Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Bruno and I are hiking the Appalachian trail! We started by summiting Mt. Katahdin in Baxter State Park in Maine on August 16, 2009. I'm hiking the trail for three reasons (1) to challenge myself (2) to reflect on life and the meaning of everything and above all (3) to HAVE FUN! So far we've come almost 400 miles (398.5) and loved every minute of it.

The highlights of the trip so far have been the 100 mile wilderness and Saddleback Mountain Range in Maine and the Presidential range in New Hampshire. In the 100 mile wilderness we got to do a lot of river fording and swimming and really got to enjoy nature! I got my first hiker's tan enjoying the views above treeline on Saddleback Mountain (think farmer's tan on the upperhalf and then from mid thigh to mid calf between the shorts and socks). After getting blown off Mt. Madison by 50-60 mph winds and rain, I waited for two days for the weather to clear. It was worth it because the day I crossed the Pressies in NH was BEAUTIFUL.
My trailname is G.G. and Bruno's is Bugcatcher. (No one goes by their real names on the trail. They use an alias which usually describes them well or relates to something they've done on the trail.) G.G. stands for "Got Gumption" or "Girl with Gumption." It was given to me the first day on Mt. Katahdin by a fellow hiker Lone-Wolf. Bugcatcher got his because he likes to catch bugs with his mouth. This worked great all through the 100 miles wilderness where there were mosquitoes, but not so great on North Crocker Mountain where he decided to eat a yellowjacket right next to its hive. Yes, it is like the cartoons the bees DO chase you down the trail!

I've done things differently than most people on account of having Bruno with me, and on account of just being me. So far, its definitely been worth it. As I was putting away our tent on a forest road on the border of Maine and New Hampshire Bugcatcher started barking and chasing after what I thought was an early riser out for a morning walk. I ran up to the trail apologizing for the barking. When I looked up, I locked eyes with a 6 ft tall moose who was stumbling over herself in fear trying to run away. Its pretty impressive to see that much mammal afraid of you. I've seen 3 moose in total (2 cows and a bull), heard a bear, seen woodpeckers, loons, snakes, toads, frogs, chipmunks, mice, red-tailed squirrels, and most of the other usual forest creatures.

I climbed Mt. Moosilauke this morning - the last mountain above treeline and the last of the White Mountains. I'm both happy and sad to be leaving the whites. I'm happy that the hardest part of the trail is over. (My knees are especially happy!) But I'm sad to be leaving the beautiful views of Maine and New Hampshire.

I know that fall is here because the leaves are starting to change and my water bottles had ice crystals in them this morning! Next town stop: Hanover, NH in approximately 3 days.