Date: 2007-10-14
From: Springer Mountain, GA

To: To Complete All 2174 Miles of the AT
Miles today: 0.0

Bear Mountain, NY Total Miles Left to Hike: 356.8 Total Miles Hiked So Far: Approximately 1,817.2 Hiking Route: SkipFlopper GA to MD, VT to ME, VT to MD The miles lately have been hiked very unevenly. Just last week I hiked 6 miles one day, the next 14, the next 13.5, the next 8 and the next 19. I ended this week's hike at the bear exhibit at Bear Mountain Zoo. It is actually the lowest place on the whole trail at only 124 feet above sea level. The bears at the zoo looked more sloth like than bear like! The bears I've seen on the trail certainly have not just been lounging around!! A friend who has been reading ny journal entries told me that he was trying to read "between the lines" to understand the hardships I've experienced. I responded to him that most of the time has been just wonderful and it has been. That's not to say that difficult times don't exists. They are definitely there. As many other hikers have said, this trek is not for the faint of heart! This past week it rained for three days in a row. (This is lucky considering some years it has rained weeks in a row!) One morning I was cold, wet and just could not stand the thought of putting on my wet cold socks and shoes. So what did I do? I just stood there and cried. After I called my son, cried and heard his encouraging voice, I found that determined place in myself and hiked on. I made the best of the cold, wet day. Eventually the sun came out and all was fine. Other times have been similar. There are days when the last few miles of a day seem interminable. Even three miles can feel like they will never end. I beg for the shelter to show up. Other days, everything on ones' body aches - knees, back, shoulders. The backpack is rubbing or chafing in such a way there are raw spots or blisters. Additionally, often the backpack feels WAY too heavy, especially right after a resupply. It becomes an obsession to figure out what can be tossed or sent home. And there are times, though fortunately few, when I feel lonely and miss home oh so much! I miss the feel of clean sheets, hot showers and toilets that flush. Nothing can make one appreciate running water like not having it! And most of all, I miss my friends and being able to see them easily! And yes, I miss my dogs, too! I hope they remember me when I get home and aren't too mad at me for being gone so long. Very rarely, I even get scared. The other night when camping alone, I heard what sounded like footsteps. I shined my flashlight outside my tent and saw two eyes. Later when I was once again tucked in my sleeping bag, I heard the footsteps again and then heard a very loud, scary, not familiar animal howl. I sat up and snarled the meanest snarl/bark I could muster three times! Whatever it was ran away and didn't come back. Now that's a superb snarl! And even with all these things,.....the most amazing thing about this trip for me is that the difficult, challenging times actually feel very small in comparison with all the magic of the woods. I have compared it to childbirth in that the pain of bearing a child is so readily forgotten when one holds and looks into the eyes of a new being. Similarly, the beauty that I see everyday, even on the rainy days is astounding. My senses have benn enlivened through the miles I've hiked. I will never forget the smell of rain before it actually starts or all the subtle changes in smell through other weather changes or through different terrains. I won't forget the smell of thru-hikers versus day hikers either! :-) The symphony of forest sounds has made an impact, too. The ever heart startling grouse as they speedily fly from their nest by the trail will never be forgotten. It's a thump, thump, thumping sound. And who could ever imagine that owls could be so loud and so varied in their calls. And what about those coyote howls! In the last month I've heard geese flying south everyday. I especially love the dripping of water from trees after a rain and the sound (and feel) of the breeze. I had never been so aware of the many changes in sunlight throughout the day as it shines through trees as I have on this trek. The early morning sun is my favorite. These are just a few of the things I've smelled, heard, felt or seen. The list is huge. Even more important and impactful on this trip are the friends and acquaintances I've made with other hikers. I appreciate the many folks who support hikers through hostels, trail maintenance and all other types of "trail magic". The encounters with folks living full lives in such varied and interesting ways has broadened my acceptance of people and their lifestyles, in general. This truly is a life changing journey, one that I will reflect on for years to come. To end I'll borrow a few song lines from Bob Dylan. "There's a white diamond moon, on the dark side of the room, and a pathway to the stars. If you don't believe there's a price, for this sweet paradise, just ask me to show you the scars."