Out of Magical Maine and into New Hampshire

After almost a month in Maine, I am in New Hampshire!

Woot woot! It really feels like I did something, like I am doing something. For southbound hikers, the satisfaction of crossing the first state line doesn’t happen until almost three hundred miles into the hike. Crossing the line into New Hampshire was rewarding and kind of weird. All I know is the AT in Maine, hiking into a new state feels like hiking into unfamiliar territory. In all honesty, the trail is pretty similar in the two states so far, but it is so easy to find the differences. First, it feels like there is not as many white blazes in New Hampshire. I have found myself questioning for what feels like close to a mile if I am even on the correct trail. Second, the trail in New Hampshire is narrow, often it feels almost like I am bush whacking!

My Favorite Memories From July in Maine

  1. Meeting a bunch of new and cool people! Currently I am hiking around some of the coolest, funniest and funnest people I think I have ever met. They make me laugh and teach me an incredible amount about life by just being who they are. Some of the awesome people that I have met were never planning to thru hike so they have gone back home, I miss them all a whole lot.
  2. Hanging out in town and experiencing the AT community at hostels and hiker friendly places. In Monson, ME we stayed at Shaw’s hiker hostel and that was probably my favorite place we have stayed. They have an awesome dog named Indigo and they make an awesome breakfast. Shaw’s also made it to the very top of my list because it was part of my first town experience! We have also stopped in a few other towns including Stratton, Rangeley and Andover which were all pretty cool too.
  3. Eating ice cream by the pint. In town it is important to get your calories in, my go to for high calories is ice cream by the pint. Ice cream is always a favorite food of mine, at home I would go out to ice cream with friends probably far more than is reasonable or healthy. So far on trail I have consumed six pints of ice cream – four pints of Ben and Jerry’s and tow pints of home made ice cream from the Red Hen Restaurant in Andover, ME.
  4. Getting mail and sending mail. It always makes me smile when I get a post card or letter when I go to pick up a resupply box and it brings me just as much joy to send out post cards from town!
  5. The Sits! as much as I enjoy hiking I also love to sit on top of mountains or at water sources with the people I have come to know an love on this trail. Also it is fun to sit with people I don’t know that well. It is cool to talk to NOBOs and day hikers, they often have a different view of the trail than I do.
  6. Trail magic. I feel as though I have been super lucky to have received as much trail magic as I have this month. I drank my first ever Coke sitting a parking lot the other day thanks to a wonderful trail angel!

 

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Comments 4

  • Grandma : Aug 2nd

    Glad you are enjoying the trail and the people, places and things you’ve encounter on it. I’d send you a post if I knew where. 🙂

    Reply
  • Martin Schreiber : Aug 4th

    Go get it. Enjoy! I am down the road in PA. If you need something when you get close let me know. I have been on many small part of the trail in many states so enjoy your trip.

    Most recently in Harpers Ferry WV. Cool little town.

    Reply
  • Ed Fowler (friend of grandpa Paul) : Aug 4th

    A wonderful adventure you are on and it sounds like you are having the best time. Hope it all goes well for the rest of the journey

    Reply
  • Ron Follansbee : Aug 5th

    Savannah:

    I’ve never met you, but I know your dad, and I have been following your trek along with his FB posts. I am amazed by what you are doing. I know some folks who have tried what you are doing and didn’t make it as far. I can’t imagine your view of the world through the lens of this trip, but it has to be amazing! Keep it up and know there are people rooting for you that you don’t even know.

    Ron

    Reply

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