Sageclegg - Appalachian Trail Journal - 2010

Day 13

Night 13 of my sobo AT attempt. MEGA. Maine to Georgia. If you say it with a Maine acent it means meager. Hmmm. It is a mega, in the uber sense, undertaking. This trail is filled with Sensless Elevation Gain And Loss (SEGAL, pronounced like the bird..), a billion roots & rocks fill the trail, there are balance beams over & in mud pits & bogs, sometimes you have to find hand jams & foot holds to get up or down the "trail". Yes, this trail is a MEGA huge challenge.
A week ago I arrived at the top of 4th mountain in the 100 mile wilderness (which isn't actually a wilderness area) & looked out to see an endless view of tree covered bumps and lake filled valleys. I am sure this sight is beautiful, but at that moment I could not see beauty in it. Instead I felt horrified & claustrophobic. I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere I knew, like I was on the moon or something. I wanted to be home, back out west, to see something familliar & comforting.
The next night I stayed in Monson at a wonderful hostel, met some other hikers, ate good food, & watched some bad detective shows on TV. The next day I felt great even when I was up to my hiking skirt in a swamp during a rain storm.
I am on an emotional rollercoaster out here on the AT. I am homesick but my curiosity about this trail has been sparked. I am excited to see where it takes me.
wow- little digression- a giant mouse just tried to chew my pillow- could be a long night!
Starting SoBo on the AT has been hard. I don't know if there is any way to train for it. Katahdin is more like a class 2/3 mountaineering route than a trail & my knees were left aching & sore after day 1. My zero on day 2 helped a ton & my body seems to be adjusting to the contortions this trail twists it into. I have been doing my physical therapy routine almost daily & have been hitting the vitamin I pretty frequently. My pace is reduced by a third- I am lucky to make 20 miles in a full days work.
All this said, I am still finding happiness out here. The leaves are amazing! I have never seen a fall like this & can see what the fuss is about. A friend said it would be like walking through a bowl of trix and he is right, except they don't taste like trix unfortunatley.
Ok- gotta figure out how to deture this mouse & rest up for another day of the obstacle course call the appalachain trail. More soon!
Sage

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