Appalachian Trail

A welcome get-away for us during the pandemic has been the Appalachian Trail, about a one hour drive north from our home. Phil found it while hiking with Adam’s boy scout troop and then went back a few times with Royce. Phil and Royce were actually camping at one of the Appalachian Trail’s shelters in mid-March when everything shut down, including the parking lot where they had parked our car. Since March, we have gone back dozens of times, hiking in both directions and at different starting points.

The kids rarely come with us but they sometimes do. The girls have a couple times. We had a neighbor who came regularly and was the perfect trail companion. Not only was he a good adventurous hiker but he got himself to the trailhead without us hectoring him, like we have to do with the kids.  But he has since returned home to London so we are mostly just with the dog. The dog is always game for a long walk in the woods. She has been a faithful companion this whole year. We have finally bought her collapsible food and water bowls. We used to just pour water for her into rock crevices but have now upped our game.

We run into others on the trail, and pull up our masks accordingly. Once we saw a bear, but mostly we just run into impressive individuals. All sorts of people are through hiking from Georgia to Maine, or the other way. We met a single woman in April who had been on the trail since March. We didn’t know if she knew about covid but she did and thought a multiple month hike would be a good way to spend lockdown. We agreed (but were happy with our day hikes). We met couples who had hiked all sections of AT in NY and were now expanding to NJ. We met others who were doing 2-3 days hikes, expanding their range. Everyone left us inspired.

We have started exploring the AT in New Jersey a bit but often hike the same route over and over again. The view changes quite a bit throughout the seasons. Green and forested in the summer, with the lake just visible in the distance. Then one of the more glorious hikes in the fall with the trees turning colors, hawks diving through the air in front of us.

A memorable hike was on Thanksgiving Day. Two girls and one dog came with us. We were sad to see the café on the trail (where it crosses over a major road) was closed down, for rent signs up in the window. We never made it to that café, though we heard the sandwiches were legendary. The café was mostly for overnighters on the AT, not day hikers like us. We had to hussle up the trail and then return the same way to possibly get a sandwich. We never did. But coming home to a turkey in the oven and everything else prepped was good too. We were thankful then and now that we keep on surviving and hope everyone else can too.