It's funny, when faced with the end of a journey, how you suddenly truly understand the magnitude of how significant that journey has turned out to be. I'm sitting just shy of 2 weeks from having to get off the trail, and I feel like my eyes are more open than they have been the last 15 weeks. As odd as it sounds, it's quite a gift to see so clearly the truly life changing path I've been able to be a part of.
I'm in Vermont now. Absolutely beautiful. And absolutely muddy. So muddy it's dubbed "Vermud." It has quite possibly been my favorite state so far though. Views are good. We're getting back into real mountains. The people in towns are super friendly. It definitely makes me think the Long Trail will be my next distance hike I attempt. I certainly have plans for more adventures after this :)
We'll be in New Hampshire in just a few days, and then into the White Mountains. One of the toughest parts of the trail. It's a little nerve wracking, such beasts of mountains, but at the same time, I'm not scared or worried. One thing this trail has taught me - one foot in front of the other - and you can get to the top of the mountain. And then to the bottom of the mountain. Which obviously goes for anything in life.
I'm running out of things to talk about, and there will likely be no more updates other than photos. The trail is beautiful, often so beautiful and amazing I cannot even put it into words, and I encourage every single person to hike some section of the trail - any trail. A day, a weekend, a week, whatever you're capable of. When I was at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harper's Ferry, WV, there was a quote from Benton MacKaye about his vision for the Appalachian Trail, and its purpose:
"To walk. To see. And to see what you see."
And that about sums it all up.
Happy Trails.
22 July 2010
09 July 2010
Well, to state what's probably the obvious to anyone reading this - it's been hot. Like, really hot. And let me tell you, hiking in 95+ degree temps really is not fun. But, we're moving along quite nicely despite the heat and humidity. We've made it to Connecticut and expect to enter Massachusetts in another 2 or so days. I can't believe how far we've come!
Yesterday, Rocket and I headed out of camp pretty early - we were the first to leave. About half an hour into the hike, we hear the sound of running. We stop, turn around, and a fawn jets across the trail not 10 feet from us and up into the woods. Just as we were commenting on how amazing that was, we hear more footsteps, and a coyote runs across the trail chasing the fawn. What an amazing once in a lifetime sight to witness!
There has been some great trail magic, mostly water left at roads, which sounds wonky, but with the blazing heat and no rain in probably 2+ weeks, all the water sources are drying up and have been quite unreliable. So water left at a road crossing is one of the best sights you can see! We even came across some tea mix left at one of the water coolers left - amazing!
It's looking more and more likely that I will have to get off the trail before I hit Katahdin. I'm sad to think I won't be able to finish (this trip), but I'm still so grateful to even be able to get as far as I have in one trip, I can't really complain. And believe me, I am looking forward to coming back and finishing whatever I can't finish this time around. I've fallen in love with the trail, and all that it holds for me. It's exhausting and grueling at times, and each challenge leaves me feeling stronger and more confident and more in love with nature than before.
As usual, check out the picture updates :)
www.flickr.com/photos/theashface
Yesterday, Rocket and I headed out of camp pretty early - we were the first to leave. About half an hour into the hike, we hear the sound of running. We stop, turn around, and a fawn jets across the trail not 10 feet from us and up into the woods. Just as we were commenting on how amazing that was, we hear more footsteps, and a coyote runs across the trail chasing the fawn. What an amazing once in a lifetime sight to witness!
There has been some great trail magic, mostly water left at roads, which sounds wonky, but with the blazing heat and no rain in probably 2+ weeks, all the water sources are drying up and have been quite unreliable. So water left at a road crossing is one of the best sights you can see! We even came across some tea mix left at one of the water coolers left - amazing!
It's looking more and more likely that I will have to get off the trail before I hit Katahdin. I'm sad to think I won't be able to finish (this trip), but I'm still so grateful to even be able to get as far as I have in one trip, I can't really complain. And believe me, I am looking forward to coming back and finishing whatever I can't finish this time around. I've fallen in love with the trail, and all that it holds for me. It's exhausting and grueling at times, and each challenge leaves me feeling stronger and more confident and more in love with nature than before.
As usual, check out the picture updates :)
www.flickr.com/photos/theashface
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