Friday, July 6, 2012

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Day 17 (I'm starting to count total days)
Soooooo it's been raining for 4 days straight. We left the cabin this morning at 5 a.m. and attempted to summit Sugarloaf Mountain. Lots of hikers are stuck in Stratton because a river 9 miles down the trail is flooded and uncrossable. We skipped those 9 miles , but made up for it in difficulty going up Sugarloaf. The winds were easily 70mph on the summit and it was hella cold! We ended up getting to the lean- to today at around 9 in the morning haha so we have been laying around all day. I took a nap and ate some of my wonderful snacks that mom and dad sent me. It's been chilly so I've been cooped up in my sleeping bag reading all day. I'm not complaining though. Tomorrow we have a 15 mile day and will be in Andover in 5 days. What's even better is that we will be out of the god forsaken state of Maine in 12 days and taking a zero day(no hiking day) in Gorham, NH!!!! I can't wait! Well it's getting late(6:30) and its going to be a long day so I will say goodnight and I'll update tomorrow.
Day 18
It rained last night and into part of this morning. Luckily when we got started today the sky cleared up and we set off. The first 8 miles today have been easy. We started roughly around 7 and just finished lunch halfway through the day at 11:45. The next 8 miles, however, are gonna be a little tough. We have to go over 3 mountains with the highest one being 4120 feet. The thing about mountains in Maine is that they wait and gain all of the elevation within the last half mile of climbing. Soooo dumb! Anyways I was reflecting today and thought how amazing it is that not 20 days ago the people I'm hiking with right now were complete strangers and now I know almost everything about them. It shows what walking in the woods all day with someone can do haha. Well I'm done with lunch and ready to knock out these last 8 miles to the lean-to. Hopefully they won't be too bad :/
The climb up to Saddleback Junior was tough, but what really got me was the descent. It killed my knees and my legs. The Horn and Saddleback mountain though we're well worth the effort. From The Horn to Saddleback mountain it was all above tree line. It was absolutely gorgeous. Then the descent from Saddleback sucked. It's like the M.A.T.C. isn't even maintaining the trails. Oh well. Daryl and I are going to hitch into Rangeley to get some more food. On to how I'm doing. Physically I'm doing just fine. I'm getting my trail legs pretty well, but my ankles are sore from lack of support from my shoes. I have new shoes coming in 4 days though :) mentally I'm fine as well. The days get tougher and at the end of those days suck, but my spirits are high because I know every day is a new day! Well here are the pictures and video. Goodnight!
Day 19
Town day!!!!!!! We went into Rangeley to get some snacky snacks and some gear for Lizzie. There was an IGA so you can imagine I went crazy. A dozen donuts, lipton side dinner, more granola and some more snickers. Mom, I promise that I won't eat like this when I get home. Well we got in and out of town in 3 hours then hiked another 9 to a lean-to right on a pond. I had packed in a ham sandwich which made my arrival that much better! My shoes are torn apart. Thank God I'm 2 days away from new shoes! Here are today's pictures.
Day 20
It's officially been 20 days since I started and I'm doin' great! Today we did 10 miles. We hit a highway halfway through the day where we say down and had a nice relaxing lunch. Right after lunch we were going down a hill when I slipped and snapped my pole. Hiking up hills with only one pole is a lot harder than with two. I'm in the lean-to now about ready to climb in my sleeping bag. I think I'm gonna end every days posts with a question that I think about during the day. Today's question is: Why does American society or even society in general need to be so complicated and fast paced? Here are today's pictures.
Day 21
We made it into Andover today an are staying at the Pine Ellis Lodge. One thing I don't like and I feel is reoccurring is how the hostels slightly take advantage of the hikers once their inside town because your kinda stick at that point. Oh well. It's a cheap nights stay in a real bed instead of a wooden plank.
Day 23
Sorry I've missed a few days. I guess I've been hiking a lot. Funny how that works huh?.....anyways today was a pretty tough day. Landon, Daryl and I did 17 miles today over Baldpate mountain today. The mountain had a steep incline and sheer rock faces. It was beautiful and the views were breathtaking from the top. Were stealth camping off the side of the trail tonight right near the Grafton Notch parking lot. Tomorrow were planning on hiking 13 miles over the Mahoosuc arm and notch. These two sections are said to be the most difficult 2 miles of the entire AT. It's settin' up to be a pretty tough day. My new shoes came in two days ago and I couldn't have asked for a better fit and the high impact insoles make a world of a difference on the downhills.
I'm getting really excited to be out of Maine in two days. Though this is only one state completed in a string of 14 total, but it's a big state and honestly some of the hardest mentally taxing and physically exhausting trail that I've ever done. NH brings on a new challenge in the form of the White Mountains and the Presidential mountain range. Once I get past that though its essentially smooth sailing from there though. I'm really looking forward to that. I'd also like to say thank you to all of you that send words of encouragement and positive thoughts towards me. It truly is things like that that help me get through my walk in the woods. You'd be surprised how challenging its been mentally so far especially when leaving a town to go back to smelling awful and feeling sticky in your sleeping bag, but like Stitch told me its all about managing your tolerance for being uncomfortable. I couldn't agree more. Ok. Here's my question of the day and one picture of my shoes.
Have you thought of doing something ( for example, a thru hike for me) that seemed so daunting or huge to accomplish that it kept you from doing it?
Day 24
First off I would like to wish everyone a happy independence day. I am very envious of your fireworks and BBQ! My fourth was not as enjoyable unfortunately. Landon and I decided to do 14 miles today up and over Mahoosuc Arm and notch. We started with a big climb up Old Spec Mtn. and down a couple up to the Arm. It was slippery rock the whole way down and then we hit the Notch. It's called the hardest mile of the AT because it's nothing but rock scrambles. Oh and I forgot to mention that it rained all day. I have to say that today has been the most emotional taxing day I've had out on the trail so far. The last 2 miles of today were so hard and on top of that my food intake today was minimal so needless to say I was dragging.
On a good note, I currently am .6 of a mile from the NH border!!!! I have gone 281.2 miles and am literally a 15 minute walk tomorrow from getting he hell out of this horrible state. Maine, in my book, gets the award for the worst maintained trails, most roots rocks and mud I have ever seen and walked on in all my time hiking. Oh well. I can't do anything about it. Anyways, it's 17 miles to Gorham and were gonna make that by tomorrow night. We're gonna stay by the road tomorrow night, but head into town on Friday morning for a well deserved zero day and some McDonalds breakfast! Well goodnight for now. I'm off to dream land.
Day 25
I'm in Gorham for some much needed R and R!

1 comment:

  1. Some great pics, son! I know you are looking forward to a "0 day". Enjoy it! Love, Mom & Dad

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