Vlog – Maine is a brutal, beautiful Temptress

Holy Crap, Maine.

I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised. There are plenty of blogs and articles online that warn of the tough terrain in the southern section of the Trail in Maine. But it’s hard to suppress a feeling of Triumph coming out of The Whites. All those big climbs and epic views and crazy shenanigans and now you’re through it.

I’m not kidding about the shenanigans

You’re in Maine. Suddenly there’s an end to this whole thing, and it’s in sight. Shoot, you could quit now and still tell people you walked from Georgia to Maine! Of course you won’t, though. People have been telling you how gorgeous Maine is for weeks. Months. And they are dead on.

I mean, look at it

However, those first three or four days in Maine will also most likely be the hardest days on the entire trail. Steep rocky climbs precede downright treacherous descents, like the trail knows everyone talks about New Hampshire and wants to set you straight. Naturally, there will be well timed thunderstorms as well.

Alright, Maine, we get it

Truthfully, we were pretty worn out by the time we hit Grafton Notch, which is the end of the worst. I was cranky and frustrated. Luckily there is a town roughly twelve miles down the road, and nothing makes a hiker feel better than Town Day.

And dogs

Anywho, enjoy the first 100 miles of Maine, because we sure…did..?