Past the 2,000 Mile Mark, Less Than 200 Miles To Go

Stats: Thursday night 8/18, MM 2000.9

(32.2 new miles, 2009.7 total miles)

 

Only 188.2 miles to go!



I am on the home stretch. Really ready to be home. Still enjoying great views along the way, and this week met Gray Ghost, we are hiking together now. My body is holding out, but very tired.

Tuesday I left the Hiker Hut, despite that it was supposed to rain. Some hikers stayed behind, it was very tempting but I am motivated to be home so I left. And thankfully, it didn't rain, once again my prayers were answered.

Hiked over Saddleback Mountain and The Horn on the way to a spot near Orbeton Stream where I stealth camped with Gray Ghost, hiked 13 miles total. Weather was good, hiking was the usual rocks and roots, and long granite slabs up and down Saddleback Mountain.

We had to cross the stream to get to our campsite, thankfully we could walk over the rocks. Noticed a little waterfall, water barely trickling out.

We had a deluge of rain Tuesday night, stayed mostly dry but everything is damp when we get up on most days from the dew even when it doesn't rain. I've been very happy with my tent, for sure!

Also heard a story about a hiker named Inchworm who got lost in July, 2013 on the AT near the spot where we camped. They didn't find her body until last year. She got lost when she went off the trail for a bathroom break, and never found her way back. She had a diary - said she lasted 26 days, and even though she wasn't far from the trail the search parties at that time never found her. If you Google Inchworm AT hiker lost, you can read the full story. Very sad.

Wednesday morning the barely waterfall was flowing strong, and we had to throw a log into the water to get back across the stream to the trail. It's good to have plentiful water.

Hiked over Lone Mountain, Spaulding Mountain, and Sugarloaf Mountain. The weather was drizzly and cold most of the day, everything remained soaked all day. Camped at Crocker Cirque Campsite after hiking 12 miles.

In Rangeley I had to buy a new mattress pad. My blow-up pad was worn out, the stitching between the cells started to come apart and make big bulges. The new pad was more expensive but not as good, not blowup but accordion style fold-up. Trying to get used to sleeping on it. I miss REI, don't have any up this way.

Thursday I felt worn out, decided to stop in Stratton after 7 miles for a half day off and a good night's sleep. Hiked over Crocker Mountain, good weather and great views.

And, I passed the 2,000 mile mark!

Got into town around 11:30. Took a shower, did laundry, and had a really good lunch at a gas station - Greek salad and a Cuban Panini. Re-supplied, organized my pack, sent Mary my blog info, and caught up on a few things. Decided not to stay for a full day off, plan to do that in Monson 8/23 or 8/24, right before the 100-mile wilderness.

Gray Ghost

Tomorrow (Friday) we'll be hiking over the Bigelow Mountains, the last high climbs before Mt. Katahdin at the end. Please pray for my muscle pull to be healed, and that I have strength to keep going. It's really tough right now - Mary compared it to leaving a job, end of school, or anything where you know you only have a week or two to go and can't wait to finish. That's me right now, ready to be finished.

Talk to you from Monson, hopefully early next week. Thanks for all your continued prayers and encouragement!