Note: After celebrating the 40th anniversary of my hike in 2023 with daily posts (including 40 years ago today, May 2 - Oct 3), I am going for it again in 2024: 41 years ago today May 2 - Oct 3. Then the plan would be celebrating the 42nd anniversary of my hike in 2025 with a sequel Appalachian Trail hike in 2025 and a new book, if I can stay healthy. As I've said, it should be an interesting contrast. I was 24 when I made the original hike.

I am celebrating the 40th anniversary of my hike this year with daily posts (40 years ago today, May 2 - Oct 3) and hopefully a sequel Appalachian Trail hike and book within the next two years, if I can get all my ducks in a row for it. It should be an interesting contrast. I was 24 when I made the original hike.

My book Then the Hail Came (A Humorous and Truthful Account of a 1983 Appalachian Trail Thru-hike) is available in paperback and eBook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6

#hiking #backpacking

Coastal storm pounds some wetlands along the Oregon coast in March 1984. The sun burns through for a few minutes. The rain continues and even comes down a bit harder.

#hiking #photography #landscapephotography #hikingadventures #nature #Oregon #Pacific #rain #ocean #PacificOcean #seacoast #spring #springtime

9/9
When the trail turned smack into the wind just as I topped the crown of the mountain, I was almost blown over backwards. For a few minutes, things were rather intense. Fortunately, most of the ridge was partially sheltered from the full force of the blast, once I descended a bit from the very top.

From my book Then the Hail Came (A Humorous and Truthful Account of a 1983 #AppalachianTrail Thru-hike). Available in paperback, audiobook and eBook: https://amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6

8/9
All of these are rocky and open as they approach the main crest, as are the headwalls of the ravines between them. Traversing Mount Eisenhower, the AT skirts the highest several hundred feet of the 4761-foot mountain, avoiding the exposed crest, on which hiking is not recommended in foul weather such as today’s hazardous winds. Naturally, I took the loop trail over the top. The wind was howling insanely.

7/9
I have always been slightly (and childishly) amused by the alpine summit of Mount Eisenhower's resemblance to a round bald dome.

From Pierce, the Appalachian Trail remained above tree line for the rest of the day’s hike. In the Presidentials, the alpine area is not confined to a narrow strip along the ridgeline. The zone of bare rock, alpine tundra and dwarf spruce often extends well down the mountainsides. Major side ridges slope down to the distant valleys west and east of the range.

6/9
My legs were soon torn and bleeding from the impact of my body being buffeted by the gale into sharp rocks and bushes adjacent to the trail.

The sun began to reemerge as I came out onto the south summit of Pierce. By the time I topped the main summit, the entire mountain basked in sunshine and the clouds had lifted from the top of Mount Eisenhower, although they hovered dramatically just above the summit.

5/9
It was quite cool on the ridge after the heat of the past few days, and a powerful breeze was blowing. The weather sheet at Mitzpah called for fifty-mile-per-hour winds at the summits today, and I could find no reason to argue with that prediction.

Like most winds, these would die down a bit and then gust again at unpredictable intervals. I was concentrating on making up some lost time and often distracted by the ever-changing landscape and views.

4/9
From Jackson’s summit, I descended back below the trees and continued along the ridge crest to Mitzpah Spring Hut, located in a wooded col below the summit of Mount Pierce.

I stopped on the front porch of the hut just long enough for another snack. I considered topping off my water bottle for the trail ahead, but a quart of water still remained. A stiff climb up Mount Pierce was on tap, so I decided not to carry the extra weight.

3/9
The sky had been gradually clearing as I went along, but the clouds moved back in and then some as I climbed Mount Jackson. From the 4052-foot summit, I could see the entire length of the trail ahead to Mount Washington. Mount Eisenhower’s rounded dome was slipping in and out of the clouds, and the top several hundred feet of Washington was completely socked-in.

2/9
Climbing the Webster Cliffs was not the ordeal I remembered from earlier hikes. The ascent was notably steep, but a great deal of excellent trail construction work had made it a much easier climb than the Liberty Springs Trail had been. I did not take one break until I arrived at the top of the first set of cliffs, with their excellent view of the notch below. I really did not need to stop there, either, I wanted to enjoy the spot. I took a two-minute standing break and had a snack.

🧵1/9
September 8, 1983: It was mostly cloudy in Crawford Notch at 12:30 when I set out on the Appalachian Trail. A nice, stiff breeze was blowing, the air was fresh and dry, and the day was much cooler than the last few had been. As usual, that 12:30 start was considerably later than I wanted it to be.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #NewHampshire #nature #mountains #forest #AppalachianTrail #adventure #trail

Time moves at a slower pace out in the forest. Marino Pond, Plymouth, Connecticut. September 11, 2020, 4:21 PM.

#hiking #photography #outdoors #landscapephotography #hikingadventures #nature #Connecticut #summer #September #forest #naturephotography #trails #lake #summertime

5/5
as I descended sharply over rocks into a steep little gap and ascended the small, rocky crag of Little Baldpate, which had excellent views north across a deep valley towards Wyman Mountain, Hall Mountain, and their surrounding foothills. Shortly after crossing that summit, the Appalachian Trail finally dropped below tree line at the beginning of another long, steep descent.

More of My 1983 #AppalachianTrail Hike in Photos at https://www.georgesteffanos.com/places-i-ve-been

4/5
From the rocky, alpine summit, there was a panorama which included a large portion of the Mahoosuc Range. In many respects, Baldpate’s long ridge crest was like an instant replay of the Mahoosucs. The ridge remained open for more than an additional half-mile,

3/5
It was a grueling climb coming so soon after that initial ascent to the ridge, but worthwhile in every respect. All the way up, I had outstanding views of the west peak, with Grafton Notch and Old Speck in the background.

2/5
On the upside, nice views northward across the crest towards the main summit encouraged me a bit. A stiff wind was blowing up there to augment the cold. I did not linger long.

Another steep trail dropped from the west peak down into a sag. The crest was partially open to views and covered with stunted conifers and some alpine vegetation. After a brief leveling-off, the Appalachian Trail scaled the steep stone wall of the south face of Baldpate’s main summit.

🧵 1/5
September 15, 1983: When I finally attained that summit, I checked my watch and discovered that it was almost 9:00. I had consumed two hours in hiking two-and-a-half miles. At the rate I had been covering ground the past couple of days, Katahdin was beginning to once more achieve the status of fairy tale.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #Maine #nature #forest #mountains #adventure #trails #AppalachianTrail

Evening sunshower at Lost Ponds, Mattatuck State Forest, Plymouth, Connecticut. July 14, 2018, 6:56 PM.

#hiking #photography #outdoors #landscapephotography #hikingadventures #nature #Connecticut #summer #July #forest #rain #clouds #trails #lake #summertime

7/7
By the time I reached the summit of the first knob I was sweating profusely, although the morning remained bracingly cold. The trail leveled off somewhat for a short distance along the ridge crest before the initial climb was duplicated on the nutcracking ascent of Baldpate’s west peak.

From my book Then the Hail Came (A Humorous and Truthful Account of a 1983 #AppalachianTrail Thru-hike). Available in paperback, audiobook and eBook: https://amazon.com/dp/B09QFG4ZR6

6/7
The trail up to Baldpate Ridge was ancient, unimproved New England footpath — an insanely steep mess which predictably had become a gully through years of erosion. In some spots, three to five feet of soil had been washed from the footway — the height of exposed tree roots from the ground. Clouds of vapor streamed from my overheated body.