The Last Five Miles!

By the grace of God, and with the support, prayers, and encouragement of my family and friends, I finished my Appalachian Trail Thru Hike yesterday, August 30th, 2016.

From the Bigelows to the Wilderness: On the Home Stretch

Stats: Tuesday night 8/23, MM 2074.6

(73.7 new miles, 2083.4 total miles)

Only 114.5 miles to go!

It's been a great week. Made up some time, and the weather has been good. I also ran into some people I haven't seen for a long time, good to see them. (It's amazing how you keep running into people at stopping points but then don't see them for weeks or months.)


Best of all, I'm about a week from the finish line and heading home!

Past the 2,000 Mile Mark, Less Than 200 Miles To Go

Stats: Thursday night 8/18, MM 2000.9

(32.2 new miles, 2009.7 total miles)

 

Only 188.2 miles to go!



I am on the home stretch. Really ready to be home. Still enjoying great views along the way, and this week met Gray Ghost, we are hiking together now. My body is holding out, but very tired.

A Day Off, Old Blue, and Into Rangeley

Stats: Monday night 8/15, MM 1968.7

(36.5 new miles, 1977.5 total miles)

 

Only 220.4 miles to go!

I decided to go, knowing I'd have a day off the next day (continued from Sunday's blog, read here if you missed it.) It was a good decision because Saturday's rain was much worse than Friday's. Sorry for the blurry pictures this time, I'm having a hard time with condensation and keeping the lens clear.

Into Maine: The 13th and Final State!

Stats: Thursday night 8/11, MM 1932.2

(62.5 new miles, 1941 total miles)

 

Only 256.9 miles to go!

It's been a tough week, you can probably tell from the mileage. Over 5 days I only averaged 12 miles per day. But once again, beautiful views and a boulder pit made it worth it, and I feel blessed to be still on my journey.

Enjoying the Whites

Stats: Saturday night 8/6, MM 1869.7

(70 new miles, 1878.5 total miles)

 

Only 319.4 miles to go!

Tuesday (Mt. Lafayette or Mt. Garfield)

It’s been a really great week – amazing views of God’s creation, beautiful weather, rides when I needed them, good timing getting to the huts, hiking with Shue (met him back in North Carolina), free places to stay, and an inexpensive, nice hotel to end the week. Even with a broken pole, less mileage, longer and more difficult hiking days, and a cherry toe from all the downhill rocky climbs, I’ve had a very blessed week on the AT.