I thought that my days of hiking in 90 plus weather would be done as I head southbound through Maine.  I was wrong.  The hot weather has followed me from Virginia, and it’s been painful.  It had started to warm up as I made it to Monson for my zero day.  After another big breakfast at Shaw’s, I hit the AT again, enjoying a smoother and more level stretch of trail going 18 miles to Moxie

Bald Lean-to.  I had several river crossings to do this day, but with the drought that Maine is in, they were easy as I hopped across rocks without having to wade.  I was greeted at the lean-to by a younger couple from New York City, Snaps and Pops, whom I had met at the hostel in Monson.

As I entered camp at about 6:00, there was a mama moose and her baby out in the pond not over 125′ from us.  They seemed to not care that we were there, as they drank and ate the aquatic vegetation in the lake.  After eating freeze-dried sweet& sour pork (not exactly PF Changs), I enjoyed a decent night of sleep alone in the lean-to.

The next day I was up early to cover the 19 miles into Caratunk.  I had a 1,500′ climb over Moxie Bald Mountain, down almost 2,000′, and then up again almost 2,000′ up Pleasant Pond Mountain.  The temperatures were now getting into the 90’s, which is way above normal and even record setting for Maine at this time of year.  It is not what I had expected in Maine.  On the way down, I was out of water, so I had to stop at a Pleasant Pond (really a big lake), which actually had some homes and boaters on it.  I asked a group of Maine locals for some water, and they did even better–giving me a cold Pepsi and Propel.  After another swim in the cold, clear water, I was ready to go again.  I made it to the road crossing into Caratunk about 6:00, and was fortunate enough to get a hitch from a hiker who had started in Georgia earlier and had to get off because of injury.  He asked about some thru-hikers he had been hiking with back south, and sure enough, I had visited with them several days ago on top of Whitetop Mountain.  He drove me right to the Inn where I was staying, which was deserted.  I was able to reach the owner, who drove to the Inn and took me up the road about nine miles to a nice lodge where I was able to eat well and do my laundry.  By the time I got back, it was 9:00 and time for bed.  It was hot, as many places don’t even have air conditioning up here.  It was needed today though.

I got a ride to the trail head, and was shuttled across the Kennebec River by 9:15 the next morning.  The River is normally much higher, but it is still recommended that people get a shuttle with a canoe ride across the river just to be sure.  It was here that I met up with a couple from Seattle, Adobe and Monkeyback, as they were heading south also after staying in Caratunk.  Monkeyback was a thru-hiker  who had flip-flopped as I did, with Adobe joining him through Maine.  She picked a tough state to hike in.

It was hot again, but I did not have any huge climbs to do today.  Even though the map profile may show moderate to level grades though, there are still constant ups and downs, with rocks and roots to maneuver around for the 14.5 mile journey today.  I still could not put it into overdrive and cruise down the trail.  And, the heat was gradually wearing me down.   It was mid-afternoon when the trail went by another beautiful Maine natural lake, East Carry Pond.  I stopped at a sandy beach and enjoyed an hour of swimming and cooling off, with two NOBO’s

stopping to swim also, and Adobe and Monkeyback showing up later.  Who would have dreamed that I would need to stop and cool off in a Maine lake at this time of year?  It refreshed me, allowing me to continue the four miles into West Carry Pond Lean-to for the night. I again had the shelter all to myself.

The next day I had only about 11.5 miles to cover, but I had a big climb up Little Bigelow Mountain along with other climbs.  I made it to the Little Bigelow Lean-to around lunchtime, so I decided to take a long break with lunch, and enjoy a dip in the cool creek in “the tubs”, small areas in the creek where one can sit in the creek and cool off.  After soaking and trying to rest, I left about 2:30 on my way up Little Bigalow and then down to Safford Notch Campsite on the other side in the valley.  It was a hard climb over

2,000′, with a steep path strewn with boulders much of the way.  Just when I thought I had summited, I would drop down some, and then climb again.  When I finally reached the actual summit, the wind was heavy and felt good as it cooled me off.  It was mainly downhill now for the final 2.5 miles to the campsite, but the trail was very rough, and it seemed to take forever.  I was really dragging now, as the heat was really taking a toll on my body.  After working outside for much of my life, and getting heat exhaustion several times, including back in late July in Virginia, my body it seems just doesn’t take the heat very well.  It’s during times like this that I’m reminded that I’m not 25 years old anymore.  It was after 7:00 before I finally stumbled into the campsite, where several NOBO’s were camped out in tents.  I did not have a tent, so just laid out my pad and bag on the ground, and tried to sleep after dinner.  It was so hot, that I started out sleeping on top of my bag, without a shirt on, in early September in Maine!   I did surprisingly have cell coverage here, so was able to call home, and call my brother Stan to tell him that I was not going to be in the White Mountains next week as planned.  I was slowing down, and would have to continue to slow down just in order to make it.  I was feeling very pressured to stay on my schedule, which is not what I wanted to do with this second half of my journey.  I had not planned on this hot weather, and it was slowing me down.  And, I had greatly underestimated Maine.  Many folks have told me and written that Maine is the toughest state, and I would agree.  The far south was tough, but this is tougher.  And, I’m just now entering southern Maine, which has the most peaks and climbs.

I have past about 100 NOBO’’s in Maine, who are on the home stretch as they head to Katahdin.  By now, they are about two weeks away, they are very tired, and are ready to finish their journey.  I stop and greet them all, congratulate them on their almost-finished journey, and briefly visit with them.  It’s not much, just their name, where they are from, etc.  One thing I always hear is how tough southern Maine and the White Mountains in New Hampshire are.  I must admit, it’s getting me a little psyched out, hearing all this bad news and looking at the map profiles that are coming up.  I know there is no way I’m going to do the average of about  16 miles per day I had planned on through this section, especially as worn out as I was becoming.  As an older, wiser thru-hiker had told me a few days ago on the trail, “These things are a lot easier when sitting at the kitchen table compared to doing it out here!”

I had begun to pass more older thru-hikers now, in the 40’s, 50’s, and even 60’s.  I also ask most when they started, and most seem to be taking 5-6 months to hike the AT, even the younger hikers.  While some will and can do it in four months, they are the exception and not the rule.  Originally, I was going to pull this off in four months.  I’ve been humbled.  Things have happened along the way which I could not predict.  Even though I read and knew allot about the AT, I really did not know, as I had not experienced it.  Now, my goal is to just finish, and if I take 5 months or more, so be it.  I will still finish–in 2010.  I may be hiking in December in Virginia, but so be it.  When it’s cool or cold, at least I can get warm by hiking faster.

I pulled out of my campsite the following morning with a big climb up Avery Peak of 2,000′, with a 500′ dip, another 500′ climb, and then more descent with some climbs before reaching the road heading into Stratton, my stop for that night.  I only had 10 miles to go, but again it was tough.  Even though the hot, humid weather caused it to be hazy up on Avery Peak, it was still an awesome view, seeing for hundreds of miles.  It reminded me of the Colorado Rockies, hiking above timberline.  The breeze made it cooler for a brief time on tip of the mountain.  As I headed down, I had to stop twice in a small stream and even in a beaver pond just to strip down to my shorts and cool off in the water, as I was over-heating again.  Upon reaching the road, I called Sue from the Stratton Motel, who came and picked me up to drive me the five miles into town.

After a well-deserved shower and a good dinner of pizza and pop, I hooked up with Monkeyback and Adobe again to discuss the possibility of slack packing this next section or two.  They had slack packed into Stratton.  By splitting the cost, we were able to arrange the next two days to be slack packed, with only about 9 miles each day to cover with just a day pack on.  Even with some

big climbs up mountains each day, Crocker Mountain the first day and Spaulding Mountain the next, this normally would be a moderate day for me.  Not so with the hot weather.  My legs were like rubber by noon, and climbing was becoming a chore, even with moderate climbs.  I was glad I had made the decision to slack pack this, and for the opportunity to do so.  It would have been very tough with a full pack at this point.  Sue picked us up about 2:30 on the second day to take us into Rangley, a nice town about 8 miles off the AT.  With Hurricane Earl looming off the east coast, projected to drop possibly heavy rain in Maine that night and into Saturday, the next day, we both decided to take a zero day in Rangley and stay at a nice place.  I did not want to hike the next sections in the rain, or even with wet rocks, as it would just be too dangerous.  I had slipped and took falls several times last week on wet rocks in the rain going over Chairback Mountain, and did not want to risk ending my hike with an injury.  And from talking to other hikers, the Saddleback Range coming up is not safe to hike unless the rocks are dry.  So, with me being so tired, and with college football on all day Saturday, it was a good time to take a zero day and enjoy this small Maine town.

The rain has passed, it’s cooled off now, with a forecast of much more seasonal and cooler weather into next week.  That’s just what I need!  I must admit, that over the past week or so, I’ve been a little discouraged, even fearful that I may not make it.  While I’ve covered over 1,000 miles total so far on my AT Compassionate Journey, and have less then 100 miles to do in this difficult state of Maine, the circumstances and challenges of the trail are hitting me right between the eyes, and in my body and mind.  I know the odds of making it.  These NOBO’s I’m passing and briefly visiting with each day are the toughest of the bunch, being in the small percentage of hikers who actually finish a thru-hike.  Will I be one of them, or one of the people who leave the trail because of injury, loneliness, boredom, money, family emergencies, exhaustion, or other things beyond their control?  I’ve never doubted myself and my resolve, until this past week.

We are all at time fearful of things in our lives and can begin to doubt our abilities to accomplish certain things.  Sometimes fear can be a healthy thing, but more often than not, it’s not good to be fearful.  Fear does not correlate with good things such as happiness, confidence, faith, and persistence.  Being a successful businessman, I could not have done the things I’ve done without being persistent, and having faith.  But I am wavering right now, for whatever reason it seems.  There have been times that I’ve even thought how nice it would be to just go home, be with my wife, sleep in my bed, eat good food, and yes, even be at work with my employees and customers!   Hiking the AT is hard, and I’m right in the middle of a very difficult stretch.  Every day latelly has been an endurance contest, just to make it up over the next mountain and into the next shelter or town by dark.

So as I’m taking this zero day, I’m not only resting my body physically to get over the effect of the heat, I’m adjusting my mind, my soul, and my resolve to finish this journey.  I’ve made adjustments, and will continue to do so just to finish.  Heck with trying to be a 56-year old stud who finishes it in four months–I just want to finish and still be alive!  As I had internet access on my I-phone, reading  from my favorite scripture in James this morning, I read the following.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.

I’ve had a trial over the past week or so in getting through this section of the AT, and it’s not going to get easier.  After I get through the White Mountains in a few weeks, it will become much, I hate to use the word easier, but more attainable and enjoyable.  I cannot doubt through through this next section, and I must believe in what and why I’m doing this.  I must have faith in my physical, mental, and emotional strengths, and the God who has allowed me to use those strengths for good.  Maybe I’ve tried to rely on myself too much lately, I don’t know.

I just trust that the cooler weather will refresh my tired body, and my perseverance and faith will become strong again.  When I’m lonely, I’ll put things in perspective, by thinking about the loneliness that Jake, our son, has had to deal with, being away from his family for seven months while fighting in Afghanistan.  At least I can call home every day just about, watch ESPN every week or so, and get a good meal by eating out every few days off the trail.  Our prayers have been answered and Jake is on his way home now, earlier than expected, to meet his two new twin daughters, see his big boy son Hunter who has grown so much, and love on his wife.   I’ve not seen him since Christmas, so one of my goals now is to get close enough to New York City as planned, hop a train and then a plane to North Carolina, to hang out with him for a few days in early October.

By tomorrow morning, as I head out south again on the AT, I trust I’ll be where I need to be, will be re-juvinated, and pressing on towards my goal.  I look forward to being blown around by the high winds up on Mt. Washington in the Whites (a hiker told me yesterday the winds were 70 mph a few weeks ago when he was up there).  I don’t like being tossed around by the winds of fear and doubt though.  I will persist and succeed.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 12:16 pm and is filed under AT2010, Appalachian Trail, Charity, Lawn America. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.