**Facebook Post 091617 at 7:26AM**
So, just to recap… My last hostel stop was at The Notch, in North Woodstock, NH. Totally a great recommendation, and if you have the time or need resupply, stop there. Great town, cool little hostel.
My issue is I’m on a time constraint, and if I had realized that it was closer to 6 miles off trail, not the 5 (my ultimate limit for going off trail) suggested by the AT Guidebook and Guthooks (a hiking App on my phone) I most likely would have made the effort to mail more resupply to Glencliff, and push on to my next hostel stop which is right off trail (.3 miles) and only 1 or 2 days hike past the 2 trailhead stops for going into North Woodstock. Plus, I just assumed the resupply would be somewhere in between the trail head and the hostel, it was not. It was another 2 miles in a different direction and another town, Lincoln.
I did not plan that one very well, I took the recommendation not checking. Not saying it was a bad idea, totally a nice stop, but when you are trying to do big miles, stopping places far off trail doesn’t help the cause. It pretty much meant I dedicated an entire day getting to and from the hostel and resupply.
So, with the goal of this trip now not to set the FKT, cause Maine and NH pretty much shocked the shit out of me, I’m going to attempt to try and complete at least 1800 miles in the 54 days (Heather ‘Anish’ Anderson’s time for 2189). (Taking a brief time out for my grandma’s funeral.) If I do not complete the 1800, I have already decided I will not spend the time raising funds, training another year, buying all new freaking gear, etc., for the third attempt.
I am continuing to keep with the FKT rules of not getting into any vehicles during my trip, or accept any gifts, care packages, or anything not deemed “true trail magic”, no slackpacking, etc.. I feel like if I can do 1800 keeping with those rules, pushing another 500 out of myself under those conditions would be quite possible.
So, right now, I’m only at around 400. It’s not looking good for me, but I also have been looking slightly ahead in my AT Guidebook and holy hell does Maine and New Hampshire hold true to their reputations. I agree with most of the other hikers and hostel people I have met familiar with the terrain, the hardest two parts of the trail for sure. But I’m close to Vermont now and it looks like it does open up like I’ve been told. So, I’m hoping with the conditioning I have just received, and the fact the terrain is much easier, I will start to fly.
We shall see… Keep your fingers crossed for me. And hopefully, I will get wiser as I go with my planning and not find myself in predicaments where I have to go far off trail to get food and a shower. It’s time to buckle down ya’ll!!!!!!!
**Facebook Post 091617 at 8:59AM**
Dear fellow hikers on the Appalachian Trail,
All the morning spiderwebs going across this section of the trail have now been cleared, with my face.
You’re welcome!
– Sadego
**Facebook Post 091617 at 9:01AM**
Had a trifecta moment this morning. Found a spider, an adult tick, and a chigger in my tent. Welcoming committee to Vermont?
(I’m not there just yet, but maybe they send out representatives?)
**Facebook Post 091617 at 8:07PM**
I am officially out of The White Mountains!!!!!! Yay!!!!!
11:25AM Start Day 31 (091617)
•11:25PM (Estimate) Mount Moosilauke (Mile 393.2)
•5:15PM NH Route 25 (Mile 398.7)
•5:25PM At Hikers Welcome Hostel
(.3 miles from trailhead) sleep
•7:00AM Wake up, go over miles
•10:00AM Pack to leave Hiker’s Welcome
•11:00AM Leave Hiker’s Welcome Hostel in Glencliff, NH
•11:25AM (Estimate) Webster Side Trail (Mile 400.7)
11:25AM End Of Day 31
APPROX 7.5 Miles
(Add .6 miles to Hikers Welcome from trail head and back)
