Day #128 - AT Hike

Saturday, July 18 - Day #128 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 9.7
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 1794.1/2,193 (81.81%)

NH Route 25A (1784.4) to NH Route 25 (1794.1) - hotel stay at Parker’s Motel in Lincoln, NH

Total ascent - 2,390’
Total descent - 2,215’

Total States Completed - 12/14

**No Rain - Warm day. High - upper 80’s.

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OK - the kidding around is over. Tomorrow I start the White Mountains. I’m currently in a hotel in Lincoln, NH. This will be my home base for the next 4 days.  It’s getting late (10:30pm). I just got back from dinner - so I’ll try to be quick.

Today was effectively a Nero into Lincoln. The course was pretty smooth - much less challenging then the past 2 days. Sam, Pearl, Dexter, and I started out together - getting a ride to the trailhead from the Hostal caretakers from last night.

Sam and I stuck together - as Pearl and Dexter were going a little farther than us today. We finished up the hike at 1:45pm. Sam’s friend - Jeanette - met us at the trailhead. It was about a 40 minute drive to bring me to my hotel. (My hotel is only about 10-15 minutes from Jeanette’s condo). Sam is staying with Jeanette.

I got all checked in to the hotel, grabbed a shower - then those guys (Jeanette, her husband David, and Sam) picked me up again a little after 4pm. We drove to Conway, NH - Sam wanted to get a few things at the REI store. I ended up getting a couple things as well. I pulled the trigger on a better rain jacket. My OR Helium jacket just doesn’t do a great job with any significant rain. I want to be prepared above tree line in the Whites for any storm. Hypothermia can set in quickly up there - with heavy winds and rain. I went with an Arcteryx rain coat. I’ve been really happy with my Arcteryx rain pants - so I decided to go that direction with the coat as well. While I was there - I picked up a light weight pair of waterproof gloves as well. I think these 2 additions should keep me warm if the weather turns cold & rainy up on the high peaks.

After shopping, we all went out for a great dinner. Sam treated all of us - it was a fun night all the way around. Conway is a good 45 minute drive from my hotel - so I only ended up getting back around 9pm. I’ve been getting a few things set for tomorrow before shutting it down for the night.

So - tomorrow we start the Whites with the climb of Mt Moosilauke. This will be the first 4,000’+ peak in the Whites. We are slack packing the peak - southbound. Supposedly, Moosilauke is crazy technical going northbound - so many thru-hikers will go southbound to conquer this peak. (Still hiking every foot of the AT - just being smart to minimize risk with reduced pack weight and optimizing the direction of travel). It’s a pretty short mileage day - around 9 miles. But — the elevation is 4,000’+ with sheer drops and rock scrambles.

I’m watching the weather right now. Tomorrow is expected to be the hottest day of the year in NH - with high humidity. We’re starting early - hopefully we’ll be over the peak before the temps max out.

All kinds of anxiety right now. I’ve heard too many stories about the Whites. It’s time to “just get it done”. I’m a stronger hiker than I’ve ever been before.  I climbed over 300,000’ so far on my AT journey. Many of the miles were up steep, technical terrain. I know I can do it - I know I can do it.

“All your strength, all your power, all your love - everything you got”.  “In the end - you’ll be the one standing”

Keep the faith out there!!

Peak of Mt Mist today

A nice long break atop Mt Mist

My new gear additions