Month: July 2013

Day 13: stealth campsite to different stealth campsite

Miles today: 12.8
Total miles: 139.5

Nothing too notable to report on. The main takeaway from this day was at the end of the day when I took my pack off and walked my butt felt stronger and bigger. Too much information? I guess all that walking is finally giving me some muscle!

Day 14: stealth campsite under power lines to northern outdoors caratunk Maine

Miles today: 11.9
Miles total: 151.2

Today was a great day full of surprises. It started out with a climb up pleasant mountain. It was four miles to the summit which wasn’t horrible but there were at least three false summits which was frustrating each time we discovered we were not at the top. Once there the view was beautiful. There were tons of blueberry bushes the whole way up but unfortunately there was only one or two ripe blueberries. We took a two week anniversary photo at the top. It’s crazy how quickly time has passed.

The rest of the day was downhill pretty much for the next eight miles. At the bottom of the mountain was pleasant pond where we of course had to stop. It was the first pond or lake we have stopped at where there have been other non hikers. This one even had houses and jet skiers on it. We took a quick dip and had lunch on the dock followed by 45 minutes of napping in the sun. It’s a real tough life as a thru hiker.

Then we walked the rest of the way to caratunk. Our plan was to camp right by town then go to the post office to pick up food boxes in the morning (can’t today bc it’s Sunday) and then catch the ferry across the kennebec river. Our plans are dictated by this ferry as its part of the trail but only runs 9 to 11 am or 2 to 4 pm. As we got to caratunk we decided it’d be nice to get into town and grab a beer as we’d read there’s a brewery and then come back and camp.

We read there was a free phone outside the post office 0.3 down the road. From there we could call for a free shuttle to bring us to the restaurant and brewery (where we might also atay at this point as they have tent aites). We set about finding the phone but walked about a mile down the blazing hot road to no avail. We then reread the info and the post office was down a road practically at the trailhead. We’d have to walk the mile back. And then call. And then wait for the shuttle.

Brittani and I decided to try to hitchhike. We figured its easier to do as girls anyway. We waited a while for cars to pass in the right direction and the third or fourth car stopped! Of course with my luck it was a white van that you imagine kidnapping people but hey at least someone stopped. We got in and it was three guys our age who are rafting guides. We sat by their paddle boards in the back of the van while all three (driver included) sipped on beers as they drove us the few miles down the road. One was actually from Lexington mass which was cool.

We got to northern lights and it was like walking into heaven. A big log cAbin and a bar and restaurant and big TVs and a pool and porch and hot tub. It was great. We sat and got a couple freshly brewed beers that were so delicious and waited for the boys. They showed up a few min later. Someone had stopped for them. We decided to tent at this place for only eight bucks each and full use of their amenities. We all got big burgers and beers and were so full we could barely move. We of course then had to lug ourselves over to the hot tub. Once there we chatted with a group who were very interested and excited we are thru hikers. They are here rafting (in their own boats) an after talking for a bit they invited us to join them tomorrow! They switched around their plans just to make room for us out of the goodness of thei hearts. We got so excited! Free rafting trip! Rather than the $80 a person one this resort runs. We capped off the night with a big brownie sundae and ice cream sandwich sundae. We even get to sleep in layer than usual tomorrow for rafting. We are so lucky and strangers have been so kind to us. This trip has already repeatedly restored my faith in the goodness of others. Well I gotta get to bed its way past my bedtime. 930!!! Night.

Update: it’s the next morning and we found out one of the people who had offered to take us rafting hurt their hand since we last saw them. So they can’t take all of us any more and can only take two. Don’t think I’ll get to go but that just means I get to hang out at this resort place a bit longer which I’m not complaining about. Then off hiking again later in the day!

Miles today: 12
Total miles: 126.5

Today was great in every way. It was my favorite day on trail so far. I woke up naturally around 630 and finished packing my stuff. Thankfully my bag is lighter now that I don’t have to carry 10 days worth of food! It is about 31 pounds including food and water which is still slightly higher than I’d like but feels much better than the 40ish I carried through the 100 mile wilderness.

We headed over to the other hostel, Shaws, in monson for our second day of their amazing all you can eat breakfast. I loaded up on eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, French toast and coffee. Then thorny so kindly drove us the three miles to the trailhead. It was sad saying bye to him and Popeye. They’ve done so much for us (thorny even gave me an extra pole he had so now I have two, saving me $100 or so). They were like our trail dads and just such a positive and fun presence. We will miss them dearly but they have of course kindly offered to help us out and feed us when we pass by their homes in PA and VA so I hope we will see them again.

The day was beautiful, sunny and probably 75 or so but it didn’t feel too hot while hiking. The terrain was generally flat, only a few little ups and downs and very few roots and mud and bugs for once!! My new shoes feel sooo much better. It makes a world of difference to walk on good feet. My blisters are still healing but I wrapped them good and felt almost 100% and was able to walk relatively fast (well, for me at least).

I’m still with the four others and its nice to have our little crew still going. We walked together for a good part of the day rather than the boys speeding ahead so that was a nice change. I forced everyone to play two truths and a lie and ghost while walking which made time fly and had us all laughing. We even did truths and a lie for Mabel (wolf birds dog).

We had planned on just doing 9 miles to the first shelter but we got there early around 3 or so. There were about six others we’d met in monson there already so it was a bit crowded. We all felt good so we decided to keep walking for a while til we found a decent place to stealth camp.

I listened to music as I walked for the first time. I haven’t listened to music much at all in the past two weeks so it felt like a special treat and I was in such a happy mood bopping along down the trail with the sun shining walking next to a beautiful stream and just feeling good and grateful for good feet. I spent a lot of time thinking about everyone I miss back home and across the country. Chances are if you are reading this I probably thought of you and how great you are and how I miss you. It’s hard to describe but I just had this nice serene feeling while walking this afternoon where I saw things in my life in proper perspective. I wasn’t worried or anxious about anything and was content in the current moment and grateful for all the people in my life and happy in the moment doing what I’m doing.

This wonderful day ended with finding a great spot to camp right by a river. We had a campfire and roasted hot dogs and had bacon in addition to our dinners. We just enjoyed each others company and went to bed happy and full.

I think the rest and chance to reenergize both physically and mentally in monson really helped me today and I hope it lasts. We climb a mountain tomorrow and plan to do 10 miles but may do more if we feel good.

There was another day of hiking but I’m too lazy to write up what happened. Yesterday we walked 10.5 miles then got to town!!! Monson, Maine! The end of the 100 mile wilderness, the longest stretch of the AT without a town. It was so exciting to have reached such a milestone.

Thorny had his car so he drove the stinky bunch of us into town. We checked into a hostel which is right on a lake and felt like heaven. It was a relief to take off my hiking shoes and put on my flip flops. I took a shower for the first time in ten days and did laundry. I can’t remember the last time I felt so clean. I’d lost a bunch of weight from burning SO many calories each day and not possibly being able to eat enough to replenish them so I did my best to make up for that by eating a ton. A cheeseburger and fries never tasted so good. Thorny and Popeye drove us into Greenville, the next town over today to get some supplies. I stocked up on lots of stuff to care for my blisters and got new shoes that already feel better on my feet. The best worst uncle ever sent me food he that he selflessly made me and my parents sent some too so due to their kindness I didn’t even have to spend a second worrying about my upcoming meals. Being in town, while tough on my wallet, has been a much needed physical and mental break. My blisters still hurt but are getting slowly better and I feel much more rested and reenergized.

Everyone in town and the other hikers staying here have been so incredibly kind and welcoming and I can already tell that my favorite part of the AT will likely be the people I meet.

We head out hiking again tomorrow morning (after an all you can eat breakfast of course). I’m excited to get going again (and to be carrying less food). Thanks to everyone for their kind words and encouragement. They help far more than you may realize.

I’m running out of time in town to write and post all my blog entries so I’m consolidating/skipping.

Day 7 was East Branch Lean To to Carl A Newhall Lean To
Miles today: 10.8
Total miles: 78.6

We slept in this morning and also slept in the lean to last night for the first time. We spent the morning climbing uphill until a lunch break at Logan brook shelter. Then we continued our climb with a strenuous ascent up to white cap mountain. The views were amazing but it was exhausting. We had lunch at the top and then had a descent then a climb then a descent then a climb and yep you guessed it, another descent and then a climb. My blisters were doing a lot better today thanks entirely to my wonderful hikin partners Sharing athletic tape and wrapping my feet for me. I was more tired than usual throughout the day, I think bc I needed more to eat. I had a package of six cheese cracker sandwiches and at the top of each of the three mountains after White Cap I rewarded myself with two crackers. We got to the shelter after a long downhill around 5 and had dinner. Some northbounders came in around 6 and we talked to them for a bit. Coops dirty mike chino and ace. One was from mass. Long day tomorrow, 16.8. I’m leaving the tape on my blisters as bad and gross for them as it may be because I don’t have enough to retape them the before getting to monson. I hope it holds up because I have two long 16 mile days then only 3 miles and monson!!! And food and showers and beds and 114 miles complete! It’s crazy how much better not being bothered by blisters made my day.

Day 8: Carl A Newhall Lean To to West Chairback Pond

Miles today: 11.6
Total miles: 90.2

James (Wolf Birs) snored so much last night that ray set up his tent in the middle of the night. It was rainy this morning and none of us felt like getting up. Didn’t get hiking til around eight.
Day started out with me falling in the river immediately after the lean to and breaking one of my trekking poles. And getting wet feet. So then I hiked the next five or so miles with just one pole and had to keep alternating sides because one leg Would get an extra work out. Finally I found a good walking stick and used that the rest of the day. The morning was pretty easy, almost all downhill. Forded a river which was knee high and wide but easy to cross. Feet were wet the rest of the day. Then lots of climbs up to chairback mountain. Hiked with brittani all day and ran into Popeye and thorny and mdot. Hiked uphill at Popeye and thornys pace and learned very slow and steady is easier. Got to what we thought was chairback but still had another huge climb. Got to the lean to and James and nick had waited two hours for us even when they wanted to go seven more miles. We convinced them to camp by pond. We found canoes and oars that were unlocked and went out in the pond. So pretty. Ate by pond. Boys caught minnows and ate them whole. Sleeping on an incline. Ugh 17.8 tomorrow. I hope my feet feel better. They are still bad but tape helped before. Then monson day after!!!!!!!!

Stung by a bee today too

Miles today: 16.7
Total miles: 67.8

I didn’t write anything on this day. I don’t remember much because it was so long and tiring and also because my blisters got so bad. We walked 8 miles and then had lunch and napped at a lean to. Then we had 8 more miles. I was lagging way behind the group (5 of us have now pretty much stuck together: Cool Blue, Wolf Bird, Shuffle, Google and me). I remember thinking I was in so much pain I really couldn’t walk more. I kind of had a mental breakdown alone in the woods and came to the conclusion there really was no other option but to suck it up and walk the next 50 ish miles until I get to town and my blisters can heal. At the time I was in bad spirits and at a low point and really thought I couldn’t make it because of how bad my feet hurt. But now after the fact I’m really proud I kept going and made a conscious decision to not let the pain dictate the rest of my day or trip. I tried to ignore it as best I could. My little trail family was beyond kind and helpful, giving me tons of first aid stuff and even wrapping my feet for me. So even though I don’t remember much about this day, it was a low but also high point in that I overcame something I thought I couldn’t.

Miles today: 7.8
Total miles: 51.8

Today was a test in patience. We got up especially early at 4:30 to get going by 5:30 so we could go to White House Landing for breakfast by 8. WHL is a hostel and basically the only place in the 100 mile wilderness where you can get supplies or real food. We didn’t want to stay, we were just going for their breakfast and maaaybe staying for their one pound burgers for lunch. To get there we had to walk 0.9 miles off the trail through tons of mud to a dock where we sounded an air horn. Then we had to wait for them to come across the lake and bring us there by boat.

We got to the dock around 7 after walking three miles. We blew the air horn and waited. We’d be talking up this breakfast since yesterday and thoughts of pancakes got me through some tough uphills. Finally the boat came after waiting a long hour and 15 minutes.

We immediately discovered breakfast was for guests only. In my head I was comforted by the fact we could just wait until 11 for the one pound burgers. BUT NOO. We found out they stopped doing that this year for non guests too. Blasphemy!! We were already on the boat at this point and stuck going there (and we’d planned our entire day around it anyway). We were all disheartened. I may have been most devastated.

We settled for going there and picking up some supplies like bug sprays and dinners for the rest of the wilderness. Well we got there and they told us to wait while they did some chores. A mere THREE HOURS later they let us look at their supplies and buy stuff and then took us back across the lake. It was so frustrating to just sit there while they did their chores at their pretty relaxed pace when we could have been hiking (or eating a great breakfast…). I suppose it was our own fault but it definitely put a damper on our day.

The rest of the day was only six miles and it was easy. The campsite we stayed at was so beautiful and right on a lake. Brittani, trail name Shuffle, Cool Blue, and James, newly named Wolf Bird (I will do a trail name post later.,. Mine is Sherpa) found clams in the lake which we boiled and ate with some spices.

I got really bad blisters on my heels which made hiking difficult. New pains keep appearing! Always an adventure!

Miles today: 13.9
Total miles: 44

I am basing my entry off hastily written notes in my journal so it will be less descriptive.

The first six miles went by quickly but ended with a decent sized mountain/hill. It had an amazing view of Katahdin far away. I can’t believe we have walked that far.

We had an epic lunch at this beautiful sand beach on a lake. We ate our lunches as we sat in the water. We took a long break and swam around in the crystal clear water with no one else around. What a way to spend the Fourth of July.

There were still about 6 miles to go after lunch. The last two were killing me and felt endless. My little toes felt better but now I have blisters that were killing me. At one point I went the wrong way on the trail and for some reason went as far to climb under fallen trees to follow what I thought was the trail. That was frustrating.

Overall it was a good but long day. The 100 mile wilderness is taking longer than I originally expected and is hard but I’m glad I’m with a group. Also even the fit guys in the group are struggling and tired so I’m glad it’s not just me who is worn out at the end of each day.