Hi! I am Chuck, also known as Orange Man. Welcome to The Retired Hiker, a blog about my life in retirement focusing on hiking, long-distance backpacking, and the adventures of Dana (a.k.a. Pitcrew) and Chuck in our Travel Trailer.
I retired after my wife died in 2021 and jumped into hiking and long-distance backpacking as a way deal with what I call “Life Part II”. I have thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail and have a multi-year plan for the Pacific Crest Trail, the Colorado Trail, and numerous other long-distance trails.
As a reward to myself for completing the Appalachian Trail, we purchased a Travel Trailer in late 2024. I base out of the trailer on short multi-day hiking trips. Dana and I take the trailer on long weekends and week-long regional trips. Our plan is to tour the country in the trailer once Dana retires in a few more years.
Until a that time, I plan to do as many long-distance hikes as I can manage while not completely abandoning Dana for the trail! Hence our blog’s tagline “Side Trials of Retirement Bliss”.
Recent Trail Journals
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Tuesday August 1, 2023. Hot and humid. Up at 7:45 with alarm. Had breakfast, got ready, and on trail at 9:00 am. Only 8.5 mile day in 6:45 hours. First 5 miles was VA rollercoaster. Really killed me after 15 miles yesterday. Did several breaks to rest my sore feet today. Feet hurt a lot by mile 4 and were problematic all day. Got to Blackburn at 3:45. Feet really hurt and that issue in left ankle was bad today. Could not have gone much further! Got unpacked and bedding set up by 4:30. Only person in the 4 person…
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Monday July 31, 2023. Hot and humid. Pitcrew drove me to Ashby Gap about 9:00am. Goal is to get to Bear’s den before 9:00 pm. Sam Moore Shelter was backup (10 miles). Hiked 15 miles in 9.5 hours including the southern 2/3 of VA roller coaster (11 miles). Very hard day. Took 30 minutes for lunch. I got to Bear’s Den at 8:15 pm. Worried I would not make it by 9:00 pm! Exhausted when I got there, but felt decent. Talked to nice mom and son who are slackpacking his final few miles. They stayed in a camper van…
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Wednesday July 19, 2023. Mostly sunny, 87 degrees, humidity lower than previous days. Up at 7:00. Decent sleep in shelter. Made breakfast Mike’s Recovery Mix (256), Honey Stinger (150), Justin’s Nut Butter (200). My feet were hurting a bit and had a bad blister on left big toe. Decided I could not make it through the Virginia roller coaster. Got the number of a shuttle from the guy met last night. Packed up, topped water and headed out at 8:53. Hiked 3 miles and found a nice rock to take a rest on with 2 base service. Started calling shuttles.…
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Tuesday July 18, 2023. Mostly sunny, 87 degrees, humid. Woke about 7:00. Had a cold breakfast, cleaned up, broke camp and headed north at 8:40. Left foot and calf hurt a but in the morning. Mike’s recovery mix (256 cal) Honey Stinger (150 cal), Justins Nut Butter (200 cal). Hiked 5.5 miles to Manassas Gap shelter. Stopped for an hour and had lunch. Took a good break with shoes off and stretched feet. 1/4 pepperoni (175 cal), trail mix (140 cal) Topped off water at spring. Great flow. Met a guy my age also headed north. He stopped for water.…
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Monday July 17, 2023. Sunny, 89 degrees, very humid, smoky from Canadian fires. We dropped off my truck at Bear’s Den parking lot and Pitcrew dropped me off in Front Royal on Rt 522 at 4:00pm. Hiked north 5.46 miles to the Denton shelter. Arrived about 6:40. Set up camp. Decent tent sites and a nice shelter. Topped off water at spring. Slow flow but not too bad. The local ridge runner was camping there. Had a good conversation with him. A father and son showed up later. Had a late lunch at 3:00, so had a light cold dinner.…