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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Today’s Miles: 13.9 Trip Miles: 607.34 “There’s no place that I’d rather be than right here With my red necks, white socks, and blue ribbon beer The barmaid is mad ’cause some guy made a pass The jukebox is playin’ there stands the glass And the cigarette smoke kind of hangs in the air Rednecks, white socks, and blue ribbon beer” – Johnny Russell Rained on us last night, so I’m carrying a wet tent. Got out at 8:20 this morning. The weather is good but humid. Headed for lunch and resupply at a local store about 7.5 miles into…
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Today’s Miles: 21.3 Trip Miles: 593.4 “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at your nose Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir Folks dressed up like Eskimos” – King Cole Trio Up at 7:10. Out of camp at 8:30. Great weather. Got a good climb to start the day. Water cache just before the big climb begins. I topped off water here. More odd things on the trail. Mile 566.5 Stopped at mile 3.5 for second breakfast. Stopped for water and a rest at a pond near the top of Chestnut Knob. Walked across a large meadow…
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Today’s Miles: 18 Trip Miles: 572.1 “I’m a lad from old VirginiaBravely knocking my way back homeTo that cabin home in the mountainNever more let me roam I’m a lad from old VirginiaAnd I’m coming, coming homeThere I’ll settle down foreverIn my old Virginia home” – The Carter Family Now that I am moving north into Virginia, I feel like I am walking home in a few different ways. I am getting close to the Tazewell, Dublin, Pulaski areas where my people on my father’s side are from. I am also getting close to Blacksburg and Virginia Tech which have…
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Today’s Miles: 19.4 Trip Miles: 554.1 “So hard to find my way Now that I’m all on my own I saw you just the other day My, how you have grown Cast my memory back there, Lord Sometimes I’m overcome thinking ’bout it Making love in the green grass Behind the stadium with you My brown-eyed girl You, my brown-eyed girl” – Van Morrison Up at 7:20. Slept well. Beautiful day again. No clouds, low 60s, low humidity. All the breakfast places are closed this morning.:( Found a latte and donut nearby. This is going to be a tough day.…
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Today’s Miles: 14.5 Trip Miles: 534.7 “So I’ll just keep touching up my gray hair.Live and hope someday she’ll understand.It’s no matter if I live to be a hundred.There’ll always be a place in my heart for Mary Ann” – unknown bluegrass artist Up at 7:00. Cool, clear day with no rain in the forecast until Monday. Successfully dried all my gear with the space heater last night. Got packed up so I can get shuttled to the trail when the hostel owners are ready. The hostel provided a nice hot breakfast. I need to contact the hostel associated with…