Date: 2007-06-15
To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Greetings all! Where to begin, I have so much to tell. I'll try to be as thorough as possible. I suppose I'll start with the gritty details. I arrived in Baxter State Park on June 5th and summitted Mount Kathadin on the 6th. After that, I waved goodbye to my friends who were so kind to drop me off and began my trek. I have been doing some pretty decent sized mileage days actually. I am suprising myself. I anticipated starting pretty slow and easing my way into the whole thing by doing near 10 miles a day or so. My first day hiking out of BSP was a 13 or 14, then an 11, then a 17, 18, and then I brought it back down a bit. I am trying to push myself without getting hurt or burnt out, and so far it feels good. I will say that my bones are a aching though. I made it through the 100 mile wilderness, which is the first big section of the AT heading south, in about 8 days or so. I've had unbelievable weather, virtually no rain. Apart from the biting black flies and the massive Maine mosquitoes, hiking has been smooth thus far. Currently I am in Monson, ME if anyone cares to look at a map. It's a cute little town with a hiker hostel and some greasy burgers to dig into. I arrived yesterday the 14th after a 10 mile hike out and hitched a ride into town. Sorry my storytelling is all over the place, I have so much I want relay, I can barely type fast enough. I've been hiking with a nice little pocket of people from all over the US. But mostly I hooked up with a few guys from Massachusetts who hike at near the same pace I am comfortable with at the moment. Please try not to hold it against me if I come back to Minnesota in the fall sounding like an extra from the Departed. The people on the trail and off the trail have all been amazing though. Everyone seems to go that extra length to make your life a little easier, which has been awesome to see. I have seen one moose, lots of snakes and this weird chicken like bird that hiked with me for a mile or so. And two days ago while fording a river I managed to slip and fall, splashing into the river, pack and all but managed to pop up and make it across. But then, I managed to lose my sandals somewhere over the course of five miles to the next shelter and so for the past few days I have been without camp shoes. But these things happen and what can you do but try to have a sense of humor about the whole thing and keep the gears grinding. Thank you all so much for the words of encouragement. It's amazing to get into town and check my website to see that so many people have written. I can't tell you how much it means, thanks! I think one of the things that I am finding out is that while the trail thus far is, and will continue to be challenging physically, that it is such a test of mental strength. I think that doing something like this you can prepare physically, but until you are actually out there living it, you have no clue how taxing mentally it can be. I have definetely found that each day brings lots of changes in moods. Sometimes your high and happy to be hiking, other times that self doubt can creep its way in. The hiking out here is definetely hard though. The terrain is rugged and sometimes you feel like it's just mindless up and downs. There are times when I definetely need to stop, grab some water and just breathe before I am ready to push onward. So as of now I am at mile 115 of just under 2200. It's a small dent but a dent nonetheless. I am trying to stay as positive as possible. Trying to learn and know my limits and push myself at the same time. I'll try to check in and with greater detail at my next town stopover. Thanks again everbody, your words are pushing me forward! Whole Lotta Love!Seanps: no trail name as of yet, but if I keep falling in rivers I'm bound to end of with something.