Weeks 15, 16 & 17: 1500 Miles, Still a Mess

When you start out 500 miles seems like a insurmountable distance, forget 1500 miles. You think should you ever be so lucky to hike such a great distance, you’ll have this hiking thing down. Not true. I was a mess when I began. I was a mess through the Smokies. I was a mess all through Virginia. And now with over 1500 (1502.6 miles to be exact) under my belt, I’m still a mess. I’ll probably be a mess in Maine.

Since my last post, a surprisingly 3 weeks (this long time passing between posts seems to be a trend), I’ve exited Pennsylvania (no tears shed there) and hiked through New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, and now I’m in Massachusetts. (That’s over a third of the states completed in just 3 weeks!) Wanna know what that looks like?

You know what’s cool? Ditchin PA for NJ!

You know what’s even better? Ditchin NJ for NY!!

Skippin into CT might be even better (even if the picture isn’t)

Yeah I know… MA’s pic is a letdown

Super cool, right? I know. So cool.

Today while checking into the hotel (I’m spending the night in Great Barrington, MA), the concierge asked me about my mental state, which is something I don’t think about on the trail. I think about how much I hate the heat, the slabs of rock, going uphill, going downhill, the bugs, my stench. The list could probably go on. Most recently I discovered I’m allergic to leukotape which I had all over my feet. An incredibly itchy rash broke out everywhere it was, which became small blisters, which became giant blisters that still itch. My feet are certainly not living the dream right now. However, I haven’t contemplated ending my hike. There are bad days and less bad days. There are even great days. If I have learned nothing else about myself on the trail, it’s that I bend and don’t break. I haven’t hit my breaking point yet. Hopefully I won’t.

Ok, now quick montage of cool things that have happened in the last 3 weeks.

Pool party of 11 hikers hosted by Mama Goat in NJ.

Waited 30 min for the bar to open (no worries Ma! I just got mozzarella sticks and a Coke #priorities) Jingle felt the need to send this selfie to The Mother

Hikers: cool flat easy walking. Regular folks: awesome boardwalk with views

????????

A madhouse in Bear Mountain State Park led to a hasty departure and subsequent crossing of the Hudson on the 4th of July

Break time! Even a hiking girl needs some pampering (notice how clean my toes are)

3 cousins. 3 Bybee’s. Only one of us is afraid of falling to death. The other one flew all the way from CA to see me (or to spend time at the Grevort)

We loved the Grevort (Grevatt + resort) so much we got matching tattoos. Ignore my face. I don’t know how to picture.

More boardwalks! More nifty wetlands!

A wooden water tank. So cool! So wood! Much water!

I was taking a break and this cow came up and was all like “You shall not pass!” until I charged it and it ran away. Lesson: cows make poor guard animals

Insert moment to contemplate life’s questions

Super cool hat. Thanks Sandy, Jason & Katelynn (again ignore my face)

1500 miles!!

Take a moment. Sigh. We’re caught up.

So now what?? It’s BIRTHDAY MONTH!! (Aka I turn 26 on July 20th.) Really birthday month is an excuse to be obnoxious for an entire month. “Oh you’d like me hang the line for the bear bag?” “Did you know it’s birthday month?” That doesn’t work too well btw. 25 has been a great year. I can only imagine what 26 will be like (Hopefully (at least for my old man) I’ll get a job in year 26 instead of hiking the Eastern seaboard)

However, if you would like to mail a card/package in celebration of my special day (I definitely wouldn’t argue against it):

Molly Bybee; c/o Base Camp Outfitters; 2363 Route 4; Killington, VA 05751; Please hold for AT hiker; ETA 7/24