Our last day for 2013

We got off the trail   at NH25C/Warren NH. Sassafras's feet started hurting her and we decided enough was enough. We hiked 40 miles of New Hampshire and had a great time. This is the end of this chapter of Sassafras and Kaboose A.T. adventure for 2013. Sassafras says she still has lots of long distance hiking to do, but needs a break.

I plan to get out and hike some of my favorite sections of Maine in the next few months, but plan to do then on 2-4 day trips.

This trip has been amazing. thanks for all you interest and support. Kaboose

2013 part 2 day 1 moose mountain shelter

Miles hikes 11

What a great day.  Mrs kaboose dropped us off at the Vermont/New Hampshire border and hiked with us for a little way in Hanover. We saw the beginning of the shrinners parade in town. I could tell we have been off the trail and was grateful for the mild terain. We meet Teacher and Snacktime from white blaze doing trail magic (thank).

When we hiked into the shelter we heard a loud yell, it was coach lou who we saw in Virginia.  He immediately took a picture of Sassafras and sent it to hikerboy who we started the trail with, to let him know we are back on the trail. In a few minutes Jacko from Australia walked in. We started on springer with jacko and his son the invisible man. What a small world. 

A.T. 2013 part two

Sassafras's feet are better and she wants to get back on the trail. Tomorrow Mrs Kaboose will drop us off at the Vermont, New Hampshire border and we will attempt to hike north to Route 2 just before the Maine border. Sassafras calculated that since she has hiked from Route 2 on the A.T. all the way to the summit of Katahdin, she will have 312 miles left to complete the A.T. If all goes well we we can complete those miles next year. We did not complete a thru hike, but are happy with what we have accomplished.

We all want to thank everyone who help support Sassafras's hike for hunger. The last tally shows $1819 donated to the New Gloucester food bank in support of Sassafras's hike.

Day 114 going home

I am on a bus going home to Maine. I have been on the trail almost four months and hiking without Sassafras is not what I want to be doing at rhis time in my life. I wanf to be home with my family. The separation has been hard on both my wife and I.

I want to thank everyone for their kind words and support. I apologies if I have let anyone down. Kaboose

Day 113 Graymoor Spiritual Life Center

7/11/13
Miles hiked 6.4
Total miles 1405.8

Today was my first day on the trail without Sassafras. It was tough emotional.  I miss her very much, but I know her feet need at least two more weeks at home to heal and more important she is happy at home and already has the rest of her supper planed. She already met with her principal and she is doing work to help get all caught up with school,  so her reentry at school will be much easier. I miss my wife very much as well, but we both are committed to having me complete this thru hike. I am blessed in having such a wonderful family. 

My sister who just happened to be visiting from New York gave me a ride back to the trail. (Thanks Wanda) I am at a pavilion at the Graymoor monastery. The place is beautiful and very peaceful.  It is a good place for me to be tonight. There are several other thru hikers here tonight. They seem very nice. I had not met any of them before.  It looks like I will be with a new group after being off trail for a week. So much seems new. This is a whole new chapter in our adventure.  Kaboose

DAY 109-112 Home in Maine

We have been home  in Maine for a few days. Sassaffras's needs to be off her feet for two more weeks. Once we got home it was apparent that she done enough. 3 1/2 months with her Papa is enough, she missed being with people her own age. I had thought she would develop some friendships with some of the young ladies hiking the trail, but that did not happen. We now know she was very lonely. She still has plans to do the Triple Crown and backpack thru Europe. She will spend the rest of the summer doing as she call it "regular stuff" like camp and spending time with Mrs. Kaboose and her friends. We are so very proud of her, she is the strongest person I know. She always sees the good in things. She even thought the Doyle Hotel was beautiful. She was able to look past the decay of time and see the original  beauty of the building.

It is with mixed feeling that I tell everyone that Sassafras is off the trail. Tomorrow my sister who is visiting from New York will be driving me back to Fort Montgomery N.Y. to continue the hike. It will not be the same without Sassafras and I do not know how I feel about it. As a family we decided it is important that I try to finish the thru hike. We do not know when I would be able to try again or if I would able to do it if that time came.

I will continue with the blog. I do not know how much interest it will be to others without Sassafras? 

Mrs. Kaboose will be uploading videos from Harpers Ferry thru Fort Montgomery. I plan to continue to take some pictures and videos. I also do not know how interesting they will be without Sassafras. Kaboose

Sassafras update

Sassafras has rested all day today and soaked her feet in epsom salt and we are applying antibiotic ointment per her doctors suggestion. Believe it or not they look better already.  She has a dr. apt. tomorrow and should see what is next.  I still can not beleive that she hiked 270 miles with her feet in the shape that they were in. She is my hero!

Mrs. Kaboose

day 108 on the way home to maine

We flew home today. Sassafras is happy to be home. We will see her doctor asap.  Her toes are very sore and it breaks my heart to think how strong she was hiking so long in such pain. It looks like I will get back on  the trail next week and continue hiking. When Sassafras is cleared to come back on the trail and if she want to she will come out and finish the hike.

Thank you to all support and kind words.  Anyone who knows Sassafras will tell you she is a very special girl. If she ends her adventure at the 1400 mile mark it still was a great success. She had fun, challenged herself, met many wonderful people. I hope she will  have positive feelings about our adventure and the time we spent together. Kaboose.

Day107 Fort Montgomery NY

Sassafras has had an infection in her great toe for over two weeks. We have been treating it the best we can with imput from her doctor at home. It has not improved. She tried to hike out today and was lethargic and got sick to her stomach. After talking with my wife we have decided to go home. Sassafras says she does not feel well is tearful and is ready to go home. It hurts me so bad to see her like this. We will fly home tomorrow and evaluate our options after she sees her doctor. Kaboose

Day 106 Fort Montgomery NY

7/4/13
Miles hiked zero
Total miles 1399.4

We rested all day. Back at it tomorrow.  Kaboose

Day 105 fort Montgomery ny

7/3/13
Miles hiked zero
Total miles 1399.4

We took the first of two days off the trail. We rested most of the day.  We had to take a cab to the next town to get to a grocery store.  It definitely was our most expensive resupply.  Kaboose

Day 104 Fort Montgomery NY

7/2/13
Miles hiked 15.4
Total miles 1399.4

We are in Fort Montgomery NY. We had a wrt start.  Bear mountain was cool and so was the Trailside Zoo. I am feeling fatigued and we plan to take a fee days off to rest and recoup. Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked saw 15.4 miles. The weather was good. The trail was good. We hiked through a zoo. We are having 2 zeros in town. Sassafras

Day 103 Finger board shelter

7/1/13
Miles hiked 14.3
Total miles 1384

Today was one if not the hardest days on the trail. We were ready to start hiking this morning and it started to pour. We waited until 9am to see if it would let up. It slowed down a bit and we hiked all day in the rain. The trail had some hard rock climbs that would have been fun it it was not raining. It was a little scary at times. Kaboose

Today was hardwork. The weather was ok. It rained for part of it. .The trail was ok. There was a lot of rocks though. A doggie named Tucker cuddled with me. Sassafras

Day 102 Wildcat Shelter

6/30/13
Miles hiked 17.1
Total miles 1369.7

We had a good day. We got a ride out of town from a great guy who does a lot of hiking in the are and was very knowledgeable about hiking gear. We are now in New York,  the trail is a little more challenging but the bugs are just mormally bad not crazy like New Jersey. We are alone in the shelter tonight. We seem to be between groups of  Nobo's.  It threatens thunderstorms but nothing bad yet. Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 17.1 miles. The weather was great. It only rained at the end a little bit. The trail was great. We are in New York. I also can not wait till we go to a zoo in two days. Sassafras

Day 101 St. Thomas Episcopal Church Hostel

6/29/13
Miles hiked 18.9
Total miles 1352.6

Today started out like the last two, wet, humid and swarms of mosquitoes.  We both were very down due to the bugs and wet feet. Three days of wet feet and you start to have problems.  Sassafras calls it the New Jersey blues. But the last two hours of the day and the bugs died down and the trail was beautiful. We then got a ride from a great guy who wants to thru hike in a few years.  We dropped us off righr at the hostel. The hostel is very nice. We are the only ones here. We did laundry, resupplied at the grocery store down the street and had burger king for supper. We are now relaxing and watching a little tv. All is good. Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 18.9 miles. The weather was good. The trail was good. We hiked the longest boardwalk. We went to town to resupply. We are in a hostel. The hostel  feels homey. Sassafras

Day 100 high point shelter

6/28/13
Miles hiked 19.6
Total miles 1333.7

Today was long, hot and buggy. The mosquitoes were just torturous.  We think this is worse than the snow, ice storm or the week of cold rain and heavy winds. We were lucky to find a tackle shop on one of the road crossings that had bug spray.  There was a line of thru hikers buying some.

On a more positive note we had a nice lunch at the pavilion on top of sunrise mountain and got a free pepsi for being a thru hiker at tbe high point state park office. I also got a hot supper from boy scout troop number one from New Jersey.  They made too much cheese tortellini and were going to have to pack it out, so being the nice guy I am I helped them out. You could see the vegetables so Sassafras did not want to have anything to do with it. She had mashed potatoes and spam instead. We are now dry in the shelter while it is thunderstorming outside again.  Kaboose

Sassafras is sleeping,  she will update you tomorrow. 

Day 99 brinks road shelter

6/27/13
Miles hiked 24.8
Total miles 1314.4

Today was hot, muggy, the mosquitoes were unbeatable and we pulled over 20 ticks off if us. It was a long day now we are in our tent trying to get away from the mosquitoes and  now we have a thunderstorm.  I wanted to like New Jersey but this is not a good start. Kaboose

Today was hard work. We hiked 24.8 miles. The trail was great. The weather was good. We had a lot of bugs. We also saw a glacial pond. Sassafras

Day 98 Delaware Water Gap

6/26/13
Miles hiked zero
Total miles 1289.3

We took a zero today. We had breakfast at the bakery and then resupplied at Wal-Mart.  We got a shuttle from the pack shack for four dollar,  they were great. We spent the rest of the day eating and resting. We now will push thru New Jersey in 3 big days. Kaboose

Tosay was fun. We had a zero. The weather was good. We went to walmart, also known as wally world to thru hikers. We resupplied, and we got some snacks. Sassafras  

Day 97 Delaware Water Gap PA

6/25/13
Miles hiked 15.6
Total miles 1289.3

We had a great day. We are 0.3 miles from the New Jersey border.  We plan to take a zero tomorrow and rest up a bit. We have already had a great time I Delaware Water Gap. We had a hot dog and a piece of apple pie at a cool bakery and it was only $2.49. The post office and police department are in the same building and when we picked up a package the lady at the post office and the police office on duty were very cool and interested in Sasssffras's hike. We are staying at the Pocono inn, it is an old Ramada inn, a little dated but a palace compared to were we stayed last night. I think they had bed bugs. I was itching all day. The Pocono in is also ten dollars less tban the Gateway inn. Kaboose

Sasssffras is sleeping so she will update the blog tomorrow.

Day 96 Wind Gap PA

6/24/13
Miles hiked 20.1
Total miles 1273.7

Today was a long, hot day. We had a big climb out of Palmerton. We left at 6am to try to beat some of the heat. We also had a 1.2 mile round trip climb down a very steep mountain side for water. These off trail miles do not count.
We are at the Gateway Motel, it gived the Relax Inn in Va a run for the most run down motel we have stayed at (the Doyle don't count), but there is a thunderstorm right now and we are eating pizza so all is well. Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 20.1 miles. The weather was good in the shade. The trail was great. We hiked to a motel. We also had pizza. Sassafras

Day 95 Palmerton PA

6/23/13
Miles hiked 8
Total miles 1253.6

We took a short day in Palmerton. We are staying at the town jail house hostel. We are trying to rest for a big climb and a very hot day without cover because we are hiking thru a super fund site deforestation due to zinc smelting in the area for almost 100 years, ending in 1980. Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 8 miles. Today was hot. I think it is in the uundreds at one point. To trail was good it was mostly downhill. The town is great it is so beautiful. Sassafras

Day 94 Bake Oven Knob Shelter

6//22/13
Miles hiked 17.4

We had a full day. The trail was diffucult, rocky and steep in places. I watched Vagabond,  a 70 year old lady with a knee replacement fall on  difficult part of knife edge,  but luckily she landed on her pack and was not hurt. Sassafras and I hiked with her the rest of the day to make sure she would be safe. Later in the day Sunshine and Not Yet's family provided wonderful trail magic.  It was a tast of Pennsylvania,  with tomato pie, tasty treats and soft pretzels. Oh and of course cold soda and fresh fruit. It was very nice. We sat and talked with them for a long time. Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 17.4 miles. The weather was good. The trail was good. We had two hard spots, the first was knife edge, the second was a big rock scramble.we went to a resteraunt for lunch. We had trail magic for dinner. Sassafras

Day 93 Echville Shelter

6/21/13
Miles hiked 14.8
Total miles 1228.7

We started the day eating trail magic doughnuts and then walking down a four lane highway to resupply at Wal-Mart and have second breakfast at McDonald's. We then had great views at the Pinnacle. We ended the day at Eckville shelter, a bunk room with showers. We tented in the beautiful tenting are which looks like a garden. Bag of tricks stoped by and Sasssfras got to meet another multi time A.T.  thru hiker and the caretaker of Eckville Shelter for 21 years Mick. Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 14.8 Miles. The weather was good. It was perfect all day. The trail was great. There was two small steep climbs, the rest was perfect. Sassafras

Day 88 Cove Mountain Shelter

6/16/13
Miles hiked 21.6
Total Miles 1138.5

I had a great fathers day. We hiked thru some beautiful PA farm land. It is a blessing to be able to be part of this adventure with Sassafras. Tomorrow is a nero at the famous/Infamous Doyle Hotel. Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 21.6 miles. The weather was perfect. The trail was great. It was flat in farmlands for more then half the day. We are going to the Doyle tomorrow, in town for a nero. Sassafras

Day 92 Port Clinton PA

6/20/13
Miles hiked 24.1
Total miles 1213.4

We had a good day. We hiked over 24 miles before 4pm to get to the post office. We are staying in  church pavilion in Port Clinton PA. We spent the evening with Sinner and Johnny Walker. We met the trail legend Bag of Tricks. Kaboose

Day 91 501 shelter

6/19/13
Miles hiked 22.1
Total miles 1189.3

What a great day. We had hamburgers for trail magic for. Dirty Ernie and his wife S.O.S. Dirty Ernie thru hiked in 2007 after he retired.  They were very nice and we enjoyed their company very much. We hiked the 22.1 by 4pm because you can order pizza from this shelter but once we got set up in the very cool four sided shelter with bunks (very fancy) Amish a 2011 thru hiker and her family came with a true feast for supper as trail magic. It was a great day. Kaboose

We hiked 22.1 miles. The trail was rocky but not too hard and we had trail magic two times today.  I had a good day. Sassafras

Day 90 near yellow spring village site

6/18/13
Miles hiked 24.7
Total miles 1167.2

Today was our longest day yet. We are tired but feel good. It was suppose to rain today and are tenting and hiked late, so we had our hot meal today for lunch at a shelter. We are our cold lunch for supper tonight. This worked out well and we will do that again.   More twenty plus days to come. Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 24.7 miles our longest day hiking. The weather was good. The trail was good, mostly flat with one big climb. We had dnner for lunch with soda we bought from town. We had lunch for dinner too. Sassafras

Day 89 Duncannon PA

6/17/13
Miles hiked 4
Total. Miles 1142.5

We took a nero in Duncannon PA. We are staying at th Doyle hotel, it is just as described, a tired old girl that the owners Pat and Vickey keep going the best they can. You could put a half a million into this old building and still have much to do. I am glad Sassafras had an opportunity to experience this part of A.T.history because I do not know who would put the time and effort that Pat and Vickey do to keep her going. The food at the Doyle was great, Pat did all the cooking.  I tried to eat all of the blueberry pancakes at Goodies this morning but just couldn't.  Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 4 miles to town, a nero. We aren't staying in Doyle. Tye weather was great. The trail was great. We had ice cream, it was delicious. The Doyle is beautiful, and has a lot of history. Sassafras

Update form Mrs. Kaboose

Just wanted to let everyone know that Sassafras and Kaboose are doing great!  They are hiking an average of 23 mile days and the weather has been good, no rain and warm!  They are in PA and should be in Port Cliton PA tomorrow.

Day 87 Boiling Springs PA

F6/15/13
Miles hiked 12
Total miles 1116.9

We had another great day. We hiked the 12 miles into Boiling Springs PA by 1130 am and spent the day at the town pool. We swam ate good food from the snack bar and relaxed in the sun. Later we went out for pizza. We are spending the night at a free camping area set up by the town. We are on the edge of a corn field and right next to a train tracks.  Two trains have already been by so it may be an interesting night.  Kaboose

Today was cun. We hiked 12 miles. The weather was good. The trail was great. I swam today in the public pool, in boiling springs. I slid down on a slid to get to the water. Sassafras

Day 86 James fry shelter

6/14/13
Miles hiked 17.1
Total miles 1104.9

Today was a great day.  We passed the halfway point, succeeded in the half gallon challenge (eating a half gallon of ice cream at pine grove furnace state park camp store) and the weather was beautiful.  Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 17.1 miles. The weather was good. The trail was good. We passed the halfway point today. Kaboose did the half gallon challenge. I ate a pint of ice cream. Sassafras

Day 85 Birch Run Shelter

6/13/13
Miles hiked 19.6
Total miles 1087.8

We started the day hiking in a severe thunderstorm.  It was thundering, lightning with heavy rain. It was sunny later in the day and is cool in the fifties this evening. Pennsylvania has been nice. Kaboose

Today was fun.  We hiked 19.6 miles. The weather was good, exept for the thunderstorm. The trial was good. Tomorrow is halfway point.  Sassafras

Day 84 Tumbling Run Shelter

6/12/13
Miles hiked 18.1
Total miles 1068.2

Today was a much better day.  First off we hiked northbound all day. It was warm but no rain and there was a breeze some of the day. We are now in Pennsylvania so six states down. We passed the Masson Dixon line so we are back in the North (closer to home for these two Mainers). Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 18.1 miles. The weather was good. The trail was great. It was pretty flat. We finished Maryland . We are in the north again. Sassafras

Day 83 Ensign Cowall Shelter

6/11/13
Miles hiked 15.7 plus 4
Total miles 1050.1

I had a tough day. It started with us hiking two miles south before Sassafras convinced me we were hiking the wrong way. She knew from the start we were going the wrong way. My head was not in the game. I guess I am missing Mrs. Kaboose. I need to make sure I listen to Sassafras, she knows what she is doing. We did have some nice trail magic, saw the the first Washington monument and it only rained half the day. Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 15.7 plus four miles. The weather was great. It only sprinkled once. The trail was good. We had trail magic. Sassafras

Day 82 Rocky Run Shelter

6/10/13
Miles hiked 16.3
Total miles 1034.4

It was a quiet day.  We are missing Mrs. Kaboose very much. It rained all day which did not help our mood. But we are dry in the shelter listening to the rain and thunder so that is a good thing. Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 16.3 miles. The weather was not the best. The trail was pretty flat. I miss Mrs. Kaboose. There is a thunder storm, we are in the shelter. It is relaxing. Sassafras

Day 81 Harper's Ferry

6/9/13
Miles hiked  zero
Total miles 1018.1

Another zero. We checked out historic Harper's Ferry and hung out together. We had a great day. 

Sassafras got her new shoes. Kaboose.

Day 80 Harper's Ferry

6/8/13
Miles hiked zero
Total miles 1018.1

We had a nice day in Harper's Ferry.  We went to the ATC headquarters.  We are thru hikers 371 and 372. It was nice to spend time with my wife.  This afternoon the girls went out and did girl stuff.  Sassafras was happy to wear none hiking cloths and have her hair done. Kaboose

Day 79 Harper's Ferry

6/7/13
Miles hiked 11.6
Total Miles 1018.1

We hiked into Harper's Ferry before noon. It was another rainy day. We checked into the motel washed up, dried up, did laundry, ate and waited for my wife to come in. We were very exciting when she showed up.  We will be here for a few days. Kaboose

Day 78 Blackburn AT Center

6/6/13
Miles hiked 17.8
Total miles 1006.5

Today was a big day. We passed the 1000 mile mark, we crossed I to West Virginia, and we hiked the rollercoaster in a rain storm. The rollercoaster is a section of the trail that is 13.5 miles of consent steep ascents and decents, no fun in the cold rain.

Tonight we are dry in the hiker hostel cabin at the Blackburn AT Center run by the PATC. We got sandwiches as trail magic from the caretaker.

Tomorrow will be a fast 12.5 miles to Harper's Ferry.  We do not care if it rains because we will meet my wife ther. We have not seen her since we left on this trip. I miss her very muck. Kaboose

Today was fun, we hiked 17.8 miles. We passed the 1000 mile mark and we will be in Harper's Ferry tomorrow.  I am very excited.  Sassafras.

Day 77 Rod Hollow Shelter

6/5/13
Miles hiked 23.6
Total miles 988.7

We had a long but good day.  Today was our longest day so far. It sets us up to do the rollercoaster in the morning. Kaboose

Today as fun. We hiked 23.6 miles. The weather was great all day. The trail was great. Sassafras

Day 76 Front Royal VA

6/3/13
Miles hiked 2.9
Total miles 965.1

We had a nice nero in Front Royal. The quality inn was the nices places we stayed on the whole hike. Kaboose

Day 75 Tom Floyd Shelter

6/3/13
Miles hiked. 23.6
Total miles 962.2

We had our biggest mile day today and feel great.  We really liked the Shenandoahs. We had second breakfast at the Elkwallow Wayside. We are proud of hiking five dsys thu the park averaging over twenty miles a day.  We saw another bear today but could not get a picture (very cool). We are looking forward to a nero in Front Royal tomorrow.  Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 23.6 miles. Our longest hiking day. The weather was perfect. The trail was great. We saw a bear in the morning. Sassafras

Day 74 Pass Mountain Shelter

6/2/13
Miles hiked 19.2
Total miles 938.6

We had a good day. We like the Shenandoahs, great views and cold soda every day. One more big day before Front Royal VA.

we saw seven deer today and we finally saw a bear. We are very excited about the bear sighting. I even got a short video of the bear. Kaboose

Today was fun. We hiked 19.2 miles. The trial was great. The weather was good. We saw a bear right before the shelter. We saw a deer in the beginning of the day. Sassafras