Hopeful 100k participants check in for the One Day Hike

A hiker gets some check in assistance from a 100k hike volunteer

Hikers pose for prehike pictures. Among others are Charlotte Blair (17), Karen Chandler (18), and Cindy West (28).

More photography

Hike coordinator Paul Elliott gave final hike instructions a few minutes before the start.   He turned towards me just as I took this picture.

Old Angler's Inn at about 12 milles into the hike is the first stop for water.   I arrived at six in the morning just after sunrise.

Another view at Old Angler's Inn. In previous years this was the start of a concurrent 80k hike but the 80k was not held this year.

We get to "Widewater", a very pretty section of the C+O towpath, at about 13 miles into the hike.

Another Widewater view.   In years prior to 2006 the ODH was detoured around this section due to very rough trail but the Park Service has improved the towpath since then.

Great Falls is by far the most popular area on the C+O canal but at 6:47 a.m. the tourists have yet to arrive.   This is Great Falls Tavern (now converted to a visitor's center).

Part of the canal boat crew has arrived and they relax before the start of the day.   Great Falls features canal boat rides (mules and all!) with personnel in period costume.

Volunteers check in the hikers at Seneca Aqueduct, the first official checkpoint on the hike.

At almost mile 23 of the hike Seneca is also the first opportunity to get food.

White's Ferry is just past the halfway point of the 100k hike.   Paul Elliott was there and I took this picture of him and check-in volunteer Rob Anderson.   Rob was a 100K finisher last year.   There is still an operating Ferry here.

White's Ferry is also the second food stop of the day.

Rob took this picture of me as I was about to set out from White's Ferry.

This is the Monocacy Aqueduct check-in and liquids stop.   That's Paul again on the far right.

Check-in stations are more freqent in the second half of the hike.   Point of Rocks is just 6 miles from Monocacy and 13 miles from White's Ferry.   It is another food stop and for me a long rest stop.   That's Paul yet again near the center of the picture.

And just 7 miles past Point of rocks is the Brunswick check-in and liquids station.   This is the last check-in station before the end of the hike at Harper's Ferry, now just 7 miles away.   I arrived there just before sunset.

Brunswick volunteer Jay Gipson.   Jay and I used to work together on software development projects.

John Floyd rests at Harper's Ferry after a job well done. This fellow and I leap-frogged one another for the entire hike.