Monday, August 26, 2013

Day 179

08/26/12 - Mount Katahdin - 2,184.2 miles

Words cannot fully capture the emotions of this day.  We woke up early and ate our last Trail breakfast.  Packed up our gear and headed out to the ranger station.  We each dropped off a few pounds of unnecessary gear and started off on the AT.  We filled our water bottles for the last time.  Some other thru-hikers had already started the ascent.  As we crossed the campground in early morning light, we came upon a clearing... and there stood Katahdin... high and mighty looming above us.  It was to be a difficult climb to the top.  I couldn't believe that we were doing it.  That this was it.  The first mile went by pretty quickly as we passed Katahdin Stream Falls.  Then the Trail quickly started to climb.  A nice steady incline at first but soon turning to more hand over hand scrambles.  Once we got above treeline we saw other peaks around us and the lakes below us and the clouds above us.  It was truly an epic scene.  We dipped below treeline one last time then started the more scary and difficult portion... climbing straight up to the Tableland.  After this long, grueling climb, we were getting close.  The scene was straight out of Lord of the Rings... Rohan.  We stopped at Thoreau Spring for one last snack break before the end.  We had ONE MILE left on the AT.  We started up towards Baxter Peak, and as we got within about half a mile, there it was.  The sign.  A group of people were gathered around it but it didn't matter.  Right now it was just going to be me, Anna, God, and that sign.  KATAHDIN.  We held hands the last 50 yards or so.  We walked up to that sign and when Anna placed her hand on it and I hugged it, together, we officially became thru-hikers of the Appalachian Trail.  What?!  WEDIDIT.  I thought I might start to cry once I reached the sign, but I only got a little misty eyed a few minutes before when I first caught glimpse of the sign.  How often I had imagined us reaching that sign when the Trail was excruciatingly difficult.  And now here we were.  Standing before it.  We let the feeling sink in a bit (though even as I write this, I'm not sure if it has fully hit me yet).  Our other thru-hiker buddies were there, too.  Whoop and Resource.  Connect4.  ManBearPig and DudeManBro.  Everyone was excited and enjoying this moment with each other.  After about 15 minutes I decided to make it happen.  I set up the GoPro in front of the sign and asked DudeManBro to take one more video of us.  Anna was happy but maybe a bit unsure of what I was doing.  "I just wanna get some video of us on the sign and stuff.  Let's yell at the top of our lungs!"  And so we did.  And then we did our high five secret handshake.  And then I stepped down from the sign and said, "Anna... KitFox... I know we just finished the Appalachian Trail, but I wanted to know if you would go on another adventure with me."  She says nothing.  "Do you wanna get a two-person tent?"  And when she said YES I couldn't stop smiling.  What an incredibly joyful moment we were now sharing!  We kissed.  She put on the ring.  Everyone cheered.  I broke out the champagne bottle I had hidden in my pack.  ManBearPig said, "Dude you guys, we just witnessed history."  We soaked it in some more on top of the mountain and then started to head back down.  We were finished with the AT, but we still had to climb back down this mountain!  Wow!  We were excited.  It took us several hours to climb down, and when we did our parents were there waiting for us.  What a wonderful reunion.  I was so glad to see all of them there together waiting for us at the end.  It was perfect.  We went out to have our celebration dinner in Millinocket.  We sat outside and ate delicious food overlooking a beautiful lake with Mount Katahdin in the background.  What a perfect day and a perfect way to end one journey and begin another.  I am truly thankful to God and his love and to all my family and friends for their love, support, and encouragement.  I am thankful beyond belief for Anna coming into my life and falling in love with her.  She is an inspiration to me.  It really is a wonderful life.

***

It really is a wonderful life.

And this is the history of our thru-hike.  As many of you may know, Anna and I are no longer together.  We split ways earlier this year.  She is an incredible person and I know she will continue to do great things.  Like I said in my final journal entry, I am so thankful for her and that we completed this journey together.  Life doesn't always turn out the way we think it will or want it to, but we keep moving forward one step at a time.  We're all on this earth for a purpose, and I think hiking the Trail allowed me to experience life on its most fundamental level.

Live life everyday.  One day at a time.  One step at a time.  Climb a mountain.  Witness a sunrise.  Swim a lake.  Smell a tree.  Walk.  Run.  Breathe.  Sweat.  Cry.  Scream.  Share.  Give.  Laugh.  Love.  Live.

I think of all the people who we encountered on our hike and the impact they made on us.  And I think of all the family and friends back home who helped us beyond count and encouraged us along the way.  Friends.  Family.  Complete strangers.  I want to thank each and every one of you who was a part of this journey.  Each and every one.  I thank you for your love.

"Strange, isn't it?  Each man's life touches so many other lives." - Clarence, It's A Wonderful Life

KitFox ascending Katahdin

ManCub ascending Katahdin


The final entry











The final tally
August 26, 2012

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Day 178

08/25/12- The Birches - 2,179 miles

Five point two miles away.  We are camped at the base of the Great Mountain.  We crossed over Abol Bridge earlier today to finish the 100 mile wilderness.  Bought some last minute food at the camp store (also secretly bought a little bottle of champagne for our summit victory).  Tomorrow is the big day.  The day we have been looking forward to and striving to reach with every step we've taken.  I can hardly believe it.  I am so excited.  On our way to the top.

***

Entering Baxter State Park

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Day 177

08/24/12 - Rainbow Lake - ≈2,161 miles

Another eventful and wonderful day!  Woke up at 3:30a – breakfast of oatmeal and coffee.  Started hiking off into the dark morning.  Caught our first glimpse of KATAHDIN as we came to a lake at sunrise.  So cool.  Heard the loons.  Caught another view of Big K at lunch.  Then took a refreshing dip in Crescent Pond –– and Anna got in, too!  All the way in!  I was so proud.  And happy.  As we got nearer to the end of the day, a giant bull moose walked out in front of us.  I almost started speaking in tongues I was so shocked and excited.  A moose!  With giant antlers and everything.  Now I'm sitting by the fire (our first one since Tennessee), listening to the loons by the lake.  It is a beautiful evening.  The sun set over the pond.  The stars are out.  And this is it.  One night left after tonight.  One full day left of hiking.  We climb Mount Katahdin the day after tomorrow.  And we will be THRU-HIKERS.

***

There were so many highlights of our hike, but Day 177 was definitely one of my favorite days.

First glimpse of the Great Mountain

Second view at lunchtime

Crescent Pond

Immediately after seeing our moose.

We will be thru-hikers.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Day 176

08/23/12 - Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to - 2,135.9 miles

Not too bad of a day.  24 miles before dark.  Tomorrow will be the real challenge.  Only two more nights on the Trail after this one!  Wow.  I am ready.  We are ready.  It's been wonderful, but DANG, day 1 seems like a lifetime ago.  I know there will be a time when we miss it, but right now I'm missing the rest of my world.

***

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Day 175

08/22/12 - White Cap Mountain - 2,111.4 miles

Cowboy camping baby!  Hanging out on top of White Cap Mountain.  Wind blowing.  Open sky.  Stars.  Awesome.  Cold.  Long day.  Sore sore feet.  Hungry.  Got some fancy chocolate bars from a day hiker today.  Really nice lady.  Couldn't believe it!  Trail magic from a day hiker in the 100 mile wilderness.  What an incredible journey we are on.  So lucky and thankful and happy to be out here with Anna.  Thank you, Lord.


***



   Getting ready to sleep under the stars.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Day 174

08/21/12 - Fourth Mountain - ≈2,090.5 miles

Getting too tired to really do anything once in camp.  Haven't read in several days.  Don't really want to write.  Just sleep.  Swam today.  In a pond with rain.  So refresh.  Then in the creek.  So cold.  Both great.  Now time for sleep.  Just sleep.

***

Refresh.

Sit down and die

Sunday afternoon, working in Wild Basin... lots of people coming into the park – many of them departing on their backpacking trips into the Rocky Mountain backcountry.

Man...

"I really wanna spend tonight in the woods," I think to myself.

I bust out a map and scout out a few places I haven't been to before.  The Fall River area sounds like a plan.  I get off work and race up to the backcountry office to pick up a permit.  It's a beautiful hike in the light rain up to my campsite.

I have a brief staring contest with a beautiful buck and doe just a little ways off trail.  It's a scene right out of Bambi.  Which, by the way, is a highly underrated film in my opinion... the animation is breathtaking.  If you haven't ever seen it or not since you were a kid, check it out!  If you like Nature, you'll appreciate it.  OK, end random Bambi commentary.

I pitch my tent.  Cook up some pasta.  Smoke a pipe.  And watch the light fade away as the chilly mountain air surrounds me.  It's a perfect night to crawl into a sleeping bag and listen to the rain fall against my tent.  I write in my journal and read a few chapters of Moby Dick before closing my eyes.  I'm pretty tired from the work day and the couple mile hike up to the campsite.  I slip into a slumber with little difficulty.

The next morning I have a quick breakfast of oatmeal and coffee and break camp.  I have a two mile headstart on the hikers leaving trailhead.  I'm breaking a sweat up trail when I suddenly see an older gentleman ahead of me.  Man!  What time did he start?  I know he didn't camp nearby so he must've started super early.  I politely make my presence known so as not to startle him.  We talk briefly about the morning, the altitude, and where we're from.  I wish him well and am off again.

About an hour later I reach Lawn Lake.  I eat a pear on a rock by the lake.  It's a gorgeous morning.  I look at the mountains surrounding me and notice a trail going off into the alpine tundra.  That must be the trail to Crystal Lakes, about another mile and a half or so.  I check my map to confirm and start heading that direction.

As I'm walking away from the lake, I see the older gentleman walking towards me. 
"Well, hello again!" I say as we meet up. 
This time we stop and talk for nearly 20 minutes.  We discuss hiking and how beautiful it is here and whatnot.  He asks me how old I am and I tell him 26.
"Well, I've got you beat by about 50 years," he remarks.
"Wow.  Props to you for coming out here all the time and hiking."
He told me earlier he was from Iowa and tried to hike as much as possible.  And this was not an easy hike.  I was winded and sore already from the uphill climb.
"Let me tell you something honestly," he says.  "And this is the truth... the day I'm unable to come out here and hike, I'll probably just sit down and die."

We talked a little more until saying goodbye, and as he walked away, I snapped a photo of him.  He walked off into the morning sunlight with his weathered walking stick and leather hat.  His words remained behind.

They struck me, not as morbid or depressing, but as profound.  Here's this guy in his late 70s/early 80s hiking as much as he can whenever he can.  He seemed to be in great shape, and I actually believe he'll be hiking for years to come.  I think being in Nature rejuvenates the human spirit.  And we all need that rejuvenation.  I think that's why I had an urge to retreat into the woods for the night.  Our work lives can be stressful and tiring.  John Muir put it best, "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and give strength to the body and soul alike."

I'm so glad I met that older gentleman.  It was an inspiring moment and one of the highlights of my hike.

The other highlight of my hike was actually on the way DOWN from Crystal Lakes.  After the sweaty climb up to the lakes and jumping in the frigid water, I warmed up with the afternoon sun and some hot tea.  As I was descending back towards Lawn Lake, I was thinking about how I still have never seen a bighorn sheep before.  Since my season at Arches and especially since living in Rocky, I have been on the lookout for these mythical creatures.  Literally, while I was thinking this, I look over to see a flock of sixteen bighorn sheep walking down the slope towards me.

"Holy s***!"  Haha, I may have let my excitement get the best of me.

I dropped my pack and scrambled up the slope to get a better vantage point.  Unfortunately I just had my iPhone and GoPro (neither of which are great for photographing wildlife from a distance), but I was able to snap a couple photos and get a few short video clips of the flock.

Of the sixteen sheep I counted, about five or six of them were little lambs.  They were grazing in the alpine grass and walking on the rocks along a little cascade.  Two of them butted heads before taking off.  I watched them until they disappeared back over the ridge. 

Nobody else was around to see them in this moment.  It was definitely an awesome first sighting of the mythical creatures I have been searching for since being in Arches.  They DO exist!  "You're doing it Peter!  You're belieeeeeeving."

Man, I was pretty much on a high after that.  I zoomed back down the eight miles of trail thinking about the older gentleman and the bighorn sheep.












Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Day 173

08/20/12 - near Spectacle Pond - ≈2,070 miles

100 mile wilderness.  Into the wilderness we go.  Did our last major resupply today in Monson.  Pack is HEAVY.  Met up with Dr. Bruce amazingly on the AT.  Without going into details, the timing of the encounter was just about miraculous.  Amazing.  Got our mail drops and watched all the hikers sauntering around town.  And by town, I mean the road between the gas station where we resupplied and the hostel.

***

Caution.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Day 172

08/19/12 - Moxie Pond Lean-to - 2,051.8 miles

Gonna have to book it in the morning.  And by morning, I mean in just a few hours.  Gotta get to Monson by 1.  Cry of the loon.  Spirit of the wolf.

***


Sunday, August 18, 2013

Day 171

08/18/12 - Kennebec River - 2,032.7 miles

Tired.  Today was a good day.  21 miles.  2 swims.  1 ManCub fall.  Lots of chubbles.  Crossing the Kennebec in the morning.  Big mile days from here on out.  But we are going to have fun.

***


Saturday, August 17, 2013

Day 170

08/17/12 - Little Bigelow Lean-to - 2,011.3 miles

AKA, "lil bige."  Made it through the Bigelows.  Gorgeous day... then RAIN.  Ran into Video today!  Not seen him since central Virginia.  Crazy!  Tomorrow, we go freakin' INSANITY WOLF on this Trail.  Let's do this.

***

Video

Friday, August 16, 2013

Day 169

08/16/12 - [Stratton] - 1,996 miles

Bonus zero!  And boy, was it nice.  Sleeping in.  Coffee.  Muffins.  Gatorade.  Sandwiches.  Reading.  Relaxing.  Resting.  Inspiring.  Desiring.  Refiring.  I'm ready to do this thing!  We've walked from Springer Mountain in Georgia – no, from Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia!  And we are only several days away from climbing Mount Katahdin and finishing this epic adventure of ours.  Epic.


***

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Day 168

08/15/12 - [Stratton] - 1,996 miles

We are staying in a hotel from 1918 in Kingsfield, ME.  Reminds me a bit of Warrenton except no ocean nearby.  This zero has been nice.  Tomorrow we hit the Trail running.  I know I will miss it one day (and probably soon), but right now I'm looking forward to getting to Katahdin and celebrating afterwards.  We really are fortunate and blessed to be living this adventure.

***

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Day 167

08/14/12 - [Stratton] - 1,996 miles

Seven miles to get to a nice bed.  Almost felt like 77 miles.  So thankful for Dr. Bruce being within driving distance to pick us up and take us into town.  Taking a day off tomorrow to rest and relax.  We need it.  And Katahdin will still be there a few days later.

***

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Day 166

08/13/12 - Crocker Cirque Campsite - 1,988.7 miles

Tough.  This is tough.  Anna is not feeling well.  Hoping and praying it's not "the sickness."  One day at a time.  We were both feeling a bit nauseous last night going to bed.  I think it was too much butter for me... but Anna says she's feeling worse now.  Today was beautiful, but again difficult.  Beautiful but brutal.  Also, a mouse chewed through my food bag last night while it was hanging.  It must have either climbed down the rope or jumped from a far away branch.  I think it also used echolocation to zero in on my Peanut M&Ms because it was like a direct hit the way it got into those.  We saw Seeks It again this morning.  Such a cool, encouraging guy.

***

I have mentioned Seeks It in a previous blog post after he finished his double thru-hike of the AT in 2012.  We had the privilege of running into him several times up in Maine, and as I mentioned briefly in my journal, he always encouraged us with each passing.  He is a gifted writer and a genuine human being.  I encourage you all to check out his current blog posts and catch up on his amazing Appalachian journey.

Seeks It reaches his finish line, November '12

Monday, August 12, 2013

Day 165

08/12/12 - near Oberton Stream - ≈1,977.3 miles

Another tough day.  The terrain is difficult.  Wet.  Slippery.  Steep.  Thundering now.  We are both trying to stay encouraged.  Trying to enjoy this time while it lasts.  But I think we both want it to be over.  We want Katahdin.  It just started pouring.

***

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Day 164

08/11/12 - Eddy Pond (?) - 1,967.5 miles (?)

Fun morning meeting up with Dr. Bruce for breakfast and resupply.  Encouraging.  We are in the homestretch.  Incredible.  We did a full resupply at IGA and I still feel like I could eat just about everything in my bag.  We'll see how far I can make it last.  Hopefully 100 miles.  Right now we are camped along a beautiful misty pond.  The rain is lightly drizzling off and on.  I think I might read some Jack London.


***



KitFox & the misty pond

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Day 163

08/10/12 - [Rangely] - 1,963.8 miles

Livin' it up in probably our last real trail town.  Motel with poptarts.  Comfy beds.  Coffee.  Hot chocolate.  Olympics.  Wifi.  Outlets (lolz).  And food.  Walked around the small downtown, which reminded me a lot of the town in Northern Exposure.  We also have a new hiking buddy to join us to Katahdin... Baxter, the cat.  He is already worried.  Also heard Mumford & Sons' new song, "I Will Wait," for the first time today.  I like.  I like a lot.

***


Baxter















And just for fun...


Friday, August 9, 2013

Day 162

08/09/12 - Little Swift River Pond Campsite - 1,959 miles

Let's just say today was emotional.  Started off with total hiker hangover... slept in even though we needed to do big miles again.  Super slow getting out of camp.  Super discouraged.  As we hiked the next few miles I went up and down with my attitude, but mainly I kept thinking about how tired I was and how far I had to go.  Not good.  Ate lunch with thunder in the distance.  Super discouraged again.  Not really knowing how I was going to be able to finish this day, let alone our thru-hike.  Then, as we were starting a climb, we met Kinder.  A SOBO section hiker from GA.  We small talked for a minute and she seemed really nice – an old kindergarten teacher.  We smiled and said goodbye.  Then, at the last minute, she turned over her shoulder and said, "And... don't lost heart."  Tears welled up in my eyes.  For some reason, that was exactly what I needed to hear.  Because today, for the first time, I really had started to lose heart.  Thoughts were entering my mind about quitting for the first time.  I was at an all time low on the Trail.  "And don't lose heart," was all she said.  Well, after I finished sobbing in front of Anna, I was reignited and charged up that mountain.  I thank God for sending someone like Kinder our way to say those simple words of encouragement.  She may not have thought anything of it, but it got me through today.  We hiked on in happy spirits and came to Moxie Pond then Long Pond.  We finally went swimming for the first time on the AT!  It was gorgeous.  It was fun.  It was absolutely what we needed.  We finished our day hiking 4 miles in a wet thunderstorm, but I think we are in good spirits.  Tomorrow we hit up Rangely for one of our last town stays.  Amazing.  DontLoseHeart.

***

You can check out my original blog post about this day here.   It really is crazy how much someone's words can affect you.

First swim on the AT

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Day 161

08/08/12 - Bemis - ≈1,945 miles

Trying to find a campsite at night SUCKS.  Goodnight.

***

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Day 160

08/07/12 - DunnNotch & Falls - 1,926.5 miles

Had a good time laughing today with Anna.  Talking about many things... especially life after the Trail, and how we're going to make a hit list of all the places that wronged us and seek revenge on them.  Also the SICKNESS of NH/ME has been the talk of the Trail the past week or two... Everyone's getting all apocalyptic and scary on each other.  See page 232 in the guidebook for an illustration.  Oh yeah, had our longest mileage hitch today... 17 into Bethel and 17 out for a resupply.  Thank you Lord!  Because that town SMALL and they ain't got much traffic.  You know what I'm saying?

***

To be clear, this "hit list" was NOT in reference to murder... but more along the lines of writing negative online reviews and giving these places of business 1 star ratings.  Yeah.  That's how we seek revenge.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Day 159

08/06/12 - somewhere in Maine - ≈1,915 miles

Mahoosuc Notch is behind us.  Unreal.  Miles are still ahead of us.  But we got them.  We got them.

***

KitFox in the Notch.

Trail.

A personal favorite: Roots.


Lost Spectacles

Last week, my brother and I went for a little hike up to Chasm Lake in the Park.  Good hike.  Not so good weather.  But it was good enough to take a quick dip in the pristine alpine lake (at least for myself... my brother was not convinced).  Well, on my second dip (for the first dip was simply not enough) my glasses came off my face.  I immediately tried to grasp them, but they slipped through my fingers and settled on the rocky lake bottom.  I was only about ten feet from shore and in water five feet deep, but the water was frigid.  After several attempts to retrieve them, I had to abandon hope.  Thunderstorms were approaching, and the lake water was simply too cold to keep looking.

The spectacles were lost.

But I had a plan to revisit the Lake.  One week later, I stuffed a pair of borrowed scuba goggles into my pack (with plenty of warm clothes) and headed back into the alpine tundra.

Operation LOST SPECTACLES had commenced.

Week 1


Week 2

Monday, August 5, 2013

Day 158

08/05/12 - Full Goose Shelter - 1,907.3 miles

We have walked to Maine!  So surreal.  So amazing.  Today was another tough day.  So tired.  Crossing the border was exciting though.  And we ate lots of delicious Maine blueberries!  Mahoosuc Notch tomorrow.  Lord of the Rings audio book with Tipsy and Fetch in the shelter.  Fun.  I am ready for Katahdin.  Running out of energy.  Constantly running out of food.  Me hungrooooooo!

***


Sunday, August 4, 2013

Day 157

08/04/12 - Gentian Pond Shelter - 1,897.7 miles

We are 4.7 miles away from MAINE.  Tomorrow morning, we will be able to say that we walked from Georgia to Maine.  Holy flippin' cow.  Today we really sweated it out.  Super hot and super strenuous.  It's surreal that we are about to cross into our 14th and final state.  Georgia seems like ages ago, and we have always been hiking to Maine.  MAINE.  Tomorrow.

***

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Day 156

08/03/12 - near Rattle River - ≈1,883 miles

Night hiking when you think you're not going to need to is the worst.  Get me out of the Whites.  So beat.

***

Friday, August 2, 2013

Day 155

08/02/12 - Wildcat Mountain - 1,867.8 miles

The climb up to the first peak of Wildcat Mountain, for we are not yet finished ascending, has been the most difficult and my least favorite climb so far on this thru-hike.  While climbing, you experience many many ups and downs, all of which being extremely steep and technical.  It took us over 3 hours to go go 3 miles, and I felt like I have actually gone 13 miles.  This has been my most difficult and least favorite climb.  After 3 miles, we are set up in camp as the sun is setting, drinking tea and eating a candy dinner.  I think I am ready to be out of the Whites and into Maine... but will we ever escape these notorious mountains?

***

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Day 154

08/01/12 - [Gorham] - 1,864.8 miles

August first.  Our five monthiversary on the Trail.  Today we woke up and both felt a bit of "hiker hangover."  15 miles over the Presidentials will do that to you, I guess.  We made it the 6 or so miles into Pinkham Notch.  Then decided to call our town day early and head into Gorham this afternoon instead of tomorrow night.  Less miles, but in the end I think a wise decision.  Five months feels like five years to me.  Springer Mountain was so long ago and so far ago.  And now we are in August.  The month in which we will be climbing Mount Katahdin.  What?!  We have been watching some of the London Olympics these past two town stays, and seeing the athletes' pride and accomplishment and struggle and victory... I wonder if we will experience a similar emotion on our medal stand.  On Mount Katahdin.

***

So much good.