Date: 2006-07-07
From: Wiley Shelter

To: just north of Kent, CT
Miles today: 13.5

Short day into the town of Kent. I hung out at the outfitters, had lunch at the convenience store, and visited the library, although the internet connection was painfully slow and I was only able to upload a few pictures. Kent is a picturesque, tidy town, but the cost of living must be sky high. Seeing gas prices at $3.24 for the cheap stuff made me glad I'm hiking and not driving!I'm definitely eaten more Ben and Jerry's ice creams on the trail than I would at home. It seems every town I stop in that has one of my favorite flavors is one light when I leave! I also discovered that buying a liter of Sprite and sticking it in a collapsible water bottle while you hike creates a minor explosion danger. I reached back for a drink and found my Platy rock hard and about to "go off." Thankfully I loosened the pack to relieve the pressure and disaster was averted.The big news for today/tomorrow is that I've decided to do a "24-hour challenge" on the trail. Apparently a few other hikers have tried something like this, but I'll be completely on my own. The plan is to camp very early tonight, get a few hours of sleep, wake up around 11 pm, be hiking by midnight, and continue for 24 hours. The goal would be to top 60 miles, and would require 3 mph pace for upwards of 20 hours. If I can do 40 in the first 12, then I'll be able to handle the inevitable slowing of pace that will occur late in the day. Why, you ask? Because as a teenager I once hiked 59 miles in 24 hours, as part of an intensive, militaristic SAR training program. That was like 8 years ago, and was different in several ways: -Then, I didn't really have much choice. This time I'll be completely self-motivated.-Then, the hike was partly on trail, but switched to road marching overnight. This would be all trail.-I'll have no logistical support of any kind this time, whereas before we were met by vans with drinks and hot food.-This time the hike will be all in a single day, whereas before it was 7 am one day until 7 am the next.-This time I'll be carrying my full pack, whereas the other hike was more of a slack pack (we were allowed to remove our sleeping gear).-The other hike was in the fall. This one will be in the heat of summer.Part of me really doesn't want to do this. The part of me that doesn't particularly enjoy pushing myself to the extreme limits of physical exhaustion, I suppose. But one of the reasons I came out here was to challenge myself. I've thought about and talked about doing something like this even long before I got the idea to hike the AT. I wanted to do it near home. I dunno- I just think it would be cooler if my personal hiking record was something I accomplished on my own rather than something I was essentially forced into doing. From looking at my guide-book, I know that it's now or never, as far as the AT goes. In VT, N, and ME the terrain and elevation will make it much tougher. I could have done it in the Shenandoah¢s perhaps, but I didn't have my headlamp then (got it in Bear Mtn, NY), and it's essential for night hiking).I'm feeling pretty good right now. No blisters or anything, so I think I'm in pretty good condition to start this endeavor. Wish me luck!