Off the Appalachian Trail for the winter
Madison hut in the presidential mountain range is where we met Grey Kelsey, the chef for this amazing spice cake. I walked into the hut just to look around and spotted these tasty looking squares of spice cake that were $3 each. I went out to the workers and asked what I could do to get a piece for free. They told me I had to let them give me my trail name for a piece of spice cake. The trade was made and I actually ended up getting two pieces. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
Endless view. This view and many other stunning ones like it were found in Maine. Seeing views such as this one made all the hiking worth doing, and gave us reason to keep going. The views were everything we could have hoped for and more. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
As we approached the shelter we were going to sleep at near the bottom of Kinsman mountain, we came across a lake that sat quietly next to our shelter. The water was glassy and had a beautiful reflection in it. I decided to toss some rocks in to see how it looked disrupted. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
The first snow happened in Connecticut and caught us by surprise. Luckily it was just a light dusting the night before, and the first day of hiking with snow was warm, about 35 degrees, and pleasing to the eye. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
We had been hearing rumors about a group of people known as the 12 Tribes. We didn't know exactly what to expect. Different hikers we had met held very polar opposite views. We wanted to see what they were all about so we gave them a call upon arriving in Gorham, New Hampshire. They turned out to be the most generous, kindhearted people I have personally ever met. They took us in as if we were their own family and helped Devon recover from Giardia. They were opening up a Yellow Deli in Lancaster, New Hampshire. From what I've had of their cooking, I recommend everyone should check it out. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
Tristan had just rejoined us in Salisbury Conn., after going to Vermont to see family. We were excited to have him back on the trail, and the first few miles of hiking brought us to Billy's View, where this picture of Aidan, and Tristan was taken. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
Gregory Cook was what people call a "Trail Angel." He took us in for a night, and was one of the most generous people we met on the trail. We are thankful he was there to help us. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
We were at the Firehouse Bagel place in Branchville, New Jersey. It had just dumped snow the night before, and we had hitched into town to meet up with family for Thanksgiving. The bagel place closed around 3. What else were we expected to do in the snow? (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
Bill, aka "The Ice Cream Man", lived just steps from the Trail. His sons hiked the trail when they were shockingly young. When they got home, they inspired their dad to help out other hikers as much as he could. From that day on, Bill started handing out ice cream and providing a space for hikers to congregate and relax. He boasts an unbelievable croquette shot, and is always willing to share his wisdom with others. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
In Kent, Connecticut, was one of the many nights it got dark in town, and we didn't know where we were sleeping, yet. After an interesting chain of events with one of the local people, we found ourselves stranded in a state park, miles away from town, and even the trail. Luckily as the sun was going down two women were driving out of the state park, and gave us a ride back into town. They took us to this women's clothing store in town, and told us to ask her about staying in her back yard. We did, and she gave us her shed for the night! (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
We had just arrived in Rutland, Vermont, and were wandering around town in search of the 12 Tribes group with whom we stayed before in Lancaster, New Hampshire. A stroke of luck for Aidan when he stumbled across an unopened container or "Fenway Fudge" ice cream that had been dropped on the side walk. Aidan's love for ice cream propelled him to save the melted dairy treat. He put it in a fridge to be chilled and enjoyed it later! (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
Madison hut in the presidential mountain range is where we met Grey Kelsey, the chef for this amazing spice cake. I walked into the hut just to look around and spotted these tasty looking squares of spice cake that were $3 each. I went out to the workers and asked what I could do to get a piece for free. They told me I had to let them give me my trail name for a piece of spice cake. The trade was made and I actually ended up getting two pieces. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
Endless view. This view and many other stunning ones like it were found in Maine. Seeing views such as this one made all the hiking worth doing, and gave us reason to keep going. The views were everything we could have hoped for and more. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
As we approached the shelter we were going to sleep at near the bottom of Kinsman mountain, we came across a lake that sat quietly next to our shelter. The water was glassy and had a beautiful reflection in it. I decided to toss some rocks in to see how it looked disrupted. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
The first snow happened in Connecticut and caught us by surprise. Luckily it was just a light dusting the night before, and the first day of hiking with snow was warm, about 35 degrees, and pleasing to the eye. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
We had been hearing rumors about a group of people known as the 12 Tribes. We didn't know exactly what to expect. Different hikers we had met held very polar opposite views. We wanted to see what they were all about so we gave them a call upon arriving in Gorham, New Hampshire. They turned out to be the most generous, kindhearted people I have personally ever met. They took us in as if we were their own family and helped Devon recover from Giardia. They were opening up a Yellow Deli in Lancaster, New Hampshire. From what I've had of their cooking, I recommend everyone should check it out. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
Tristan had just rejoined us in Salisbury Conn., after going to Vermont to see family. We were excited to have him back on the trail, and the first few miles of hiking brought us to Billy's View, where this picture of Aidan, and Tristan was taken. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
Gregory Cook was what people call a "Trail Angel." He took us in for a night, and was one of the most generous people we met on the trail. We are thankful he was there to help us. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
We were at the Firehouse Bagel place in Branchville, New Jersey. It had just dumped snow the night before, and we had hitched into town to meet up with family for Thanksgiving. The bagel place closed around 3. What else were we expected to do in the snow? (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
Bill, aka "The Ice Cream Man", lived just steps from the Trail. His sons hiked the trail when they were shockingly young. When they got home, they inspired their dad to help out other hikers as much as he could. From that day on, Bill started handing out ice cream and providing a space for hikers to congregate and relax. He boasts an unbelievable croquette shot, and is always willing to share his wisdom with others. (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
In Kent, Connecticut, was one of the many nights it got dark in town, and we didn't know where we were sleeping, yet. After an interesting chain of events with one of the local people, we found ourselves stranded in a state park, miles away from town, and even the trail. Luckily as the sun was going down two women were driving out of the state park, and gave us a ride back into town. They took us to this women's clothing store in town, and told us to ask her about staying in her back yard. We did, and she gave us her shed for the night! (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
We had just arrived in Rutland, Vermont, and were wandering around town in search of the 12 Tribes group with whom we stayed before in Lancaster, New Hampshire. A stroke of luck for Aidan when he stumbled across an unopened container or "Fenway Fudge" ice cream that had been dropped on the side walk. Aidan's love for ice cream propelled him to save the melted dairy treat. He put it in a fridge to be chilled and enjoyed it later! (Photo courtesy Devon Gordon)
We're all home now, in Maine. Branchville, N.J., marked Tristan's return to family in Burlington, Vermont. Devon and I pushed through the cold just a handful of miles farther to the Delaware Water Gap in Pennsylvania. We each had as many reasons to come home as we did to press on. The snow-glazed beauty of the hike was countered by the gripping cold. The gratification of physically testing oneself was countered by gear nearing the end of its life. The excitement of seeing what town lies in wait was countered by social monotony.
In March, we will fly down to Springer Mountain in Georgia and resume the hike. Although, we originally intended to end our trip there, we have decided to hike north to get a more classic view of the trail. Most hikers start from Georgia in the spring and hike north. We're hoping to meet more people and see a different, more social side of life on the Appalachian Trail.
The trail, to me, isn't just about seeing the beauty of this legendary mountain range. It's about meeting all the unique characters who dare to call this footpath their home for half a year at a time.
Our conversations often lead us to reminiscing about the people we've met, and the stories that we heard from them. The people on and surrounding the trail are an interesting and diverse group of wanderers and trail angels. Everyone has a story, but trail people have trail stories. Everyone has a generous side, but trail people have trail magic.
There's something special about the community of individuals surrounding this historic trek. Everyone seems to greet one another with open arms and a sense of understanding. Understanding that may have roots in the experience of walking the same beaten path.
Since Massachusetts, our path has been all ups and downs. Not necessarily as a matter of hills, but a matter of extreme cold and terrific views. It's been rough, but we've grown to love it. On our first day out hiking in Maine, a hiker in the 100 mile wilderness gave us some advice: "Learn to enjoy the bad times as much as the good ones."
It's hard to enjoy pouring rain in 33-degree weather, but when it freezes over, the next morning it's easy to enjoy the icicles. As dramatic as our trip has been recently, and as desolate as the trail has become, the one thing that still stands out in my mind are the people we've met.
We have been gifted with countless incredible human experiences. We have been taken in like family, driven far and wide in search for a cheap motel, taken grocery shopping, been given food and clothing and simply been told stories as we sat in the company of someone more traveled than ourselves.
Meeting fellow hikers is something that happened less and less as the days grew shorter, but we still met other members of the trail community each time we had to find our way into town.
Many of these people surrounding the trail have history with it — a past hiker or a local who grew up on and around the section of trail. Many, however, have no connection with the trail at all.
At the beginning, I was convinced that hikers get help from other hikers because of their shared lifestyle; but It has become all too apparent that hikers get help simply because there are so many genuinely good people in the world. I never would have guessed that we'd be met with such kindness everywhere we went.
Trail magic is what hikers call the unexpected acts of kindness that we occasionally encounter.
Trail magic isn't around because of the trail, though. Trail magic lives everywhere, every day. It's just easier to see when we realized it could be around any corner. Hikers know that they are bound to run into something: A free quart of melted ice cream, spice cake, jolly rancher, or the warmth of someone's home. We've been warned of trail magic, and so we recognize it everywhere.
Since I've returned home, I've been seeing this magic all around me. People smile to one another and lend a hand where they can. There are a lot of little things. The trail has taught me to appreciate these little things in life. They go by unnoticed, but they add up. Seeing all of the small bits of "trail magic" has breathed life into my confidence in the kindness of humanity.
We all look forward to spring. The warmth and the change of pace will only be made better by the company of many other hikers making their way north. For now, we are surrounded by the warmth of our families and friends. Trail magic is everywhere, home and hiking.
Brothers Devon and Aiden Gordon, Tristan See and Taylor Benner, all from Rockport, spent the fall the Appalachian Trail to Georgia. They sent periodic installments from the tall spine of the East Coast, and will resume their hike in March.
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