Date: 2016-07-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 107- July 27, 2016It's hard to be out here. It's hard to get all of our chores done before going to bed at night, I am tired from a long day of constant hiking in the hot humid sun, only to arrive at camp and have to set up a tent, unpack, change clothes, make dinner, and write a journal so I don't forget the at that seems to blend into all others all the while being bitten by mosquitos. It's hard to sleep. The humidity congeals onto myself, my sleeping pad, my pillow, and my husband who wants me to cuddle with him as we are both sticky and hot and I can't help but to turn away. It's hard to wake up in the morning, knowing that I have to poke and prod dregs to get up so we can get up and out on time so that we can hike all day so that we can get to camp at a reasonable time so that we can get our chores done so that we can go to bed so that we can do it all over again the next day. The mornings are hard because I didn't get a good night sleep and I went to bed later than planned and I wake up earlier than necessary because the people I hike with take longer to get ready than I do but won't wake up unless I get them up. It's hard to hike all day. In the morning you feel good for the first climb but try not to think how many more climbs will fill your day, otherwise it is discouraging and seems like another monumental task that you must continually undertake. It is hard hiking with other people. It is rare that you can hike your own pace and must always be conscious of that pace because others are affected by it, whether it's too fast or too slow. Going up a mountain too fast wears you down quickly and going up too slow is equally as exhausting. It is nearly impossible to zone out and get lost in your own thoughts when another is there because they are either talking or you're trying to be aware of them in case they say something or need pace adjustments. It's hard to take breaks when you don't want them and to not take them when you do. It is hard to walk in the cold rain that affects you for the rest of the day and brings blisters to your feet and makes rocks and roots slippery. It is hard to walk in the blistering sun on a humid day where there is little water and bugs swarming around your eyes and ears all day long, only to get to camp and be damp from sweat, unable to dry because of humidity, attacked by mosquitos and needing to get all of our chores done so we can go to bed at a reasonable time and try to sleep on the damp sleeping pad. It is hard to do this day in and day out and constantly be at the mercy of others while dealing with constant discomfort and energy draining activities, but at the end of the day, I was in the beautiful wilderness with the love of my life and a good friend, building our relationships and challenging ourselves. I'm learning to trust my husband more and seeing how wonderful and encouraging he is to me always. I'm learning a lot about my limits and how those limits are actually pretty flexible. I've learned that at any moment the tables can be turned and a bad moment can turn into trail magic. And I've learned that yesterday's rain is dryer up and forgotten in today's sun. We crossed into Massachusetts today after climbing mt Everett, which a sobo hiker had compared to the whites, and trooper and dregs swam in a waterhole. After an 18 mile day, we made it into a town where we watched Star Trek Beyond 3D and tented on the lawn of a community center which provided showers. It turned out to be a good day.