Start: Sidney Tappan Campsite (AT mi 2116.4). Stop: Stealth Site (AT mi 2136.9). Today’s miles: 20.5 miles. Total AT mileage: 1111.9 miles
I’m not 100% certain, but I’m pretty sure today was my longest mileage day on trail so far! By a whole 1/2 mile.. lol, whatever, it totally counts! Today was also when I crossed my halfway point for the full thruhike! At mile 2121.55 today I had officially walked 1096.55 miles, or half of the Appalachian Trail’s 2193.1 miles. It’s both exhilarating and a little deflating, too. How can I have been through and accomplished SOOO MUCH to only be half way? Well, I’m over half way now, technically, but whatever, you get my point.
I slept like a log, and it was fantastic because I assumed I’d sleep poorly with all the people around. When my watch alarm went off at 5am, I turned it off, but took out my ear plugs. I could here other people stirring, packing, getting ready. I let myself doze back off and woke to a light in my face from across camp. People really are oblivious with their headlamps, and this one was not a red light. Double rude.
I went ahead and got up at 5:25 and started packing. Some mornings I think I’ll be quicker than the previous, but it almost always takes me 40-60 minutes to pack up, eat, brush my teeth and get my shoes on.. not necessarily in that order lol. I was the second to last out of camp, at 6:05am. Lord, food drops really make people push!
I was pretty impressed with myself today. I had to go up and over 4 mountains total, the first 3 right at the start of my day, the 4th just before my food drop. I made it to the top of the first one by 6:35, down and up the second one by 7:20, and down and up the third one by 8:15! That’s a lot to get done in a short time. It was technically 4 miles of work.
The climb up West Peak had an elevation gain of over 700 feet. It was steep of course, but it wasn’t terrible since the trail maintenance folks literally put in rock steps (smallllll, short steps, not big lunge steps) most of the way up! I mean, I was sweating enough by 6:20 to bottle my own perfume (we’ll call it “Mademoiselle Hiker Trash”) so it’s not like it was easy.. but it was enjoyable in some psychotic way. Sadly, either there was no sign at the top or I missed it somehow. That was disappointing.
The descent was maybe 300 feet from West Peak and then immediately up 400+ feet of gain over a mile long to get to the top of Hay Mountain. It was easy going and gentle, mostly just not steep like the others have been. I did finally get a picture at the top! Lol if you’re going to make me climb something, at least let there be a sign if there’s no view to prove it!
It was 200 feet of elevation loss to get to the junction I crazily thought I’d camp at last night. As nice as these mountains are being to me today, I wouldn’t have felt the same way at 8pm last night, toting extra water! Haha I definitely made the right call! Because then, it was up another 700 feet of elevation gain over 1.2 miles. It had steep chunks with nice steps. It had steep chunks without nice steps. And for fun they through in some random flat trail that made me think I was almost at the summit when I wasn’t even half way yet. Lol
The top of White Cap Mountain was gorgeous with a sign AND views! Sadly, it was hazy so I couldn’t quite make out Mount Katahdin in the distance, but apparently on clear days, this is the first place you can! It was 8:15 and I was still on track for getting to my food drop on time, so I sat a minute and caught my breath. I drank my water, soaked in the views, and then put that sweaty pack back on to start making my way downhill.. for 7 miles.
People naturally think downhill is easier, and better.. and yes, it is less taxing on my lungs and breathing ability.. but good God it’s tough! Even though today’s 7 miles of DOWN was well maintained and had nice steps and only a very few hard drops for my joints.. my feet are throbbing like crazy right now.
I made it to the first shelter on the way down and used the privy! I was so proud of myself for being able to wait to use it.. but I really had no choice with the steepness of the trail and no where to step off trail to.. haha. It could have been a disaster! Afterwards I filtered water, chugged one full liter then packed the other one to go. I also ate a protein bar. Then it was back on trail and back downhill.
As I got closer to the bottom, the terrain got smoother and flatter and prettier. I was cruising along and felt great, despite the heat and humidity turning me into a pile of mush. I was almost to the next shelter when I had to detour suddenly to dig a cat hole. Like, so much for being proud of the privy.. it didn’t last long. As I was handling my business, a hiker passes. I realize that I did a shit job of hiding myself in these trees.. but luckily when he spotted my pack he kept his eyes forward. At least there’s that! Less than 15 minutes later, when I passed the shelter, it had a BRAND NEW gorgeous privy. Seriously?! Ughhh. So ridiculous!
I carried on and started my climb up Little Boardman Mountain. Well, it had a hill first, then a sweet flat chunk, then the steep climb up the mountain. Before I could even finish the flat area, I had to stop and eat another protein bar. It was 12:30 and normally I’d have eaten lunch by now, but I didn’t want to sit down and unpack my food bag when I’d be doing that soon enough anyway. So I opted to eat the bar and then eat lunch after I got my drop.
I made it to the top of the mountain by 1:08. I chugged the rest of my water knowing that in less than an hour I’d have a cold PBR in my hands. Which is exactly how that played out. I went down the mountain and got to the road crossing at 1:43, and waiting for me was Mike, from Shaw’s Hostel with my food drop and a cold beer. I flung my stuff down and sat down to drink. I told myself to savor it, but I don’t know how to drink anything slow when I’m so dang hot! The heat going over that mountain was close to unbearable.
I sat and chatted with Mike for a good 30 minutes or so. I packed all my new food and Mike was kind enough to give me a Coke to drink, too. He’s from Kennesaw, right down the road from me, and he comes up here to the hostel to help out over the summer! He’s been doing that ever since the summer after he did his thru hike. The AT is slap full of incredible people, and incredibly kind ones at that.
When I finally left Mike, I walked maybe a quarter mile to a beach on Crawford Pond. The water was completely clear! I got strait in and swam, cleaned my skin as much as possible. My lovely heat rash is back with a vengeance thanks to the last couple days. It’s crazy I can tell now when it’s going to start popping up.. and it was completely cleared up before I came back to Monson. Heartbreak hotel. Itchy hotel, too. Anyway, I didn’t stay in very long, because the rash was burning.. lol.. and storm clouds appeared to be rolling through.
I dried out on the beach sitting on a log eating my lunch and filtering more water. Again, I chugged one and took one with me. The rest of the trail was mostly smooth and flat with gentle ups and downs that you couldn’t even notice. There were a few boggy boardwalk deals, which always equals bugs. But otherwise it was a lovely way to end my day! I walked almost 7 more miles, just before Jo Mary Road to a stealth site that Mike told me about. I managed to make it there by 5:30pm, after crossing 4 mountains, getting a food drop, swimming.. and Im right on the river!
I got to bathe again in the river, and while I dried out I set up camp. My clothes are damp but it’s supposed to rain tonight, AND the temperature is supposed to drop, too. Man, I hope that part of the forecast is accurate. While I was eating dinner, Babbit appeared with his friend! The two of them are camping with me tonight, and they only have to go to this road (a whole 0.2 miles from here) to get their food drop in the morning, at 10am! Lol-im jealous they get to sleep in!
It’ll be another early morning and long day for me. I’m beat after this 20+ mile day, but im going to try to push it to 23-28 miles tomorrow. It sounds crazy to me even typing that out, but the terrain is easier than it’s ever been, if it’s like how this last 7 mile stretch was anyway, and if I can make it there tomorrow then I can still be on track to summit on the morning of the 29th in good weather. That’s the plan anyway!
My feet are still throbbing and im so sticky hot again. Looks like it’s time to attempt to fall asleep anyway. It’ll be morning before I know it! Goodnight y’all!
Ps: I saw 3 snakes today, almost stepping on 2 of them! All during the same 30 minutes on the downhill off of White Cap Mountain. Yes, I screamed and carried on like a toddler. Some things don’t change. Haha
The Crawford Pond lake picture is beautiful!!! Hike on!
It was GORGEOUS!