Date: 2010-10-31
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Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

This Journal page is the epilog to my 2010 AT section hike.Here is the story,A few days before reaching Monson at the start of the 100 mile wilderness I reinjured my back. In Monson I decided to medication up and continue hiking. I was able to hike during the day without significant pain for 30 miles, but the stabbing back pain when I had to get up and down during the nights was extreme even with max dose of the meds,. At that point I decided to flip to the end of the AT, hike from Mt Katahdin to Abol bridge before Baxter State Park closed for the season, and the hike back south to complete the rest of Trail. I summited Katahdin on Sept 29 and spend that night in a shelter at the base. The back pain was unbearable that night. The next day I hiked 10 miles south on the AT in the no longer green tunnel to get out of Baxter State Park and reach the northern end of the 100 mile wilderness. When I reached there I decided to head home and do some back rehab. I was hoping to be able to come back in a few weeks and finish the remaining 70 miles of the AT. I saw my doctors about my back problem the next day and got a referral for PT to rehab my back. I have done 4 weeks of PT and my back is now good enough to return and hike the last 70 miles. Except for another issue When I was in the White Mountains I noticed a bulge in my groin, had it checked out at the ER in Gorham, NH, where the doctor said I had a hernia but it would probably be ok to continue hiking unless it got worse. I elected to continue and hiked nearly 300 of the toughest miles on the Trail with it. Upon returning home this time I decided to have it rechecked since it had evolved some since Gorham. I saw my doctors early this month and after checking me they explained that it would be risky and very unwise to go back and finish the AT until after I have had the hernia repaired. The 70 miles left are in the 100 mile wilderness and if the hernia condition should degrade and require immediate medical attention, it would be problematic. I decided to accept their judgment. So I have resigned myself to the fact that I will have to settle for a long section hike (2,110 miles) on the AT this year. I have been able to schedule the surgery for early January 2011. I hopeful that I can return to the AT and finish the last 70 miles early next summer.I also want to take this opportunity to thank some very special people for their support on my 2010 hike, in no particular order. My mentor, Highlander II (my son Craig) who once again got me well prepared for the hike with a 10 pound base backpack weight and continuous consulting before and during my hike. My Faithful Transcriber (FT, my daughter Dawn) who converted my hand scribbled journals to good prose and posted them on the internet. My Logistic Support (Mrs. Trog, my wife Pat) who sent mail drops with crucial items like meds and new hiking shoes, and other items as needed. And my friends Rick and Gisele who posted my progress for all my old work colleagues to see at my work place from which I recently retired.   My friend Stan who supported me when I passed through Norwich, VT and my friend Greg who supported me when I passed through Glencliff, NH.My hike once again exposed me to some of the most wonderful people where on the Trail you become good friends in the shortest time and then drift apart, but the memories still remain.   At the risk of leaving someone out I am going to mention a few of these special people. Safari, Knightcrawler, Love-it-or-leave-it, Squeeze Cheese, Coop, Limestone, Earthling, Rabid, Freight Train, Deja Thru, Popeye, Shorts, Lab Rat, Listener, Fredo, Scat Tracker, Uni Crock, Serintina, Radar, Peru, Snail, Grin, Canadian Geese,   I also want to thank all the Trail Angels, hostel providers, and others along the Trail that gave their support and encouragement.The 2010 AT hike was another great experience.