Scott "Squatch" Herriott section-hiked the 2,650 mile-long Pacific Crest Trail and made four films about his adventures ("Walk" films available here at Amazon). Now he attempts to hike the entire 2,100+ mile-long Appalachian Trail in one hiking season while searching for the interesting, inspiring, sometimes whacked-out and always dirt-laden folk who make up the long-distance hiking community.
Scott "Squatch" Herriott attempts to hike the entire 2,100+ mile-long Appalachian Trail in one hiking season while simultaneously searching for the interesting, inspiring, sometimes whacked-out and always dirt-laden folk who make up the long-distance hiking community. To accomplish his goals, "Squatch" intends to hiking a section southward and then hitching up ahead and hiking back to where he left off - and repeating over and over. His theory was that this way he would run into some of the same characters again and again, and be able to capture their impressions at different points along the trail as well as monitor his own progress on the hike."Squatch" is dropped off in North Carolina and is warned of wild boar on the path. He experiments with a portable hammock before taking his first steps on the journey. It is early spring and trail is thick with morning frost. The first hikers "Squatch" encounters are a retired pair of men from Florida. A black woman with the trail name Bumble B believes she is one of three black women on the trail. Other hikers comment they were amazed by the blind hiker they had met on the trail the previous year who was guided by interpreting "snaps". Cimmaron is 88-year-old hiker who wants to set the age record for a through hiker.At Franklin, North Carolina, "Squatch" heads toward town and their annual Trail Days celebration. He meets a former professional wrestler who wore a mask and a couple who started their hike with six consecutive zero days (days with no mileage on the trail). Back on the trail, "Squatch" films hikers discussing the amount of snoring experienced in shelters along the trail. "Squatch" meets characters at a remote hikers' supply store playing Andy Griffin trivia."Squatch" interviews Balloonatic, a man who makes massive balloon art displays but has trouble keeping his breath on the trail. Bass Clef has already carried his pack, electric cello and a15 pound amplifier 28.3 miles from Springer Mountain. Marathon man is a very memorable character who claims to have run for President of the United States six times. The first green hillsides are seen. Downsizing the backpack is a common theme of hikers first learning the struggles on the trail. In a hotel, "Squatch" meets hikers who nearly froze on a mountain. They tell a story of a hiker who died in his sleep doing what he loved. At Standing Bear Hostel "Squatch" hears stories of hiker's various encounters with bears and falls on the trail. Many on the trail have completed the Appalachian Trail journey before.Cimmaron reappears after having sustained a fall that required stitches on his head. At Trail Days in Damascus Virginia, hikers drink and beat drums into the night. A local church offers to clean hiker's feet. The parade of hikers turns into an annual water balloon fight."Squatch" jumps ahead to Pearisburg, Virginia and hikes back to Damascus. Heavy rains have been encountered. Hikers testify about how good people are along the trail. "Squatch" reunites with Bumble B who used a reunion with family in North Carolina to re-energize herself to again resume the hike. Near Bland, Virginia, "Squatch" meets some men who built a shelter and put out food to feed the hikers.At a schoolhouse built in 1894, other hikers show off their arrowhead finds from the trails. Pizza delivery at a shelter is lacking when a storm is heading in. "Squatch" has not been into a town for five days and admits he stinks.Legendary Baltimore Jack is encountered. He has hired the trail seven years in a row. "Squatch" learns the history of the ponies of the Grayson Highlands which serve as lawnmowers to keep the bald mountains clear extenuating their beauty.On the hike from Daleville back to Pearisburg. hikers heading north have gone over 600 miles and get more introspective and spiritual. They are most thankful for their fellow hikers and the trail angels along the way. "Squatch" is proud of the distance he has covered and that he has not fallen. Weight loss is common among the long-distance hikers. Balloonatic claims to have lost fifty pounds. Further ahead, some women tell of how a female deer charged them. Some hikers leave the trail to aquablaze, which means traveling by canoe or kayak to cover a portion of the journey.As "Squatch" hikes from Waynesboro, Virginia to Highway 60, black bears and beautiful scenery are encountered. "Squatch" stays at the Dutch house for three nights. The lodging provides their guests with white bathrobes. At the Kincora Hiking Hostel, "Squatch" meets the owner, Bob Peoples, who claims he has only evicted one hiker in 17 years from his establishment. Bob is also maintains 135 miles of trail keeping it clear and safe for hikers.When "Squatch" has completed 37 % of the Appalachian Trail, he jumps ahead to Duncannon, Pennsylvania for the Billville hiker feed event. At the Doyle hotel, female hiker Guinness has created a knitted beard which she proudly wears. Bumble B recounts her visit to a historic stop that was once part of the slave freeing underground railroad. At the feed, hikers throw their hiking poles like javelins for distance. An entire roasted pig has been prepared. for the hiker consumption. A country band plays into the night. At the Doyle, the drinking continues. A giant gator moth is found. The next morning, one hiker reveals he had to leave his dog with an ex-girlfriend because of injuries the dog sustained on the trail.In the hike from Stroudsburg to Port Clinton, the land is very rocky. "Squatch" encounters a couple where the woman discovered she is in the early stages of pregnancy. In some pain, "Squatch" takes five days off and then advanced ahead to Glencliff, New Hampshire and checks out the Hikers Welcome Hostel. He encounters a mom of two teenagers who left them out on the trail. The youths have covered 1800 miles together. Cimmaron, the oldest hiker on the trail, gives the teens advice for life. The whites in New Hampshire are said to be the hardest part of the trail with difficult rocky craggy mountain climbs and descents. "Squatch" interviews an Amish girl who has learned much about the goodness of people on the trail and the value of being non-judgmental. A older hikers named Loner Boehner logged 1600 of backpack training the year before he took to the trail so he could enjoy the experience. At Glencliff, fellow hikers rescue a deaf and mostly blind man from a trail mishap and report their deeds to "Squatch"."Squatch" continues south through Vermont. He again encounters the pregnant hiker and her mate. They claim pregnancy has given the woman growing strength on the trail. "Squatch" discusses Jennifer Pharr Davis record hike of the entire Appalachian Trail in just 46 days 11 hours 20 minutes as many hikers feel their momentum lag and trail getting long. As they eat pancakes, another hiker claims he can throw up on command and proves it. Sir, a black cat, rides with Magic Mix on the trail.On August 17th, "Squatch" gives up the goal of an entire trail hike having completed only about 40% of the trail. He is running low on money and time. "Squatch's" new goal becomes hiking in each state, completing 50% of the trail, and reuniting with as many hikers as I can that he previously encountered.At Stratton Pond, "Squatch" greets two Bostonians encouraging others to reconnect to the woods of humanity's origin. "Squatch" takes his hand at throwing tomahawk. Then "Squatch" retreats inside a shelter during a rainstorm with Bob what has taken 17 years to complete the trail. Fleeing the storm is a woman and her son who made 8.5 miles that day on the trail. The woman carries a trumpet and plays "Amazing Grace" and "The Star-Spangled Banner".Heading south from Maine toward the Connecticut border, "Squatch" challenges a hiker to jump off a bridge to get into his movie. The hikers talk about their evolving relationship during the walk. In Sheffield, Massachusetts, there is an organic farm which will offer hikers a meal and a place to sleep in exchange for farm work. However, feral cats are numerous.In Maine, "Squatch" finds a man feeding thru-hikers, lobsters. In Maines 100-mile wilderness, there is an airhorn that summons a boat to take hikers across a large waterway. The other side offers a menu of one-pound burgers and free apples and tomatoes. Later, Mount Katahdin, the end of the trail is in sight.With the threat of rain, Squatch hitches a ride into Millinocket, Maine and is allowed to stay for free in his ride's guest house if they get a shot in the film. At 5 a.m. the next day, "Squatch and others begin the climb to the summit of Mount Katahdin. Fellow hikers feel like it is Christmas Day. Hikers' celebrations include photos, drinking and flute playing. The descent is equally challenging. Back at base camp, "Squatch" meets hikers anticipating their climb the next day planning how they would pose foe the requisite photo. For dinner. "Squatch" enjoys taco lentils and rice Day Mon who had helped Cimmaron through "the Whites" tells of Cimmaron's skip ahead breaks to Mount Katahdin before weather got cold but that the elderly man took a fall and wrapped up his journey.In the 10 miles between the Birches and Abol Bridge, a hiker says the most rewarding experiences are encountering hikers they had not seen in 500 miles and in seeing Katahdin in the distance after so many months and miles and finally seeing their goal. Mike D tells the story of deciding to swim across a river that the ferry man said was too high to even paddle across and recognizing he might die because of his decision. Bring a former lifeguard however, he stopped himself from panicking and was there to tell the tale. Ole Man was a Vietnam vet who stepped on a land mine and couldn't hike for over 30 years. Remedied by a chiropractor, Ole Man walked the entire Appalachian Trail over a three-year period and runs a diner for hikers in Millinocket.On his last night on the trail, "Squatch" declares he has covered 3 states completely and hiked in 11 others covering half the trails distance. In North Dams, Lil Bird, one female hiker "Squatch has frequently encountered, compares each state to a relationship and break up when she crosses over the border. "Squatch" says that he discovered Maryland has lots if spiders. Lil Bird recounts the many flavors of Ramen noodles. At the gathering in North Adam's, Cimmaron is honored for his attempt at 89 years old to complete a through hike. The couple who learn they are expecting along the trail, complete the entire hike from Georgia to Maine. They had a child a few months later. Their daughter is reported to be healthy, happy and with the middle name "Katahdin" - naturally. Marathon man run for President for a seventh time.
