Jo-Jo Hiker, whose name off the trail is Joe Lofton, is from Huntsville, Alabama. He finished an AT thru-hike from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine on September 26, 2004, and came into the Magic City Morning Star & Hard Drive Cafe the following day.
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| On the AT, Joe Lofton is known as Jo-Jo Hiker. |
Hiking the Appalachian Trail was an idea that has been in his head since 1986, when he and a friend attempted a 70-mile hike from Damascus, Virginia to Elk Park, North Carolina, one small section on the AT. They gave up in Hampton, Tennessee, after only 5 days and 40 miles. Still, he couldn't get the idea of walking a footpath from Georgia to Maine out of his head.
He left Georgia on April 15th, completing the hike in about five months and eleven days, if my math serves me correctly. This is the first time that he has hiked the Appalachian Trail, but he cannot say right now whether it will be the last.
His favorite part of the Appalachian Trail was the Whites in New Hampshire, and all of Maine. He cited, as high points, the weather, great views, and great people all of the way. He said that he was fortunate in that he was able to take a zero day in town, avoiding the few days of poor weather that he encountered.
What he couldn't avoid, however, was the bugs, which he said was the worst part of the trip.
It was not an easy achievement, and was one that was made easier with the support of his wife, Laveda.
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