Make it count: Day #94

Sunday, June 14 - Day #94 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 20.8
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 1280.5/2,193 (58.39%)

Palmerton (Burts Restaurant Hostal) to Wind Gap (Burts Restaurant Hostal)

Total ascent - 2,957’
Total descent - 2,466’

Total States Completed - 6/14

**No rain - Absolutely perfect weather. High 70. Low 50. Blue skies with puffy white clouds

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Just 15.5 miles left in Pennsylvania!! That is sweet music to my ears. I survived the day. The initial
climb this morning wasn’t as bad as I had it built up in my mind. There was really just one sketchy spot that you had to be really careful - but the lighter pack was hugely helpful. I felt like I had my coordination - and things were ‘all good’.

The rest of the day was pretty much solid rock throughout - minus a couple mile reprieve after the tough climb. It’s as mentally tiring as it is physical when it comes to the rocks. Tedious. Tedious. You have to watch every single step so you don’t take a nosedive into a boulder field. We’ve had a lot of rock throughout the AT - but the percentage of rock in Pennsylvania is what makes it notable.

On the positive side - I felt really strong today. These new Hokas have allowed me to really increment a level of speed to my game. I’m able to average nearly 3 miles/hr now for good lengths of time. I actually had to wait on Caruso quite a bit today - or I could have finished an hour quicker. We did very well anyway - 20.8 miles in 9 hrs - 15 minutes (and that was with the 45 minute tough first mile).

My feet have been sore and achy after the hikes lately - but the debilitating heel pain has mostly subsided. I’m really fired up about this. Today - with the perfect weather conditions (50-70 deg) and no rain - I felt like I could have walked forever. If I keep my nutrition/hydration in check on the trail - and have green light weather - with minimal body pain —- I sort of feel like I belong out here. I’ve been so anxious about this state. Can I make it through the rocks? Will my feet hold up? (It’s the whole reason I switched shoes). I have a ton of trail to go - but I’m more confident than ever in my abilities. This is so important for me. I doubt myself at times. If I can complete this journey - I’ll share something about “Believing in Yourself” - something I work on everyday

Mike picked us up around 3:30pm today after the hike. Back to the Hostal - shower and laundry completed. I walked downtown and grabbed a subway sandwich. We met a couple here at the Hostal - we went for some ice cream together. I capped the night with joining a conference call to discuss my Everest BaseCamp Trip in October. It’s still on right now - but travel is suspended in Nepal until June 30th. Assuming this gets lifted - it should be a go.

Tomorrow we complete the final 15.5 miles in Pennsylvania. Mike plans to give it a go with us. Here’s to another good day ahead - a safe and healthy hike.