Brothers

Tin Man and Bartender started backpacking together in the 1990's. After aimlessly wandering the Adirondacks on annual fall trips, they decided it was time to take on something that had an objective with a start and end point - the Appalachian Trail! Could they have chosen a shorter trail with a simpler objective? Certainly, positively, absolutely, yes! Did they? Nope, nada, no way, no! What's a little 2174.2 mile trail between two brothers anyway? Don't attempt to answer that. Even they are clueless. They do know it will be a multiple year adventure and they will not now, or probably ever, try to do it all at once. They may be crazy but not that crazy!


So, our intrepid adventurers started this mindless odyssey in September of 2001. A short 50 miles was the goal over 5 days. No problem. Blisters and pain, mice and rain, would not deter these fellers on their way northwards towards Maine. They slept in 3-sided shelters, cooked simple meals over a small stove, filtered water from streams and simply had the time of their lives, don't you know. Year after year, trip after trip, they grow smarter on the ways of the AT hiker. They also have grown famous among friends and family who ask important questions like: when are you going this year, how far, where are you now?

The map shows where our travelers have hiked each year. (Click on the map for a closer look.) They started in Salisbury, CT in 2001 and have hiked between 42 and 63 miles each fall and will be picking up the trail where they left off again this year, in Franconia Notch, NH. In the summer of 2007, they finished the AT in CT through a series of day hikes dating back to 2005. They also began day hiking NY in 2007 and will continue to do more mileage here as schedules permit. If you look at the big picture, 2174.2 miles is a long way. At current annual mileage rates our friends will complete the AT in 36 years! Say it ain't so! Well the story goes that these two dreamers think retirement may offer more opportunities. We shall see, there are wives involved, you know.