MD Section trek - Oct 19

imported
#1

I am hiking the MD section from H.F. to P-M Oct 19-23. Can anyone give me directions to any particular journals pertaining to this section?

  • Skinn

Skinnhead

#2

Hey Skinhead. If you look at my journal (A-Train) under 2001 I have journal entries from maryland. I hiked it over 4 days in late May, 2001. If you have any questions about shelters, campsites, or anything feel free to contact me. email is arigney@zoo.uvm.edu. Good luck, its a nice relatively easy section, should be a good time of yr too. A-Train

A-Train

#3

thanks, AT (verrry appropriate!) Being the inquisitive sort, I searched for the photo of the person replying to my mail, but didn’t see you. I did, however, see photos of lots of people with beards. Being new to the AT, I am not aware of all the etiquette, but it appears that to be a male AT trekker, I must grow a beard. Thanks for the info.

  • Skinn

Skinnhead

#4

I would not say you “have” to grow a beard. The year I hiked I’d say about 25 - 30% of the men did not grow one. I let mine grow just so it was one less thing to worry about. Didn’t need to carry any shaving gear or worry about bouncing it forward. Was just simpler. Kinds of tracks along with the simpler lifestyle on the trail. I’ll grow one again next year. Besides, my wife hates me with a beard so it’s the only time I really get a chance to grow one.

Moose

#5

Well, for many of us, the expectation in the business world is clean shaven. So a thru-hike is the one time in our lives when it is acceptable to grow a beard.

And, like moose says, it’s one less thing to worry about. Thru-hiking is about simplfying your like for the duration. Shaving is just one thing that you discover you can live without.

But, there are some who do keep up appearences, so shave if you want to.

And women, the same goes for you. Some do, and some do not.

Peaks

#6

Man those bearded trail girls were a site, huh. And the ones with the hairy feet…oh, that was Lord of the Rings. Clean shavin might get you better service if that’s your gig. We scored many a nice room, meals and magic looking as best as possible. And without a beard you won’t scare the kids. Too itchy for me. I bounce a razor.

Bushwhack

#7

I have already tried it out…I didn’t shave today for the office – but no one even noticed my legs. I LIKE it. I think I’ll try it on my face, too.

  • Skinn

Skinnhead

#8

What a dull place to work. I can’t make it thru the day without cracking on someone about thier appearance. “Hair cut by Salad Shooter?” I’ll give the cleans ups to being able to see deer ticks a little better. Those little fricken…
One girl we met last year got Lymes but she was so filthy…and hairy that you couldn’t see her skin.

Bushwhack

#9

and easy to hike. Some of the shelters are incredibly nice.
Forget Devil’s Racecourse…camp atop the hill and go down
only for water. Dahlgren was excellent after a few days
without a shower. Towns are close to the trail in this area.

Scamp

Scamp

#10

When I got off the trail I went home and couldn’t drive.
My license expired while hiking.
I went down to DMV and got a photo license(photo optional in
NJ), but I didn’t get around to shaving first.
My photo, with AT beard, makes me look like a terrorist!-)
BTW, I normally have a trimmed beard.

Scamp

Scamp

#11

Well, to post it somewhere. So that we complete can see the terrorist look! For one, I, think that look is the benevolent face, to be sure. Flora akbar!

Mujahadeen

#12

Hey…let me just “peep” in here with my opinion on this beard thing… During my wilderness experience on the AT, I want to experience the total wilderness feeling…beards are a must for me, or at least the unshaven look… messes the whole thing up when you see a clean shaven, close cropped head. And then that after shave smell - ye gads! And oh,oh, there goes a gal with the full make-up on her face…and yipes, is that hair sprat I smell? Where am I, on a movie set? Only my wilderness knife (only weighs 1 ounce)cuts my hair and head when I’m out there. Just my opinion…my type of hike…

Peep

#13

Bushwack was right about the “clean” hikers get better service. Especially hitches to town. We only had to walk twice our entire thru-hike. I had a beard, but I even kept it trimmed. I bounced a pair of scissors to cut my hair. The hot weather this year was tough. A large number of men and women shaved their heads. At the Inn just out of Harpers Ferry, there were 6 shaved in one evening including Seaweeds. There was a measurable difference in the service we got in towns when we were clean. I only carried one change of clothes. If there was a water source near the road, I would wash my clothes and put them back on and they were usually dry by the time we got a ride. Also, the baby wipe bath (We learned that from Bushwack’s journals last year). Wear your beard, but clean up for town. It will be worth more than the effort I promise.

Papa Smurf

#14

I’ve had long hair and a long beard for the past 16 years on the trail and have never had a problem getting a hitch.

Lone Wolf

#15

I don’t shave everyday but I can’t stand the itch! I tested it again over the last few weeks by week three the beard comes off!

lostsole

#16

The only hard time I had getting a hitch was at the same places that everyone else had a hard time. And I had a huge bushy beard, longish hair, and was wearing a kilt!
Sure, I got some funny looks sometime, but most people understood that I was a hiker and that’s how most hikers look. And if I got lousy service because they didn’t like my big, beautiful, bushy red beard then they get a lousy tip.
My beard got hot, and I trimmed it once on the trip (harpers ferry) and I was always getting food in it…but who cares? your on the trail. I have trimmed my beard now, mainly because you couldn’t see my neck. Now its nice and neat but I still get some looks because my hair hangs in my eyes…tough. I like it, I’m keeping it, if its not “socially acceptable” society can go to hell.

TrailYeti

#17

I don’t wash with them, not afraid of ice water, feels great after a long day…unless there is four feet of snow on the ground. That’s the wife who hates cold stuff. I like a fresh tushy, no saddle sores in 2200 miles!

Bushwhack

#18

Never trimmed my beard while I was on the Trail. However, I did trim the moustache occassionally. Learned a good lesson from some little campers that I shared a shelter with one night: Never eat some-mores with a shaggy moustache.

Peaks