Date: 2019-06-22
From: Rattlesnake Lodge and Hostel 

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

Travel Day!I decided because I'm so far ahead of schedule, and I've had a trip to Canada planned for next week, that it would be more fun and cost effective to travel home and go to the beach with family, rest up, upgrade my gear and plan, and head to Canada from PA rather than try coordinating transportation out of Maine next week. Very excited for my vacation from my vacation!Got a late start with the shuttle. Grabbed breakfast at the gas station and talked with another hiker heading south to walk some easier sections. He's on his 4th round of completing the AT and decided to enjoy himself rather than wrestle with the NH/ME terrain.Nice sunny weather today! The bus ride was fine heading to Boston. I tried sleeping then amused myself watching Seinfeld on the tvs (without sound).Had an hour layover in Boston. I aired out my shoes (which are still wet) and watched the busy streets near South Station. Lots of culture in the city!Got on the train heading to Philly at 1:30 and I'll be riding it till 7:30 then transfer to my last leg going into Harrisburg. It'll be a 16.5 hour travel day for me when I'm through. Figured this was the right time to update my entries and take a little more time in writing down my experience.I ordered some new gear for my last 300 miles! By going home I have a chance to organize my new stuff before coming back. My pack has been on my list of needed upgrades pretty much since 2011. Right now I have the Deuter ACT lite 65 +10L pack that's complete overkill for how much I'm carrying. As a reference my full pack weighed 27 lbs coming out of the Notch Hostel with 3 days food. 4lbs 10oz of that was just the pack! I decided on the Osprey Levity 45L pack that weighs 1lb 10oz. That's 3lbs difference!!!! Also, I've been wanting an Osprey pack because of the suspended back design and lifetime guarantee. My Deuter pack soaked up so much sweat on hard climbing days and probably took on another pound or two with all the moisture. I'm hoping this takes care of it!I also decided to go with the Sawyer Squeeze system and ditch my camelpack and aquamira drops. It wasn't around in 2011 but now it seems like the standard. I'll carry two smartwater bottles instead of my coldsoak shaker bottle and camelpack. This will be a much more reliable way to ensure my drinking water is clean (though I still haven't had an issue drinking 95% of the water sources unfiltered up till now. For the record I do NOT recommend this to others).Got an Eagle Creek XS bag to go on the hip belt of the new pack that can fit my phone and snacks, and the color matches perfectly. I rounded out the order with a smaller pack cover designed for the 45L pack size.Now I have the option of a winter or summer backpack. The new pack only carries 30lbs or under while my Deuter carries 45+lbs with ease. For a thru hike (or LASH) the lighter pack is definitely going to be my first choice. Three whole pounds!!Can't wait to get my stuff loaded into it later this week. I'll give it a good test run while I'm in Canada at Bruce Pennisula!So that's it for me till July 8th! I might throw in a few more posts as time allows over the next two weeks. There are some grander ideas I've been working on as my hike progresses and I hope to have the opportunity to share them with all of you! Mostly I'd like to better capture the AT experience on a macro level and give insight into my successes and failures as I continue to learn and grow on this journey.I hope I can help encourage anyone on the fence to take the leap as I did and get out there to experience more of what this great world and it's people have to offer! It really is a beautiful time to be living.Levi