Date: 2010-08-23
From: Jeffers Brook Shelter

To: Lincoln, NH
Miles today: 25.6
Weather: light rain

Since the beginning of the trail I have had the displeasure of hiking with two negative nancies. Let's call them the bears. I first came across them when I arrived at Wood's Hole Shelter just before the Blood Mountain climb. The bears gave me a look that said, "this girl is never going to make it out of Georgia." I did not really think much of their disregard for me at the time because I thought I would never see them again. Boy was I wrong!I saw them repeatedly throughout Georgia as they plodded along claiming their was nothing good about the state. Me being me tried to remind them of the amazing views we had through the bare trees, but they would gruffly disagree and say the only thing Georgia is good for was starting the Appalachian Trail.I did not see them in North Carolina until the day before the snow in the Smokies. They informed Paul Bunyan, Squirl, Powder, Avatar and I that we were foolish not to have emergency blankets in such brutal weather. Although they were indeed correct their arrogance and tone was not appreciated. If there is one thing I have learned about this hike it is to HYOH and I respect other people's right to make the AT what they want it to be. I feel that some of the other hikers need to do the same - especially the bears. The bears were the first ones out on the day of the snow. They appeared to be hardcore with their gaiters and shorts informing us they were going 20 miles. When Squirl and I arrived at Tri-Corner they looked shocked that we'd made it that far. They pulled the same tough guy act when they left the shelter the next morning. Squirl and I passed them in the first mile an cut the snow covered trail ourselves and their tough guy persona was shattered to us. Unfortunately it was not to them.We saw them in Hot Springs as they threw a temper tantrum because there was no more room at Elmer's. The gruffer of the two informed us that he'd never met a more useless idiot in his entire life. I guess I have forgotten what it is like to know everything. It was at this point that I realized I did not enjoy their company at all and did not want their negative energy near me on this journey. Oh how I wish that were possible.From that point on we ended up in every trail town together. I cannot begin to express how rare that is on the trail. I left a day earlier than Lift n Step from Harper's Ferry and I haven't seen her in 800 miles. In the beginning I would be cordial for these encounters with the bears but when we reached Pennsylvania and gruffer bear only had negative things to say about the trail I attempted to ignore them. Unfortunately at this point Tattoo had begun to find their disposition laughable and I began seeing them more often until the bears reached their breaking point on the AT.  It was in Pennsylvania where the gruffer bear broke down and determined he was not hiking the crappiest part of the trail. Now I enjoyed Pennsylvania. The rocks were challenging and a great mental exercise on the trail. The Lehigh Gap rock scramble was one of the best climbs on trail. Their non-existent sense of wonder along with their negative attitude for the trail is ruining their experience and that makes me sad more than anything else.I had a brief respite from the bears from Port Clinton, PA to Williamstown,  MA. It was wonderful. Joy surrounded me on the trail and everything was gorgeous. Then they were with me as I crossed into Vermont. It wasn't until I was on the brink of Moosilauke that I nearly killed the gruffer of the bears. He informed me that although he had cheated at least he wasn't cheating himself like those who had hiked the whole thing. That infuriated me because I have worked very hard preparing for and hiking this trail. I have had smiles on every mile except the ten into Pearisburg when my feet were killing me. I have not cheated myself and I know I shouldn't let the bears frustrate me but they do.Thankfully today is the day I will never have to see them again (hopefully). They left to take a few days off to get better weather through the whites and then will skip up to Maine. The gruffer bear is my arch-nemisis and I am staying upbeat that I will only have good people surrounding me until the end. I just thought you should know everyone is not sunshine and light like me. Ha ha.