I remember reading about a few hikers who started their AT hike in Jan 2003 last year. I am curious if anyone else remembers their names/nicknames and could tell me if they finished the AT or how they ended. I think one of them had a journal, but I forgot the nickname. I am just curious to see how it turned out for those starting so early. Also are there any hikers who started in Jan of this year and if so, how are they doing?
Cheers,
Blake
GPSBlake
They won’t mind me saying this. I met up with “The Flying Scotsman” and “Squeaky” in London on saturday. Had a few beers and talked about the trail. The Flying Scotsman got injured in Vermont somewhere so had to come home. Squeaky bust his knee about 60 miles in (Unicoi Gap I think?) so came home. He went back in June/July and completed it SOBO. Squeaky’s looking to do the PCT, CDT and AT in 2006. The Flying Scotsman wants to return one day soon to complete the trail from Vermont, north. When I saw him he was hobbling, said he was getting over a broken leg, so I guess it won’t be this year.
Ross
Ross
Rocket, Bono and the Flying Scotsman. I don’t think any of them summited, but I think they’re all happy with their hikes.
I don’t know of anyone on here who started in January, but Ben Reuschel started yesterday. His friend, Lauren, was there and posted an entry in her journal and some photos. If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out. It’s worth the read. I’m looking forward to Ben’s first posts.
Ardsgaine
stanimal started a week before ben and barkeater started Jan 1st, pulled out at Kincora to hopefully return shortly.
burn
I will catch up on their journals later tonight. I have only hiked for a week at a time but perhaps when my child grows up, I’ll maybe think seriously about doing the trail. Until then, I can only dream…
Cheers,
Blake
GPSBlake
ROSS!!
Thanks for the update on FS!! I shuttled him to T/Ds last year, we had a blast making fun of his accent on the way down. What a great guy. I emailed him sometime in the last 6 weeks but never heard back (maybe he’s let his Pocketmail account go), glad to hear he’s still tipping a few. But hobbling from a broken leg? Man, he’s had a run of bad leg luck. His foot was causing him real pain when I met him last year at the tail end of his hike.
:cheers
Bluebearee
Whatever became of Bono? I kept up on his journals for awhile, but then he disappeared somewheres…
airferret
I met Bono at the Mohician Outdoor Center last June. He was working in the kitchen. At that time he said he still was ging to finish, but i dought that he did.
Grampie-N->2001
Grampie
Re: The Flying Scotsman. Yeah, he told me about that ride to traildays and mentioned you. I told him a bunch of people had been looking out for him and wanted to know how he was getting on. He’d just come out of the plaster cast when I saw him but seemed in good spirits. I’m sure he’ll go back one day to either finish off the A.T or hike the PCT, I’m not sure which. It was really loud in the pub but I know he mentioned something like that. Hope that brings some sort of closure to those who followed his hike.
Ross :cheers
Ross
Rocket cut short his thruhike in order to do trail work on the MATC. I actually ran into him, not knowing him except from Bono’s journal (haven’t yet read Rockets) up on Baldpate Mt, within minutes of my setting out on a section hike from Grafton Notch to Stratton.
If all goes according to plan, isn’t he supposed to resume his hike this year? I think so.
Kineo Kid
Since I was on Springer on New Years, I can say there were at least 2. Heald and his dog, who hike every year, but only hikes until he has to go to work. Also someone who was attempting the triple crown, but I can’t remember his trail name.
Underpants
Dionalaniz and Barkeater, both early starters this year, both left the trail.
http://www.geocities.com/dionalaniz/at
http://www.geocities.com/barkeater04
Overpants
Stanimal and Ben are out there sending back their entries already. Has anyone looked at what the weather is doing up there? Slap me hard if I ever say I want to hike the AT in February.
I hope they have more than their share of good luck.
Ardsgaine