Postholer.Com Login   Journals   Maps   Data Books   Planner   Snow   Google Maps

Walkin Wally - Appalachian Trail Journal - 2011

rss
Entry 35 of 35
First  :: Previous  :: Next :: Last

View/Sign my Guestbook

walkin wally
City: Waterville
State: Maine
Begins: Mar 14, 2011
Direction: Northbound

Daily Summary
Date: Thu, Aug 18th, 2011
Start: Pinkham Notch
End: Gorham N H
Trip Distance: 78.8

Journal Stats
Entry Visits: 1,287
Journal Visits: 12,527
Guestbook Views: 1,210
Guestbook Entrys: 71

Appalachian Trail Map

To Gorham N H

Miles done 1883.1 Miles to go 297.9

We have headed back to Pinkham Notch by shuttle from the White Mtn Hostel in Gorham. We are going to hike the 21 miles or so back to Gorham. We are going to summit Wildcat Mtn and go down onto Carter Notch. Then we are going over Carter Dome to the imp shelter. We stayed the night at the Imp Shelter and then did the 8 miles back to Rt 2 the next day. The hike up Wildcat is strenuous and the Mountain has several peaks. There is really no above tree-line areas but there are places with bare rock the afford great views of Pinkham Notch and Mt Washington. Carter dome has similar views and these may be some of the last best views of this part of the White Mtns.

We did stop at the AMC Carter Notch hut to see if they had any food we could buy but the woman there said there was only water but she would make us some mac and cheese if we would do the dishes. We declined the offer and started up the dome.

Over the past 4 days or so I have noticed a pain across the top of my hip on my right side of my lower back. We have a saying that if pain moves around from day to day then probably you are okay but when it stays in one place there may be a problem. Well I am now at home in Waterville Maine as I write this (August23) having suffered an inflammation of my SI joint in my lower right side that has extended down to my right knee. The pain is quite severe at times but it is not new as I have had this before. This was caused, I believe, by my size large pack fitting over my size medium body. My pack would collide with my hips as I was hiking and tightened the muscles in my butt. I am now facing 6 sessions of therapy to loosen the tissues that are pinching my sciatic nerve. The sessions are twice a week so I will be three weeks off the trail.

I have a few options and they are: (1) To give up hiking for the year and just let my back heal, or (2) to come back after the thearpy and resume my hike from Gorham N H to Katahdin. or (3) to come back to Gorham after the therapy and finish the 17 miles to the N H Maine border .. (I have already done the State of Maine AT section hiking. So I could get off at the Carlo Col side trail near the Maine N H line and hike down to my truck at the Success Pond Rd,) The last option would make me a 2000 miler but not a thru hiker.

Another option could be to go to the Hunt Trail at Katahdin and summit there at Baxter Peak and then finish the remaining miles of the AT without having to worry about the closing date at Baxter Park. Sort of a flip flop hike. This actually is a great time of year to be in the woods hiking. This is my favorite part of the season and it extends into the first part of October with moderate temps and few bugs.

I will be making a decision after the therapy. I will be writing here again when I see how effective the therapy is. I dont want to hurry out and just reinjure myself and need even more therapy. I will also be buying a smaller pack that fits better at this weight.

Thanks for reading.

Entry 35 of 35
First  :: Previous  :: Next :: Last

Walkin Wally's AT Hike

walkin wally

 

  Printed Maps :: Google Maps :: Journals :: Trail Planners :: Data Books :: Gear Lists :: Snow :: Elevation Profiles  

Postholer.Com © 2005-2024 - Sitemap - W3C - @postholer - GIS Portfolio