Author: carlspiano

The Skinny: Sometimes, a tick is just a prick Day 81: Friday, June 26, 2026To Warwick NY drive-in movie theater Coffee at the hostel. Then Pastor “Bonzai” came to chat, drink coffee and pray over us. I just wanted to poop, but, of course, there he was. Alas. Packed up and started walking. I think …

Read more “AT Days 81-90: New Jersey, New York and Connecticut”

The Skinny:         I think if I grew up in Pennsylvania, I never would have gotten into hiking. The trails here are designed to hurt you. “Trail” through Northern PA has been–more often than not–miles of fields of jagged rocks. I can confirm that the nickname “Rocksylvania” is an apt one. There’s no point in …

Read more “Appalachian Trail: Days 71-80, Hune 16-25: Northern PA to New Jersey”

The Skinny: Day 61: Saturday, June 6, 2026Tentsite at 999.7 to David Lesser Shelter Last blog entry left off with my having entered “the roller coaster”: ~13 miles with 13 little mountains and tough, rocky terrain. Trillian and I camped in the middle of the roller coaster — just before mile 1,000 — and we …

Read more “Appalachian Trail: Days 61-70: Harper’s Ferry to Duncannon, PA”

The Skinny: I’ve never eaten so much junk food sugar in all my life. Hiker hunger is affecting me now, and my weakness is all the sugary junk I usually deny myself. It might just be the best part of the hike: eat as many cakes, Snickers bars, Twizzlers, whatever — and still lose weight. …

Read more “Appalachian Trail: Days 51-60: Northern Virginia (including Shenandoah)”

The Skinny: Day 41: Sunday, May 17th, 2026Rice Field Shelter to tentsite just north of Wind Rock The day started out fine enough. We got an early start, before 7:30AM. The kids (Scouts?) that camped by the shelter were making “Monkey Balls” when we left, using some contraption to steam bake using a camp stove. …

Read more “Appalachian Trail: Days 41-50: Central Virginia”