Make it count: Day #97

Wednesday, June 17 - Day #97 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 23.8
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 1333.4/2,193 (60.80%)

Tentsite (1309.6) to Mashipacong Shelter (1333.4) - tent at Mashipacong Shelter

Total ascent - 3,174’
Total descent - 2,996’

Total States Completed - 7/14

**No Rain - Another great weather day. High 82. Low - 62.

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Well - as I’m laying here to begin writing the blog - my talking points just changed. I was going to say how terrible I felt that we left Sherpa Mike a few miles back. BUT - he just walked into camp. Outstanding!! He is a tough, tough guy - and has earned a tremendous amount of respect from me. His ankle is significantly swollen, he’s a fraction of his full capabilities right now - but the guy keeps pushing on. He is a fighter.

Today was a long, grinding day. It started sort of awkwardly. Caruso left camp about 10 minutes before Sherpa Mike and I. We knew we were pushing to 23.8 miles - but didn’t know how Mike would hold up. I stayed with Mike the first 6 miles - but then pushed on. Water was pretty scarce - so I decided to push to a deli at Mile #15 for us today. I was between Caruso and Mike on trail - I didn’t know where they were and couldn’t get them to answer their phones - so I sent a text message. I ended up catching Caruso about 3 miles before the deli.

This deli was an outstanding find! 25 yds off trail. I had a ham/cheese pannini, a bag of chips, and a Gatorade and soda. It REALLY hit the spot. Caruso and I waited around for Mike. He sent us a text he was almost there. He was 1 hour behind us - limping badly when he came in. Man - this is so hard. We want to hike with Sherpa Mike for sure - but at the same time - we want him to get healthy. Not only should he not be pushing 20 mile days over aggressive ankle twisting rocks - he probably should be resting or doing 10 miles or less at the most. What do you do? It’s an extraordinarily bad situation. Caruso and I left Mike at the deli - he indicated he was probably just going a couple miles further and then tenting. It was 9 miles to the shelter we’re at tonight. I can’t believe he made it here.

He indicated he’s going to try to make it to the next town tomorrow - about 15 miles away - and then take some time off. I hope things can get better quickly. It’s just the terrain that’s a killer. Walking on a badly sprained ankle is hard enough - trying to do it on these trail conditions is almost impossible. The toughest of tough guys could be brought to tears on these rocks when the ankle turns/twists with every step

Caruso and I laid out an aggressive plan for the next 4 days. We’re going to try and pull 3 - 20 milers in a row - then we’ll Nero into Fort Montgomery, NY at Mile #1406. That’s 73 miles in 4 days. If things go well - we should be into Fort Montgomery really early on Sunday and have the better part of the day to rest/resupply.

I’ve been really stretching a bunch and massaging my calves. I have to be careful and not overdue it with the bump in mileage. The nice thing - I’m actually a little faster than Caruso on any given section - so I’m not fighting to keep up or over exerting myself. This is a first on my journey.

We’re already halfway through New Jersey. We’ll be in New York on Saturday. Things are moving quickly - hold on for the ride!!

Good night from New Jersey! If you look at a map - I’m right in the corner where Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey all meet. I’m actually north of New York City.