Day 44 (100217)

**Facebook Post 100217 at 6:42AM**

On The Road Again

It’s almost 6:30AM, and I have been laying in bed thinking of all the ways I could possibly freeze to death on the trail. Ha! No, really… I was writing a letter home and naming all the ways. I have a good imagination.

Actually, I’m sure I will be just fine, but as a Floridian, you never quite get used to the cold that northerners learn to live in. I’m always carrying extra gear I’m scared to mail home because I just know the moment I do, I’ll end up in some freakish snow storm that just happened to come early.

The weather in general has been odd. Although to the warm degree through most of Vermont, not the other way, but finally that broke a few days ago, and ever since I have been basically bundled in three sweaters daily. I have a feeling these last 500 miles are going to be me running as fast as I can south praying for warm air (chasing the sun – what the north-bounders say about south-bounders). Yeah. Good times.

It’s funny though. You do adapt and move past it. You have no choice. Notice I didn’t say get used to it. You just learn to put up with it is all. Other issues I foresee include the very real fact I think I may have done something pretty rough to my left foot. I’m thinking it’s broken in some way. I was teasing my aunt and told her I was going to keep hiking on it of course, because it’s only excruciating the first hour or so. After that I learn to ignore that too. And with enough Alieve I won’t notice it again unless I stop walking… Then I told her nothing says “I Love Hiking” quite like a permanent limp… Yes, I have a morbid sense of humor.

I’m soft again. Clean sheets and warm blankets. Showers and coffee and food and and and… This is going to be a hard return to the wild. Now I know why so many hikers get sucked into the hostel vortex. In the woods everything is a luxury. Being warm and dry is a luxury. You are constantly clinging to the thought that in so many miles you can get more food or water, or wash your clothes or yourself, or maybe they can charge your phone. It’s constant. Here, in the world, life is easy and comfortable, but I have a mission. And that mission isn’t over.

Returning to the dirt. Today it’s a love hate thing. Tomorrow a lifestyle.

 

4:45PM Start Day 44 (100217)

•4:45PM MA Rte 2 (Mile 597.6)
•5:15PM Pattinson Road (Mile 598.7)
•7:30PM Notch Road (Mile 600.8) sleep
•7:00AM Wake up, pack
•8:00AM On Trail
•10:00AM Williams Mountain (Mile 601.6)
(Got lost and went down the wrong side, 1.2 miles there and back)
•11:30AM Thunderbolt Shelter
•11:40AM Mt. Greylock (War Memorial)
(Mile 603.9)
•2:10PM Mark Noepel Shelter (Mile 607.2)
•4:45PM MA Rte 8 (Mile 611.8)

4:45PM End Of Day 44
APPROX 14.2 Miles

(100117)

** Facebook Post 100117 at 9:52AM**

It just hit me that I have approximately 470 miles left to walk before I can say I have stepped foot on every single part of the Appalachian Trail.

What’s left:
Williamstown, MA, 597.6 to
Boiling Springs, PA, 1068.2

**Facebook Post 100117 at 6:04PM**

What my Uncle Danny does when he’s killing time on his porch.

**Facebook Post 100117 at 9:02PM**

Me and the old man.

 

 

11:25AM Start (100117)

•11:25AM MA Rte 2 (Mile 597.6)
•11:25AM MA Rte 2 (Mile 597.6)
11:25AM End Of Day 46
APPROX 0 Miles

(OFFICIALLY OFF TRAIL FOR GRANDMA’S FUNERAL AND FAMILY TIME)

(092917)

**Facebook Post 092917 at 11:36AM**

Thanks For The Memories

Last night I split a hotel with a couple of north-bounders turned flip-floppers, Overload and Romeo. I originally met them in Maine when they were traveling in a larger group (A “trail family” as they call them out here.) getting ready to summit Katahdin. It was my fortune to randomly meet back up with them in Vermont when they came back through a small section they originally skipped. Last night, I’m proud to say we finished walking Vermont together and entered the great state of Massachusetts.

For at least the last few days, we have been leap frogging and hiking as a small unorganized group. I say unorganized, due to the fact we met up, then parted ways, then I met up with them again during their attempt at the 24 (miles)/24 (hours)/24 (beers) challenge. It’s a trail thing. Let’s say they were hard to miss as they sang and frolicked down the dirt path toward me at minimum 6 beers in already. LOL

The guys will be completing the 2,189 mile journey with this last section, a final 70 or so miles. (Good luck! You should be hugely proud of yourselves! The weather and sun are with you!)

I was unfortunately due to get off trail for my grandmother’s services today, and the guys were in need of resupply anyway. So we took it upon ourselves to push into Williamstown, Massachusetts last night. We arrived well after dark.

Upon hitting town, and immediately as we left the woods, I got this almost euphoric feeling. Things are different in the world, in towns. There’s water here and it’s plentiful, and you can get food, whenever you want. So, you can imagine as we searched for a hotel and randomly came across a grocery store, we would feel compelled to enter, which we did.

We wandered the isles originally as a group, but eventually set off in our own directions, One by one, we met back up in front with our gear and grub. It’s a good feeling to just hand over a bit of paper and suddenly have whatever you want to feed your face. You loose that appreciation when you have it every day, at your fingertips.

Also, staying in a hotel room with a hot shower and comfy beds is also a luxury you forget. Even though I had just been in town a few nights before in Manchester at Jen’s Place (hostel) literally hours after I had left, I was back covered in sweat, walking my tail off, and feeling the pain of my feet. It’s the small things that society provides that become so beautiful. I relish clean sheets, warm water, hell, running water, and food, all sorts of food. Prepackaged, whole, fresh, not so, whatever, open mouth and insert. When on trail and I run out of my favorite food, it’s not like I can just snap my fingers and get more. My next opportunity to have that flavor hit my tongue might not be for 100 miles. It can be brutal eating Ramen Soup for 5 nights in a row because you ran out of Campbell’s…

It was sad parting ways today with the guys. Our first meeting actually happened (over a month ago) during trail magic at a roadside stand where the hosts were feeding hikers hotdogs and burgers and cold soda. A blessing in the woods. Thank God for trail angels! Immediately after the magic, the guys and their trail family met at the bottom of the hill to camp and congregate over a warm fire. Being I had been traveling alone, it was a great experience to be included and have a little shared time with other hikers. Plus, I never burn a fire. I usually walk way late and have zero energy for fires. Plus, I’m alone, I just eat, then crash, typically.

You can make great friends really fast on trail. The experience of being out in the remote resonates, and we are all going through it together, in a way. The struggles are the same. For me, I have never had the very real experience of the “normal” through hike. I’ve always been in a hurry. Always trying to complete big miles and quick. I’m out for months, and I meet many people, but I can see how my experience differs from the traditional thru-hike. I don’t get the whole trail family experience long term, and I don’t get to share the moment of finally completing the enormous task of 2,189 miles shared with people who have gone through at least a huge portion of it with me or at the same time. I’m always half in, if you will.

I still have to say though, I’ve hiked with many folks over the years, through hikers, section hikers and day hikers, and the experience for me at least lasts. I actually stay friends, even if at a distance, with most of the people I have met on trail. It’s weird. Even though my time with them had been brief, it was still substantial, and holds deep in my heart. I can tell you stories in which the memory does not fade for each and every hiker I’ve shared moments and amazing conversation with. These people are not just friends, but people I have met that cannot be replaced in the experience which is my life. Moments and friends I will remember forever.

Hiking on the AT especially, has a magic about it that I truly can’t explain to the layman. I recommend it to anyone looking to expand their mind, change their life, feel more deeply, look more closely, in need of deeper relationships, looking for more, etc.. If you breath, I recommend it. I don’t care if you are 80 or 18. If you can muster up the time and energy, even if brief, get out there. It WILL not only change your life, but give you a paradigm shift that will fundamentally thrust you in a different direction forever.

So, good luck Romeo (aka Kevin Hanley) and Overload (aka Cameron Kearney)!!! I’m with you guys for those last 70 miles, even if I’m not physically there! You always have a place to chill in Florida! Just hit me up!

Sort of symbolic as I watched those two head one direction down the sidewalk today, as I headed the other. And here I sit, in Dunkin Donuts, waiting for my Uncle Brian (Brian York) and my father (Blayde York) to pick me up and bring me to NY for my grandmother’s funeral. We are all on our own sacred journey, aren’t we?

Peace and Love ya’ll!

11:25AM Start (092917)
•11:25AM MA Rte 2 (Mile 597.6)
•11:25AM MA Rte 2 (Mile 597.6)
11:25AM End
APPROX 0 Miles

(OFFICIALLY OFF TRAIL FOR GRANDMA’S FUNERAL AND FAMILY TIME)

Day 43 (092817)

**Facebook Post 092817 at 8:30AM**

Great… Two different foot injuries and no more Alieve left. Plus, there are so many leaves on the ground, I have zero idea what’s below my feet until I’m already on it. Fun…. AND it rained all night. So, everything is slippery as hell today…. May I add that today so far I have seen the most steep climbs since northern Vermont and New Hampshire, and rocky?

**Facebook Post 092817 at 6:33PM**

Massachusetts!!!!!!!!!!!

**Facebook Post 092817 at 11:16PM**

Officially off trail for my grandmother’s funeral… To be continued.

11:25AM Start Day 43 (092817)
•11:25AM (Estimate) Harmon Hill
(Mile 581.0)
•6:30PM Vermont/Massachusetts boarder
(Mile 593.5)
•8:00PM MA Rte 2 (Mile 597.6)
(Walk 1.7 to grocery store in Williamstown)
•OFFICIALLY OFF TRAIL
11:25AM End Of Day 43
APPROX 16.6 Miles
(Day short 15 hours, 25 mins)

Day 42 (092717)

**Facebook Post 092717 at 10:21AM**

The Body Beautiful

Don’t ask me why, but for some reason I have finally put two and two together and realized that my body will fight back when I over do it. Back in Florida, if you read my posts often you may remember this, I had gone out on a particularly hot day, and attempted to complete a particularly high amount of miles. My brain said yes, but my body said, “Oh, hell no!”

I ended up with this insane heat rash, or what I assumed was heat rash, all over my legs. The weird thing was though, in the past, the only places I had ever gotten heat rash were on parts of my body that had been covered with clothing during whatever heat I was in. So, this was sort of a new development. I had never gotten heat rash on exposed skin. It was so bad, it prompted my friend Kelly to call me and beg me to see a doctor and get myself checked for Lyme. (Sorry Kelly. I promise I will do that right when I get back.)

Anyway, over a couple days and with some showers and love, it went away on its own and I forgot all about it.

Fast forward… I’m out on the trail. I have just entered Vermont. Thinking the terrain would be calming down and getting easier, I was unprepared for the intense heat, humidity, and the size of the mountains. Northern Vermont can look a lot like New Hampshire, but without the 8 million rocks everywhere in which you practically need a degree in Parkour to get over.

Let’s just say, I overdid it that day. I got up early, kicked butt all day, and managed to keep going well past dark. That night in my tent I noticed my legs. They were covered in that same bizarre, over the top, heat rash I had had in Florida. This time, because of a lack of, I don’t know, everything, I ended up washing my legs off with water and some handi-wipes, then using hydrocortisone. This actually worked. Then it got me to thinking. Out here it seems like everything is exaggerated. My eyes get puffy. My nose and ears bleed. I constantly have something going on somewhere on my body at all times. Maybe this heat rash is only part heat rash, but maybe it’s also allergy. Would not surprise me.

I made the decision that no matter how many miles I want to do, or how long I want to walk, I’m going to start giving my body a break when it needs it. Since I have been doing this, I haven’t gotten the rash as bad at all. Had a very small amount of it on my upper thighs last night, but it seems like if I take just a little extra time to recharge, and not overdo it, then I clean my legs and body best I can before bed, I’m in the clear. So far. But seriously, I think it’s my body’s response to extreme stress, then it kicks into gear with rashes and allergies, (even my saliva glands were inflamed recently) and whatnot. I have to listen to the bod, or the bod will bite back.

I also think I may be a bit sensitive to my bug spray, (I’m using it sparingly now.) or I could have brushed against some sort of foliage, etc.. Either way, if I’m not under stress, this stuff doesn’t seem to have any effect on me, but when I am, holy hell.

Also, I’m just one of those people that never drinks a lot of fluids. I need to pay more attention to that, and flush my system more. Being I’m basically working out all day, every day, and it’s been unusually hot for this area, it wouldn’t hurt to be more conscious of my fluid intake.

I have also taken to switching out my socks more often, like every two hours. Making sure I stretch before heading out in the morning is another big one, and breathing. Basically hiking in general is a meditation of sorts, but breathing is a huge part of mediation, and I’m pretty sure just giving myself three deep, big breaths every now and then couldn’t hurt. Get those alpha waves moving in my brain. Might help me with some better decision making as well. Can’t hurt.

*** Trick Given To Me By Mount Rogers Outfitters in Damascus, VA, Last Year***

Wash exposed skin the best you can, at least rinse, then use Gold Bond everywhere you rinsed/washed. This helps the skin remain clean feeling at night when you sleep, as opposed to feeling gross and sticky, and sweaty. Works like a charm! (Especially legs and feet)

*** Trick From “Captain” (aka Ryan Wettlin) Also Given To Me Last Year***

Eat a 24 hour allergy pill every day, whether you need it or not. Keeps allergic reactions at bay. (Contact Dermatitis, Airborne Allergies, Bug Bites)

 

11:25AM Start Day 42 (092717)

•11:25AM (Estimate) South Adler Brook (Mile 561.1)
•3:00PM Goddard Shelter (569.1)
•6:15PM Hell Hollow Brook (Sleep)
(Mile 576.0)
•6:00AM Wake up, pack
•7:45AM On trail
•11:25AM (Estimate) Harmon Hill
(Mile 581.0)

11:25AM End Of Day 42
APPROX 19.9 Miles

Day 41 (092617)

**Facebook Post 092617 at 5:13AM**

Compromise and Prioritize

1.) Can they charge my electrical devices?
2.) Is there a food source?
3.) Is there a shower?
4.) Is there laundry?
5.) Is it warm, clean, cozy, and safe?
(Not necessarily in that order)

As I mentioned recently in my “Joys of Food on the Trail” post, I stayed at the Mountain Meadows Lodge the other night. I left there feeling as though I have now graduated to hobo status. (Or “hiker trash” status as they like to call it out here.) Staying in a shed for $10 kind of cracks me up, and wasn’t exactly the low budget option I was expecting, but it’s best to keep expectations exactly that, low, on the trail. LOL

Mountain Meadows is actually a very nice location, but they primarily host weddings, and I wasn’t invited to the one that would be attended the next day. So, rooms were being left vacant until guests arrived, which meant no shower and the shed for me.

As slim as the accommodations were, in their defense, I knew at least the shower wasn’t possibly an option going in. I have an app on my phone called Guthooks that has reviews from other hikers, and I use the AWOL to AT Guide which lists many of the things you will or won’t find at certain locations. This gives me pretty much a nice amount of information before I choose a location to stay at, visit, or shop in. Only discrepancy was one review on Guthooks said there was a nice TV room to hang out in. Never saw it, just the shed.

Here’s the deal. Many times I will stay at a location simply because it has water, and another didn’t. It’s details such as these that may make my stay a bit easier when choosing one location as opposed to another. Details people, they count.

Mountain Meadows I went to simply because I needed to charge my electrical devices, and it was literally right off trail. It would have been great to get a shower and laundry done at the same time, but isn’t it always nice when you can kill more than two birds with one stone? They actually had resupply close by as well. So, that made the location a bit more attractive too.

When “shopping” for a hostel, I like to know they have as many of the following as possible…. Electric, a shower, laundry, and walking access to resupply, and if I’m paying, I’d like to think the accommodations are at least somewhat more comfortable than my tent or a shelter. Not always do you automatically get all these things in one place. The same goes for the resupply and camping supply places. It seems like they might have fuel canisters, but no Mountain House MREs. Maybe they sell bug spray, but only the 100% Deet, not the 40% or less like I prefer. One has giant jars of powdered Gatorade, but I don’t need a giant jar, I need individual packs. They might be more of a “clothing” camping supply, and have zip as far as gear. It goes on and on.

What ends up happening to me, in other words, is I end up stopping more places than I would like, just in case, or to avoid completely running out of something. I’m on foot, so Walmart (land where you can buy everything in one place) isn’t always close. I’m usually dependent on the smaller stores, and they don’t always have it all, unfortunately.

A side issue with this, every time I do go into town, it eats up time and miles. I could spend hours just walking to and from a location, leaving that location without everything I needed. Sometimes I have to compromise or prioritize.

When choosing camping spots or shelters, I’m much more open to “lack of”. I never expect a shelter to be luxurious. It would be nice though, if you have visited a shelter before me, to clean up after yourself, so I don’t have to do it for you. One of the last shelters I was at, someone had a dog that shed, a lot, and there was no broom. I found some bark and made due. Camping though, I’m all about whether or not there is water. Well, shelters the water thing is an issue as well. I’ll definitely walk to a farther location or stop earlier if I know there is water on site.

So, I guess my advice is, if you are going to be on trail anytime soon, make sure you access facilities when you can, but be aware many times no one place has everything. On trail, as in life, get yours when you can, be courteous, compromise when you have to, and prioritize always.

**Facebook Post 092617 at 6:55AM**

Bugs that divebomb your eyes, nose, and fly directly down your throat. (It’s as if everything out here wants to be inside you, like being at a damn frat party.)

**Facebook Post 092617 at 2:45PM**

40 Miles to Massachusetts!!!!!

 

11:25AM Start Day 41 (092617)

•11:25AM (Estimate) Stratton Pond Shelter (Mile 549.8)
•7:30PM Black Brook (camp, sleep)
(Mile 557.5)
•5:00AM Wake up, pack
•7:00AM On trail
•11:25AM (Estimate) South Adler Brook (Mile 561.1)

11:25AM End Of Day 41
APPROX 11.3 Miles

Day 40 (092517)

**Facebook Post 092517 at 4:44PM**

Hiker hunger… Need I say more?

 

11:25AM Start Day 40 (092517)

•11:25AM VT Rte. 11/30 (Mile 539.1)
(Walk 4.7 miles to Manchester)
(Walked a total of 1 mile wrong direction)
(Walked .7 to Jen’s from Manchester)
(Walked .7 to Price Cutter for resupply)
(Walk .7 back to Jen’s Place)
•4:30AM Wake up, pack
•6:00AM Walk back to trail head (4.7 miles)
•8:45AM VT Rte. 11/30 (Mile 539.1)
•11:25AM (Estimate) Stratton Pond Shelter (Mile 549.8)

11:25AM End Of Day 40
APPROX 10.7 Miles
(Add 12.5 miles for Hostel, resupply, laundry, from and to trail head)

Day 39 (092417)

**Facebook Post 092417 at 3:48AM**

The Many Joys of Food on the Trail

I’m getting this food pack thing down better and better. At this point I would say I’m back to carrying a normal amount of sustenance, under 10 pounds. Not sure what I was thinking there buying so much and then sending myself even more, but I again, blame hiker hunger.

It’s insane how when you are hiking every day, all day, if you see, or even hear about, food options it’s as if the flood gates open and you want it all.

My hiker hunger got so loopy I even asked one of my friends to bring me a meatball sub and a cold soda from across state lines. He didn’t do it. Then he told me he was going to order one for himself because it sounded like such a delicious idea. You are truly an evil man. You know who you are. LOL!

Lately when I do go into a grocer, which isn’t as often as I’d like mind you, I try to have specific choices in mind. As I roam about, I keep telling myself to stay on track and grab the items I need, not everything in the store. Although, I will admit I still leave with a few things I didn’t intend to buy, I’m making better choices and not going crazy. Believe me, I want to buy everything I see. I also have found if I buy a meal to eat at that same moment, it sort of lessens the desire, at least for the time being, to buy in bulk.

I’m making conscious decisions to buy more fat and protein items and less sugar, but sugar is in literally everything these days, even meat products and cheese, so it can be difficult at times. Plus, literally from the beginning of my trip, fat and protein have been high on the list, but the eyes have a tendency of taking you to additional selections.

A strange thing I find hard to find are adequate electrolyte drink mixes. Gas stations and even a lot of grocers tend to only have the most bizarre of options. Either they sell giant jars of it, way too much for me, or they only carry the gross Aspartame laden kinds that make my stomach upset.

The Mido stuff (I think that’s what it’s called, in the weird egg shaped squeeze bottle.) makes me so sick. I have a different product also to try in a bounce box somewhere south of me, but this doesn’t help me today. I bought some Hawaiian Punch individual packs at Walmart in Gorham, but as always with Walmart, you need to read what you buy. I didn’t completely read the label and it’s the sugar free stuff. Why this mostly happens to me in Walmart, I don’t know. It might be because I always spend my time there, trying to get out as quickly as possible. I just saw the logo and grabbed it assuming it was regular Hawaiian Punch. Nope. Sugar free anything tends to make me a little queezy, but Hawaiian Punch is probably not as bad as some.

I also purchased Propel individual packets. They don’t seem to be making me sick, thank goodness, but they also have almost no taste to them.

A sweet food option I haven’t mentioned, well maybe I did at some point earlier, were all those blueberries growing wildly at the top of the mountains in southern Maine and New Hampshire. I’m not a major fan of having to bust my ass to get up to 5,500 feet over and over, but when I do, it’s a lovely surprise to have a sea of wild blueberries in front of you. There was more than one occasion where I just plopped my happy ass down and fed my face to complete enjoyment with berries.

It seemed to be a constant topic of discussion between hikers too. As you are on your way up, hikers would tell you of the reward waiting for you at the top, or you’d have to stop in your tracks because a hiker was on the ground in front of you mowing blueberries. It was really nice. Sometimes I felt like I was doing a bit more blueberry picking and not enough hiking though.

The tradeoff for being a bit farther south are the apples. Everywhere I go these days are trees filled with apples. That started in southern New Hampshire, and continued into Vermont, although I haven’t seen as many lately because I’m pretty deep in the woods and up in the mountains. They tend to be more near farms and on the side of roads, but delicious and free.

I’m pretty sure as I go more south it’s raspberries and blackberries, but I’m guessing I’m a little late in season to partake. It would be awesome if as I made my way down, I could grab some of those too though. Last year, I found myself doing the same picking of blackberries as I was of blueberries this year. You find a good bush full, and you just can’t help it. Free food!!!!

My actual last stop at a grocer was in Killington, VT, to the Killington Deli & Marketplace. I have to say, they did have a pretty wide variety of food to choose from considering they were basically just a gas station with a grocer/deli, but I got the distinct feeling they served much of the tourist community. Great sandwiches!

I had paid a whole $10 to stay in Mountain Meadows Lodge’s pool house the night before (AKA… their shed. They called it a bunk house. I slept on the floor. It had holes in it, but it did have electric. Trade off. There was no option for a shower, since they were having a wedding that weekend, but they did have laundry. I didn’t partake. Why would I? I’m not going to shower, then put clean laundry on. Gross.)

The next morning when I left the property, I had walked past some day hikers and actual guests of the Lodge on trail. Eventually saw them again at the grocer. These were wedding guests, but I’m guessing when it’s ski season, they do pretty well. Everyone coming in from all the resorts, at all hours, buying food for their rooms and cottages and outings. Plus, they had a liquor store.

I liked though, they had a sign that said hikers were not welcome in the liquor store. I’m guessing that’s hikers with their bags on. Somebody must have gotten a little grabby at some point and slipped a bottle in a bag. Thanks for ruining it for everybody Dude.

A nice twist to my visit to this grocer, was as I’m checking out the clerk asks me if I’m a hiker. Then she tells me how few are left on trail now. Then asks if I had heard about the hiker that had recently been found dead. Apparently he went missing for days. By the time they found him… Not because of what you would think. No fowl play, or bear eats man horror story. The guy simply got sick with pneumonia and I guess wandered off to rest it out and died instead. Geeze, poor guy. I didn’t hear if he was an older or younger guy, or any more details, but it makes you think. Get out of the woods if you are feeling that bad Man! Lesson for the day.

Another mentionable grocer I visited when I first got into Vermont. I had passed through on my way to the Norwich Inn to get my package with my new shoes inside. They happen to be located directly next door. It’s called Dan and Whit’s. Anyway, the place is crazy. If you are ever in Norwich, go there. There pretty much isn’t a thing on earth this guy doesn’t have. I mean literally. Another customer mentioned to me his motto is “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it.” The place reminds me of those crazy over packed flea market stores where suddenly you find yourself walking through the back room, you aren’t sure you are supposed to be there or not, but there are like 8,000 things for your eyes to lock on from floor to ceiling. Yeah, that’s this place. Except he’s got like ten back rooms. Dude, I got lost. Seriously, it took a minute once I found bug spray to figure my way out again. AND apparently there is more upstairs. UPSTAIRS?!?!? Crazy. But yeah, his store is probably the only place on the trail where I would say you could pretty much find it all. He even sold Kool Aide in small packets. What?

11:25AM Start Day 39 (092417)

•11:25AM (Estimate) Little Rock Pond Shelter (Mile 519.3)
•6:30PM (Estimate time) Griffith Lake Tenting Area (Mile 528.5) Sleep
•4:00AM Wake up, pack
•5:30AM On trail
•11:25AM VT Rte. 11/30 (Mile 539.1)

11:25AM End Of Day 39
APPROX 19.8 Miles

Day 38 (092317)

**Facebook Post 092217 at 3:18PM**

It’s official. I am out of my freaking mind. (As if I needed to make a declaration.)

**Facebook Post 092317 at 8:38PM**

I’m putting it out there for the world to know. Today I broke one of the official rules of the FKT and met up with one of my friends from Vermont at a trail head for like two hours of conversation and a break from killing it.

I know I said that I would stay with all the FKT rules until the end, but at 500(ish) miles and already 35 days in, I already know I’m not going to make the FKT again this year. Really, I’m doing this for me now. BUT Because I made an official public announcement I was trying for it, I figure I should do the same if I’m going to break any rules and forfeit the fight. So, there it is.

I’d like to thank everybody who helped me get this far. To all those who financially, emotionally, and otherwise, helped make this trip happen and supported me. (Last Year and this year.) This trek is not over, and if I make the 1800 miles, I will definitely try again next year a final time. This time having the whole trail at least once under my belt, to pull knowledge from.

It’s been one hell of an attempt so far. I had no idea what I was in for with Maine and New Hampshire, and the idea I’m doing it all wrong definitely has occurred to me. South to North, North to South? I’m also apparently not the greatest at planning, executing, training, doing my own PR, researching, raising funds, etc., etc., etc., person. I can not express how difficult it is to wear so many hats and attempt to think of everything and do it all. I’m learning that even if you are attempting a self supported world record attempt, it still takes time and a team. I don’t have anybody, but myself. I am almost always learning by happening to run into someone who gives me the scoop too late.

I’m still going to attempt to complete the 1800 miles, although even that is not looking good at this point. I’m still not getting in cars while I’m out here, I’m not slack packing, taking detours or skipping anything, and I definitely do not plan on meeting with anybody else or breaking any other official rules. It was a one time deal.

That being said, I do, on the other hand, have to get off the trail in less than a week and attend my grandmother’s funeral services, which would disqualify me anyway. I don’t think they give “time outs” for world records. After which I will get back on and continue as if I’m still in the running.

I did and I am still learning a lot, and I will continue to keep everybody informed of what is happening as it happens. The adventure continues.

 

11:25AM Start Day 38 (092317)

•11:25 (Estimate) VT 103 (Mile 506.7)
•6:30PM Bully Brook (Mile 513.8) sleep
•6:30AM Wake, pack up
•9:00AM On trail
•11:25AM (Estimate) Little Rock Pond Shelter (Mile 519.3)

11:25AM End Of Day 38
APPROX 12.6 Miles