Really had a great time with my Mom & Dad last week.
Monday night bowling.
Dark beer.
Onion rings.
Coffee.
Golden aspens.
Frigid alpine water.
Red wine.
Coffee.
Bugling elk.
Pink sunsets.
Kind Coffee breakfast.
Trail Ridge Road.
Alpine tundra.
Sprinting moose.
Coffee.
Waterfalls.
Ice cream.
White Russians while looking for moose.
Movie night with Chinese food.
I'd call it an awesome trip.
Showing posts with label swimming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swimming. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
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.
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.
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| First glimpse of the Great Mountain |
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| Second view at lunchtime |
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| Crescent Pond |
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| Immediately after seeing our moose. |
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| We will be thru-hikers. |
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.
***
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.
***
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| Refresh. |
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.
***
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.
***
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. Dont. Lose. Heart.
***
You can check out my original blog post about this day here. It really is crazy how much someone's words can affect you.
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. Dont. Lose. Heart.
***
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 |
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Kinder
"And... don't lose heart," she said as she walked away.
My eyes immediately began to tear up as I told her, "I really appreciate you saying that."
We walked North and she walked South.
She was a retired kindergarten teacher from Georgia doing a section hike in Maine. We didn't converse long as we passed each other on the Trail. The weather. Trail names. Where we're from. Small talk.
She asked how the hike was going, and I told her, "Great." But if I was being honest with that question I would have told her how I was at an all time low.
I did not know how I was going to get through this day let alone this thru-hike.
KitFox took over my pathetic answer and opened up a bit.
"You know, it's been really difficult lately. I think we're starting to hit a point where we're ready for it to be over. It's been great and rewarding, but it's hard."
"Yeah," I agreed completely.
The former kindergarten teacher gave some last words of encouragement, and we trudged on. For a moment I recalled my own kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Keenan. I remember her being sweet, just as this lady was.
And that's when I heard her voice come again from behind us.
"And... Don't. Lose. Heart."
The words came out distinct and precise.
She smiled, turned back around, and continued walking.
I'm not exaggerating (though maybe I'm a little ashamed)... I cried for the next ten minutes.
For some reason, those words in that moment, were exactly what I needed to hear. Those four simple little words spoken at the last possible moment in a random human interaction. It might be that she will never know the impact that had on me or this hike.
But I am thankful for her and that moment and for Anna and for everyone else who continues to encourage us along the way. Not just on the AT but in life.
The day began as an ultimate low point for me on the Trail, and with a last-minute word, it became one of my favorite days.
With renewed vigor (after the crying, of course) we charged up the next mountain and made good time the rest of the day despite difficult terrain.
We came to a lake a few hours before sunset. A beautiful, picturesque, MAINE lake with clear cool water and surrounding evergreen trees.
Next thing I know, Anna is wading in and I'm sprinting in!
It was surreal.
To be so blissful and joyful splashing around in the refreshing water.
What a change.
"And... don't lose heart," she said.
My eyes immediately began to tear up as I told her, "I really appreciate you saying that."
We walked North and she walked South.
She was a retired kindergarten teacher from Georgia doing a section hike in Maine. We didn't converse long as we passed each other on the Trail. The weather. Trail names. Where we're from. Small talk.
She asked how the hike was going, and I told her, "Great." But if I was being honest with that question I would have told her how I was at an all time low.
I did not know how I was going to get through this day let alone this thru-hike.
KitFox took over my pathetic answer and opened up a bit.
"You know, it's been really difficult lately. I think we're starting to hit a point where we're ready for it to be over. It's been great and rewarding, but it's hard."
"Yeah," I agreed completely.
The former kindergarten teacher gave some last words of encouragement, and we trudged on. For a moment I recalled my own kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Keenan. I remember her being sweet, just as this lady was.
And that's when I heard her voice come again from behind us.
"And... Don't. Lose. Heart."
The words came out distinct and precise.
She smiled, turned back around, and continued walking.
I'm not exaggerating (though maybe I'm a little ashamed)... I cried for the next ten minutes.
For some reason, those words in that moment, were exactly what I needed to hear. Those four simple little words spoken at the last possible moment in a random human interaction. It might be that she will never know the impact that had on me or this hike.
But I am thankful for her and that moment and for Anna and for everyone else who continues to encourage us along the way. Not just on the AT but in life.
The day began as an ultimate low point for me on the Trail, and with a last-minute word, it became one of my favorite days.
With renewed vigor (after the crying, of course) we charged up the next mountain and made good time the rest of the day despite difficult terrain.
We came to a lake a few hours before sunset. A beautiful, picturesque, MAINE lake with clear cool water and surrounding evergreen trees.
Next thing I know, Anna is wading in and I'm sprinting in!
It was surreal.
To be so blissful and joyful splashing around in the refreshing water.
What a change.
"And... don't lose heart," she said.
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