The Long Trail : Day 10 : Part 3 : 9/30/20 . After the long, eventful journey to the privy and back there was zero chance my soggy self was getting back in the tent. Instead, I grabbed my things, rallied Dave, and took all my gear to the empty shelter. Here we could spread out, eat, watch it rain and stay mostly dry. . For the next 3 hours we enjoyed coffee, hot breakfast, tea and more snacks. Our plan was the wait out the rain and start hiking once the rain stopped to keep ourselves and our gear mostly dry. By early afternoon we were ready to hike. This is a very late start for us but it was a welcomed way to spend a nasty day. . We spent the next several miles battling a trail turned stream. Water issues and dry sources were no longer a concern. I didn’t even check any upcoming water sources as we were walking in a constant supply. Other than soaked feet the day went by fairly uneventfully. We walked, talked, looked for the ever elusive cell phone service, and climbed up and down precarious, wet rocks. . A little before dark we found our home for the evening. We fed ourselves creamy mac n’ cheese and drifted off to sleep dreaming of town food, showers, and clean clothes that would be ours (hopefully) the following day. It had been a very unusual day, one of little routine and frustrating elements. But at the end of it I was full in all the best ways. It had been just what I needed to slow down, hike less and enjoy watching the rain with a shelter roof over my head.

The Long Trail : Day 11 : Part 1 : 10/1/20 . The overnight temps were perfect for being all bundled up yet not cold! When the alarm went off the joys of town were the only thing that forced me to sit up and give up the cozy warmth of my quilt. We ate breakfast, had hot coffee and packed up. . I was buzzing from the early morning caffeine and ready to take on Mt Abram. Almost every single SOBO hiker we’d met up to this point gave us grim warnings and harrowing tales of the trail north of here. My mind oscillated between anxious energy and a fierce determination to prove the naysayers wrong. We had 9ish miles between us and town and I was confident we could do them quickly. . One thing I have to remind myself of over and over again is that the fears of others don’t determine my level of ability. And sometimes the opposite is true as well. Others confidence doesn’t determine my level of ability either. Rather than agonize over trip reports, Guthook comments, or stories from other hikers, I’ve found it best to employ the “take a look myself” approach to hiking miles and completing trails. . Today was no different. Mt Abram was the obstacle full of wet slabs, steep trail and meticulous movements. We set off with a fire under us and powered up the climb. I felt alive and in my element. The fluid motions and quick responses of finding the next perfect foothold invigorated me. A little scrambling perked my senses as I lowered my center of gravity and climbed effortlessly until I felt the cool wind and misty skies over stunted pines. We’d reached the Alpine Zone and were suddenly transported to a mystical space where time seemed to stand still and everything around you feels in perfect harmony. . I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. This was fun, this was the kind of adult play I don’t get enough of. Pushing boundaries and finding new levels of what I’m capable of. We savored the moment and kept on, rolling along the misty ridgeline to view after view of vibrant fall colors in the valleys below.

The Long Trail: Day 11 : Part 2 : 10/1/20 . We were still on the beautiful ridgeline and one particular vista came with strong cell service. We took this opportunity to make a reservation at a local B&B. They would meet us at the trailhead at 2 pm, shuttle us to town to resupply, make us dinner, do our laundry and make us breakfast all before taking us to back to the trailhead. I’m pretty sure we were about to experience heaven on earth. . We made it to our meeting spot with just a few minutes to spare. Soon after we were throwing our packs in the back of a stranger’s car and moving at 50 mph instead of 2 mph. What a shift in perspective, a convenience to move so quickly but not always a fair trade. After chicken strips, resupplying, and buying fuel it was time to relax. . Back at the Inn we settled in to our new home at the charming inn. First up was washing 11 days of grime off of my body and giving away my equally dirty laundry to be done for me. It was now time to relax and eat dinner. I gingerly stepped down the creaky stairs with swollen bare feet, paint stained oversized loaner clothes, wet hair, and tired eyes. I was quite the vision for our fancy dinner. We were served a giant salad of which I had 3 servings. My body craving the vegetables it had been deprived of for almost two weeks. Next was burgers with Vermont cheddar, corn on the cob and homemade Key Lime Pie! . The music selection of excellent, the atmosphere lovely even in our contradictory attire, and I could have cried tears of joys to finally be experiencing some creature comforts. The high highs and very low lows of thru hiking are all too real. But after 163 miles, all my struggles felt well worth it as I sat and enjoyed a lovely meal to the point where no additional morsel of food could possibly cross my lips. I went to bed full, warm, and satisfied. Thru hiking will make you incredibly grateful for many simple luxuries of life but you only learn to appreciate them when you’ve given yourself ample opportunity to live without them.