Appalachian Trail

    We traveled a hard eleven miles today. Most of the hike was was flat, no real mountains but the sun was hot, the bugs were ruthless and our packs were at their heaviest. My pack weighed about 55 pounds and Matt's pack was 45 pounds, most of our weight was in food because while on the 100 mile wilderness there is no chance to resupply. We got lucky today tho, not getting rained on was nice after all the rain that we faced on Mt. Katahdin. The rain held off until we got our last stake placed in the ground and the tent all the way popped.

    Packing our tent and bags next to Katahdin stream and eating hot oatmeal as the sun cam up over the mountain was relaxing. The stream was the coldest stream I had ever touched the water was so clear I thought about drinking it straight, I still however used my filter just to be on the safe side, I have never tasted water that good, cold and refreshing. Once our packs were full we used a near by picnic table to prop them up as we strapped them on our backs, these are now our first steps in full gear. Right then and there I realized that I could have found a way to pack lighter.

    Walking down the dirt road looking for the trail we passed a few hikers who we saw on the mountain yesterday. In our small talk with them they told us that they had already given up on the thru-hike and said they might leap frog the trail. I knew people give up all the time but never thought people give up after the first day. The trail is beautiful and almost heavenly but don't be misled it is also very hard.

    My treking polls made a crunching sound with every step and soon we were off the dirt road and on a trail following every white southbound dash we saw. It was a beautiful start of the day a couple deer walked in front of us on the trail and we stood and just watched them as they watched us, as if we were just another normal every day friend to them. About halfway through the day we arrived at Big Niagara one of the more beautiful places to rest. Big Niagara has flat rocks that you could lay comfortably on while listing to a powerful waterfall and nice pool areas that I dipped my swollen feet into we took a break there for about 15 minuets ate a snack and took some photos. Once we got our gear back on we walked about 10 minuets down the trail and had to take it all back off again. We arrived at our first river fording this is where we met up with Pluto and Chirs (trail name I forget) and Shavargo. Pluto and Chris had been pacing up and down the riverbank trying to find the best spot to cross. The river was ice cold and moving very fast and very deep. Matt and I decided to strip to our underwear so our cloths can stay dry, knowing that the water is going to at least come to our waist. Pluto and Chris looked like they found the right spot to cross and Chris was half way to the other side when his foot slipped on a rock and in and under he went, it looked scary but he was ok just 30 pounds heaver. Our turn soon came, Matt made two trips across the river, not wanting to fall in. I just hung my boots of my pack and jumped in. The word shrinkage does not do it justice, more like retreatage. We got to the other side and geared back up and shortly down the trail we did it all over again this part of the river was easier to cross, probably because we were champions at river crossing, the Oregon Trail game had nothing on us.

    We arrived at our campsite exhausted and hungry. We used a crappy wood burning stove that I found on the internet and thought Id give it a try as a back up stove, it sucked. There was a camp store up by the road they had already made sandwiches and a bunch of junk food...Matt who went by Snacks while on the trail was in snack heaven and well so was I. After eating we set up our tent, just as the sky opened back up. We would sleep well and dry tonight.

matt and I at Big Niagara

Christopher Burks