Introduction

About Pathways

Appalachian Trail

Why Walk?

Make a Pledge

Hiking Schedule

Journal

Photos

Links

Acknowledgements

September 9, 2001

T-3 days until Katahdin. The last two days have been better. Even with a stomach virus and my body trying to sabotage my success, days were better. Fender and I climbed the last big mountain before Katahdin yesterday. At sixty miles away, that gave us three 20-mile days remaining. That's entirely do-able on this flat terrain, even with the rocks and roots. My body is feeling a little better, but my chafe in this hot weather is bad news. Also, I seriously might have a stress fracture in my left foot. It hurts to twist it or pull my second toe back. Plus, my new trail name may be G.I. Distress. I've already maxed out my toilet paper and made a good dent in Fender's. And I had to stop about 0.3 mile from the top of the last climb because I was about to pass out.

It's smooth rolling 20 miles today with only two 400' speed bumps. I went swimming twice--once at a brook outside of a shelter and the other at Antler Campsite where I'm staying tonight. Bathed to the lonely call of the loons. So nice to swim, and so necessary as it's been unseasonably warm--make that ungodly hot--in Northern Maine. Happy caught up, and I caught Stacy and her Dad. Yesterday was Stacy's birthday so I finally made the dessert I've been carrying for two weeks.

The smell of this sleeping bag and bivy is make me sick. What am I going to do when I don't sweat all day everyday, have to be clean again, and not fart and burp in front of anyone present? Part of me thinks my body is revolting because it doesn't want to go back. The other part of me knows that with a changed perspective, nothing has to be the same anymore so everything will work out. I think the hardest part about going back will be seeing all the people whose lives haven't changed, who are still stuck and miserable. I'm confident my life will fall into place.

Strange things are happening as I try to prepare myself to leave these people and this lifestyle. I saw a rock that look like a fetus the other day. I immediately wondered if that meant Mom was being reincarnated into her next life. Whoa. I'm not tired of hiking or this lifestyle. I don't particularly miss a lot of people who aren't here, though I'm pining to see my girls. Life here is so good and I feel so lucky, blessed even, to be here and to share it with so many choice people. As some folks like to say, "The AT--now that's a good time."