Make it count: Day #86

Saturday, June 6 - Day #86 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 18.1
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 1167.3/2,193 (53.23%)

Duncannon (1149.2) to Tentsite (1167.3) - tent

Total ascent - 2,568’
Total descent - 2,402’

Total States Completed - 6/14

**No rain - clear, sunny day — but really hot and humid with highs in the upper 80’s

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Coming to you live from my tent at a campsite near Clark Creek. I’ve either been in a Hostal or hotel the past 3 nights - feels weird to be back in the tent. It’s unusual to have so many days in a row at a hotel location - but there’s been some really bad storms over the past few days - and we’ve opted for better cover. Everyday we see so many trees down across the trail - winds have been pretty crazy. I believe the weather pattern has changed a bit. Today was nice - and we’re expecting good weather the next few days.

Today was a tough day because of the heat and humidity. 18.1 miles with a 1200’ climb to start the day. My shirt was complete drenched by the peak of the climb. I need to be really careful with the heat. I was getting a pretty bad headache 2 hours into the day. I drank tons of water - probably 6 liters throughout the day. Luckily - after the climb - it was mostly a ridge walk and then steep descent to end the day. If I get too hot - I just need to sit down. At least walking in the deep woods provides shade most of the day - but it’s also really humid deep in the woods. My body needs to adjust quickly to all this heat.

A bummer this morning, Caruso decided to stay in Duncannon for a Zero. He struggled yesterday with his legs and the heat - he just needed an extra day to recover. Sherpa Mike and myself continued on. We’re planning to Zero in a couple days and hopefully Caruso will catch us at that point. As I mentioned many times throughout this journey - it’s just so hard to get people with similar abilities, similar personalities, and similar goals in mind. These guys are about as close to me as I’ve found on trail so far. I have no doubt Caruso will be back to action soon. I don’t know a lot about the military - but he was a chief master sergeant in the Air Force. He was a flight engineer for Air Force 2. He has pictures with the Vice President at the White House, etc. I’ve been told his rank is near the highest you can get as an enlisted soldier. He retired last year with 30 years under his belt. He’s also done multiple Ironman triathlons and did a bike ride across the US — very solid!

So tomorrow - JD is going to join Sherpa Mike and I again. He’s meeting us at 7am here - and will take most of our heavy gear in his car. He’ll drive to where we plan to end tomorrow and then start hiking southbound toward us. Once we connect - we’ll hike the rest of the way together. Another day with reduced weight in the pack — all good!

I guess I’m officially going by “Raptor” now. That’s what everyone around us is calling me. I guess it’s OK - it could be worse. It’s not fancy or really cool - but most people’s trail names aren’t that special either. At least there’s a trail story behind it - taking a hard fall in Georgia and bending my trekking pole on arguably the nastiest weather day I’ve experienced on the entire AT.

Here’s to figuring out how to keep my body from overheating. Once I get up in New Hampshire and Maine - temps will likely be cooler in the high mountains. I just need to make it through the next 400 miles or so - where temperatures could get brutally hot.

Goodnight from central Pennsylvania. I should be over 1/2 way through Pennsylvania after tomorrow’s hike.