N2Backpacking | Backpacking Tips, Gear, Podcasts & Trail Guides
Practical backpacking tips, gear advice and trail guides from BirdShooter, an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker. Plus the N2Backpacking podcast.
Here's Glenn (aka The Helmet) in his blue Clemson shirt at the taping of Episode #16 of The Long Trail podcast in Barton, Vermont. Hopefully, the brook running below the deck didn't tank the audio. f His schoolhouse was built in 1858 and decommissioned in the 1960's. It still has the original chalk boards inside. Feeling adventureous? Ask him for a tour of the attic or the basement! The front yard is ripe for a pick-up football game which Glenn and my kids enjoyed … [Read more...]
Wild, a best-selling book of Cheryl Strayed’s journey on the Pacific Crest Trail is about to become a movie staring Reese Withersoon. HollywoodReporter.com reports that ... "Fox Searchlight has acquired worldwide rights to Wild, a screen adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s best-selling memoir that will star Reese Witherspoon. The film is scheduled to begin production in the late fall once a director is chosen and will be overseen by … [Read more...]
Nearly 20 years ago, I saw this sign while hiking northbound on the Appalachian Trail that directed me (via a blue-blazed Trail) in to the town of Monson, Maine. Here's how it looked back then with the fall foilage near peak and my hiking companion Harry (Delta Force) contemplating the two mile side hike to town. I spent two nights in Monson at Shaw's Boarding House before hiking the 100 Mile Wilderness, and another night here after I summited Katahdin. Mr. and Mrs. … [Read more...]
Had a chance to record a podcast with Mackie recently for "The Ultimate Summer Roadtrip - Part Two". It's in the editing room right now and should be ready for release by the end of this week. In the meantime, check out "The Ultimate Summer Roadtrip - Part One" if you haven't already. It will get you primed for Part Two and recaps a cross-country hiking/backpacking trip I did with Snyder (aka The Ox) two years after my 1996 trip with Mackie (who is shown above at our interview in … [Read more...]
Brett (aka Therm Rider) and I start the hike at the Byron Herbert Reece Trailhead which gives us a bonus 1.7 mile hike this afternoon. We reach the Appalachian Trail after a gradual climb of 0.7 miles. After a mile descent, we meet up with Ken (aka Beer Run) at Neel's Gap. He's been watching our packs and the 20 bikers that rolled in to the parking area this afternoon. Bears are active and aggressive in this area. Parts of the Blood Mountain Wilderness have mandatory bear canister rules in … [Read more...]
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We were hiking the Appalachian Trail just north of Neels Gap and ran in to this Timber Rattlesnake crossing the path during a hike to Wolf Laurel Top. Fortunately, Ken was leading us because both Brett and I were listening to our iPods to motivate us up an 800' incline. Let that be a lesson ... if you plan to rock out during your hike, then take position in the back of the pack! Follow this link for a photo of the rattlesnake! … [Read more...]