Samwise Hikes the Appalachian Trail! - Trail Journal -
	Home	| Updates	| Map	| Journal	| Photos	| Resources	| FAQ

September 19, Avery Memorial Campsite - mile 1988.3

I'm amazed when I see my entry from yesterday...today felt like I will never, ever reach Katahdin. What a struggle I had!

The day actually started very well. I left the motel and walked up to the PO, to mail some cards before trying to get a hitch, and just as I got there, a vehicle pulled over to give me a ride. And who should it be! None other than Bob, owner of the B&B in Rangeley, where I was a few nights ago! He was driving a hiker out to a road crossing near here - I assume this fellow was going to slackpack for the day. What perfect timing.

I also got a good start on a long uphill slog, climbing the Bigelow mountains. After 5 miles, I reached a shelter, where I stopped for lunch, and then suddenly my day went downhill, though not literally! For whatever reason, after lunch I got utterly sick to my stomach for the next two hours, plus the terrain became the steepest of the day, so every step was an almighty struggle. I was so frustrated and angry that I wanted to scream or cry or beat something, I don't know which!

Finally, I got to this campsite and set off to get water for supper, since I had just run out a few minutes before getting here. To my dismay, the water source was another .2 miles UPHILL on the trail. It was the last thing I wanted to do - climb more boulders - but I needed water, so off I went. Except the spring was dry. My heart sank like a lead balloon. I couldn't imagine pushing on 3 more miles to the next camp site, not after the struggle I'd had all afternoon. So I came back, checked the map posted here and saw another spring shown in the area. It was a very, very small puddle, so I started with my filter even though it's really clogged and not working well. After a minute of nearly breaking my arm to pump it (did I mention it's clogged?) I put it down in disgust and dipped the water straight out, trying to avoid as many floaties as possible. At that moment, I could have chucked the filter over a cliff - what a pain!

After an hour of water-gathering attempts, I eventually stumbled back to the tent platform I'd claimed and started setting up my tent. What's this? No eyelets to tie down to? A couple of nails are pounded onto the edges for tying down, and that's it. So I am jury-rigged with my guylines, bear rope and spare bootlaces, all of which are tied out to trees and rocks in an attempt to keep my tent up. The wind is likely to pick up during the night as a front begins coming through and maybe the rain will even start, so I figured I'd better not take chances with a sloppy fly. Even still, I'm praying hard that the front holds off til later tomorrow because this ain't the best way to sit it out!

Well, enough of this day. I'm going to cuddle up with the third Tolkien book and go to bed. Tomorrow will surely be better.