Date: 2013-09-25
From: Katahdin

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

Its been a week since I summited Mt. Katahdin and I've been thinking about what I could have done differently to make my hike a bit more enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, for the most part I enjoyed most of the trail experience but I greatly underestimated the difficulty of the AT. As a PCT thru hiker I thought the PCT would be harder than the AT due to higher elevation, temperature extremes, logistics, and the fact that its 400 miles longer. Believe me that is not the case. Trail conditions are what makes the AT so much harder than the PCT. The AT is rocks and roots from start to finish and then throw in the mud the last 500 miles. The AT goes up, over, through all obstacles. No attempt is made to make it easier with switchbacks or skirting around rock piles. The footing is rarely smooth so every foot placement must be planned. I fell at least 50 times, mostly in the Northeast. I attribute the falls to my age. I know my balance and agility is not what it used to be. Most the falls came in the late afternoon when I was tired. I started April 5 and I think I should have started earlier to give myself a little more time off during the hike. I set myself a schedule and I was behind immediately and never caught up. I would like to get my gear down to 30 pounds for 4 days or even 25 lbs. I was always over 30 lbs. We all bitched about Pennsylvania. It lacks views, hot and humid, buggy, and the trail had not been maintained in critical sections. In retrospect it got us ready for the states up North. All the states below the Mason Dixon line were easier than those above due to less rocks. My feet went bad in Pennsylvania due to the record heat, rain, and humidity. We all had to face it but a lot of hikers quit or skipped up during that time. The real tough period for me was when I got "the green tunnel blues" in southern NE. The sun was out but it couldn't penetrate the tree canopy. Sun screen not needed here. A couple of times I came to a paved road and would stretch out and try to soak up the sun for a little while. At this point my "good" knee was beginning to bother me, I missed Sandy, and I was constantly questioning my reasons for continuing this endeavor. Then came Vermud. I fell so many times in the first couple of days due to the slippery, slimy, muddy trail that now both knees hurt equally. At this point my friend Wayne called and said he wanted to hike to the finish. Wayne and his wife Chris met me in southern New Hampshire and lifted my spirits. The trail provides and this was a turning point for me. My resolve returned and I was again enjoying myself even though this was by far the hardest section of trail. Every day I thought about and missed my son and wife of 44 years. I also thought about my great fried Eric who passed fifteen months ago from ALS. We ran and hiked thousands of miles together and he would have loved the AT. It's true that the AT is very social and cell phones make it easier to stay in touch with loved ones but it is still hard to be away for such a long time. I keep getting asked if I would do it again and my answer is still No Way In Hell. I could not have done this alone. Thanks to everyone that followed my journal and called, emailed, or signed my guestbook and offered encouragement. Thank you trail angels for rides, trail magic, and even taking me into your homes. Special thanks to Wayne, Chris, and Grif dog picking me up when I was down. Without Sandy's love and support this would not have been possible. The AT was a goal I set for myself and I'm happy that I was able to achieve that goal. I met many interesting people from all over the world. I am very happy to be finished.