PA: 27Jun-9Jul2005/Days 59-71

Edited Aug2025 – attaching Chapter 7 Pages 49-56.

AT mileage:  229mi/368km
Days to hike:   13

Elevation ranging from 320′ – 2,080′/97 – 634m
Difficulty rating: 2 – 4 (scale of 1 – 10)
Long rocky ridges
Strenous climbs in and out of gaps
Crosses many roads
Southern section – gentle
After Lehigh River Bridge, rocky climb to the ‘Twlight Zone’ (where uncontrolled zinc-mining has done great injustice to the nature)
Trail towns – Boiling Springs, Duncannon & Port Clinton

The longest journey of any person is the journey inward – Dag Hammarskjold

WV: 25Jun2005/Day 57

Edited Aug2025 – attaching Chapter 5 Pages 45-46.

AT mileage:  4mi/6.4km
Days to hike:   some hours

Elevation ranging from 265′ – 1,200′/81 – 366m
Difficulty rating: 2 – 3 (scale of 1 – 10)
National Park – Harpes Ferry Historic
Most historical section – American Civil War
Shortest AT miles of the trail
Trail town – Harpes Ferry, ACT HQ

In the affluent society, no useful distinction can be made between luxuries and necessaries – JK Galbraith

MD: 25- 26Jun2005/Day 57-58

Edited Aug2025 – attaching Chapter 6 Pages 47-48.

AT mileage:  41mi/66km
Days to hike:   2

Elevation ranging from 230′ – 1,880′/70 – 573m
Difficulty rating: 2 – 3 (scale of 1 – 10)
National Park – Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Historic
Most historical section – American Civil War
First monument dedicated to the memory of George Washington

Civilzation, if it is not in man’s heart; well, then it is nowhere – George Duhamel

 

VA: 27May-24Jun2005/Days 28-56 

Edited Aug2025 – attaching Chapter 4 Pages 27-44.

AT mileage:  550mi/885km, including 20mi/32km along West Virginia
Days to hike:   29 days

Elevation ranging from 265′ – 5,500′/80 – 1,677m
Difficulty rating: 2 – 6 (scale of 1 – 10)
National Parks – Blue Ridge & Shenandoah (well maintained, excellent for novice hikers)
National Forests – George Washington & Jefferson
Beautiful rhododendron & azalea tunnels
Abundant wildlife
North Virginia – strenuous
Longest AT miles of the trail
Trail towns – Damascus & Linden

The tricky part of the human journey is to transform oneself continually as life directions change – Donna L Friess

TN: 11-26May2005 /Days12-27

Edited Aug2025 – attaching Chapter 3 Pages 17-26.

AT mileage:  293mi/472km
Days to hike:   16 days

Elevation ranging from 1,326′ – 6,625′/404 – 2,019m
Difficulty rating: 5 – 6 (scale of 1 – 10)
National Park – Great Smokey Mountains
National Forests – Cherokee & Pisgah
Clingmans Dome – highest point on the AT 6,643’/2,025m (where pollution and some European insect damaged much of the green firs)
Beautiful rhododendron tunnels
High ridges & balds – exposed
Panoramic views
First trail town – Hot Springs

The brain has muscles for thinking as the legs have muscles for walking – Offroy de La Mettire

 

NC: 6-10May2005 /Days 7-11

Edited Aug2025 – attaching Chapter 2 Pages 13-16

AT mileage:  ~88mi/141.6km
Days to hike:   5 days

Elevation ranging from 1,725′ – 5,498′/526 – 1,676m
Difficulty rating: 3 – 6 (scale of 1 – 10)
National Park – Great Smoky Mountains
National Forests – Nantanhala & Pisgah
Long climbs
Remoteness – sensation of being in deep forest
Beautiful varities of forest growth & flowering shrubs
Spectacular views