The day was easy going through a gentle forest. I enjoyed seeing woodpeckers up trees and Trillium on the found. It looked like home!
Day 2 June 24 Baxter State Park Maine
Month: June 2021
Day 1, June 23: Mt. Katahdin Summit!
It was a glorious day in Baxter State Park after it rained until about 2 a.m. I woke at 4:30 in eager anticipation of the first day on the AT. The park ranger warned me and two other AT hikers to expect the climb and descent back to the Katahdin Stream campground could take up to 14 hours. That would be a 10 p.m. return and hiking by headlamp. I was determined to not get myself in such a predicament.
See my current location:
Continue reading “Day 1, June 23: Mt. Katahdin Summit!”Day 4, June 26, 100 Mile Wilderness
Left lovely camp at 630am. Climbed about 600 feet to Nesuntabunt Mtn 1520. The rest of the morning was hiking along Nahmakanta Lake. Here, the trail made agonizing steep climbs and equally steep descents from and to the shore. The lake has no homes or developments along the shore of the four mile long lake.
Day 3, June 25, 100 Mile Wilderness
The AT this far north is showing signs of its real self. The rocks on the trail are bigger and more numerous. Same with the roots. After an early start at 6:30am, feeling fresh, I ascended to Rainbow Mtn. at 1550′ where I caught some nice views while eating some of Cindy’s nutritious granola. I have hiked 33.6 miles since starting the journey.
Anticipation
Been there, done that when it comes to attempted thru-hikes. In 1995 I started but terminated a PCT hike, and victoriously returned to the same trail in 1996. I worked hard for 20 years until a layoff from my employer became a gifted opportunity to thru-hike the Continental Divide Trail in 2016. With 5,500 miles of thru-hiking experience I did not understand the nervousness I felt when I carefully stepped off the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited at Boston South Station on June 20. The train was one hour late at 9:00pm, and the lack of daylight on the deserted downtown Boston streets unfamiliar to me did nothing to sooth my nerves. In just three days I will begin the 2,193 mile southbound hike of the AT, another unfamiliar route.
Continue reading “Anticipation”A few stories about my gear for the AT SOBO Thru-hike
My backpack for the Appalachian Trail will contain essential items and a few more that will ensure I get sufficient rest, minimal hassles, eat great tasting food, keep the bears from eating my great tasting food, and take great photos.
Scenes from the last two training hikes for the AT
For my last two hikes before starting the AT on June 23 I wanted steeper, higher and farther than my previous outings. The Mt Defiance trail climbs about five miles from the Columbia River to the summit at 4954′. The wonderful view of Mt. Hood is not altered by the constant, low level hum of the communication tower equipment. No worries…I was there for the conditioning and not a wilderness experience.
