta. Even though there was a language barrier we learned a lot about one another in the two hours we spent with one another. We both started April 17th. I hiked into Pearisburg yesterday and last I heard he was only a few days behind me. I'd say he's near Bland.

[Slo-go'en]

great for harry..would like to know pack weight and average speed..per day...any other specifics
thankyou all

Harry started off with a pretty large and heavy pack, which is common. But he quickly adapted replacing much of his gear at Mountain Crossings. He has a very slow, but very consistant pace. Mostly he hikes shelter to shelter. I'm not sure he has a tent as all the times I've meet him, he was staying in the shelters.

As far as I know, he hasn't taken any zeros and is keeping up with most every one who started about the same time he did. Even the 20 somethings who thought they would get ahead and never see him again. But take a few zero's here and there and all of a sudden Harry shows up again. Harry was a day or two behind me when I got off at Marion, VA this last Monday, so he should now be on his way to Pearisburg. The only reason I got ahead of him was I took the Iron Mt Trail short cut around the highlands because my allergies were getting so bad and I just wanted to go home at that point. The quicker I got to the bus station, the better.

[yushan]

Harry passed through Harpers Ferry a couple of weeks ago. He is a remarkable person who has led a very interesting life. If you have any Harry sightings, can you let me know privately? I have some maps that he was interested in for the New England section.

Laurel at the Teahorse Hostel

[fahmah]

We are trying to locate Harry. Last time we know of he went thru Kent Vt on Sept 17. He told someone he wouldn't be able to finish but intends to come back in 2015 and finish!! Love his optimism!! Amazing! If anyone knows of Harry's whereabouts or how to contact him please let me know privately. I had offered to give him a ride when it was time to go home then went off the trail and lost his contact info. I'd really like to help.

[ChinMusic]

Excellent. I have already announced my plans to thru hike when I'm 90 years old (NOBO class of '49).

In the spirit of Shaffer, I have inked-in a 50-year anniversary hike from my first thru.

[July]

Had the pleasure of meeting Harry as we progressed thru Va.182.jpg

[tscoffey]

That's awesome for him! I gotta be honest I cringed a bit when I heard he was a German who (presumably) saw combat in WWII... I think there's a term for that... But I guess I'm just being a little too nationalist myself, so I won't give it too much thought.

Regardless of my ethnocentrism, I wish him all the best on his hike!

You do realize that relatively few members of the German military were Nazis, right? The average Heer soldier was just a kid who was drafted into service, and had no desire to join the Nazi party.