AT Hike Summer 2011: June 2011

Sunday, June 26, 2011

6/26

(start 10. finish 5. Mark noepel shelter. 14 miles)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=42.60847,-73.18445&ll=42.60847,-73.18445&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Newtons 2nd law states that in order to change the motion of an object, a net force need to be applied. That was me this morning. I did not want to leave the comfort (and dryness) of Tom's home. I was so tempted to take a 0 day (0 miles of hiking). But finally I said f*ck it. I am suppose to be on a hiking trip so I better getting hiking you pussy. Motion, change is hard. It requires a force. And forces usually require energy and bring pain. Take the plunge.

I decided instead of 21 miles today and 9 miles tomorrow that I would do 15 and 15. The other day when I did 19 miles I tweaked my hamstring, my feet were very sore and my ankles were a little sore. So I'm thinking I'll try to average 15 miles a day for week 2. Then maybe 18 miles a day for week 3 and replan after that.

Today was a decent elevation change and a fairly big climb. First up 800, down 1200, then up 1800. It felt good. I would rather go up than coming down. Up requires more energy, but going down hurts my knees and ankles and kills my quads. (that's what she said... Why would she say that?!?!)

Today was really funny. There was like a mile straight of horrible mud. As soon as it got dry they had a boardwalk section. I don't know who planned or designed that.

Dude, I was chilling with this real cool dude tonight at the shelter, Pipe. He offered everybody everything. He takes it day by day out here. He hikes with a fishing poll. Whenever he come across a virgin pond, he justs chills out and fishes for a day or two. He was an iPhone genius. He had crazy apps to help him out with whatever you think you might need with out here. I was able to give him a guide book. I was carrying two because one has stuff the other doesn't and I like to have both. But I'll be more than okay with one and I was happy to help.

I SHOULD BE IN VERMONT TOMORROW!!!!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Update again

6/24

(start 7:20. Finish 6:40. October mtn shelter. 19.2 miles)

(spot didnt work)

Long, wet day. I haven't been dry in a while. It's rained a lot and the woods are wet, foggy and humid. Everything I have is wet. I'm happy with the miles I hiked today. My fitness is getting better.

6/25

(start 11:00. Finish 1:00. Dalton, MA)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=42.47174,-73.15671&ll=42.47174,-73.15671&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Walked 3 miles than yellow blazed into Dalton. It's finally not raining. And it's sunny. I'm gonna be able to dry my stuff out. Yay!!!!

This dude in town helps out hikers. Let's them sleep on his porch, tent in his yard, shower, drives to mall. So I'm now sitting in the mall. The other hikers here are in the movie theater and I just walked around. I got some food to resupply at EMS and Target and bought an ice cream!!! I smell really bad and look like a hobo. It's great the expressions I put on people's faces.

I was hiking with Alice when we hitched into Dalton. We caught an awesome hitch. The guy was me on steroids on political views. He is planning on moving to Laos in a small village that their lives are based are the rice season and harvest. He has a good grip on realizing that 'we the people' don't really have a say in our government. That it's run by corporations and small, rich, powerful, multinational groups that have their best interests in mind. He wants out. The simple life, an honest, wholesome life.

The goal is a 21 mile day tomorrow, so I'm gonna try to get an early start and then slow and steady hiking. I have a 2500 feet climb. Time to test the goods.

Update

6/19

(start 8:15. Finish 6:00 at limestone spring shelter. 12.8 miles)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=41.98045,-73.39252&ll=41.98045,-73.39252&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

This is the kind of day I live for. I walked into a cute lil hick town and ate at a country cafe where the owner was the cook, the food was fresh and delicious. Then after that great meal, i came across a huge waterfall where a lot of locals were hanging out, swimming, sun bathing. I jumped off a 15 foot cliff into the water. I know thats not high, but I don't like heights and it was fun. Then a lady gave me 3 menthol cigarettes. There was a cute chick I was talking to too and I got the impression was feeling me. Only god knows why, I'm sure I looked terrible and smelled worse. Not to mention it was an absolute beautiful day weather wise. If I believed in god, I'd be thanking him right now. But I don't, so I guess I finish typing, eat my dinner and smoke one of those cigarettes.

6/20

(start 7:30. Finish 9 AM. Salisbury 3.9 miles)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=41.98556,-73.42352&ll=41.98556,-73.42352&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Walked into town of Salisbury. Staying with Maria Mcabe, hostel. Resupply. Shower. Wash clothes... On the short hike in this morning I saw a bear. It was awesome. The instant adrenaline rush is the natural drug. I didnt get a good picture of him tho. The terrain didn't allow me chase him down for a pic. He was small and just leisurely walking about.

6/21

(start 9:40 Finish 6:20. @ Hemlock shelter. 14.1 miles )

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=42.10995,-73.42844&ll=42.10995,-73.42844&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

HAPPY SUMMER SOLSTICE. Longest day of the year! And also HIKE NAKED DAY ON THE TRAIL.

Today was an amazing day. It was a very difficult day of hiking because I had to go up and down 3 mountains (elevation change of 5600 ft ). It was amazing because I felt so strong. I never felt tired or that I needed a break. That gives me high hopes that in a week or two I'll be in pretty good shape.

I didn't hike naked today because no one wants to see a fat, hairy man's body. And it's a good thing too, because I saw lots of day hikers and a group of 8 teenagers.

After the resupply, I'm carrying 5 days worth of food. I plan to resupply again in Dalton Mass in five days (70.2 miles). Today I thought my pack was going to feel heavy, but it really didn't. It was great the past few days on the trail bc most of my food was gone so my pack was very light... When I started my pack was 31 pounds with 4 days of food and 2 liters of water.

I'm really going to try not to stay at another hostel or at least not for a long time. I don't want to stay in civilization and I also dont want to spend a lot of money.

Oh yea and I crossed into MASS today. I'm wicked syked to pahk a cah at a hahvad bah and f*ck up some smaht kids.

This is the second night so far I'm all by myself. It's very quiet!!!!

6/22

(start 10:30 finish 6:30. @ Tom Leonard shelter. 14.4 miles )

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=42.16496,-73.30597&ll=42.16496,-73.30597&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

It was tough leaving the shelter this morning. It was raining pretty heavy and starting the hike wet really sucks. I waited a little bit in hopes of the rain passing but to no avail so I just got after it. It rained the whole day and I had no shelter from it. I ate lunch in the rain, took breaks in the rain, hiked in the rain.

I'm in a shelter with a bunch of nubes: weekend hikers who have no clue what they're doing. They take up way too much room in the shelter. I kind of wished this on myself. While approaching the shelter I was hoping it wasnt going to be empty. I didn't want to spend back to back nights alone. Well there is 12 people now and I'm wishing I was alone. Oh well.

Dude a purcipine just passed through. I had the perfect picture of him and just as i was about to snap the picture, it said replace battery. By the time I switched batteries he ran off, weak!!!

I can't stop eating. I'm eating beyond what I was calling a days supply, so I'm gonna try to hitch into town tomorrow to pick up some extra food.

I was a little tired today. My feet were pretty sore towards the end of the day. My legs muscles are doing ok. No joint pain. And my anaerobic endurance is already improving so much (going up hill). I'm planning a 11 mile day tomorrow to take it easy then an 19 miler the next day.

6/23

(start 8. Finish 5:30. Shaker campsite. 11.2 miles )

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=42.25212,-73.22449&ll=42.25212,-73.22449&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

I had an interesting hitch hiking experience today. I decided i didn't have enough food so I planned on a quick hitch for some food. Well a very older gentleman picked me up. I had a choice- east 4 miles to a general store or 4 miles west to a town. Because the book had listed the east first, I choose that direction and little country stores have been awesome in the past. So I get in his car and he takes me east. Halfway there he tells me that the store had closed down. So now Im heading in the wrong direction. So the guy tells me that he just has to stop at his house then he'll take me to the town west. Cool. So when the guy gets out of his house, I tell him I love the neighborhood. It was a great little neighborhood in the mountains. SO the guy proceeds to show me all around his town. Look at this, look at that. I'm thinking great dude, I'm hungry and I still have 9 miles to hike today, but whatever. Then I look at his gas gauge and it's below empty. I'm like SHIT. I'm gonna get stuck in the middle of nowhere, miles from the trail with some poor old man. So I tell him about the gas issue and he's shocked. Now hes on a mission to get to a gas station. Well it only took one turn for him to forget about the gas issue and start showing me more real estate and also pulling into any farm to see if they have a market so I could buy food. I had to politely keep reminding him about getting gas. It was painful. He was sweet. I didn't want to be mean. So then he finally finds a gas station and tells me good luck. Like thats where hes dropping me. I almost said something like dude after all that time you can't take me another 3 miles to town? But I felt too bad and just started hiking to town. I caught one hitch into town but she couldn't take me all the way in either so I walked most of the distance.

IT WAS WET!!! it rained pretty much all day. All of my stuff got wet. I pushed hard to get to the campsite so I was pretty tired when I got there and all I could think of was eating. It was still pouring at this point so I set my tent up in the rain. I set it up and ATE like a champ. As soon as i finished it stopped raining. So all my stuff got wet for no reason. But at the same time I had no reason to believe it would stop raining bc it didn't start all day. I really must love it out here bc through all this gloomy rain, constant wet feet, constant wet crotch, smelly clothes I haven't thought of quitting yet. There have definitely been tough times. The miles are tough, my feet have been hurting and Maine is still 650 miles away. But everyday brings something new and I love that. Everyday I se new things, I eat lunch and dinner in a new place. It's awesome.

Monday, June 20, 2011

BEAR

Holy Shit!! I just saw a bear. Awesome!! Small, alone black bear just peacefully wandering

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Water fall

I hope this video shows up... I just jumped off these rocks into the water. So refreshing. I was scared. Not a fan of heights. I'm counting this as my first shower. My socks were so dirty and stiff they could stand up on there own...

HAPPY FATHER's DAY

Thank you Russ for everything you've done for me. You are amazing. You're the best.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

6/18

(start 9:15 finish 6:15 at Pine Swamp Brook shelter. 10 miles)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=41.88189,-73.39166&ll=41.88189,-73.39166&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Fairly sore. Big blister staring on Inside heel of right foot. A little chafe in crotch area. I've never had that problem before. When you gain 30 lbs, I guess your legs are goin to start to rub together... Came across an awesome camp site in the middle of the woods. It had a water pump, benches, and a swing seat. It was only 3.2 miles into todays plan of a 10 mile day. I'm very tempted to stay and make it a Nero... I walked on. Only another 6.8 miles. I'm really out of shape and the constant ups and downs are getting me. My biggest problem is chaffing between my legs. The shorter mile days are changing my resupply plan. I'm gonna have to stop in Salisbury CT. If the chafing doesn't improve, I might stay in a hostel in Salisbury and take a zero... Don't get it twisted. I'm loving it out here. Every second. Every bird chirp. Every stream. Cool people, animals, plants. Freedom. No alarm clocks. I'm taking it slow so I can stay healthy and make it to Maine... Today I stopped to take a picture of this cool rock formation. I had my headphones on and I heard this weird scratching noise. I was like damn I don't remember that in this song. Then I look to my left and theres this vulture/eagle/hawk (idk) perched 5 feet from me. He was hissing at me to move. Animal instincts took over and I sped through the section. I was pissed afterwards tho. I'm thinking- why should I be the one running. I'd fuck that bird up. Damn instincts... I'm writing this while chilling in this shelter and theres two mice messing around with each other. The other night in the shelter, I had my crocs on and a damned mouse ran right into the back of my croc. About a year ago, a snake did the same thing. I guess that's nature balancing itself out.

Update

CONGRATS DELSEA 2011 and especially to my brother. Love ya

6/17

(start 8:30 Finish 7:20. 17.2 miles. Stony Hollow Shelter)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=41.77893,-73.4183&ll=41.77893,-73.4183&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

1.5 miles of that distance was in the wrong direction. Late start for the day, trying to wait out heavy rains. Wet day. Could have been worse. It rained pretty much all day but my feet remained fairly dry until the end of the day. Almost fell twice from slipping on rocks going down a steep descent. A really cool thing happened today. The AT was down a woods road so I was walking down it. A little fawn was running away from van driving down the road which happened to be running right towards me, but it didn't see me until the last minute and the little fawn slammed on it's brakes in fear, skidded on the rocks and ran in the perpendicular direction. It was cute. Also, I finally got to tell someone "I'm going to Maine" I've been wanting to say that for years. When hikers see each other on the trail, that's usually the first question asked- "where you going"

6/16

(6:30 PM start. 2.8 miles from hoyt rd to ten mile river shelter)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=41.66509,-73.5097&ll=41.66509,-73.5097&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Within the first mile, I crossed a beautiful stream and was eye locked with a curious deer that was only 20 feet away. It didn't take long for it to sink in that I was back where I belong... Met 4 thru hikers at the shelter. Coyote, puddle chuck, nochello, llama leg. A couple about my age and two dudes who have met and become friends on the trail. Cool people. Very generous... There was a spider with about a 3 inch diameter in the shelter... There was a field about the size of a football surrounded by dense forest in front of the shelter. There was an amazing sight of fireflies all night. One of the prettiest things I've seen.