Vermont

Went in with honest expectations of a return to extra mountain climbs and descents. Was not disenchanted. Accomplished in 8.5 days with Nero’s however no Zeros. Tenting and the paths had been getting crowded.

Pushing miles took a toll extra mentally than bodily. I used to be feeling able to be performed with this journey whilst I knew I might miss it terribly. I cried from pure pleasure and gratitude one morning on the path then later that evening mountain climbing into twilight cursed the path as one other false summit hid our campsite simply out of attain once more… do I’ve Stockholm syndrome? I might share a few of my low moments of despair with shut household and mates pondering no less than one would say what they mentioned earlier than I even began “you already know it’s okay if you wish to stop. We’re so happy with you it doesn’t matter what.” However nobody did. As an alternative, they poured all of the encouragement, “You might be superb and you bought this!” After I talked about the sooner choice of quitting, largely in jest, the response was the identical, “you might be so shut! You’ll by no means forgive your self.” After all, they had been proper. I beloved this path and the individuals. Summiting Killington and having Scarecrow path mate push large miles (after deserved zeros along with his great spouse:) to catch as much as the remaining two of us had been large highlights.

New Hampshire

Began off proper with the long-awaited nero and 0 at my sister’s household lake home. Good to really feel spoiled for a couple of hours! Traimily meets household. My sister supplied path identify Glenda, the nice witch of the east. Lastly noticed my youthful daughter too – she attends UNH. Had a great deal of chores to finish and do resupply however the huge factor was time to plan for the Whites. The complication of path mate Lion getting injured proper earlier than Hanover was simply computing in my mind. He would stroll it off, proper? We had slackpacking already deliberate and that will assist. All of the fear-mongering we had been listening to concerning the Whites was hype, proper?

The way it performed out:

1. Hanover to Grafton Turnpike/Lyme: Slackpack eases again onto the path and offers our path mate lion an opportunity to get better from his shin splints. 17.5 miles and stayed at Dowds Inn, extremely suggest for outdated type stick with scrumptious breakfast.
2. Finish at Ore Hill campsite 18.4 miles lengthy day however not loopy terrain. Lion began the day with us however made it clear he couldn’t push so was stopped when he wanted to and tried to say farewell. I wasn’t keen to simply accept that we’d not be reconnecting quickly so walked into the woods with a “see you quickly!” He stopped at an earlier web site.
3. Hiked to Hikers Welcome hostel to drop off packs that had been being shuttled to Notch Hostel, 16.9 miles 9 had been slackpack over Moosilauke Mtn. The steep boulder climbs and descents begin. My daughter introduced my pre-packed resupply field and camped with me on the hostel.
4. Kinsman to Franconia/Lincoln slackpack 16.3 miles lengthy, generally moist, day however nice views rewarded for steep ups and downs. I’m not afraid of the White Mountains, that is rejuvenating my love of mountain climbing. Final evening at The Notch- proprietor Serena and employees had been excellent. Due to Glenda, a buddy dropped off the brand new Altras that I desperately wanted.
5. A full pack and 10.8 miles to stealth. Met up with a buddy who would do 2 nights with us whereas he bagged Presidential peaks. The lion was 2 days behind however mountain climbing his hike on his phrases. Miss him terribly however happy with his grit. We now have to maintain our chin up and transferring.
6. I can’t bear in mind all of the peaks and huts however we crushed one other 11.8 miles to stealth web site after an important day of mountain climbing, views, and other people. Beginning to see a number of South Bounders or SOBOs.  On the first hut, Galehead, I pulled the log e book from 1969 and skim an entry about after 37 years, they acquired sizzling water for showers for Da Croo (yep that’s how they did and nonetheless say it); how With all these trendy conveniences “one wonders if there’s any hope in any respect for the wildness of the woods.” some issues don’t change.
7. Solely 5.3 mile day after getting our ready resupply bins from my buddy, a trip to the shop, and fellow thru-hiker mother’s superb path magic!
8. 
9. We’re taking the recommendation of going gradual by way of this part, 6.2 miles to Nauman campsite. Mitzpah Hut is subsequent to the positioning and we had been invited to do a brief discuss/Q&A about thru-hiking to the paying company ($150-$200/evening) and acquired dinner! Went to mattress feeling very full for the primary time in a very long time on the path.
10. Early rise and begin for Mt. Washington summit by 9:30 am! Large aid for nice climate. I used to be requested to take a video of a younger couple and he acquired down on his knee for a wedding proposal! So cool and I stored quiet regardless of my glee, figuring out that is their eternally video. After lunch, Feeling on prime of the world and prepared for the descent. I believed. What occurs subsequent is tough to explain. It’s a endless rock scree scramble for miles. I fell arduous the primary 50 yards and in full view of all of the vacationers on the summit wall, positively humorous. Bruised however not damaged, it proceeds to take me 8 hours to go 9 miles. This was insanely gradual going. I present up at camp proper earlier than darkish, having performed the toughest 14.8 days but. I had firm at camp – they echoed my shout-out opinion of “F$&ok that path!” I really like these individuals😍
11. Limped my worn-out physique 4.8 miles to Pinkham Notch customer heart. Shuttle to the Barn hostel for tenting. Bathe, laundry, and actual meals…all are good with the world once more. Rejoined with our someday traimily member; she had a hellacious stormy summit on Mt. Washington.
12. Zero – rain forecast and the necessity to get better prompted a change of plan.
13. Possible the final slackpack, 21.1 miles over the ultimate part of the Whites. Over Wildcat, Carter, and Moriah Mountains; 6k elevation achieve 8 am to eight:30 pm it was a wonderful however LONG ass day. First time mountain climbing with a headlamp crucial. I stupidly used a loaner daypack from the hostel and acquired dangerous again blisters immediately on my shorts line. Salty sweat added a brutal insult. Again on the hostel bathe, meals, and fellow hikers, this time with beer and whiskey, make all of it good once more

I’m lower than 10 miles from the Maine border tonight and the fact of this ending quickly is sinking in additional. The path is all the time stunning with the streams, inexperienced woods, and rocky peaks. I nonetheless have hope that Lion (btw not his path identify however my reference to an earlier publish) will catch up. How can we not summit Mount Katahdin altogether? Unimaginable. For that matter I want it was one thing Tinman would come again on path for. However I acknowledge that may being egocentric. Hike your individual hike is extra actual than ever as we’re all hyper-focused on ending. I met a lady on the hostel who needed to get off path 250 miles from Katahdin as a consequence of an harm.  That will be devastating.

So I’ll hold trekking and treasure the time left finest I can.

Spitfire

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