100 mile wilderness here I come!!!!

 Smoke Stack and I rocking the pink loaner pants while we do laundry!

Short stop in Monson for the night last night. Onward into the hundred miles wilderness today and Katahdin within the week. Lovely evening here at the Lake Shore House. The pub downstairs was closed but the owner, Rebekah, made dinner for all of the hikers here. This is the last rest stop for a lot of the north bounder's  so it was a bit of a goodbye party as well. Got all my laundry done and now I'm off.  I'll update again after I summit and make it back to D.C.. Wish me luck!!

Quick stop in ME

Hello All,
Well I past the 1000 mile mark yesterday. Just a months ago the idea of hiking that far was almost unimaginable but here it is. Only 141 miles to go to summit Katahdin and then off to D.C. for a little rest and food with Lynn, Matt, Cole, and Mahalia. I should be in the 100 mile wilderness in 3 days. Heavy pack having to carry out that much food but I should be beautiful. Did my longest day yesterday. Started at 3 a.m. to climb to the top of Mt. Avery to watch the meteor shower and then the dawn. Pushed on from there to get 25 miles done before dark. Going a little slower today but that is to be expected. Off to the trail again. Hope everyone is well.

Made it to MAINE!!!!!

Well the post have dropped off a bit due to a dead phone. Currently in Bethel, ME having a little break to recover from a touch of the flu. Sick on the trail is no fun. I've made it though the Whites with only a few battle scars. The Whites and Presidential sections of the trail are my favorite by far. It is an amazingly beautiful and rugged section of the country. While I'll miss the views above tree line my body is getting ready for some flatter and softer terrain in ME. Two more notches to go and then on to the flats of northern ME and the 100 mile wilderness. I should hopefully be summiting Katahdin between the 22 and the 26 of August. Thanks to everyone for the support. Love and miss y'all.
apple juice

p.s. The sponsor sheet seems to have the bugs worked out. If you were having difficulties please try again.

THE WHITES!!!!!!!

What to say, what to say? Climbed up and over MT. Moosilaucke the day before yesterday. 2800 ft in three mile is about the same as two hours on a stair climber with 30 lbs. pack when the steps are all uneven and about a foot tall. It's was a good introduction to the White's. The terrain here is rugged in a way that reminds me of the Rocky's but the amount of rain is way more like the Smokies. Imagine climbing for 2 hours up a boulder field next to a steam. Now put the stream in the middle of the boulder field and that is what the last two days have been both up and down.
      It's is still amazing. I'll take 2 hours of climbing over 4 hours of the green tunnel in PA. The trail and views are just fantastic. I've had some nice trail magic and met some great folks over the last few days. Spent the night on Friday at a new friends place on Lake Armitage outside of Pike, NH. More involved story so that will have to wait. Spent last night at Lake Lonesome Hut and exchanged minimul labor for a bunk, dinner, and breakfast. Love the White's. Time is up and I have miles to makes. Love Ya'll. Apple Juice
p.s. my phone died. Should have a new one in week. just fyi

Some wildlife pictures

Angry Porcupine from the other day

Lovely Luna Moth on the trail.

Huge Timber rattler

My favorite! Mother Doe feeding two fawns. Look carefully, you can see the second neck.

Closeup of another porcupine

Getting ready for the Whites.

Well, I've made it though 700 + miles without any permanent damage to mind, body, or soul. Done with the Green mountains and will be into New Hampshire tomorrow. Looking forward to the cooler weather and some great climbs. Vistas everywhere is what I here from all the south bounders. I've finally met a few in the last couple of days. It's good to know that I will not be doing the second half of the trail by myself! Vermont has been a wonderful hike. Now onto the hardest, according to some, section of the trail. Weather is so changeable that you can get snow pretty much any month of the year.  As of Thursday I will have been on the trail for two months. It is crazy to realize how far I've come and a bit daunting to think of with is still to come. Mostly this is an amazing time and thanks to all of you for the support! Back to the trail to make some more miles before dark.
P.S.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRUMPY!!!!!! Wish you could be here hiking with me. Love ya.

Loving Vermont!

Currently in Killington, VT waiting for Rose and Tom to join me for lunch. They just happen to be on their way home to Syracuse from Maine today. Got to love serendipity. Beautiful last few days with only a little rain. Had an encounter with a very grumpy porcupine yesterday. Ten minute face off before it finally left the trail. Took some good pictures though. I should be out of the Greens and onto NH by the end of the week.

Apple Juice----------
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