Day 183

Day 183
Monday 8/31/09

Weather: Sunny, No Rain

Today's Hike: Southarm Rd. - 0.0 miles

OK, I know that I've said that I didn't want to take anymore zero days until we finished this thing, but how can you hike the AT and NEVER take a zero in the woods? You can't. So today Grommet (Grom) and I zeroed in the woods and it was the best zero day on the trail. Nothing but relaxation and pure bliss. Somewhere around noon I finally climbed out of the tent to find Nutmeg and Billy Hoot also still at camp. Sweet, zero day company :) Unfortunately, Nutmeg was having a migraine. So Grom and I went into town, picked up pizzas for everyone and some med's for Nutmeg and made our way back to camp.

After an exhausting 3 hours in town (sense the sarcasm), I took another 2 hour nap and awoke sometime around 7pm, apparently just in time to find David (Pine Ellis hostel owner) at our campsite with an 18 pack of Bud. And of course, Grom was back to knocking down trees and making an out of control bonfire. Didn't I say best zero ever???


Zero Day Company!


Grom Getting Firewood

Day 182

Day 182
Sunday 8/30/09

Weather:
Sunny, no rain.

Today's Hike:
East B Hill Rd. to South Arm Rd. Campsite - 10.1 miles

Day 181

Day 181
Saturday 8/29/09
Weather: Rain all day
Today's Hike: Dunn Notch to East B Hill Rd. - 0.8 miles

It started raining at 2am and continued through the morning. We packed
up in the rain and made the short uphill hike to the road. Despite the
short distance I still managed to fall on my face once. Dam those wet
tree roots. What the heck are they doing just stickin' up in the
middle of the trail? Total hiking hazard.

Once we made it into Andover we started on our town chores; post
office, resupply, library..... and a stop over at the Red Hen for an
early lunch.



My stopover in the library brought on an unsettling
surprise; all of the AT pictures previously posted on the blog are
gone. It will take some time when I get home to round up pictures
again, but when I do I'll post a note to let everyone know they're
back up.

The rain was still coming down once we were done with our chores and
the temperature was quickly dropping. The locals kept telling us how
bad the weather was going to get over the next few hours and they were
strongly discouraging us from hiking out. We didn't need much
encouragement and we were soon standing on the front porch of Pine
Ellis Hostel. Apparently every hiker within a 20 mile radius received
the same news and they were also in town. We met back up with Billy
Hoot and Nutmeg, Inc., and Prairiedog and Angry Beaver. We also met
Whispy and Gritty McDuff who made for great company.

We all ate dinner at the local general store; pizza and Dr. Pepper,
and turned in early for the night. The bunk room is full of grey
beards, hope we'll catch some shut-eye.

Day 180

Day 180
Friday 8/28/09
Weather:
Sunny, no rain
Today's Hike:
Grafton Notch to Dunn Notch - 9.5 miles

Today was the perfect hiking day. For the first time in what feels like weeks I was pumped to hike. I was well rested, well fed, and just in an overall good mood. I felt like me again.

Our big climb for the day was Baldpate Mtn., and it was well worth the effort (rock scrambling included). As I sat at the summit with Grommet I thought aloud that this was what hiking was suppose to be; a kick your ass climb with a sweet reward for your efforts. The view was spectacular; the kind that makes you realize just how small you really are, but just how great life really is. As I stood looking down and around at the ranges around me I could see what I had accomplished behind me and what my future would hold. Still, nothing was more relaxing then enjoying the very moment I had just accomplished, looking out lush green mountain ranges nestled under clear blue skies, and feeling the fresh cool breeze against my skin. Heaven.









Tonight where tenting next to a waterfall, a sweet way to fall asleep.
"It's a great day to be alive, the sun still shining when I close my eyes....Why can't everyday be just as good?"

Day 179

Weather:
Sunny, no rain.

Today’s Hike:
Camping to Grafton Notch - 4.0 miles

A review of our food bags last night told us that there was no way we were gonna make it to our next intended resupply point. Grommet had completely ran out of food and I only had enough food to get through another day. So we went into Grafton Notch where we were treated to an incredible lunch at the Sunday Brewery thanks to some amazing trail angels from Georgia.







After lunch they took us back to the campsite where we resupplied for a day and headed to Stony Brook Campsite for the night. There we showered and did laundry. It's another cold night, and I'm looking forward to zipping up in my sleeping bag.

Day 178

Weather:
Overcast, some morning rain, clear evening

Today’s Hike:
Full Goose Shelter to Camping - 5.6 miles

This morning we headed out early to tackle the Mahoosuc Notch, the "hardest mile on the AT". This mile is hard because it's a series of boulders that hikers must climb over, under, around, and through. It really wasn't hard, just extremely time consuming. So time consuming that we didn't make our miles for the day and stopped short. The weather is turning cold overnight, and the thermometer on my pack is already reading 35 degrees. I'm guessing the heat wave is over.

Day 177

Weather:
Sunny, no rain.

Today’s Hike:
Success Trail to Full Goose Shelter - 5.8 miles

This morning we headed into Maine. As we sat on the border for a snack break it was a moment of reflection. Surreal is the only word that comes to mind. I did it. I have actually walked from northern Georgia to southern Maine. Although I still have 282 miles to go, the accomplishment of making it this far is beyond my comprehension.

We made it to camp early after crossing the 1900 mile mark and I passed out at 7pm and slept through to the next morning.