Shoes, rain, and a new state

So as mentioned in the last post, Reboot has Rebooted.  Now I was a little bummed about having to trade in shoes so early in the hike.  True I got 350 miles on them, but I've heard from other hikers using trail runners that 500-600 is par.  I called La Sportiva to see what they had to say about them blowing out this earlier, and their response was not as helpful as I had hoped.  Now thru-hikers generally get well treated by gear companies.  We're gear junkies. All we talk about is gear and we do it for 2000 miles.  If your gear performs, we're their best salesmen.  When it doesn't, we remind everyone we see.  My story will fall under the second category.

I love my La Sportiva rock climbing shoes, and decided to go with the brand for my first pair of trail runners.  When I called their customer service number, it took me a while to reach a representative and when I told her my situation, her response was that there wasn't much they would probably do about it.  She said she was "surprised" and "amazed" that they had in fact lasted as long as they did, despite their competitors making shoes that last 500 to 600 miles. This would be like a car company telling you that they are amazed your sedan lasted 75,000 miles even when most cars can last well beyond 100 k.  It is my professional opinion as a full time walker, that La Sportiva does not make trail runners that can last as long and are therefore not worth buying.  Other brands make shoes that last longer for the same price, so that's who will get my business.  After my $20 shoes blow out.
This week was a rainy one, and I have again kept up my streak of always entering a new state while it's raining.  I was still able to make fairly big miles this week, but it resulted in me having to do a little night hiking via headlamp.  That is a harder task when it's raining.  I lost the trail on my longest day yet (a marathon distance) and had to setup my tent after it had been raining all day long.  Fortunately the weather ahead should be better this week.  I'm still glad to be in VT and hope to be in northern MA in a week. So far, VT doesn't appear to be closed, although there have been some hard hit towns.  There is a ton of damage in lower areas, and they still need help and your prayers.
I hiked with a cool couple, Cook and Splash.  They and their dog Henry were great company for the day I hiked with them.  I'm hoping they will be able to catch up, but their dog is still getting his trail legs so right now, they aren't doing big miles.  We all ran into a day hiker with a beautiful German shepherd, husky mix.  After hiking most of a day with a dog, it reminded me of how I would like a dog and two of the breeds I've thought about are an Alaskan malamute, and a Belgium shepherd, both similar breeds to the ones in the dog we saw. It would be nice to have the companion, but I'm not sure if now is the best time to get a dog, especially if my mileage is cranking up.  Oh well, something to think about on the trail.  IN Hanover, NH, I was able to stay with a nice lady, Ruby Slippers, who puts up thru hikers in her art studio.  She even made me dinner!  The town was also very cool, and seems like a nice place.  I didn't explore it too much the day I came through, but ohMEGA and I went there for the afternoon on Saturday when we met up this weekend.  Taking a break this weekend was much needed after the rain, and fortunately ohMEGA is a wonderful trail angel for saving me just in time. I'm not sure how I would stay sane and do this hike without her support.  Until next time, happy trails!

Cool old fire tower

What better to do in a creepy tower in the fog? Try to be creepy

Impossible looking flood damage.  Seriously, how did this happen? Stream flows from foreground to background btw

The Whites: part 3 crazy weather

I helped Medicare Pastor get down Franconia Ridge successfully. The wind was blowing, and the rain was pouring, but we managed to get down safe and sound. The wind chill was apparently 15-25, and it was a pretty tough day on the weather front, but we made it. We got lucky with a hitch (it always helps having a pretty lady), and ate a well earned pizza. It was a pretty good day in the end.

The next day, she pulled a zero and I moved on and starting cranking out miles again. The forecast was sunny, so I was really excited to get back on the trail. Little did I know what the weather really had in store for me. As I pulled out of Lincoln, I realized the liquid water droplets falling from the sky was probably not a good sign. They didn't let up for the longest time. As I climbed Kinsman mountain, I realized that as I gained elevation, the little water droplets were no longer liquid but were now snow. This is on September 16^th mind you. As I got further up the mountain, I saw through the fog that the trees were covered in white stuff. It turned out to be frost, but it looked like a winter landscape. It definitely would have canceled school for a week back in Georgia. It was a milk and egg stockpiling amount of ice.

This was an amazing sight, and even though I was cold, I spent a ton of time taking photos of the phenomenon. Turns out the forecast was partially right though. You could see in the distance areas where the sun had punched through and where others were having beautiful weather, just not where I was. In addition, you could see other mountain tops covered in ice. It was pretty beautiful. When the sun came out for us, the season rapidly changed from winter to spring, and everything started melting. The ice was raining down from the trees and it looked like a spring time day. It was an incredible transformation and one of the wildest weather days I've ever experienced.

I cranked out the rest of the day through rough terrain, and met ohMEGA for the weekend after barely avoiding finishing the day hiking in the dark. She hooked me up with an awesome resupply and taking a zero on Saturday was a well earned way to “spend” the miles I saved up by going faster. I hope to be in VT in 3 days, and MA in 10ish. VT is opened back up and it's time to check it out. If you want to meet up in western MA, let me know soon so we can plan. Till next time...

Fog

Trees covered in white stuff and white blazes

It's sunny and green over there

Welcome to spring!

Winter wonderland

Reboot re-booting for the first time (with $20 second-hand Montrail trail runners from the IME basement)!

Cold

It's cold. Frost and snow. Looks like winter.






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Location:Paine Rd,Franconia,United States

The Whites: part two

After getting dropped back off at Pinkham Notch on Sunday, I found a stealth spot off the parking lot. Aside from turning off my headlamp every time a car approached, it was a perfect alternative to the $65 for the lodge. The next day I was feeling good and pulled a 15 mile day with 4000 ft elevation gain. I summited Mt Madison and Mt Washington, but got fogged out on the latter and found out that the food stand had already closed so no hotdog for me. I was able to reach Lake of the Clouds hut and even though they were closed, they were in the process of shutting down and needed the help. I got a work for stay and had a great meal and time there.
The next day I was feeling good again and did a 19 mile day to Zealand Falls hut. It was also the first day I lost my white blaze purity status. The trail went around Mt Eisenhower but a NOBO had told me how it was one of his favorite views all trip so I blue blazed to the summit and back down. I'm now considering my hike to be an enhanced version of the AT and think it's legit since my detour was harder. The work for stay at Zealand was alright but I over ate for dinner and had a major stomach cramp. I was trying to plan my mileage, but was ahead of schedule and everything was spaced a little oddly. The next day after leaving Zealand and reaching Galehead hut at around lunch, I found my answer.
My answer came in the form of a 70 year old, grandmother of 6, with one titanium knee. Her name is Medicare Pastor as she is a retired Lutheran pastor on top of being a badass and a cyborg. She's doing her last section of the AT from Andover, ME through VT and has only 80 miles left on the PCT. Oh yeah, she did all of this since the age of 65 and with a bad knee for much of it.
Anyways, the weather forecast for Thursday was crappy with ice/snow a possibility and MP was very worried and bummed about the prospect of having to dodge a section of trail. Since my original plan was to pull into Franconia Notch on Thursday night and I was well ahead of schedule, I asked that if having me present would let her feel safe enough to go on. She said it would make the difference between bailing and going so my decision was made. I'm dialing down my miles to temporarily be MP partner to Franconia Notch and it's really not a big change of plans. It also lets me sleep in and update this thing.



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Location:Franconia Brook Trail,Lincoln,United States

The Whites part 1

Sorry for the long post, but it might be educational and perhaps even entertaining.  But probably neither.

After coming in from the Mahoosuc range yesterday, I spent the night at an amazing Hostel, White Mountains Lodge and Hostel. The owners couldn't have been nicer. They took me and another guy on a beer run and did our laundry for us. They also had an amazing breakfast with real orange juice! I love orange juice!
I'm planning on meeting ohMEGA and some friends this weekend to do some rock climbing again. She has again graciously run point on organizing everything and I'm very grateful. Since I had good weather Friday, I wanted to make the most of it and hike instead of pulling a zero in Gorham. In the Whites more than other places it is important to make use of good weather when it arises. The terrain is tough as is and slick rocks would make it harder. Also rain or fog would block the amazing views that were so hard fought and earned. As such I planned to pull a 15 mile day and 5 the next to meet ohMEGA in Pinkham Notch. That was the plan anyways.
To maximize my time to hike, I woke up bright and early for my hike and was able to roll out at around 7. This left me 10 hours to go the 15 miles to the Carter Notch hut which included over 4000 feet of elevation gain for the day. This is a long, hard day. Most north bound hikers don't do more than about 10 miles per day in the Whites and here is a big climb day and I'm taking it up a notch (no pun intended) mileage wise.
I was shooting for 5 pm because the AMC in the Whites run huts which are basically cabins in the woods run and maintained by a small crew. You can come hike all day and then sleep in a cozy room after eating a warm meal that the crew cooks. For most people, reservations are made and dues of $130 are paid. For hikers though, there is the option of working for stay. Do some chores, help the crew and you get a warm meal and a place to crash to for free. They only have a certain amount of space for bums like us, but they usually try to fit as many in as possible.  If you come in too early, they usually tell you to stop being lazy and hike on, and if you come to late, they usually have found all the help they need.  Usually the sweet spot is from 4-5.
Well after getting lost for 30-45 minutes due to a horrifically poorly blazed river crossing and an extended lunch break with the caretaker of Imp shelter halfway through my trek, I still managed to roll in to Carter Notch right on time at around 4:30, the holy grail of work for stay hut arrivals.  It was much to my surprise to find a Hooverville quantity of backpacks and gear outside of the hut when I arrived.  It should have clicked when I had only passed 3 NOBOs throughout the day when I was averaging about 12-15, but I quickly realized where this deficit was being realized.  When I walked into the hut, there were 11 NOBOs sitting around chatting, many whom I met at the hostel and took the 5 mile hike from Pinkham Notch that day.  When I asked about doing a work for stay, I was told that they were full and that I'd have to push on.  I was astounded that so many hikers hit the hut at around 4 since I knew they started in the morning and the hike wasn't too far. The crew told me that since they were closing down the hut this weekend, they needed help earlier and started taking hikers earlier than usual.  This meant that the NOBOs who rolled in at 12:30 from their shorter, and less elevation gain hikes got spots over me.  In addition, one kid was boasting how he pulled a zero mile day and was doing his SECOND work for stay in a row! Ticked off, I put back on my wet socks and shoes and gave the NOBOs a piece of my mind on how incredibly weak they were for only going a 1/3 of my distance despite a less demanding climb. They're only rebuttal was that I was just "jealous" and that I was spewing awfully salty smack talk for a mere SOBO. I began my search for a proper stealth camp 1 mile away and straight up a mountain and continued my rant of how weak the group was to other NOBOs who pulled real miles that day as I warned them about there being no room in the inn.  My first hut experience was not as jolly as hoped.
I did get to spend the night on top of Wildcat Mtn A in a stealth spot that despite being surrounded by trees, entertained me with 20 mph sustained winds throughout the entire night with gusts probably around 40.  Cooking was tricky, and I was a little cool after forgetting my wind gear at the hostel, but I did get a good view for sunset and sunrise.  My tent held up pretty well with one corner coming loose twice and it didn't even bother me when one side support fell on my face.  I was warm and content and couldn't care less.  After a quick climb down the path the lazy NOBOs took, I was able to meet up with ohMEGA early in the morning.  We're going to rock climb some and then it will be more fun in the Whites!  Hopefully the huts will be better.  After having a slight sense of inferiority, I finally feel like I have equaled my NOBO peers and earned my thru hiker cred.

Here are some photos:

Oh man, I just left Maine

Made a friend.  Didn't say much though. Think he's a flip flopper.

Wildcat sunset

I'm on a mountain!

Wildcat sunset still

Wildcat sunrise

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Mahoosuc Notch!

Did the toughest mile of the AT with rain slick rocks was an adventure. It has been rainy and windy for most of the time since being dropped off. The first night I hiked up in a storm to a nice little stealth spot near the top and set up my tent in the rain. It was frustrating because I couldn't find my light and the stakes kept pulling out as it got darker and darker. I met up with my friend Dark 30 the next morning though and we did the Notch together.
Before the Notch though was the Mahoosuc Arm which normally just slick exposed rock but for us turned into a slick rock bedded river with small rapids. That was tough to get down and I slipped and got scrapped up some.
At the base was the famous Mahoosuc Notch which is the hardest, slowest mile of the trail. It's a giant boulder field with obstacles to scramble over and under. Tons of fun and only took us an hour and fifteen minutes with a ten min photo break. Fortunately there was a small break in the rain for that section.
Today though the rain was back and the wind kicked up. We got to the top of Goose Mtn and we got wind that must have been 60 mph. Stepped in some mud that went knee deep and it's been cold all day, but I'm loving it. Also I'm just about out of Maine!
If you want to come hike in the Whites, I'll be hopefully at Pinkham Notch on Saturday some time. Just send an e-mail to ohmega1e7@gmail.com if you're interested. Till next time, ya'll stay warm and dry you hear.

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Location:Burgess St,Berlin,United States

Happy Labor Day

This was a great weekend! I got off the trail on Saturday morning near Bethel ME when ohMEGA picked me up bright and early. What is one of the best ways to enjoy a weekend besides hiking all day? Rock climbing! She coordinated my pick up with our friends Kristian, Carrie, Keith, and Emmett to meet up and do some trad climbing at Cathedral in North Conway NH. Although the forecast was iffy, we had beautiful weather on both Saturday and Sunday. The climbing was a bunch of fun and it was ohMEGA's first time doing trad and multi-pitch. It was the best way to spend time off trail: doing something you love and being with excellent company.

I will be getting back on the trail tonight, and doing the famous Mahoosuc Notch tomorrow: a mile long section that takes over an hour to do. It involves climbing up and over obstacles and boulders and is highly technical terrain. Man, it's going to be fun! I hope everyone had a safe and happy labor day weekend. This was the best weekend ever and thank you a million ohMEGA for making it all possible!

Rain? No biggie.

Back at it

Back on the trail. Did 17 miles and 13 to try and get back in the groove. Mistake. Pretty sore all over. Feet are acting like babies, pack is rubbing my hips and back raw. Come on body, we've been over this like 2 weeks ago. It's like starting all over again. The pack even feels heavier again now. Oh well.
This is a particularly unforgiving section for regaining ones trail legs. Frequently cited as the hardest 50 miles of the whole trail means something. I've been trying to get a running start coming up on the Mahoosuc range. There is one part where a mile takes 1.25-2 hours for the north bounders. That's super slow.
Irene has also left her mark. The trail is super wet and there are down trees galore. Never a dull moment.
I've rediscovered my clumsy side by creating a flood in my tent by putting my pack on the mouthpiece. This is a repeat mistake and I pray I'm not starting a trend. I also knocked the mouthpiece off while hiking creating a mini hose and also left the cap partially unscrewed resulting in a small leak running down my backside. On a positive note it turns out I don't have as much back sweat as I thought I did. That's all for now; need my rest for some more big miles. Happy trails!


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Location:Fire Ln 531,,United States