McAfee Hikes

Date Written: 10/25/2024 | AT Mile 1412.0 | Day Total: 12.7 miles | Gain: 2097 ft Woke up and grabbed my food from the bear hang. The “flip flopper” (I believe he’s homeless living in the shelter) started talked with me over by my tent. He talked with me the whole time I ate some…

Date Written: 10/24/2024 | AT Mile 1399.3 | Day Total: 25.3 miles | Gain: 5269 ft Cooked breakfast in the shelter this morning. There was a mouse in the shelter last night. It was fumbling with the disposable towel I used to wipe down my legs and feet. I shooed it away and luckily never…

Date Written: 10/23/2024 | AT Mile 1374.0 | Day Total: 22.6 miles | Gain: 6967 ft Nobody bothered me last night. Probably not supposed to camp where I was last night but I was getting desperate for a camp. I packed up before I ate breakfast as the sun was rising. I sat on the…

Date Written: 10/22/2024 | AT Mile 1351.4 | Day Total: 18.6 miles | Gain: 3727 ft Slept like a rock last night. Woke up around 7 and put my contacts in. I went upstairs for blueberry pancakes and coffee. I stuffed my self with pancakes. Began packing up and headed over to the fly fishing…

Date Written: 10/21/2024 | AT Mile 1332.8 | Day Total: 20.7 miles | Gain: 4118 ft Early start again today. I’ve been waking up before the sun rises lately. I was packed up and hiking by 7:30 today. Looking forward to a night in town and real food. Within the first mile I heard a…

Date Written: 10/20/2024 | AT Mile 1312.1 | Day Total: 22.0 miles | Gain: 4230 ft Woke up early today again before sunrise. Made some breakfast and packed up. I began hiking around 7:30. Wonderful trail this morning. I was cruising through the whole morning. Shenandoah is definitely top 3 sections of the trail so…

Date Written: 10/19/2024 | AT Mile 1290.1 | Day Total: 23.3 miles | Gain: 4567 ft Woke up before the sunrise. I went down to the shelter to get my food from the bear box. The box opened with a loud bang when I depressed the bear proof latch. Hopefully I didn’t wake anyone up……

Date Written: 10/18/2024 | AT Mile 1266.8 | Day Total: 21.1 miles | Gain: 4710 ft Good nights rest last night. No condensation which is a plus. Made some breakfast, packed up and hit the trail. There’s a wayside about 17 miles away that I’m hoping to take a little break at and possibly have…

Date Written: 10/17/2024 | AT Mile 1245.7 | Day Total: 25.9 miles | Gain: 6046 ft Was up just before sunrise and ventured out into the 35 degree morning to retrieve my food from the bear pole. Cozy warm last night and I wasn’t wearing my puffy jacket. I was the last of the sobos…

Date Written: 10/16/2024 | AT Mile 1219.8 | Day Total: 25.3 miles | Gain: 5860 ft Chilly 40 degree morning. I enjoyed some hot oatmeal and coffee/hot chocolate mix in my tent. By the time I was packed up and walking away from Sam Moore Shelter it was 8:30. A bit later than I would…

Date Written: 10/15/2024 | AT Mile 1194.5 | Day Total: 17.2 miles | Gain: 3617 ft Took it easy this morning. Made some coffee, bacon and pancakes for breakfast. Then uploaded a few journals along with some other miscellaneous things. Both Kill Bill and I headed back to trail around 11 with a 17 mile…

Date Written: 10/14/2024 | AT Mile 1177.3 | Day Total: 3.4 miles | Gain: 307 ft Slow rolling this morning. Muscles aren’t sore but the bottoms of my feet are. Made some coco wheats this morning for breakfast and finished up yesterday’s journal. Didn’t leave camp until a little after 9am. Both Kill Bill and…

Date Written: 10/13/2024 | AT Mile 1173.9 | Day Total: 44.1 miles | Gain: 7305 ft Today’s the day of the 4 state challenge! I will be attempting to hike 44.1 miles crossing into four states (Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia) My alarm went off at 2:30am this morning. I didn’t sleep great last…

Date Written: 10/12/2024 | AT Mile 1129.8 | Day Total: 14.9 miles | Gain: 2311 ft Woke up this morning and made breakfast at on the picnic table outside the shelter in the dark. The sun was just rising above the horizon when I began hiking at 7:30. I’ve got a short day today and…

Date Written: 10/11/2024 | AT Mile 1114.9 | Day Total: 22.8 miles | Gain: 3516 ft Woke up once last night for an hour or so and keep turning but slept good otherwise. There’s a wheeled ac unit right next to me that I had blowing right on me all night. It was lovely. I…

Date Written: 10/10/2024 | AT Mile 1092.1 | Day Total: 15.3 miles | Gain: 2450 ft Slept well last night. It’s a brisk 41 degrees this morning. I’m plenty warm in my tent! The hardest part was getting up and bringing by food bag down from the tree. I made breakfast in my tent with…

Date Written: 10/10/2024 | AT Mile 1092.1 | Day Total: 15.3 miles | Gain: 2450 ft Slept well last night. It’s a brisk 41 degrees this morning. I’m plenty warm in my tent! The hardest part was getting up and bringing by food bag down from the tree. I made breakfast in my tent with…

Date Written: 10/09/2024 | AT Mile 1076.8 | Day Total: 25.6 miles | Gain: 2939 ft Didn’t sleep well last night. Those wining noises went on until 11pm stoped, then again at 1am for over an hour. I’ve come to the conclusion that they are baby raccoons- or at least that’s what I’m telling myself.…

Date Written: 10/08/2024 | AT Mile 1051.2 | Day Total: 20.1 miles | Gain: 2618 ft Chillier morning today, 47 degrees. Plenty warm last night and it makes for great hiking weather. Began packing up just as the sun was rising around 6:30. The sky was a beautiful orange color. With all the leaves falling…

Date Written: 10/07/2024 | AT Mile 1031.1 | Day Total: 19.0 miles | Gain: 3236 ft It rained a bit last night, so the outside of my tent is wet. The inside walls are layered in condensation making anything that touches the wall wet as well. Manageable but tedious. I pack up all my sleep…

Date Written: 10/06/2024 | AT Mile 1012.1 | Day Total: 17.0 miles | Gain: 1761 ft Woke up, ate breakfast and headed out this morning around 8. Only woke up once last night at 12:30 which is unusual. I’m generally turning every hour or two. Got an easy 17 miles to Stay-AT-Swatara. It’s a newly…

Date Written: 10/05/2024 | AT Mile 996.1 | Day Total: 18.0 miles | Gain: 2465 ft Slow start to the morning. Last night there were a few trains that went by late that woke me up twice but none after 11. Otherwise sleep well, ate breakfast at the picnic table and packed up. I left…

Date Written: 10/04/2024 | AT Mile 977.1 | Day Total: 15.1 miles | Gain: 2280 ft Woke up quite a few times last night for no particular reason. Was able to fall back asleep quickly though. Ate some breakfast and heading out around 8. Got a pretty steep climb this morning for which I’ll eventually…

Date Written: 10/03/2024 | AT Mile 962.0 | Day Total: 24.9 miles | Gain: 2815 ft No bear activity last night and I slept better than I would’ve expected. Began to pack and eat breakfast a little after 6. Was hiking around 7:30. Big day ahead of me today to Eckville Shelter. It’s got some…

Date Written: 10/02/2024 | AT Mile 937.1 | Day Total: 20.3 miles | Gain: 2252 ft Woke up just before 7 this morning. Ate breakfast in my tent with my sleeping bag draped over me. It’s a cooler morning which I’m okay with. Began hiking at 8. This mornings hike is boring in terms of…

Date Written: 10/01/2024 | AT Mile 916.8 | Day Total: 16.8 miles | Gain: 2719 ft Slept just okay last night. I woke up multiple times really hot nearly sweating. I think they have the heat cranked up in here. I took my time this morning, ate breakfast, scheduled some journals, organized my food, and…

Date Written: 9/30/2024 | AT Mile 900.0 | Day Total: 24.9 miles | Gain: 2801 ft Sleep okay last night. The couple that’s in the shelter with me both snore really loud. It woke me up multiple times last night. At 6 I began to move around and pack up. Ate some breakfast and left…

Date Written: 9/29/2024 | AT Mile 875.1 | Day Total: 19.7 miles | Gain: 2692 ft Woah, I didn’t start moving until 7am. I went to bed at 7pm last night, 12 hours of sleep. I slowing packed up in my tent. The rains still dripping off the trees and onto my tent. Once my…

Date Written: 9/28/2024 | AT Mile 855.4 | Day Total: 18.9 miles | Gain: 3189 ft Movie last night was good for my standards. I’m by no means a movie critic. The movie ended at 11:30pm, the latest I’ve ever been up during my hike. I was fighting to stay wake. I woke up 7:30…

Date Written: 9/27/2024 | AT Mile 836.5 | Day Total: 0.0 miles | Gain: 0 ft What a wonderful nights sleep last night. It’s a wonder how well I can sleep being tired and on a real bed. Just amazing. I tinkered around this morning. Took another shower because why not?!?!? Turned the news on…

Date Written: 9/26/2024 | AT Mile 836.5 | Day Total: 14.5 miles | Gain: 1992 ft Slow rainy start to the morning. Last night after journaling I discovered that the movie theater was only operational (for off-season) Friday through Sunday. I spent some time in consider my options. I really really wanted to go to…

Date Written: 9/25/2024 | AT Mile 822.0 | Day Total: 22.5 miles | Gain: 4771 ft Slept in a bit today I didn’t wake up until 7. Packed up, filtered water and hit the trail this morning. The terrain the past few days has changed a lot. The woods are open and I can see…

Date Written: 9/24/2024 | AT Mile 799.5 | Day Total: 17.7 miles | Gain: 4188 ft Nice start to the morning. I packed up and headed a mile down to the Appalachian Market for Breakfast. I got “The Works” that includes french toast, sausage, ham, bacon, and 3 eggs. It was better than I expected…

Date Written: 9/23/2024 | AT Mile 781.8 | Day Total: 13.9 miles | Gain: 2316 ft 50 days!!! Packed up as quietly as I could this morning. There’s 3 others still asleep. I transferred all my stuff to the table outside the shelter to stuff into my bag. I ate breakfast at the main building…

Date Written: 9/22/2024 | AT Mile 767.9 | Day Total: 21.8 miles | Gain: 4078 ft Woke up to a beautiful pink sky this morning. The sun hadn’t peaked above the horizon yet. I began packing my things and it’s ten times easier to do this with lots of space in the shelter. I began…

Date Written: 9/21/2024 | AT Mile 746.1 | Day Total: 21.6 miles | Gain: 4355 ft Packed up this morning and headed to the picnic table for breakfast. Last night there was a tent pitched in the shelter with a backpack and sleeping bag but nobody in it or at the camp. This morning I…

Date Written: 9/20/2024 | AT Mile 724.5 | Day Total: 22.9 miles | Gain: 5246 ft Slept like a rock last night. Just before I went to bed a guy came walking through camp with a headlamp in the dark around 9pm. A few minutes later we walked back past me leaving the camp for…

Date Written: 9/19/2024 | AT Mile 701.6 | Day Total: 15.9 miles | Gain: 1940 ft Woke up at 5 to the rustling sounds of the overnight hiker at the shelter and opening the bear box. He was by no means being quiet. I laid there for another 15 min before packing up. Both Kill…

Date Written: 9/18/2024 | AT Mile 685.7 | Day Total: 22.7 miles | Gain: 4856 ft Fun day today! Woke up, packed up, and ate breakfast by the shelter. Got some easy miles this morning. Gotta get down off the mountain first but I’ll have 5 miles of flat pastures to walk through. After that…

Date Written: 9/17/2024 | AT Mile 663.0 | Day Total: 21.3 miles | Gain: 4274 ft Early rise this morning around 5:30. I was able to sleep without my arms going to sleep in the middle of the night. They sometimes that when I’m on my sleeping pad. I went downstairs and sat on the…

Date Written: 9/16/2024 | AT Mile 641.7 | Day Total: 20.3 miles | Gain: 3465 ft Woke up this morning at 5:30, earlier than I expected. I deflated my sleeping pad and packed up except for my tent to let it dry a bit. The outside and inside is covered in a layer of dew.…

Date Written: 9/15/2024 | AT Mile 621.4 | Day Total: 20.6 miles | Gain: 3652 ft Another early start this morning to climb over Mt Greylock. Sounds like it’s pretty commercialized up there. They’ve got a lodge, small restaurant, water, restrooms and a war memorial that you can climb up. Before Greylock I’ve got to…

Date Written: 9/14/2024 | AT Mile 600.8 | Day Total: 23.0 miles | Gain: 5404 ft Guess what! No bears last night or while I was eating breakfast this morning. I packed up and was walking at 7:30 this morning. Both Kill Bill and I have a big day planned today, 23 miles. He was…

Date Written: 9/13/2024 | AT Mile 577.8 | Day Total: 21.0 miles | Gain: 4191 ft This is the second time I’ve written today’s journal… my notes app didn’t save it when I when went back to the notes home page. Good bye 1hour of sleep… Sleep like a rock last night until 5:30 this…

Date Written: 9/12/2024 | AT Mile 556.8 | Day Total: 14.7 miles | Gain: 2651 ft Everyone was up and packing up at 6 this morning except for one of the LT hikers on the bunk above me. No critter sounds last night but there was some snoring. Slept very well otherwise. I packed most…

Date Written: 9/11/2024 | AT Mile 542.1 | Day Total: 17.6 miles | Gain: 3604 ft Woke up at 6 this morning and pulled down my textbook bear hang. It’s my coldest morning so far, 44F so I lay my quilt over me while I eat breakfast. I experimented this morning with making Ensure but…

Date Written: 9/10/2024 | AT Mile 524.5 | Day Total: 18.6 miles | Gain: 4644 ft Good nights rest last night. Rained a little while I was watching the movie but it didn’t for the rest of the night. I could only stay up for half of the movie so I plan to watch the…

Date Written: 9/09/2024 | AT Mile 505.9 | Day Total: 16.7 miles | Gain: 3407 ft Headed out pretty early this morning and walked over to Starbucks for coffee and to upload a few journals. I was there for an hour before I headed to the bus station where the bus leaves at 8:15 towards…

Date Written: 9/08/2024 | AT Mile 489.2 | Day Total: 17.5 miles | Gain: 4422 ft I didn’t sleep great last night. While the cabin sheltered me from the rain it also sheltered the mice. All night I could hear their footsteps across the beams of the cabin. I never actually saw one, though I…

Date Written: 9/07/2024 | AT Mile 471.7 | Day Total: 14.7 miles | Gain: 4285 ft Woke up at 6:15 this morning and grabbed my bear bag down from the tree. The tree branch stood right back up as if it were untouched. I ate my breakfast in my tent with my sleeping bag over…