Project Eveningland

A Descent into Madness & Thru-Hiking

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  • How to Read the Blog

    To begin the blog at the first post of my 2023 Appalachian Trail journey (the original purpose of the blog), click this link. Additional navigation shortcuts are available in the sidebar. Spoilers ahead, highlight the next block to read:

    Around about day 140, a 1000-year rainstorm caught me in Harriman State Park in New York. The Appalachian Trail in Vermont and Maine was a mess, and I had been slowed to a crawl by the lingering effects of the meds I had to take to treat giardiasis and so was running out of time anyway. I decided to switch to the Colorado trail for another 100 miles or so and dry out and make the finish less sad than a “failed” thru-hike, so that’s why the last posts are in Colorado, if you were wondering. There is no such thing as a “failed” thru-hike, by the way!

    Anyway, enjoy the blog! I’ll add future journeys as I go. I hiked 100 miles on the AT in Georgia and North Carolina in February/March of 2024 to help work on my book. I may add those entries if the time is right–it was a very personal journey. I plan to hike and write and research throughout 2024, and will add posts and pictures as I see fit. Subscribe so you don’t miss out!

  • The Thru Hiker Is Out (Again)

    Hey folks, I’m off trail for a few days to check the proofs for my forthcoming book, Arguing Identity and Human Rights: Among Rival Options—out in September!

  • A Breezy Afternoon (Day 123)

    A Breezy Afternoon (Day 123)

    6/17/2023 Saturday

    This tiny rental has a Lee Harvey Oswald aftertaste. It’s neat and clean and there’s some fun decor but also glumness. I got a late start today.

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  • Hygge in Hamburg (Day 122)

    Hygge in Hamburg (Day 122)

    6/16/2023 Friday

    I picked a great day to rest—rain and tornado watches/warnings all over the state according to the TV in the laundromat, where I am enjoying a comforting slice of normal life.

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  • I Deserve a Zero for This! (Day 121)

    I Deserve a Zero for This! (Day 121)

    6/15/2023 Thursday

    What a pleasant sleep. Temps were cool in the morning and I got up early to eat breakfast, then went back to bed (in the tent) for 90 minutes. I had great cell service and treated myself to reading the news with breakfast.

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  • Make Salamanders, Not Gerrymanders (Day 120)

    Make Salamanders, Not Gerrymanders (Day 120)

    6/14/2023 Wednesday

    What do you do when it rains all day? Do you hike through it? Find somewhere dry and take the day off? Try to dodge it by sheltering during the wettest parts of the day?

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  • The Deluxe A.T. Sampler (Day 119)

    The Deluxe A.T. Sampler (Day 119)

    6/13/2023 Tuesday

    I don’t know when the rains ceased but they had long passed by the time I woke at 4AM. My tent had nearly dried in the morning breeze. That privy though.

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  • A Tent in the Storm (Day 118)

    A Tent in the Storm (Day 118)

    6/12/2023 Monday

    Despite the threatening forecast and sky, no rain came overnight. We were out hiking by 7:30—Neil is an early bird. How far can we get before the storm?

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  • Irony Spring (Day 117)

    Irony Spring (Day 117)

    6/11/2023 Sunday

    When there’s heat coming—and there was—at least the morning temps are comfortable and not too cold. That’s the bright side. That’s all there is folks.

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  • Itch Mountain (Day 116)

    Itch Mountain (Day 116)

    6/10/2023 Saturday

    Neil and I grabbed breakfast at a cash only place across the street, Goodies. Great breakfast sandwiches, small town diner feel. We walked back to Kinda Outdoorsy and packed up. My food bag is too heavy.

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  • There Came Soft Rains (Day 115)

    6/9/2023 Friday

    A drizzle arrived late morning and washed the air somewhat. Innkeeper Kevin and I discussed the latest legal news on the drive to the drop-off point, from which I resumed my hike. Just a quick nine miles today to meet my buddy Neil in Duncannon.

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About The Blog

I’m Doug Cloud, an inveterate thru-hiker, believer in The One Trail, writer, rhetorician, researcher. This blog catalogs my journeys, particularly my 2023 1500-mile hike on the Appalachian and Colorado Trails. Other journeys may be added. Or not. I go by several mottoes as a thru-hiker:

1. Work the problem.
2. Throw money at the problem.
3. Go for an FKT (funnest known time).
4. ABC (always be thru-hiking).

Recent Posts

Subscribe so you don’t miss future journeys! I’m gonna be writing on this thing for, like, 50 years.

Some quick navigation links:
Day 1 of my 2023 AT journey
Last day on the AT
Explanation of switch to Colorado Trail
Day 1 of 2023 Colorado Trail journey