Dirt Time Part 2

LoGear planned another bit of dirt time (well, I do the planning, she does the walking) and we upped the mileage a bit, finishing MD for the most part and moving into PA.

A Thursday morning had us back on Route 70 heading to the trail head parking I have used so many times.  There was rain in tomorrow's forecast, but these honey badgers don't care.  We go when we go and we prepare for whatever weather will greet us.

Young May apples on the way up the ridge

We arrived at the parking lot at 1030. It wasn't too crowded. They appeared to have expanded the lot some since we were last there. We started up Pine Knob on South Mountain and about 10 minutes in we saw two hikers coming towards us. I recognized Joanne from the museum and her husband Fred. We talked a bit then moved on. It was really cool seeing them again. Joanne was one of my volunteers of the year when I worked at the AT Museum.

It was a little surreal.  As we drove to the trail head and started up the mountain, the trees had leafed out pretty well.  They still had that light yellow-greenish color to them, but spring had fully arrived.  As we climbed up the 500 feet to the top of the ridge, we seemed to go back in time.  The trees up there were only starting to sprout.  Spring was still trying to arrive up here. 
We stopped at Annapolis rocks for a break and to check out the view. We talked to a trail maintenance crew for a bit who were taking a break a the caretakers table and then headed to the overlook. It was a little hazy, but nice.

View from Annapolis Rocks

We continued on, passing sobo hikers along the way. We stopped for lunch around 1300 before the rock scramble and took a break and got water at Ens Cowell shelter after coming down off of the ridge. We were feeling pretty good and the day was nice. We seemed to constantly talk about tomorrow's weather, like we were psyching ourselves up for a wet day of walking. A lot of the hikers we talked to along the way also would mention tomorrow's rain. After a while I started to think we were trying to anti-curse ourselves. Like, if we constantly invoked the nasty weather, it may not arrive. (take note)
A nobo Thrube passed us as we were heading into the shelter. Of course, he was moving fast and was out of sight quickly. No matter how long I'm on trail, I never develop a very fast pace. That's how I roll.

LoGear doing some of the rocks in this section

Next was trail I hadn't been on since 2011, so it felt new. Last year, I wanted to do a MD Yo-Yo, but weather helped change that plan where this next stretch up to the Raven Rock shelter was the only section I didn't hike twice (or even once) in 2018. A couple of fields and some good climbs had my sweat flowing.

Field crossing

During the last climb, I was dragging and we stopped for water at the cascade. I drank a lot of water before filling up and that was almost a mistake. The cold water was sitting in my fat belly like a lump of lead. I fell way behind LoGear as we finished the climb, but wasn't too far behind when we arrived at the shelter.
We arrived at 1811. 13.8 miles for the day. We found some good spots to hang our hammocks, ate dinner at our own table, then went over to the fire one of the other hikers had built and hung out for awhile.

LoGear's set up and the setting sun

EarthTone's set up

The wind kicked up on the ridge as night settled around us.  
I had a restless sleep as usual on my first night out. My legs and feet kept cramping up all through the night and I had to pee a lot because I knew I was dehydrated during the day and had drank a lot of water. The moon was bright all night, so I saved battery power in the headlamp when I had to get out. The wind kept up through most of the night.
I was up just after 0600 and we were on the trail at 0720. Today's hike would be solo for both of us. LoGear went north and I went south. It was actually a good hike today since I knew what was coming in reverse. The climbs were a little easier this way and I made decent time. Of course, the forecast was still calling for rain, sometimes heavy through most of the day.

View that I had skipped the day before

I got back to Ens Cowell around 1000 and ate an early lunch after getting water. Ya know, because it was going to start raining any minute now.
I got water again at Pogo campsite and the rain still hadn't started yet. It didn't start until I had about a mile left in the days hike. I actually welcomed the cooling effect.

Meanwhile, LoGear had made her way north, crossing into PA and heading for the nicest shelter in PA (in my humble opinion), Tumbling Run.  

I got back to the truck at 1421, wet but happy. I had about a 30 min drive to up near where LoGear had stopped for the day. Luckily, there was a small parking lot a short distance south of the shelter at the last road crossing. I stopped at a Sheets and got LoGear a donut and me a sandwich and then stopped at a liquor store for a sixer and some fireball and then found the parking that was .3 from the shelter.
It was still raining as I packed up and headed out. I came into camp, found LoGear and set up. She had done another 13.2 (27 total) and I had done 14.1 for the day. I had to put my tarp up first as the rain was still coming down, but not too hard. I had humped that six pack and hot shot in that last .3 and it was totally worth it.
We went over to the covered table for dinner. The shelters had some boy scouts, a family of four and one of the hikers who had been at the shelter last night. LoGear's fuel tank went empty during dinner, just as we were hoping. Mine was almost there. I had these almost empty fuel containers down in the basement for a while now, too little fuel left to take out long term, but perfect for a couple days to finish them off.

I needed water, which was across the creek and I fell twice trying to cross the creek on the wet rocks. My shoes were already wet from the rain, so it wasn't a big deal, but I felt out of sorts crossing on those big rocks. Yes, they were wet and a little slippy, but I seemed to be extra clumsy at the end of this day.

Our camp was in the group camp area, a bit away from the shelters, but it was nice to be away from the others. I could change into my dry clothes right in the middle of the camp, not that I ever care if anyone sees my fat body when I change, but I wanted to spare them the disgust.

LoGear had developed a couple blisters and was feeling some pain. We hung out, each in our hammocks as the forest dripped and sputtered the rain of the day. It had turned out to not be such a horrible storm as we where hyping all the day before. I got wet yeah, but that is all a part of being out here. You take each day as given and hopefully prepare yourself for whatever The Mother throws at you.

I drank my beers as darkness once again arrived at camp. We each retired into our hammocks and did some reading. I would sleep a little better this night, with no cramps to speak of and LoGear reported a perfect night's sleep.

The perfect ending to a day's hike.  Worth the weight.

In the morning, the rain has passed, but the forest was still pretty wet. My fuel canister went dry as I heated some water for coffee, just as I had hoped. The water was just warm enough to make the coffee enjoyable.

We packed up and had a decision to make. The plan was for LoGear to hike another 10 miles north to connect to one of her other hikes. I was going to drive to the end and hike back towards her. I had brought a small day pack in, in case she wanted to do a slack pack, but in the end, she decided to save those last 10 miles for the next trip. Her blisters were making walking difficult and even though she could have toughed it out, there was no need. The trail would wait for next time.

We headed back to the parking lot where the boy scouts were also ending their six day hike and threw our packs into the truck.

We headed home where a nice shower, then a hot tub soak awaited us. We went out to lunch after that then both took a nice nap. LoGear had to go to work that night.

It was a good hike. We had upped our total mileage from the last hike and I once again got to experience some type-two fun and get reminded of the pain I will be feeling every day as I head out at the end of May to finish this Quest.

Until next time... Peace.

EarthTone and LoGear

Dirt Time

For several weeks now, we have been meaning to get back on the Trail for an overnight.  As time goes by, I start to crave, then to obsess about getting back on trail, walking up and down mountains with a ruck on my back.  It has become a part of me so much, its absence screams at me when I experience it. 

So, finally, nothing was going on and we made plans to head to Harpers Ferry and start filling some more gaps that LoGear has on her traverse of the Trail.  The forecast was hinting of high 60s, but as the day grew closer, some rain crept its way into the day.

The morning dawned somewhat cloudy, but pleasantly warm as we headed out from Pasadena, westward to South Mountain where the Appalachian Trail winds its way north and south towards Maine and Georgia.

I dropped LoGear off up the hill from the ATC in town.  A few raindrops splattered on my windshield as I headed back across the two rivers to a parking lot about four miles northbound.  

I arrived at the parking lot at 1116, parked and started heading south. The trail meanders around in this area, passing under the highway and along the gully of an old rail line and leads to the C & O canal trail.

The tow path

I walked along there in a very light rain, taking a few pictures, but still moving at a quick pace. After almost two miles, I saw LoGear heading my way. She wasn't alone.

Spring flowers along the Potomac 

LoGear had joined up with Wayne, a USMC retired vet who was out for a few days, heading north to the PA line.  We learned a bit about each other as we all made our way north now, back to the parking lot.

We got back to the truck, rucked up, then headed up the mountain. The climb up wasn't too bad. There are a lot of switch backs and you just have to keep moving at your best pace to get to the top. After about a mile, we were at the top of the ridge. We stopped at Weaverton Cliffs for a view. I try to walk down to this overlook each time I hike by, which has been about four or five times now. After a few pictures, we continued along the ridge.

Selfie

View

Once you get past the rocky end of the ridge, the trail smooths out and the pace picks up. We arrived at the Ed Garvey Shelter around 1400 and stopped to eat lunch. At the shelter we met Feral and Zorro, two early nobos. We learned a lot about their hikes and told our own stories. They had both started their hikes in late January and were hoping to summit Katahdin in early June.

Ed Garvey Shelter - Lunch

Water at Gathland Park

We continued on along the ridge. The hiking was easy enough and before too long we were descending down into Crampton Gap. We stopped for water at Gathland Park and then it was just .4 back up the ridge to the shelter. We arrived just before 1700.

The blue blaze heads back down hill to the shelter and along the way there are numerous tent pads and suitable trees for hanging our hammocks. We found two good spots and LoGear started setting up as I explored a little down to the shelter and checked out the spring, which was flowing strong.

Crampton Gap Shelter

I set up my hammock and sat in it recliner style as I enjoyed one of the beers I had been humping all day. A trail beer is usually a warm beer, but it is always a good beer. Worth the weight for this short trip.

LoGear's setup

We gathered some wood and made a nice fire as we prepared our dinners for the evening. A few other hikers came in, including Wayne the Marine. There was a family nearby that looked to be out for the weekend. They had a mixture of tent and hammocks and also built their own fire.

Dinner was good.  I had my usual of ramen, with bacon pieces, spices and some dry roasted red pepper from chick-fil-a.  LoGear had brought in some sausages that she added to her ramen.  

I had also brought along two mini bottles of Hot Shot and we each sipped at our own as we tended the fire and felt the woods darken around us.  

Fire and EarthTone's setup

We invited Wayne over to the fire and we listened to his stories of his career until the fire had burned down and it was time to retire to our hammocks. We each had hiked about 11 miles and my body was ready for some hammock time.  

I slept ok, but I usually toss and turn a lot the first night out. The hammock felt great and it was good to be back in it after so many months. The last time I had slept in the hammock was when I finished up Phase III, south of Rockfish Gap, last June.

The dawn came and with it the birds started singing after a very quiet night. I rolled out before 07 and did my morning routine, catching a pink sunrise through the still bare trees.

Sunrise

I made coffee from my hammock recliner and it was glorious. Breakfast was a nice bagel with peanut butter, bacon pieces and honey. Yum. Sitting in my hammock, watching the morning come on felt so good. Being out in the woods as the dawn breaks is the best of Outsider life.

Breakfast of champions

Around 0830 we were packed up. I headed south and LoGear went north. We each had 7 miles to go. Me back to the truck and her to The South Mountain Inn parking lot.

I went fast, taking no pack off breaks as I had drank and ate all my excess weight and had a light pack. I caught and walked with Bruce for awhile, who had also camped in our area, away from us. He too was out for a few days, only going sobo from the PA line.

I made it back to the truck at 1112, almost 24 hours since I had parked and headed to LoGear's pick up, a 15 min drive away. As I drove north, I thought that about how I was covering the same distance it had taken us basically two days to walk in a mere quarter of an hour. We live in a fast world.

I pulled into a spot in the crowded, busy lot just as LoGear walked into the parking lot. It was pretty good timing. We pointed the truck towards home, stopping at McDs on the way for some comfort food.

It was a good hike. The weather was good, with only a few sprinkles each day and the terrain was challenging enough, but still on the easy side.

My first question as we headed home was; when can we get out here again?

Peace,
EarthTone and LoGear

The Hardest Thing About This Quest

Pamola's Quest started in April of 2017.  To walk the whole trail and get myself to Pamola Peak on Katahdin, rebuilding the Talisman of the Storm along the way and presenting it to Pamola on his mountain.  

The Quest continues.  When I started the Quest, I was hoping that maybe we would do the whole thing in one go.  Essentially a Thru Hike.  But, I knew that the chances of that were going to be low, so I didn't make it a primary goal.  The primary goal of the Quest is to get it done.  With no time limit.  

As the Quest evolved due to various influences, the potential of it being a Thru Hike evaporated (maybe for another day, who knows), but the Quest itself continued.

I have never quit my hike.  I just get "off Trail".  And that has become the hardest part of this Quest.  Being off Trail and waiting to get back on again.  So far I have weathered the physical part pretty well.  Yes, I did injure myself by tearing my rotator cuff, which required surgery to correct, but I was still able to continue hiking for three more weeks, even though I knew something was wrong and it wasn't going to heal on its own.  

The mental part of the hike is mostly responsible for the evolution of the Quest. After LoGear decided to get off Trail, my mind started telling me that maybe I wanted to get off too.  At least for awhile.  After trying to ignore those voices for a while, I decided that they may have a point and knew that I could get off and come back later to finish. The Quest didn't have a time limit other than the span of my life. 

Hindsight has shown me that the decision to break up the Quest into Phases, was a good one.  Some things have happened when I was off Trail that would have been missed opportunities if I hadn't left the Trail.  One example is being able to see Tom Petty in concert on his last earthly tour.  

I have 600 miles left to finish the Quest.  About 50 days or so of hiking.  I have set a date to return at the end of May.  As early as I can start up north, when the trails of Vermont are slightly less muddy.  I'm sure they will still be a challenge.  And I will also be dealing with the black fly season by starting back up that early.  But I must.  My daughter is growing my first grand child in her belly and I want to be back by her due date of July 15th.

So, I sit here and wait.  I have my final Phase planned out.  I'm basically ready to go, with just a few consumables to purchase to refresh everything in my pack.  

The waiting is truly the hardest part of this Quest.  But wait I must.  

Soon I will be back "on Trail".

Peace,
EarthTone

The waiting is the hardest part

Every day you get one more yard

You take it on faith, you take it to the heart

The waiting is the hardest part

Tom Petty - The Waiting 

 

Pamola's Quest - Push 13 - The Push to Rockfish Gap- Part 2

The Push to Rockfish Gap, VA (Push 13) - Part 2

I had four days left to finish the Push and Phase III.  I was ready to get off trail and see what was up with my shoulder.  I was also looking forward to all the Other World delights that are so rare or non-existent out here.  I would see another long day in these last couple of days, but it would be sandwiched in by shorter days that contained their own challenges.

Day 407 - 18.5 miles - Bobblets Gap Shelter
Day 408 - 14.6 miles - Hilltop campsite
Day 409 - 12.3 miles - Harrison Spring Camp
Day 410 - 13.1 miles - John Hollow Shelter
Day 411 - 18.3 miles - Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Day 412 - 15.8 miles - Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Day 413 - 20.4 miles - Maupin Field Shelter
Day 414 - 15.8 miles - Paul C. Wolf Shelter
Day 415 - 5.0 - Rockfish Gap

Rain and Fog

I was up and out early again as I had a 2700 foot challenge early on and I wanted to get it done before the day heated up.  I could also feel that there was some weather approaching and I would see some interesting stuff before I arrived in camp.

The climb was well switchbacked and I was up and over it before too long.  The top of Cole Mountain opened up into meadows and fields.  It was completely socked in and I moved along as if I was in a dream.  It was eerie and pretty cool.  I could hear hikers approaching from the north, but didn't see them until they were about 20 feet away.  Visibility was pretty much zero up there.  

Fog starting to clear

I came down to Hog Pen Gap and decided to eat an early lunch and get some water down the easy .3 trail.  I saw Freight Train in his tent there.  He was zeroing in his tent as the day was looking like it was going to turn nasty and his knee was bothering him.  

I ate lunch with another guy who had stopped.  I decided to try making a cup of cold coffee at lunch to see if it would help with my afternoon tiredness that I had been feeling the last couple of days.  It seemed to help and I would continue this practice for the rest of the hike.  When I went down to get water, I saw a guy camping at a nice site that wasn't far from the spring.  He asked about the weather forecast and I just said I didn't know for sure, but it looked like rain.  

As I rolled along the day, I was moving up a fairly easy climb when I heard a hello from behind.  It was eWolf, who I though had moved well ahead of me by now, but him and Handstand had gone into Buena Vista for the night, so I had moved ahead again.  

He mentioned that he had walked through some nettles and had taken some hits on his legs.  He also mentioned that he had heard of a plant that he thought was called Forget Me Not that would help.  I told him about Jewelweed, aka Touch Me Not and looked down to see a plant at my feet.  I picked one and showed home how to crush the stalk and apply the juice.  He did so and moved on.  It felt good to pass on some woods lore.  

The rain started a little after noon and lasted the rest of the day.  I walked for a couple of miles without my rain gear.  It feels good at first, especially on a hot day, but after an hour or so of steady downpour, my core starts to get cold.  So eventually, I stopped and put on my rain gear over my soaked shirt, just to keep warm.

I arrived into camp and stopped at the shelter for a second.  Everyone who had come in already was snug in their down, trying to get warm again.  They all had that thousand yard stare.  After a short rest, I went behind the shelter and found two good trees.  I had to put up my tarp first so my hammock wouldn't get too wet, then I just slowly got out of my wet clothes, into dry stuff and made my dinner under the tarp.  The warm meal helped and I was snug in my down early and happy to be there.  

I fell asleep early as tomorrow was another 20 mile day.  I needed my rest for that. 

Last Long Day

The rain continued off and on all night and the morning dawned cold.  It was hard getting out of the down, but I had a long day planned and I needed to get moving to warm up.  I ate a quick breakfast and packed up fast and was out before 0700.

The first climb wasn't too bad at all.  The Trail made its way up to the Priest Shelter, where I took a break.  After reading the other hikers confessions in the log, I added my own private confession.  

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned...

During the next climb, I used a new tactic to keep my mind off the effort.  I made a story up in my mind, slowly adding to it as I made my way up the mountain.  It diverted my attention and just as the story ended in my head, I was at the top of the mountain.  I no longer remember exactly what that story was, but it was interesting to me at the time.  

For the last few days I have been seeing the little puffs of fluff pass me and then disappear.   They remind me of the small puffy seed pods I remember chasing as a kid that we called Santa Clauses.  These though, appeared to be self locomoting.  The funny thing is I would see them for about a half of a second and then they would disappear.  It was weird.  I started calling them Forest Fairies.  Eventually I was able to follow one until it landed and saw that it was an insect with long legs and small wings.  They were another cool distraction.

When I was about seven miles from the shelter, I came to a sign at a blue blaze trail that showed that it was only three miles to the shelter if I went that way.  I stood and thought about not climbing Three Ridges, but even though I have taken bypasses before for various reasons, I don't take short cuts just to walk less miles.  I continued on, following the white blazes and I climbed that mountain.  I was doing this 20.

I arrived in camp tired but feeling accomplished.  I had finished my last long day of this Phase.  I found some nice trees and set up and then went and talked to a hiker who was in the shelter.  She was Begonia and was heading south, trying to get to Tennessee.  She had been forced to take a long break in Waynesboro at Stanimals because of a tooth problem.  The same thing that had plagued Snoboat.  Having an injured shoulder sucked, but I think a tooth problem would be worse.  

There was a bear pole here, so for the first time in quite a while I didn't sleep with my food.  I know some people have a fit when they hear you are doing that, but my theory is if I surround my food smell with my rank human smell, the bear knows I'm there and will leave me and my food alone and will go look for something easier, like a poorly hung food bag.  Judge if you must, but that is how I roll.  

It had been a long day and dusk was settling on the camp as I finished dinner and headed to my hammock.  Two other hikers came in who I had been behind for several days and had passed earlier in the day during one of the climbs.  They were Buddha and BuddhaPest.  The pest was Buddha's sister.  They were an older couple who liked to take their time, hence my catching them after several days of seeing their entries on the log books. 

Tomorrow was going to be a normal day of around 15 miles.  The hard, long days were done.

A Happy Surprise

There were a few sprinkles off and on again overnight, but the morning was cloudy and calm.  I packed up and headed out.  Over the last few days, as my schedule firmed up, I had made plans with LoGear for her to meet me in Waynesboro in two days to pick me up.  Luckily, it had fallen on her days off.  I spent the day thinking about seeing my bride again in just two day's time.   Each of my texts to her as I  checked in was counting the sleeps I had until I saw her.  I was really missing my bride. 

The Trail today had a lot of rocks and the humidity and previous rain made them sweaty and slick.  I had to be extra careful as I moved through them to make sure I didn't fall again and compound the injury to my shoulder.  I just took my time and made it through no problem. I was in no hurry.

I ate lunch at a nice view that looked across the valley to a large ski resort named Wintergreen.  It was a good view.  Afterwards as me and a few other groups leapfrogged each other coming down Humpback Mountain we all needed water at the only spring on the way down.  We all gathered around and helped each other find the best flow to fill our bottles.  

Wintergreen

One of the hikers I met today was Dog Whisperer.  On the way down the last descent of the day, I saw him talking on his phone, so I decided to check for signal and texts from LoGear.  The last text I had sent here was to let me know what time she left the next day so I could figure the time she would arrive.  I had good signal and a weird text from LoGear.  She said that she would arrive around 6, with hoagies, so don't eat.  

I was confused, so I called her.  The smart girl had decided to drive out a day early and hike into the last shelter, where I was just 1.5 miles away from.  And she was bringing FOOD! She had just arrived in Waynesboro and was trying to figure out where the visitor center was next to the trail at the bottom of Shenandoah.  No more sleeps until I would see her!  There were tears of joy.  

I practically ran to camp and set up.  Now that we were a couple again, I had to find four trees that would work for our hammocks.  I found some spots and put my tarp at one spot and my hammock at the other.  Saving spots.  I was excited and happy and talked with the other hikers who had come in later in the day. Fantasizing about the Hoagie I would be eating for dinner. Probably pissing them off a little as they prepared their boring backpacker fare.  

LoGear had told me not to eat, but everyone knows a hiker can eat multiple meals a day.  As it was, my food bag was almost empty, just as I wanted it to be at the end of a Push.  As I waited for her I ate the last of my salami (which had lasted all eight days) with some mayo and cheese.  It was a tasty snack.  

Emptying my food bag

Before too long, I saw her coming down the Trail and went to meet her.  I was so happy to see her and really enjoyed this surprise.  It made perfect sense.  Splitting up the multiple hours of driving over two days was always better than doing it all at once.

We ate and caught up and I shared my chips with the other hikers.  Afterward, we finished setting up and retired to our hammocks.  I fell asleep with a satisfied smile on my face.

Tomorrow we finish.

The Final Day

I slept well and rolled out as usual, heading to the privy for my morning evolution.  I wanted LoGear to sleep as long as she wanted, so I headed up to the shelter for some coffee and breakfast.  I talked to the other hikers there, Squirrel, Molasses and Smiley as I waited for LoGear to roll out.

We were all packed and ready before 0730 and started out on our last hike of the Phase.  It was an easy five miles with no hard climbs.  LoGear had made a good 3+ mph pace on the way in and we were able to duplicate that on the way out.   

LoGear, back on Trail

We were done in a little over two hours and at the road where we had entered Shenandoah the year before.  I climbed over the guard rail and went to reach the exact spot we had started at to connect the dots.

As I approached the parking lot I saw Kaleidoscope and Big Tuna getting out of a vehicle to start their day.  I went over to wish them luck and say farewell.  They asked a couple questions about what was ahead and I gave the best advice I could recall as they entered the Park.  

I went back down the road and we headed to the car.  My emotions were at a great height.  Once again, there were tears.  I had finished Phase III.  With an injured shoulder to boot.  I had now hiked 1,593.3 miles. Everything from Springer Mountain in GA to Williamstown, MA.  I only had about 600 miles to go.  

Our first priority was a shower and to put on clothes that I hadn't been wearing for weeks straight and had actually been recently laundered.  Conveniently, the YMCA offers free showers in town, so that is where we went.  

After the refreshing shower, we headed over to Mings AYCE restaurant.  Google has said it opened at 1000 and we arrived at 1030.  The doors were open and we went inside and were seated. The workers did look a little flustered tho and we saw that the only thing ready to go was the salad bar.  They actually sat us in the regular area, not the walled off hiker area.  We must not have smelled bad at all after our shower.  

I checked their website and saw that they didn't actually open until 1100, but we had some nice salads and just hung out until the other food was ready.  I had plenty of room in my belly.

Squirrel came in and at first they seated him in the hiker area, but we invited him to join us in the Other World area and he did just that.
  

Squirrel

We had a great lunch of many foods.  I can't even remember what I ate, but I went back for more several times.  

We left the restaurant full and headed home.  Three hours later, I was unpacking my pack in the basement.  I weighted it before doing so and it was only 22.6 lbs.  I wish it was that light all the time.  I was home...

Phase III Complete

Phase III was complete.  Only 597 miles left to complete my first traverse of the Trail.  My original plan was to take a couple weeks off and then head up to MA in early July and complete the last 50 days or so.  With my shoulder in the shape it was in, I was hesitant to go back out before I had it checked and if need be, fixed.  It was different hiking injured in "flat" VA, but doing VT, NH and ME with torn tendons was just asking for more pain and most likely more injury.

Before the last Push had ended, I knew Phase IV would be put on hold.  Not only did I need to get my shoulder fixed, but I freely admit I had had enough for now.  My mental fatigue was straining my senses.  I needed a longer break than the planned two or three weeks.  I had scratched my hiking itch.  

But like all itches, I know it will come back.  I was just happy to spend the rest of the summer going to the beach, seeing Ozzy, walking Ginger in the woods, going to RV shows, hanging out around the house and driving my Uber.  

Ozzy in concert

Ginger and I enjoying a fire in "our" woods

I have to admit, the itch didn't start to come back for several weeks.  I kind of put it all away for awhile.  I did check in on some of the hikers as they continued their trek up the trail, but my obsession had calmed for a bit.  

I went to the Doctor, confirming the tears in my shoulder and scheduled the surgery.  I was given a rehab estimate of six to twelve months.  I had the surgery and am on my way to a fully functioning left arm.  It has been 10 and a half weeks since the surgery and I still have a ways to go.  If I wanted to, I could put a pack on and get back out there and the itch has started to return.  But I'll wait.

Post-Op

About six weeks out

Recently, I find myself planning those last 50 days.  Going through the guide, figuring out possible daily mileages as I work my way through the Whites and into the final State of my Quest.  I will get back out there. The itch has fully returned.  Hopefully that will be July of 2019, but life has a way of taking your plans, laughing at them and then saying, "hold my beer".   

Until then, the Quest continues...


Peace,
EarthTone and LoGear