Over the years I’ve spent time on the trail with a number of hikers and backpackers. This is a small sampling, but these friends have made multiple trips with me into the wilderness and offer up some of their best and worst experiences from the trail.
ALE – The Artic Fox – BeerRun – BirdShooter – C.A. – C.C. – The Camel – Cardic – Country Club – The Cowboy – DooRag – Doughgirl – Drone Boy – Freedog – Gator Girl – The Gomite – Hawkeye – The Helmet – Iceman – The Joker – The Kidd – Leehz – Mackie – Monodeep – Muscle Jim – The Operator – Oskie – The Ox – Pocahontas – Pixie – Red Eye – Rockhopper – Reece – The Rooster – The Seeker – The Senator – The Sheik – Sikle – Sister – Slawdog – Sloaner – Smoky – Songbird – Soul Glow – Tamalama – Therm Rider – Wagonhammer – The Weasel – Waterdog – White Lightening – Wild Turkey – World Wide Wanderer – Yukon Matt
ALE
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Why The Name? A nickname that’s a trail name by default. Born: Marietta, Georgia Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Best Trip: Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. “It was cold, but the views were great.” Worst Trip: Mt. Mitchell State Park, North Carolina. “My knees took a beating on the descent.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Looking Glass Rock, North Carolina. “It was 3am, snowing, and we sat around a campfire and watched two climbers scale a cliff in the distance with a full moon behind them.” |
The Artic Fox
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Why The Name? She’s a “whitey”, and we nearly froze her to death on her first trip. Born: San Antonio, Texas Resides: Smyrna, Georgia Best Trip: Standing Indian, North Carolina. “I enjoyed the hike to Standing Indian and the sunset from the summit was spectacular.” Worst Trip: Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. “I had a lot of fun on this trip … then around midnight I got sick.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Siler Bald, North Carolina. “Sitting around the campfire at Siler Bald cooking dinner and making hot toddies.” |
BeerRun
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Why The Name? He’s known for making a run back to the trailhead when supplies run low. Born: Chattanooga, Tennessee Resides: Johns Creek, Georgia Best Trip: Unnamed National Forest, Colorado. “I’ll never give up the location, but catching trout “Chilly Willy” style from a cold Rocky mountain stream and cooking them for dinner.” Worst Trip: Great Smoky Mountain National Park, North Carolina. “We hiked to TriCorner Knob shelter in a hailstorm for the night, got chased by a bear, and then I burnt the ass out of my pants.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: “So many great memories from the backcountry … I can’t name just one.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail?: “A gallon water. We climbed ~2000 feet over 3 1/2 miles then realized we were camping on a stream that night (and I had iodine tablets in my pack).” |
BirdShooter
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Why The Name? Let’s just say it has nothing to do with the middle finger. Born: Zanesville, Ohio Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Glacier National Park, Montana. “Great scenery, great campsites, and lots of wildlife.” Worst Trip: Tusquitee Bald, North Carolina. “It’s a jungle out there. The lack of trail maintenance and June heat/humidity made it a brutal hike.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Denali National Park, Alaska. “Walking into the side of a moose in dense brush in Denali.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail?: “A harmonica. You better play it well or you risk losing a few friends around the campfire.” |
C.A. (Candy Andy)
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Why The Name? Some ladies at a party once dubbed him “Eye Candy” Andy. His buddies changed it to “Candy Ass” Andy. “Candy A” or C.A. is a compromise of the two. Born: Green, Ohio Resides: Los Angeles, California Best Trip: Joyce Kilmer National Forest, North Carolina. “It was an easy hike and we saw a bunch of shooting stars from the bald that night.” Worst Trip: Denali National Park, Alaska. “The brush in that canyon was brutal.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Teklanika River, Alaska. “Chasing my boots downstream on the Teklanika River for about half a mile.” |
C.C.
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Why The Name? It’s a nickname that’s a trail name by default. Born: Atlanta, Georgia Resides: Decatur, Georgia Best Trip: Shinning Rock Wilderness, North Carolina. “The weather was perfect and it was pretty cool to hike to Shinning Rock and climb it.” Worst Trip: Chattooga National Scenic River, Georgia. “I was hungover and the bugs were eating me alive.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. “The Kidd pointed out the view while we were hiking to a bald on the Appalachian Trail and told me that this is why it’s all worth it. It was my first backpacking trip.” |
The Camel
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Why The Name? He can go for miles without drinking any water, no matter how hot or humid the weather. Born: Coventry, England Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Best Trip: Chilkoot Trail, Alaska/B.C./Yukon. – “Where else can you hike from one country to another and see the bare butt of an 80 year old senator from the Yukon.” Worst Trip: Uhwarrie National Forest, North Carolina. – “It rained and we had to bail out and get a motel room.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Denali National Park, Alaska. “I fell in to the Class V/VI canyon rapids of the Teklanika River and thought it was all over.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “My first backpack that was given to me by an old roommate. It was three sizes too small and about chocked me to death.” |
Cardiac
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Why The Name? He nearly had a heart attack when we took him on a hike in Utah. Born: Decatur, Georgia Resides: Marietta, Georgia Best Trip: Machu Picchu, Peru. “We spent four days on the Inca Trail – an unbelievable experience.” Worst Trip: None. “If your hiking or backpacking – there is no worst trip.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Arapahoe National Forest, Colorado. “My first 14’er at Grays and Torreys Peak.” |
Country Club
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Why The Name? On our first hike, he showed up with a collared shirt and looked ready for an afternoon at the Country Club. Born: LA (Lower Alabama) Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Best Trip: Beaverstone Bay, Northern Ontario. “Great scenery, great wildlife, and a great group. Just a solid trip in general.” Worst Trip: Appalachian Trail, Maine. “My shoulder strap ripped from the seams of my pack at the start of the hike. Then we hiked in the rained for the next eight hours – eventually bailing on our planned campsite for a motel room in town.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Mazenazing River Ontario. “Seeing a black bear near the Mazenazing River in Northern Ontario and taking a National Geographic worthy photo of it.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: Crocker Mountains, Maine. – “My 40 lb. pack – we hiked for 8 hours and I hardly used it. ” (see Worst Trip details above) |
The Cowboy
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Why The Name? He likes to hike in a cowboy hat. Born: Zanesville, Ohio Resides: Zanesville, Ohio Best Trip: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. “It was cold but when the late afternoon sun hit the river and lit up those aspen leaves, I knew why I came.” Worst Trip: Ellis Lock #11, Muskingum River, Ohio. “We hiked and camped at Ellis Dam frequently and I have a lot of good memories from the place but on this trip I nearly fell off the lock and landed in the river.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Lake Nokoni, Colorado. “Watching BirdShooter fish for trout in Rocky Mountain National Park (and catch nothing.)” |
DooRag
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Why The Name? He wore a DooRag on his first trip with us into the backcountry. Born: London, England Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Panthertown Valley, North Carolina. “A great day hike, excellent camping and wonderful scenery.” Worst Trip: Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia. “Still a great trip, but a blinding hangover, car sick dog and flat tire took the spirit out of it.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Toocoa River, Georgia. “Carrying the Gomite back to our campsite across a 200 foot suspension bridge.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “Two bottles of red wine – for medicinal purposes of course.” |
Doughgirl
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Why The Name? She makes a mean doughboy. Born: Norfolk, Virginia Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Cumberland Island National Park, Georgia. “Lots of wildlife … especially armadillos.” Worst Trip: Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. “It was a death march and one of those hikes that starts by going downhill … meaning you have to go uphill at the end. It was very hot and our only beverage was a half bottle of warm Gatorade.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: “Hiking alone in Sequoia and suddenly seeing a black bear lumbering in my direction.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “A pumpkin – it’s very hard to carry although a jack-o-lantern leering at you from the woods is pretty cool.” |
Drone Boy
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Why The Name? It was given to me – I had no choice in it. Born: New Rochelle, New York Resides: Smyrna, Georgia Best Trip: Semester at Sea, Global. “My Semester at Sea in 1993. Cruised around for 6 months, visited 14 countries, epic stories and travel.” Worst Trip: Quandary Peak/Bierstadt, Colorado. “3rd degree burns on Quandary Peak, and snow blindness on Bierstadt. The later was the most pain I’ve had in my life. Most Memorable Trail Moment: White River National Forest, Colorado. “Flying my first drone in Colorado. Epic drone footage that has been used in two documentaries since.
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Freedog
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Why The Name? It’s a derivation of his last name given during grad school. Born: Daytona Beach, Florida Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Dupuis Bay, Ontario. “Great scenery and wild game hunting: Mice (11), Frogs (12), Perch (7).” Worst Trip: Camp Watia, North Carolina. “It rained hard on Sunday morning while we were packing up.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: “Nantahala River, North Carolina. Listening to the mating of an amorous couple during a NOC trip on the Nantahala.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “A cooler of hard boiled eggs to keep up with the Atkins diet.” |
Gator Girl
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Why The Name? She caught an alligator while fishing on a spring trip in South Carolina. Born: Kharkov, Ukraine Resides: Charlottesville, Virginia Best Trip: Looking Glass Rock, North Carolina. “It was a tough hike, but the views were beautiful.” Worst Trip: Siler Bald, North Carolina. “There really isn’t a worst trip, but it sure was cold and windy on Siler Bald the second night we were on the trail.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: “Catching an alligator with a fishing pole.” |
The Gomite
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Why The Name? Some ladies in college dubbed he and his twin brother, “The Gomites”. Born: Charleston, West Virginia Resides: Beckley, West Virginia Best Trip: Chimney Rock State Park, North Carolina. “It snowed but we had a huge fire and lots of ladies to keep us warm. And then there was the game ending question in “I Never.” Worst Trip: Rod Hollow Shelter, Virginia. “BirdShooter tried to make me eat macaroni with a locust in it.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Appalachian Trail, Virginia. “We stopped at Papa Nick’s Restaurant at Ashley Gap and a female thru-hiker called me a p**** because I was sore after hiking ten miles.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “Nike tennis shoes/canvas hiking boots. They tore up my feet.” |
Hawkeye
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Why The Name? He’s just waiting for you to puncture a lung so he can break out his wilderness medical kit. Born: Towson, Maryland Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Best Trip: Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia. “Wide open meadows, wild horses and great views. This is a cool place.” Worst Trip: Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. “Soul Glow and I hiked down to the Linville River but nearly lost the trail in the dark. We ended up backtracking to the forest road to wait for Slawdog and BirdShooter who didn’t show until after 9pm and we ended up pitching camp in the parking area.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Linville Gorge, North Carolina. “Bushwacking along the Linville River. You call that a trail??” |
The Helmet
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Why The Name? In cold weather, he has a favorite lid that looks more like a 1920’s era football helmet. Born: Englewood, New Jersey Resides: Decatur, Georgia Best Trip: John Muir Trail, California. 200+ miles with outstanding views every step of the way. Worst Trip: Shepard State Park, Mississippi. “BirdShooter had never hiked in Mississippi, so we took a break from the casinos and headed out for a short day hike. We would have been better served losing money at blackjack. This was a muddy bogg of a hike with no worthwhile views.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Isle Royal National Park, Michigan. Practically tripping over a moose during our 2008 hike in Isle Royale National Park.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “Fifteen pounds of unnecessary gear carried during my first multi-day hike. I ended up stashing the equipment by a road crossing and picked it up later.” |
The Iceman
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Why The Name? He was cool as ice when things got rough in Denali. When he sat chin deep in a creek full of melt from a nearby snow field, that cinched it for us. Born: Parsippany, New Jersey Resides: Parsippany, New Jersey Best Trip: Denali National Park, Alaska. “I could see the lips on that grizz. That’s something you never forget.” Worst Trip: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. “Those mosquitoes had wings like a bird.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Toklat River, Alaska. “Having my Aqua Socks washed off my feet in the raging Toklat River at 10pm our first day in the backcountry.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “The Agua Socks … thanks for the tip, Slawdog.” |
The Joker
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Why The Name? When things were really bad during the Denali trip, he still had everyone laughing. Born: Springfield, Massachusetts Resides: New York City, New York Best Trip: Chattooga National Scenic River, Georgia. “It was an easy hike with some cool waterfalls and good campsites.” Worst Trip: Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. “Bushwacking up the mountain in hot fleece pants and Tevas after we lost the trail at 9pm was no fun in the dark.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. “Trying to sleep on a bald in Western North Carolina with no tent, a broken zipper on my sleeping bag, 20 degree temps, and heavy winds.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “an electric toothbrush” |
The Kidd (aka Hollywood)
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Why The Name: It’s certainly not for his resemblance to “Billy The Kid”. Born: Richmond, Virginia Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Glacier National Park, Montana. “Glacier has some amazing scenery and wildlife. I’ve never seen that many animals in the wilderness.” Worst Trip: Foothills Trail, South Carolina. “It got monotonous at times – limited views, low and flat terrain. We also had a day of heavy rain and thunderstorms.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: “Hearing a moose the first night I ever slept in a tent .” |
Leehz
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Why The Name? It’s a nickname that’s a trailname by default. Thank an old roommate from Tennessee for that one. Born: Whitehouse, New Jersey Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Best Trip: Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. “The hike into the gorge was easy and we had a large group which was a lot of fun around the campfire.” Worst Trip: Linville Gorge, North Carolina. “We lost the trail a few times and had to do some bushwacking (past a snake in the trail that we later realized was dead).” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. “When Slawdog joyously admired the view from the privy near the Cable Gap shelter.” |
Mackie
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Why The Name? It’s a nickname that’s a trail name by default. Born: Roanoke, Virginia Resides: Richmond, Virginia Best Trip: Glacier National Park, Montana. “Glacier rocked! Picture postcards in every direction.” Worst Trip: Lake Whittlesey, Michigan. “I wasn’t particularly happy that day in Isle Royal National Park sporting a sub-par rain jacket, but there’s no worst trip.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Isle Royal National Park, Michigan. “Getting rained on all day at Isle Royale in that jacket and sitting in the canoe trying to fish made me colder than a frost-bitten witch’s teet.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “A Destiny’s Child designer Thermarest. It was too booty-licious to sleep well.” |
Monodeep
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Why The Name? It’s a nickname that’s a trail name by default. Born: Calcutta, India Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Beaverstone Bay, Ontario. “An awesome trip and a beautiful place. It’s great to get away from it all in such a remote area in Northern Canada.” Worst Trip: Nantahala River, North Carolina. “I had a great time until around midnight when the camp host began to hassle us on a regular basis.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Camp Watia, North Carolina. “Waking up and finding a dead copperhead in front of my tent.” |
Muscle Jim
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Why The Name? He’s all muscle and available for hire if you need a personal trainer. Born: California, Dude! Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Best Trip: Beaverstone Bay, Canada. “Frankly, it doesn’t matter what year. They are all good.” Worst Trip: Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. “Good for me, bad for The Camel. He split his head open.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Mazenazing River, Ontario. “It happened on drifferent trips, but seeing a bear and then a moose only a few feet from our van while we were driving in to Killarney, Ontario.” |
The Operator
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Why The Name? He’s smooth with the ladies, especially on backpacking trips. Born: Boston, Massachusetts Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Foothills Trail, South Carolina. “We had single digit temps that night, but The Camel stoked up a mean fire.” Worst Trip: Blood Mountain Wilderness, Georgia. “Wet wood made for an excessively smoky campsite.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. “Wild Turkey’s woke us up around 7am in the morning. They can make some racket.” |
Oskie
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Why The Name? To make a long story short? it came from his hometown CFL football team the Hamilton Tiger Cats … cheer! Born: Hamilton, Ontario (Canada ? eh!) Resides: Warwick, New York Best Trip: 100 Mile Wilderness, Maine. “In ’95 I revisited the 100 Mile Wilderness and Mt. Katahdin to finish the AT with my bud Johnny Reb who had to drop-out in ’94.” Worst Trip: Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia. “Day four of my AT Thru-Hike with both knees swelling and the 50 degree rain falling … all the gray day long!!!!!!!!!.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: near Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia. “Beer, pizza and more beer while waiting out the rain in a Pizza Hut in Abingdon, Va.”. Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “A 7000 cubic inch backpack.” |
The Ox
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Why The Name? He’s strong as an Ox and can go forever no matter how difficult the terrain. Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Resides: Atlanta, GA Best Trip: Glacier National Park, Montana. “Lots of wildlife, a beautiful place.” Worst Trip: Cohutta Wilderness, Georgia. “Chestnut Lead Trail – a very short but extremely steep hike. The fact that I was pushing 210 lbs, had smokers cough, and was hung over made it excruciating. The obligatory 50 lb. pack didn’t help either.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Glacier National Park, Montana. “Running for my life from mountain goats in Glacier”. Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “Quaaludes .. kidding.” |
Pixie
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Why The Name? It was a gift from The Camel. Born: Atlanta, Georgia Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. “It was the perfect distance, not too long (but uphill enough where I felt I got some exercise) and we got there in enough time to relax and watch the sunset.” Worst Trip: White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire. “The decent from Mt Washington was very difficult in the fog and mist – too many slippery rocks.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Bartram Trail, Georgia. “We had rain, thunder, and lightening and had to get up at 5am to evacuate the bald for fear of getting struck. We sat in the rain for an hour just down the mountain in the pitch black until the lightening passed.” |
Pocahontas
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Why The Name? Let’s just say she didn’t exactly lead ALE straight off the mountain at Looking Glass Rock in April 2000. Born: Stanton, Virginia Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Best Trip: Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. “It was cold and even snowed the first night, but it was my first multi-day trip and the views from the summit were great.” Worst Trip: Mt. Mitchell State Park, North Carolina. “I was the only one that didn’t get injured climbing down from Mt. Mitchell. That was a terrible decent.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Shinning Rock, North Carolina. “I hiked out solo in the Shinning Rock Wilderness as the sun set (since I had a previous commitment that night). It was liberating.” |
Red Eye
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Why The Name? He drank the “Red Eye” (beer and tomato juice) with some locals at the Calgary Stampede in Alberta and later destroyed them in a game of pool. Born: Macon, Georgia Resides: Winston-Salem, North Carolina Best Trip: Glacier National Park, Montana. “Fishing, wildlife, scenery….that place had it all.” Worst Trip: Salmo-Priest Wilderness, Washington. “It was a pretty spot, but getting out of that canyon was some serious grunt work – plus I had blisters that tore me up.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Glacier National Park, Montana. “Watching “The Ox” run for his life from mountain goats in Glacier.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “I’d have to say that huge 35mm camera with the 12″ long zoom lens.” |
Rockhopper
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Why The Name? His dexterity on the rock is quite impressive. Born: Chimkent, Kazakhstan Resides: Boston, Massachusetts Best Trip: Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. “Great views, great group, an all around great time.” Worst Trip: Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. “There weren’t any backpacking trips I didn’t like, but the one on the Appalachian Trail was better than Pisgah.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Looking Glass Rock, North Carolina. “Almost freezing in the Pisgah National Forest.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “Cash money. It doesn’t do you much good out there.” |
The Rooster
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Why The Name? When he wakes up in the morning his hair stands up like a rooster’s. Born: Atlanta, Georgia Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Blood Mountain, Georgia. “Blood Mountain had a good vibe and great views when I did a solo hike to the summit early in the morning in 20 degree weather.” Worst Trip: Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia. “I froze my nards off during the night.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Appalachian Trail, Georgia. “Getting smoked like a salmon around a campfire on a cold night in the Chattahoochee National Forest.” |
The Seeker
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Why The Name? Have you ever heard that song by “The Who”? Born: Beaufort, South Carolina Resides: Wilmington, North Carolina Best Trip: Philmont National Scout Ranch, New Mexico. “Mt. Baldy – that hike was a bad muttha. I was steady paced but loved breaking out of the treeline all alone. The view was incredible.” Worst Trip: Linville Gorge, North Carolina. “There were lots of people on the trail that weekend – too crowded.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia. “Getting hit by a blizzard in the Mt. Rogers Recreational Area in mid-October.” Dumbest Thing I Took On the Trail? “I didn’t take it, but I loaded up “Soul Glow” with a can of peaches. They were tasty. He was pissed.” |
The Senator
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Why The Name? If you ever hike with him on the trail you’ll swear he’s running for public office. Born: Atlanta, Georgia Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Chilkoot Trail, Alaska. “Two countries, two Canadian provinces, one US state, a simultaneous summit and border crossing, and every landscape possible from swamps, dunes, scree, to high alpine snow – a high groove factor.” Worst Trip: Blood Mountain Wilderness, Georgia. “It was really cold, wet, and my pack never felt right. I had hot spots on my feet and was really out of shape.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: “I was crossing Sweatwater Lake on Cumberland Island and was shin deep in pitch black water. I heard grunts then saw a fourteen foot alligator. It got the heart rate going.” |
The Sheik
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Why The Name? He’s a towel head but it kept the sun off his neck in Yellowstone when it fried us for four days in mid-September. Born: Orlando, Florida Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Snake River, Wyoming. “Our camp was right on the Snake River with stream rising from some hot springs and great view from our site.” Worst Trip: Heart Lake, Wyoming.“We hiked ten miles to get to Heart Lake. I was a hurtin’ unit when we arrived.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: “I had a group of Scouts out in North Georgia and we had one guy who about tried to cough up a lung to get out of hiking that day. The sound was frightening.” |
Sikle
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Why The Name? It’s the best a college professor could do in pronouncing his last name. Born: St. Joseph, Michigan Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Best Trip: Linville Gorge Wilderness, North Carolina. “It was my first real hike and there were lots of cool folks present.” Worst Trip: Chattooga River, Georgia. “The scenery was not memorable and the ad hoc campsite was not great either – a very ho hum trip.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Denali National Park, Alaska. “Hiking within fifty yards of everyone in Alaska, but not seeing them for long stretches since the brush was so high and dense.” |
Sister
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Why The Name? During her first visit to college, she was anointed as “Sister” by some freshmen suitemates. Born: Zanesville, Ohio Resides: Greenville, South Carolina Best Trip: Caesars Head State Park, South Carolina. “My first trip we had a rigorous hike out of a steep ravine, but the accomplishment and view from the top made it worth it.” Worst Trip: Chattahoochee National Forest, Georgia. “We hiked on the Springer Mountain Access Trail in the pouring rain.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina. “It’s hard to forget Pocohontas who got sick outside my tent door. Biz’s trail sweater was pretty memorable as well.” |
Slawdog
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Why The Name? It’s a college nickname that’s a trail name by default. Born: Raleigh, North Carolina Resides: Montpelier, Virginia Best Trip: Denali National Park, Alaska. “It was rugged but it was real and that’s what I call solitude.” Worst Trip: Linville Gorge Wilderness North Carolina. “There’s no such thing, but if I had to name one … that’d be it. That dirt road (that we took to the trailhead) was hell bent on destroying my Accord” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Toklat River, Alaska. “Watching a grizzly follow us across the Toklat River after we reached the gravel bank on the other side.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail: “A large hatchet.” |
Sloaner
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Why The Name? It’s a nickname that’s a trailname by default. Born: Roanoke, Virginia Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Best Trip: Mt. Moosilauke, New Hampshire. “The first and flat half of the White Mt National Forest where we still had non iron-flavored water.” Worst Trip: Franconia Ridge, New Hampshire. “Climbing the Whites in total fog and 40 mph wind and rain … no fun.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: “Meeting one of BirdShooter’s Appalachian Trail friends in New Hampshire who declared his p**** was pierced and volunteered to prove it.” |
Smoky
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Why The Name? He reduced some pack weight by torching his clothes on a trip in Alaska. Smoky was also tracked in the distance by watching the occasional cloud of smoke from his cigarettes. (Uh….that was a cigarette, right?) Born: Gallipolis, Ohio Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Best Trip: Shinning Rock Wilderness, North Carolina. “Cool place and easy access. I especially enjoyed “The Camel” comedy routine late night around the campfire.” Worst Trip: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. “I seriously considered paying the $3000 for a helicopter to evacuate me.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Denali National Park, Alaska. “Watching “CA” chase his boots down the Teklanika River in Alaska.” |
Soul Glow
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Why The Name? In his day, he was a big fan of hair care products. Born: Richmond, Virginia Resides: New York City, New York Best Trip: Great Smoky Mountain National Park, North Carolina. “My first multi-day backpacking trip. We had frost on the ground but the Smokies are great in the fall” Worst Trip: Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. “We hiked in the dark and lost the trail so we headed back to the parking area to camp for the night.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Kephart Shelter, North Carolina. “BirdShooter went to take a leak at Kephart Shelter in the Smokies and was convinced he saw a bear. “Dude, Bear!” It turned out to be a raccoon.” |
Tamalama
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Why The Name? It’s a nickname that is a trail name by default. Born: Gastonia, North Carolina Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Best Trip: Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia. “It was cold and there was snow on the ground in places, but the area is very pretty and there were wild ponies wandering in the meadows near the trail.” Worst Trip: Great Smoky Mountain National Park, North Carolina. “Someone slashed two of my tires in the parking area and Leehz’s car broke down on the way to the trailhead.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Yellow Creek Gap, North Carolina. “When I got back to my car at Yellow Creek Gap and I had two flat tires and only one spare in the trunk. Learning to play Euchre was also pretty memorable that weekend.” |
Therm Rider
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Why The Name? He rode a Thermarest down a waterfall on Panther Creek in North Georgia. Born: Atlanta, Georgia Resides: Marietta, Georgia Best Trip: Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Georgia. “I can see the ridge of the A.T. from my family’s cabin and hiked it for the first time.” Worst Trip: Rough Ridge Trail, Cohutta Mountains, Georgia. “The weather was bad and I slipped on a wet rock, fell, and bruised both knees. When the sun finally came out I almost stepped on a rattlesnake.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Rincon Area, Costa Rica. “I spotted several howler monkeys and a sloth climbing a tree. Then later that day, a group of pezotes chased me to my car.” |
Wagonhammer
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Why The Name? You’ll have to offer him a cocktail around the campfire for the story on this one. Born: Atlanta, Georgia Resides: Marietta, Georgia Best Trip: Conasauga River Trail, Georgia – A great place in the summer or fall. It always satisfies.” Worst Trip: Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. “This was my first trip and I hiked up the mountain with an army duffel bag, then got injured when I fell off the backside of Standing Indian.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Standing Indian, North Carolina. “On this same trip, I put my hand and face right near a giant snake, then we were attacked by gigantic flies that nearly carried away our dinner. |
WaterDog
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Why The Name? He was fearless during the frequently waist-deep fords of Slickrock Creek in the Nantahala National Forest of the Joyce-Kilmer Wilderness. Born: Asheville, North Carolina Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Best Trip: Mott Lake, California. “It was a rough climb with altitude, but the sights and scenery over 10,000 feet at Mott Lake was well worth the effort.” Worst Trip: Joyce-Kilmer Slickrock Creek Wilderness, North Carolina. “The bushwacking and efforts to find the ridge trail were very frustrating.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Slickrock Creek, North Carolina. “Falling behind The Ox and getting ahead of BirdShooter on the trail….I thought I was lost in wilderness.” |
The Weasel
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Why The Name? His father seemed to think he had “weasel-like” tendencies. Born: Zanesville, Ohio Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Philmont National Scout Ranch, New Mexico. “A mega hike with lots of variety.” Worst Trip: Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. “If this is backpacking, count me out.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Tusquitee Bald, North Carolina. “At Tusquitee Bald when I realized that no one had hiked this trail for a long time.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail?: “A map for the Tusquitee Bald hike. We couldn’t find the trail let alone our position on the map.” |
White Lightening
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Why The Name? No .. unfortunately he’s not a moonshiner, but he sure does set a mean pace on the Trail. Born: Van Wert, Ohio Resides: Greenville, South Carolina Best Trip: Kings Mountain National Historic Park, South Carolina. “I hiked four miles solo with my dog (Katie) to meet up with the group.” Worst Trip: Len Foote Hike Inn, Georgia. “On the hike in to the Lodge there was a monsoon, but at least we didn’t have to set-up camp tonight.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Gorges State Park, South Carolina. “Seeing a black bear cross the trail about 20 years ahead of us.” Dumbest Thing I Took On The Trail?: “A headlamp with dead batteries.” |
Wild Turkey
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Why The Name? It was a cold night in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Creek Wilderness when she earned the trail name. The trip report has all the details. Born: Atlanta, Georgia Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina. “This was a tough hike and it rained at night, but we had a lot of fun around the campfire.” Worst Trip: Joyce-Kilmer Slickrock Creek Wilderness, North Carolina. “It was a cold and wet hike, but things improved in the evening at the campsite.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Stratton Bald, North Carolina. “When some campsite neighbors literally stumbled into us at our site at Stratton Bald.” |
World Wide Wanderer (aka 3Dub)
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Why The Name? He traveled the world for a few years when he was younger, and still gets the itch to this day. Born: Yokohama, Japan Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: The Perch, Georgia. “One of the greatest places on Earth, and my Zen place.” Worst Trip: Chitwan National Park, Nepal “Watching a cobra nail a mouse above my hammock while spending the night in the park.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: “Getting Denge Fever in Thailand. It took me out for nine days.” |
Yukon Matt
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Why The Name? He took immediately to the Yukon on the Chilkoot Trail. (Note the poker face to the left). Born: Rabun County, Georgia Resides: Atlanta, Georgia Best Trip: Chilkoot Trail, Alaska. “Historic, diverse, and challenging.” Worst Trip: Approach Trail, Georgia. “Lot’s of up and down with no views. It’s a tough hike to boot.” Most Memorable Trail Moment: Canyon City Campsite, Alaska. “Seeing an old ladies ass at the crack of dawn …. literally. That’s something you don’t easily forget.” |
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