This might sound funny but these light weight water bottles make excellent canteens. I have been carrying two since Monson, Maine. They were starting to get funky so time for new ones.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
New Boots
Picked up a pair of new boots in Manchester at the Mountain Goat outfitters. Matt, the outfitter there took a good look at my feet and spent a considerable amount of time working with me on getting a good fit and customizing the orthontic inserts. Hopefully my foot problems will ease up after a few weeks. Mileage will be down while I break in the boots and get use to the inserts.
NOTE: Ok. Let's talk boots. I have a very wide foot and nothing on the trail fit right including the Scarpa's pictured here. I have since ordered a pair of New Balance 1500's EE's which fit great. That being said I walked 900 miles in these Scarpa's and they held up very well. In fact I have no doubt they would make it the last 800 miles. Very tough and durable boot. My only complaints would be the fit and they are heavy. My friend Lama told me that every pound on your foot is equivalent to 5 pounds in your pack and I believe him. So get a good fit and go light.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Rock Garden
Some kind of Fairy rock garden or just deranged hikers with to much time on their hands.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Greenwall Shelter
I have set up camp for the night at the Greenwall Shelter. I am currently cowering in my tent. Apparently the top predator in the area is the Mosquito.
VT. View
Ran into a flock of wild turkeys just now. They took off in a hurry so no pictures unfortunately.
Anyway went a mile off trail for resupply and then another mile off trail getting lost so I have already burnt 4 miles today getting nowhere.
Thought this was a worthwhile view. Vermont sure does have some beautiful countryside.
Gov. Clement Shelter
Kind of a scary looking shelter. Like a place where the local witches will role out a large cauldron at night and plop an unsuspecting hiker into it.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Long Trail Inn
That little building with the green roof is the Long Trail Inn. I am on my way to Mt. Kilington.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Little Engine
My buddy Marcus. He's put some weight on. Tried to talk him into staying at the lodge but he is not a drinking man so he is hiking on. Will catch up with him tomorrow.
McGrath's Irish Pub
I'll probably be posting quite a few pictures of this place. Live music tonight and I'm staying at the lodge.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Breakfast at the WASP
To funny. Anyway enough goofing off in Woodstock. Bought some Superfeet insoles and weather looks good for next 5 days. I am lightening the load which means less food in the pack. Looks like supply won't be a problem.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Woodstock, VT
I hitched into Woodstock this afternoon. I am clearly hitting the wall right now and need to rest up. I was hoping to get a few more days on the trail in but have to stop right now.
On the brightr side I have run into a large group, between six and eight, other south bounders, SOBO, for short. Several are just as sore as I am. I have analyzed the problem and believe the increased foot soreness is related to the increased pace, no surprise there, and also having to walk on asphalt as some of the trail is along the road in parts. I noticed on the easier trail I have a tendency to slap my feet down when going fast. I definitely have to rein that in.
Anyway Woodstock is beautiful and it's a nice sunny day. I know I shouldn't but I am going to walk around and check out some of the sites. Will post anything that looks interesting.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
New Air Mattress
It is an Exped Airmat 7 Pump DLX, 77.5x26x2.8 inch. A bit bigger then I anticipated but will be nice to sleep on.
Norwich,VT.
I crossed the river from Hanover into Norwich where they gave me a good deal on a room at the Norwich Inn which is top notch and also hosts a high end brew pub called Jasper Murdock's Alehouse. It is totally pouring out now and I am glad I stopped. I'll post some pictures once I get cleaned up but I am very happy to be here, it is really nice.
I also bought an air mattress in Hanover. Used the gift card the folks at work gave me before I left so thanks gang I am looking forward to getting some good night's sleep going forward. That surplus military pad was a sleep killer.:)
Hanover, NH
Made it to the outskirts of Hanover last night and camped in the mosquito infested woods behind the soccer stadium where camping is permitted. I am looking for a reasonable motel to spend the night and rest the feet. It is starting to rain and looks to be a miserable day. A good day to take a zero after two big days out.
I ran into Little Engine/Marcus yesterday. I was hiking with him and his father through the wilderness. Marcus didn't look good. He has lost far to much weight and told me he had the flu for the last 5 days but felt better now. I encouraged him to take some rest days and eat up. You can't let yourself lose that much weight out here. You have no fat reserves if something should happen and your immune system becomes compromised.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Haunted
I was walking through a forests that was right out of a Stephen King novel and I was just thinking that when I stepped out of the woods and found this. To cool!
As I climbed a monster hill later, pushing 23 miles for the day, I thought how strange it would be if I dropped dead and the last photo on my phone was of a grave yard.
First 20 miler
According to the Thru-Hikers' Companion book I did my first 20 miler today and it was not entirely flat either. I scaled a 2911 and 3230 foot mountains and am camping at 3200 feet on Smarts Mountain.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Mt. Moosilauke
This mountain marks the southern end of the White Mountains. When I descend it I will have completed the White's and Maine which together are considered 80% of the physical effort in completing the Appalachian trail. I will let you know in the coming days and weeks if that is true.:)
NOTE: I think that 80% thing is complete baloney. Yes the mountains are steep and Maine is definitely the hardest part of the trail but the thing is on the easier parts of the trail you walk faster and put in more miles so it becomes just as tough. In other words it's all tough.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Made it to GlenCliff
I am now at the Hikers Welcome hostel. Not really thrilled to have to stop but I need supplies badly. The climb up Mt. Moosilauke from the north side was unbelievably steep. Anyway it is about 50 miles to Hanover and I plan on carrying enough food to get me there. I'll post some pictures of the hostel soon. This is kind of a nice rustic hostel.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Zero Day in Lincoln
8:00 am and raining. Fallon on the guitar this morning and some of last nights thru hikers. We are all staying due to the rain and expect quite a few more hikers to arrive today to get out of the rain. Tonight promises to be memorable!
NOTE: These were really good people. Chet was a great host and Fallon was very charming. If you stay there please support them. They only take donations so be generous if you can be.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Lincoln, NH
Just got into Lincoln and arrived at One Step at a Time hostel run by Chet West. Chet caters to thru hikers and the hostel is funded by donations which is good because some of these kids are down right broke. But it also means I have to ante up! :-)
PS - down to 198 pounds.
Mt. Lafayette 5260 feet
I finally made it to the top of Mt. Lafayette which was a very hard climb going south bound. Could also be because I did 17.4 miles yesterday which is a lot for the White Mountains. Anyway here is a shot of the Greenland Hut and mountains just below.
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