Warwick resident hikes 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine

Warwick - This past July Russell E. Anderson had been traveling the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine when he took a detour to visit with his parents, Warwick residents Russell and Patricia Anderson, and two of his three brothers. “It’s something I always wanted to do,” he remarked at that time, “and I plan to continue until I arrive at the end of the Trail in Maine.” On September 25, after six months and two days, Anderson fulfilled his ambition when he climbed to the summit of Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, which passes through Warwick at Route 17A near Mount Peter, is over 2,000 miles long and extends from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine. When he visited his parents this past summer, Anderson had lost 30 pounds and needed a few days to enjoy a shower, real food and time for his blistered feet to heal. Rest stops and detours are permitted for those who want to claim they hiked the entire Trail as long as the trek from start to finish is completed in one season. Anderson was fortunate enough to be in good shape before he began this challenge. In 1999, Anderson graduated from Don Bosco Catholic High School in nearby Ramsey, N.J., where he excelled at basketball. He then accepted a basketball scholarship to Monmouth University, New Jersey, where he played basketball for five years. Two years ago, after earning his masters degree at Monmouth, Anderson began working as a personal trainer for the New York Sports Club in Marlborough, N.J. He is a certified strengthening and conditioning instructor. To begin his long journey, Anderson flew to Atlanta and was met by his grandfather, Karl Ege, a resident of the State of Florida. They then drove to Amacola Falls State Park, Georgia, where Anderson had to hike nine miles just to reach the beginning of the Appalachian Trail. He began his long journey on March 23 and planned, at that time, to arrive at his final destination in Maine by mid-September. There were days of loneliness but although many of the hikers along the Trail, like Anderson, were traveling alone, they often joined up with new friends they met along the way. “Everybody on the Trail is part of a big family,” he said. “And each hiker has his own trail name or nick name. Mine was ‘Riggy” Besides being in good physical condition, Anderson said that one of the most important considerations was minimizing the weight of his backpack. “I carried a small light tent and no canned food - only dehydrated dinners, cereals and protein bars,” he said. Anderson also carried a data book that provided information about the next town along the Trail as well as availability of food, water and postal services. “I would only carry enough food to make it to a nearby store or some place where I could pick up a food package mailed by my family or my girl friend Caryn,” he explained. Anderson also reported that in some areas, “Trail Angels,” drive hikers to local stores and bring them back to the Trail with their supplies. Even at that, Anderson admitted fatigue sets in and compounded by days of heavy rain, wet clothing and shin splints, a painful condition caused by small tears in the muscles where they connect to the shins, the temptation to quit is always there. “I learned that you can’t change circumstances,” he said. “It’s easy to quit but I knew that I had to keep going.” To keep in touch with his family and friends or in case of an emergency, Anderson carried a cellular phone with extra batteries and a charger. With the exception of a bout with ticks in the Shenandoah National Park, the only serious wildlife encounters were 13 black bear sightings, most of which were in New Jersey. Anderson’s father, Russell, whose trail name was, “The Mayor,” joined his son on the Massachusetts part of the Trail for about a week. The two hiked for about 73 miles from Lee, Massachusetts to Stratton Mountain. “It was rough,” said his father. “I hurt for three days.” After his father returned home, Anderson continued north along the Trail facing some serious hill and mountain climbing including Mt. Washington, the highest mountain (6,280-ft.) in the Northeast. On Monday, September 25, Anderson’s parents Russell and Patricia Anderson along with his grandfather Karl Ege and his girlfriend Caryn Blood, met him at Baxter State Park in Maine. They were carrying two signs that read, “Congratulations,” one for “Riggy,” and another for “The Mayor.” The following morning Anderson and his father completed the final steep five-mile climb to the top of Mt. Katahdin, the long awaited finish line on the Appalachian Trail. “It was an amazing end to an incredible journey,” he said.