Pawling, NY -- Stratton pond, VT

Day 100

Mileage 5

New York was a great break!  Thanks to everyone who let me stay with them

As with all 0s hiking out sucks.

So we do it late in the day and barely hike

I don't have a lot of motivation to hike right now.  I am really hoping tomorrow brings a new light...

Day 101

Mileage 21.3

And so I hike on.  Back to the normal mileage and my legs are super tight.  Its like they forget what I'm doing after a day off...

Made it into Connecticut today!

Its 91 degrees today.  Why.

I don't know if I can sweat more. 

Also Connecticut has a bit of climbing in it. It feels good, but these climbs are still real short. Not to say it isn't hard hiking all day, but I want big mountains and grueling climbs again.

Got to camp and immediately waded out into the river.

Fuck mosquitos.

Day 102

Mileage 20.4

My legs are back to normal.  Which just means only my feet hurt at the end of the day.  CT provides more climbs today which is nice. 

Climbing a mountain, albeit small ones, still gives me a rush.  I'm not sure anything can compare to that feeling when I reach the top and can see for miles.

Oz decided to get off trail. Fuck.  I'm sad

Alright I made it to some cool falls and decided to eat dinner on top of them.  Hung out there for a few hours before climbing 3 more miles into a campsite. 

Saw a bear on my way to camp!!!  Well just his ass as he ran away...


Oz just needed a day and is coming back tomorrow night!!!

Day 103

Mileage 17.5

I woke up feeling sluggish.  Guess I stay in bed all morning.  Started hiking at around 11.

Our whole group is spread out a bunch of miles.  I think I'm only doing a 17 just so we all can meet back up again. 

I can do this.

Welp I hit my mental low point today.  Hit me like a ton of bricks.  I rounded the corner to see a sign that should have made me excited.  It read: mile 1500, 689 miles left to go.  Likely a normal person would have said; fuck yes I made it 1500 miles.  Nope, not me.

I sat down and cried for 23 minutes.  I have so much more left to do. 

Ok get your shit together. 

I hike up the next mountain and nap for an hour. 

Guess I keep hiking... 

Met up with Darwin and Legs and they bring some happiness back into my life.  We chill on top of bear mountain until like 4pm.

One last climb.

Finally get through this miserable day and Oz's aunt has trail magic for us!!!

Just going to sleep today off and come back swinging tomorrow.

Day 104

Mileage 21.3

I guess I feel better today

Either way fuck I guess I hike.  This is not a day of pictures.  This is not a day of cool views.

This is a grind.  This hurts.  This day will take everything I have to smile and move forward.

And so it goes...

Day 105

Mileage 16

Get to see Erika today!

I am both excited and nervous.  Seeing people from the real world is weird.

But seeing my best friend is great either way.  She can handle how weird I am right now.

She takes us to an Indian lunch buffet, then to laundry and a grocery store.  So good to see her right now.  This has definitely reinvigorated me.  The push to Vermont is real.

Oh yeah I made it into Massachusetts yesterday!

Stayed at upper goose pond cabin tonight.  It was full...  had to tent out... 

Day 106

Mileage 21ish

Stayed in dalton MA and got a shower!!!

Everyone is afraid of the thunderstorn tomorrow.  It is supposed to be crazy!

I feel back to normal motivation.  I am even getting excited to hike again.  I know Vermont is coming and can't wait!

Day 107

Mileage 10

The storm cometh.  I got caught in it for the last 30 minutes of my hike into Cheshire.  We are holding up there at a church hostel.

The storm is fucking epic.  4 inches of rain and crazy lightening.

Day 108

Mileage 21

Hiked Mt. Greylock today!  And made it into Vermont.  I am so happy.

The trees changed to a coniferous(carnivorous) forest and the smell is enchanting. 

The world is beautiful.  The last few days have taught me a lot.  Today is proof that I can be alive and I can get through this.  Great things come to people who work for them.

Here we are in Vermont with real mountains again.  Everyday going forward has a big climb and beautiful scenery.  This next month is why the push was worth it.

Day 109

Mileage 21

Today features 0 views minus an enchanting forest we are buried in all day.

I resupply in Bennington and stay in town until 4pm.  Still have a 10 mile climb to finish the day.

I crush the climb and stay at Goddard shelter.  The black flies are crazy right now.

Day 110

Mileage 21

Today features two fire towers!

The first is right at the start of the day. 

The second is after climbing Stratton Mt.

We obviously climb both of them.

I made great time today.  I am absolutely loving the climbs again.

The forest is alive.  There are lakes and ponds and beavers and flies. 

I finish the day camped at Stratton pond.  We listen to the beatles and Neil Young by the fire as darkness approaches. Fucking hippies.

--Strider

Delaware Water Gap, PA -- NYC

Day 89

Mileage 22

I left Delaware Water Gap at 11:30ish after some great breakfast and a quick fix of my trekking poles.

Another state knocked down.

Pennsylvania was rough. 

The last few days have been hard on the bottoms of my feet and my ankles are pretty tired. 

The shoes I got at payless are not holding up well.  Go figure.

But I hike on.  I slip and slide down the rocks now. 

Today begins with a little uphill.  Haven't had one of these in a bit.  It feels so good to get the cardio going and work up a sweat.

Something is changing mentally for me today. Or maybe I'm becoming more in tune with how I feel out here.  Or maybe I'm just gushing and going fucking delirious.

This life out here is unbelievable.  I'm not sure how to describe how ridiculous it is, so maybe this story will help.

The 2nd picture above is of a deer...  I was walking by sunfish pond.  There are a bunch of cairns and a turtle and a shitload of frogs making noise.  I round the corner and see Wet Wipes taking a break.  As I continue there are a good amount of rocks to hop along.  This makes me fairly quiet as I'm not using my poles.  I come up on said deer without him noticing me at all.  When he does he freaks out and falls down.  That stupid face he is making is directly after he gathered himself and stood back up. 

Day 90

Mileage 12

Today was super nice and slow.  Did a small 12 miles and got picked up by Glim-glom's sister. 

She brought us to Sprout Creek Farm.  This super cool farm in New York. We ate cheese and burgers (veggie).  Even picked fresh Kale for mine.

She and Glim-glom both worked there, so we got to wander around with the cows and goats.  I apparently got over my irrational fear of goats today. 

Also watched Mama Mia!

Day 91

Mileage 3

Slept in pretty drastically.  Then went to the chicken coop and grabbed some eggs for a breakfast.

We also did a resupply in town.  This a pretty welcome break, but at this point any break with people someone knows is welcome. 

Not excited to put my shoes on and hike today.  Good thing we all are not motivated.  Hiked a quick 3 to a shelter and got a good nights sleep.

Day 92

Mileage 19.6

Ok back to 20's.  We are pushing to the end of New York to head into NYC.

Life is great.  Hiking is so calm and peaceful.  My legs feel great today and I'm in a great mood. 

I'm not sure if I actually had questions in life I wanted to answer, but today I spent a good while in my head thinking about what's next.  I think I created more questions...

Day 93

Mileage 23.6

What a gorgeous fucking day!

I walked along this crazy boardwalk this morning through some swamp lands.  Met so many dogs!

Took so many breaks today. It was just really nice out.

Also made it into New York today which is exciting because I get new shoes tomorrow.  I slid down a rock and may have cracked a rib today...

Day 94

Mileage 21.6 + 2 mile road walk

Alright I got a ways to get to this town, but then I get new shoes.  I can't stand up straight without pain in my chest from this dumb rib bullshit.

Also these shoes have fully exploded. Who would of thought payless kitchen shoes weren't great for hiking on rocks in the rain...

I get to this road and start trying to hitch.  Its a four lane highway basically.  No one stops and I end up walking 2 miles on a sketchy shoulder into the post office.

But new shoes!!!! Thanks fam!!!!

I guilt a guy at a gas station into a ride back to the trail and I'm back at it.

We had a super sick climb today after doing a squeeze that I don't fit through.

Despite the pain I'm in, today couldn't be better! 

Day 95

Mileage 23 ish

Ok today was fucking weird. We climbed bear mountain, which is a NY tourist place. 

So many people everywhere.  I can smell them before I see them.   Cologne, perfume, and shampoo smell so fucking good. 

I get over this mountain, which did have a great view and perfectly crafted stone stairs,  and walk through a playground.  Then I see a tapas bar, so I go...

They just don't actually have tapas. K.

Now for a weird and sad part of the trail.  The AT goes right through a zoo.  A vulture in a cage with other vultures on top of it.  Two sad brown bears in a small enclosure with 30 vultures with them. 

I am pretty sure I offended a few people marveling at how sad this zoo was...

Day 96

Mileage 22

I think these 20 plus days are getting to me.  I'm exhausted.    The terrain at least is easy today with no big climbs. 

I'm in a bunch of pain but still trudging along.  Only one more day until we all get a break for a couple days.

Day 97

Mileage 10.8

Damn that's a big fucking tree. 

Only 10 miles until Pawling, NY.  Then we all take a couple days off in NYC.  Desperately need a break.  My ankles and ribs need a few days of rest to heal a bit.

We all hiked together and got to the station pretty quickly.  Now its off to the big city!!!

--Strider