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Day 38: Hiking Ahead of a Storm and Tripping Over Bears
A massive storm system is brewing. The air feels thick as the lowering barametric pressure pulls warm, moist air out of the ground. The rocks are sweating and becoming more slick. The animals are unusually quiet but the vegetation is agitated by erratic wind gusts. Our sinuses pulsate from the lowering barametric pressure. The swaying of the vegetation in the wind makes us feel slightly sea sick here up on the mountain. The storm has been gathering for two days but now we can feel the brunt of it closing in. We wanted to reach the shelter before the rain reached us.
Day 37: This is The Long Trail and it Defies Expectations
It is a joy to be back on the trail today, all together. After being separated while The Historian's wrist was healing, we were relieved and pleased to be hiking again. Each of us did fine during the separation and healing time but it was not our plan and it was not the hike we wanted. Somewhere in our planning, we each build our own version of hiking paradise in our minds. Every one of us clearly understood the statistics, how many feet per mile and so on, but we all set that aside to build a heroic vision of our trio marching down the trail defying gravity and age. But this is the Long Trail and it defies expectations.
Day 36: On Trail Thru Hike Resupply and Town Chores
After all the drama of the past few days, we are drained of energy and were valuing a zero, even after having had one recently. It is shocking how much energy logistics take. Even with mailed resupply boxes, organizing and town chores for the next section are an effort. Sometimes just hiking is a relief. Thru hiking is a privilege few can afford in time, money, or relationships. We never grow complacent about the myriad of things people who love us are covering for us to be on this hike.
Day 35: The Long Trail is Long
After weeks of hard hiking, today was a relief. The elevation in feet per mile was only 411. Compare this to the "typical" 500-600 feet per mile for a Long Trail day or to a hard Long Trail day with elevation gain of over 700 feet per mile. Of course, compare that to the 70-90 feet per mile elevation gain of Oregon on the Pacific Crest Trail and it makes your head spin. The Long Trail is relentless. The Long Trail is Grueling. The Long Trail is Long!
Day 34: Chasing the Sun and Wind to Bear Hollow
It was great we were able to scoop up Rock Rabbit last night after his unexpetedly long, grueling trip over Mansfield. We put him back on the trail this morning. Although we have done it now a few times, the send off for the next segment still tugs at my heartstrings. It is not that I am being left behind, although there is some of that. I can only liken it to sending the kids off to school when you know there is a hard challenge coming up.
Day 33: The Terrifying Majesty of the Mountains
The sun grinds on in its inexorable hike toward winter, reminding us daily we have less light and more dark. When we startrd in the summer, hiker midnight was 8 or 9 pm. Now, a month later, everyone is tucked in by 7 pm, or even earlier. Alarms chime at 6 am, but no one stirs. It is dark and cold. Twelve hour hiking days are risky, The Long Trail by headlamp is a recipie for disaster.
Day 32: Finding a Place to Sleep Around Bears and Puffers
The morning dawned typically Vermont gray. The Historian and I know the color. Northwestern Montana excels in it also. I think of it as the no color color. It is a product of northern overcast weather with little sunshine. It fit our somber mood. We have confidence in our plan, but it is sad to see us separated with one hiking and two in waiting. I don't know if a bluebird day would have cheered us up or insulted our feelings.
Day 31: At Ease in the Rain
It is pouring today. Before The Historian's accident, we had planned to take refuge from the rain today with our friends. With the accident, we have asked much more from them. They sheltered us for days after The Historian's fall. They loaned us a car to retrieve Rock Rabbit. They altered their schedules to make us feel welcomed. They listened to our hopes and fears and they offered solace and wisdom. We are reoriented with their help. Today is less frantic feeling.
Day 30: Do Not Make Life-Changing Decisions When You Are In a Crisis
One of the things we all know from doing SAR work is never make life changing decisions in the middle of a crisis. Moreover, don't do it when you aee overly tired. Let, here we sit, in the comfortable living room of our friends restored antique house wrestling with our options. The Historian and I have had two days off trail to think. Rock Rabbit is just waking up. No choice is clear. We cannot wind the clock back and undo the injury. We don't have enough time to wait for him to get better and pick up where we left off. we have to figure something out. nothing feels right.
Day 29: Over the Camels Hump and Down in the Dump
After a month, last night was our first night apart. It has been an easy integration of habits. We are different, but similar in our wit and expecttions of the world. We have traveled together for weeks at a time in the past so falling in step on the trail did not take much acommodation. Being separated did. Rock Rabbit was worrying about us, down on the ground below him and we were worried about him up on the mountain in the cold.
