One of the perks for me as a seasonal ATC Ridge Runner in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) is meeting and greeting AT thru-hikers who are ‘repeaters’ - those who hike the trail year after year.
Recently, I met Friz, a repeat thru-hiker and old ‘friend’, on the trail. Friz and I met at Spence Field years ago and since then, I have grown to appreciate him. His love of the Smokys and Leave No Trace practices are never verbalized but always ‘heard’ loud and clear as evidenced by his personal trail practices.
Barbara (trail name Wild Poodle)(center spot in photo) came up to Mollies with Calm and Cindy. The three ladies make a great group of hikers. I met Wild Poodle when she hiked through the Smoky section in 2006. She said she had to get off the trail that year, as many do; but, I believe the camaraderie of this trio, as they support each other, will carry them all the way to Katahdin this year.
Baltimore Jack passed me as I was coming down for the week. It was good to talk to him again. He has thru-hiked many times and is another friendly face one could encounter treading north during a thru-hiker season. Clearly, meeting up with repeat thru-hikers is one of the highlights of the annual AT Ridge Runner season.
Recently, I met Friz, a repeat thru-hiker and old ‘friend’, on the trail. Friz and I met at Spence Field years ago and since then, I have grown to appreciate him. His love of the Smokys and Leave No Trace practices are never verbalized but always ‘heard’ loud and clear as evidenced by his personal trail practices.
Barbara (trail name Wild Poodle)(center spot in photo) came up to Mollies with Calm and Cindy. The three ladies make a great group of hikers. I met Wild Poodle when she hiked through the Smoky section in 2006. She said she had to get off the trail that year, as many do; but, I believe the camaraderie of this trio, as they support each other, will carry them all the way to Katahdin this year.
Baltimore Jack passed me as I was coming down for the week. It was good to talk to him again. He has thru-hiked many times and is another friendly face one could encounter treading north during a thru-hiker season. Clearly, meeting up with repeat thru-hikers is one of the highlights of the annual AT Ridge Runner season.
Keep hiking,
Carl (aka KY Greybeard)
1 comment:
Hey Carl! My friend, his little brother and I met you at Spence Field and Mollies Ridge on the weekend of May 14 and it was a pleasure to meet you. Thank's for the good conversation you provided us with! Much appreciated!
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