AT - Day 1
Tricia brought me to our reserved shelter at Katahdin Stream Campground in glorious weather, so I climbed Mount Katahdin early, departing with a day pack at 11 a.m. The trail went flat for a mile, up for 3 miles, then flat for another mile. A bright sunny sky with billowy clouds made for a perfect start. Lakes dotted the landscape, both north and south. At the summit Brooks shared a cup of water and Beth Ann took pictures with my camera. I officially began my sobo (southbound) hike at 2:45 p.m., when I headed back down the mountain. The round-trip took 6 hours and 50 minutes. After dinner, Tricia and I brought food over to nobos (northbounders) in the shelter opposite us, who were finishing their thru-hike on July 4th.
The nobos held a 45-minute clinic on thru-hiking for me. The Beast talked about lengthening your stride to hike 30-mile days. Leave room in your shoes to prevent jamming your toes on downhills, he said. Transient was continuing home on the International Appalachian Trail. Listen to your body, he said. When your mind flashes “Snickers,” that’s your body telling you it’s time for a snack. Lone Wolf (from Utah) had intense excitement. Use anti-bacterial Neosporin for everything, he said, including when “your butt cheeks get chapped from too much climbing.” He said he’d broken out crying from too much time alone at shelters. Then he joked, “Your worst predicaments will make you laugh the most… afterwards.”
Labels: journal