White River Junction, VT (USA)

[started teleworking early - at 0700, I drove to White River Junction for a Physical Therapy appointment (0730) and then got a vaccination afterwards - I was home again by 0945 and teleworked for the rest of the day]

Enfield, NH (USA)

[after work (1600), I drove over to Forward's Garage in Lebanon and volunteered with the VAMC Adaptive Sports Team during their weekly Tuesday Night Ride on the NRT - for over two hours (1615 to 1830), I rode with some disabled veterans and used the reclining bike again - we made it all the way to the Lakeside Park in Enfield before turning around (9 miles of biking) - at 1845, I headed home again]

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[started teleworking very early - left condo at 1445 and drove to White River Junction (UVAC) for 45 minutes of swimming, 10 minutes of sauna, 14 minutes of biking (3.1 miles), 5 minutes of rowing and weights - afterwards (1645), did errands in West Lebanon (done at 1715) - drove to Sacred Heart and did an hour of paint project (1730 to 1830) - headed home (arrived at 1845) - more teleworking]

Coos County Weekend - Day 2

I slept well in my car camp at Lake Francis State Park and was awake (well rested) at 0530.  Before getting up completely, I spent some time reading.  Later, I got ready in the campground bathroom and was ready to get on the road by 0600.  It was very foggy as I drove north on US-3.  Despite signs warning me about the wildlife, I only saw deer but no moose.  I drove all the way to the border and arrived to find that it was closed until 0800.  No matter, I didn't think I'd be crossing anyway.  At 0655, I parked at a little lot located just before the border gate and geared up for a hike to Fourth Connecticut Lake, the source of the Connecticut River.  By 0700, I started following the signs that showed the way to go.  Surprisingly, I actually walked along the border fence until I found an opening beyond the US Customs checkpoint.  Imagine my surprise when the trail markers pointed into the "no man's land" along the US-Canada border!  I gingerly crossed the road and headed into the trees, where the border was even more clearly marked by metal posts on the ground and signs on each side (left side signs in English and right side signs in French).  It was still very foggy and the vegetation on the apparently lightly used track was even wetter.  As a result, I was quite soaked before I'd walked very far.  The trail snaked back and forth across the New Hampshire / Quebec border but it was very evident that someone would have to be crazy to try to sneak into either country through such dense forest...  After about a mile, I found a sign that told me I'd reached the "Fourth" circuit trail.  At first, I thought about just walking down to the water and dipping my fingers in the source of the Connecticut but then decided to walk the full circuit so I could step across the outflow.  Unfortunately, I still didn't see any moose while walking around the entire lake.  However, I accomplished my goal of dipping my fingers in The Source.  After that, I backtracked to the car, arriving just before 0830.  By then, there was more activity on the border checkpoints (I could see the Canadian Customs building after the fog lifted).  After eating a bit of food, I started south on US-3 so I could start kayaking.  I spent the rest of the day working my way downstream on the Connecticut River, starting at the first navigable water: Third Connecticut Lake.  While paddling there, I was only a short distance from the Canadian border (I could see the Customs Building) and Fourth Connecticut Lake (I found where the little stream I’d crossed earlier in the morning entered the lake below).  It took an hour (between 0835 and 0935) to make a counterclockwise circuit of “Third” and that was a good thing since the wind picked up tremendously - it was no longer fun by the end.  Encountered two fishing boats and a bald eagle. I next drove to Second Connecticut Lake (a few miles south of “Third”) and spent 90 minutes (between 1015 and 1145) paddling the full length of the western edge (from the dam to the northern outflow).  This lake had a completely different character (little islands, windy in some places and calm in others) and I enjoyed every minute of my paddle.  Saw lots of “party boats”, Canadian Geese, pretty vacation homes and several cheeky loons.  After beginning my paddle in sunshine, the weather gradually turned to dark clouds - fortunately, no rain...  Continuing south from “Second”, I stopped for a decadent ice cream sundae at Moose Alley Cones (1230).  Feeling refreshed after this "sugar bomb", I proceeded to First Connecticut Lake (arrived at the Boat Launch at 1250).  As I was getting my kayak of the car for the third time of the day (most I've ever even thought about doing), I noticed that there was a Lake Steward nearby.  I walked over to talk to him and he told me all about the Island Stream Republic and ultra-conservative voting patterns.  After saying goodbye to him, I logged another hour (1300 to 1400) of kayaking in the southwestern corner of "First".  There was a noticeable current (made worse by speedboats and increasing winds) and I had to watch out for the many glacial erratics above and below the waterline.  Saw lots of kingfishers and more loons.  This lake was quite popular with vacationers... “First” is, by far, the largest of the lakes and it seems like it would take me several days to make a circuit.  After getting done and loading my kayak on Nessie for the last time, I drove down the waterfront in an attempt to get some photos of the lakes (using the Nikon).  The sun had come back out but I but never saw any birds - too bad...  Erin and Mollie both called just as I was leaving Pittsburg (1445) and I talked to them for a little bit.  After that, I used US-3 to reach Stewartstown (NH), Then, I took NH-114 to Canaan (VT) and then all the way back to Burke.  Bonus: I got to see the mountain this time!  I got on US-5 in Lyndonville and was on I-91 soon after that.  From there, I had a good drive home, arriving at my condo by 1720.  Altogether, I got a great exposure to Pittsburg and the Source of the Connecticut River today!

Coos County Weekend - Day 1

With the AT completed, I decided to start chipping away at other New England "bucket list" items.  One of them involved paddling some of the Connecticut Lakes and checking out some of the other interesting areas of Coös (“co-os”) County.  The Appalachian Trail enters NH’s "North Country" at US-302 (Crawford Notch).  While passing through, it crosses the Presidentials, Wildcats, Carters and Mahoosuc Traverse (to Carlo Cob).  When someone refers to “The White Mountains”, this county is the place they mean.  After getting up at 0530, packing and making a reservation at Lake Francis State Park, I loaded up my kayak and headed north (0810).  I used I-91 and got off at US-5 in Lyndonville, where I took a break at McDonalds.  I then continued north on US-5 until I reached VT-114.  It was foggy nearly everywhere I went and, unfortunately, I couldn't see Burke Mountain (I believe this was the first time I've been in the area since 1988).  Continuing north to Norton, VT-114 started to parallel the Canadian border as it turned east.  Passed several 45th Parallel North signs, which reminded me that I'd been to the southern equivalent just a few months before...  My first target was the 2023 North Country Moose Festival a two day event that showcases the best of the northeast corner of the Northeast Kingdom.  It has a NH venue (Colebrook) on Friday and a VT venue (Canaan) on Saturday.  I drove to the latter location this morning and arrived at Canaan Rec Park just after the gates opened (1015).  After paying a minimal fee to enter, I was immediately able to enjoy several fun activities: sampling/judging 10 maple syrups; watching axe/saw wielding ladies from Maine; wandering through the craft/farmer’s market; cheering on moose call contestants (the winner was some joker who cried "here, moosie, moosie, moosie"); anticipating the outcome (pun intended) at the “cow plop bingo”; and gawking at sharp-looking classic vehicles.  Along the way, I wandered through the vendor tent area (got business cards for the girls to check on soaps and other crafts).  Despite carrying a lot of it in the car, I ended up needing to buy a bottle of water (due to the heat).  It was generally cloudy, with just a bit of rain.  Taking a break from the main activities, I did some walking around the track and ate lunch at a Panini stand (root beer, Italian sandwich).  Overall, an enjoyable local festival!  Also, with the border of Canada less than two miles away, there was a bit of an international flavor.  Finished at 1315, I left Canaan and used VT-102 to drive south to Bridge Street (NH-26).  I crossed the Connecticut River to Colebrook and stopped at Coos Brewery (1330).  After taking a look at the ample choices of beers, I sampled Woodland Wit, Zephyr Kolsch (new this week!), Beaucoup Brown, Fifth Lake, Double Rasberry Puckerbrush, Saisonade and relaxed in the dry beer hall.  I was done at 1455 and got back on the road.  First, I headed east on NH-26 to US-3; after that, I used NH-146 to drive to the northeast.  I stopped at Beaver Brook Falls Wayside (1510) for some photos and then continued north to Pittsburg.  Back on US-3, I followed western coastline of Lake Francis until reaching River Road.  I thought about stopping for food at Buck Rub Pub but it was very crowded.  Instead, I stopped at the State Park and checked into my campsite.  At 1615, I drove to the boat launch and got my kayak off the car.  Just then, it started to rain - very hard!  I waited in my car (with kayak upside down on the ground) until it stopped (1645).  After that, I managed to squeeze in three miles of paddling in Lake Francis.  Spent my time in the “L” shaped eastern end (moving counterclockwise) because the rest was too windy.  Saw lots of pretty vacation homes.  Encountered loons, a bald eagle and several kinds of ducks.  It was great to see the Fall colors starting!  Before I was finished, I found the Connecticut River "outflow" (from upstream) - it looked too rough to paddle, though.  I was finished kayaking by 1805 and then spent time taking photos with the Nikon.  Hoping he hadn't moved, I went searching again for the bald eagle moving along the far shore and was able to locate him again.  Unfortunately, he was too far away, by this time, for me to get good close ups.  Disappointed, I drove back to campsite.  For the rest of the evening, I did some reading and ate a light dinner (snacks) in the car.  Before going to bed (2130), I walked across the campground to the bathroom.  On the way, I encountered several police cars and policeman but I never learned what happened...  After getting back to my campsite, I set my "car camp" (with mattress and sleeping bag in the folded down back seats).  Went to bed at 2200 after an eventful day.  Hoping I can attend the Friday installment of the Moose Festival next year!

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[started teleworking early - at 0700, left condo and drove to White River Junction (UVAC) to swim for 45 minutes - after that, did errands in West Lebanon - returned home (arrived at 1000) and continued teleworking until 1600, when I went to happy hour at Jesse's for a Post-AT-Celebration with my friends - returned to condo at 1800 and continued teleworking until 1900]

Enfield, NH (USA)

[after work (1630), I drove over to Forward's Garage in Lebanon and volunteered during the VAMC Adaptive Sports Team in their weekly Tuesday Night Ride on the Northern Rail Trail - weather was great - for the next two hours, I rode with John on the side-by-side bike - we made it all the way to Enfield Train Station before turning around (10 miles of biking) - at 1830, I headed home again]

Last AT Section Hiking Trip - Day 4

It rained a good bit overnight and I had trouble sleeping.  As a result, I was awake (still at Super Walmart in Skowhegan) before 0400 and passed the time with games on my phone - I also answered lots of congratulatory messages on social media.  Dad didn’t get up until almost 0630 and then ate breakfast in the RV.  After we had packed up the camper (0725), my dad surprised me by saying that he wanted to go to McDonalds (across the street) to pick up more food!  After eating, we got gas at the nearby Irving (0730).  From there, we used side streets and US-201A to reach US-2.  As we drove west, we passed a few Amish buggies and navigated through some construction zones.  Just before arriving (on US-2) in Farmington, we got on ME-156 and toured through some smaller towns before arriving back at US-2.  We continued finding more construction all the way to the border of New Hampshire but never really had to slow down a lot.  I thought we might stop in Gorham but my dad was feeling energized.  We encountered more construction on US-2 before we reached NH-116 but had an uneventful drive to Littleton.  After that, it was easy driving on US-302 and NH-10.  We finally stopped for gas at Citgo Station in Piermont (1445) and then continued (on NH-10) to Hanover.  We arrived at my condo at 1330 and I quickly unloaded the RV.  I thought Dad was going to stay until dinner time (we'd talked about going to a celebratory dinner at Jesse’s Steakhouse) but he surprised me again by saying he wanted to drive home to the Cape.  Of course I thanked him for all the help he'd given me during the previous few years - telling him I'd never have been able to reach the end-goal without his assistance.  After he was gone, I thought about what I'd accomplished: AT finished!  Lots of weekends, vacations and "I'm nearby so I'll just try to squeeze in a hike before I have to leave." Got myself in better physical shape, exorcized some personal demons, got quality "me time", encountered amazing animals, saw some spectacular views and met many wonderful people. I also recovered/returned after some especially bad hikes - fortunately, I was successful in taking each small section as though it was the entire trail. It took me 304 hikes (average about 7.2 miles), mostly heading outbound from my car and then returning the same distance inbound. As a result, I probably hiked an extra 2000 miles of AT - but I also saw lots of things during the backtrack that I’d missed earlier in the day. For most of the first seven years, I was an all season hiker and often had the Trail all to myself in leafless areas or deep snow. It’s much harder (though not impossible) to hike all year in NH and ME… Towards the end, I did more shuttles and backpacking but there were really only a few places where I couldn't have stuck with day hikes. With all the logistical challenges I faced (I didn't hike the trail in order), it feels strange to no longer have some gap of mileage that I need to close... Other people thought I was crazy to even try this but I wouldn't have missed this experience for anything!

*****

AT Stats for "Workaround":

- First step on the trail: Summer of 1976, Mount Washington (NH)

- First section hike on the trail: January 20, 1992, Shenandoah NP (VA)

- Started counting AT miles: October 30, 1994, Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN)

- Pre-2014 mileage = 4.5 miles

- Published AT distance in 2014: 2185.3 miles

- Began concerted effort to finish AT in sections: May 3, 2014 on Blue Ridge Parkway near Roanoke (VA)

- Summited Springer (GA): May 14, 2014

- Summited Katahdin (ME): October 7, 2014

- Completed entire length of AT in sections: August 20, 2023 near Abol Bridge (ME)

- Published AT distance in 2023: 2198.4 miles

Last AT Section Hiking Trip - Day 3

This morning I awoke with an intense feeling of anticipation of reaching a long-sought goal.  After 9 years of continuous effort (plus many more of casual hiking prior to that), I was within striking distance of the end of my AT Journey!  I slept OK, with lots of white noise of water flowing over the dam, but woke up a few times as it started to rain again.  Water came in the tent!  Somehow, though, I fell back to sleep until 0530, when I had to make the decision to pack up while it was still raining.  This task took over an hour because it was so hard to find a dry place - I ultimately had to use some overturned boats to finish (I also used my backpack cover for the first time ever).  After that, I filled up on water from the lake/river.  I eventually (0645) left my campsite (still in the rain) and hiked back to the AT.  I then walked almost two miles, in mud and flowing water, to reach the Rainbow Lake Campground.  I'm VERY glad that I didn't try to get there last night!  When I arrived, I encountered the only people I saw all day: a mom, dad and little kid who were hiking the HMW southbound.  After a snack break there, I continued NOBO (east on the compass) on the AT along the shore of Rainbow Lake.  The trail was the worst of the mud, rocks and roots that I’ve been experiencing all around Maine.  Meanwhile, the rain continued intermittently...  By this point, I was soaking wet and my clothes started chafing - this is something I've mostly avoided over the years but it is impossible to stop when you can't get dry.  I stopped several more times for snacks and to relieve my aching shoulders.  During this part of the hike, I had to make a lot of more bridge-less river crossing and got quite wet a few times.  One thing I didn't have to do all day, though, was to take off my boots (first time in many months of hiking in Maine).  I passed several places where the AT actually didn’t cross a little hill for no reason and wondered why the Great Trail Designer had missed the PUD...  Otherwise, there were lots of places where I got to the edge of water and then had to climb back uphill.  As usual in these conditions, I saw many frogs and toads.  Another challenge, I had to maneuver around several huge (one to two feet in diameter) downed trees lying across the trail.  Finally, after leaving the eastern corner of the lake, I started a steady climb to the top of the Rainbow Ledges.  For most of this ascent, I was in an actual river.  Surprisingly (or annoyingly?) the sun came out in time for me to lose tree cover.  When I reached the bald top, I wasn’t impressed by the limited views - I will admit that it was possible to see some of the highlands from the previous day but there were also trees in the way in the optimal directions.  There was one place with a view of Katahdin but I thought "meh" after the climb I'd just completed.  It also started getting hotter and I eagerly sought a quick route back into the trees.  Once I was there, I felt much better with shade...  During this phase, I started noticing that I was fighting a losing battle with nutrition and hydration - this has been a growing problem over the years and only large amounts of sugar seems to resolve it.  Trying to limit intake, though, I tried to find an equilibrium so I'd be able to continue.  From the Rainbow Ledges, the AT started downhill towards the Hurd Brook Lean-to.  Just before I reached that landmark, however, I had to make one more (major) river crossing with limited stones to stay dry.  Somehow, I barely made it across without falling into the deep water - whew!  I took a long break at the Lean-to, taking off all my clothes in an effort to dry off (partially successful).  By this point, I was shocked that I still hadn't seen any other hikers all day.  I'd hoped to have an entourage on my last AT Section but I guess it wasn't meant to be...  After about 30 minutes of snacking (including eating the orange I’d brought) and resting, I departed the shelter for the last three miles of my AT journey.  This part of the hike involved another climb and a series of roller coaster hills.  By this point of the day, I found this rather annoying.  Still, I managed to navigate OK before beginning a big descent towards Golden Road.  I tried to send a text to my dad when I finally (for the first time since leaving his camper) had cell signal but it didn’t work.  Thinking a lot about my nine miles of AT hiking during this phase of the hike - it was really hard to believe it was almost done...  The trail conditions improved tremendously as I got closer to the road.  The AT had one more surprise in store for me, though: I accidentally stepped off boardwalk, knee deep into the mud!  I left lots of footprints on the boards after that...  Soon after that, I reached the HMW warning sign and knew I’d made it to the end!  I felt even better when I saw the Trail Magic sign that my dad had left at the trailhead.  Coming out of the woods, though, I noticed that he wasn’t actually parked at the trailhead.  As a result, I had to walk east on Golden Road to find him (1515).  I was happy that my 13ish mile day was finished but was even more pleased that the entire AT (2185.3 miles) was completed after 9 years, 3 months and 17 days.  My dad was sitting under the awning of the RV and graciously got up so I could rest in his chair.  Bonus: he handed me a beer!  After a break, I changed out of my wet, muddy clothes.  Before long, I was ready to leave for home.  I think that surprised my dad, who had to pack up the RV before we could leave.  I took Ana for a walk while he was busy and we retrieved Trail Magic stuff  - I was glad to see that some of the items were gone.  My dad picked me up and we then drove to the Abol Bridge for photos.  I'd brought my "Every journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step" AT sign (a gift from sister) and we were able to capture Mount Katahdin in the background.  After that, we headed out of the area on Golden Road.  After a long, slow drive on the washboard surface (my dad said he'd had lots of trouble when he was driving to meet me), we were able to switch to the Baxter Park Access Road.  This was much better and we were able to easily drive into Millinocket.  From there, we used ME-11 and ME-6/16 to reach Dover-Foxcroft (arrived at 1830).  Parked in the Shaw's again, we ate dinner (turkey sandwich, potato salad, beer) that my dad made for me.  I posted on social media that I was finished with AT and got lots of good feedback.  Later, my dad drove us further west on ME-6/16 until we could get on ME-150.  We ultimately had a good drive (even though it got dark) all the way to Skowhegan.  We set up again at the Super-Walmart at 2100 and I spent the rest of the evening reading, playing games and managing social media responses.  Bed time was at 2145 after an amazing day!  AT Today = 12.0 miles / Grand Total AT = 2185.3 miles / AT Left = 0.0 miles

Last AT Section Hiking Trip - Day 2

I woke up by 0530 (still in RV in Dover-Foxcroft) and spent some time (while my dad still slept) reading.  After Dad was awake and packed up the RV to his satisfaction, we walked across the parking lot to eat breakfast at McDonalds (0630).  We then drove a little bit east to get a gas fillup (0650).  After that, we continued east on ME-6 to ME-11.  It was nice day!  Along the way, I saw a moose but Dad didn’t (bad luck?),  After getting off the blacktop on Joe Mary Road, we drove to the Jo Mary Checkpoint for the KI / Jo Mary Multi-Use Forest.  While my dad and I were inside, paying the entry fee, Ana ate the uneaten McDonalds breakfast sandwiches (what a scamp!).  Next, my dad drove me all the way to Nahmakanta Lake (there was an AT Trailhead there where I'd last hiked in 2022).  We arrived at 0915 but, even though I'd already spent plenty of time getting ready during the last 24 hours, I did yet more backpack prep before I was ready to leave the RV.  Dad made me a big turkey sandwich for the road.  As I was departing, we noticed a hummingbird nearby - seemed like a good omen.  I was finally hiking (NOBO) by 0935.  As usual, it was quite muddy - not really a surprise, though.  I had only gone about half a mile before I encountered a Trail Angel in a campsite along the trail - he was giving hikers candy and I did not pass up the offer!  While there, I met “Doodles” (AT NOBO Thru Hiker) and heard about other members of his "Bubble."  After a short visit, I continued north through lots of standing water on trail (I was walking very close to the lake).  One positive thing about this part of the hike, though, was the many good views of the lake.  Overall, though, the terrain was quite frustrating.  I stopped a lot and had to navigate many stream crossings, some of which were quite sketchy.  Doodles blew by me with plans to make it all the way to Abol Bridge by dark - yikes!  For my part, I hoped to reach the Rainbow Lake Campsite (about 15 miles from my starting point) but this goal was not set in stone.  Later, I encountered a Boy Scout Troop (from Yarmouth, ME) but passed them without much commentary.  When I stopped at Wadleigh Stream Lean-to, however, we talked a lot more about their reasons for being on the AT (merit badges, leadership training).  It seemed like they may have underestimated the challenge of the section but I kept that thought to myself...  After saying goodbye to them, I continued north by myself.  It was at around this time that I started to have trouble following the trail - there were lots of blow-downs and places where the creek that paralleled the trail had washed away the obvious trail cues.  Also, there were few white blazes.  Still, I kept going until I found myself in a larger-than-normal (for today, anyway) climb towards the top of Nesuntabunt Mountain.  On the way uphill, I caught up to an older guy (NOBO Thru) and two MYTHs (ladies who had been working on section hiking the trail for 23 years).  When we finally found the summit, we all took a break at an overlook - it had great views of Katahdin and the remaining mileage of the section.  The latter images made me think the advertised "easy" moniker on the section might not be accurate...  The three hikers I'd just encountered left me in the dust soon after we resumed hiking but that didn't matter to me because I was just focused on making it to the end in one piece.  I passed a few SOBO LASHers who gave me some intel about their hike from Abol Bridge.  Of course, reports of "lots of mud" were not unexpected or surprising; by this point, I was covered in mud anyway...  I also encountered a young lady with a friendly dog and talked with her for a bit.  Despite my "lollygagging", however, I eventually caught up to the three NOBOs I'd last seen at the overlook and passed them.  This was because the trail took a dramatic downhill direction and everyone's knees became a concern.  As a result, the three of us leap frogged several more times throughout the afternoon.  Even so, I was alone a lot of the time and used my mental and physical energy to fight with lots more mud, roots, wet rocks and annoying PUDs.  My foot started hurting again and I started to wonder if I was going to have any issues finishing with that challenge - there was not much I could do about it anyway, I supposed, since I was miles away from getting off the trail...  In several places during this part of the hike, I passed ponds with lots of boats/canoes on the shore.  As tempting as it was to stop my hike and take a ride/paddle into the middle of the inviting water, I continued north.  Up to this point, most of the day had been overcast.  However, just as a reached a series of pretty cascades along the trail, it started raining - a LOT.  I tried using my poncho but it was not effective.  Miserable and wet, I started to think that I wanted to be done hiking for the day.  So, when I finally arrived at Rainbow Stream Lean-to (11 mile mark) at 1715 but found it full (it only slept 6) of non-Thru hikers (two of the occupants were the two ladies I'd been with all day - the leap frog game had turned into a game of musical chairs, I guess).  Feeling a bit disappointed, I took my time filling up water bottles, talking to people in shelter and trying to decide it I wanted to camp near the Lean-to or continue onward.  One factor that turned in my favor at that point was that it stopped raining.  So, at 1745, I crossed the river on a rickety log "bridge" and walked two more muddy miles.  I passed two SOBOs who had hoped to stay in the Lean-to and had the same reaction as me when I told them it was already full...  At 1845, I took a blue blazed trail to the Rainbow Dam.  When I arrived, I found the place (rated as "the best campsite in Maine" by someone on the FarOut app) was completely deserted.  I set up camp on the lake and noticed that I had a pretty impressive view of Katahdin from there - nice!  After 13ish miles, I was tired and wet.  Fortunately, it stopped raining long enough for me to eat dinner (Good to Go meal) and try to dry my clothing (that was tough.  Before long, it was dark and I decided to retire to my tent.  I tried to hang my bear bag but couldn't really find a good place.  Instead, I took everything inside the tent and hoped for the best... There wasn't much in the way of natural noise at the campsite but I kept hearing airplane noises all evening (Bangor?).  After sunset, I spent the next hour resting in my tent - I finally went to bed at 2100.  Thinking about the day, I must say that I'm glad to have walked almost half way through the 25 miles of the section.  Barring some sort of catastrophe, I should finish the AT tomorrow!  AT Today = 13.0 miles / Grand Total AT = 2173.3 miles / AT Left = 12.0 miles

Last AT Section Hiking Trip - Day 1

My dad had set aside another week in August to help me finish section hiking the AT and all the stars aligned today for that trip to happen!  Still, I had work to do in order to be ready for the long drive and necessary overnight stays required.  For this reason, I teleworked all morning and for a few hours after lunch.  My dad arrived just after noon but waited until I was able to end my workday (1430).  I next packed up the RV with all my hiking gear.  When we finally departed (1500), we used NH-10, US-302, NH-116 and US-2 to reach Gorham.  After that, we continued into Maine and eventually stopped for gas (Irving) at Rumford (1810).  We used our normal shortcut to Mexico and then got on US-2, using it all the way to Farmington.  Next, we US-2 towards Skowhegan - on the way, we saw a pretty double rainbow and an Amish buggy.  We turned onto US-201A and then used back roads to reach ME-150.  Passing through some areas with rain as it got darker, we were unable to identify a large wild animal that crossed the road in front of us.  My dad told me he still wanted to see a moose but it hasn't happened yet, despite all of his trips with me during the last few years.  Meanwhile, I've seen several...  We continued on ME-150 to Dover-Foxcroft, getting on ME-6 at the end, and stopped for the night at Shaw’s (2100).  I did some reading and backpack prep before heading to bed (2200).  After nine years of effort, tomorrow is the day when I start my last AT Section Hike! 

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[started teleworking very early - left condo at 0700 and drove to White River Junction (UVAC) for 45 minutes of swimming, 10 minutes of sauna, 21 minutes of biking (5 miles), 10 minutes of rowing and weights - afterwards (0915), headed home (arrived at 0930) - teleworking for the rest of the day]

Cornish, NH (USA)

Following the route of John Ledyard, I paddled 13 new miles of the Connecticut River today!  I was helped by my friend, Herman, who (after I'd attended a Men of St. Joseph meeting at Sacred Heart), picked me up at the Cornish Boat Launch, located just above the Cornish Windsor Covered Bridge, at 1000 (I'd used I-89 and NH-12A to reach it).  From there, we drove back to White River Junction and I launched from Lyman Point Park (1030).  As I departed the mouth of the White River, it was VERY clear that the water levels were much higher than the last time I paddled nearby. This made for a higher current, but also less incidents with rocks. Along the way south, I checked out the mouth of the Mascoma River - easily navigable.  However, I next had to deal with a series of pilings that were built during the repairs on the I-89 bridge - each created its own eddys and swift current so was glad to make it through… Passing by the West Lebanon shopping district (where we did a river cleanup last September), I continued south without incident until I reached Bloods Brook. Today, instead of a field of rocks, I found a large area of rough current. Again, I made it through ok. In this area, there were several instances where I had to make choices about which side of an island - fortunately, I decided wisely each time. I saw a lot of fishing raptors, including several bald eagles.  When I spotted the mouth of the Ottaquechee Rver, I decided to paddle up to visit the Willard Covered Bridges.  What a great view!  Back in the Connecticut, I proceeded south and thought I was done with adventure for the day. However, I didn’t realize I had misidentified the location of the Class III rapids of Sumner Falls… And I didn’t really know how scary they might really be, although a portage that appeared on my map seemed to be a big warning.  Even more ominously, as I got closer and closer, I encountered warning signs that reminded me to get over to the right side of the river to avoid the falls. With the already strong current, this took a lot of work - by the time I realized where the portage trail actually was, I was not in a good position to get out of the water.  As a result, I was swept away by the strongest current I’d felt all day. Until now, I’ve ever been truly worried while paddling in Tequila Sunrise but all that changed in an instant.  Because I was on the right side of the river, where the largest rocks and biggest drop-offs/waterfalls were, this caused me to have to make a choice: either take a chance to try to get out of the river late and, if unsuccessful, hit the big rocks, or try to steer into the water that was deeper and scarier. I chose the first option but still ended up filling up the kayak with water within seconds.. I did manage to stay near the shore (shallow), however, and that minimized my anxiety a little.  Just when I thought I’d avoided the worst of the falls, I found myself beached on a big boulder that was overlooking a steep drop off. By this time, the kayak was full of water and could no longer float.  As a result, I took a chance and “paddled” it over the side of the falls.  Luckily, I ended up still with it at the bottom... I should mention that today was the first day in years when I wore my life jacket, and this made it easier for me to hold onto the kayak, paddle and a croc shoe that “escaped”.  I was a bit concerned about my wallet, keys and phone but they stayed with the boat.  By that point, I was swimming… A few minutes later, cold and relieved, I was able to lift the kayak up on the beach, empty out all the water and retrieve all my soaked gear. There were actually people nearby, but they didn’t seem to notice the entire episode. I thought: “where’s my applause?” After a few minutes of drying out my ego, I got back on the river and started paddling south again.  At that exact moment, a truck towing 20 kayaks appeared and deposited at least that many people on the beach.  More than anything, this motivated me to paddle as fast as I could. I was not able to get away from them immediately because I encountered an area with a reverse current. Eventually, though, I put some distance between me and the large party group… For the next six miles, I didn’t see anyone and I enjoyed the peace and quiet (punctuated only occasionally by motorcycles on Route 12A), along with some awesome views of Mount Ascutney.  Back at the boat landing by 1400, I considered paddling to the covered bridge but realized that the current was too strong.  Plus, I was too tired...  Instead, I called it a day.  I spent some time snacking, cleaning myself up and then backtracked via NH-12A and I-89 - home by 1530.  Fun adventure and lots of good stories!

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[started teleworking very early - left condo at 0630 and drove to White River Junction (UVAC) for 30 minutes of swimming (lap pool closed), 10 minutes of sauna, 26 minutes of biking (5.8 miles), 5 minutes of rowing and weights - afterwards (0830), headed home (arrived at 0845) - teleworked for the rest of the day]

Maine Hiking Weekend - Day 2

I woke up at 0500 today with only 26 AT Miles left to hike!  This morning started early as I cleaned up my "car camp" quickly and then began my hike (NOBO) from Bemis Road at 0555.  All I needed to do was walk one mile from the bottom of the Bemis Stream Ravine to Height of Land (scenic pull off on ME-17).  This was easier said than done, though, because I could see the elevation I’d need to ascend from the bottom. *Shudder*... Pushing aside the doubts, I quickly forded the Bemis Stream, only getting my boots (right one still holding together with Leukotape) a bit wet.  At around this time, I passed three of the NOBO Thrus I’d met yesterday - all were still in their tents.  From there, I climbed about 800 feet through mud, roots and wet rocks until I finally arrived at HOL.  This section, which had been so intimidating when I first saw it in 2014, was easier than I’d expected (since I was well rested and energized).  I admired the view of Mooselookmeguntic Lake below and wistfully looked across the gorge towards Bemis Mountain.  It felt great to be done!  Of course, then I had to backtrack... I carefully navigated the wet boulders and slippery mud and was soon back near Bemis Stream.  Before going back to my car, I talked more to the three Thrus.  “Veggie” and I had said “hi” the day before but I found out this morning that he was from Rochester, NH and had started in early April.  “The Voyager” was glad to see that my boots were holding up OK (thanks to his help) and told me he’d started his hike in March but had to leave the trail for two funerals.  The third Thru was a young lady who didn’t open up to me.  Regardless, I told them I hoped they’d be willing to be my own “Bubble” when I head to Nahmakanta Lake in a few weeks in order to finish the AT.  Finishing my hike today at 0725, I had some strange feelings about how close the end of this journey is...  Still, I had to drive home so I could work in the morning.  I got cleaned up quickly and was on the road again by 0745.  After driving back towards Oquossoc on Bemis Road, I used ME-17, ME-4, ME/NH-16, NH-26, NH-16, NH-110A, NH-110, US-3 to reach Lancaster.  Stopping there, I was able to attend Mass at Gate of Heaven Parish (All Saints Chapel) at 1000.  Afterwards, continued south on US-3, listening to audiobooks on the way.  Eventually (in Whitefield), I intercepted my "normal" route home.  That meant using NH-116 to get to Littleton, where I got lunch at Burger King at 1130.  I ate in restaurant and, by 1245, continued south on US-302.  After that, used NH-10 all the way to Hanover.  I arrived at my condo by 1415.  As I unpacked my car, I realized again that I really only have one more hike to claim AT victory - it's hard to believe!  AT Today = 1.0 miles / Grand Total AT = 2160.3 miles / AT Left = 25.0 miles

Maine Hiking Weekend - Day 1

My goal to finish the entire trail this year got a boost today when I drove up to the Rangeley (ME) area and found a way into the middle of a rather remote section I’ve had on my radar since 2014.  The first time I saw the multi-peaked profile of Bemis Mountain from Height of Land, I remember thinking “that hike is gonna suck.”  The main reason for this was because it was clear from the viewpoint that the AT followed a “V shaped” profile to cross the huge gorge below.  For many years, I’ve checked maps and other sources in an effort to figure out whether a road or side trail might pass through the valley.  Today, I decided to drive to the area and find out for myself...  I left my condo at 0630 and used I-91, I-93 and VT-18 to reach US-2.  On the way, I listened to audiobooks.  I stopped for breakfast at McDonalds in Lancaster (NH) at 0810 and then got on US-3.  Not long after leaving town, I stopped for a gas fillup at Irving in Groveton (0835).  After that, I continued on US-3 until I reached NH-110 - after that, the route was NH-110A, NH-16, NH-26, NH/ME-16, ME-4 and ME-17.  I began my search for the AT Trailhead by first locating Bemis Road (1030), a dirt track originating just a little bit south of the "town" (hamlet? village?) of Oquossoc.  I’ll admit that I was dubious about whether I could actually park near the AT crossing as I left the pavement… Eight miles later, after ignoring a “private property” sign, I found myself within feet of white blazes!  Since I’d expected to have to walk for a few miles to get on the AT itself, my location boosted my spirits tremendously.  Figuring that my car would be fine if I only did a day hike, I headed SOBO into the woods (1045).  Even though I expected to return in the evening, I brought my big backpack - the climb and distance across typical Maine terrain could possibly require an overnight.  Temps were in the low 60s, the day was pleasantly sunny and there was a light breeze.  The trail surface was, as usual, rocky, rooty and muddy.  I started passing NOBO Thrus almost immediately - none of them really talked to me, though, until #8 (“Racehorse”).  By then, I was tired from the seemingly ceaseless up/down and I spent time learning about his journey.  He made observations about the difficulty of Maine (I did not disagree) and said he couldn’t wait to be finished.  After saying goodbye to him, I continued over a series of 3K+ feet peaks (named “First”, “Second”, “Third” and “Fourth”), some of them consisting of wide open “balds” of granite slabs.  I got some good views of HOL and ME-17 on the opposite side of the deep ravine and also caught glimpses of Saddleback and more distant mountains.  I skipped a stop at the only lean-to on the route, intending to visit it during the backtrack.  Instead, I kept climbing.  I’d just passed NOBO Thru #10 when the sole of my right hiking boot came unglued!  This would not be a good situation at any point on the AT (right, Robert?) but it was especially bad to encounter where I was.  Using some tape I always carry, I did my best to repair the boot.  Unfortunately, the combination of mud, rocks and general moisture did not help.  For the next mile, I stopped repeatedly to retape.  Needless to say, my pace slowed down considerably… I was beginning to despair when I met “The Voyager”, the first NOBO Thru I’d seen who was even close to my age.  He had some Leukotape, something I’d never used before, and it worked wonders!  With a few strips of the waterproof adhesive, I was able to affix my loose sole and reach some peace about getting off the mountain.  The Voyager told me he’d found the tape in a hiker box - so this was basically third hand Trail Magic.  As a result of all this difficulty, however, I made the decision to exit the AT at the nearby Junction of the Bemis Stream Trail (just over six miles since leaving the car).  This alternate trail (the old routing of the AT) had a few decided advantages: first, it quickly descended off the ridge; second, it was far less mountainous, paralleling the AT as it followed Bemis Stream back to my car.  For the next few hours, I made my way on a mossy, untraveled track (lots of trees down) and felt good about my choice.  However, I eventually reached an area that had so much mud and standing water that I began to worry I’d be unable to reach the bottom.  At one point, I had to make a particularly sketchy crossing through deep, black water… So, when I encountered a dirt road (really just an ATV track), I took advantage of the opportunity to walk on a firmer surface.  This decision definitely added distance to my return hike (my backtrack was almost seven miles) but was worth the extra steps.  By the end, I was actually walking on Bemis Road.  I made much better time than I had earlier in the day and reached my car at 1945.  I figured out then that I’d dropped my Mount Lassen bandana on the way - that was a bit disappointing because it was a good souvenir of my trip with Mollie... All told, I’d walked over 13 miles and conquered a difficult section of the AT without having to camp in the mud.  And I was positioned perfectly to resume hiking first thing in the morning.  Speaking of that, I decided not to leave my excellent parking spot and just set up my "car camp" as the sun disappeared beyond the surrounding peaks (2030).  I ate dinner (dehydrated meal) and listened to more of my audiobook until I felt like going to sleep (2130).  Tomorrow, I can finish the last mile in this area and complete my next-to-last AT section hike!  AT Today = 6.2 miles / Grand Total AT = 2159.3 miles

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[started teleworking early - at 0700, left condo and drove to White River Junction (UVAC) to swim for 45 minutes - after that, returned home and continued teleworking until late]

Enfield, NH (USA)

[after work (1700), I drove over to Forward's Garage in Lebanon and volunteered during the VAMC Adaptive Sports Team in their weekly Tuesday Night Ride on the NRT - for the next two hours, I rode with some disabled veterans and tried out a nice reclining bike (VERY good) - we made it all the way to the Lakeside Park in Enfield before turning around (9 miles of biking) - at 1900, I headed home again]