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Expect reflections on long distance hiking, hiking culture, nature, creativity and my undying love for backrests.
All tagged shakedown hike
This was our first overnighter in the White Mountains this season. Steve Smith, the guru of all things White Mountain hiking, called this one “the most grueling section of the AT in the White Mountains.”
Oh, goody!
This should be fun.
Way back at Liberty Springs Tent Site, we chatted with Quinn, the Caretaker, a lovely young woman who didn't seem to mind answering questions she'd probably been asked a thousand times about what it's like to spend the summer using a privy that "flushes" with mulch.
She asked me to deliver a message to a boy at the Guyot Shelter. Of course I said yes! What fun to play a tiny role in a White Mountain love story.
She entrusted me with a tiny square of paper folded a couple of times with "Jimmy" penned elegantly on the top.
I tucked it into my hip belt where I knew it would be safe and off we went. It would be two days before we reached the Guyot Shelter.
The question was: would the note survive the trek?
This was day two of a five-day trip along the Appalachian Trail through the White Mountains, from Franconia Notch to Crawford Notch.
Apparently the rumors of White Mountain ruggedness and ability to challenge even the most seasoned hikers start way down in Georgia.
But I learned a few years ago that TIARAS give you secret hiking super powers.
I finally had a chance to try out my new tent, the Lightheart Gear Solo, this past week on an overnight trek along the Art Loeb Trail. (Two words: ball buster. The hike, not the tent.)
Here's what I thought about it--the good, the bad and the ugly.
Every day you get to spend walking and dreaming and celebrating your badassery is a good day.
This training hike was a good two days in spite of the challenge.
Or maybe because of it.
This is a GREAT hike for training for an Appalachian Trail thru-hike because it is EXACTLY like a typical day on the trail would be....HARD.
