Video

Just subscribed. I began a flip-flop on the AT last year and was 1,050 miles in when I slipped in the mud, over-compressing my left knee. I soldiered on another 26 miles before going home and seeing my doctor. I had two tears in my meniscus and a lot of arthritis and was strongly advised to suspend my hike, which I did. I rested for a couple of months and had a cortisone shot and managed to put in enough miles to make it to the halfway point. I had skipped the middle miles and ended my thruhike at NH Rte. 3/93. My trail name is Tinker. If I attempt another thruhike, it will be "Halfway," and it will be another flip-flop. Good luck with your thruhike!💪👊🙏✌️

If you don't mind sharing, out of curiosity, what tent are you carrying? Once you've completed the AT you'll have to give us a gear breakdown video too .

As someone who absolutely abhors people that set up their tent in a shelter, there is nothing wrong with your bug net over your sleeping space. It takes up no more room than you would, rises UP so not taking space from someone without a tent who needs the shelter. No one should have a problem with your set up.

Lol. I thought you were going to hike in flip flops. Color me disappointed.

Congrats on this 1000 mile marker! 🍺 Impressive! Great going! Half is coming soon! 🎉🎉

1k miles wow amazing

So glad your knee is doing better! We are rooting for you. Should of taken advantage to put your knee in that ice cold bath.

Don’t get discouraged or disappointed. You are doing amazing! One foot in front of the other and before long, you’ll be there!

Enjoy the lobster Mac & cheese!

I was in Maine peak-bagging years ago and after doing the Crockers, camped below them near the river. After a SOLID night of rain (good thing we camped on the side of a small brook where we did cause in the a.m. that small brook was roaring) we packed up and pressed on along the AT toward Spaulding and Abraham mtns. At the river, which was a torrent (!!!) we looked across and saw a NOBO looking at us, we all shrugged our shoulders, like, what now??! 😕 NOBO went down river looking for a crossing (cause there was NO WAY you could safely cross at the normal crossing) and we went up river. About a 1/4 mile up, we finally found a relatively flat area without rapids, my pal went first with his pack and was at crotch level going across, he came back to take my pack as I'm short and it would've dragged in the water that was waist deep on me, so we crossed together. When we got to the other side, we paused for awhile (in gratitude that we weren't swept away) both saying that the crossing "pegged out our Fun Meter". We were out for several days, but never heard about a missing NOBO in the news so we assumed he got across okay too. We COULD have gone down the dirt road nearby then up one of the ski trails on Sugarloaf that joins with the AT, but who wanted to do that long and boring trip?! Not us. In my hiking journal, I titled that hiking trip: Crossing The Carrabassett. Until I get dementia, I'll never forget it. 🙂

you got this that knee will not stop you

I submitted July 14 with my right knee hurting and swelled. I did notice salt helped some and after I got home magnesium helped a lot. Make sure you are getting enough electrolytes.

That rain is gonna put me right to sleep.

glad you are back at it and hope your knee is not going to stop you. no views but you got miles :-) you can do it

Hope you’re doing ok… or better! Bourbon is finally back on the trail! I dropped him off this morning (July 28th) at Bromley Mountain, Mile 1658, where he unfortunately had to let you go by yourself…

glad to see you are back up and moving i hope you make the termius

ive been watching scary missing person stories and Bennington keeps coming up lol

Howdy Professor Gator, Have you considered visiting an urgent care to have this traitorous knee examined? I hurt my knee while jogging about 25 years ago and after hobbling around for 3 weeks without it getting any better I went to my doctor. She prescribed some pills (I don't remember what they were) that I took for 5 days. During that 5 days the pain went away and never came back. You might get some different advice on how to care for it then your physician assistant friend gave you after examining it in a trail shelter or maybe not but it couldn't hurt. I'm really enjoying these videos and I can see how much you want to finish the trail so good luck and keep on trukin. Your buddy, Brad

Rooting for you Joel. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Little behind on the videos but I know already that you’re taking a well deserved break. I’m sure it’s an emotional time for you as you have gone so far. Take a little break and let your body recover. Then drive on like you know you can. We’re all rooting for you and know you can do it. Love you big brother.

stick with it if you can.

NH is the Granite State. We're a rockin' state!😂 Supplies have to be carried in and/or by helicopter, hence the fee for staying.

I hope your knee gets well soon. Yes give it its time to rest. All the best to you!

You're very welcome!

Congrats on making it to Maine!

Well, Good morning. What's the knee look like. I hope by the time you see this you are better and back on the trail. Good luck

Been on a trip to Washington. So I'm behind. Sorry to hear about your knee , hope it's better soon.

Are you back on the trail?haven’t seen anything on FarOut since the 20th… hope you’re ok

Slow and easy, take your time.

Howdy Professor Gator, I know these videos are a few days behind the actual hike so whatever decision you made is over and done. There are always cool people on the trail so if you have to drop out of the group your hiking with its OK. You'll make new friends. Anyway hope everything is working out. You can do it. Your buddy, Brad

😢… hope you’re doing better…. As you know, you have to listen to your body…. Take time to rest as you told Bourbon and me☺️…

Going down those steeps? Use your butt. There's no shame in using your bum. Use it before you fall on it. 🙃

If you say these last few days have been tough, i am sure they are grueling. But as you say, you are able to do more than you think you can. You are inspirational.

I really like the way you show gratitude with the callouts on your videos to everyone you meet or impacts you alonger adventure. It's such an important reminder for all of us! thanks K

That nice trail leading out of Rattle River? Another lumber railroad bed. Quit fretting about how you're doing. You're doing great! And I can say that as someone who has hiked all the trails you are currently on, multiple times. These trails are the fun we look forward to on the weekends. Difference is, we don't bite off as many miles as you thru-hikers do. We're out to have fun not get somewhere (fast). So maybe you'll have to decrease your daily miles now and then, so what? What's going to happen? Are you going to implode? No, you aren't. Again, as a flip-flop, you don't have to worry that Katahdin will be closed and you can't summit, you're going to get there in plenty of time. I can see that you're kinda stressed. Maybe, if you try to remember that what you're doing is your once in a lifetime adventure on the AT, you can exhale, and enjoy. You're only going this way (to Katahdin) once.

As a local (+hiker), the word I use for NH mountains is gnarly. The trails and peaks are gnarly. As are the Mahoosucs which are always underrated until the hikers get there.

Raining on your parade here but....I hike in NH and ME and I think ME trails are as tough if not more rugged than NH. The good news is, you're doing a flip-flop, so when you flip, all the hard work is done and everything else you encounter will be a breeze. Sure, there will be a few sections to wrestle, but NOTHING like what you've already done. Party on, Joel!

NH is not a "nanny" state. Live free or die is the motto. Take care, to take care, of yourself. That lovely flat trail you were on is the old late 1800s early 1900s lumber railroad bed. There are a bunch of those here in NH but the AT travels on only 1 or 2. That one along Whitewall Mt. is one of the two. It's always nice to mention that in addition to the (high) cost of an AMC bed at the huts, you get a full dinner and breakfast included. So if you think of a hotel in town that does not serve you 2 meals, the cost doesn't hurt so much. 🙂

The AMC has a dedicated trail maintenance crew that does the heavy stuff but the majority of the trail maintenance is done by volunteer trail adopters. People, groups, clubs, what have you, adopt a trail or a segment of trail that they are particularly fond of and maintain that. Those adopters tend to keep those trails until they can't hike to them any longer. For a very long time, Laura & Guy Waterman did the maintenance on Franconia Ridge. Google them. Also, the Ridge is popular so sees a lot of traffic. NH has constant (thru winter) hikers from Boston, CT, RI and Quebec so it's little wonder that there is a lot of use. FYI, when I first hiked Liberty Spring trail up to the Ridge in 1976, that trail had dirt on it. Now you see it as all rocks due to natural erosion, weather and heavy use (AT and day hikers). Just sayin".

The Kinsman Ridge is no joke and a good initiation to the rest of the Whites. That you did almost all the Ridge in one day, you should consider a feather in your cap! There is more to the Ridge than you saw: over the Cannon Balls then up and over Cannon Mt. is the end of the Ridge. You have a good attitude so you'll do well. I like what 90feet said below; that life is sometimes filled with pointless ups and downs too. Keep after it and happy trails.🙂

Hey Gator! Stevie Wander here. What a fabulous surprise to see you as you exited the Notch! We made it through safely but SO slowly…and then ended our day at Full Goose. You did 4 more miles than we did!! I applaud you for your stamina and courage: it was a really tough day. We watched the helicopter as it circled the injured hiker for hours but were happy it came so quickly. Crossing fingers she is resting and healing well. Hoping I see you at Katahdin but pretty sure you’ll summit before I do. Hike safe and strong my ftiend!!

Great going! Overcoming the limits you think you have makes you stronger physically and mentally! Stay safe and keep smiling, you’re 💪💪!

Joel, you should be getting close to the 100mi wilderness. I hope you get yourself some extra tasty resupply goodies and hopefully you already have a replacement trekking pole by the time you see this. Kp

There is beauty in the struggle. It is good to see your resolve.

not sure if you have reached katahdin but am curious about the route back to harpers

Howdy Professor Gator, I drink more beer than I should and I'm always looking for new ones to try. I never thought about beer for breakfast but it sure looked good. You look like you need all the calories you can get. Your so different from the jiggly guy I picked up a couple months ago. Slipping and falling on the trail is really dangerous. Maybe you need a different kind of shoe. I'd hate to see you have to drop off because of a cracked tailbone or something. Stay strong and keep on truckin. Your buddy, Brad

Well done Joel keep it up, it's never fun to fall over with a backpack on.... perhaps a shoe upgrade...something with Vibram grip might help?

Glad you had your support team. ❤

Lol, The Carter's ... Will have to take Carter one day.

you got this