Come to the woods, for here is rest. There is no repose
like that of the green deep woods. Here grow the wallflower
and the violet. The squirrel will come and sit upon your
knee, the logcock will wake you in the morning. Sleep in
forgetfulness of all ill. Of all the upness accessible to
mortals, there is no upness comparable to the mountains.
- John Muir
This recent journey to Maine was bittersweet and beautiful. Breathtaking and brutal.
I hiked from Mount Katahdin to the Kennebec River, about 150 miles south. The first few days were absolutely perfect hiking weather days. Then it rained pretty consistently the rest of the time, creating some pretty hazardous water crossings. Streams and brooks that would normally be ankle deep or passable by rock hopping were now waist deep or higher with body slamming currents. The Trail itself was transformed into a meandering waterway with waterfalls in the steep sections and pools of standing water in the level areas. Everything became wet.
The temperature never dipped below freezing while I was out there, but it never really warmed up once the rain came. Cold hands and cold feet through and through.
I enjoy the challenges that come with backpacking, and the rewards of the natural world continue to be awe-inspiring. It was rejuvenating to be back out there even for a short time.
Come to the woods, for here is rest.
