Originally Posted by
hairbear
my plans at this time are to leave pawling new york, and start heading north to katadin. where at that time find trasportation back to pawling. when i leave pawling ill head south to springer mountain in georgia.the reason for the flip decision was my sons graduation in late may giving me a june start.if i head north from n y ,i get to be in the white mountains in the summer heat,making it cooler sleeping up higher.the other reason was if i started sobo in june im a black fly buffet,going north should have them gone before i get there.the third reason is,i would be able to temper my knees ,and legs before the whites.This journey has been a dream since i first heard a thru hiker talking in high school,im now looking at turning 50 in the first few days of my hike.ive climbed a mountain in new york as a freshman in high school,when we were on top a storm came rolling towards us,the thought that we would soon be soaked was shared by all.the storm hit us ,but it came in below us,the clouds were so heavy the mountain parted them .i was amazed to see lightning, and rain below us ,while we sat there in the sun.i never looked back ,ive been a nature freak since.the day they throw dirt on top of me ill be dead ,but part of me will be saying wow,check out these worms.oh as far as a trail name ive been hairbear since the 7th grade,i guess it fits me ok.