Date: 2008-09-12
From: Monson

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Ruth's Reflections:As with any experience in life, there are ¢highlights¢ and what I call ¢lowlights.¢ Overall, my experience on the Appalachian Trail with my brothers was amazing, but as with any hike, there were the inevitable bumps on the trail. Before setting off from Monson, Maine, we met an older gentleman with the trail name, ¢Caboose.¢ When he heard that three siblings were hiking together he said, ¢Well, you¢ll probably have a few fights, maybe even a big one, but that will be good because it will create memories.¢ What at first seemed like a random comment ended up being a bit of a prophecy. The first few days were absolutely wonderful. As we hiked we shared, prayed and talked a lot. The beauty of the forests, lakes, rivers and streams in Maine overwhelmed me. It was amazing to see such gorgeous lakes, ponds and waterfalls with no one living or vacationing nearby. It felt like it was all there solely for us to experience and enjoy. The night that we ¢cowboy camped¢ on top of Little Bigelow the stars were brighter than I had ever seen. I was reminded of Psalm 19; ¢The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.¢ The glory of God was displayed all around us through every detail of nature. For the first three days, we hiked 19, 19 and then 20 miles. The night on Little Bigelow (after hiking 20 miles) was definitely the climax for me. However, as the elevation continued to climb things went a bit downhill for me. My first problem was blisters. These blisters got so bad that my right foot swelled considerably. Compounded with a right ankle issue, I was no longer able to get my right foot into my boot. However, I was vigilant about keeping up our mileage and trying to get to a town about 45 miles away. We decided to resolve my right shoe issue with Nate¢s size 10.5 croc (type of sandal). With size 4 (men¢s) feet, I had to stuff his croc with extraneous clothing and then secure the croc to my foot with duct tape. For an entire day I hiked up and down mountains in what felt like a flipper. Needless-to-say, this was quite draining. By mid-day all I could think about was drinking water, the pain in my feet or crawling up in a ball and going to sleep. The glamour of hiking had faded by day 4 and I was ready for a shower and my bed. This was the ¢lowlight¢ of the trip for me. With patience wearing thin and physical exhaustion at its peak, the prophecy that I alluded to earlier came to pass. My trail name for Phil was ¢Ox¢ because he¢s a strong hiker, very determined and well, we butted heads a lot. Nate, being the youngest, has never had a fight with either of us. He¢s learned how to stay under the radar when there is any tension in the air. On the trail, Nate was the ¢Trail Chef.¢ He took great pride in his incredible cooking skills. Two of my favorite meals were broccoli and cheddar pasta with a side of mashed potatoes and Moroccan couscous with vegetable lasagna. On Saturday my dad met us in Stratton, ME. To get into town we had to hitch hike. This was a new experience for me. I can hail a cab like its my job, but hitchhiking has a very different technique. I didn¢t know quite what to do with my thumb, how to hold my arm, or whether or not to smile as cars sped past. Thankfully the experience wasn¢t painfully long and a dear Maine local picked us up within a few minutes. At the Stratton Motel I took my first shower in 5 days and it felt wonderful! Afterwards, we all enjoyed a big pizza. It¢s amazing what a shower and some good food with do for the spirit! Now that a few days have passed, the pains and frustrations have faded out of memory and all that will be long remembered are those mountain top experiences. I already wish I were back out there hiking with ¢The Brothers.¢ If you¢re reading this and you have the chance to join them I highly recommend it! Phil and Nate, I miss you guys!