Ryan came to visit me on the trail while I was near Hanover, NH. I was staying with a trail angel named Greg in order to wait for Ryan's arrival. Greg is an absolutely wonderful trail angel and he made me feel completely comfortable in his home- he even gave me my own room to sleep in (I haven't had a room all to myself since I left home!) and it had a TV in it. Greg also has these plush bathrobes for hikers to use after they are done with their shower, so I was in complete lounging heaven. Two northbound hikers were staying at Greg's with me along with their dog and we all had a great time relaxing and chatting. Ryan arrived on Sunday evening and we spent the evening getting his pack ready for hiking the next day and chatting with the other hikers. We left Greg's the following morning and hit the trail. I knew that I would have to slow down a little bit in order to allow Ryan to adjust to the hiking and the slow pace was greatly appreciated by my legs. We crossed from New Hampshire to Vermont in the morning and made our way south. The trail in Vermont is much more gentle than what I had been hiking in Maine and New Hampshire- there were some roots and rocks, but nothing compared to the rock and root hopping that I am used to. I appreciated being able to look up while I was walking down the gently sloping trail, taking in the changing leaves and oncoming fall in Vermont. In order to prepare to hike with me, Ryan has been running a 5 mile trail around a lake in his Vibrams and his feet have been doing well on that trail. However, the trail that we are now hiking has many more rocks and roots than what his feet are used to and the Vibrams caused him some pain. Haha he also wasn't expecting for the nights to be so cold, so he just brought a sleeping bag that he had used when he was younger. When I saw that the sleeping bag only came up to his abdomen I knew that it would be chilly for him. Our first night out we slept in a shelter and it poured rain the entire night. Ryan was very cold and uncomfortable for most of the night, so I knew that we would have to find him a different set-up for the two weeks that he would be out with me. The next day we hiked 5 miles to a road and hitched back to Hanover from there because Hanover has a good selection of outdoors stores and we could get some better gear for his feet and a better sleeping system. He picked up some good boots and a new sleeping bag and we set back out on the trail. We ended up hiking for another 2 days and thoroughly enjoyed the hiking in Vermont. In Hanover I had taken a peak at my bank account and knew that my time on the trail was coming to an end. I can't hike without food and I can't buy food without money, so I spent a few days adjusting to the idea that I would not be able to hike for much longer. I thank the trail angels and you all so much for all the love and support that you have given me- I would not have been able to make it this far without you! I have already been given so much and could not have asked for more. Our last day in Vermont I spent the entire morning thinking about what to do while Ryan and I hiked. Based on the amount of money I had, I would have to get off the trail in the next week and seeing as I was in Vermont, I would not have been able to make it home easily or cheaply. So, I stopped in the middle of the trail, turned around, and told Ryan that it would be easiest if he took me back to Virginia with him. Two miles later we were sitting at a farm just off of the trail enjoying some Vermont icecream, jerky, and maple soda. I sat on the porch absorbing the decision that I had just made and then we hitched back to his car and drove to Virginia. We are staying at his house for a day or two and then he is going to take me to the trail in Virginia and I will hike a section here so that when it does come time for me to get off the trail my mother can easily pick me up.
I am completely confident and comfortable in my decision to come home, but it was not an easy decision to make. The trail has given me so many wonderful memories and it's difficult to tell myself that it will not be a thru-hike. However, I still plan to complete the Appalachian Trail. I have hiked about a fourth of it (500 miles) and will continue to hike it- it is now just something that will have to come in sections. Now Ryan and I will hike some of Virginia together, then I will go home to get my dog, and then we will hike until I cannot hike any longer. Change is a difficult, but completely necessary and fruitful law of life.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Day 57 & 58- all over the place!
My hiking adventure is going a little crazy right now and is flipping from north to south a lot because Bomber is leaving and I have to meet Ryan in Hanover in the next few days. Also, I woke up this morning and realized that the hot tub was a bad idea for me because it put even more heat into my already inflamed knees. I woke up from the pain and could barely walk, so I figured it was a good time to take a little break anyway. Susan made us ham, egg, and cheese biscuits for breakfast = a very happy belly of mine. Bomber and I made a cairn with blue blazes (marking a place off the Appalachian Trail) for her driveway as a gift and I made a trifle for her since her 50th birthday is in just a few days. We all had a family dinner and laughed like crazy around the table. One of Susan's sons, Killian, took pictures of us and put them in the Fat Booth, which basically makes you look like you've gained 200 pounds. Haha Bomber's was the best!
The second day, Bomber and I had to drive to Hanover to pick up his car. We got a little lost on the way and then I saw a sign for fresh milk and excitedly made Bomber turn the car around. Doing the things that I want to do spontaneously is something that I have learned from the trail. Even just weeks ago I would have driven by the sign but now I'm doing a u-turn in the road to find fresh milk. Haha we never ended up finding the milk, but the hunt was fun :) At the end of the day, Mosey texted me and Bomber and I went to pick him up and whisk him away to Susan's for the night. I missed Mosey sooooo much! Susan made a scrumptious German meal for dinner and we all had a lovely evening full of smiles and talking. I fell asleep late and slept well. Tomorrow I go to Hanover to get ready to meet Ryan. Yay!!!
The second day, Bomber and I had to drive to Hanover to pick up his car. We got a little lost on the way and then I saw a sign for fresh milk and excitedly made Bomber turn the car around. Doing the things that I want to do spontaneously is something that I have learned from the trail. Even just weeks ago I would have driven by the sign but now I'm doing a u-turn in the road to find fresh milk. Haha we never ended up finding the milk, but the hunt was fun :) At the end of the day, Mosey texted me and Bomber and I went to pick him up and whisk him away to Susan's for the night. I missed Mosey sooooo much! Susan made a scrumptious German meal for dinner and we all had a lovely evening full of smiles and talking. I fell asleep late and slept well. Tomorrow I go to Hanover to get ready to meet Ryan. Yay!!!
Day 56- Zealand Falls Hut to Crawford Notch. 8 miles.
Today was a ridiculous whirl of craziness! The day started with us doing a skit during breakfast. The theme chosen was Star Wars. Here's a funny and slightly embarrassing fact about me: I haven't seen Star Wars. I was given the role of Chewbacca and Hans Solo. Haha everyone was trying to teach me how to make a Chewbacca noise in the kitchen and then I went outside to practice. My first few attempts were just hilarious. I sounded like a dying bull. After a little while I figured it out and it actually wasn't too bad! We performed the skit teaching guests to fold their blankets, pack out their trash, and tip the crew and I made a Chewbacca noise at least 4 times. Priceless. We were presented with a hot breakfast and coffee for our efforts and I ate it happily. The hike today was really easy and I was so grateful for the flat trail. We did the 8 miles in a little over 3 hours and then we had to hitch to a trail angel's house where we have been invited to stay for the night. The first hitch we got was from a German couple and they took us about 5 miles down the road. We then got a hitch by a couple from Quebec and they drove us another 5 miles to a gas station. I grabbed a burger and a Gatorade at the gas station and while I was eating my burger an older woman walked up and started talking to us. She said she'd give us a ride to where we needed to go, but she had to run an errand about 10 minutes up the road first. We agreed and hopped in (because our remaining hitch was 16 miles south) and this is where it gets really crazy. Her destination was actually 17 north of the gas station, taking us over 30 miles away from Susan's house. She didn't quite know where she was going, so we had to pull out our GPS and give her directions. We ended up at a carnival where we did some campaign work for her. We were running around the carnival trying to figure out where to put some signs for about 30 minutes. We finally ended up at Susan's house after about 2 hours and I was so thankful to have a shower, laundry, and a warm home available to me. Bomber and I were greeted by her kids and I felt immediately relaxed and at home. Susan got home shortly after from work and whipped up a delicious dinner of beef stroganoff (I need that recipe!). It was so amazing to have a home cooked meal. Susan then took us to a hot tub and I got to relax in it while enjoying a beautiful view of the Kinsman Ridge with the night sky above it. I was in heaven all evening long and curled up happily in a bunk bed hugging 3 pillows at the end of this crazy, wonderful day.
Day 55- Mt. Garfield to Zealand Falls Hut. 10 miles.
This morning I woke up really early at 5 a.m. and I would usually just look at my watch and go back to sleep, but this morning I made myself wake up and crawl out of my tent. I have wanted to see a beautiful sunrise since I've been out here and I definitely got my wish. I sat out just watching the sun rise for over and hour- it was the most beautiful sunrise of my life. Bomber and I then packed up and headed out for the day. My knees have been bothering me a lot again, so I was pretty slow, but we nonetheless ended up making our way down the trail. My slow pace made us embrace the lazy hiking day, so Bomber put on some music and I sang and wiggled (my form of dancing while walking) while walking. We also played some memory games to occupy our minds for a bit. I saw a really pretty rocky area on a ridge where a northbounder, Mud, was taking a break and we joined him. Just moments after sitting down two hikers came up to us and asked if we were thru hikers. We responded that we were and they said they had a proposition for us. Turns out, they were hut crew at Zealand Falls Hut, where we were headed for the night. One of their crew members had to leave for the night and they needed some extra hands to help out. They interviewed us and said a PBR was at stake and we hopped on board. They told us that we'd have a lot of extra work to do, but they would give us fresh, hot food in return. Mmmmm hot pancakes and bacon. Oh yes we agreed! Bomber and I arrived at Zealand Falls around 5 and joined the crew for dinner preparation. We washed dishes for most of the evening and were introduced to the guests. Later on, we sat with the guests and got to answer a lot of questions that they had about thru hiking. The day wound down to it pouring rain outside. I was so happy to be inside and snuggled up in my sleeping bag. 
Day 54- Franconia Notch to Garfield Mountain. 10 miles.
Hmmm....maybe eating too many good foods threw my stomach off because I woke up multiple times in the night with my stomach just twisting in pain. I managed to sleep some, but still didn't feel too perky in the morning. Nevertheless, we caught a shuttle from Chet's to the trailhead and I just started hiking up a mountain. Most of the day was a climb and I was rewarded with absolutely beautiful views. The weather was amazing again and the view from the top of Mt. Lafayette was especially gorgeous. At the end up the day, we sat up on top of Mt. Garfield and watched the sun set. This was the most beautiful view of my life. I was about 5,000 ft up, able to see everything in every direction and just watched the sun set. I can't even describe how magnificent it was- I would not be able to do it justice. The night is a windy night with the tent flapping loudly against the sides, but I'm so tired that I'm willing to bet that I'll fall asleep quickly. 
Day 53- hitch to Franconia Notch
Bomber was freezing his tush off again last night and I couldn't bear to see him shivering and not be able to help, so I suggested that we hitch to Franconia Notch to pick up his sleeping bag (his mother had mailed it there) and then hike north to where we are. He accepted my suggestion and we set off for Franconia Notch. The hitch was a tricky one because we had to travel 26 miles and were in a very touristy area. The locals that know that we're thru-hikers will pick us up, but it's not very likely for anyone out-of-state to pick hikers up. It took us over a half an hour to get picked up, but we ended up being driven by a really cool man. He drove us all the way to our destination and pointed out mountains and told us about the history and wildlife of the area. We hopped out at the Franconia Visitors Center and picked up his package. I grabbed a bag of chips- I'd been talking about chips all day (which I normally don't even like)- and they were gone within a minute. The woman who gave us the package, Susan, is a trail angel and said she would love to have us stay at her house when we got back to Crawford Notch in a few days (the section we have to hike north). We graciously took her phone number and said we'd love to. At the Visitor's Center we went to see the flume and then watched a movie about the history of the area. We told Susan that we were going to Chet's place for the night and she said she was just about to go on her lunch break and had always wanted to meet him, so she drove us there. Chet's place is at Chet's home and he has a few bunks and beds for thru-hikers to sleep on. Chet has a really amazing story and spends part of his life giving to hikers. We all met Chet and passed his thru hiker quiz and were given a work-for-stay for the night. I swept the house and Bomber vacuumed. I was starving for lunch, so Bomber and I went and found a little cafe to grab some food out. Turns out, the Gypsy Cafe had the best food I've eaten on the trail. Bomber treated me to Moroccan-style calamari and peanut noodles with shrimp. I never wanted to leave that cafe. We grabbed an icecream cone to top of the most amazing meal ever and I ate it happily while walking back to Chet's. We hung out there for a bit and talked to Chet and other hikers. I even got to read some of my book ("On the Road" by Kerouac). Later in the evening, we walked back down to Main Street and came upon a candy store named "Chutter's". I squealed when I saw it and immediately headed for the door. Apparently this candy store in the Guiness Book of World Records and the tons of jars full of candy definitely impressed me. I grabbed a bunch of gummies for a trail snack and once again walked happily back to Chet's. A pizza party was thrown for Bomber because he helped a SOBO out who has giardia and so I got to chow down on that for dinner. My belly hasn't been so happy in such a long time. I've even managed to gain a pound with all the free hut food this week. To make the day even better, Faith and Old School showed up at Chet's! I was so happy to see them! All in all, today was completely awesome. Tomorrow I'll be hiking north for roughly 30 miles. It's going to feel so weird to hike the opposite direction!
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Day 52- Lakes of the Clouds Hut to Crawford Notch. 11.2 miles
For the first 5 miles today I got to hike along the ridge line in the Presidential Range. The weather was perfect and warm- another rare day in the Whites. I just strolled along and every time I looked up I was completely amazed. It's really amazing to be able to see for miles and miles and also be able to see where I've come from and where I'm going. Bomber and I talked the whole way about all sorts of random things and he had me laughing pretty much the whole day. We stopped in at Mizpah Hut around 11 a.m. and washed some dishes for leftover lasagne in return. It was full of veggies and absolutely delicious! I have been enjoying eating all of the fresh fruits and vegetables at the huts- I'm sure my body is very happy with me. The end of the hike today was really rough on me, though. We had a steep 2,500 ft. descent and my knees are still really messed up. I'm pretty sure I have tendinitis in them, as they haven't really healed since the 100 mile wilderness, but I'm almost done with the crazy mountains for a while and that'll give them a better chance to heal. Once we got to the bottom there was a sign for trail magic :) Two past thru-hikers had set up a nice area in a parking lot and gave me an apple, a mountain dew, a good chair to sit in, and lovely conversation. I told them that I was itching for a shower and they directed me to a coin operated one at The Highland Center and Lodge. When I got there I was informed that it closed at 5. I must've made a really sad face because the guy behind the front desk handed me a towel and told me to just go upstairs and use the guest showers. There was even soap and shampoo in the showers! It felt so good after the rough descent. I left the lodge feeling refreshed and Bomber and I went to find a stealth site near the trail. We ended up camping near a river and we made a nice dinner of Mac-&-cheese with tuna. For dessert we had gummies :) I'm exhausted tonight and am so happy to be clean and full. Also, I am finished with the Presidential Range!
Day 51- Madison Spring Hut to Lakes of the Clouds Hut. 7 miles.
Poor Bomber was freezing all night long and neither of us ended up getting much sleep because he was shivering and I was worried about him. When we got up this morning I went straight for the coffee and settled into a bench and read while waiting to eat leftovers from breakfast. I was so glad I stayed and waited because I had the best breakfast ever! I ate eggs with vegetables, oatmeal, pineapple, and hash browns. Such a nice treat! To finish off our work-for-stay we folded blankets and swept the bunk rooms. We left the hut well-fed and ready for the day. As soon as we walked outside the wind began slashing at us and it continued for the rest of the day- Chapstick was my favorite item in my pack today. There were points during the hike when my pack would be sideways from the wind. Bomber even threw his trekking poles into the wind and they came right back to him. By the end of the day both of our faces were wind burnt.
We hiked up to Mount Washington today, which is the second highest point on the A.T. at 6,288 ft. The hike all day was extremely rocky and required every ounce of concentration to not fall or twist my ankles. It was fun :). Once we were almost to the top of Washington a train passed by us and people waved and took pictures of us through the windows. Haha it was an interesting experience. Most people either take the train up or drive up in their cars, so seeing a person hiking up the mountain is quite the spectacle. There were at least 100 people at the top of the mountain. The lines for a picture at the summit, food at the snack bar, and in the gift shops were pretty long. I snagged a picture and some pizza and sat down for a while and enjoyed the warmth of the indoors. We sat there for a while and eventually headed down to Lakes of the Clouds hut, the biggest hut in the Whites. Once we got there, we were able to get another work-for-stay and were put to work washing dishes immediately. After finishing the dishes we went and sat at the lake, which I found to be a really neat spot for a lake given that we were still at a high elevation (5,000 ft.) Waiting for dinner was painful again, but this time we had UNO to distract us! Once dinner time for us rolled around I was so hungry that my stomach was cramping up, so I piled food on my plate and went to town. I went to bed fully satisfied and warm in my sleeping bag, curled up between two tables. Bomber found a wool blanket, so hopefully he stays warmer tonight and gets some good rest!
We hiked up to Mount Washington today, which is the second highest point on the A.T. at 6,288 ft. The hike all day was extremely rocky and required every ounce of concentration to not fall or twist my ankles. It was fun :). Once we were almost to the top of Washington a train passed by us and people waved and took pictures of us through the windows. Haha it was an interesting experience. Most people either take the train up or drive up in their cars, so seeing a person hiking up the mountain is quite the spectacle. There were at least 100 people at the top of the mountain. The lines for a picture at the summit, food at the snack bar, and in the gift shops were pretty long. I snagged a picture and some pizza and sat down for a while and enjoyed the warmth of the indoors. We sat there for a while and eventually headed down to Lakes of the Clouds hut, the biggest hut in the Whites. Once we got there, we were able to get another work-for-stay and were put to work washing dishes immediately. After finishing the dishes we went and sat at the lake, which I found to be a really neat spot for a lake given that we were still at a high elevation (5,000 ft.) Waiting for dinner was painful again, but this time we had UNO to distract us! Once dinner time for us rolled around I was so hungry that my stomach was cramping up, so I piled food on my plate and went to town. I went to bed fully satisfied and warm in my sleeping bag, curled up between two tables. Bomber found a wool blanket, so hopefully he stays warmer tonight and gets some good rest!
Day 50- Pinkham Notch to Madison Spring hut. 7.8 miles
Bomber joined me in Gorham last night to hike with me through the Whites! We stayed at the White Mountains Hostel and i was so sad to say goodbye to the owners and their dog this morning! They were such beautiful people and would do anything to make hikers as comfortable as possible. I hugged Jeri, one of the owners, goodbye this morning and was taken to Pinkham Notch by Greg, her husband, to start back on the trail. I also had to say goodbye to Mosey for a little bit, which makes me very sad because I love him to death, but I hope to be able to find him a little further down on the trail. His mother sent bubbles to me in Gorham (so sweet!) and I'll be blowing bubbles on top of the Whites :)
Bomber and I hiked up Mt. Madison today, which has an elevation of 5,366 ft. I was blessed with the most perfect weather imaginable to summit this mountain- there was barely any wind, it wasn't too chilly, and the skies were completely clear. At the summit, I could see for at least a hundred miles in every direction. The ascent was a long one and took me quite a few hours to do, but the good conversation and gorgeous views took my mind off of the climb. Before I knew it, we were sitting at the top and I was completely awe-struck. Bomber told me that such perfect weather only happens about 25 days out of the year and I am so thankful that I got to experience this on one of those rare days! We descended a little over 500 ft to the Madison Spring Hut and we were lucky enough to get a work-for-stay. We helped to set the tables for dinner as part of the work for stay. In return, we were given a spot on the dining room floor to sleep and a scrumptious dinner. Work-for-stays have to wait for the guests to finish dinner and for the kitchen to be cleaned before we can eat out dinner, which around 8 p.m. when all is said and done. I must say, it was such a torture to smell the food and see people eating and have to wait. I had to go outside just so my mouth would stop salivating. Bomber and I had a bit of whiskey and enjoyed the view with the other work-for-stays-
I even got to watch the sun set :) The wait was completely worth it and I was so happy to get pork, mashed potatoes, peas, homemade bread, red bean chili, pumpkin pie, and hot chocolate into my belly. I am very happy to be inside and out of the cold for the night and can't wait to crawl into my sleeping bag.
Bomber and I hiked up Mt. Madison today, which has an elevation of 5,366 ft. I was blessed with the most perfect weather imaginable to summit this mountain- there was barely any wind, it wasn't too chilly, and the skies were completely clear. At the summit, I could see for at least a hundred miles in every direction. The ascent was a long one and took me quite a few hours to do, but the good conversation and gorgeous views took my mind off of the climb. Before I knew it, we were sitting at the top and I was completely awe-struck. Bomber told me that such perfect weather only happens about 25 days out of the year and I am so thankful that I got to experience this on one of those rare days! We descended a little over 500 ft to the Madison Spring Hut and we were lucky enough to get a work-for-stay. We helped to set the tables for dinner as part of the work for stay. In return, we were given a spot on the dining room floor to sleep and a scrumptious dinner. Work-for-stays have to wait for the guests to finish dinner and for the kitchen to be cleaned before we can eat out dinner, which around 8 p.m. when all is said and done. I must say, it was such a torture to smell the food and see people eating and have to wait. I had to go outside just so my mouth would stop salivating. Bomber and I had a bit of whiskey and enjoyed the view with the other work-for-stays-
I even got to watch the sun set :) The wait was completely worth it and I was so happy to get pork, mashed potatoes, peas, homemade bread, red bean chili, pumpkin pie, and hot chocolate into my belly. I am very happy to be inside and out of the cold for the night and can't wait to crawl into my sleeping bag.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
My trail name
Just wanted to share my trail name with you all! It's Chickadee. When I was young my father gave animal nicknames to everyone in the family. My mother is a donkey- stubborn! ;) My uncle is a skunk. My aunt a goat. My biological mother a pig, so on and so forth. I got lucky and he called me his little chickadee. I would even sign many cards and letters to my father "from your little chickadee". So, I named myself Chickadee on the trail (even though most people don't like it when hikers name themselves). I thought it was extremely fitting for the hike since my dad named me that. Now, trail names are really neat because it's the only name you use when you introduce yourself on the trail. Everyone out here only knows me as "Chickadee" and I've really loved going by that name. Most people say that it fits me well since I'm so chipper and can fly down the trail (if I really want to). Plus, the chickadee is the state bird of Maine, the state that I began my thru-hike in. So, there you have it, the story behind the name :)
Highway 26 to Gorham, NH
It took Mosey and me 4 days to get from Bethel to Gorham and it rained practically the entire time except for the last day, which was an absolutely gorgeous day.
The morning of the Mahoosuc Notch day I woke up to the rain and knew that we couldn't wait any longer. Mosey didn't have much food and we'd already spent a few days waiting for the rain to pass. I sat in the lean-to for two hours that morning just praying for it to clear up. Finally at 10 am it was do or die time and we headed out for the Mahoosuc Arm and Notch in the rain. The arm, which is only 1.4 miles long (a 1,300 foot drop) took us 3 hours to do. Water was still running down it like a stream. Mosey and I crept along the sides where there were trees to hang on to and soil that offered a little more traction. I was scared to death going down that mountain. The rock was so slick and any sort of fall could've easily proven to be very dangerous. Once we got to the bottom I exhaled a sigh of relief. I had survived the arm in very poor conditions. Luckily the bad weather cleared before we got to the notch, so we wouldn't have to go through that in the rain. The rocks were still extremely slick, though, so I knew that it would also be a slow process.
It took us another 3 hours to get through the notch (which was only a mile long), but it was so incredibly fun! I felt like I was 5 again! We had to crawl under boulders, shimmy across ledges, butt-scoot down steep drops- the entire thing was just a huge boulder pit, making you use muscles and twist your body is ways that you would've never thought possible. My feet touched the ground less than 10 times the entire 3 hours. It was intensely fun and tiring. We only did 5 miles that day and it took us around 9 hours to do it. My entire body has never been so sore!
The rest of the hike into Gorham was a big, muddy mess. I was hiking with Mosey, B. Rubbles, and The Goat during those days and we each fell at least 15 times- I even thought I'd broken my finger once. The mud made hiking more difficult and much slower. It was so thick that it would even suck my shoes off of my heels occasionally. Despite the icky weather and terrain, once I got to the Maine-New Hampshire border I was the happiest person you've ever seen in your life. The high from successfully hiking across a state carried me all the way into Gorham and the feeling of accomplishment that I have is absolutely electrifying.
I am now in Gorham at the White Mountains Lodge and Hostel preparing myself for the White Mountains. This is definitely the nicest place I've stayed so far- they even have conditioner and q-tips! It's the little things :) Bomber will be meeting me on the trail in 4 days to hike through the Whites with me. I just keep reminding myself that once I get through the Whites, the rest will be much easier. I have almost completed the most difficult terrain on the entire A.T. Bring it on New Hampshire, I'm ready for yah! The weather is looking good for the next week, so I'm hoping to get some amazing views off of 4,000-5,000 ft. mountains.
A little slice of trail magic that happened today was when a thru hiker came in to talk to me after I had told him my story earlier on in the day. He teared up, handed me a donation, and gave me a hug. He told me that his daughter is about 10 years older than me and that he really loves what I'm doing. It completely warmed my heart and served as a reminder for why I'm out here. I have met such wonderful people out here that truly believe in my purpose for hiking and it has been what's kept me going. A big thank you to everyone who has supported me! You all are the reason I am still out here and have made this such a magical experience for me! My faith in humanity has been renewed over and over again and, for that, I also thank you. In all that you do, do it with heart!
The morning of the Mahoosuc Notch day I woke up to the rain and knew that we couldn't wait any longer. Mosey didn't have much food and we'd already spent a few days waiting for the rain to pass. I sat in the lean-to for two hours that morning just praying for it to clear up. Finally at 10 am it was do or die time and we headed out for the Mahoosuc Arm and Notch in the rain. The arm, which is only 1.4 miles long (a 1,300 foot drop) took us 3 hours to do. Water was still running down it like a stream. Mosey and I crept along the sides where there were trees to hang on to and soil that offered a little more traction. I was scared to death going down that mountain. The rock was so slick and any sort of fall could've easily proven to be very dangerous. Once we got to the bottom I exhaled a sigh of relief. I had survived the arm in very poor conditions. Luckily the bad weather cleared before we got to the notch, so we wouldn't have to go through that in the rain. The rocks were still extremely slick, though, so I knew that it would also be a slow process.
It took us another 3 hours to get through the notch (which was only a mile long), but it was so incredibly fun! I felt like I was 5 again! We had to crawl under boulders, shimmy across ledges, butt-scoot down steep drops- the entire thing was just a huge boulder pit, making you use muscles and twist your body is ways that you would've never thought possible. My feet touched the ground less than 10 times the entire 3 hours. It was intensely fun and tiring. We only did 5 miles that day and it took us around 9 hours to do it. My entire body has never been so sore!
The rest of the hike into Gorham was a big, muddy mess. I was hiking with Mosey, B. Rubbles, and The Goat during those days and we each fell at least 15 times- I even thought I'd broken my finger once. The mud made hiking more difficult and much slower. It was so thick that it would even suck my shoes off of my heels occasionally. Despite the icky weather and terrain, once I got to the Maine-New Hampshire border I was the happiest person you've ever seen in your life. The high from successfully hiking across a state carried me all the way into Gorham and the feeling of accomplishment that I have is absolutely electrifying.
I am now in Gorham at the White Mountains Lodge and Hostel preparing myself for the White Mountains. This is definitely the nicest place I've stayed so far- they even have conditioner and q-tips! It's the little things :) Bomber will be meeting me on the trail in 4 days to hike through the Whites with me. I just keep reminding myself that once I get through the Whites, the rest will be much easier. I have almost completed the most difficult terrain on the entire A.T. Bring it on New Hampshire, I'm ready for yah! The weather is looking good for the next week, so I'm hoping to get some amazing views off of 4,000-5,000 ft. mountains.
A little slice of trail magic that happened today was when a thru hiker came in to talk to me after I had told him my story earlier on in the day. He teared up, handed me a donation, and gave me a hug. He told me that his daughter is about 10 years older than me and that he really loves what I'm doing. It completely warmed my heart and served as a reminder for why I'm out here. I have met such wonderful people out here that truly believe in my purpose for hiking and it has been what's kept me going. A big thank you to everyone who has supported me! You all are the reason I am still out here and have made this such a magical experience for me! My faith in humanity has been renewed over and over again and, for that, I also thank you. In all that you do, do it with heart!
Bethel, ME- off of highway 26
The rain never stopped. It poured for 3 days and Mosey and I sat in the lean-to day after day praying for the weather to clear up. I was definitely not daring enough to do the Mahoosuc Arm and Notch in the rain, especially after getting stuck at the top of Baldpate in a thunderstorm. At the campsite, I ran into a northbounder who had climbed up the arm in the rain and told me not to even try descending it because it was like a river was flowing straight down the trail. So, in Bethel we patiently waited for the rain to pass. Each day we would hitch into town to get some food and we also got to see the new Batman movie at the matinee time. One of the days we went to a pizza place that had delicious pizza and I managed to scarf down a whole one. Mosey has had a craving for Caesar salad out here and he had been talking about how awesome it would be to have Caesar salad on top of a pizza. Lo and behold, this pizza place had a Caesar salad pizza. It was a sign- he had to get it. When the waitress set his pizza on the table we both just stared at it for a second- it was absolutely gigantic! It had at least 2 large salads on top of it- chicken, croutons, and all- and a large pizza underneath. Mosey ended up being able to eat all but a small portion of the salad and we both left the building with our bellies full.
Our last night at the lean-to I was up sick all night. I wasn't sure if it was the Norovirus or if my stomach just hated something I ate, but I was miserable all night. I woke up that morning to a clear and beautiful day and was so sad that my body just wasn't able to move. I wanted a bed and an indoor restroom to comfort me for the day, so we moved down the road to a hostel. I posted myself up on a couch at 9 am and didn't move until it was bedtime. I was feeling better by the end of the day and went to bed early, eager to get back out on the trail in the morning. The man who owned the hostel was really nice and had hard boiled eggs for us that he had gotten from his chickens. I ate those and a muffin in the morning for breakfast and we set out for the trail again.
Our last night at the lean-to I was up sick all night. I wasn't sure if it was the Norovirus or if my stomach just hated something I ate, but I was miserable all night. I woke up that morning to a clear and beautiful day and was so sad that my body just wasn't able to move. I wanted a bed and an indoor restroom to comfort me for the day, so we moved down the road to a hostel. I posted myself up on a couch at 9 am and didn't move until it was bedtime. I was feeling better by the end of the day and went to bed early, eager to get back out on the trail in the morning. The man who owned the hostel was really nice and had hard boiled eggs for us that he had gotten from his chickens. I ate those and a muffin in the morning for breakfast and we set out for the trail again.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Day 37- stealth site to highway 26 9.5 miles
Before I get into the adventures of today, there is a good story from a couple of days ago that I forgot to mention. Mosey and I were coming down Moody Mountain, which was a very steep drop (1400 feet in less than a mile). I was about 5 minutes ahead of Mosey, so I couldn't see him, but we were within yelling distance of each other. During the descent I heard him call out. I couldn't quite understand what he was saying, but he sounded a little off. I called back to make sure that he was okay and he replied that he was and he would tell me what happened when we got to the bottom. At the bottom, I sat by Sawyer Brook and waited for Mosey to arrive. When he arrived, he told me that he'd had a brush with death. He was going down the trail and tripped. The way in which he fell (forward and with trekking poles obstructing the use of his hands and arms) there was no way that he could catch himself. He fell on his stomach right on top of a pointy, jagged tree stump and as soon as he landed on it, it collapsed because of how rotted it was. There truly aren't that many rotten, sharp, and jagged tree stumps out here and he thought he was going to be impaled by this stump. I was completely in shock as he told me this and so thankful that it was rotten! I had heard a man and a
woman there with him when he called out to me, so I asked him if anyone was up there with him. His reply was that no one was around him at all and asked me why I asked. I told him about hearing the man an woman and he just sat there for a second. He then says, "I think I know who it was"- his grandma and grandpa. He said he immediately thought of them as a young couple- they must be his guardian angels :) I thought it was so cool that I heard them.
Back to today. Mosey and I made it the first 3 or 4 miles to a lean-to easily. Mosey said he was feeling sluggish, but that is a feeling not uncommon to us out here. While at the lean-to we met a northbounder who talked to us a lot about the discipline that is required in this hike. He was correct that it does take a tremendous amount of discipline to get up every morning, put on your sticky, smelly hiking 'uniform', pack up and set out to hike when most days your body is fighting you all morning for you to just stay put- not to mention the mental struggles that occur each day. You just have to know that hiking is what you have to do that day and just do it. The northbounder made me think that I definitely have a lot of discipline to learn out here. It was a good reminder of something to work on. He also talked about the rain and how it should get bad soon.
I left the lean-to a bit before Mosey and started climbing Baldpate Mountain. I was almost to the top when the skies opened up and rain starting pouring out like it had been collecting for months. Thunder started cracking all around me. I passed some northbounders who told me I should find a place to set up. I had just climbed up steep rock for atleast half a mile- ladders and slides included- and I knew that it was too slick for me to go back down with the rain. I couldn't go up any further because the top of the mountain was bald- I would be opening myself up even more to the elements and to easily being struck by lighting, especially carrying my trekking poles. The thunder just kept getting louder and the rain poured down harder. I had to do something. So, I found a mossy spot under a few small trees and crouched down there. I had set my trekking polls far away from myself, just in case. The top of the mountain offered no concealment from the wind, and so I quickly became cold, making me even more frightened than I already was. I stayed crouched under the tree for about 20 minutes, calling out for Mosey every few minutes, knowing that he would be worried and looking for me. I finally heard him yelling "Chickadee!!!!" and I yelled back. He came up and was so happy that I hadn't tried to push on in the rain- both he and I know that it would've been a terrible decision. He crouched down with me and we tried to calm each others fears- his were that I was okay and mine were that I was scared I would die up there. It was my first time hiking in the rain and it scared me half to death. Finally, the rain stopped and we gathered ourselves to move forward. Once we got to the top of Baldpate, the sun was shining warmly. We sat on a rock to dry off. As soon as we got into a valley between the two peaks it started to storm again and again we had to wait. It cleared and we descended the mountain easily and got to highway ME 26 before 6 pm. We were able to get a hitch in a nice van with two brothers, one whose two daughters were with him. They stopped at a gas station for us to pick up some dinner and I found a bratwurst that I managed to eat in 3 bites. Back in the parking lot, the driver handed us a soda named "Moxie" that he'd bought for us to try. It's a soda that's popular up here- tastes like a mix of sasparilla and soda. Not too shabby!
Mosey and I got a lean-to at Stony
Brook in anticipation for the storm that was supposed to hit in the evening. Sure enough, around 7 pm it started pouring and when I fell asleep it was still coming down hard. The Mahoosuc Arm and Notch are coming up tomorrow- the hardest mile of the A.T. Hopefully the rain will stop soon.
Pictures:
1- me at Sawyer Brook
2- Mosey and me at the top of Baldpate
woman there with him when he called out to me, so I asked him if anyone was up there with him. His reply was that no one was around him at all and asked me why I asked. I told him about hearing the man an woman and he just sat there for a second. He then says, "I think I know who it was"- his grandma and grandpa. He said he immediately thought of them as a young couple- they must be his guardian angels :) I thought it was so cool that I heard them.
Back to today. Mosey and I made it the first 3 or 4 miles to a lean-to easily. Mosey said he was feeling sluggish, but that is a feeling not uncommon to us out here. While at the lean-to we met a northbounder who talked to us a lot about the discipline that is required in this hike. He was correct that it does take a tremendous amount of discipline to get up every morning, put on your sticky, smelly hiking 'uniform', pack up and set out to hike when most days your body is fighting you all morning for you to just stay put- not to mention the mental struggles that occur each day. You just have to know that hiking is what you have to do that day and just do it. The northbounder made me think that I definitely have a lot of discipline to learn out here. It was a good reminder of something to work on. He also talked about the rain and how it should get bad soon.
I left the lean-to a bit before Mosey and started climbing Baldpate Mountain. I was almost to the top when the skies opened up and rain starting pouring out like it had been collecting for months. Thunder started cracking all around me. I passed some northbounders who told me I should find a place to set up. I had just climbed up steep rock for atleast half a mile- ladders and slides included- and I knew that it was too slick for me to go back down with the rain. I couldn't go up any further because the top of the mountain was bald- I would be opening myself up even more to the elements and to easily being struck by lighting, especially carrying my trekking poles. The thunder just kept getting louder and the rain poured down harder. I had to do something. So, I found a mossy spot under a few small trees and crouched down there. I had set my trekking polls far away from myself, just in case. The top of the mountain offered no concealment from the wind, and so I quickly became cold, making me even more frightened than I already was. I stayed crouched under the tree for about 20 minutes, calling out for Mosey every few minutes, knowing that he would be worried and looking for me. I finally heard him yelling "Chickadee!!!!" and I yelled back. He came up and was so happy that I hadn't tried to push on in the rain- both he and I know that it would've been a terrible decision. He crouched down with me and we tried to calm each others fears- his were that I was okay and mine were that I was scared I would die up there. It was my first time hiking in the rain and it scared me half to death. Finally, the rain stopped and we gathered ourselves to move forward. Once we got to the top of Baldpate, the sun was shining warmly. We sat on a rock to dry off. As soon as we got into a valley between the two peaks it started to storm again and again we had to wait. It cleared and we descended the mountain easily and got to highway ME 26 before 6 pm. We were able to get a hitch in a nice van with two brothers, one whose two daughters were with him. They stopped at a gas station for us to pick up some dinner and I found a bratwurst that I managed to eat in 3 bites. Back in the parking lot, the driver handed us a soda named "Moxie" that he'd bought for us to try. It's a soda that's popular up here- tastes like a mix of sasparilla and soda. Not too shabby!
Mosey and I got a lean-to at Stony
Brook in anticipation for the storm that was supposed to hit in the evening. Sure enough, around 7 pm it started pouring and when I fell asleep it was still coming down hard. The Mahoosuc Arm and Notch are coming up tomorrow- the hardest mile of the A.T. Hopefully the rain will stop soon.
Pictures:
1- me at Sawyer Brook
2- Mosey and me at the top of Baldpate
Day 36- Hall Mountain lean-to to stealth site. 7 miles
Maine constantly screws up my productivity! Haha there are always so many beautiful places on the trail that I stop at multiple times a day and have to force myself forward. Every time I see a beautiful spot by water I want to make it my home for the evening! Around the 4th spot that Mosey and I came upon we just stopped and stayed. We sat on a rock figuring out how to make it to Gorham in the same amount of days and the plan we came up with is even better and more evenly spread out than the original.
I also chose a nice spot by a pond to eat lunch at. My lunch was a delicious fluffernutter, taking me back to my childhood. It was a very comforting and filling lunch :). I have been doing much better with my calorie intake and am practically eating constantly. My mother is sending some vitamins for me to pick up in Gorham and that should help some too.
Mosey and I are having another lovely evening talking and laughing while laying out on sleeping pads.
Song of the day: "Touch Me" by The Doors. Dirty sang it in Karaoke in Rangeley and I've had it stuck in my head ever since!
I also chose a nice spot by a pond to eat lunch at. My lunch was a delicious fluffernutter, taking me back to my childhood. It was a very comforting and filling lunch :). I have been doing much better with my calorie intake and am practically eating constantly. My mother is sending some vitamins for me to pick up in Gorham and that should help some too.
Mosey and I are having another lovely evening talking and laughing while laying out on sleeping pads.
Song of the day: "Touch Me" by The Doors. Dirty sang it in Karaoke in Rangeley and I've had it stuck in my head ever since!
Day 35- Andover, ME to Hall Mountain lean-to. 4 miles.
This morning I awoke to a southbound hiker screaming because he didn't feel well and was fearing that it was the Mahoosickness (Norovirus). He was supposed to do the Mahoosuc Notch today, the most difficult and, to some, fun part of the A.T. (I will get to do it in a few days!) He was looking forward to it. I hope he feels better soon! After crawling out of my tent, I walked sleepily up to the dining room and sat down for breakfast. The woman who owns "The Cabin" fixes hikers an all you can eat breakfast of blueberry pancakes, sausage links, scrambled eggs, canteloupe, orange juice, and coffee. I ate sooooo much and felt so energetic afterward. It is completely awesome how I can feel energy changes in my body when I eat on the trail. I could be completely exhausted and just dragging myself up a mountain and then put a Snickers in my belly and perk right back up.
The rest of the morning was slightly stressful because Mosey and I were abandoned at the cabin with no way into town or the trail head (maybe they forgot?) So, I spent the morning cleaning the kitchen that's available for hiker use when I just wanted to be hiking! I was given a $5 discount on my $10 fee for the night because I cleaned though, which was really awesome :) By the time Mosey and I had been picked up, taken to resupply, and taken to the trailhead it was 2:00 in the afternoon. We wanted to do 8 miles and started the hike pushing for that, but the first 4 miles were straight up and down mountains and took too long to hike to be able to pull another 4 before dark. We ended up at a lean-to on top of a mountain with no one else around. The entire evening was relaxing- we just laid out our sleeping pads in the tent sites and talked for hours while lounging. It was a wonderfully deep conversation and I learned a lot about Mosey. He has become a very good friend of mine and I'm really enjoying hiking with him.
I realized today that I get to talk a lot about my father out here, which is really nice because in every day conversation the topic just doesn't come up that often. Within the past 24 hours I have talked to multiple people about my father. I've talked about the Coast Guard, him pulling me around in a little red wagon when I was young, him putting a window seat in my room, his last words to me, and even about his thoughts regarding death and the afterlife. I am so appreciative to the trail for allowing me to share my father with so many people and for also giving me a shared experience with him even after his death.
I am sure I will sleep well tonight- hopefully no Sasquatches invade my dreams tonight :)
Song of the day- Florence and the Machine "Shake It Out"
Pictures:
1- "The Cabin"
2- a teepee behind the cabin. It was huge and completely legitimate!
The rest of the morning was slightly stressful because Mosey and I were abandoned at the cabin with no way into town or the trail head (maybe they forgot?) So, I spent the morning cleaning the kitchen that's available for hiker use when I just wanted to be hiking! I was given a $5 discount on my $10 fee for the night because I cleaned though, which was really awesome :) By the time Mosey and I had been picked up, taken to resupply, and taken to the trailhead it was 2:00 in the afternoon. We wanted to do 8 miles and started the hike pushing for that, but the first 4 miles were straight up and down mountains and took too long to hike to be able to pull another 4 before dark. We ended up at a lean-to on top of a mountain with no one else around. The entire evening was relaxing- we just laid out our sleeping pads in the tent sites and talked for hours while lounging. It was a wonderfully deep conversation and I learned a lot about Mosey. He has become a very good friend of mine and I'm really enjoying hiking with him.
I realized today that I get to talk a lot about my father out here, which is really nice because in every day conversation the topic just doesn't come up that often. Within the past 24 hours I have talked to multiple people about my father. I've talked about the Coast Guard, him pulling me around in a little red wagon when I was young, him putting a window seat in my room, his last words to me, and even about his thoughts regarding death and the afterlife. I am so appreciative to the trail for allowing me to share my father with so many people and for also giving me a shared experience with him even after his death.
I am sure I will sleep well tonight- hopefully no Sasquatches invade my dreams tonight :)
Song of the day- Florence and the Machine "Shake It Out"
Pictures:
1- "The Cabin"
2- a teepee behind the cabin. It was huge and completely legitimate!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
From Chickadee
Hello all!
I am asking for help in order to be able to stay on the trail. Money has been my biggest challenge out here and what I have raised and had saved up so far has gone to my gear and food. I'm now in the position where I'll have to raise more or go home. If you can think of any ways I can raise money from the trail or would like to help support the hike, it would be greatly appreciated! If you would like to donate, my PayPal account is connected to this blog. I am extremely worried that I'll have to leave solely due to a lack of money. The journey has been opened up to me by the help of so many and so I'd also like to thank everyone that has encouraged and supported me in this! I would not even be out here without that support and I cannot express how appreciative I am!!!
With hope and love,
Chickadee
Day 34- Bemis Mountain lean-to to Andover, ME. 8.7 miles. Mile 246.8
I felt like a champion mare today! I ate 3 Luna bars for breakfast and stopped to eat around every hour and just zoomed down the trail. Mosey and I got a late start due to the torrential downpour last night. My tent has held up well in rain until last night- I woke up around 2 a.m. In a confused state because water was hitting me in the face. So, I spent the morning drying out my things and eating as much as possible. We hiked over Bemis mountain today, which provided some really beautiful views. At the peak of Old Blue mountain, I could see tall windmills in the distance. I haven't ever seen any in the United States and to my surprise, they didn't detract anything from the view. When we got closer to Andover, we passed many northbound hikers that skipped the town altogether due to the "Mahoosickness" (as it's being called on the trail). It's actually a Norovirus and a NOBO informed me that the CDC has issued a warning for hikers in southern Maine and New Hampshire because of how many hikers it has infected. Many hikers have stopped in Andover with the sickness in order to recover, so the chances of getting it there are high. Unfortunately, I must go into Andover to resupply, so I'll just have to take my chances! Just before the descent into Andover, there was a beautiful overlook from which I could see South Arm Road, where I would have to find a hitch into town. The road was practically straight under me- an 800 foot descent in 0.5 miles. On the way down, there were even ladders and handles in the rocks- it was extremely steep! I'm finding the rock scrambles and steep areas to be extremely fun! As soon as Mosey and I got to South Arm Road we plopped down to wait for a car. We had been told that it is extremely difficult to hitch on this road because it's not used very frequently. Luckily, not two seconds passed before a van drive by and picked us up. What luck! The van was driven by a couple from Maine that was in the area on vacation. They dropped us off at the general store and I immediately grabbed some grub. Fried green beans and a barbecue sub hit the spot :). Mosey and I didn't know where we were going to stay for the night, but again the trail took care of us and the man who shuttles for "The Cabin" arrived at the store. He took us back to the cabin, where I chose to tent in the backyard for $10- laundry and a shower included! I hopped in the shower immediately upon arrival and am a little worried about my nutrition because I am losing a lot of hair :/. I'm still in the process of learning, but for my next resupply I'll have to pay much more attention to calories and nutrition. I spent the rest of the evening talking with other hikers, lounging on a couch, and watching "Charlie Wilson's War". It was a very relaxing evening. I went to bed late enough to see the stars :)
In the middle of the night I woke up after having the most vivid, strangest dream ever! Haha it was an "end-of-the-world-type" scenario where giant Sasquatches were eating people. I was having to survive by going into empty gas stations, grabbing a bag from behind the counter, and throwing food into said bag. I would then have to sneak out and dodge Sasquatches and get back to a safe place. All in all, the dream was completely nuts haha. I guess it could be attributed to my heightened survival senses out here. After the dream, I threw on some warm clothes and went to look at the stars again- it never gets old :).
In the middle of the night I woke up after having the most vivid, strangest dream ever! Haha it was an "end-of-the-world-type" scenario where giant Sasquatches were eating people. I was having to survive by going into empty gas stations, grabbing a bag from behind the counter, and throwing food into said bag. I would then have to sneak out and dodge Sasquatches and get back to a safe place. All in all, the dream was completely nuts haha. I guess it could be attributed to my heightened survival senses out here. After the dream, I threw on some warm clothes and went to look at the stars again- it never gets old :).
Day 33- Sabbath Day lean-to to Bemis Mountain lean-to. 8.3 miles.
Song of the day- "Wouldn't it be loverly?" from My Fair Lady
At the beginning of the day, I thought for sure that it would be a terrible one. I had woken up at 1 a.m. feeling nauseous and thankfully I just fell back to sleep. I still didn't feel well when I woke, but I had to move or else I would run out of food before reaching Andover, my next resupply town. I ate a big breakfast and headed down the trail, passing the beautiful beach that I had enjoyed as my front yard for two days. I ended up warming up to the hike and was enjoying it again. When I arrived at the highway (about 4.5 miles in) there was a beautiful overlook and I stopped to appreciate it. I was just about to continue down the trail on the other side of the highway when I heard Mosey calling out for me to wait. He had the perfect idea of hitching into Oquossoc for lunch and he said it was on him since he knew I was short of calories and cash. We hitched in easily with a couple from Georgia. They had a big canoe in the back of their pick-up, so we had to sit under the canoe. It was funny and surprisingly comfortable. While sitting in the back, Mosey had reminded me of the fact that it will be fall when we are down south. I have been so disengaged from the future of the hike due to my feeling ill that I had forgotten about the fall. I am so excited to hike in the autumn and was thankful for the reminder. We ended up hopping off in front of a tavern in what seemed to be a two-block town. It was so quaint and beautiful- this is definitely the kind of place I'd want to spend summers at later in life. Mosey and I split bruschetta and ate fish tacos and after eating that I felt 10 times better. We got a hitch back out to the overlook after grabbing some whoopie pies in a small grocery store. The man who drove us back has been involved with the A.T. for quite a few years and he had lots to tell us about the surrounding area. Mosey and I have both learned from past experiences to not hike when you are full- you just end up wanting to throw up for the rest of the day. So, we used it as an excuse to sit at the overlook and relax for a while. Once we got going, the rest of the hike was easy breezy lemon squeezy. The climb up Bemis Mountain fatigued me, but not to the point of alarm that I was at two days ago. I am so thankful that whatever was affecting me is going away. I made up a little jingle today while hiking up Bemis. For some reason, I couldn't get "My Fair Lady" out of my head and the song that says "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain" kept circuiting through. So, I changed it to "The terrain in Maine is nothing like a plain" and sang it up the mountain. It amused me because of its validity. I also sang "Loverly", which I had learned as a child with the accent and all. Once I arrived at the lean-to, I met a NOBO from Roanoke named Alpo. It was awesome to meet someone who knows where Covington is! I can't wait for a shower and to do my laundry Andover tomorrow- my clothes haven't been washed since Monson! (and I wear the same smelly black shirt every day). A big dinner will be nice too :)
Quote of the day: "Why do something tomorrow when you can do it today"- Mosey
At the beginning of the day, I thought for sure that it would be a terrible one. I had woken up at 1 a.m. feeling nauseous and thankfully I just fell back to sleep. I still didn't feel well when I woke, but I had to move or else I would run out of food before reaching Andover, my next resupply town. I ate a big breakfast and headed down the trail, passing the beautiful beach that I had enjoyed as my front yard for two days. I ended up warming up to the hike and was enjoying it again. When I arrived at the highway (about 4.5 miles in) there was a beautiful overlook and I stopped to appreciate it. I was just about to continue down the trail on the other side of the highway when I heard Mosey calling out for me to wait. He had the perfect idea of hitching into Oquossoc for lunch and he said it was on him since he knew I was short of calories and cash. We hitched in easily with a couple from Georgia. They had a big canoe in the back of their pick-up, so we had to sit under the canoe. It was funny and surprisingly comfortable. While sitting in the back, Mosey had reminded me of the fact that it will be fall when we are down south. I have been so disengaged from the future of the hike due to my feeling ill that I had forgotten about the fall. I am so excited to hike in the autumn and was thankful for the reminder. We ended up hopping off in front of a tavern in what seemed to be a two-block town. It was so quaint and beautiful- this is definitely the kind of place I'd want to spend summers at later in life. Mosey and I split bruschetta and ate fish tacos and after eating that I felt 10 times better. We got a hitch back out to the overlook after grabbing some whoopie pies in a small grocery store. The man who drove us back has been involved with the A.T. for quite a few years and he had lots to tell us about the surrounding area. Mosey and I have both learned from past experiences to not hike when you are full- you just end up wanting to throw up for the rest of the day. So, we used it as an excuse to sit at the overlook and relax for a while. Once we got going, the rest of the hike was easy breezy lemon squeezy. The climb up Bemis Mountain fatigued me, but not to the point of alarm that I was at two days ago. I am so thankful that whatever was affecting me is going away. I made up a little jingle today while hiking up Bemis. For some reason, I couldn't get "My Fair Lady" out of my head and the song that says "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain" kept circuiting through. So, I changed it to "The terrain in Maine is nothing like a plain" and sang it up the mountain. It amused me because of its validity. I also sang "Loverly", which I had learned as a child with the accent and all. Once I arrived at the lean-to, I met a NOBO from Roanoke named Alpo. It was awesome to meet someone who knows where Covington is! I can't wait for a shower and to do my laundry Andover tomorrow- my clothes haven't been washed since Monson! (and I wear the same smelly black shirt every day). A big dinner will be nice too :)
Quote of the day: "Why do something tomorrow when you can do it today"- Mosey
Day 32- zero at Sabbath Day Pond lean-to
As hoped for, I didn't move for over ten hours. When I woke up, I was happy to see that I'd slept in until 8 a.m. and I got myself mentally ready for the day. As soon as I stood up and walked 10 feet from my campsite, I knew I wouldn't be able to go anywhere. The feeling of nausea overwhelmed me and I just wanted to crawl right back into my sleeping bag. I tried for about an hour to warm up to hiking, but I just kept ending up lying down in the fetal position. I felt like crap. "Hmmmm....there has been a virus going around in this area on the trail, maybe that's what this is. The symptoms I've heard about have seemed more severe, though, including vomiting and diarrhea," I thought. No matter what it is, after an hour of struggling to sit or stand, I drug my sleeping bag into the lean-to and allowed myself to lay down without having to get back up. I decided to take a zero day and I'm so glad that I did. The day ended up being a very uplifting and healing day. Mosey stayed behind with me and we layed in the lean-to and read and slept until it was too hot to lay there anymore. We then went down to the beach and I sat in the water and talked to some locals who had brought their boat to the beach. They were extremely nice and gave Mosey and I both a beer, which we both enjoyed while sitting in the water. The water was a perfectly warm temperature too, so I could stand to sit there for quite some time. I went back to the lean-to and Mosey and I gathered firewood in order to have me build my first fire. I was very proud of it once we were done- used birch bark to light it and everything! There are some NOBOs here that had the sickness. I have heard that it has taken northbounders off the trail left and right. I'm crossing my fingers that I don't get it! Going to be early again tonight in order to rest for tomorrow, which must be a hiking day. 
Day 31- Rangeley to Sabbath Day Pond lean-to. 9.4 miles
Today was my worst day. I had such a hard time with even moving today. My body never seemed to warm up to hiking and the woozy feeling that I got before Rangeley became a permanent part of my day. Everything in me was moving slowly- even my thoughts were hazzy and moving slowly. I couldn't understand it because I had eaten so much the day before and was eating and breaking quite frequently. I was also feeling very nauseous and not desiring food, so I had to just stuff it down my throat. I asked Mosey to stay close to me today because I felt like I was on the verge of going into shock all day long. I'm thinking that it's all from the calorie deficit. Women's bodies seem to deal with the stresses of hiking much differently than men's. Men just lose weight and burn fat as an extra energy source, but a woman's body goes into storage mode and refuses to give up the fat until at the very last second. So, I'm stuck in this starvation limbo where I am starving, but not dying, so my body is just shutting down in order to conserve energy. I'm not sure what to do about it besides trying to get a higher caloric intake on the trail and then stuffing myself silly in towns. I finally got to the lean-to pretty late in the evening. The crew was there waiting for me and then we all went to sit on the sandy beach for a while. I made myself a pizza, ate some donuts and an apple, and it all made me feel a bit better. I sat there until after the sun set and walked straight to my sleeping bag. I fell asleep so quickly. Just before I fell asleep I thought that I had absolutely no intentions of getting out of it for at least 10 hours and then I gave in to pure rest.
Rangeley, ME- mile 220.4
The hike into Rangeley was an interesting one. I climbed up Saddleback Mountain and was given another beautiful view from Maine. The descent down the mountain was 4 miles and halfway through that descent I started getting a little woozy. I sat down right in the middle of the descent and started eating. I didn't feel hungry, but it most certainly wouldn't hurt. I also downed some water and sat there for a second trying to talk myself into climbing down the rest of the mountain. I made it to the next lean-to and made myself a hard salami and cheese wrap while waiting for Mosey to arrive. It started to pour rain while I was waiting and I felt bad that Mosey was still hiking in it, but the rain on the tin roof was such a peaceful sound. Mosey arrived and we headed out with Old School to Rangeley. The hike from Piazza Rock lean-to to the highway was so perfectly easy. It looked like someone had swept it with a broom- I was thankful for the easy trail and enjoyed the great terrain. Once we got to the highway, we had to hitch, so out my thumb went. I've been working on some good hitch hiking moves, like doing the 'running man' with my thumbs out. It seemed to work well :)
Once we had pitched our tents in the backyard of a lovely couple, we went to get dinner. I ate a huge plate of spaghetti & meatballs and enjoyed every second of it. Karaoke was going on that night, so the Zero Heroes had quite a few performances. I sang "Rumour" by Adele and was scared half to death the whole time (but figured 'why not?') and the group sang "Bohemian Rhapsody", which was EPIC. So much fun!
I went to sleep in a soft backyard and was so happy with the day.
Once we had pitched our tents in the backyard of a lovely couple, we went to get dinner. I ate a huge plate of spaghetti & meatballs and enjoyed every second of it. Karaoke was going on that night, so the Zero Heroes had quite a few performances. I sang "Rumour" by Adele and was scared half to death the whole time (but figured 'why not?') and the group sang "Bohemian Rhapsody", which was EPIC. So much fun!
I went to sleep in a soft backyard and was so happy with the day.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Day 28- Spaulding Mountain lean-to to Poplar Ridge lean-to. 8 miles
I didn't sleep well last night, but I did get to see the stars again :) It's always a treat to see them since hiker bedtime is 8-9 and it's not dark enough to see the stars then. I couldn't seem to get myself moving this morning- I kept sitting down in the middle of packing up haha. It took me over 2 hours to leave the lean-to and when I finally left I still wasn't wanting to walk. I told myself, though, that my body was feeling good and I had better take advantage of the good day. I eventually warmed up to the hike about 3 miles in and then it turned out to be an awesome hike day. I was moving without difficulty over rocks and roots, climbing a mountain with no problem, and descending without much pain. Also, Maine gifted me with a relatively flat terrain in the middle of my hike today. I took quite a few 30 minute breaks today to make it even better :). There was a beautiful spot right before I started climbing up to Poplar Ridge that I stopped at. There was a stream and the water flowed to make a nice pool and then cascaded down the mountain. I sat in the water to rinse off and could see the mountain I was about to climb in front of me. The view was perfectly framed by trees; it was such a lovely view.
The weather this evening is very cold and windy, so I'll be staying in my tent. I did pop out long enough to meet Phoenix, a northbound girl that is my age and is also hiking the trail for her father. I appreciated so much to meet her and it was awesome to see her near the end of her journey on the A.T.
The fire is blazing outside of my tent- going to warm up and have some time with the other hikers :)
Day 27- To Spalding Mountain lean-to. 5.1 miles
I have now hiked over 200 miles! With the average including my zero days, I have been hiking 7.5 miles every day. I think that's pretty good for starting out in Maine! I hiked over Sugarloaf Mountain today and got a really beautiful view on the side of the trail, so I sat down and enjoyed it for about an hour.
I am really enjoying all of the weight I took off of my pack! I thank myself for it every time I pick it up.
I am really surprised that I haven't accidentally killed a frog yet. They are all over the trail! Their exterior is camouflaged perfectly to blend in with the trail, so I see them trying to hop out of my way at the last second. Good thing I am a pretty slow hiker!
I am now laying out in the sun at the lean-to. Old School made some fresh coffee, we've all had a nice lunch, and I found a nice spot to lay my sleeping pad out in the sun to lie on- it's a good day :)
I realized that I haven't had to hike in the rain once since I've started (minus the 15 minutes it poured one day). I've been so lucky to've been dry for so long!
There's a father/son duo at the lean-to tonight and I was taught how to properly build a fire. The father's trail name used to be Pyro, so I'm pretty sure I got some good tips :) Once I get comfortable with building fires, I would love to pack out some hot dogs to have for dinner on occasion. Yum :)
Day 26- Stratton to South Branch Carrabassett River tenting. 8.4 miles
I woke up ready to hike again this morning :) I shed so much pack weight in Stratton and I am loving how much better my pack feels! I grabbed some coffee, a breakfast croissant, and a vitamin water and then hit the trail. The 5 mile climb up North Crocker Mountain was extremely enjoyable. There was no view at the top, but I still really liked that mountain. The descent, on the other hand, was pretty brutal- extremely steep with sliding rocks, huge rocks, and tons of vines. It was like an obstacle course- good thing that only lasted for 2 miles!
My mother had told me that my dog, Jasper, was acting out of character and my heart just sunk because I know he is so sad because I left. I have made the decision to get him as soon as I can and share the journey with him. I have talked to many hikers with dogs about how to go about it and I figure that it wouldn't hurt to try. If it doesn't work, he can always go back home. I know he will love it out here and it will be a good bonding for us. Plus, he already has a backpack from some trips in Texas, so we're all set! I have to figure out the logistics like how much food he'll need, what to do in trail towns, and how to introduce him to the trail, but that can be done soon enough. It makes me exhale a lot of stress over that issue to know he'll be joining me soon :) I can't wait!
Climbing Sugar Loaf tomorrow!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Stratton, ME
Before I start with Stratton, I must tell you something hilarious that happened during my rough 16 mile day into Stratton. It happened right as I was practically keeling over going up Avery Mountain. When I sweat on my face, I always wipe it with the top of my trekking poles since my hands are put through the loops. I was climbing up Avery, sweating like crazy, and wanted to wipe my face. As soon as I thought to wipe it a chipmunk made a noise beside me and I turned my head to look. I got so distracted that I didn't realize I had already planted my pole on a rock and was actually taking my face toward my hand. Next thing I knew, I was punching myself in the nose with my trekking pole. Hahaha it hurt so bad! I was so stunned that it took a minute to recover. It made me laugh :)
I took two zero days in Stratton and they were glorious :) The Stratton Motel, which is where I stayed, is owned by Sue. She and her dog thru-hiked in 2004 and it is super hiker friendly. She even has a kitchen for use, so the fellowship (now called the zero heroes) got together and made chili dogs with caramelized onions for dinner. I had been craving chili dogs for over a week! Another craving that I had satisfied was for a bagel and lox. The Stratton Diner had them and I was in heaven! My joints needed the rest again. They are not taking the hiking well, but everything is still getting stronger. The second day I was in Stratton was an at-the-last-minute stay. I got a couple of life bombs all at once and it just felt so heavy. So, I stayed in Stratton to handle all of it. Luckily, there was a cable TV in the room and I got to watch comedies all day with Mosey and kept my feet elevated. It was awesome and I haven't slept so well since I've been on the trail. This has been a healing pause :)
Friday, July 27, 2012
Day 23- Little Bigelow lean-to to Stratton, ME. 16 miles.
I woke up this morning with my game face on. If I completed the 16 miles into Stratton, it would be the most miles I had ever done in one day. The terrain today consisted up 5 climbs, one being close to a 2,000 ft. elevation increase, making it the most difficult terrain I had seen since Katahdin. Whoo! I knew I was in for a wild ride as soon as I opened my eyes and a wild ride it was! You see, Maine and I have a love-hate relationship- one minute I'm thinking that could never picture a place more beautiful and then the next minute it's trying to kill me. There were moments today when I was just so angry at Maine for all the huge boulders and rocks at ankle-twisting-angles. Today didn't turn out to be as much about enjoying the beauty as it has been lately; today was about pushing myself hard and proving to myself that I can still do the tough days that I don't find to be as fun. The last 5 miles I was pretty much just zoned in on getting into Stratton. Right as I was falling apart, about .5 miles away from the highway into Stratton, I received the most amazing trail magic ever. There was a 12 year old bottle of Jameson sitting on the side of the trail with a note in it. There was only a small swig at best left, but the group passed it around so that everyone could have a little taste. I'd never tasted it before and it was definitely a nice treat to get me the rest of the way to the highway. I arrived at the highway with Faith, Old School, and Sleepwalker. I am told very often that since I am a female I will have no trouble hitchhiking. Of course that would also be a benefit to any males that I am with. So, I stuck my thumb right on out there and had my first hitchhiking experience. We all got a friendly ride easily and ended up on Main Street in Stratton in no time. Woohoo! I am so happy from being able to complete today and have never been so exhausted!
Day 22- West Carry Pond lean-to to Little Bigelow lean-to. 7.7 miles
Haha so I was planning on going 13 miles today, but Maine is just so gorgeous that I want to stay at every nice place I see! It's really difficult having to leave awesome spots 5 or 6 times a day!
I am carrying enough food to go slow if the mood strikes me (which seems to be the mood I'm always in), so I didn't see a reason to leave Little Bigelow lean-to when I arrived. It was either stay and hang out by the "tubs" or hike 5 more miles and climb a mountain. Hmmmm....tough call. Haha the group I am with seems to slow down a lot of SOBOs- there were some guys that were hiking near 20 miles a day and once they met us, they caught the pause and enjoy bug. It's a really rewarding form of hiking in Maine :)
Parkside's last entry in a register is at this lean-to. His last entry was directed at SOBOs and was so beautiful that I had to read it a few times. He said, "To my SOBO brothers and sisters, Hike your own hike and remember it's about the smiles, not the miles, and you will have the time of your life. You have an immense task before you, but one that will cradle and provide for you if you give it love. In Georgia you'll see a shelter that has this etched into it: The key to happiness is freedom. The key to freedom is courage. Trust yourself and keep truckin!" What an inspiration.
Can't wait to eat dinner tonight! Lipton sides and salmon. Yum :)
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Northbounders hit their 2,000 mile mark here- I now have less than 2,000 miles left!
The most perfect view I've seen yet. East Flagstaff Lake.
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Parkside's last entry in a register is at this lean-to. His last entry was directed at SOBOs and was so beautiful that I had to read it a few times. He said, "To my SOBO brothers and sisters, Hike your own hike and remember it's about the smiles, not the miles, and you will have the time of your life. You have an immense task before you, but one that will cradle and provide for you if you give it love. In Georgia you'll see a shelter that has this etched into it: The key to happiness is freedom. The key to freedom is courage. Trust yourself and keep truckin!" What an inspiration.
Can't wait to eat dinner tonight! Lipton sides and salmon. Yum :)
Day 21- Pierce Pond lean-to to West Carry Pond lean-to. 10 miles
I slept so absolutely horribly last night. I woke up at 2:40 and it was pouring rain. I was trying to fall back to sleep as quickly as possible, but I was feeling uneasy and just couldn't shut off my mind. I made up for the poor sleep during the night and slept in until almost 8 this morning :) I sat outside of my tent facing the pond and ate one of the delicious Cinnabon honey buns that Bomber sent to me. I again didn't feel much like hiking, but knowing that the terrain would be pretty easy helped to get me moving. I have truly been appreciating the beauty of Maine recently- taking it so slowly has its benefits! I spent 2 hours on a sand beach today and just soaked it up. Dirty, Mosey, and Faith took the break with me too and they found so many leeches in the water! It was pretty cool to stand in the water and just watch the leeches move around.
I did have a point during the day when I just wanted to book it. It started to pour rain when I was hiking beside a pond and I was hustling in order to get out of the open sky and underneath of some trees. Mosey was right in front of me and he kept stopping to look at how beautiful the rain looked as it was falling on the pond. I let out a huff each time he stopped and then we just started laughing about how much I wanted to find shelter and his literally standing in the way haha.
I thought a lot about my dad today. I had a dream right after he died in which we were walking down a wide trail with trees flowing up on either side in the autumn. We were holding hands and he was comforting me. I have never been to the place that I dreamed of, but I know that I will find it on the trail. It was a cool thought today :)
Sleeping early tonight!
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The best bog bridge I've seen yet!
To the side of the bog bridge
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I thought a lot about my dad today. I had a dream right after he died in which we were walking down a wide trail with trees flowing up on either side in the autumn. We were holding hands and he was comforting me. I have never been to the place that I dreamed of, but I know that I will find it on the trail. It was a cool thought today :)
Sleeping early tonight!
Caratunk to Pierce Pond lean-to. 4 miles
Today was a completely easy, beautiful nero day. I was planning on hiking 10 miles to a campsite, but once I got to Pierce Pond there was no was I was leaving. Haha what Maine calls a pond is definitely more like a lake and this one is so gorgeous. Also making me want to stay was the fact that I was having trouble hiking today. My pack and thoughts were both extremely heavy. Haha a NOBO at the lodge in Caratunk picked up my pack to feel its weight. All he could muster up to say was "God bless you and your family". Hahah it's way to heavy for me! Naturally, I have disliked each time that I have had to pick it up. I think at its heaviest it weighs around 35 lbs, but at my weight I should be carrying around 20-25. While hiking today I came up with a few ideas to make it lighter. One of them is to do cold food through southern Maine and the Whites. That way I'd be able to drop my fuel, my pot, and my stove. I'm also going to drop my Keens for a bit and go with a cheap pair of flipflops. I cannot wait to get this extra weight off my back!
I hiked most of the day with Mosey. It was very enjoyable and there was an added depth to the conversation, probably due to my lack of cheer. Mosey went right along with my mood and found a way to comfort me by just being there. I found a swimming hole right beside the trail and was a bit hesitant to go for a swim since we had so many miles left to do that day. Mosey looked at me and said that he was going to swim and that was all the arm-twisting I needed! I quickly set my pack down, took my shoes off, and hopped in the water. I was content for the rest of the day from that moment on. The water was a perfect depth, temperature, not moving too quickly or too slowly, and there were absolutely no leeches! = amazing!
I arrived at Pierce Pond lean-to in the early afternoon and was just taken aback by how beautiful it is. While admiring the beauty, I had a deep feeling of grief for the loss of a fellow hiker. I never got to meet Parkside on the trail, but I sat by the water and spent a lot of time thinking about him, his hike, and imagining what he could've looked like. Even as I'm writing this, behind my right scapula is going numb because of the grief. My heart and love go out to his family, who will be coming here soon.
Some NOBO hikers are staying here tonight too: Jackrabbit, J.C., Grumpy (whose name I accidentally heard as "Gropey" haha), Steve-O, Pretzel, and a few others. We all played UNO and had a nice fire going. I pitched my tent at the perfect campsite down by the pond. It is supposed to rain tonight and I am not sure how I feel about sleeping so close to the pond, but I really want to sleep alone tonight.
I hiked most of the day with Mosey. It was very enjoyable and there was an added depth to the conversation, probably due to my lack of cheer. Mosey went right along with my mood and found a way to comfort me by just being there. I found a swimming hole right beside the trail and was a bit hesitant to go for a swim since we had so many miles left to do that day. Mosey looked at me and said that he was going to swim and that was all the arm-twisting I needed! I quickly set my pack down, took my shoes off, and hopped in the water. I was content for the rest of the day from that moment on. The water was a perfect depth, temperature, not moving too quickly or too slowly, and there were absolutely no leeches! = amazing!
I arrived at Pierce Pond lean-to in the early afternoon and was just taken aback by how beautiful it is. While admiring the beauty, I had a deep feeling of grief for the loss of a fellow hiker. I never got to meet Parkside on the trail, but I sat by the water and spent a lot of time thinking about him, his hike, and imagining what he could've looked like. Even as I'm writing this, behind my right scapula is going numb because of the grief. My heart and love go out to his family, who will be coming here soon.
Some NOBO hikers are staying here tonight too: Jackrabbit, J.C., Grumpy (whose name I accidentally heard as "Gropey" haha), Steve-O, Pretzel, and a few others. We all played UNO and had a nice fire going. I pitched my tent at the perfect campsite down by the pond. It is supposed to rain tonight and I am not sure how I feel about sleeping so close to the pond, but I really want to sleep alone tonight.
Tentsite at Pierce Pond
Caratunk- zero day
The fellowship and I decided to camp in Caratunk as a zero day- I had enough food to eat out of my pack, so why not? :) We decided to tent at the Northern Outdoors after hearing that there would be a hot tub, a swimming pool, wifi, and a pool table all available to us just for tenting there! We arrived on a Saturday and lucky for us live bands play there on Saturday nights! It was so much fun to boogie on the dance floor with Mosey for a bit. I had a blast and let my body enjoy the relaxation and heal up for what's to come. The next 40 miles will be okay, but once I hit Stratton things are going to get a little hairy. Southern Maine and the Whites in New Hampshire are the most difficult parts of the Appalachian Trail- that difficulty is balanced with massive amounts of beauty, but it's still going to be so rough. So, for now, I'm taking it easy breezy and just letting the relaxing side of the trail sink in :)
Monson to Caratunk
The hike from Monson to Caratunk went so much better than I could've even dreamed! The hike out of Monson gifted us with wild blueberries just ripe for the picking. As soon as I saw them I sat my pack down beside the field and filled my hand with quite a few berries. Once I popped that deliciousness into my mouth I was more than happy to bop on down the trail.
The first day back on the trail was uncomfortable since my feet had to break in the new insoles that I had gotten in Monson, but since the insoles have been broken in I have been pain free! I even didn't have to wear my knee brace :) I was practically skipping down the trail (which was pretty much flat the whole time) because I felt so darn good! I have even started trying to teach myself how to whistle. It's a nice thing to do while hiking in order to have some form of music around me. It's a bit funny to get a song stuck in my head because it's usually just a little piece of the song and I can't for the life of me remember the rest of it! So, I'll just be walking down the trail singing the same thing over and over- I don't seem to tire of that little part, though, and I usually have enough space between myself and other hikers so that I don't have to worry about driving them nuts haha. I have still been hiking with Faith, Mosey, French Fry, and Sticks and we had Snapshot & Blarney, Dirty, and Old School join us. I have been blessed with amazing company :)
At Pleasant Pond lean-to we all decided to have dinner together on the dock and I took a nice swim before I chowed down. I did have one little bother on the trail for this section- I got stung by a hornet (or yellow jacket?) and my arm has been swollen for a couple of days :/. It'll go away, though, so no big deal :)
There was one night where I just couldn't fall back to sleep at around 1 a.m., so I decided to move from the lean-to into my tent. While I was getting ready to pitch it, I noticed the stars and just laid my sleeping bag down on the ground and looked at them for quite some time. I have never seen stars more beautiful. There are absolutely no lights around here and the stars just dazzle in the sky like diamonds because of it. I probably laid there for close to 3 hours just admiring them.
The day we went into Caratunk I had to be at the post office by 11:15 in order to pick up a food package that Bomber sent to me (so amazing!). I had around 6 miles to go and left the lean-to around 7:30. I was nervous that I wouldn't make it in time, so I just flew down the trail. It's such a cool thing to be able to turn on the speed hiking and just let it run wild. I ended up getting there with an hour to spare! The package that Bomber had sent to me was more like opening a present on Christmas than a mere box of food. There were Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, tuna, chicken, Lipton sides, Snickers bars, and tons of other hiker goodness. Bomber also included a quote that is already starting to ring true for myself:
"After more than 2,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail, you can expect to undergo some personality changes. A heightened affinity for nature infiltrates your life. Greater inner peace. Enhanced self-esteem. A quiet confidence that if I could do that, I can do and should do whatever I really want to do. More appreciation for what you have and less desire to acquire what you don't. A childlike zest for living life to the fullest. A refusal to be embarrassed about having fun. A renewed faith in the essential goodness of humankind. And a determination to repay others for the many kindnesses you have received.
- Larry Luxenberg
This trail is beautiful :)
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| Wild blueberries!!! |
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| Sticks at Moxie Bald Pond |
A bit of Maine trail :)
At Pleasant Pond lean-to we all decided to have dinner together on the dock and I took a nice swim before I chowed down. I did have one little bother on the trail for this section- I got stung by a hornet (or yellow jacket?) and my arm has been swollen for a couple of days :/. It'll go away, though, so no big deal :)
There was one night where I just couldn't fall back to sleep at around 1 a.m., so I decided to move from the lean-to into my tent. While I was getting ready to pitch it, I noticed the stars and just laid my sleeping bag down on the ground and looked at them for quite some time. I have never seen stars more beautiful. There are absolutely no lights around here and the stars just dazzle in the sky like diamonds because of it. I probably laid there for close to 3 hours just admiring them.
The day we went into Caratunk I had to be at the post office by 11:15 in order to pick up a food package that Bomber sent to me (so amazing!). I had around 6 miles to go and left the lean-to around 7:30. I was nervous that I wouldn't make it in time, so I just flew down the trail. It's such a cool thing to be able to turn on the speed hiking and just let it run wild. I ended up getting there with an hour to spare! The package that Bomber had sent to me was more like opening a present on Christmas than a mere box of food. There were Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, tuna, chicken, Lipton sides, Snickers bars, and tons of other hiker goodness. Bomber also included a quote that is already starting to ring true for myself:
"After more than 2,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail, you can expect to undergo some personality changes. A heightened affinity for nature infiltrates your life. Greater inner peace. Enhanced self-esteem. A quiet confidence that if I could do that, I can do and should do whatever I really want to do. More appreciation for what you have and less desire to acquire what you don't. A childlike zest for living life to the fullest. A refusal to be embarrassed about having fun. A renewed faith in the essential goodness of humankind. And a determination to repay others for the many kindnesses you have received.
- Larry Luxenberg
This trail is beautiful :)
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