Pictures: me on the big mountain, the crew I summited with, rainbow over Katahdin the night before we started up the mountain, moon rising near Moxie Bald Lean-to, me at the unofficial 2000 mile mark, the boys (Remix and Stash) and I after hitting 2000!!, view from Pierce Pond, and entering Maine.

So, I made it to Katahdin - the greatest mountain. What an experience, what a journey. The pictures don't quite do it justice. Sorry for not being able to update anybody but no computers.

After coming out of Stratton, we headed up to Horns Pond Shelter. Me and Stash were able to take a quick dip in the pond. Nothing better after a horribly sticky day on the trail. The water felt amazing. Crazy storm blew in that night so we all decided to wait it out in the shelter that morning. Coffee, radio and rain. Not a bad way to spend the morning. But the Bigelows were calling our name so off we went. Did 27.5 miles over the Bigelows. Long day but we hit our 2000 mile mark so life was pretty good. I also ran into Missy and Reuben Stugart (now Solar and Lunar) and their dog Violet. They are friends of mine from Atlanta. It was really good for me to see somebody from home. Really pumped me up. I was a bit jealous as I was saying goodbye. They have their entire hike ahead of them and here I am, ending. The rain cleared up and it turned into a gorgeous evening. It cooled down a bit and threw off some of those mosquitos, thank God. Beautiful sunset over Pierce Pond. One of my favorite evenings on the trail.

The next day we head toward the infamous Kennebec River crossing. Before getting there, we stopped at Harrison Camps for a 12 pancake breakfast. If that doesn't get you up and over a mountain, I don't know what does. I finished probably 8 of them with three eggs so I was okay with that. The boys ofcourse had no problem finishing theirs. Crossed the Kennebec via canoe ferry, the "legal" way to cross the Kennebec. It is about six feet deep in the middle and they strongly recommend you take the canoe across. As I am pretty short, no objections there from me. A couple climbs today but not too bad. Really enjoyed Moxie Bald. I had the mountain all to myself and I just sat up there, taking it all in. It was powerful.

Headed into Monson, Maine, our last town stop. Crazy to think that this is the last time we will stay at a hostel, last time for town food, last time for resupply for the trail. Things are moving too quickly for me. I had a wonderful time in Monson. Got to see Tau and meet Traveller, had a great dinner x 2 and just really relaxed. Definitely what I needed before heading into the 100 mile wilderness.

The 100 Mile Wilderness wasn't quite what I expected. You are told in all the guide books that it is the most rugged section of trail maybe on the whole trail. Roots, rocks, slippery terrain and still a few mountains. So the first night, I saw probably 30 people - 20 of them being kids from summer camp. And the terrain wasn't bad at all. Maybe I have a different perspective as I have been out here awhile. I really couldn't believe how many people I saw over the course of the first few days of the wilderness. Several camp groups, day hikers especially near Gulf Hagas area. Took a little adjusting but met some great folks nonetheless. Some of my favorite spots in the wilderness were Screw Auger falls right around Gulf Hagas where I took a nice little swim, Whitecap mountain where we got our first pretty decent view of Katahdin in the distance, and mainly just being able to slow down and enjoy my surroundings. I did a lot of solo hiking and spent time contemplating my trip and recapping all the highlights, everything pretty much. Talked to a lot of southbounders and even some northbound sections hikers. It was also great talking and spending time with all of my thru-hiking friends. The last week was definitely one of my favorites. Maine is gorgeous and I hope to be able to come back and spend more time here.

The boys and I decided to push it to Abol Bridge the night before rolling into Katahdin Stream so we could do a little celebrating. It rained off and on for us but turned out to be an alright day. The next morning cleared up and we got a fantastic view of the greatest mountain from Abol Bridge. It was hard for me to believe we were only 15 miles away. Took our time that morning as we only had 10 to do. We thought about summiting on Friday because it was so nice out but we all decided to wait for our friends that were meeting us at Katahdin Stream Campground. I took a lot of time reflecting at the Birches ( a camping area where many thru-hikers stay the night before the summit). I was sad to be ending but also excited to finally climb Katahdin and reach that sign. There was a rainbow over the view of the trail to katahdin that we thought was a good sign the night before the summit. My friend Jeremy showed up with a surprise guest, my friend Bridgette with enough hotdogs to feed a small army. Had a great time hanging out with my hiker friends and my friends from home. Remix and Stash's friend Joe also arrived. I was a bit anxious all night for the big day, hoping for decent weather.

7/7/07 The day I had been walking towards for some time now. It was foggy and a bit chilly when we awoke but decided to head up regardless. Jer and Bridge headed up at 4 am so they could be up there when we all summited. I left around six and caught them before the top (go figure :)) What a crazy climb up the mountain. A little more steep than any of us expected, esp. Bridge and Jer but boy were they troopers. I was really proud of them both. They just kept trucking. Once we got above treeline, it got really windy and you couldn't see hardly anything in front of you due to the clouds. This turned out to be a good thing for them as they couldnt' see how far they were really climbing up. As we neared the summit, the wind picked up considerably but the clouds moved out of the way. 360 degree views all around. It was incredible. I saw the sign from the distance and literally jogged up the the rest of the way. Jer got it all video. I was so excited, let out a whoop and teared up a bit. It was 32 degree on top with 45 mph wind gusts, resulting in a 14 degree wind chill. But I certainly didn't care, I was literally on top of the world. Somehow we all timed it right and Tau and Traveller showed up right behind me and then Remix and Stash. I can't express in words how incredible it felt to be on top of Katahdin. 2175 miles to get here. I wish I could have spent a bit more time on top but I was pretty chilled despite all the adrenaline. Me, Jer and Bridge decided to start our descent. The boys stayed up awhile drinking some celebratory beverages. I had mixed emotions traversing down the mountain. I savored every minute because I knew it would be awhile before I can be out here again.

After coming down the mountain, it just felt surreal. I am not sure it hit me that I was finished. Three days later and I am still not sure. I wish I was still out there where everything is simple. But for now, I will get my hikes in when I can and live vicariously through my other friends who are still hiking. I already have plans for my some other large hikes in my future. I can't imagine the AT being my last long distance trail.

The AT is probably the toughest thing I have ever done but also the best. The people I met, the mountains I climbed, the terrain I travelled, it couldn't have been a better experience. Thanks so much for all of you that have supported me along the way in various forms. Your encouragement and support got me through. And thanks in advance for listening to my stories over and over again and for helping me transition back into society. It will be rough.

I am planning on putting all of my pictures online so you can all see and will keep everybody updated on where that will be.

Until my next hike,

much love

Kentucky Blue

Stratton Maine stop-in

What's up folks??? So I am just stopping in Stratton, Maine to pick up a maildrop and grab some grub. We currently have less than 200 miles to go and I am so excited!!!! We are tackling the Bigelow Mountains today and tomorow and then we hear it is pretty smooth sailing to Monson and then the Hundred Mile Wilderness that leads us to Katahdin - the summit of dreams. I have still been hanging out with Stash and Remix. We did a 20 mile day over Moody Mountain, Old Blue Mountain, and Bemis Mountain. We stayed with several southbounders at the Bemis Mountain Shelter. It is crazy how many SOBO's we are now passing - sometimes as many as 10 a day. Headed down the mountain and 17 miles later, we go into Rangeley, Maine and stay at Gull Pond Lodge. Bob O'Brien, the owner, is awesome and a really great storyteller. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there, hanging out with Bob, his dog Gwendy and the boys. Redo showed up there too and we all celebrated her birthday. Right before heading to bed, Boone and his brother, the Follower, showed up. Craziness. They are Northbounders that are travelling very quickly. They hope to summit July 4th. We are shooting for July 7th. It was good to hang out with them, it definitely got me thinking about lightening my load. They each carry about 15 pounds. Woah - my generally weighs around 30 pounds depending on food and water. The next day, we grabbed a big breakfast thanks to Bob and headed up the Saddleback Mountains. They were absolutely gorgeous. We all just hung out on each of the peaks - Saddleback, the horn, and Saddleback Junior for quite some time. I love just chillin with the mountains all around. Layed our heads at Spaulding Mountain Lean-to last night. Climbed over the Crocker Mountains today and now we are in Stratton. I am certainly not minding being in town at the moment as it is about 90 degrees outside, very humid, and the black flies are pretty excited when we are outside. I got ate up last night. As soon as we munch on some much needed icecream, we are heading another 5 miles up to Horns Pond. I hear there is some good swimming there so I think I'll take a dip. I definitely could benefit from a better smell. I have been sweating so much, it is crazy! I am excited about a big day tomorrow over the Bigelows - where if the weather is nice, we could get a view of Katahdin. That would be awesome. It looks like I will probably run into my friends Reuben and Missie who are hiking SOBO this year. It will be nice to run into some folks from home and to hear about their adventures so far.

We will be in Monson on Saturday but I'm not sure about the internet situation. I will try and update before heading into the 100 mile wilderness but if not, I will update you all after summiting. I am so excited to be in Maine. It is gorgeous and it feels really good to be this close. My dream is within reach - woohoo!!! Hope everybody is staying cool this summer and onward I go!

Love,
Kentucky Blue

Welcome to Maine - the way life should be

So I officially made it to state # 14 yesterday. I cannot believe it. Four months ago today I started down in Georgia and in two weeks, if all goes well, I will summit Katahdin. This brings chills everytime I think about it.

Left out of Gorham, NH yesterday 6/22/07. Not too fun leaving town when it is cold and rainy but that's the way things go out here. You just keep trucking. It was a long day in the rain, fog, and if you can believe it, hail. I was like are you kidding, hail, in June? But you never know with maine weather. It was off and on weather most of the day with some crazy climbs. Then we hit the Maine marker about 16 miles after starting. It actually cleared for a few minutes for our photo opportunity. I am still traveling with Remix, Stash, and Redo. About 1/2 hour into Maine, the really sucky weather hit. Welcome to Maine. I was about blown off the mountain. Forty mile an hour gusts on top of an open mountain top with hail, and one very large crash of thunder and flash of lightening. Ahh!! Did I mention the terrain was wet and very slippery. Needless to say, I was pretty stoked to pull into Full Goose Shelter and get some warm and dry clothes on. Redo wasn't so lucky, she was showing some pretty severe symptoms of hypothermia so we got her out of her wet clothes and into dry clothes and sleeping and fed her some hot liquids. She was doing much better after that thank goodness. It was a good reminder of how dangerous this trail can be some times. It was definitely the coldest I have experienced in awhile. Welcome to Maine!

It was a bit hard getting out of the sleeping bag this morning as it was probably about 40 degrees and windy. But Mahoosuc Notch was only a mile away and I was anxious to get to it. The Knotch is supposed to be the toughest mile on the trail. You pretty much crawl over, under, and around large, slippery boulders and roots for a mile straight. I put my trekking poles away and had at it. I actually had a pretty good time, it was quite the challenge, but fun nonetheless. After the notch, I headed up Mahoosuc Arm and passed a slew of southbound hikers. This is quite the novelty for me. I still remember the first SOBO i passed way back in Georgia and he was so close to finishing, I couldn't even fathom that for myself. Here I am so close to finishing and passing all of these folks that have just begun. I like where I am at :) I needed to pick up a maildrop in Andover but the crew didn't need to head in. I decided to push it in to Andover today and meet back up with Remix and Stash tomorrow on the trail. I am glad I did. The folks at Pine Ellis Hiking Lodge are super friendly and I am having the chance to hang out with two southbounders - Sprocket and Ranger. I am clean, dry and warm - a combination I am appreciating more and more these days.

On to Rangeley in a few days then Monson and then....the 100 mile wilderness, my final strech of Maine. Having a blast and hoping the weather holds for us.

Talk to you all soon.

Love,
Kentucky Blue

WOW - the incredible White Mountains

Wow doesn't quite say how incredible the past week has been for me. Just check out the pics. From the bottom, the comedy train at Mt. Moosilauke, view from Lonesome Lake, Stash and Tapeworm relaxing, me on top of a very large mountain, the sunset from Lake of the Clouds Hut, the view from Mt. Washington, and me and the boys after a very long 25 mile day in the whites!

6/13/07 19.6 miles to Hikers Welcome Hostel. Happy hiking from Hanover, NH. A bit cloudy out today but the rain held off for me so that was good. My pack was pretty heavy coming out with full resupply and a new tent to carry - ahh! But thats okay because the Whites are a-callin'! Got to the Hikers Welcome Hostel and caught up with Redo and Tapeworm, two section hikers that I met back in New Jersey and two thru-hikers Stash and Remix who started March 10th and have been chasing me the whole way only to pass me while I was off the trail being sickly. I was thrilled to finally meet them. We all hung out, ate dinner at Calamity Jane's complete with very large icecream cone, and then geared up for our big day tomorrow!

6/14/07 17 miles to Eliza Brook Shelter. What an amazing day. Quite the climb up Mt. Moosilauke but the view was incredible. Got up there in pretty good time. Me, Stash and Remix got to chill up there for a couple hours waiting on the girls to make it up the mountain. It was so much fun getting to know them and enjoying our first mountain above treeline by ourselves for a little bit. A very steep descent down the Moose, probably one of the toughest on the trail. You know its steep when you feel like you could die at any moment with just one wrong step! Ah the challenge of a thru-hike. After descending for an hour and a half, then you get to go back up another mountain and down again. It was awesome though. I got to meet Hans Solo, a section hiker who also passed me while off the trail and hang out with him for a bit. Not bad for my first day in the Whites.

6/15/07 9.8 miles to Franconia Notch and North Woodstock, NH. Good weather yet again this morning. Tapeworm and Redo needed to resupply in North Woodstock and the way I was pounding the snacks, I figured I should go in and grab a few more. So it was actually a pretty easy day to Franconia Notch. The view from Kinsman Mountain was spectacular as the view from Lonsesome Lake. This area is unbelieveable. There are so many take your breath away spots. We couldn't get a ride easily into Woodstock so we called for a shuttle and headed to the Carriage Motel and crammed 5 of us in a hotel room. Spent the afternoon enjoying the town and the pool. As you can see from the picture above, Stash and Tapewom were especially enjoying the town. I am so thankful I caught up with these guys. The group meshes really well and we are just having a blast.

6/16/07 13 miles to Galehead Hut. This day is probably my favorite day on the trail so far. Got on the trail pretty early as we had one heck of a climb. Headed up Little Haysack Mountain (not so little) and then Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Lafayette and later that day Mt. Garfield. The weather was spectacular and allowed for some killer views. I loved the challeng of the hike today. It was intense but being able to see where you came from and where you are going was unbeatable. The joys of being above treeline. Another great point for me was being able to see Mt. Washington in the distance. It is the second tallest point on the entire trail, just short of Clingman's Dome, way back in the Smokies. It is crazy to think it is only a few days away. Made it to Galehead Hut in the afternoon and met the awesome croo there. These huts are like hotels way up in the sky it feels like. The croo hikes in all the food there and everyone who stays there has to hike there. Granted not everybody there hike 1800 miles to get there but at least three. The beauty of being a thru-hiker in the whites is that you can do work-for-stay at the huts. This means you give about an hour or two of work and get fed and get a place to sleep while the paying customers pay about 67 bucks for the same deal. I had the privilege of reaming the fridge aka using a tool to get all of the excess ice off the fridge walls. It was actually nice to work. And the food was pretty good too. We got the luxury of sleeping in the dining area on the floor. Worked out good to be out of the wind of the mountains. What a great day...

6/17/07 14.7 miles to Crawford Notch and the Highland Center

6/18/07 11.2 miles to Lake of the Clouds Hut

6/19/07 20.7 miles + 4 "detour" miles to Carter Notch Hut

6/20/07 15.2 miles to Rt. 2 and Gorham, NH

So I am getting kicked off the computer because someone else needs to use it. Let me just say that this week has probably been the best on the trail for me so far. I had an amazing time. The weather was unreal - I don't think I know anybody that has been this lucky with the weather. Things just worked out. I got to go over some of the most beautiful terrain in the country and met some truly amazing people. Life is so good right now and I have still have more to come. I am heading into Maine tomorrow and have less than 300 miles to go. I am so glad I am feeling better and truly enjoying this last section of the trail. Hope you enjoyed the pics and I will hopefully update again soon. Sorry this one is a bit short!

Miss and love ya,
Ky Blue

And I'm back in the game - New Hampshire - what what!!!

Quite a variety of pics I know - me and Jer at the beach and at this really great country concert, my "car camping" day off the trail :), me looking at the mountains I am getting ready to climb and a look at the Whites - in all their majesty!

6/7/07 - 6/9/07 Hanging out in Phillie and New Jersey. Decided to take a few days off the trail and headed to Philadelphia to see my friend Jeremy. We hit pretty many sites in the few days that I had there. He took me to see his college campus - Eastern University and also Bryn Mawr University - let me say, I definitely wish I had gone there. It looked like a castle and did I mention it is all girls. The next day we headed to Cape May on the New Jersey coast. I met some of his friends and hung out on the beach most of the day. What a contrast to the mountains I have been hiking on. His friend Becca's family was staying there and they welcomed us graciously. Becca's brother Mike is really interested in the Appalachian Trail and I got to talk to him about it extensively. Kind of got me back excited about the trail and helped him out too. A win win situation. We all went to dinner and boy am I glad my appetite is back. Hooray for crab cakes! Saw a beautiful sunset over Cape May's lighthouse and then headed out on the town for a little while. Due to my thru-hiker's bedtime ( I can't help but fall asleep generally by 9 pm these days), we cut it short around 10:30 and made our way back to our campsite. So nice to drive to a campsite once in awhile. Next day we headed back towards the city and went to this great country concert featuring some new artists plus Clint Black, Gary Allan, and Dierks Bentley. Quite the treat for a country girl like myself. I was so tired by the end of the concert and knew I had to catch a bus at 5 am the next morning but there was more of Philly to see. We ate some dinner and then went to a block party. Really nice people and I wish I could have stayed awake longer to hang out but I was exhausted. Slept for a few hours in Jer's jeep and was up wicked early to catch that bus. Pretty busy for a few days off but much needed.

6/10/07 1.4 miles to Tucker Johnson Shelter. Got on a bus and stayed on several buses over the course of a very long day. Luckily I was able to convince the bus driver to actually drop me off right on the trail. I had figured out that the bus would take us right by the trail. No since in going all the way in town and then paying for a taxi back out. Score! Hiked to the first shelter and called it a day. No trouble falling asleep tonight as I was tuckered out. Thought I might run into some hikers but no luck as of yet. Just me and the sound of the bubbling brook to lull me to sleep. It's good to be back in nature, I missed her.

6/11/07 30.5 miles to Thistle Hill Shelter. Why was it again that I decided to hike 30 miles on my first real day back on the trail? Oh right, I thought it would make the walk into Hanover easier. I actually felt pretty good today. I thought I might be a little out of shape after taking a few days off but the legs were just glad to be hiking again. However my feet were a bit tired at the end of the day. I found out that Orange Blaze has passed me while I was off but no one else. I am sad that Salamander or Hobbit hadn't caught up but Sal left me a message saying he is a few days behind me. Hope to see him soon. Also got a message from Guthook saying he finished the Whites - I am so excited for him and am looking forward to the great White Mountains myself. Another night by my lonesome at the shelter. I guess I need to accept that part of the trail. It is really good to get out of my comfort zone and spend this time by myself. It challenges me and that is one of the main reasons I am out here. On my way to the shelter, I stopped for icecream at CloudHill Farm. It was Vermont organice maple - probably the best ice cream I have had on the trail. Nothing like a pint of ice cream for dinner.

6/12/06 14.6 miles into Hanover, NH. I made it to New Hampshire. How cool is that? I must say I am pretty excited and couldn't stop smiling as I was heading into town. Only 442 miles to go in this grand adventure. My feet got wet yesterday when it rained for like an hour and they continue to be wet today. I was thinking of hanging out in Hanover and then moving on tonight back to the trail but not with wet shoes. I hate coming out of town with wet shoes, it just sets you up for foot funk. So looks like I am going to check out the AT Hillton, a hiker friendly hostel. Tomorrow, I get back on the trail and head for the White Mountains, supposed to be some of the most rugged terrain on the trail. I'm looking forward to it.

It is good to be back out here, thanks again for all the comments, calls, and mainly to all of you who listened to my ramblings and grumblings about the trail. I feel so supported and that means the world to me. Onward to Maine!

Love,

Kentucky Blue

And so it goes...

Hello All and welcome to the next edition of follow that that thru-hiker. So I am finally able to post some pictures. Sorry there are not that many people, I haven't seen too many people recently but I have high hopes for the remainder of the trail. A pair of very much need to be retired trail running shoes (1000 miles on these puppies). Yes, I do have new ones finally. Baby fawn that somehow thought I was its mother, welcome to Massachussetts sign (actually, now I am in Vermont but the sign wasn't that readable), canoe at the awesome Upper Goose Pond Cabin with AT logo, memorial at Mt. Greylock, another brilliant trillium (I love these flowers!), and my stuff after a very soggy day of the trail. Okay, I have had a few of those, who doesn't love soggy feet for three days???

5/29/07 23.3. mile slackpack from MA 2 back to Dalton, MA. Who am I to pass a slackpacking opportunity? Tom graciously offered me a chance to slackpack and another night to stay at his house so I jumped right on that. Pilgrim was able to give me a ride to MA 2 after dropping Tau off and then I walked back into Dalton. It was a gorgeous day outside. I had quite the climb (my first significant one in awhile) over Mt. Greylock. It was a spectacular view and I really enjoyed it. I was trying to get to Dalton in time for my maildrop so I made some killer time after summiting Greylock. Passed through Chesire and met Red Dog when I was almost back to Dalton. What a cool section hiker! Also passed Li coming out of town. Didn't think I would see him again as he was flying. He decided to take a few days off so I should be seeing him the next day when I got back on the trail - good news! Made it to the post office in time but alas, no mail drop. Guess I am a little too far ahead of schedule. One of those things you have to roll with. I ended up doing some laundry and then resupplying at a gas station - my number one choice for resupplying! Tom was kind enough to accompany me to dinner and I enjoyed a nice organic pale ale at the local place. In to bed early so as to get back on the trail in the AM.

5/30/07 20 miles to Melville Nauheim Shelter. Went and had a nice breakfast at the local hangout with Tom and his weekly breakfast club. It was really nice to sit back and listen to the gossip of the men of the town. They didn't seem to mind me much. Tom gave me a ride back to North Adams and away I went. Another beautiful day in paradise. I got into camp pretty early today after passing into Vermont. Not much stopping as the bugs get a bit ferocious (sp?) anytime you are not walking. But nonetheless, I was excited to be in Vermont, my twelfth state. I was going to hike a bit further but I am trying to get in the slowing down routine. Besides, I had some letter writing to catch up on. I am glad I stopped because Li ended up showing up and decided to camp with me so we could hike together tomorrow. It's so good to have some company as it has been awhile.

5/31/07 27.9 miles to Stratton Pond Shelter. So I know I said I was trying to slow down but I did these miles by like 5:30 pm. Isn't that crazy? Had a great day hiking with Li today. He is hoping to do the Continental Divide Trail after finishing this one this year. That's right, he is not only hiking 2100 miles on the AT but also 2700 on the CDT in the same damn year. And you think I'm crazy. He can do it thought, cool guy. It was very enjoyable to hike with someone for a change. Generally I enjoy hiking by myself and hanging out with folks at night but every now and again, it is quite the treat to have a buddy and it makes the day go by super quick. He tried to convince me to go another 7 or 8 miles with him but I figured 28 was just fine for me. Kind of wish I did though because I didn't get much sleep as I could have sworn that there was moose walking around outside the shelter. Moose you say, yes, there has been all kinds of moose droppings and hoof prints on the trail so they are definitely around. This is where you see all of my stuff drying out because I got into a bit of a thunderstorm about an hour before reaching camp. Nothing like lightening to make you want to get down from Stratton Mountain. Turned out to be a very pleasant evening and I really enjoyed the serenity of Stratton Pond. I was really hoping for the loons to be there but not quite yet.

6/1/07 10.6 miles to VT 11/30 and Manchester Center, VT. Got up bright and early, excited to be heading into town to resupply and to catch up with Tau. Made great time in very sloshy trail conditions and was able to get a ride pretty easily into town. These Vermonters are good people! Decided to hit a popular breakfast spot before the outfitter and was I glad! Had blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup and a couple I had been talking to about the trail paid for my breakfast. I love trail magic! They must have felt sorry for my damp appearance at the more upscale breakfast place :). Hit the Mountain Goat outfitter and picked up my mail drops along with some much needed 100% Deet bug spray. The guys there were really helpful and even said I could bring my shoe back later when it was dry to patch up a small hole. Headed over to Sutton's Place, the place to stay in town for hikers. Met Frank, the owner, and he graciously welcomed me in. A room wasn't ready yet but I was able to shower so I could run and do my errands. I was even able to take care of this chicken pox vaccine I needed in order to register for classes for the fall that has been a nuisance since Virginia! Very pleased about that. When I got back, I caught up with Tau who was so excited because her friends and dog were about to arrive from Maine for a visit. I decided to head over and treat myself to the Mexican restaurant. Little did I know that would not be the wisest choice later!

6/2/07 and 6/3/07 I was planning on doing a 17 mile slack today but my plans were altered around midnight. You see, I somehow got violently ill during the night. I don't know if it was the food or just the flu but I puked for like 10 hours straight. No fun at all. Ended up calling the doctor the next morning and having to get a shot for nausea and an IV because I was becoming dehydrated. Still not feeling well upon returning so it looks like no hiking tomorrow either. Tau really took care of me even with her friends there. Her friends were great too. I was very thankful they were there to keep an eye on me. They ended up heading out on Sunday but got me set up before leaving. I pretty much just laid in bed Sat and Sun trying to recuperate. I can tell I do not like being sick but especially when away from home. Frank was kind enough to keep an eye on me after Tau left and even brought me Jello.

6/4/07 10.1 miles to Peru Peak Shelter. So apparantly, I am not the brightest crayon in the box. I somehow thought puking and not eating for two days and then hiking would be a great idea. Not so much. I was feeling a little bit better Monday morning but really I should have waited at least another day. Got back on the trail and realized a few things. A) It was raining and I was soaked in no time B) I had no energy - not eating really has that affect on you C) The trails were insanely wet and muddy and steep in some parts. My concentration wasn't all that great and I did not have an enjoyable experience. I somehow got over Bromley and then a few other peaks, coming into Peru Peak Shetler. Decided to call it a day around 12:30. I called into my bag and slept most of the day. I tried to eat dinner but it came back up. These were not good signs. I was thankful that the Grinch and his daughter were there to talk to but I probably wasn't much for conversation. I thought surely tomorrow things would improve.

6/5/07 7.7 miles to Danby-Landgrove Rd. So things did not improve in the morning. Well at least it wasn't really raining. The trail was insanely wet and again my shoes were drenched. Just kind of ambled along the trail. Ran into some hikers at BigBranch Shelter. They were all pretty friendly but I was not feeling well. I tried to eat some crackers but the outlook was not good. I made the decision to find a ride at the next road to the nearest town and see what was up. So I got to the next road, happened to be a forest road and not much traffic. Luckily I was able to get a ride with Duncan and he felt so sorry for me, he drove me all th way to Rutland where I knew there was a hostel for recuperating. I am so glad I did. I found my way to Back Home Again Cafe and they made me feel so welcome. I knew I made the right decision when I puked as soo as I got there and I was so glad it was not on the trail. Layed in bed all afternoon and they brought some drinks designed to make me feel better and kept checking on me. At some point, I also got Pedialyte and crackers and by the end of the day, I felt a smidge better. I was having some pretty crazy thoughts at this point. Maybe even quitting. My strength was gone and had lost like 8 pounds in a few days and that is quite a lot for my not so large frame these days.

6/6/07 Zero day today and surprinsingly, I felt a bit more human. Decided to try a liquid diet today and see where it got me. Volunteered in the kitchen at the cafe for work for stay and got to know some amazing people. This community lives and works together and have this great family. They were very interesting to talk to. Had one of their famous smoothies and it stayed down - woohoo!! Made the decision this morning to take a few days of the trail and visit my friend Jeremy in Philadelphia. I called him and it worked out great with his schedule so tomorrow I will going in the opposite direction of Katahdin for a few days. That will be weird but I think I need it. When I came back from the library, to my surpsise, Holly and Amanda had shown up. These are two section hikers that I met awhile back in New Jersey. I was so excited to see them. We caught up on what had been going on and it really bolstered my spirits. We all headed to the cafe again and I ate some soup and bread. I am so thrilled to be eating anything at all and it was amazing. After that we even went to a movie. Ah to be normal if only for an evening.

6/7/07 So today I made my way from Rutland, VT all the way to Philadelphia. I am already glad I came. I guess I needed a vacation. Being sick and not being around too many hikers recently has really taken its toll on me. I am ready for a weekend of just chillin with a good friend and regaining my strength so I can finish this adventure. I am also hoping that Hobbit or Salamander or both might catch up while I am here because I would really enjoy hiking with those guys again. So I am going to enjoy my weekend and get back on the trail on Sunday or Monday - refreshed, reenenergized and refocused on my goal - Katahdin. I was so focused on just getting there I was not really enjoying myself all that much the past week. Katahdin will always be there and I have all summer to get there. What's the rush?

Thanks for listening guys, especially all my friends and family that have listened to me through several phone calls over the past few days. Your unwavering support has already helped renew me. Hopefully by my next post, I will be back on the trail and in the great state of New Hampshire, going through one of the most beautiful regions in the world.

Love,

Kentucky Blue

Dalton, MA - that's right Massachusetts!

So let me tell you a little bit about my time in New York. It was hectic to say the least but fun-filled. Got up really early in the morning and went to everybody's favorite NYC weekday destination - the Today Show in Rockafeller Center. I got to actually shake hands with hosts Meredith Vierra and Matt Lauer. Martha Stewart was doing a segment and Meredith came over and brought us a taste. Then Matt saw our very ghetto sign and read that we had traveled along the AT and talked with us a few minutes. Very cool. Let me also tell you that I am wearing hiker clothes that have travelled all the way with me so I was not in my finest. After that, we walked around the city a bit and went to where Hobbit's daughter works - Murray's cheese. We got a personal tour and I got to check out how cheese is aged in the cheese cave and lots of sampling. Bought some cheese for the trail and then went to grab a slice of NY's famous pizza. We were all pretty tired by this point so we headed back to the apartment and rested for a bit. Rather my friends rested and I went, hailed my very first taxi on my own and tracked down my shoes at a shipping center in the Bronx. Go me. Had more trouble finding my new pack - eventually found it at a Fed Ex center in Manhattan. I had the pleasure of carrying around the large box to the nice restaurant we went to for dinner that evening. Nothing like synthetic clothing and a big cardboard box to make restaurant folks welcome you in. Actually this place was great and the food was outstanding. I even tried lobster for the first time and it was all it was cracked up to be and more. Mmm good! Hobbit was kind enough to treat me and I am ever so thankful!

5/24/07 20.4 miles to Kent, CT Took the early train from NYC back out to Pawling, NY. I even found my way around the city on my own. I am pretty proud of that as it is a very confusing city. One member of a trail angel family came to meet me at the station to pick up my stuff so I could do a slackpack to their house later that day. They call themselves Mac and Cheese - String is the daughter of the macs. They are the greatest family and I so enjoyed meeting them. They open up their home to thru-hikers and help them out, feed them, let them shower, give them a place to sleep that is not on the trail. Anyways, Cough Drop (from earlier in my hike) wanted to come say hello as he was passing through so we spent about 15 minutes catching up while he drove me to the trailhead. Him and his mother were headed to the beach for the weekend. It was so good to see them if only for a brief moment. Got back on the trail and it felt good to be back in the woods. The city was fun but a bit too chaotic for my taste. I love the simple rythmn of the trail, it is now a part of me. Today was incredibly hot and humid. Little did I know that tomorrow would be worse. But I kept trucking and eventually made it to Kent, CT. Mr. Mac picked me up at the trail head and took me to their house. Met back up with Tau there and had a wonderful dinner with Mr. Mac and String. So nice to have conversation and wine as we watched the sun disappear on their deck. What a pleasant evening. It was definitely a nice transition from the city back into trail life.

5/25/07 26.3 miles to a campsite near Great Falls. Had a bit of a late start this morning but it started out wondefully. Watched the sun come up via my bed on the sofa in the covered porch of Mac and Cheese's home. What a great way to wake up. Had a nice breakfast with the family and then off to Kent. I had to wait for the outfitter to open to replace my broken trekking pole. I had an enjoyable time people watching in downtown Kent, a small New England town. The outfitter apparantly broke down on the way to work so it was late to open. Luckily they had the piece I needed and it was covered under warranty so free - free is always good! Got a ride back to the trail by a nice Irish woman. That's where my late start came in - on the trial by 9:45 am is not always a good thing when it is supposed to be 95 degrees with 100% humidity. Holy cow it was warm. I was crawling up the mountains. I am not sure how I did so many miles with the heat but I just kept trucking. Took several breaks to soak the feet and even cooked dinner before moving on. I walked until past dark. It was at least cooler by this spot. I heard thunder and lightening in the distance so I thought I would have to go all the way to the next shelter but luckily it blew over so I camped in a nice open field under the stars. It was actually my first official night on the trail by myself. Scary a bit but empowering.

5/26/07 28.5 miles to MA 7 and Corn Crib. Another long day but it was a teensy bit cooler and a with a touch of a breeze. My appetite has started to be affected by the heat. I barely ate my dinner last night and I barely choked down the oatmeal this morning. This is not such a good thing when you are pulling down so many miles. My body is not happy with me. Burning too many calories and not inputting near enough. I am also really tired of most of my food. I guess I need to rethink some things the next time I am in town. Hiked six miles and came to Salsibury, CT. I met some folks having a yard sale that filled up my water bottles for me and chatted for a bit. Nice folks. Onward over the many mountains. Climbed Lions Head, Bear Mountain and Everett. Now Everett, not to be confused with Mt. Everest, felt like Everest on the way up due to the very steep climb. Saw all kinds of people today as it is Memorial day weekend and a very scenic area with lots of road access. Stopped and chatted with some but mainly kept moving. When I was about 3 miles from my final destination for the day, something major happened. Holy blood-sucking mosquitos batman! I hit the infamous Massachusetts mosquitos. These things were insane - probably 200 of them swarming me at once. I had heard about them but never dreamed they would be like that. I ran through that mile section in no time at all but it felt like forever. They got a bit better after that but not much. I probably got 50 bites, most of them around my armpit. Why do they like that area so much? Anyways, got to the road and was pretty excited about staying at the Corn Crib and I heard they had icecream for sale. Well the place was closed for the evening. I should have known but I guess I was being hopeful. I decided to still crash there as I was exhausted. Ended up sleeping in the greenhouse. Really neat place, wish I could have met the owner. Really need to figure out the food situation as I had trouble with dinner again tonight.

5/27/07 14.6 miles to Upper Goose Pond Cabin. So today I hit my lowest point on the trail. I am writing this a day later and things are much better but yesterday was definitely the hardest day for me so far. I got up just really exhausted. Doing these kind of miles over this terrain is just not a smart idea. I guess the combination of miles, heat, bugs, and not being able to eat caught up with me. I should have realized it was coming. I got on the trail really early but my heart was just not in it. My blisters on my heels also had come back with new shoes and I am losing the same toenail that just grew back. It was not my morning. I got about 6 miles to the first shelter and met this great family. I must have looked a mess. We got to talking and they were heading out a mile down the trail and heading home. They offered to take me a bit farther down the trail if it would help me out. This is called yellow-blazing, something I did not want to be a part of on the trail, but today was not my day. I decided to jump ahead about 12 miles and then hike 7 miles to this really great cabin called Upper Goose pond. I figured 15 was more doable than 27. I plan on coming back and doing that section when I finish but doing it today might have been hike ending for me and I am not ready to leave the trail. I guess I just felt that I needed to be at that cabin, it was a weird feeling. Thanks so much to Jessica, Brian, Eli and Wyatt (and Emma the dog) for helping a very weary hiker. They dropped me and already I felt a bit better. It was still a tough hike for me to get there (8 miles roughly) but I made it. Tau was there and also feeling sluggish. I told her what happened. Mainly I was still trying to justify it to myself. Took my shoes off and just relaxed. I jumped into the pond, bathed, swam a bit, canoed, sunbathed, read, journaled and made some new friends - the caretakers Mike and Penny. It was exactly what I needed. I am still a bit upset with myself that I skipped a few miles but in the long run, if it gets me to Kathadin, I am okay with that. Sometimes you just need to listen to your body.

5/28/07 21.1 miles to Dalton, MA. Got this morning feeling 100% better, thank God. Mike and Penny made us rasberry pancakes and I was on my way. Tau had decided to stay the night because it was such a great spot. Did I mention I was finally able to eat a full dinner last night and the caretakers even gave us saw fresh veggies to go with it. The food definitely made me feel better, my body was a bit malnourished. Got on the trail and even my feet felt okay. I guess attitude is everything. A little breakdown goes a long way. Made pretty good time today, even got the iPod out and danced a bit down the trail. It felt good to be enjoying my hike again. I guess I lost that a little over the past few days. Got into Dalton and met Tom right away. Tom is a magical trail angel that lets thru-hikers stay at his house. What I didn't know is that he lets you shower and even stay inside on the couch, what a treat! The laundry is closed today so I did a little handwashing. Pilgrim, from earlier in the hike, came to help Tau out and gave me a lift to get some dinner and is going to help me slack tomorrow. What a great guy. So many people out here to help us - it truly unbelievable. I know this section of my hike is going to be different. There are not as many thru-hikers around and the terrain gets tougher. I feel like today is the first day of the rest of my hike. I know I can make it, I just needed to have another award-winning growing experience. Here's to hoping I stay safe, continue growing and reach my dream.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings and again for all the love and suppor t that you all offer thru emails, comments and phone messages. They get me through! More pics later.

Love,
Kentucky Blue