Maine...the goal is getting mighty close!
Heard from Stink this morning. He figures he will hit Katahdin around August 4th. Amazing! Considering he left March 1st and it usually takes six months...this guy is trekking big-time! He's looking for one more mail drop in Baxter, ME just before his last ascent to Katahdin. Guess he wants those clean clothes for the photo op!! His Mom and I will be in Alaska...hope that some of his readers will be able to be there to congratulate him (and maybe give him a lift home!!)
So the good news is that he is nearly 90% through the trail with only 220 miles yet to hike. The bad news is that he wrenched his foot on some boulders and has major discomfort. I'm figuring he strained the ligaments and the way to heal is...you guessed it...rest!!!! Okay, so that isn't going to happen. He is going easy on it; only 10 miles today and will do 15 each of the next two days. He just wants to stay in front of the pack and this distance puts him about a half day out in front! He's going to strap it with tape and has purchased a padded insole. That on top of the cold beer and hot pizza today might help. :-)
He's past the toughest part of the AT, having trekked the 4000 foot mountains and crossed over Mahoosuc Notch. He's in the central part of the Maine AT now and will soon be contending with the Kennebec River. You really have to watch where you cross it as it really swells after a storm and some hikers, I read, have to literally wait out an opportunity to cross. Stink has landed in the water once on this hike so let's hope he doesn't have a repeat performance!
So the good news is that he is nearly 90% through the trail with only 220 miles yet to hike. The bad news is that he wrenched his foot on some boulders and has major discomfort. I'm figuring he strained the ligaments and the way to heal is...you guessed it...rest!!!! Okay, so that isn't going to happen. He is going easy on it; only 10 miles today and will do 15 each of the next two days. He just wants to stay in front of the pack and this distance puts him about a half day out in front! He's going to strap it with tape and has purchased a padded insole. That on top of the cold beer and hot pizza today might help. :-)
He's past the toughest part of the AT, having trekked the 4000 foot mountains and crossed over Mahoosuc Notch. He's in the central part of the Maine AT now and will soon be contending with the Kennebec River. You really have to watch where you cross it as it really swells after a storm and some hikers, I read, have to literally wait out an opportunity to cross. Stink has landed in the water once on this hike so let's hope he doesn't have a repeat performance!