Legs and Borders

Back on trail and out of New Hampshire to the last state on the AT, Maine. It was only me, Tum Tum and Iceman going back to trail today, everybody else in the hostel was taking the zero day. Paul packed us into his white Cadillac at 7:10 AM and off we went. Fifteen minutes later we were climbing our first hill, we got joined by Treadmill who came yesterday to the brewery but was staying at the different hostel. Me and Tum Tum were a bit faster than other two guys and so we left them behind, we talked about all the trail gossip and news until my Achilles tendon started to hurt and I had to slow down. Before that happened Tum Tum said that if it was up to him to give me a trail name, he would call me "Steinbeck" which I really liked (I was carrying Steinbeck's book in my backpack for a long time now and was mentioning him frequently on the trail), perhaps I could change it for the next thru hike! Terrain was still very demandi...

"I didn't have a shower since Pennsylvania" Snail A nero day followed by a zero! In the morning I've fairly quickly got through the remaining 7 miles of the trail to the road and got a hitchhike to Gorham where I was planning to stay for the next two days. White Mountain's really kicked my butt, tendons in my legs were hurting even while I was going through fairly easy terrain and I needed some time to rest. I've managed to get a quick hitchhike to town, I ate a footlong Subway and went to check in at the Barn Hostel even though it was just noon. I've got greeted by Biscuit and MacGyver an older section hiking couple I've met at the Madison Spring Hut, they've been taking some time off trail as Biscuit's knees were not doing good, she already had one of them replaced in the past because of hiking. I've advised them to hike Carter's Dome I've just finished (they got a shuttle to Gorham from an earlier mile) so...

Trail today was very demanding as if White Mountain's were making sure I'll remember them. Unfortunately as nice as staying in the hut was last night, I didn't get much sleep. People were walking to the toilet all night which was not far from where we slept and it kept on waking me up. I've packed up as soon as there was enough light and left the hut before 5 AM. First descent from Mt Madison to Osgood campsite wasn't as bad as people were trying to make it, very steep sure and for the first half above the treeline, the strong wind was setting me off balance, so I had to keep low profile. I've also seen my first (and hopefully not last) moose of the trail! Big, clumsy beast it wiggled it's enormous ears when it saw me and walked away to the forest.  After the descent there were two options, bridge on the AT has been condemned so there was a detour around it but it was skipping 8 miles of the trail. Other thru hikers inform...

Easiest day in White Mountain's so far, the streak of free breakfast scraps continues. By easiest I don't mean that it was an easy day overall, only compared to the other two I've hiked through these mountains. Goal number one was to make my way to Galehead Hut for those sweet breakfast leftovers, on the way there I met Iceman and I told him about my plan, he was unaware of that deal but decided to push on with me. We arrived with lots of time to spare, all the guests were still inside the hut, we also went in as it was raining. We met here three more thru hikers: Push from Pennsylvania who was working in trail maintenance and his two friends Mufasa and Magician, they were planning to finish AT within next 30 days. At 8 AM our food arrived, we got few sausage patties, scrambled eggs and plenty of oatmeal. It didn't take us long to completely empty all the bowls, we also bought few cakes and coffee, it was a great stop overall. From he...

The views have arrived! Very early start today to make it in time to the Lonesome Lake Hut for free breakfast scraps for thru hikers! It's not a glamorous thing I know but at this point any calories are good, the way it works is after paid guests (they pay minimum 130$ for the night) finish their breakfast thru hikers are allowed to claim the leftovers only requirement is to be there at 8 AM. Myself and Tum Tum who also left early to make it to the hut had a big climb to accomplish first, it was steep with lots of boulders and holding on to the trees for balance and support, eventually we made it to the top of Kinsman Mountain and the first big view of Appalachia opened up for us, the weather was perfect and so was the panorama, I might have shed a little tear at this point it was very exciting. After a funky descent, we made it to the Lonesome Lake Hut in time for food. It was nothing fancy, few scrambled eggs, waffles, porridge and ...

"After hiking in White Mountain's everything else seems easy" Sue First day in the White's, I can confirm now that terrain here is unlike anything we faced on the AT so far. In the morning I had a coffee and a breakfast muffin at the hostel, surprisingly despite the early hour Tum Tum, Iceman, Yukon and Gutsy were up as well. Weather was supposed to be a mixed bag but we were all determined to climb Mt Moosilauke today. I headed out and started the 4000 feet climb first, it was a long, steady uphill going through well maintained terrain, problems only started at the top. Day was quite windy, combined with the rain and exposed, alpine environment, it became a recipe for a very wet, cold and uncomfortable time. At the top wind was pushing me left and right and rain was cutting across with great speed, I was completely drenched in just few moments. Luckily exposed section didn't last too long and the AT dived into the pine forest soon after. ...