A Family Adventure of the 2,185 mile hike from Georgia to Maine – 2014
Little John’s top three favorite things about hiking the Appalachian Trail:
1. Going to bed.
2. The views.
3. Having hot chocolate with hot buttered bagels in the morning.
Actually, after hiking with us for a few days, Little John switched the order of one and two.
We woke up in Crocker Cirque, took a quick peak to see if there was a moose in the pond, then headed up for the Crocker traverse. We needed a few things in Stratton, so Cartwheel and All In cruised on ahead to hitch in for resupply while Mama. Bear and the boys went at a more leisurely pace. The front runners cruised passed some northbounders who had passed us on the way up but that we otherwise hadn’t met before (they’re always a little dumbfounded at an eight year old can move fast enough to pass them), then popped out of the woods in time to see Pockets and Chance climbing out of a pickup truck.
We hadn’t seen them since the Smokies and, as is the way on the trail, greeted them like old friends. We were able to catch a ride into town in the same pickup, had a father-daughter date at the diner (complete with chocolate cream pie for dessert). Back on the trial, we crossed the two thousand mile mark, the caught a ride back to the trail and caught the boys and Mama Bear from behind.
We had beautiful weather for the Bigelows with a scenic view over Flagstaff Lake, then we all watched the sunset and slept at Bigelows Col.
A Family Adventure of the 2,185 mile hike from Georgia to Maine - 2014 
Can really picture where you are… we used to camp every summer at Cathedral Pines Campground right on Flagstaff Lake. Such a beautiful and peaceful spot! You’re getting so close! Wishing you all the best as you close in on Katahdin!
hi everyone! so happy to read all your posts from the last few weeks and see how rugged and gorgeous the landscape is, now that you’re in maine. high, wild, and lonesome … giving rise to faraway eyes and inward glances. love. love. love.
Loving the pictures! On the off chance that Mama Bear sees this before 9:30am tomorrow, can you have her let me know if she wants a Swagger uniform (white jersey/navy blue jersey/gray shorts) for when she plays with us at Sectionals? If so, I need a jersey size (women’s sizes), shorts size (unisex), and a few choices on numbers.
At first I thought “trial” in place of “trail” was a typo but perhaps not. In any case an appropriate Freudian slip.
Congratulations on 2000 miles!
Mazel Tov on 2,000 miles! (I thought the same about peak and peek.) I have fond memories of father-daughter dates when I was Cartwheel’s age.
New reader to your site, after hearing about it on FB from AMC. I’m so envious of you and your family taking this incredible trip. What a wonderful memory for you all.
Your posts make me smile huge, genuine, full of heart, SMILES!