As we have the past few years, we met some great, unique, "colorful" and adventurous people this year. We did not form any long lasting tramiles this year probably due to the lower number of thru hikers/LASHERS but still met many people with most having a great story to tell on why they are hiking the AT. The following are a few of those fellow AT hikers we met:
Do you ever get the feeling you are being "Shadowed"? Well.....we did on our hike....or was it just our "Trail Guardian Angels" watching over us.....?
Sometimes you are impacted by "Trail Angels" you never meet.....but are very grateful for their help in time of need.
Some people on the trail did not really want there picture taken so we certainly respected that but they still, however, welcomed the opportunity to talk to us and provide their back story:
"Homeless Billy" (that is actually the name MacGyver and i gave him). He had been on the AT for some months with no real goal in mind and...well....looked a bit homeless but he was quite a friendly guy and we wished him luck.
"Darby" (not a trail name). He is an active career military person (10 years in the marines and 20 years in the Airforce (thank you Darby for your service!)...and contemplating retiring to spend time with his family. His current MOS was political military advisor stationed in Korea...and probably the reason he didn't want his picture taken! An added benefit to talking to Darby was that he gave us some key pointers on survival in the wilderness! Did you know that you can survive more than 3 days without water? ....we never tested that!!
"Thor" Met him at 4 Pines Hostel. Was/is on a thru hike but the heat and humidity (and lack of water) in Virginia in July/August got to him so he flip-flopped to Maine and will try to finish his hike SOBO.
Trail Angels Homer and Theresa in Daleville, VA (both in their late 70's). A wonderful couple that "unoffically" shuttle hikers. Was trying to get a shuttle/ride from the trail head to the hotel we were planning to stay at in Daleville and had no success what so ever. Even tried to hitchhike. Then my wife Sandy happen to find some one who new someone who knew someone that could help. At first it sounded a bit questionable. That was the furtherest from the truth. They were the real deal! Homer and Roberta shuttle hikers locally all over in Daleville and Troutville because they love the AT and love the hiking community......and they do it all for free. PLUS they are trail maintainers on the sections near Daleville. Rest assured that MacGyver and I gave them a good "unoffically" tip for their help.
Met Ian (not a trail name) at Stanimals Hostel. He is an ex-marine LASHER that is blowing thru 20-30 mile days. his "day job"...... security contractor in Afghanistan.
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Hi Possum! MacGyver and I finished up on Sept.7th with 351 miles in this year. False alarm on MacGyver taking ill. He was dehydrated but recovered in about 2 days. Was great to meet you this year!
Hey Pinnacle! Great to meet and hike with you also! And great advice on the next section we did. Thanks!
Great meeting you and your Brother at Eagles nest.
It was great meeting you and brother at Eagles nest
Pinnacle