• Flipping from Washington DC (near Harpers Ferry, 1025.7) to nearby Hanover, NH (1756.1)
• 0 feet ascent, 0 feet descent 

Trains are exciting to us. Once we trained from our town in Montana to Seattle, WA and back just because we found a cheap ticket. We have traveled on trains in Scotland, the UK, Switzerland, and Germany. We were jazzed about our ride on the famous Vermonter train. 

We did a fair amount of reading about the Vermonter so we would be well informed about what we needed to do to make our day fun and comfortable. For example, we discovered that after New York City the first two cars behind the engine would be split off and sent another way. 

Train Shirts

Days before the trip, we decided to purchase AT tee shirts for the ride. We really liked the idea. First, it helped support the ATC, second, they wouldn’t stink, and finally, they reminded us we belonged to the Appalachian Trail even when we were on the train. 

My tee shirts said the Appalachian Trail on the front and had a topo map graphic on the back. The Historian fell in love with a shirt that had no words, and instead had a white blaze on it.

We both loved the graphic pun. As long as I follow The Historian, I won’t get lost. I can always find a white blaze! 

Queuing Up

We were eager to board the train as soon as we could. No seats were assigned and the train was full to capacity. We wanted to be seated together, not in the first two cars, and hopefully pointing in the direction of travel. 

We heard the first call for boarding and headed to queue up.  A nice employee directed us away from the main queue to the far line. Turned out we were seniors and and would likely need extra time for boarding. We were placed with the other old people and the families with strollers. It felt a little fraudulent, as we could have sprinted over the tops of most of the people in queue like rocks in Virginia, but we did not argue.

We are used to being called out on the Trail because of our green ATC hang tags. People often indelicately gasp and say, “You’re thru hiking! ” We always explain we are finishing a 1975 thru hike attempt but sometimes that makes it worse. 

We never inquire about the gasp, but assume it is related to our age. The first time it happened was in Southern Virginia. We met a father and two adolescent sons. We had a short, polite hello and hiked on. After we went by one of the sons, upon seeing our green tags, he cried out, “Dad! They are thru hiking!” The dad was embarrassed but we thought it was fine fun.

Apparently  backpacks with green ATC hang tags didn’t have any meaning in the train. 

We Need a Motor

Together, we stood in line with the older and youngest folks for quite some time. Across the queues, people were politely waiting but starting to get antsy. 

An official looking lady in an Amtrak uniform,  complete with hat, made her way through the crowd announcing we were in need of a motor. A few people giggled and asked each other if they might have a spare motor. No one could produce the needed motor.

After a while, our priority boarding line began to move. We must have a motor. When the hords were released, everyone made their way to a coach. We counted 3 cars back and loaded up. 

Everyone quickly found seats. We happily selected two seats together, facing in the direction of travel.  Each of us had our ereader and I tucked our food bag by my feet. We were home for the day. 

Heading North 

The electric train engine metaphorically chugged out of the station. We grinned at each other, reveling in the thrill of undertaking yet another great adventure. 

Sitting back in our spacious, comfortable seats, we watched as DC morphed into Baltimore. The spaces between development opened up and then Wilmington and Philadelphia appeared. Although the train did not run at a high speed, it was quite different than hiking speed. It was hard to keep up with all the details of what we passed. We didn’t want to miss anything. 

Food, of Course

The trip spun out in front of us, the train eating up miles. We had eaten breakfast at Union Station prior to leaving. I had lemon pound cake (420 calories) and The Historian had an almond croissant. Conveniently, one of his favorite pastries was also the highest in calories, 671, to be precise. 

After passing Philidelphia, we decided to partake of first lunch. It was a little early, but our tummies were up at 4:30 am so had a jump on the day. 

I dug into the middle of our bear bag where I had placed our food to keep it cold. We has some leftover arugla which I snarfed. The Historian discovered that a Swiss cheese slice from Harpers Ferry made a great wrap for the Peruvian leftovers.

New York City

Our next stop was New York City. Of course, we didn’t have to budge from our comfy seats, but it still felt like a big deal.

I hiked New England with a fellow from NYC in 1975. We didn’t have trail names back then, but if we did, his would have been New York City Ballet. When he was in high school he would skip school to watch rehearsals at the New York City Ballet school. When we would slip and slide on rocks and bog bridges, he called it auditioning for the New York City Ballet.

Changing from Electric to a Desiel Engine to Go on to Vermont

After New York City, the front of the train splits off and becomes the Ethan Allen, which goes north into the state of New York. The Vermonter gets a new engine, diesel rather than an electric. Seated in the third coach, we were unpretuebed by the  switch. 

The space between towns opens up. We feel a little more comfortable seeing the tree to building ratio tilt towards trees. 

All the excitement of the cities past, we naturally thought of eating (again). With a nod to the Hobbits, we laid out afternoon tea. After eating more of our Peruvian lunch we decided to check out the Cafe Car.

The Historian had an ice cream bar and I had peanut m and ms. It is astonishing how many of the dreaded things I have eaten in the past two months. No sugar at all for years and now m and ms. Another “won’t do that after we go home” thing. 

Arriving in New England

The train rolled on, hugging the Vermont New Hampshire boarder. The views looked more and more wild.

We arrived at our station. On the platform we could see our  friends waiting for us. After loading our packs into their car, along with their dog and grandchildren, we rode to their house. 

They live on a quiet farm established 1791. It was a huge, and reassuring change from the city interlude. The train ride up the populated eastern seaboard was exciting, and we were happy to do it. Nonetheless, settling into comfy chairs on the back porch overlooking the mountains with a glass of hand pressed cider was unbelievably rewarding. 

We have made it to the next step of the journey. Tomorrow we will visit, rest, eat and stage the hike between Hanover and Glenfliff. Tonight we bask in the glow of mountain evening light and the warmth of friendship.

Last Updated:August 06, 2025, 09:51 IST

August continues to be a monsoon season across most parts of Asia. This makes it the perfect time for an adventure filled getaway which gets your adrenaline pumping.

August may be part of the monsoon season in many parts of Southeast Asia, but that doesn’t mean you need to press pause on your travel dreams. In fact, certain pockets of the region are perfect for adrenaline junkies and nature lovers seeking unforgettable adventures. From dramatic volcano hikes to diving in pristine waters, here are the best August adventure travel ideas in Southeast Asia.

Thrilling August Adventure Travel Ideas In Southeast Asia You’ll Love

1. Surfing in Bali, Indonesia

August is peak surf season in Bali, with consistent swells and offshore winds. Head to Uluwatu or Canggu to ride world-famous waves. Even if you’re new to surfing, Bali’s surf schools offer expert guidance to get you started. Pair your adventure with yoga, beachside cafés, and sunset views.

2. Diving in Sipadan, Malaysia

Sipadan remains one of the best diving destinations globally, and August is a fantastic time to experience it. With calm seas and excellent visibility, expect encounters with sea turtles, reef sharks, and swirling schools of barracuda. Permits are limited, so book early for this bucket-list-worthy spot.

3. Trekking in Sapa, Vietnam

The rice terraces in Sapa are at their greenest in August, offering postcard-worthy views and thrilling trekking experiences. Navigate lush valleys, visit hill tribe villages, and sleep in local homestays for a culturally immersive and adventurous escape.

4. Caving and Tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos

Vang Vieng is still going strong in August. Although you might encounter afternoon rain showers, mornings are ideal for caving adventures and lazy tubing down the Nam Song River. The limestone mountains and verdant scenery are especially lush at this time of year.

5. Whitewater Rafting in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Rainy season means full rivers, making it the perfect time for whitewater rafting on the Mae Taeng River near Chiang Mai. With class III-IV rapids and gorgeous jungle surroundings, it’s a high-energy way to experience Thailand’s wilder side.

Whether you’re chasing waves or trekking through rain-kissed rice fields, Southeast Asia delivers unforgettable adventures this August. Just pack a rain jacket, a spirit of spontaneity, and let the journey unfold.

view comments

Location :

Delhi, India, India

Read More

My first day out of Ashland, a large thunderstorm hit the  Yreka region south of me. I could see the lightning through my tent walls and hear distant rumbles. It scared me enough to put out guidelines on my tent in case the thunderstorm got any closer. Nothing happened and the next morning I saw on Facebook that there were other PCT hikers who had been hit pretty hard with hail, but were all OK.

Thus started a theme over the next several days. Oregon has relatively mild terrain with modest hills and lots of trees and ferns. This can be very beautiful, but also a little bit monotonous. Punctuate that with a nice afternoon thunderstorm to make things interesting. 

The worst night so far has been one day south of crater Lake when the storm hit about 9 PM. I had become complacent. After setting up guidelines on my tent for a few nights in a row, I decided not to this evening. In the end, I had to quickly tie up my tent as the gusts of wind started.  Inside my tent, I couldn’t see the actual lightning, but the flashes occurring every few seconds were enough to make my breathing fast and my heart pound. When the wind came, the entire tent shook, and I had to brace the poles from the inside to support it so they wouldn’t break. Texting my husband helped, and by midnight the storm had passed. That meant three hours of sleep by the time the adrenaline wore off.

Subsequently, afternoon thunderstorms have been the norm. Yesterday, I enjoyed a 2 mile jog along the ridge line with a thunderstorm right at my heels. All I had been taught about how far away lightning could strike from the actual storm through my head.

Crater Lake National Park

Since I last posted. I made it through Crater Lake National Park in the company of Tim (a section hiker). Then onto Shelter Cove through some relatively beautiful countryside. The mosquitoes have been quite aggressive. They will attack me as soon as I put my pants down to pee. Basically, don’t stop or you’ll get swarmed.

The heady feeling of an adventure has worn off. My body has been pretty tired the past few days. I’m nowhere near quitting point, but a good shower, bed, and some clean clothes may be necessary to restore my overall outlook. Every day, there seems to be a new ache or pain. Every hour, there is a new mosquito bite to not scratch Last two nights, my hips have been really painful, making it difficult to sleep initially, I didn’t seem to lose much weight, but now it is an obvious change.

Beautiful moments

There have been some silver linings and some beautiful moments. There appears to be some sort of butterfly migration and at times there’s hundreds of them all around me. At one point, I turned the corner and butterflies were flying at my face which made me think of some strange horror  movie-Attack  of  the  Butterflies.

I also had my first bear sighting. It was about 100 feet away down the trail. We saw each other at the same time and both of us paused. I raised my arms and trekking poles above my head and shouted ”Whoo!” The bear turned around and ran away so fast I felt guilty. I imagine the poor bear trembling and hiding behind a tree lest the little human hurt it.

Hopefully by next post I will be more positive.

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek’s ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!

To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.