Greetings from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire-- I made it up here yesterday actually pulling a very easy 15 to make it into town. I'm zeroing today... kind of (more on that later) because my package is being delayed due to the post office being closed on Labor Day. Seriously, that should be changed-- you should WORK on labor day. Nobody knows the meaning of labor anymore, sheesh.
The last few days have been a blur-- I crested several tough mountains getting back onto the trail and getting into Massachusetts. Mt. Everett and Bear Mountain lived up to their names-- rocky and tough on my feet. I started to realized climbing Bear Mountain that boots might be a good alternative. This is a big adjustment for me, a few months ago I would probably have put boots in the same category of likelihoods as me voting Republican. I got up and over the slick rock of Bear Mountain, saw the beautiful highest peak of Connecticut (it's a tower of rocks that offered a great sunset) and climbed down a real bitch of a descent that left me feeling like G-forces were hitting my ankles when I hopped down. The glacial rock was just everywhere. Soon after, I hit a long-running brook that looked like something out of a movie-- there were waterfalls, caves the brook twisted through, it was all so very magnificent.
I hit Race mountain and decided to camp for the night-- ahead promised some panoramic views and I was in the mood for a good sunrise. I camped under an old pine tree and had spiders crawling over every inch of my tent during the night. Luckily, not a single one got inside during the night. I finished my fourth Game Of Thrones book and shut off my headlamp-- what else was there to do after that? I woke up in the middle of the night, studied my destination and went back to sleep.
The morning was beautiful
The cliff walk along the sunrise was breath-taking-- there was zero wind, just wavy, soft clouds that made me feel I could walk across them and reach some distant shore.
The way up Mt. Everett was terrible. "Why are you doing this to me, Massachusetts?" I thought. Going down I hit a recreation area with plenty of water and time to relax but my feet were aching. "new shoes" is all I could think of.
I went to the bird cage hostel in Dalton and had a beautiful experience. My first night there, I met one northbounder and several southbounders who were staying a second night-- one of the Sobo's was a fellow named MacDaddy who came onto the trail weighing over 400 lbs and was doing the trail, little at a time to get into shape. There was a young kid named Spider Monkey going sobo and an asian nobo with a dog. Rob Bird was kind enough to take us all in and make the place feel just like home. The second night I stayed, I had the place alone with Rob to just talk the whole day-- we went to Eastern Mountain Sports where I bought some hiking sandals, went to Pizza Hut for Hawaiin pizza, watched Teen Nick (lol) and simply chatted. Rob is a phenomenal guy, he has the same manners and kindness as my dad and he is a real joy to be around.
We wound up talking about my dad quite a bit-- I have no secrets to hold about why I'm doing the trail and it's very much been because I miss my dad and I have a hole in my life that needs repaired. I haven't been on the best path in life, I've made a great deal of mistakes and learned from them but I still have to acknowledge I made them. Rob and I talked about the last few things I said to my dad, how I wished I could have seen him again and he was there for me like my dad would have been-- he just listened, offered his own experiences and gave me the best advice in the world: "focus on the good things, the beautiful memories you've had and you're going to turn out to be a well-rounded young man."
Thanks, Rob! :)
Also, I got a mohawk.
And those sandals? Didn't work out, I had to return them to EMS and get boots.
At the end of Mass. and getting into Vermont, I hit the long trail-- it was a beautiful experience to know I'd only have three states left and that I'd be getting into the beautiful country. Vermont offered some of the most breath-taking views of the trail yet-- the entire bit reminded me of the Smokies but it got cold very quick. I had a few nights where I was wearing all of my summer clothes and still just didn't feel warm enough.
I met Hot Sauce and Sweaty Cheddar-- a beautiful couple out hiking the trail who were friendly, sweet and funny. I soon found myself back in the NOBO bubble with many folks who got mohawks from the bird cage and others who were just taking their time and enjoying themselves. I passed Desperado and Micro and they're at least 3-4 days behind me now as I hit a breakneck pace in boots. I found I picked up the miles quickly-- before I could go maybe 2.5 miles an hour at tops, now I'm hitting 3 without even trying. At all of this comes an expense, my legs are quite tired and I have some soreness in the front of my shin-- I don't care what it is, it will wear off eventually when I'm used to boots.
A Vermont view-- these do not disappoint.
Up ahead I hit the toughest part of the trail-- The Whites, the Mahoosucs in Maine and then the finish, Katahdin-- I have less than 500 miles to go now and the end is getting here. I'm expecting snow in the Whites (many Sobo's told me at night it snowed) and really tough climbing but I was made for it. ;)
Good luck and much love <3
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