My pack is packed and ready for the trip to Springer Mtn. in Georgia tomorrow. After some hellish days in Maine frought with freezing rain, mud bogs, roots, rocks, swollen appendages, more rain, and swarming mosquitoes, all spent on the brink of hypothermia, I've decided to switch gears and start walking north from Georgia. June in Maine is no joke, and even without the elements of the month of June, the AT in Maine is killer, and really isn't a trail at all, but rather an amalgam of roots, rocks, and shin deep mud. 
    The climb to the top of Katahdin can best be described in an acronym our friendly Maine guide told us, G.A.B.E. (Grueling, Agonizing, Brutal, Exhausting). The mountain certainly lived up to its namesake, my dad and I had frozen boogers, wet shirts, 30 mile per hour winds and a hard freezing rain, all the while climbing 5200ft, in 3.8 miles.

    The rest of the trip was similiar to the first day climb of Katahdin. The first half of the second day was absolutely beautiful, and we even frolicked in a waterfall, but after that the rain and cold kept us on the move. 1/2 day sun, 4 1/2 days 50* and pouring rain. We decided to get off the trail about halfway through the wilderness. I was bummed but it made my decision a little easier when the five or so people we had been hiking with also decided to get off trail, and quite a few southbound hikers have already got out of Maine to start in GA. 
    I had some time to think and contemplate life and I decided I would turn around and start in Georgia, there really is no time limit to thru hike now that I summited Katahdin. I also had time to reconsider my motives and aspirations for hiking the trail, and have decided that as of now, a thru hike isn't my main priority. When I get on the trail tomorrow, I'm going to hike till the fun of the trail runs out, whether that be a week of hiking or I make it all the way back to Maine, I'll be content with the result. 

    Thanks for stopping by, and more updates will be soon to follow from Georgia and the Carolina's.

   
     Well, only 2 days till I begin my vagabond life on the AT. Heres my plan: 
    The plane leaves from Tampa at 6:00am on Saturday, and me and my dad will arrive in Bangor, Maine at around 11:00am. From there we are getting picked up by Phil Pepin of 100 Mile Wilderness Adventures and Outfitters. We're going to spend the night at one of Phil's cabin's in Springfield, ME, pack up all our gear and head for Mt. Katahdin bright and early on June 9th. Katahdin is the Northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, and where I will begin my journey. It should be a tough day with over 5200 ft of elevation gain in just 5 miles. After we summit we'll go back down the mountain and stay in a lean-to at Katahdin Stream Campground in Baxter State Park. 



    

    The next morning we'll start our trip into the 100 mile wilderness, which as I'm told is currently flooded and full of swarming black flies. We've planned to have a food drop half way through the wilderness so we only have to carry five days of food as oppossed to 9. We have till June 19th to complete the 115 mile section from Katahdin to Monson,ME it could take less time but my dad definetly has to be out of the woods on the 19th so he can catch his plane to a wedding in San Francisco. From there I'll resupply in Monson, maybe take a day off, and keep pushing for Stratton, ME another 74 miles down trail.
    
     Thats the plan for now, who know's what will happen we'll just have to wait and see. Next update from Maine.


Info:
http://100milewilderness.info/
http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/index.htm