Gary Sizer's Blog

Early November in South Carolina

I'm surprised and a honestly a little embarrassed that I haven't done this sooner. "This" meaning both hike the FHT, and share a story. Let's go.

https://foothillstrail.org/

The FHT is a 76 mile "National Recreation Trail" that straddles the border between North and South Carolina. If you look at a map, it makes a kind of upside down U shape, beginning (for me at least) at Oconee State Park in South...

Reynisdrangar sea stacks

There are always more stories.

A lot has happened since hiking the trail. For starters, it's been a little over a year since "Where's the Next Shelter?" was released. And what a year it's been! I've lost count of how many outfitters and hiker festivals I visited. I've been incredibly fortunate to have spent so much time this year telling stories about the trail and helping next year's batch of hikers prepare.Katie and I have been on the road (okay, mostly me) since th...

Where's the Next Shelter is now available.

Thank you all for reading the blog. If you enjoyed it, I know you'll really love the book. But don't trust my opinion on the subject. I did after all, write the thing.

First Journal Entry at Springer Mountain - Photo by Mark Calcagni

On May 10th of last yearI set foot on the Appalachian Trail and began the journey of a lifetime. To mark the anniversary of thatday, I shared the first chapter of the book, which will be out this fall.

If you missed it, stick around; it will return. I removed the link because my editor is doing an amazing job and what I shared earlier is no longer representative of the completed work. In other words, I answered the door with m...

Hello, and welcome to Where's The Next Shelter. If you've been here before, you know exactly what this is. If you've never been here before, you probably also know exactly what this is: the blog I maintained while living outside and climbing mountains every day for much of 2014. If you start here and keep reading, you'll see my tale told in reverse. You'll get the story of a malnourished hairy fella who travels south, gains a bunch of weight and goes...

Don't squeeze too hard.

Hi. This one comes with a warning. If you read my toenail post and got grossed out, you should probably skip the next few paragraphs. Look for the picture of me being surprised by a birthday banner and start reading there. Otherwise, hang on. I'm about to use some words that might make you uncomfortable.

As I write this, I'm enjoying a blueberry muffin and a cappuccino at the local beanhouse. Two hours ago I was crouched in my bathtub transferring my own runny diarrhea...

Somewhere several miles outside of Westanuthin

Recently a picture of me in my underpants went (slightly) viral, prompting literally thousands of comments and questions, the most popular of which I will now answer in no particular order: No, I do not look like Nancy Pelosi. I didn't get fired or angrily quit my job; I've been planning and saving for this for years. No, I'm not on welfare. Yes, those are Marine Corps "PT" shorts, and yes, I did change them. No, I have never tried meth. No, I d...

Tight spot! Tight spot!

Let me start by thanking everyone for the well wishes and congratulations! I've been on an emotional high for the last week that's really kind of hard to process. I've gone abruptly from wind in the trees and rushing water to honking horns and flashing lights everywhere. My body has been through a lot, my feet hurt, and my intestines are having a hard time figuring out what to do with real food. On top of all that, every inbox I own right now is flooded with messages...

This afternoon, after walking for nearly five months I summited the northernmost mountain on the AT! I was joined by my wife and trail boss, Katie. I was lucky to have relatively good weather and the company of two awesome trail friends, Lemmy and Voldemort who I met back in the very first hundred miles, a lifetime ago in trail terms.

Voldemort, Green Giant (me) and Lemmy

Katie and I will take a couple of days to drive home, where I will eat and rest and eat and wash and eat. After I eat som...

Three days ago I had what could've been one of the best days on the trail this season. After a spell of unexpected and unusually cold weather, the temperatures in Maine finally shot up into the 60s and even the 70s. In time to climb the Bigelows.

After a tough climb I spent several miles above the tree line. The valley below was filled with every color: red, yellow, and orange deciduous trees mixed with green pines and blue ponds.

After descending back into the valley I had a campsite all...