Notes From The Trail
America's scenic byways offer some of the most breathtaking routes for outdoor lovers, weaving through landscapes that showcase the country's natural beauty. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or simply someone who loves a good road trip, these routes offer unparalleled opportunities to connect with the great outdoors. Along the way, you'll find countless hikes, trails, and national parks that are perfect for exploration.
This is my tale of hiking in the 100-Mile Wilderness and up (and then down, because, well, once at the summit, you have to go somewhere!) Katahdin.
I have been section hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) in small bites since 2010. I was a latecomer to the hiking party. I am a 23-year retired Air Force pilot who then flew for an airline, so big chunks of time were hard to come by. Even though I grew up in Virginia, I had zero knowledge of the AT until my son started skipping class to go hiking while he was at VA Tech in his senior year, 2006. Being the straight-A student he was, my wife and I didn't yell at him and I thought, "How cool." So the seed was planted in my brain, but as I was just starting my airline career, the time wasn't right.