Showing posts with label mountains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mountains. Show all posts

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Hike Naked Day

Segue and Houdini on the A.T. in Virginia.


June 21st is traditionally the unofficial "hike naked day" on the Appalachian trail.
My buddy Segue sent me this picture of him and Houdini doing their best to expose themselves to nature.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Madison County Ballad Singer

Denise Norton O'Sullivan singing Rose Connoly in the Madison County, N.C. Courthouse.
What's there to say? It's beautiful...

Monday, May 18, 2009

Trail Days 2009

I had a wonderful reunion with lots of Appalachian Trail friends last weekend in Damascus. It sure did me good to reunite with Rethinker, Pineknot, Tree, Moonpie, SuperChunk, Segue, Floyd, Mr.Burns, Creek Diver, Sampson, Butters, Shuffles, Stomp, The Tennessee Twins, OrangeDust, Bones, and TroutBum from my 2008 hike.

The stories were better than ever, the memories flowed in great torrents, it was just like I was still on the trail (without the soreness and hunger).

There is nothing sweeter than trail friends, I love each and everyone of them like a brother or a sister!!

I'll leave you with a video I shot while inside the maelstrom of the Hiker's Parade, where the spectators attack the hikers with various water weapons........it was a blast!!!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Curtis Blackwell

Curtis Blackwell is a local bluegrass legend. Here is a video I found on YouTube by his granddaughter showing a mountain family jam session. Curtis is in the plaid shirt on your right, playing the guitar. These boys can pick! Mighty Fine, Mighty Fine.........



Thursday, February 26, 2009

The 5th graders at Cartoogechaye

I gave a presentation the the 5th graders at Cartoogechaye School this morning about my Appalachian Trail thru hike. As part of their P.E. program they learn about the A.T. and actually go for a day hike. (The hike is to Siler's Bald.)
So, Hometown was invited to come and talk to the kids. It was actually very enjoyable. I brought my backpack and passed around my gear. I used a question and answer format, which from previous experience with kids works real well, keeps them from being bored, and is pretty entertaining overall.
I would say that the animal questions topped the list, and I told them of bear, moose, and snake encounters. One kid actually asked me, "what hardships did you endure on the trail?" I think he may be destined for a career in journalism. Of course I had the obligatory "did you carry a gun?" and "where did you go to the bathroom?" questions also.
What can I say? It was lots of fun, they invited me to hike with them to Siler's Bald. I may just do that............

Sunday, December 14, 2008




The best part of thru hiking the Appalachian Trail this year was all the great people I met along the way.

Thru hikers Start, Rethinker, SiteSee, and Hometown on Mt. Katahdin, ME on Aug. 13, 2008.


"Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life." - -- Mark Twain


"I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I do not believe I deserved my friends." - -- Walt Whitman