Date: 2009-08-03
From: Glen Brook Lean-to

To: Mt Wilcox South Lean-to
Miles today: 19.6

I hate the Appalachian Trail! I love the Appalachian Trail! Today was the hardest day overall for me on the entire journey. I could see it was going to be a long hike, 19.6 miles. I know the ground is saturated, meaning my feet will be wet the entire day (ouch). However, I didn't know there were going to be a gazillion mosquitos out today.On a normal 20-mile day, I had developed a pretty good game plan for making it as painless as possible (when the ground is wet). I move out pretty good (2.5+ mph pace) for 2 hours (5+ miles). Then take a 30 - 60 minute break to eat and let the feet dry out. Then do that 3 more times .... 12 hours, 20 miles.The problem today was that I wouldn't be able to take the breaks and dry my feet without being eaten alive by mosquitos.So my game plan today was to walk at an all-day kind of pace (2 mph) and only take one long break for lunch.So that's how I started. Things were going good at the start, being on top of a ridgeline. Then there was a steep drop from the ridge-line to the valley floor below (MA 41 road); Mosquito Hell!! I actually put my rain anorak on, including pulling the hood up. I already had the long pants on. And I wore that all day long until camp (and actually even while eating dinner).So this compounded my efforts as it was 80 and sunny out. This, I think, didn't do me any good mentally either, as it was sunny out .... should be a beautiful day .... but my feet are soaked, the trail is soaked, and I'm soaked from sweating in my long pants and rain gear!As I came up on US 7, where I was going to get lunch at a place called the Corn Crib (now closed), there were some middle-schoolers and their advisors waiting there to interview thru-hikers for a local NPR radio program. They asked me a bunch of questions which I gladly answered. Don't worry, I put on my happy face! One of the advisors was kind enough to give me a ride a mile+ down to a plaza where I could get lunch. I did get lunch and had a chance to take a long break and dry out my feet. Good break.....sorely needed!I walked back to the trail and continued. There was a detour for a flooded section of the A.T.. I was going to ignore the detour ... heck, my feet were going to get soaked again shortly anyhow. But a local hiker told me the water would be up to my chest. I didn't really believe him, but when he told me the distances were about the same, I complied and took the detour.I ran into Adam and Jenny at the shelter that night. They are hiking all of Massachusetts, and they took the A.T. (not the detour), and were actually wading in water up to their chests. Thanks local hiker dude!! I owe you a beer.I get to camp .... full of mosquitos .... set up tent, eat, and now writing. Exhausting day!OK. Here's the thing. I'm thinking about re-orienting my mind to thinking about summiting Katahdin. Maybe that needs to be my primary goal if I'm going to complete this thing. When I started this thing, it was all about "living" on the A.T., and enjoying the adventure, and all things along the way.Well, that's been impossible lately. You can't stop to enjoy anything without being eaten alive. I did not enjoy today at all. The only satisfaction was getting the job done despite the obstacles.If you remember my writings from the past, it was always about getting back on the Trail. I loved it. After a zero day, I was ready to be hiking again.Right now, I'm looking forward to getting into Dalton in 3 days. Let me have a meal in peace (not while combatting mosquitos). (Note: I don't ever eat food in my tent .... personal thing .... no food stuff or food smell in living quarters).Don't get me wrong here. I'm actually not whining. I'm simply writing this to remember what I had been thinking today, and how much I hated it! I'm out here by choice, and right now, I choose to stay on the A.T. Town by town, baby .... day-by-day!By the way, I've been meeting the first wave of South-bounders, which is cool. The ones I've been meeting started in early-mid June. The normal start for southbounders is the June-July timeframe.Easier day tomorrow.