Smoking on the Appalachian Trail

[Erehwesle]

So this past September, wow that long ago? I finished my thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. All 2,190.1 miles of it, but who's counting?

I can likely say I was one of the few pipe smokers on the AT!. Started with some Boswell tabac from PA, and up in Gaitlinsburg resupplied with the No Locals blend from Gaitlinburlier. bought a pound of leaf from Richie there, and that lasted me up into NH to be honest, heard good things about Happy Jack, but had to have some stuff sent to me on a resupply box.

Honestly, On Trail, a pipe was an occasional treat. Not a daily thing. But there were some places where I really enjoyed sitting down and smoking a bit.

I tried to find a picture in my store of me with my pipe, but it seems when I had it deployed, I wasn't also the man behind the camera.

Cheers,

Todd *erehwesle*

 

[anotherbob]

sad a pipe while moving down the line is simply grand . nah you do you.

 

[Erehwesle]

sad a pipe while moving down the line is simply grand . nah you do you.

Bob, you practically made me do this… enjoy that Rabbit hole!

 

[Sgetz]

Well done that man. I read Bill Bryson's account of that walk. It sounded amazing!

 

[Erehwesle]

Well done that man. I read Bill Bryson's account of that walk. It sounded amazing!

Was a nice walk in the woods. As a result I now work as a Wilderness Field Instructor

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

I’ve got about 700 miles on the AT. There are times it’s downright boring, especially the “green tubes” of Summer. Having a pleasant past time would be nice I am sure.

I enjoyed Springer to the Nantalha in Winter, but Max Patch was the best, especially in late Fall.

 

[NC TX ID pipeman]

Congratulations for finishing up the A trail!! I got 420 miles on PCT so I know how difficult it could get sometimes..Yep I carried my pipe with me..Some great stories from that trip I will never forget...Honestly I think PCT is a lot nicer trail but each got its own beauty...

 

[Erehwesle]

Congratulations for finishing up the A trail!! I got 420 miles on PCT so I know how difficult it could get sometimes..Yep I carried my pipe with me..Some great stories from that trip I will never forget...Honestly I think PCT is a lot nicer trail but each got its own beauty...

Does your name mean you are from NC?

 

[romaso]

I did several hundred miles on the AT when younger. Really miss the hardwood forests there. I was leading a trip once for teens, and in NY there is a monastery that takes in hikers for the night and feeds them dinner. We kept hearing appetizing stories from hikers coming from there, especially appealing after our meager trail fare. Well, the night we got there they served liver, which was not very popular! Made up for it with doughnuts for breakfast, though.

 

[NC TX ID pipeman]

Does your name mean you are from NC?

I am but living in TX and ID sometimes...I drove along AT several times living not too far away but I never had much desire for wet humid climate of southern AT states..So PCT suits me better..dry.sunny.beautiful...

 

[Grumpy11]

Most people should try to hike a stretch of the AT. I used to grouse hunt in central PA which included the AT.

 

[Python 357]

Been hiking the AT since 1971. It was a very different trail back then compared to now....

 

[8ball]

So this past September, wow that long ago? I finished my thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. All 2,190.1 miles of it, but who's counting?

I can likely say I was one of the few pipe smokers on the AT!. Started with some Boswell tabac from PA, and up in Gaitlinsburg resupplied with the No Locals blend from Gaitlinburlier. bought a pound of leaf from Richie there, and that lasted me up into NH to be honest, heard good things about Happy Jack, but had to have some stuff sent to me on a resupply box.

Honestly, On Trail, a pipe was an occasional treat. Not a daily thing. But there were some places where I really enjoyed sitting down and smoking a bit.

I tried to find a picture in my store of me with my pipe, but it seems when I had it deployed, I wasn't also the man behind the camera.

Cheers,

Todd *erehwesle*

Wow, that is so awesome that you did the trail. I read "hiking through", and loved hearing the authors journey. Personally, I make it about 6-10 miles and im ready to set up camp, lol. Ive found trails by me that are about 25 miles. Nothing like getting out in nature.

 

[swampgrizzly]

Been hiking the AT since 1971. It was a very different trail back then compared to now....

What are the main differences of AT experiences in the 70's vs. now. More encroachment of towns/cities to the trail itself/heavier hiker trail traffic?? I've hiked portions of the AT in the 70's but have no experiences since.

 

[petes03]

Nice! Congratulations! I’ve hiked sections of the AT and several more of the Benton MacKaye trail. I have some friends who have done quite a bit of the AT as well. My Great Grandmother told me that that her Uncle did the entire AT right after it was first established. He sat out with a skillet, a couple of wool blankets, a 22 rifle and a few other bits of kit. They took him to the trailhead in Ga. in a mule cart and dropped him off. They didn’t hear from him until he wired them for a train ticket home about 6 months later. It’s a real accomplishment today, but I can’t imagine what it was like 100 years ago…..

 

[NC TX ID pipeman]

Nice! Congratulations! I’ve hiked sections of the AT and several more of the Benton MacKaye trail. I have some friends who have done quite a bit of the AT as well. My Great Grandmother told me that that her Uncle did the entire AT right after it was first established. He sat out with a skillet, a couple of wool blankets, a 22 rifle and a few other bits of kit. They took him to the trailhead in Ga. in a mule cart and dropped him off. They didn’t hear from him until he wired them for a train ticket home about 6 months later. It’s a real accomplishment today, but I can’t imagine what it was like 100 years ago…..

A lot less people and civilization...I only hiked PCT for 3 weeks first but feeligs I had afterwards were unusual...back in a civilization i felt too much noise.driving in a car was feeling that is too fast .rooms i entered were too square...everything felt different..And it was only 3 weeks in a real wilderness world....

 

[Python 357]

What are the main differences of AT experiences in the 70's vs. now. More encroachment of towns/cities to the trail itself/heavier hiker trail traffic?? I've hiked portions of the AT in the 70's but have no experiences since.

back then you rarely saw another hiker. Hard to believe,but people were looked on as a but of a nut if they hiked.You had the whole Trail to yourself,and was a great place to go to get some solitude.Today,its not unusual to see 75 cars parked at a trailhead. As a consequence , the Trail is getting eroded and more rocky. I live in Pa . Overcrowding may not be a problem everywhere,but it is here.

 

[kcghost]

Man, you must have really wanted to get out of the house!!