James Thomson

Hey everyone my name is James Thomson, aka Grumpy Gramps. I'm from Maine and currently live in north Florida. I will be flip/flop hiking the AT starting in mid-April from Springer to Harpers Ferry and then from Katahdin back to Harpers Ferry. I retired from the United States Coast Guard in 2014 after a 27 year career, and it's now time to start on my bucket list. If you are interested in some no nonsense, funny (at times), and "stay off my lawn you young punks" grumpy blog posts, I would be happy to take you along on this adventure.

Posts

T-Minus 138 Days…How to Avoid Going Crazy While Waiting

T-Minus 138 Days…How to Avoid Going Crazy While Waiting

Wondering what to do with yourself while waiting for your departure date? Here are some things I'm doing to help pass the time and keep me from going insane.

Nov 29, 2017 : James Thomson
Gear Packing Anxiety

Gear Packing Anxiety

You have all your gear, done or planned your shake down hikes, and now it’s time to pack all that gear. YIKES!

Nov 9, 2017 : James Thomson
Why the AT? Why Now?

Why the AT? Why Now?

We all have a story, and this is mine. It’s about how I wound up being less than six months from taking the first step on a 2,190 mile walk from Georgia to Maine.

Nov 3, 2017 : James Thomson
Wearing Sandals on a Thru-Hike? Yes I am!

Wearing Sandals on a Thru-Hike? Yes I am!

Footwear is a very hot topic on any hiker page or blog and I am going to add to it with this post. I'm going to explain why I am choosing sandals as my footwear on my thru-hike.

Oct 28, 2017 : James Thomson
How Much Does an AT Thru-Hike Cost?…Depends

How Much Does an AT Thru-Hike Cost?…Depends

Figuring out how much a thru-hike will cost is not an exact science and can be frustrating. Here are my thoughts on cost and how much I believe my thru-hike is going to set me back.

Oct 26, 2017 : James Thomson