‘On the A.T.’
By Ernst Banfield
“Raven”

Well, I’ve hiked these Georgia Mountains,
and I’ve hiked these rocky trails,
But, the one thing I haven’t heard
is a bobcat’s wail.
Seen the valleys from the high knobs
— from the peaks, the roads below,
Yes, I’ve seen a few deer,
but I haven’t seen a snow.

I hit the Carolina border
when Bly Gap did appear.
The trail was steep and rocky
and my gasping you could hear.
Topped the peak to Muskrat Shelter,
when this big man he did show.
He said, come in and rest a spell,
they call me Bullhead Joe.


Refrain:

When I sing this song 20 years from now,
if I am still around,
I hope my children will have this land,
and the joys I’ve found — on the A.T.


Came the Great Smoky Mountains,
and the Tennessees,
and the great views they did provide
Sunshine and me.
Momma Bear and her three cubs,
and the skyway ridge trail, too;
sorry bears, I’ve got to move on,
I’ve got a lot of miles to do.

Had my doubts in the beginning,
well I almost took to flight.
The load it was ungodly
and the gale winds they did bite.
But, my boots are feeling better,
and my pack is taking a set;
if my knees shall only persevere,
I’ll make Katahdin yet.


Refrain


Then came Virginia, in Damascus I arrived.
The town, it was so friendly, here I resupplied.
Down Laurel Street to the sub shop,
then the ice cream dairy, too.
When it was time to take my leave,
it was hard to bid adieu.

When a rainy stretch would hit me,
Aye, it would get me down.
Then a morn would break bright and sunny,
and my spirit would rebound.

Dried my gear and donned a T-shirt,
my bandana I did fold.
Took my pack and my hiking pole in 1 hand,
down the trail I rolled.

The trails of Virginia — they can surprise,
like the trek up to Dragons Tooth, it opened eyes.
Thought I’d have an easy day,
then the woods trail turned to rock,
The descent steep and craggy,
came as quite a shock.

Well, I’ve done the Blueridge Parkway
and the Skyline ridge trail too,
Now I’ve come to West Virginia,
with its seven miles to do.
Shenandoah to Harpers Ferry,
where the white-tailed deer run free,
As I travel on through Maryland,
I have these memories with me.


Refrain


The route through Pennsylvania
sometimes appears to roll,
but the footway’s not that easy,
as the sharp rocks take their toll.

The state parks are a welcome,
and I’m glad when one is near.
The pine groves are refreshing, it’s
nature’s work that I revere.

These jagged rocks are getting me,
they really slow my pace,
If I don’t keep my eyes down,
I’ll fall upon my face.
Twist an ankle and a knee bone,
push I my big toe to my heel,
These interesting rock formations
are causing me to reel.

Delaware Gap into New Jersey,
with I the sun upon my brow,
Though the trail, it is still rocky,
I sense it changing now.
Blueberries are aplenty,
Mt. Sunrise with its view,
The deer are showing racks now,
stone walls are more than few.

The Empire State’s before me,
Bear Mountain I ascend.
I bridge the Hudson River,
Ralph’s Peak Cabin, I drop in.
New York into Connecticut,
I watch the winding trail unfold.
St. Johns Ledges are challenge,
the Housatonics nice to behold.


Refrain


The state of Massachusetts
gave me Jug End as a start.
Her ponds are so scenic,
a beauty unique to this part.
Underfoot the roots are many,
and the marshes present too,
As I stand atop Mt. Greylock,
there’s but a quarter left to do.

I walk the AT. in Vermont,
on part of the Long Trail it lay.
Roots and marshes still prevail,
where the boardwalks show the way.
Took the rocky climb to Killington Peak,
where the views are widespread.
Then I left the Long Trail behind,
New Hampshire’s just ahead.

I left the Dartmouth campus,
Moosilauke is my flrst test,
If I can scale the Kinsman,
I know I’ll do the rest.
I worked, the miles came harder,
though I passed cascading brook
Admired the beauty ’round me,
and the forms that nature took.

I near Mt. Lafayette’s summit,
with its grandeur ’neath clear skies,
A feeling swells inside me,
and moisture fIlls my eyes.
Next came the Presidentials,
Mt. Washington sets the tone,
Of all the mountain ranges,
the Whites — they stand alone.


Refrain


As the days begin to shorten,
I follow white blaze in Maine.
The moose, bogs, stands of pine,
highlight this wilderness lane.
Mahoosuc Notch was an adventure,
now I top Bigelow.
As I near tbe Kennebec,
I pray the current is slow.

There I see the mountain,
the excitement begins to grow.
Now that it’s nearly over,
my thoughts begin to flow.
I’ll forever relive this experience,
and recall the trail as a friend.
Though I stand upon Katahdin’s peak,
this journey will never end.

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