8-17-12

What. A. Nice. Evening.

I never knew growing up my whole life that Vermont had such incredible mountains. I was hiking up Bromley Mountain, planning on going another 8 miles when a storm came up and I wasn’t looking forward to spending time in it. So a ski slope was at the top and I figured worst case I’d take refuge under a lift. Well, even better, a warming hut was open for hikers and I got in right before the storm. After the heavy rains, just before night fall, the most amazing sunset developed. Layers of mountains in the foreground, and the clouds and fog were just rolling by us. It was constantly changing, but so beautiful. I love this life.

Last night was great too. We went swimming at Stratton Pond while the sun set in the pond’s horizon, right in the vanishing point of two evergreen strewn hills. We swam, then rinsed out some clothes, then set out for a good camping spot right at dusk. 3 miles later! In the dark! We finally found a spot. I was worn out, but every step closer meant less I’d have to do today. We built a fire, and really had a fun night. Again, so fun. Well I’m sleepy, and I need to get in some big miles tomorrow, 26?

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8-13-12

Well I’ve taken quite a hiatus on the blog. I was getting tired of writing every evening, and decided to spend my time reading instead. So it’s been a good break. I’ve gone a good distance since I last wrote, through Connecticut and over half of Massachusetts. My time in New York was good, nice scenery, but bad water sources. Connecticut was pretty. My first New England state, and it didn’t fail to impress. My first view included your stereotypical New England sites, church steeples rising above the trees, old colonial houses, and clean, brightly painted barns. I moved through Connecticut pretty fast, except for the first day in which I caught up on town things in Kent, Connecticut. Laundry, blog, mail, resupply, new footbeds for my shoes. I got on the trail at 6:30 that evening, but still made 10 miles of it by night hiking a very flat stretch along the Housatonic River. It was very pleasant albeit some lurking shadows created by my headlamp. I found a starry field and cowboy camped in it then. A nice night. Another highlight in CT was getting a good, 3 minute video of a decent sized black bear. He was panting heavy, probably hot, and just moping around. I let him get about 30 feet from me then decided it was close enough and said, “It’s hot for me too buddy.” He looked confused, surprised, and then took off running from where he came. Quite exciting for me.

So Connecticut was good, except it was buggy. Black gnats all the time. My buddy, Dirty D, cleverly dubbed it Co-gnat-icut, which I was thought was pretty good.

Then soon into Massachusetts I got back with The Hair, Sherbert and Octo. So they've been good company. One night, soon into Mass, I shared this small shelter with an older guy named Late Start. He was busy looking for a favorite pocket knife of his that he lost, one with sentimental value. As we talked I learned he was a retired electrician from Chicago, heard all about his mother’s walking stick he had, his dad’s Leatherman multi-tool, and about his attempts of completing the AT. Two years ago I guess he started in the south, but drought conditions forced him to quit for lack of water. So he tried the next year from the north and got pounded with rain from tropical storm Irene, "one extreme to another" we both said at the same time. He also slipped one time and messed his leg up good and dislodged something in his back. So he was forced off the trail again. He’s now out here trying to finish, after he finds his knife. As he poked around, I noted how the wind was picking up and remembered rumors of possible nighttime storms. Then this big old fallen tree which was hung up in another one got to squeaking right beside us. I looked around and now fully appreciated the mass and height of the monarch hemlock and white pines that surrounded us; well over 100, some over 120-140 feet tall, with 3 foot diameters. These things would smash our measly shelter into tiny bits. Given Late Start’s streak of misfortune, I put a lot of thought into the wisdom of sharing a shelter with him. I didn't want to test providence. I even expressed my concerns to him, and he didn’t give a compelling argument that we’d be fine. Alas though, I was tired and decided to take my chances, and made it of course. Rough night of sleep though, skeeters were bad, and Late Start snored impressively.

Next 3 nights, mattresses! First at a little retreat center, got a shower too. Didn’t even have to hitch a ride, this guy Sam, a hiker himself figured I was heading there and picked me up, saving me a 1.5 mile off-trail road walk. The next night, got the last bunk at Upper Goose Cabin. A cool little place in the Massachusetts woods. The caretakers made delicious blueberry pancakes every morning. Then in Dalton, I stayed at a guy’s place, Tom Levardi, who’s been taking hikers in for 30 years. Shower, laundry, bed, town, food, all great. Then he took us into town the next day to Dick’s Sporting Goods and I got a great deal on a down sleeping bag, a much needed item.

7-30-12

Here at Wawayonda Shelter and what a nice evening. Also, I’ve got the place to myself which has to be rare. A few tenters, but no one in the shelter but me. The bugs are chirping, owls hooting, and it was a great evening hike. I rested in Vernon, NJ most of the day at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church where I slept last night. They run a hostel in their basement. I slept in a cool carpeted stairwell away from everyone and finally got a good night of sleep. Also, one thing I love about churches is playing their pianos late at night. That was a treat.

So I took it easy all day not sure of my plans but my feet were kinda swollen, some new blisters and poison ivy in spots. When it rains, I think the oils rinse down into my socks from my shoes. The poison ivy always seems to flare up after rain. Finally around 5p.m. I realized I’d better get moving. I remembered seeing a sign for a shoe store and found out it was only 3 miles away, but closes at 6. I decided to try for it via hitchhiking; threw my stuff together and was standing by the road at 5:25. I got a ride after 10 minutes and had some new Keens picked out by 5:50. I’ve been coveting other people’s Keens lately. They have a giant glob of rubber on the front of every shoe that protects from painful toe stubs, the most frustrating thing for me on the trail by far. So I tried on these shoes and upon wiggling my toes felt this luxurious padding, even on top, and it seemed perfect. So I bought them, and felt no sentimentality or regret when I told the guy to pitch my flimsy toed Montrails. Then, this was great; we were chatting at the door and he knew I had a mile or so walk back to the trail and he felt bad he couldn’t take me because he had his bike, so he took off running across the parking lot and flagged down a guy he knew that was leaving. The guy saw him at the last minute and pulled into a yard probably thinking something was wrong, only to find out he’s been volunteered to give a stranger a ride. “Don’t worry, he just showered” the shoe salesman said as I made my way to the guy’s car. I guess he owned a neighboring business and was leaving. I was happy to get the ride, whether he was happy about it or not. That’s a good shoe salesman though, I’d go back to that place just because of that. The 10% hiker discount was good too.

These entries are so long, but there are all these little things I want to remember that seem cool to me. Hopefully it’s not boring. What wasn’t boring to me were the six bears, yes, you read that right, six bears I saw tonight. First a mama and cub on my left, not far away, then a mama and 3 cubs on my right after I walked a little further. I didn’t feel in any danger really, actually wielded my camera instead of my measly knife, and got some short, grainy, dark video. It was too far and too dark for a picture. So yeah, a good day I guess, heck of a climb though out of Vernon, the toughest yet for me, very steep. Well I guess that’s all I have to say about that. Goodnight.

8-1-12

Yesterdays highlights include in no particular order:

       Getting chocolate chip cookies at the Greenwood Lake Post Office from my wonderful girlfriend. 

       Entering New York and texting her, Caitlin, telling her I was here, she said “Me too.” She’s a flight attendant for a Delta Connection carrier and had just landed in LaGuardia. So really I wasn’t far away from NYC and decided to hang out on a high rock to watch planes go over, wondering if I saw hers. I told her to wave and blow me a kiss. 

       Getting some good trail magic from Bob and Estelle, little candy bars, granola bars, and water.

     But then as I was hiking out of Greenwood Lake, I got my first tinge of loneliness. I hadn’t been hiking with anyone lately because I’m mainly introverted to begin with, plus, I like the independence of making my own decisions. But on the downside, I’m pretty boring by myself. So as luck would have it, or whatever you call it, I ran into a motley crew of hikers with a cool dog. I heard the music they were blaring first, a bluegrassy sound I liked, and it felt like I was coming upon a small traveling circus. Made small talk with one person, gender was unclear at first, and I went on my way, but kicked myself right away. Conversation in my head was like, “You’re bored by yourself, why walk away from a group right away?” So I slowed down and they caught up, music still blaring and I let them pass, because they were hoofing it and I tagged along behind. So we came to a cool view at the surrounding hills, and also saw some hikers on a giant rock in the distance. We caught up to them and it was Sherbert, a guy I hiked with a little, The Hair, and Octo. So after chilling on the rock a while we all took off and finally ended up at a beautiful place called Mombasha Highpoint. We all found spots and were constantly commenting on how cool our camp was. Views all around with a bright, almost full moon. I was set up in some trees below camp and made supper and when I walked up to hang out with everyone, I climbed the rocks to the music of Alicia Keys and Jay Z singing, “Now you’re in New Yorroorrrk.” I thought it was appropriate and smiled. A few of us played hearts and just relaxed and had fun. I felt a part of the group right away, it was a good night.

*Gator, Sancho, Scrooge, Fudgie, Octo, The Hair, Sherbert, and me Owen Á, and Rudy the dog.

So about my trail name, I’m hiking in honor of my friend Owen Anderson who passed away in early July, up in North Dakota. He was my favorite resident at the retirement home where I volunteered. He was paralyzed most of his life from a car accident he was in when he was 18, but still managed to have one of the best dispositions in the home. He could barely talk or hold his head up, he couldn’t move his legs, and only one arm barely moved, which he used to control his scooter with. But he always had a big smile for you and the brightest blue eyes. I’m trying to walk some miles he never could while also telling people about him when they wonder about my trail name, Owen Á.

…Tonight we’re on another mountain, just me, Octo, The Hair, and Sherbert. We did 16 miles today on some fun, big rock terrain, some good climbing and squeezing. We had some great trail magic, Pepsi, a Subway foot long, pita with bean dip, and some fresh cherries, right by a lake we went swimming in. It was great as we relaxed, feeling clean from the lake on the sun heated rocks. A great time, and now we’ve got a little fire going and it’s a beautiful night. Slightly cool breeze, and busy bugs. If it’s clear in the morning, we should be able to see the NYC skyline. This is more fun than camping and hiking alone. Conversation with others really makes the time fly. New York’s terrain so far is great too. There’ll be these grassy meadows all over the place with a few towering trees. Very nice state so far. Well, goodnight.