What a day! It started out with me in a bad mood and seriously considering quiting. Last night it rained so hard, I kept waking up and Pirate didn't sleep at all. He seriously read all night! The rain was crazy! Then when I got out of bed, I didn't want to put on all my wet, gritty, stuff - again - for the who knows how many times in a row. I got a late start (9:30 a.m.) and had 14 miles to go. Once I got moving, I started to feel a little better, but I really missed talking to "Ground Support". Last time we talked it was rushed, not long enough, and it was a while ago.
So I started praying and talking myself through it, determined I wasn't going to let the stupid weather be the factor that ended my hike before I even finished the first state. -granted, Maine has almost 300 miles of trail on the AT (all of it water and mud logged). The weather has been so depressing and discouraging. I don't expect sunshine and fluffy clouds the whole time, but I also didn't think it was going to rain or be cold and overcast 22 out of 24 days. This is Maine's wettest June ever recorded. Ha! Just my luck.
So back to today. Well, the sun did peek out from the clouds, and I got excited because I was trying to go up and over Baldpate Mtn. today, and it was supposedly really slabby on the South side, which translates to really slippery. At 2:00 p.m.ish I was taking a lunch break at the worst stream crossing ever (who puts a stream crossing 20 feet up stream of a waterfall?!?) Once again, it started to rain! Ahhhhhh, come back sunny, blue sky! Also, thunder may or may not have been heard... anyway, I became determined to not let the Maine weather set me back AGAIN and started booking it up the mountain. I had a 4-mile up hill to the first shelter and then another 3.5 miles up a steep mountain, over a peak, down and up another peak and then a super steep decent to the shelter before I would call it a day. So I decided to at least stop at the first lean-to and see what the weather might do. When I got there it was sunny, blue sky and very, very distant thunder. It was only 4 p.m. so I decided to go for it! I met some people coming down who said the weather didn't look too bad up top, and I could probably make it. Off I went with purpose. When I got above the tree line, I looked around for a last chance decision 'to go for Big' or turn around and go back to the first lean-to.
The thunder was coming from several miles away, and it was moving parallel to me, but away from me (follow?). Off I went to the first peak! Then the clouds rolled in. Not loud, thunderey clouds, but not light, fluffy dream clouds either. I was stuck. It was too far to turn around and I couldn't tell what was up and over the second peak. The only real option I had was to keep pushing and find nearby shelter (a loose interpretation of the word when the trees are only 5-6 feet tall)as I hiked on. I also prayed a lot for the second time today, because the cairns were hard to follow (the rock piles marking the trail) and I had no time to waste time trying to find the trail. Then there was this whole lightning thing...
From the first peak to the second peak was only 0.9 mile and then 0.6 mile after that to the shelter. Once I finally got to the second peak, I still had a steep decent. Keep in mind, it is now thundering and lightening around me, in the distance, but getting closer and darker! (darker from the clouds) and I have done about 6.5 miles up and down mountains with out a break or a snack - I did eat a Twix bar on the run between the two peaks, but not much of a lunch or restful break. I wasn't sure if I was out of the woods yet (or in the woods as one would prefer to be in a lightning storm.) As far as the storm was concerned, when I got to the crazy steep downhill, I was so relieved because now I had something taller than me, but I still wanted to beat the storm. Half way down, I saw it.... FLASH one. two. three. four. five. BOOMOOOOMOOOM! One mile away. More distant thunder and then the woods got dark! I mean, DARK!!! Like I almost needed my headlamp, to see, dark. "Oh God, Oh God, Oh God!!! Get me to the shelter PLEASE!" After 10 minutes or so I see it again. FLASH! one. two. three. four. five. six. seven. eight. nine. BOOMOOMOOM! Two miles away. Better! But still too close. Now the woods get ever darker!
Finally, after five more minutes of jumping over rocks and roots and trying to work my way down the slick (water was still running down it from last night) steep slope, I see the sign for the shelter. Point two miles!! Small rain drops fall. I start to run, I mean sprint with a 30-pound pack over roots, rocks and streams with low light. I ran as fast and as long as I could (which put me about 100 yards from the shelter when I stopped to catch my breath.) I went as fast as I could the rest of the way. Then I see it... The Lean-to!!! I jogged into the lean-to and find Brunch and two other people. The the Heavens OPEN UP! I mean it starts to pour rain with loud thunder and humongous bolts of lightening less than 30 seconds after I get under the roof. Talk about God answering prayers!!! Wow! I got lucky today and I found out I have more than one Guardian Angel watching over me! (Thank you, Lord!)
Relax now, It's over. Nobody got hurt or wet.
So... How was your 4th of July Holiday weekend?
Zombie
Journal July 2, 2009 (Thurs.) Trail Day 23 (AT Mile 247.1 - 250.5)
It seems as I have been hitting towns like it's my job. It is too much; going into towns kills the desire to hike and it keeps you from getting into a good hiking pattern. First, there was the extra night in Stratton, then a short hpe to Rangeley (got in on the 4th day out of Stratton), then today, Brunch and I went into Andover for mail and resupply to get us to Gorham, NH. After Gorham, I'm not going into a town until I've done 70 - 100 miles. Besides, towns cost money and are filled with "To-Do Lists".
For example:
Hiking Day To Do List
Town To Do List
See what I mean? Hiking is my job and towns are the chores done on the week-end. I don't know why people hike the AT to escape real life - I'm out here so I don't have to pay taxes... J K!
The government will still find a way to tax the homeless and unemployed folks (as a minimum, there is sales tax anyway)
The rain is still coming, but we're almost out of Maine, 30 miles to go baby! I found a good quote in the register here @ Hall Mt. Lean-to. "I wish I had an intertube, it would make the trail go by a whole lot faster. - Lost Rob" It is so true at this point, but New Hampshire is going through the same (weather) stuff apparently.
I met a NoBo in Rangeley named "Easy Going". He was the nicest NoBo yet. He is only carrying 10-20 lbs. TOTAL! That includes food & water! Crazy! But he really earned his name. A lot of North bounders so far, have been pretty stuck-up on themselves and are kinda - or just down right - rude to SoBo's when we talk about the trail. We get it...you've been doing this for longer, get over yourself! But Easy Going ws cool, and let us talk about trail conditions without belittling us.
Yesterday I came up with two great ideas: 1) Create a hiker's cookbook with nutrition information in it and 2) Kelly's trail name is "Ground Support". (I know Mom has done a lot too, so her trail name can be "Mom".) Because Kelly has done soooo much to help out and I decided she needed a trail name because it is almost like she is here. (Just without the pretty face, good laughs, and constant companionship.) The Cookbook's name? Zombie & Ground Support's Thru-Hike CookBook.
I like the sound of "Zombie & Ground Support". So I hope Kelly likes it, 'cause she's stuck with it.
Well enough for one night,
Zombie
P.S. I'm past 3 weeks, and am starting to feel in hiker shape!
For example:
Hiking Day To Do List
- Hike
- Eat
- Get to the Shelter
- Sleep
Town To Do List
- Get to Hostel
- Buy Food
- Check Mail
- Get Cash
- Laundry
- Forward Bump Box
- Find Places to eat
- Pay for everything
- E-mail / call people
- no hiking
See what I mean? Hiking is my job and towns are the chores done on the week-end. I don't know why people hike the AT to escape real life - I'm out here so I don't have to pay taxes... J K!
The government will still find a way to tax the homeless and unemployed folks (as a minimum, there is sales tax anyway)
The rain is still coming, but we're almost out of Maine, 30 miles to go baby! I found a good quote in the register here @ Hall Mt. Lean-to. "I wish I had an intertube, it would make the trail go by a whole lot faster. - Lost Rob" It is so true at this point, but New Hampshire is going through the same (weather) stuff apparently.
I met a NoBo in Rangeley named "Easy Going". He was the nicest NoBo yet. He is only carrying 10-20 lbs. TOTAL! That includes food & water! Crazy! But he really earned his name. A lot of North bounders so far, have been pretty stuck-up on themselves and are kinda - or just down right - rude to SoBo's when we talk about the trail. We get it...you've been doing this for longer, get over yourself! But Easy Going ws cool, and let us talk about trail conditions without belittling us.
Yesterday I came up with two great ideas: 1) Create a hiker's cookbook with nutrition information in it and 2) Kelly's trail name is "Ground Support". (I know Mom has done a lot too, so her trail name can be "Mom".) Because Kelly has done soooo much to help out and I decided she needed a trail name because it is almost like she is here. (Just without the pretty face, good laughs, and constant companionship.) The Cookbook's name? Zombie & Ground Support's Thru-Hike CookBook.
I like the sound of "Zombie & Ground Support". So I hope Kelly likes it, 'cause she's stuck with it.
Well enough for one night,
Zombie
P.S. I'm past 3 weeks, and am starting to feel in hiker shape!
NY City fun, a train ride back, then a quiet walk to the next town... Fort Montgomery, NY AT Mile 785.7 August 19, 2009
Andrew had a really fun time in NYC, and enjoyed surprising his friends. Kelly's reaction was priceless! The friends played really hard, and he sounded tired on the train ride back to Pawling, NY, late Sunday.
His trail buddy, Brunch, called him Sunday morning, and met him in NYC about lunch time. Brunch told Andrew he had decided he was going to get off the trail. Originally he and Andrew were going to meet back at the Shelter outside of Pawling, but Sunday night Andrew hiked it alone. Brunch said he was no longer enjoying his hike, so it was time to return home, college classes were starting back up, so it was a good time. Brunch brought Andrew "some trail magic" and gave him the food he'd bought since he was on his way home. Andrew wasn't able walk to a good place to resupply so he appreciated the trail kindness. Brunch - if you read this - email me and I'll bake you a batch of cookies as a "thank you".
Andrew shared with me that it was hard heading out Monday when plans changed, but by lunch he was feeling better, and by night fall he had fallen back into the rhythm of the trail. Tuesday morning he woke up ready to go, and glad to be back on his journey. I asked did he still want to continue hiking, and he said "definitely!" He said, "I'm not finished with the trail, and the trail is not finished with me."
Today, the trail cut thru town, so Andrew was quick to make his mail pick- up, have a Bar-b-que lunch, a quick call home then on his way toward Unionville, NY. He should make Unionville before the PO closes on Sat. the 22nd. He laughed, and said he "blew out another pair of liner socks" and realized the next resupply town was probably up to a week away. One thing about Andrew, he is resourceful and I'm sure he'll make-do! :-)
Happy Summer Days,
Mom / Harriet
New York City!!! August 12 - 16, 2009 (no AT mile markers here...)
Andrew hopped off the trail Tuesday night just outside Pawling, NY to shower up, do his laundry, pick up the clothes we had mailed to him so he could catch the train to New York City... He has been planning this surprise trip to see Kelly, and several other friends that were meeting up for a few days before they all headed off to Grad School. Kelly and Julie arrived by bus (from D.C.) Thursday, about midnight, and others arrive today, more will join them tomorrow. Andrew didn't post to the Spot, because he didn't want the friends to catch on, but his Dad and I have talked to him each day, and have enjoyed his adventures.
He made it into 'the City' Wednesday afternoon, bought a map, and has discovered it is a terrific place! Can't wait to see his pictures and find out all the places he's visited. Two college friends share an apartment in NYC and were gracious to allow the doorman let Andrew in to their apartment when he arrived so he didn't have to carry his pack around all day. Besides, there are a lot of places that just wouldn't understand that a knife or fuel for a camping stove as something one typically carries for their day... all things to consider.
Andrew was up early, and wandered over to The Today Show Thursday morning. NBC didn't catch him on their camera, but he had a fun time watching it all. I teased him and suggested he should have gone with a poster that said "I walked 750 miles to be here and wave hello !" Always quick witted, Andrew said he "was looking for that poster board he had in his pack, but couldn't find it yet." I told him it probably got soggy in Maine - where he had 20 days of rain :-).
Andrew will take the train out Sunday, picking up his place where he departed the AT .
Happy trails,
Mom / Harriet
33% complete!! Kent, CT AT Mile 722.5 August 9, 2009
Andrew logged in at Kent, CT last night. He is exactly 1/3 the way on his journey. He called from Salisbury, CT the day before and was happy, healthy, and having a wonderful brunch, getting ready to resupply, and head out. I asked for more journal pages, and his camera card to be mailed since we are now up to date - except for a few photo captions...
Thanks for all the interest on his whereabouts. So far, all is well :-)
Mom/ Harriet
Thanks for all the interest on his whereabouts. So far, all is well :-)
Mom/ Harriet
Journal June 30, 2009 (Tues.)Trail Day 21
So where was I?
Oh yes, thunder and lightning.
So we decided the best course of action would be going back to Stratton to dry out and try again the next day. As we are heading down, the hail comes. It wasn't big - it was HUGE! (kinda. Anything is huge when you're stuck in the middle without cover). Well, we make it down to the road and called Sue from the Stratton Motel to come pick us up. We were so bummed out that the mountain beat us, but glad to be okay. Back in Stratton, we grabbed come Wolf Burgers (1/2 lb. hamburger, sausage patty, bacon, swiss, mushroom, lettuce, tomato, onions, and a big side of fries) and more beer (not too much) and have a low-key movie night while our stuff dried out.
The next day we head out at 8:30 and talk about how bad it felt to re-hike that portion of trail for a third time. The rest of our day was fairly uneventful until we got to the Carabassett River. The Carabassett drains Crocker and Sugarloaf mountains (we had come down Crocker and wanted to go up and over Sugarloaf) and because of all the rain from the last 2 days, it was now swollen. I'm talking mega flows; what was typically a Class I rapid was now a Class III+.
Needless to say we weren't going to cross it and couldn't find a calmer place up or downstream to cross. So we headed back 1 mile to teh Crocker Cirque Campsite. We were all discouraged because of the amount of backtracking and lack of progress over the last couple days.
It has rained off and on since I left Monson and it is starting to wear me down. Yesterday and the 28th it rained for the better part of 2 days and the sun hasn't come out for more than a couple hours and it has been cold!
Yesterday it poured starting the night before and then all day. The trail was a creek with water up to our knees at some areas and the mud is ridiculous. I went up and over Saddleback Mountain yesterady which had 3 miles of exposed ridgeline and the wind and rain was crazy. It reminded me of when I was on Katahdin, only wetter. Yesterday was pretty high on the suck factor - it just wore me down, having to go back into town so soon, but it was nice to know I could warm up, dry out, re-stock, and sleep in a real bed for the first time since Monson. I stayed at the Gull Pond Lodge with Brunch, BK, Snacks, and a NOBO named Easy Going. Pirate stayed at the lean-to right outside of town and will be in later to check mail and resupply. Back on the trail late - it's nice to take it easy in town - and 9 miles to the next lean-to. More bad weather expected.
Love you guys and hi to all.
Zombie
Oh yes, thunder and lightning.
So we decided the best course of action would be going back to Stratton to dry out and try again the next day. As we are heading down, the hail comes. It wasn't big - it was HUGE! (kinda. Anything is huge when you're stuck in the middle without cover). Well, we make it down to the road and called Sue from the Stratton Motel to come pick us up. We were so bummed out that the mountain beat us, but glad to be okay. Back in Stratton, we grabbed come Wolf Burgers (1/2 lb. hamburger, sausage patty, bacon, swiss, mushroom, lettuce, tomato, onions, and a big side of fries) and more beer (not too much) and have a low-key movie night while our stuff dried out.
The next day we head out at 8:30 and talk about how bad it felt to re-hike that portion of trail for a third time. The rest of our day was fairly uneventful until we got to the Carabassett River. The Carabassett drains Crocker and Sugarloaf mountains (we had come down Crocker and wanted to go up and over Sugarloaf) and because of all the rain from the last 2 days, it was now swollen. I'm talking mega flows; what was typically a Class I rapid was now a Class III+.
Needless to say we weren't going to cross it and couldn't find a calmer place up or downstream to cross. So we headed back 1 mile to teh Crocker Cirque Campsite. We were all discouraged because of the amount of backtracking and lack of progress over the last couple days.
It has rained off and on since I left Monson and it is starting to wear me down. Yesterday and the 28th it rained for the better part of 2 days and the sun hasn't come out for more than a couple hours and it has been cold!
Yesterday it poured starting the night before and then all day. The trail was a creek with water up to our knees at some areas and the mud is ridiculous. I went up and over Saddleback Mountain yesterady which had 3 miles of exposed ridgeline and the wind and rain was crazy. It reminded me of when I was on Katahdin, only wetter. Yesterday was pretty high on the suck factor - it just wore me down, having to go back into town so soon, but it was nice to know I could warm up, dry out, re-stock, and sleep in a real bed for the first time since Monson. I stayed at the Gull Pond Lodge with Brunch, BK, Snacks, and a NOBO named Easy Going. Pirate stayed at the lean-to right outside of town and will be in later to check mail and resupply. Back on the trail late - it's nice to take it easy in town - and 9 miles to the next lean-to. More bad weather expected.
Love you guys and hi to all.
Zombie
Journal June 27, 2009 Trail Day 18 (Sat.)
Sorry it's been so long.
Stratton has been a disaster! Everything was fine on Thursday when we left Horns Pond and got a ride into town. I got a 16" pizza with pepperoni and pineapple for $13 and a 6-pack to wash it down, did laundry, and hung out. I got some items from the bump box and made my food list. I also got to talk to Mom and Dad. (Mom...if you make me more cookies, how 'bout throwing a few Dad's and Scott's way?) But I missed [talking to] Kelly.
I stayed at the Stratton Motel with the group of guys from Horns Pond Lean-tos, but because Pirate and I got there later we got the two couches - no biggie, they were long enough ane softer than the lean-to floors. We were supposed to leave Friday morning at 9:00 AM but didn't get on the road 'till 10:30 because nobody was really ready to go. I got Kelly's letter Friday morning (thought it wasn't going to come in time) and sent her a letter - it was a bit rushed and all over the place but I got it out. Then we headed out to the trail.
BK & Snacks, +1, Pirate, Owl/Brunch and I were going to hike to a campsite about 7 miles in becaues of our late start. We felt the lean-to 13 miles away would have us coming into camp too late. Aloebar/Stratton Outlaw was too hungover (that's why he got the new name "Stratton Outlaw") and Clownshoes had to go to Rangeley to buy a new pack. Outlaw and Clownshoes were going to yellowblaze it to a different spot and hike back a mile to meet up with the group.
So the other 6 of us start hiking and after about 4 miles, Brunch shows up and says he's been to the summit and the weather looks bad. As soon as he says that, it starts raining. So we keep hiking about 1/2 mile in some pretty hard rain and then the lightning starts. We were close to the summit and pretty exposed. The lightning and thunder was not only all around us, but it was right above us. We had a problem: do we hike down to better cover, or should we spread out and get on our packs to insulate us from a strike (hopefully)?
We decided to hike down but act fast, if our hair got tingly. The thunder was right on top of us, there was anywhere from 1/2-10 seconds between lightning and thunder - meaning it was anywhere from 0-2 miles away and it was not moving.
Well, I'm beat and will have to finish tomorrow.
Zombie
P.S. Spoiler alert! We did survive.
Stratton has been a disaster! Everything was fine on Thursday when we left Horns Pond and got a ride into town. I got a 16" pizza with pepperoni and pineapple for $13 and a 6-pack to wash it down, did laundry, and hung out. I got some items from the bump box and made my food list. I also got to talk to Mom and Dad. (Mom...if you make me more cookies, how 'bout throwing a few Dad's and Scott's way?) But I missed [talking to] Kelly.
I stayed at the Stratton Motel with the group of guys from Horns Pond Lean-tos, but because Pirate and I got there later we got the two couches - no biggie, they were long enough ane softer than the lean-to floors. We were supposed to leave Friday morning at 9:00 AM but didn't get on the road 'till 10:30 because nobody was really ready to go. I got Kelly's letter Friday morning (thought it wasn't going to come in time) and sent her a letter - it was a bit rushed and all over the place but I got it out. Then we headed out to the trail.
BK & Snacks, +1, Pirate, Owl/Brunch and I were going to hike to a campsite about 7 miles in becaues of our late start. We felt the lean-to 13 miles away would have us coming into camp too late. Aloebar/Stratton Outlaw was too hungover (that's why he got the new name "Stratton Outlaw") and Clownshoes had to go to Rangeley to buy a new pack. Outlaw and Clownshoes were going to yellowblaze it to a different spot and hike back a mile to meet up with the group.
So the other 6 of us start hiking and after about 4 miles, Brunch shows up and says he's been to the summit and the weather looks bad. As soon as he says that, it starts raining. So we keep hiking about 1/2 mile in some pretty hard rain and then the lightning starts. We were close to the summit and pretty exposed. The lightning and thunder was not only all around us, but it was right above us. We had a problem: do we hike down to better cover, or should we spread out and get on our packs to insulate us from a strike (hopefully)?
We decided to hike down but act fast, if our hair got tingly. The thunder was right on top of us, there was anywhere from 1/2-10 seconds between lightning and thunder - meaning it was anywhere from 0-2 miles away and it was not moving.
Well, I'm beat and will have to finish tomorrow.
Zombie
P.S. Spoiler alert! We did survive.
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