Days 106-114: Everything’s Comin’ Up Millhouse!

Well, today I’m grateful that I did a short day and set up my tent first thing when I got to the Brink Shelter. It started pouring rain while I was eating dinner, and I had to book it to the shelter (and then to the bear box and the .1 down the road to my tent after that).

First off: The rumors about bears in NJ are true.

Very true. I saw four altogether my first day in the state (yesterday). Had to scare away a mama and two cubs right before mile 1300, and then a teen at Mohican Outdoor Center (where I camped last night) got spooked by a bear and I grabbed my poles and went to scare it off.

Remember when I was terrified of the bears? Yeah, that’s done. I’ve scared enough off in the past two days that they’re no longer terrifying to me.

Which is fun… I guess?

I got back on trail in Duncannon and met up with Scatter.

Stache and Cheese had each gotten off trail briefly for different reasons, so Scatter and I had an awesome couple of days pushing big miles (well, big for just getting back on trail after barely hiking for three weeks). We did some night hiking, and then our version of cowboy camping (no rain fly on our tents, bugs are still a factor).

We met up with cheese the second night in, who trail magicked us an absolutely absurd amount of beer, a bottle of wine, chicken, grapes, and mini-pies.

The following morning, we did an impromptu zero. Scatter and I had met and exchanged numbers with Lady Madonna the day before and she invited us to come to the house of Gene and Mel — a couple of incredible trail angels who love helping hikers and who have twelve amazing cats — where we met Walmart and Chops, two AT grads who I think are pretty rad.

I ended up staying at the Amazing Trail Magic House for a few days, and we slackpacked a bit before I got a text from Cool Breeze asking if I wanted to come into NYC with him and Moscow.

So I did the classic Spark move and yellow blazed to Delaware Water Gap.

(Thank you, Mel!!)

I’m all too familiar with northern PA, and I wanted to get ahead enough that there’s a possibility to reconnect with Team Vortex when I get back from the city. Because of course I’ll go to the city with my fellow gays. I was dreading returning when we got to upstate NY, and was only going to go in for the gang. But this? I can work with this. It gives me time to hike solo and do whatever miles I want and hike however I want to. And I can catch Ketchup faster this way!

Plus, I can do northern PA after I summit Mama K if I want to. And if I don’t, I’m not missing much — though I do love the rockiness of that section of trail (all you losers need to get shoes with rock guards!!!).

I’ve experienced more wildlife in the past week than in the entirety of the trail thus far.

The four bears yesterday, two today, a rattlesnake Scatter and I had to run from while night-hiking, another that took three of us and a 10 foot branch to get off the trail, two porcupines when we night-hiked, one porcupine yesterday, a tiny snake during the night-hike, one today, and — of course — squirrels, froggies, deer, and chipmunks. None of them phase me anymore. I long for a moose.

It took a week back on trail for me to get over my months-long fear of bears. And I did it alone. That feels pretty badass of me, and it’s still sinking in that the absolutely overwhelming paranoia I had over bears is gone. I’m no longer afraid that I’ll go totally nonverbal if I run into one, because I now know that I’ll just politely yell at it and clack my poles til it’s safely distant.

I’ve been enjoying hiking alone.

I didn’t think I would. I thought I’d be bored and need comfortable company at some point to ramble at. But I’ve found the solitude really comforting.

I’m not beholden to anyone. I don’t have to worry about when Cheese will wake up, or how long my friends want to go, or if they want to zero when I want to hike or vice versa. I find myself wanting to do bigger miles, wanting to take shorter breaks, wanting to stop less. It’s shocking but nice.

It helps that I’m not feeling like total garbage.

My eating habits have changed in the Summer heat.

I’m not snacking as much, or feeling hungry at lunch. I stop and snack when I feel the need (which I rarely do), start the day with breakfast and end with dinner. Lunch happens if I need it to, and often doesn’t.

I’ve been filling my water with electrolyte tablets, but when it isn’t 95+ degrees out I’ve been forgetting to drink as often as I should. I normally realize I’ve gone a mile or two since the last time I hydrated, and chug some water. I know, I know: I should hydrate better. Especially while hiking in the heat and humidity. I’m trying!

It’s been a great week back.

I’m actually excited to go back to NYC. It helps that Cool Breeze, Moscow, and Achilles will be there. Achilles gets to meet my girlfriend and a bunch of my friends. I might get to see one of my best friends lift the giglio — a giant tower that a bajillion sweaty men lift a few times during this annual summer festival in the neighborhood I grew up in. I was sad to miss it, but it’s exciting to maybe be able to see it!

It’s exciting to be excited to visit home, and it’s exciting to not have to worry about visiting until after I summit. It’s exciting to be able to show off the parts of the city I love to someone I care about, to show Achilles my home through my eyes instead of have to do a bunch of things I don’t care to do with my tramily (but would do because I love them and want to make them happy). He gets to meet half of my nonbinary big siblings! And my very best friend, Elliott — my brother. I have some fun things planned out for us on a very tight schedule. I told him to prepare for seeing me more scheduled and punctual than I ever have been before. He’ll believe it when he sees it.

I wish I had some profound words of wisdom for this update.

I feel like that’s kind of been my thing. But honestly? I’ve just been having a great week. I feel fantastic mentally and physically, even if my ankles are starting to bother me a bit (nothing new there, thanks roller derby). I’ve had great times both with friends and solo. I’m excited to see Achilles and Cool Breeze and Moscow tomorrow! I’m happy, and that’s the wisest I can be right now.

It’s good to be back.