Make it count: Day #153

Wednesday, August 12th - Day #153 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 18.8
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 2060.6/2,193 (93.96%). 132.4 miles left!!

Caratunk (2041.8) to Bald Mountain Pond Lean To (2060.6) - tent at Bald Mountain Pond Lean To

Total ascent - 4,381’
Total descent - 3,665’

Total States Completed - 13/14

** No Rain. Highs in the mid 80’s. Really hot and humid all day.

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Today was a crazy hard day. 18.8 miles, 11 hours on course, 2 significant climbs, and brutal heat. I haven’t done nearly 19 miles in a long while. The heat is what made the day so difficult. I had a headache most of the day. I was drinking plenty of water and had lots of electrolytes. I think I just over did it a bit.

We had a 1,100’ climb pretty early (Pleasant Pond Mountain) and then a 1,700’ climb toward the end of the day (Moxie Bald Mountain). I think I pushed too hard on the first climb. It wiped me out. I was just hanging on the rest of the day.

Slider/Granger and I stayed together most of the day. Sam was just a little behind us. I’ve been leading us out the past several days - trying to set a consistent pace. We were able to average around 2.5 miles/hr the first couple hours this morning before the climb. The terrain has been much better in Maine since the Bigelows.

Tomorrow is another big day - 17.9 miles. The only saving grace - the vertical ascent/descent are only half of what we did today. With this in mind - we’re hoping to get done much earlier - maybe a 9 hour day or so.

The goal is to make it to Monson by mid afternoon - 3pm at the latest. We’ll be staying at Shaw’s Hostal - considered by many as the best Hostal on the AT. I’m interested to see what it’s all about. We need to make plans with Shaw’s about a resupply in the 100-mile wilderness.

No cell signal tonight - I’ll post once I get into town tomorrow. I’m one exhausted feller! 9 days left on my journey!!!!

Here’s to continued health and strength to keep it going!