July 31, 2012 - Day 2
Start: Top Notch Inn
End: Top Notch Inn
Daily Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 13.4
I was hoping that I'd wake up and my knee would feel well enough to continue hiking today. I was hoping to at least hike the 3 miles up Wildcat Peaks E and D. At that point, if I were in pain, we could take the gondola down. If I was not in pain, we would continue. Unfortunately, when I got out of bed and walked to the bathroom, the pain in my knee told me hiking was out of the question for the day. It was still so painful! I decided I needed to be checked out by a doctor. Of course, I knew I wouldn't like what he would say, but I wanted to see why it hurt so incredibly bad. The diagnosis is tendonitis of multiple tendons in my knee and a bad sprain. The treatment is a full leg immobilizer, crutches, and a week of non loading that leg!!!!! Tears immediately flowed like a faucet. I couldn't even believe this was happening after one day of hiking in the section we have been looking forward to most. From the moment that hiking the AT became a glimmer of a thought in our minds, we have been looking forward to the Whites and beyond. I was battling with being sad that I may not be able to continue, frustrated that even if we do continue, we may not reach Katahdin before we have to return for work, and embarrassed that my friends and family would read that once again, I am injured. I'm frustrated that some people hike the almost 2200 miles from Georgia to Maine and never get an injury, yet I seem to get an injury for every hundred miles we walk, or in this case, for the four miles I walked. It only took a few minutes of tears for problem solving Flicka to take charge. I immediately figured out that if I rest until Sunday and we cover an average of 14 miles a day, we can still reach Katahdin this summer. I just have to be sure my knee is up to the challenge before we continue, as we are in the most intense section of the trail. In the meantime, we have our car so we will drive around and explore while I rest and nurse my knee. I'm ending this day apprehensive, yet hopeful.
Peace Be The Journey
~Flicka
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Bipolar Weather, Bipolar Emotions
July 30, 2013 - Day 1
Start: Mt. Washington, NH
End: Pinkham Notch, NH
Daily Miles: 13.4
Total Miles: 13.4
Throughout the day, my thoughts and emotions were about as bipolar as the Mt Washington weather! Happiness, excitement, sadness, frustration, peacefulness, exhaustion, anger, embarrassment, worry and relief are just a few.
We woke up full of excitement to start our journey. The journey we have been counting down until for 11 months!!! The original plan was to start yesterday, but true to Mt. Washington fashion, there were thunderstorms on the ridge all day. Since there was no need to spend the day playing hide and seek with bolts of lightening on the exposed ridge for almost 7 miles, we delayed our start one day. We packed up with food, water, and lots of extra clothing and headed out. It was a warm 75 degrees and sunny in the valley, but weather reports called for 45 degrees with a "feel like" of 36 and foggy at the summit and along the ridge. We arrived at Pinkham notch and called the Mt Washington Stage Coach to drive us to the summit so we could meet the AT where we left it last year (even though we had done this section on a trip in 2010). By the time we arrived at the summit, it was 11:00. Much later than we intended to start. It was cold and we were hiking in the clouds, but we were still excited. Our views were limited to just about the next carin. We started the descent off of Mt. Washington and could hear the cog nearby, but could not see it. Our plan to follow AT tradition and moon the cog was ruined. We followed the AT past Mt Clay and Mt Jefferson and eventually started to have views of the valleys below and the ridges in the distance. Somewhere along this stretch, I lost my balance, fell, and face planted into a bush. Better a bush than the surrounding rocks, I suppose, but my shin and trekking pole were not so lucky. I stood up, brushed myself off and looked at my pole that was now shaped like an "L." I don't think an "L" shaped pole is conducive to hiking! As a fellow hiker commented, it definitely wasn't "a happy looking pole." In an attempt to bend it back into shape for me, Brian snapped the pole in half. I stuck both pieces in my pack and continued with one pole. I didn't realize how much I relied on my "extra legs," until I was down one! After Jefferson, we continued to Mt Adams and eventually made it to Madison Spring Hut. We took a much needed break. My right knee started to hurt suddenly about a mile and a half before the hut. The descent into the hut was excruciating!! After about a half hour break, we climbed Madison and started the descent to Pinkham Notch. The descent was so painful! I was pretty emotional on the way down as a million thoughts flooded my mind. I was upset that I was injured on our first day, especially since I was so optimistic that we would avoid injuries after learning from last years mistakes. I was worried about what I did to myself and how long it would take to heal. I have never experienced pain in my knee like this!! My mind wandered to thoughts of "If these pains and injuries are happening now at 30, how will I ever thru hike later in life?" "Is this the end of our much anticipated hike this year?" "Is it smart to continue with such a painful injury into one of the most, if not THE MOST, remote part of the trail?" I was sad. I was hurt. I was mad. I was disappointed. I was even embarrassed. We finally made it out of the woods after dark. I was never more relieved to be done for the day. We got in our car (we had left it at Pinkham Notch) and went directly to Mr. Pizza for dinner. It took all we had to keep our eyes open long enough to get food in our mouths. As soon as we were done, we went back to our room, showered, and fell asleep almost instantly. I miss that feeling of being truly exhausted at bedtime!!
Peace Be The Journey
~Flicka
Start: Mt. Washington, NH
End: Pinkham Notch, NH
Daily Miles: 13.4
Total Miles: 13.4
Throughout the day, my thoughts and emotions were about as bipolar as the Mt Washington weather! Happiness, excitement, sadness, frustration, peacefulness, exhaustion, anger, embarrassment, worry and relief are just a few.
We woke up full of excitement to start our journey. The journey we have been counting down until for 11 months!!! The original plan was to start yesterday, but true to Mt. Washington fashion, there were thunderstorms on the ridge all day. Since there was no need to spend the day playing hide and seek with bolts of lightening on the exposed ridge for almost 7 miles, we delayed our start one day. We packed up with food, water, and lots of extra clothing and headed out. It was a warm 75 degrees and sunny in the valley, but weather reports called for 45 degrees with a "feel like" of 36 and foggy at the summit and along the ridge. We arrived at Pinkham notch and called the Mt Washington Stage Coach to drive us to the summit so we could meet the AT where we left it last year (even though we had done this section on a trip in 2010). By the time we arrived at the summit, it was 11:00. Much later than we intended to start. It was cold and we were hiking in the clouds, but we were still excited. Our views were limited to just about the next carin. We started the descent off of Mt. Washington and could hear the cog nearby, but could not see it. Our plan to follow AT tradition and moon the cog was ruined. We followed the AT past Mt Clay and Mt Jefferson and eventually started to have views of the valleys below and the ridges in the distance. Somewhere along this stretch, I lost my balance, fell, and face planted into a bush. Better a bush than the surrounding rocks, I suppose, but my shin and trekking pole were not so lucky. I stood up, brushed myself off and looked at my pole that was now shaped like an "L." I don't think an "L" shaped pole is conducive to hiking! As a fellow hiker commented, it definitely wasn't "a happy looking pole." In an attempt to bend it back into shape for me, Brian snapped the pole in half. I stuck both pieces in my pack and continued with one pole. I didn't realize how much I relied on my "extra legs," until I was down one! After Jefferson, we continued to Mt Adams and eventually made it to Madison Spring Hut. We took a much needed break. My right knee started to hurt suddenly about a mile and a half before the hut. The descent into the hut was excruciating!! After about a half hour break, we climbed Madison and started the descent to Pinkham Notch. The descent was so painful! I was pretty emotional on the way down as a million thoughts flooded my mind. I was upset that I was injured on our first day, especially since I was so optimistic that we would avoid injuries after learning from last years mistakes. I was worried about what I did to myself and how long it would take to heal. I have never experienced pain in my knee like this!! My mind wandered to thoughts of "If these pains and injuries are happening now at 30, how will I ever thru hike later in life?" "Is this the end of our much anticipated hike this year?" "Is it smart to continue with such a painful injury into one of the most, if not THE MOST, remote part of the trail?" I was sad. I was hurt. I was mad. I was disappointed. I was even embarrassed. We finally made it out of the woods after dark. I was never more relieved to be done for the day. We got in our car (we had left it at Pinkham Notch) and went directly to Mr. Pizza for dinner. It took all we had to keep our eyes open long enough to get food in our mouths. As soon as we were done, we went back to our room, showered, and fell asleep almost instantly. I miss that feeling of being truly exhausted at bedtime!!
Peace Be The Journey
~Flicka
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
Maine Oh Maine!!
Our bags are packed and we are ready to go!! After a long winter and a busy spring, some day hikes and some days of giving trail magic, the time has come for Daddy Long Legs and I to lace up our boots, throw on our packs, and put one foot in front of the other.
On Sunday, we will drive from our home on Long Island to Gorham, NH. We will spend our first night of our journey in the same place we spent our last night last summer, the Top Notch Inn. Monday morning, we will wake up early and hitch a ride to the Mt. Washington Auto Road where we will take a van to the summit (I have already climbed Washington 7 or 8 times and DDL has over 10 times). We will pick up the AT at the summit where we left off last year, and begin our 330+ mile trek to Katahdin.
As I write this, I'm filled with so many emotions. I feel happy as I reminisce about last summer and think about the amazing people we met, the everlasting memories we created, and the beauty that surrounded us each and every day. I feel nervous as I remember the various physical ailments DDL and I faced last year and I wonder if we will encounter similar pains on this journey. I'm excited to meet new friends, see new sunrises and sunsets, and hike in Maine (I've never hiked in Maine). Maybe we will even see a moose! I'm even a little sad that we are not continuing our journey with the incredible trail family we formed last year. But most off all, I am at peace. In just a few short days, I will be where I belong. I will be in nature, in the mountains, on the Appalachain Trail. I will be home.
Peace Be The Journey
~Flicka
On Sunday, we will drive from our home on Long Island to Gorham, NH. We will spend our first night of our journey in the same place we spent our last night last summer, the Top Notch Inn. Monday morning, we will wake up early and hitch a ride to the Mt. Washington Auto Road where we will take a van to the summit (I have already climbed Washington 7 or 8 times and DDL has over 10 times). We will pick up the AT at the summit where we left off last year, and begin our 330+ mile trek to Katahdin.
As I write this, I'm filled with so many emotions. I feel happy as I reminisce about last summer and think about the amazing people we met, the everlasting memories we created, and the beauty that surrounded us each and every day. I feel nervous as I remember the various physical ailments DDL and I faced last year and I wonder if we will encounter similar pains on this journey. I'm excited to meet new friends, see new sunrises and sunsets, and hike in Maine (I've never hiked in Maine). Maybe we will even see a moose! I'm even a little sad that we are not continuing our journey with the incredible trail family we formed last year. But most off all, I am at peace. In just a few short days, I will be where I belong. I will be in nature, in the mountains, on the Appalachain Trail. I will be home.
Peace Be The Journey
~Flicka
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Getting the Itch!!!!
Daddy Long Legs and I are excited because we have decided to return to the AT this summer! We will be setting out from Mount Washington on July 27. We will hike north and plan to summit Mount Katahdin on September 1. Let the spring prep hikes and gear preparation begin!! Also, check out the video that Daddy Long Legs put together from our trek last summer!
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=ofad3w5Veok&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dofad3w5Veok
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=ofad3w5Veok&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dofad3w5Veok
Saturday, September 1, 2012
August 31, 2012
Start: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
I felt spoiled today! We woke up to the hut croo playing guitar music and to a breakfast of oatmeal, quiche, bacon, and warm coffee cake. The plan for the day was 14.8 miles back up to the summit of Mt. Washington and then over past Mt. Clay, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Adams, over Mt. Madison and down to Pinkham Notch. The weather report given to us by the croo at breakfast though called for even higher winds than yesterday (over 80 mph) and thunderstorms. Almost our entire day today was along exposed summits and ridges. We decided that we would climb to the summit of Washington and make a decision then. We packed up, left the hut, and I made the 1.5 mile climb up 1200 feet in 45 minutes. It was a difficult climb because the wind was whipping us around like we were rag dolls. I was sniffling the entire way because my nose wouldn't stop running and the wind was blowing the snot across my face... In the words of Brian, "Snot very pretty." Haha. Walking across the summit, I was swaying back and forth, my movements in full control of the wind. I finally blew into the summit building and met Brian (why is he so fast?!??). We sat for a while and kept an eye on the weather. We watched as the thick, dark clouds descended on the top of the mountain. The wind had reached speeds of over 84 mph. We already hiked the 14.8 miles we had planned to do today when we did a section hike in 2010. After taking that thought and the weather into account, we asked ourselves if we really wanted to take the risk and do the hike... The answer... NOPE! We left the summit building and walked the 20 feet up a rock pile to the actual summit sign (which we already have at least 7 or 8 pictures together at, but needed this one because it was the climax of our journey). The wind was brutal. We had to crouch down as we climbed the rocks and then we each had to sit as we took pictures of each other. Coming down, the wind literally took control of my leg and smashed it into one of the rocks. I instantly had a swollen, bruised lump on my leg. We blew over to the hiker shuttle building and purchased tickets for the shuttle that takes hikers down the Mt. Washington Auto Road to Pinkham Notch. It turned out that we were not the only hikers with this idea. A full shuttle went down just as we arrived and our shuttle sold out too! Just as our shuttle pulled out of the parking spot, the rain started, then the thunder and lightening started. I think we made the right choice! We arrived at Pinkham Notch and spent some time in the visitor center. As I looked at the model of the Presidentials with the white blazed AT traversing over and around their high peaks, my eyes filled with tears. Our journey was over for now. Brian and I hugged... Although, we didn't make it to our intended destination of Mt. Katahdin, we made it to Pinkham Notch. We walked over 600 miles this summer and spent 70 amazing days together surrounded by the beauty of nature. I've laughed, I've cried, I sang, I yelled, I've been awed, I've been scared, I've been proud, I've been sad, but most importantly, we have both ended our journey happy and healthy. What more could I possibly ask for?
End: Pinkham Notch - stayed at Top Notch Inn in Gorham, NH
Peace Be The Journey
~Flicka
I will be writing a reflection of our trip after I gather my thoughts and emotions a bit more. I will also write about the gear I used and what I loved and hated about the gear.
I felt spoiled today! We woke up to the hut croo playing guitar music and to a breakfast of oatmeal, quiche, bacon, and warm coffee cake. The plan for the day was 14.8 miles back up to the summit of Mt. Washington and then over past Mt. Clay, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Adams, over Mt. Madison and down to Pinkham Notch. The weather report given to us by the croo at breakfast though called for even higher winds than yesterday (over 80 mph) and thunderstorms. Almost our entire day today was along exposed summits and ridges. We decided that we would climb to the summit of Washington and make a decision then. We packed up, left the hut, and I made the 1.5 mile climb up 1200 feet in 45 minutes. It was a difficult climb because the wind was whipping us around like we were rag dolls. I was sniffling the entire way because my nose wouldn't stop running and the wind was blowing the snot across my face... In the words of Brian, "Snot very pretty." Haha. Walking across the summit, I was swaying back and forth, my movements in full control of the wind. I finally blew into the summit building and met Brian (why is he so fast?!??). We sat for a while and kept an eye on the weather. We watched as the thick, dark clouds descended on the top of the mountain. The wind had reached speeds of over 84 mph. We already hiked the 14.8 miles we had planned to do today when we did a section hike in 2010. After taking that thought and the weather into account, we asked ourselves if we really wanted to take the risk and do the hike... The answer... NOPE! We left the summit building and walked the 20 feet up a rock pile to the actual summit sign (which we already have at least 7 or 8 pictures together at, but needed this one because it was the climax of our journey). The wind was brutal. We had to crouch down as we climbed the rocks and then we each had to sit as we took pictures of each other. Coming down, the wind literally took control of my leg and smashed it into one of the rocks. I instantly had a swollen, bruised lump on my leg. We blew over to the hiker shuttle building and purchased tickets for the shuttle that takes hikers down the Mt. Washington Auto Road to Pinkham Notch. It turned out that we were not the only hikers with this idea. A full shuttle went down just as we arrived and our shuttle sold out too! Just as our shuttle pulled out of the parking spot, the rain started, then the thunder and lightening started. I think we made the right choice! We arrived at Pinkham Notch and spent some time in the visitor center. As I looked at the model of the Presidentials with the white blazed AT traversing over and around their high peaks, my eyes filled with tears. Our journey was over for now. Brian and I hugged... Although, we didn't make it to our intended destination of Mt. Katahdin, we made it to Pinkham Notch. We walked over 600 miles this summer and spent 70 amazing days together surrounded by the beauty of nature. I've laughed, I've cried, I sang, I yelled, I've been awed, I've been scared, I've been proud, I've been sad, but most importantly, we have both ended our journey happy and healthy. What more could I possibly ask for?
End: Pinkham Notch - stayed at Top Notch Inn in Gorham, NH
Peace Be The Journey
~Flicka
I will be writing a reflection of our trip after I gather my thoughts and emotions a bit more. I will also write about the gear I used and what I loved and hated about the gear.
August 30, 2012
Start: Nauman Tentsite
We woke up to a COLD morning! It had been in the 30s overnight and windy. At 7 am, we were awake, but we didn't emerge from the warmth of our sleeping bags until 9! Once we finally braved the cold (it was somewhere in the low 40s now), we broke down camp and used the hut to get dressed and eat our breakfast in. The weather report at the hut from Mount Washington Weather Observatory called for clear skies and 50-70 mph winds!!! We put on our cold weather hiking gear and headed out. Right out of Mizpah, we had a 500 foot steep climb to Mt Pierce (4,312 feet). The trail then skirted past the summit of Mt Eisenhower on the way to the peak of Mt. Franklin (5,004 feet). Just after Eisenhower, we passed the spot where I broke my leg 4 years ago. We've been on Crawford Path once since then, but it's still amazes me to think I hopped that last mile before Lakes of the Clouds Hut (not as much as I am amazed by the fact that Brian carried me up the last 1.5 miles to the Mt. Washington summit though) especially since its rocky terrain with precipitous drop offs on two feet! Just before Lakes of the Clouds Hut, the trail skirted the summit of Mt. Monroe. Since the AT ALWAYS seems to go up, it surprises me that the trail hasn't been re-routed over all the summits. I assume the history of Crawford Path being the oldest maintained trail in America is the reason the AT remains the way it is. We reached Lakes and dropped some of our things off since we were spending the night there. We then began the 1.5 mile, 1200 foot climb to the summit of Mt. Washington (6,288 feet). It was cold and windy!!! My legs and poles were being controlled by the wind. Each time I picked them up to move, it seemed that I had no say in where they would land. At the summit, I learned that we had climbed in 50+ mph sustained winds with gusts up to 73 mph!!! Once we reached the summit, I was overcome with so many emotions. I was relieved to be out of the wind and eating pizza from the tourist-filled summit snack bar. I felt proud and accomplished that we were standing in the place we have been looking forward to since we took those first steps on the bridge crossing the Potomac River. I felt sad that the journey was coming to an end. I was happy and excited to return home to my family, friends, cats, and luxuries, but worried about the transition to "real life." I have been changed out here. I feel more alive, more inspired, more introspective, and more appreciative of the little things. These feelings have made me a better person and I don't want to lose them when surrounded with faucets to drink from rather than rivers to pump from, and buildings to look at rather than mountains, and a gym to go to for an hour a day rather than a walk to go on for 10 hours a day. The 6.1 mile trek today was a cold, windy one, but it was one filled with happiness, pride, and excitement. It felt good to be "home!"
After we spent some time at the summit, we hiked back down to the hut. We descended in just over a half hour. Dinner at Lakes was pumpkin ginger soup, homemade bread, beef tips, rice, and broccoli with oatmeal cookies for dessert. Delicious! Just after dinner, the sun went down and what a gorgeous sunset it was from 5,048 feet. The pink sun set behind mountains that appeared blue in the distance, but the beauty didn't stop there. The full moon (blue moon) came out and illuminated the lenticular clouds around it! Brian captured some gorgeous pictures of both!
End: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Peace Be The Journey
~Flicka
We woke up to a COLD morning! It had been in the 30s overnight and windy. At 7 am, we were awake, but we didn't emerge from the warmth of our sleeping bags until 9! Once we finally braved the cold (it was somewhere in the low 40s now), we broke down camp and used the hut to get dressed and eat our breakfast in. The weather report at the hut from Mount Washington Weather Observatory called for clear skies and 50-70 mph winds!!! We put on our cold weather hiking gear and headed out. Right out of Mizpah, we had a 500 foot steep climb to Mt Pierce (4,312 feet). The trail then skirted past the summit of Mt Eisenhower on the way to the peak of Mt. Franklin (5,004 feet). Just after Eisenhower, we passed the spot where I broke my leg 4 years ago. We've been on Crawford Path once since then, but it's still amazes me to think I hopped that last mile before Lakes of the Clouds Hut (not as much as I am amazed by the fact that Brian carried me up the last 1.5 miles to the Mt. Washington summit though) especially since its rocky terrain with precipitous drop offs on two feet! Just before Lakes of the Clouds Hut, the trail skirted the summit of Mt. Monroe. Since the AT ALWAYS seems to go up, it surprises me that the trail hasn't been re-routed over all the summits. I assume the history of Crawford Path being the oldest maintained trail in America is the reason the AT remains the way it is. We reached Lakes and dropped some of our things off since we were spending the night there. We then began the 1.5 mile, 1200 foot climb to the summit of Mt. Washington (6,288 feet). It was cold and windy!!! My legs and poles were being controlled by the wind. Each time I picked them up to move, it seemed that I had no say in where they would land. At the summit, I learned that we had climbed in 50+ mph sustained winds with gusts up to 73 mph!!! Once we reached the summit, I was overcome with so many emotions. I was relieved to be out of the wind and eating pizza from the tourist-filled summit snack bar. I felt proud and accomplished that we were standing in the place we have been looking forward to since we took those first steps on the bridge crossing the Potomac River. I felt sad that the journey was coming to an end. I was happy and excited to return home to my family, friends, cats, and luxuries, but worried about the transition to "real life." I have been changed out here. I feel more alive, more inspired, more introspective, and more appreciative of the little things. These feelings have made me a better person and I don't want to lose them when surrounded with faucets to drink from rather than rivers to pump from, and buildings to look at rather than mountains, and a gym to go to for an hour a day rather than a walk to go on for 10 hours a day. The 6.1 mile trek today was a cold, windy one, but it was one filled with happiness, pride, and excitement. It felt good to be "home!"
After we spent some time at the summit, we hiked back down to the hut. We descended in just over a half hour. Dinner at Lakes was pumpkin ginger soup, homemade bread, beef tips, rice, and broccoli with oatmeal cookies for dessert. Delicious! Just after dinner, the sun went down and what a gorgeous sunset it was from 5,048 feet. The pink sun set behind mountains that appeared blue in the distance, but the beauty didn't stop there. The full moon (blue moon) came out and illuminated the lenticular clouds around it! Brian captured some gorgeous pictures of both!
End: Lakes of the Clouds Hut
Peace Be The Journey
~Flicka
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