[at-l] Goals and Plans for 2004 for Papa Bear

[papabear.nyc at verizon.net (Papa Bear)]

Goals and Plans for 2004

I thought I'd take this New Year's day to give voice to what I hope to do this new year. Please feel free to make comments, critiques and most importantly let me know if you'd like to team up on some of these plans.  A partner (or two) would be especially welcome on the long back packs.

Alas I will be doing little in the realm of winter hiking or climbing this year.  I'm training for a marathon (in Burlington, Vermont on May 30th) and my winter hikes will be catch as catch can.  So now I'm in running mode but starting in June, I expect to be back full time into hiking.

General Goals

1) Finish the Long Trail.

2) Finish the northern half of the Appalachian Trail (Harpers ferry to Katahdin) with a 100 mile section in Pennsylvania and the last 120 miles in Maine (Monson to K).


Specific Plans (major treks):

June: Climb 3 or 4 of the Cascade volcanoes in Oregon with my daughter.

July:  White Mountains Pemi Traverse: 3 days and 2 nights (in huts) with the "Big Day" a traverse of the Pemigawasset Wilderness from Lafayette to Bondcliff involving 3 bushwhacks.

August: Long Trail in Vermont from Route 4 to Canada (170 miles).

September: AT from Monson to Katahdin (100 mile wilderness), then 2 or 3 more days in BSP for peak bagging.

October:  AT from Duncannon, PA to the Delaware Water Gap - rocks and foliage

Pb