Make it count: Day #96 - AT Hike

Tuesday, June 16 - Day #96 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 13.6
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 1309.6/2,193 (59.72%)

Delaware Water Gap (1296) to Tentsite (1309.6) - camp

Total ascent - 2,269’
Total descent - 1,410’

Total States Completed - 7/14

**No rain - another great weather day. A little warmer. High - 82. Low - 64

———

The AT is difficult in so many ways - one of the most difficult (and probably least talked about) is handling the social aspects and relationships on trail. So - the situation we have going right now is Sherpa Mike is trying to come back from a really bad ankle sprain. He hiked today (after 3 days off) - but was in a lot of pain and went significantly slower than his usual pace. We actually chose to leave the hotel at noon (with a late checkout) so Sherpa Mike could start at 10am and go slower. We only planned 13.6 miles so he can get back on his feet. A huge unfortunate thing happened - he hasn’t hiked for a few days - and he ended up going the wrong direction this morning. He walked 2.5 miles up a really steep climb - figured out his mistake - then walked back. So his day turned from a 13.6 mile hike to a 18.6 mile hike (with an additional 1,000’ ascent/descent). And - we met him at the bottom of the hill only a couple hundred yards out of the hotel - so he had no positive distance on Caruso and I when we started. I feel so incredibly bad for him with the bum ankle. I actually don’t feel that bad for him on the wrong direction this morning. These guys always make fun of me because I check things, I’m more cautious about stuff in general (bears won’t hurt you, snakes won’t hurt you). They just laugh and laugh at me. Well - I’ll promise you something - there is absolutely no way I would have hiked 2.5 miles up a huge mountain on a bum ankle if I wasn’t positive I was going the right way. Sometimes being a stubborn (too cool to check) guy doesn’t always pay off. I know this sounds harsh - but it’s the truth.

So anyway - Caruso really wants to start pushing bigger miles. He wants to get finished and back to his wife and kids as quick as possible. I’m on board with pushing bigger miles right now. We’re talking 20-24 — not 30+ - so reasonable for me. Sherpa Mike probably shouldn’t be pushing that hard with the bum ankle. Caruso sort of thinks we should leave him. Sherpa Mike isn’t going down without a fight. He’s a tough, east coast, former military, “I can do anything” guy. We’re going to see how this plays out. We would all like to stay together - but it’s tough. Caruso wants bigger miles, less hotel stays, and is on a tighter budget. Sherpa Mike is more about enjoying the trail, as many hotel stays as possible and appears that money is not an issue. I’m sort of in the middle of these guys. I don’t know what to do. Tomorrow Caruso is determined to do a 23.8 mile day. No way should Sherpa Mike try this. We’re going to see what happens

The 13.6 mile hike today was really tough. Coming off the high I had finishing Pennsylvania and only starting hiking at noon - I just wasn’t mentally focused. I struggled through - but got it done. The rocks didn’t just stop in Pennsylvania - there were a bunch of technical sections today. I’ve been told the first 30 miles in New Jersey is not much different than PA - oh-boy.

The weather was great again today. Temps will slowly increase each day this week. It’s supposed to remain dry until the weekend.

Here’s to hoping things work out for the best with our little 3 person group. It’s nice to have people around - that’s for sure. If I have to go it alone - I can do it - but I want to hold out as long as possible.

Good night from New Jersey!