Mountains Under Foot

Before we ring in the new year Spoon and I would like to give our final thoughts to what has been an amazing adventure and a fantastic blog. Be sure to stick around as the website undergoes construction into the next phase of development.

Fun Facts:

Length of the AT: 2178.3 miles
Completed in: 122 days
Zero days: 10 days
Most miles in a day: ~35 miles
Least miles in a day (excluding zeros): 3 miles
Longest hiking day: ~14 hours
Shortest hiking day: 1.75 hours
Average miles per day (excluding zeros): 19.45 miles
Longest stretch between zero days: 30 days (575.1 miles)
Shortest stretch between zero days: 5 days (103.1 miles)
Highest Peak: Clingman’s Dome, NC – 6,643′
Lowest Elevation: Bear Pen at the Bear Mountain Zoo, NY – 120′

Number of days to feel normal again: 30
Hazard’s weight lost: 40lbs
Fuel canisters: 9
Stitches: 6
Most consecutive days without a shower: 5
Hazard cut his nails: 5 times
Hazard broke a pole: 3 times
New sets of poles for Spoon: 2
Headlamps for Spoon: 2
New boots between us: 2 pair each
Corroded phone: 1
Blood lost: 1 cup
Spoon’s weight lost: 0lbs
Number of times we shaved: 0

Hazard’s favorite food: Nutella on a Cinnamon Raisin Bagel
Spoon’s favorite food: Refried beans with hotsauce and Easy Cheese on corn chips.

Thank you list:

Neels Gap Outfitters, Roman Noodles, Hiawassee Inn, Nantahala Outdoor Center, “Steve who works at the bar”, Mountain Mike & Pumpkin, Standing Bear Farms, Chris & Jenny at Sunnybank Inn, Bluff Mountain Outfitters, Uncle Johnny’s Hostel, WLOS Asheville, Kincora Hostel, The Town of Damascus, Lazy Fox Inn, Terry and Sissy Kammer of Augusta’s Appalachian Inn, Neville and Michael of Woods Hole Hostel, Plaza Motel, Police Officer Josh, Charlene’s parents and Zeke, Mama Ava’s sister and her husband, Rusty of Rusty’s Hard Time Hollow, Mr. and Mrs. House (Cattywampus’s parents), the family at Loft Mountain Campground, Kathy and Don in Shenandoah, Bears Den Hostel, The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Jay and the DC Lofty Hostel, Paul Rosa aka Blue Moon, Caledonia State Park, Christy, Allenberry Resort and Playhouse, Pat and Vickey Kelly of the Doyle Hotel, Paul and Tammy from Ye Old Backpacker, Church of the Mountain Hostel in Delaware Water Gap, Pack Shack, Edge of the Woods Outfitter, Mohican Outdoor Center, Dick “The Mayor”, Butch, Bill, Sara and Jason from NYC, Joy, Tim, and Rio from Kent, White Hart Inn, Tom Levardi, Chris, Arla & Josh from Bennington, Tim Jones, Back Home Again Cafe, “Short and Sweet” & Greybeard from Norwich, Pooh & his daughter, Chet West of Lincoln, Luke and the Galehead Hut Croo, Gates and the Mizpah Hut Croo, Hikers Paradise Hostel, White Birches Campground Hostel, Peter Bingham, Gail from White Wolf Inn, Tim Harrison of Harrison’s Pierce Pond Camps, Ferryman Dave Corrigan, Rebekah of Lake Shore House, Mr. and Mrs. Farrell.

…all of the trail angels who supplied us with your magic,
…all of the people who gave us rides in and out of town,

Special shout out to all the hikers we met on the trail:

Jake the camera guy, Kendra and Wes, Amoeba, Linda & Curtis, Bombadillo, 15, Loyal, Chairman, Matt & his mom, Centaur, Barfight, Sal, Nikki & Joe, Needles, Firecracker, Odysseus, Herb, Patch, Tyben, Poli-Poli & Plowboy, Disco Stu, Route 66, Dan, Churchmouse, One-Step, Checkpoint & Coldfeet, Bad Camper & Colin, Dave Castor (not a hiker but a biker), Two Pack, SnP, Sunshine & Marbles, Chef, Turtleback, Knees & Curio, Slackass, Croc (impostor), Sarah, Shannon, Kelly, Iceman & Cattywampus, Wheels, 10×10, Magnum Orphan, Crow, Buttchinz, Big Camera, Pilgrim of St. James, Capt’n, Kage, Squatter, Grizzilla, Aquafresh, Hot Feet, Manimal, Trampoline & Kate (Siren), Highway Man, Free child, Basher, Ziggy, Shameless, Creep, Lion King, YOU, Bam-Bam, George with Gracie the dog, Journey, Many Names, Prof. Mark, Frankenfoot, Timebomb, Hopscotch, Cleancut, Natty, Fancypants & Gozer, Stewball, Otter, Rocky, West, Goose, Game boy, Icarus, Bark & Berry, Bookworm, Boofer, Holdout & Hatchet, Bugman, Two Pounds, Topshelf & Geeza, Fiddle, Not-so-crazy, Tennessee Ed & Sis, Joe Kickass, Rattlefoot, Carhop, Kermit, Zipper, Wiz-Kid, Wizpee, Jellybean, Solar System, Rockdancer, Annie, Hammock, Chomp & Half-full, Don’t Panic & Wing it, Phoenix, Houdini, Braid, Strider, Moss, Flying Scotsman, Spicoli, Tank, Hobbit, and Pennywhistle.

Of course a special thanks to Nick (UCOC) and Arthur (Crocstar) for enriching our experience through friendship and fellowship. We would walk anywhere with these guys again.

And finally:

Thank you Catherine, Stephen, Lauren, Jamie, and Johnathan for meeting us along the trail to bring us love and support.

Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Driver for treating us to a wonderful time at our half-way point in Harpers Ferry.

Thank you Mom, Dad, and Will for maintaining the website, providing transportation to and from the trail, and moral support.

I cannot forget all of the people who commented on the website and constantly told us we would make it. Part of our victory we owe to you.

As you can see, an overwhelming number of people were involved in making this a truly memorable experience of a lifetime. We simply could not have done this on our own. We are in your debt.

Until the next great adventure,

Fred “Hazard” Gunther & Madison “Spoon” Driver