Maine.. so far

Holy Maine... Tornadoes and Volcanoes! I've just moved on from the hardest physical and mental challenge of this trip... amidst massive rain and lightning storms.. the closest I came to giving up... well not exactly... but really terrible spirits...

The Mahoosic Notch is notoriously fabled as the hardest mile of the trail.. this is due to the large (think SUV size boulders) rocks that litter a gap between two steep cliffs... and we go right through this... and of course I timed it perfectly with a Tornado and thunderstorm that held me up under a rock ledge for 1 hour. When I left the trail turned into a class III rapid with waist deep water and waterfalls cascading 100 feet down steep and sheer cliff faces.

The rain continued for the next 4 days... hard at times... wet feet... damp morale.

And then Andover and the High Five hostel where I got to stay in an RV!!! Big booster of morale and now I'm back on the move heading for a Summit on Katahdin for mid Sept.. a bit later than earlier anticipated.

Cheddar Brauts in tow we head out for the last 200 miles. My brother is throwing a party in CT on the 19th and I will be back for this... If anyone is in the area is around and can swing by to say hi email me and I'll get you some details.

"The Trail Provides and so the Dude Abides"

SpAcE

Epic

Suddenly, the fog lifted and the summit of Mt Washington came into view, clear and desolate... a barren landscape littered with rock boulders, fragile alpine vegetation, and steel towers broadcasting and receiving... then just as quickly as it cleared, the fog returns and the trail is lost in a white mist. The rocks are slippery, during out ascent of Webster Mnt a massive thunderstorm rocked the ridge line and dropped over 2 inches of rain. While crossing open cliff areas I ducked and ran while thunder rumbled overhead... the wind pushed the rain sideways across the summit, but the forecast promised sunshine in only a few days, so we moved slowly and stalled trying to make nice weather for the Wash summit and Madison Ridge. But the air was humid and warm and the sun only made brief cameos while fog was most certainly the star of the show. A walk through the White Mountains in typical form.

I'm in Conway right now partying with the folks, L-train, Sawman, and the Ekerts. Lexi is chilaxin on the floor, tuckerd from watching tennis balls float down river... vacation from vacation!

I'm trying to recall what has happened over the past few weeks, and it's too much... alot has happened. Rob shaved me a mohawk, I got lost on the summit of Killington and had to bushwack... all for some beer...half and halfs... extravaganza 09... wakeboarding on Winepasaki... dancing with hippies... fishing with beer cans... jumping into waterfalls... working for stay... frat parties and moonshine... live free or die on the Ct river bridge... mountains finally... and in a few days we cross the Maine border!

It's been an incredible journey, more than I ever expected, and expectations can be a tricky situation. I expect this last 300 miles to take 1 month... stay tuned for the final chapter.

Check out the new pics...

Space