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One recent day, I drove from my childhood home area in northwestern Vermont to New Hampshire. It was a unique day. I stopped at a Long Trail crossing near the Lamoille River and hiked a few hundred yards up the path. Twenty-six years prior, with a converted bike side-bag, I took my first steps on that particular section and those steps have led to millions more on a variety of trails. The other notable event was the day-hike just east of Gorham, NH on another section of trail, the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). This one was a roadwalk between the A.T. trailhead on US Route 2 and where it enters the woods north of the Androscoggin. A measly 0.7 miles. But I had managed to skip it when I had the opportunity to hike it, a purist no-no. I righted that wrong and (excusing for one high-water exception near Laurel Creek Falls) now I can truly say I have hiked every mile of the Appalachian Trail. Hiking the Appalachian Trail is the single-most significant event in my life. The bug was in my head early on so no surprise that I actually attempted it. What I learned from it was a surprise. It provided me with self-reliance and a sense of connection to the earth and other people. Enjoying the outdoors and physical exercise was a plus and not the primary goal that it was when I started. Only over time have I realized that the changes within me far outweighed those original benefits. This is the story of my hike. Welcome to my website! Home (A.T. '92 Hike) | Leg 1A | Leg 1B | Leg 2 | Leg 3 | Shelters | LTPF | Thanks |