Apologies for lack of updates. The service in Maine has been limited, but I kind of like an excuse to be out of touch.
I love Maine. I really, really love Maine. This state has been fantastic. The lakes, the moose, the people, the views, the terrain, the hiking...I could go on and on. It's all been fantastic. I've also had some great, spontaneous adventures, such as swimming in a "pond" (seemed like a lake to me), kayaking in a lake, and whitewater rafting on the Kennebec River. I've run into old friends and made many new ones. It's been a magical experience and its almost all over.
Tomorrow I begin the 100 mile wilderness. Its called the 100 mile wilderness because there aren't any road crossings through the stretch. So I have to carry 100 miles worth of food. Once I am through the 100 mile wilderness, the finish line, Mt. Katahdin lies just about 15 miles ahead. And then this whole journey is over. One week left. A lot of emotions running through my bones right now, but I excitement is most prominent. This has been a wild adventure full of unexpected twists and turns. Lets see what the next 100 miles hold!
-Mojo
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Day 163 recap
Yesterday was what I like to call a "crappy hiking day". It was cold, raw, wet, and cloudy. Conditions were unfavorable and when I reached a shelter, 9 miles from the start of my day, I was grateful to eat lunch under a roof. After spending about 40 mins there, I was having trouble motivating myself to continue on to a campsite where I was planning on spending the night. I eventually realized that whether or not I continued on for the day, the outcome the following day would be the same (I was planning on resupplying in Stratton, ME). Thus, if it did not matter if I hiked on, I decided my best course of action was keeping my soul and mind at ease at the shelter, staying warm, and relaxing.
This morning I woke up early and had a beautiful hiking day. I had fantastic views and warm sunshine all throughout the day. My decision to call it a day early the day before was clearly the right one as I easily made it to town today, in fantastic conditions. I really think that knowing your environment and how it affects your mind and body leads to the ability to make the most sound decisions.
The weather forecast isn't pretty for the next week. It's calling for a lot of rain. A lot of it. I think I need to do a little psyche-up session this evening in the comfort of the hostel I'm at to prepare for the "crappy hiking days" that lie ahead.
I know I can. I know I can. I know I can!
Moooooooose!
Hangin out in the shelter on my half day! Cup of hot chocolate. Mmmm
This morning I woke up early and had a beautiful hiking day. I had fantastic views and warm sunshine all throughout the day. My decision to call it a day early the day before was clearly the right one as I easily made it to town today, in fantastic conditions. I really think that knowing your environment and how it affects your mind and body leads to the ability to make the most sound decisions.
The weather forecast isn't pretty for the next week. It's calling for a lot of rain. A lot of it. I think I need to do a little psyche-up session this evening in the comfort of the hostel I'm at to prepare for the "crappy hiking days" that lie ahead.
I know I can. I know I can. I know I can!
Moooooooose!
Hangin out in the shelter on my half day! Cup of hot chocolate. Mmmm
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Brrr
Ive been moving inconsistently through maine. I hike a 20 and 17 last week as well as 8-11 mile days. Its been obvious how my food consumption affects my day. On the days I don't eat enough, my legs feel tired, lethargic and sometimes exhausted. I've since decided to buy an extra days worth of food in towns and make sure I am eating enough.
It's also been pretty cold of late. That's fine by me because a 50 degree, sunny day of hiking is about as good as you can get in my opinion. Once the sun goes down the temperature has been really falling and making the whole sleep thing a little chilly. Last couple of nights I have slept in every piece of clothing I have out here.
Maine has been beautiful so far. I really love it out here and am looking forward to pushing ahead to the finish line. Woot woot!
It's also been pretty cold of late. That's fine by me because a 50 degree, sunny day of hiking is about as good as you can get in my opinion. Once the sun goes down the temperature has been really falling and making the whole sleep thing a little chilly. Last couple of nights I have slept in every piece of clothing I have out here.
Maine has been beautiful so far. I really love it out here and am looking forward to pushing ahead to the finish line. Woot woot!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Maine
I made it to Maine the other day. What a feeling. I still have over 250 miles to the finish line, but getting into the final state has a certain mental accomplishment feel. To be completely honest, I wasn't sure how far I would make it when I started. To be in the last state of this journey really feels special. And so far, the trail in the state has been pretty spectacular.
First off, the terrain is tough! It is beautiful, unique, and has a Georgia meets New Hampshire feel. I hiked through a boulder field the other day- about a mile in length - that took me over 2 hours. I was scaling, crawling, and maneuvering through boulders up to 20 feet tall. It was really wild. There were also small crevices where I had to take my backpack off and crawl through tiny spaces that would make the claustrophobic really tremble. Below the boulders, I could hear spring water flowing and feel the cool air from caves still containing ice. In my AT guide, it listed this mile as "either the most difficult or most fun mile on the AT." I think it was both.
Afterwards, I made it atop the next mountain and slept beneath an old fire tower where I planned to catch a great sunset and sunrise. Unfortunately, a cloud formation moved in and blocked that hope. However, at around 10pm, I couldn't fall asleep and got out of my hammock. I walked out to the fire tower clearing and the entire area was illuminated by the nearly full moon. A pretty cool sight. Everything from the mountains across the valley below to the rock formations around me were lit by the clean, white glow of the moon. I don't think I've ever seen something like it.
I still have a lot of miles to log and tough terrain to cross, but I can feel the end getting closer. This trail has already given me so much, I am excited and anxious to see what the next 250+ miles hold. Living life one step at a time!
First off, the terrain is tough! It is beautiful, unique, and has a Georgia meets New Hampshire feel. I hiked through a boulder field the other day- about a mile in length - that took me over 2 hours. I was scaling, crawling, and maneuvering through boulders up to 20 feet tall. It was really wild. There were also small crevices where I had to take my backpack off and crawl through tiny spaces that would make the claustrophobic really tremble. Below the boulders, I could hear spring water flowing and feel the cool air from caves still containing ice. In my AT guide, it listed this mile as "either the most difficult or most fun mile on the AT." I think it was both.
Afterwards, I made it atop the next mountain and slept beneath an old fire tower where I planned to catch a great sunset and sunrise. Unfortunately, a cloud formation moved in and blocked that hope. However, at around 10pm, I couldn't fall asleep and got out of my hammock. I walked out to the fire tower clearing and the entire area was illuminated by the nearly full moon. A pretty cool sight. Everything from the mountains across the valley below to the rock formations around me were lit by the clean, white glow of the moon. I don't think I've ever seen something like it.
I still have a lot of miles to log and tough terrain to cross, but I can feel the end getting closer. This trail has already given me so much, I am excited and anxious to see what the next 250+ miles hold. Living life one step at a time!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Through the Whites
Wow. What a range of ups and downs. Literally with the terrain as well as my emotional state. These mountains have provided the hardest mental and physical challenge yet on the trail. The steep ascents and descents challenged my body and the inclimate weather throughout most of my time in here challenged my mind. Like my previous post said, a whole lot of my time hiking these majestic peaks was done in the clouds and later in the rain. I climbed Mt. Washington in 35 degree, 30mph, driving rain and received no views. While unfortunate, I really felt like a mountaineer, braving the elements to reach the summit.
After another bad day descending into Pinkham Notch (my FB friends probably saw my post whining about my day) I needed a break. I hitched about 14 miles to a hostel in Gorham where I could clean and dry my clothes/shoes, take a shower, and sleep in a warm bed. That nero day did me wonders and sure enough, the rest of the time in the whites, I had fantastic weather. I'm talking about perfect, fall hiking weather. Really a 180 degree change from the prior week and it really aided in my mental state. The weather out here really affects my mood, much more so than in the real world. Probably because I'm outside 100% of the time.
Anyway, the last couple days have been fantastic. Met some more cool thru hikers going north, hung out with some awesome hut workers in Cartner Notch, and caught some fantastic vistas of the surrounding area while atop Wildcat. Oh and I loved the climbing at Wildcat. Ascending from Pinkahm Notch provided some fantastic hand over hand climbing.
So now through the White Mountains and heading onto Maine. No more state crossings after this one. Except to go back home. WooHoo!
After another bad day descending into Pinkham Notch (my FB friends probably saw my post whining about my day) I needed a break. I hitched about 14 miles to a hostel in Gorham where I could clean and dry my clothes/shoes, take a shower, and sleep in a warm bed. That nero day did me wonders and sure enough, the rest of the time in the whites, I had fantastic weather. I'm talking about perfect, fall hiking weather. Really a 180 degree change from the prior week and it really aided in my mental state. The weather out here really affects my mood, much more so than in the real world. Probably because I'm outside 100% of the time.
Anyway, the last couple days have been fantastic. Met some more cool thru hikers going north, hung out with some awesome hut workers in Cartner Notch, and caught some fantastic vistas of the surrounding area while atop Wildcat. Oh and I loved the climbing at Wildcat. Ascending from Pinkahm Notch provided some fantastic hand over hand climbing.
So now through the White Mountains and heading onto Maine. No more state crossings after this one. Except to go back home. WooHoo!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
White Mountains- day 5
Last night I was able to do a "work for stay" at an AMC operated hut, located right below Mt Washington. Until about 7pm yesterday, I was feeling slightly disappointed with my white mt experience. That all changed at around 7 when I came to a stunning realization. More on that in a second.
The whites have kicked my butt so far. I came in here thinking I was going to blaze this place up. I thought, "I'm a thru hiker knocking out 20+ mile days, usually hiking 3mph - this should be cake." Well cake is NOT what it is and humbling is.
The terrain has been steep, rugged and challenging. On more than one occasion I have looked at the terrain that lay ahead and thought there was no way to get by. Slippery, sheer faced rock descents, hand over hand rock climbing, and wet, creek-like trails have slowed our pace significantly.
The weather has also not been on our side. Our day 1 climb of Mt Moosilauke yielded some views, however since then, it's been all in the clouds. And the rain. Oh the rain. Hiking above tree line in cold, windy rain chills you to the bone. We go to sleep wet and cold. We wake up the same way. Not since early on in Tennessee have I considered staying in my sleeping bag all day instead of getting out and hiking.
So it's been hard. But I also knew it would. And I've been trying (successfully) to stay positive. Hell, as we departed a shelter the other morning, with rain dropping on our heads, I thought it best to sing to my dear friend dr pepper, to raise both our spirits. He astutely informed me I wouldn't be on broadway anytime soon.
Later in the day, the rain lifted and we got a few nice views of the surrounding area. But around 7pm is when it hit me.
High up in the whites, in the shadow of Mt Washington, I saw the most amazing sunset these eyes have ever peered upon. It was simply sensational, breathtaking, and trying to capture it's essence in either words or through photography would be fruitless. It was a once in a lifetime event, just as every sunset is.
And as I gazed west, enamored and yet without thought, it hit me like a ton of bricks. As great as this sunset was, even if I wasn't able to experience it, I should have nothing but joy and positive thoughts about my experience in the whites so far. Yeah, the views are spectacular and I would love to see them, but that isn't why I'm hiking. It's the cold and the rain and the difficulty. It's the journey and the challenge and the birds singing in the trees. It's this whole wild experience, bundled up into what has been the greatest adventure of my life. I realized at that moment that sometimes, the reasons you think you are doing something aren't necessarily such. Sometimes, you don't hike to the top of a mountain for the view. Sometimes you hike to the top of a mountain to hike. And that is good.
The whites have kicked my butt so far. I came in here thinking I was going to blaze this place up. I thought, "I'm a thru hiker knocking out 20+ mile days, usually hiking 3mph - this should be cake." Well cake is NOT what it is and humbling is.
The terrain has been steep, rugged and challenging. On more than one occasion I have looked at the terrain that lay ahead and thought there was no way to get by. Slippery, sheer faced rock descents, hand over hand rock climbing, and wet, creek-like trails have slowed our pace significantly.
The weather has also not been on our side. Our day 1 climb of Mt Moosilauke yielded some views, however since then, it's been all in the clouds. And the rain. Oh the rain. Hiking above tree line in cold, windy rain chills you to the bone. We go to sleep wet and cold. We wake up the same way. Not since early on in Tennessee have I considered staying in my sleeping bag all day instead of getting out and hiking.
So it's been hard. But I also knew it would. And I've been trying (successfully) to stay positive. Hell, as we departed a shelter the other morning, with rain dropping on our heads, I thought it best to sing to my dear friend dr pepper, to raise both our spirits. He astutely informed me I wouldn't be on broadway anytime soon.
Later in the day, the rain lifted and we got a few nice views of the surrounding area. But around 7pm is when it hit me.
High up in the whites, in the shadow of Mt Washington, I saw the most amazing sunset these eyes have ever peered upon. It was simply sensational, breathtaking, and trying to capture it's essence in either words or through photography would be fruitless. It was a once in a lifetime event, just as every sunset is.
And as I gazed west, enamored and yet without thought, it hit me like a ton of bricks. As great as this sunset was, even if I wasn't able to experience it, I should have nothing but joy and positive thoughts about my experience in the whites so far. Yeah, the views are spectacular and I would love to see them, but that isn't why I'm hiking. It's the cold and the rain and the difficulty. It's the journey and the challenge and the birds singing in the trees. It's this whole wild experience, bundled up into what has been the greatest adventure of my life. I realized at that moment that sometimes, the reasons you think you are doing something aren't necessarily such. Sometimes, you don't hike to the top of a mountain for the view. Sometimes you hike to the top of a mountain to hike. And that is good.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
The Whites
Since day one on the trail I have looked forward to hiking in the White Mountains. The hype, the terrain, and the views are all sky-high. It was during my first backpacking trip with Hybrid, all the way back in 2008, that I first had thoughts of trying to hike the AT, while we tromped though the Pemigawasset Wilderness, located in the Whites. You could say that this is the area where I fell in love with the backpacking thing.
Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I climb Mt. Moosilauke and into the White Mountains. The past few weeks have been grueling, challenging (both mentally and physically) and amazing all in one. I expect all of that to be heightened in this next 8-10 day jaunt through these mountains. It is said that hiking more than 10 miles a day is a difficult task here so the 100 mile stretch that goes through the whites should take some time. But man, I seriously can't wait to get up there.
Hopefully I'll have good service up there and can post some pictures, but lately the service has been sparse so not too sure. Anyway - I'll keep ya posted!
Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I climb Mt. Moosilauke and into the White Mountains. The past few weeks have been grueling, challenging (both mentally and physically) and amazing all in one. I expect all of that to be heightened in this next 8-10 day jaunt through these mountains. It is said that hiking more than 10 miles a day is a difficult task here so the 100 mile stretch that goes through the whites should take some time. But man, I seriously can't wait to get up there.
Hopefully I'll have good service up there and can post some pictures, but lately the service has been sparse so not too sure. Anyway - I'll keep ya posted!
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