Flying Solo, Flying Free

I know that growing up in Texas has skewed my perspective, but my goodness the New England states are small! Though that does have the advantage of crossing into a new state every several days, which is a great morale boost.

After I hit Connecticut, I started pushing big (for me) mile days to try to build up a time buffer. I knew the White Mountains in New Hampshire are going to slow me down, so this was the time to really push. That meant hiking into the night some days, but I didn’t mind as long as I got the miles under my belt. 

I haven’t seen so much water in weeks!

The first campsite in CT took minimalism to a whole new level with its privy set up. 

Hiking alone meant I had a more flexible schedule, so I started taking more breaks to snack and enjoy the scenery. I never got “hiker hunger” to the extent that most hikers do, when they can put away several meals at once, but I have found that I consistently get hungry every two hours or so. I love finding water to sit by for my breaks.

The last mile of CT took me through a beautiful gorge with a creek running through it.

I wanted to take a dip, but the water was too chilly for my tender Texas senses. Still, it was a magical place, and I meandered more than hiked through it.

A good reminder. 

I caught a rainbow down in the valley! 

Who’s designing the mushrooms in MA? I have questions. 

After weeks of relatively low climbing, I had to wake up my leg muscles as the terrain slowly got more hilly. A couple former thru-hikers provided some spectacular trail magic at the top of Mt. Greylock.

Someone on Far Out called this monument the Eye of Sauron, and I cannot unsee it.

I hiked with Half-Pint, a professional photographer, on the day I crossed into Vermont, and we did a mini photoshoot for an AT book she’s compiling. This state is commonly called “Vermud” by hikers, and boy does it deliver. 

We had our first cold snap in mid-August, and I was very glad that I’d had my cold-weather gear shipped back to me in MA. It dropped into the low 40s overnight, but I was quite cozy in my wool pj’s. As I started getting into higher elevations, the woods turned more evergreen-laden, and there were some beautiful views. 

The plants here were higher than my head. 

Mt. Killington in Vermont was the first really long, challenging climb I’d had in a while, but it included an encouraging sign.

After a very intense rock scramble to the top of the mountain, I opted to ride the ski gondola down to the road rather than hike it, since the climb had left me feeling so tired. 

Right before the NH border, I paid my respects at this memorial to Steady Eddy, a hiker who passed away near this sign last year. 

Then it was on to New Hampshire and the looming White Mountains. They include some of the toughest and most dangerous terrain on the entire AT, but also have some of the best views. Onward and upward!