Still having fun!

Heading South 

  Soooo as a NOBO hiker until recently it’s been a struggle to head south! Sounds easy, right??!!! You go to settings in the FarOut app and change the direction to southbound and voila it’s done.  Nope, every time you get on trail, leave a shelter or just start your day, you have to think about it. I’ve heard the stories of folks heading the wrong way down the trail and suddenly realizing that oops wrong way! So far I’ve been really conscious of direction so I’m still heading south….wait let me check the app.

Hiking Alone

  I’ve been hiking alone for months but now I’m really out here alone. The NOBOs have passed me heading towards Katahdin and the SOBOs are ahead of me.  Once I finished Vermont, The Long Trail hikers are also gone. The Long Trail runs the length of Vermont about 273 miles or so. I saw about 5 hikers or more a day all heading north. I guess most start in the south where it’s easier and hike north. Anyway, once out of Vermont, the number of hikers have dropped considerably.  Now I see a few section hikers and some day hikers depending on where I am. I have seen three flip flop hikers as well. We all seem to be in the same area for now but they have cars to slackpack so I’m sure we will be spreading out more and more.  So it’s just me, myself and I most days.

The Trail 

  Tomorrow I’ll be hiking the last few mountains in Massachusetts. Mt Greylock is done and I have Everett and Race to do then it’s on to Connecticut. I’ll be changing maps on the app, note to self “change the damn direction”! Connecticut, New York and New Jersey maps! I’m under 600 miles from my finish in Front Royal and I can’t begin to say how happy I am about that!!  The elevation changes have gotten better or I’ve gotten stronger so they don’t matter as much.  The mud of Vermont is gone and Massachusetts even with a heavy rain cannot compare.  Autumn is slowly arriving and the cooler temps make for easier hiking. Water isn’t quite an issue yet but I’m sure it will be further south.  I’m zipping along as my daughter told me. I’m shooting for 15-20 mile days but will be moving faster as the weeks pass.  The days are shorter and some nights have dipped into the 40s which makes for a chilly night in a tent. Never send your puffy home folks!! You’ll need it at some point, I promise.

Mental and Physical Health 

  Mentally I’m having a blast still.  Enjoying the trail and the solitude that it brings.  I have my routine and it works. I talk to myself and yes, folks, I answer myself too! As I say, my inner and outer dialogues aren’t always in sync but I manage them so far.  I listen to music, sing and dance along the trail….duh you have to sometimes “Walk Like An Egyptian” to get through the day.  I enjoy the quiet in the morning and I love watching the sun come up while drinking coffee. Nights are amazing with owls hooting or rustling of the night creatures, don’t ask about my tent! Damn mouse!

  Physically I’m great. I’ve lost a ton of weight despite eating everything I can. Straight peanut butter is my main fat addition nowadays.  I carry tons of food and actually eat it.  My feet are great and my legs are strong.  I’m constantly tired but I spend 10-12 hours hiking a day.  It takes it’s toll.  I rest in town and I sleep really well in my tent. I’m looking forward to finishing in six weeks or so.  I’ll be hiking about 100 miles plus a week. But I’ve been doing that so no big changes except the trail gets easier! Yes, Pennsylvania is coming up and yes, there are rocks upon rocks. But I’ll have new shoes and a finish line to get to so hold on folks it’s gonna be a ride!