Northbound.

May 10-July 24, 2011

Hop, Bot and Still Smiling
Excerpts from my journal

Day 3. May 12, PA
A dry and brisk night last night. We set out North around 9:30 (est.) I ate a clif bar and fruit snack. Had my first poop of the trail today.  We passed near Hawk Mtn. and hiked 11 miles to Allentown shelter. We met "Lone Wolf McQuaid" (A criminal on the run and a creepy guy). He admitted to being a convicted thief and then asked Dan how much money he had on him. We left shortly after, amused and a little frightened. We stopped at Blue Mtn. Summit B&B for a water refill and face wash. We hiked up across highway 309 until knife's edge and Bear Rocks. Knife's edge was a scary ridge-hike-scramble-climb. We dropped packs at Bear's Rocks. Around 19 miles today. 3rd straight of sunshine! I don't expect this to keep up. We had a small bug-preventing fire and a few jolly laughs over dinner. There is another group camping nearby. No cloud in the sky, no fly!

Day 7. May 16, NJ

Last night stormed and rained like hell. Lightening and thunder kept me awake for a good part of the night. Water got Dan and I pretty good and I ended up having to put on my raincoat in the tent; never a good scenario. We woke up and did the best we could. Sunfish Pond was the first stop on today's rainy hike. It is the southern-most glacier lake in the US (according to Lis). The fog made the lake very mysterious. I ran into the hiker from Gerogria and the motorcycle. His name is McCord. Also today I hiked mainly alone, out in front of the others. Great wildflowers but the lookouts were just cloud walls. The forecast is rain all week. Hopefully our spirits stay high. We hiked 20 miles until Brink Road Shelter. Finally a dry night! The rain does still fall outside the walls, tomorrow we'll take a lighter day and stop in for some groceries.


Day 28 June 6, MA
Today is Josh's birthday. A splendid day for hiking and to be out in the wild. I took a naked swim in Benedict Pond. Hammer saw me drying off on a rock and told me there were some young kids on the other side of the lake watching me skinny-dip. Oh well. I saw raccoons, snakes and otters today. I hiked up Wilcox peak and down to Shaker Campsite. Hammer came on by, he is a really kick ass senior hiker. He shared many stories and charm. Makes me think of the joy of the hiking and this lifestyle. He will will hike for this month then head up to N.H. to camp. He shared tons of trail and resupply knowledge with us. He loved N.H. and Maine. Got me really excited for the rest of the trip. He said when he hiked thru he just wanted to keep going. He spends a month in N.H. giving out trail magic, reminds me of Dennis. 16 miles hiked today. Also met stretch and zipper and MorAbraham. Good all around night for talk.


Day 50 June 29, NH

Ethan Pond morning-cold, cloudy and beautiful. We ate early to make sure we hit Lake of the Coulds Hut in time for a work-for-stay. We hiked 3 easy miles down to Crawford Notch, A huge mtn. (Webster) stared us right in the face. The trail skirted rt. 302 and headed up to Webster Cliffs Trail. The valley looked very majestic. The weather is cloudy, windy but warm. The climb was steep up to the "Prezi Ridge" as the crews and caretakers call it. We took lunch at Mizpah Hut and the crew told us we should have good luck with work at lake of the clouds hut. The second half to today's hike were some of the best views and miles of the trip so far. the weather, perfect. the views, for miles and miles. I even found the campsite Josh and I used 4 years earlier. We took many pictures and savored the views above the tree line. We arrived at LOTC Hut around 3 PM and successfully got work for stay. Lis and I cleaned out their refrigerators and washed dishes for a night and a meal. The best on trail meal of the trip so far. All we could eat, ham, homemade bread, tomato soup, guacamole, chips, salad, peas, sun dried tomatoes, pies, pizza, coffee. Wow, unbeatable. 

Day 55 July 4, ME
The Mahoosucs and Maine. Maine welcomed us with open whiskey bottles and beautiful mountains. We hiked 16 tough miles through lakes, alpine zones, and valleys. We all took a sip of whiskey at the border. One state left! We camped right in front of the Mahoosuc Notch. "The longest mile on the AT"  and I'm pretty excited for it tomorrow.
Trail Magic- GORP on top of East Peak; jungle-gym mountain and a wind blown beautiful landscape. My boot developed a tear in the outer-edge (right boot) I'm keeping my eye on it and hoping it doesn't grow. < 281 miles to go.

Day 64 July 13, ME
Last night storms threatened so we quick threw on the fly. Luckily they held off. We opted not to do the pancake breakfast at Harrisons. We hiked 3.7 miles to the Kennebec River and caught the canoe ferry which only runs 9-11 this time of year. The river is said to rise 2-4 feet without warning because of a dam upstream. A brief road crossing and then 5 flat buggy miles to Pleasant Pond. Dan and I walked down to a quiet pond for lunch. Only to be interrupted by a loud and obnoxious group of 8th graders. Splashing , yelling and everything annoying ensued. The climb up Pleasant Pond Mtn. wasn't bad, it was nice to feel like I was back in the mountains. Maine is beautiful. The lakes are everywhere; crystal clear and expansive. I love hiking lake to lake. Dan and Lis pumped as I found a perfect (bug free) campsite. The fire is burning under the pines. Met a couple and 2 dogs by Moxie Lake. They said there is a history teaching position open @ the local high school.

Day 75 July 24, ME
Up at 5. Pop tart for breakfast and time to summit. I hike d out front, passing the day hikers around Katadhin Stream Falls. The morning was cool-perfect for hiking. We met up at the boulder field. The edges were steep and a bit scary. We all talked about how our parents would fare on the same hike. The weather was Alpine; cold, windy and cloudy. It was still around 8 AM because we started hiking around 6:20. Sharp boulders and hand hold climbing made me happy just to have a day-pack on. I felt strong. We hiked into the clouds and before long the silhouette of Katadhin's peak. The Northern Terminus at last! A rush of emotion and of course no words could come. The sky stayed cloudy for us 3 at the top. We tried to wait for families but it was too too cold I hiked down to find Mom, Dad, Emily and Temple just into the alpine zone. I hiked back up to the summit as the sky cleared. It was beautiful- great views of knife's edge and the 100 mile wilderness. I wish Dan and Lis would have been there to see it. It was fun to hike with the family. Dad and Emily were super excited and tired. 

straggling behind water
no interesting facts to tell
I swear too many times
and listen to more times to the yell

I hear voices in the brook
Why are they always elusive?
turn my head; not by choice
fire tonight or just stars?

simplicity to the point of fear
well in over my head
miles this, miles that
too far behind and too far ahead

a pounding drum talks to me
a foreign war wages somewhere
but here is now and
I'm quiet, peace is near