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| Lakeshore House, Monson, Maine The Lakeshore House is the location that Tom spent Tuesday night, September 30, 2014. There are 110 remaining miles in his hike! Tomorrow the hikers will start hiking the 100 mile wilderness area. It is generally considered the wildest section of the Appalachian Trail, and one of the most challenging to navigate and traverse. This section of the A.T. is crossed by several logging roads and is maintained by the Maine Appalachian Trail Club. Kevin will be joining Tom the morning of October 5. It is likely that the next communication will be once Tom and Kevin actually are at the summit; which is Baxter Peak on Mt. Katahdin; Maine's highest mountain. This is scheduled to be October 8 or 9 weather depending. Photos will be posted as soon as available. |
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monson, Maine September 30, 2014 -Mile 2070
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Maine and over 2,000 miles complete!
Tom is trekking on and passed Stratton, Maine this week. He tells me that he was able to take the first shower in nine days! yikes!
He saw a moose this morning and snow was expected in some of the higher elevations. Kevin will join him on October 4. I packed their hiker boxes and mailed them yesterday; Kevin's with some skittles as requested and Tom's with some chocolate bars.
Tom sounds actually energized and knowing that there are less than 200 miles to go is encouraging. The wireless signals are few and far between in Maine and I will hear an update again in about 5 days when he reaches The Lakeshore House in Monsoon, Maine. He tells me that many folks are on the trail now and the hikers are all trying to finish before October 15 when the end point, Katahdin, is closed for the season due to weather conditions.
I am posting his photos...the beautiful views speak for themselves.
Anne.
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He saw a moose this morning and snow was expected in some of the higher elevations. Kevin will join him on October 4. I packed their hiker boxes and mailed them yesterday; Kevin's with some skittles as requested and Tom's with some chocolate bars.
Tom sounds actually energized and knowing that there are less than 200 miles to go is encouraging. The wireless signals are few and far between in Maine and I will hear an update again in about 5 days when he reaches The Lakeshore House in Monsoon, Maine. He tells me that many folks are on the trail now and the hikers are all trying to finish before October 15 when the end point, Katahdin, is closed for the season due to weather conditions.
I am posting his photos...the beautiful views speak for themselves.
Anne.
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| Hiking Mahoosuc Notch |
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| Hiking the notch with Peter Rodegast |
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| Trail Angel "Looney Laurie" gave me a ride back to the trailhead from Rangeley but wanted to show me Small Falls first |
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| Scrambles, who I had not seen since Gatlinburg! |
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Tom's Update Wednesday September 17, 2014
Just wanted to fill you in briefly on my first week back on the trail while I have access to a computer. Coming back to the White Mountains, generally considered to be the toughest part of the trail, was both a challenge and extremely rewarding. I just completed the Whites yesterday with a 21 mile hike that ended at 8:30 pm in the dark with my headlamp on. Right now I feel like 'toast' but also feel that I have experienced my favorite part of the hike.
What makes the difference is being above the tree line. They say that if you are fortunate enough to experience a clear day at the top, you have views that are unparalleled. Well...after being socked in at the top of most of the mountains early on, I was gifted a day and a half of perfect weather for my ascent of Mt. Washington and many of the presidentials. I hiked with a Bostonian for an hour or so descending from Mt. Washington. He is a frequent hiker and said of that afternoon," it never gets like this" referring to the sunshine with no wind. The caretaker at Madison Spring Hut the next morning said in giving the day's weather report ," I have never heard of forecasted visibility of 120 miles before". My pictures will give you some sense of what I experienced although they cannot begin to do justice to the magnificence of the views.
I am struck with all the non-coincidence associated with my trail experience. I have mentioned some of them before. Brother-in-law George having access to his sister's house in Lincoln, New Hampshire, which was exactly the little town I needed to get to in order to resume my hike. The first shelter I come to after resuming the hike being named Eliza Brook Shelter which is the name of my new granddaughter that I had just gotten off the trail to visit. That inspired my Ode to Eliza. Passing Fishing Jimmy Trail at the end of my first day back...when Fishing Jimmy is the person that I have dedicated this hike to. Bumping into a little grey haired 72 year old lady as she was leaving Zealand Falls Hut one morning and then ending up at Crawford Notch just as she was arriving and having her pass along some food that she had not eaten, saving me a trip into town. And the stories go on and on...
A quick note on the huts in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I had really expected them to be mostly a non-factor for my hike. I thought they were mostly for the short section hikers. I popped into the first one morning just out of curiosity and the crew offered my leftover breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs, pancakes and oatmeal. Then as I approached the Zealand Falls Hut I thought I would ask about a work for stay option, just to have had the experience. It turned out that they took me on, and I got a great dinner and a warm dry place to stay in return for me scrubbing some pots and pans. After doing that I thought I should save those work for stay options for the hikers on a really tight budget. But as I approached the Mizpah Hut the next night the weather had taken a turn for the worse; cold, windy and raining. I weakened and asked if they had a work for stay option available which lead to another great meal and a place to stay in return for sweeping out and cleaning out the bunkhouses. Finally, the next night after going over Mt. Washington I approached Madison Spring Hut in the dark. It was 8 pm when I arrived and I thought it was so late it would not hurt to ask as no other hikers will be coming later. The crew said "yes" and so I stayed three consecutive nights in huts.
I am nearly done with New Hampshire, should be arriving in Maine tomorrow!
Tom
What makes the difference is being above the tree line. They say that if you are fortunate enough to experience a clear day at the top, you have views that are unparalleled. Well...after being socked in at the top of most of the mountains early on, I was gifted a day and a half of perfect weather for my ascent of Mt. Washington and many of the presidentials. I hiked with a Bostonian for an hour or so descending from Mt. Washington. He is a frequent hiker and said of that afternoon," it never gets like this" referring to the sunshine with no wind. The caretaker at Madison Spring Hut the next morning said in giving the day's weather report ," I have never heard of forecasted visibility of 120 miles before". My pictures will give you some sense of what I experienced although they cannot begin to do justice to the magnificence of the views.
I am struck with all the non-coincidence associated with my trail experience. I have mentioned some of them before. Brother-in-law George having access to his sister's house in Lincoln, New Hampshire, which was exactly the little town I needed to get to in order to resume my hike. The first shelter I come to after resuming the hike being named Eliza Brook Shelter which is the name of my new granddaughter that I had just gotten off the trail to visit. That inspired my Ode to Eliza. Passing Fishing Jimmy Trail at the end of my first day back...when Fishing Jimmy is the person that I have dedicated this hike to. Bumping into a little grey haired 72 year old lady as she was leaving Zealand Falls Hut one morning and then ending up at Crawford Notch just as she was arriving and having her pass along some food that she had not eaten, saving me a trip into town. And the stories go on and on...
A quick note on the huts in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I had really expected them to be mostly a non-factor for my hike. I thought they were mostly for the short section hikers. I popped into the first one morning just out of curiosity and the crew offered my leftover breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs, pancakes and oatmeal. Then as I approached the Zealand Falls Hut I thought I would ask about a work for stay option, just to have had the experience. It turned out that they took me on, and I got a great dinner and a warm dry place to stay in return for me scrubbing some pots and pans. After doing that I thought I should save those work for stay options for the hikers on a really tight budget. But as I approached the Mizpah Hut the next night the weather had taken a turn for the worse; cold, windy and raining. I weakened and asked if they had a work for stay option available which lead to another great meal and a place to stay in return for sweeping out and cleaning out the bunkhouses. Finally, the next night after going over Mt. Washington I approached Madison Spring Hut in the dark. It was 8 pm when I arrived and I thought it was so late it would not hurt to ask as no other hikers will be coming later. The crew said "yes" and so I stayed three consecutive nights in huts.
I am nearly done with New Hampshire, should be arriving in Maine tomorrow!
Tom
Ode to Eliza Mae written by Mexbuki ( Grandpa)
Deep, deep in the woods there is a mountain brook that bears your name. The brook is sunny and happy, just like you. Hikers passing through the mountains stop at the brook to drink and fill their water bottles in order to satisfy their thirst. You, Eliza, satisfy a thirst-a yen-deep in your Grandpa's heart.
Loving people built a shelter alongside Eliza brook. The shelter is new and beautiful, just like you. The people who built it selected only the best logs, hand carved them, and fitted them together with special care. God knitted you together in your mother's womb with special care, using the best parts of your mother and father.
Hikers come to the shelter to find comfort, to sleep, and to be protected from storms. Your mother, father and big brother comfort you and will protect you from life's storms as you grow up and become an adult. When you are grown you will be strong and able to protect yourself. Then you will be able to offer protection to others when they are engulfed by the storms of life.
May the God who formed you continue to watch over you all the days of your life. Your grandpa-and all of your family love you very much.
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| Eliza Brook, New Hampshire |
Loving people built a shelter alongside Eliza brook. The shelter is new and beautiful, just like you. The people who built it selected only the best logs, hand carved them, and fitted them together with special care. God knitted you together in your mother's womb with special care, using the best parts of your mother and father.
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| Eliza Brook Shelter, New Hampshire |
Hikers come to the shelter to find comfort, to sleep, and to be protected from storms. Your mother, father and big brother comfort you and will protect you from life's storms as you grow up and become an adult. When you are grown you will be strong and able to protect yourself. Then you will be able to offer protection to others when they are engulfed by the storms of life.
May the God who formed you continue to watch over you all the days of your life. Your grandpa-and all of your family love you very much.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Photo journal September 9-15, 2014
The following photos were sent today from Tom's camera. He has been right on track as far as where he wanted to be and enjoyed a wonderful sunny day when he was on top of Mt Washington. He is staying at White Mountains Lodge tonight and will slack pack tomorrow 21 miles and then he will be out of the White Mountains. Slack Packing is used when a hiker does not hike with their full 30-40 pound pack on their back. A day pack is a welcome change and then they meet back up with their belongings later that day. He expects tomorrows hike to take 11 hours and he will be using his headlamp before returning to the lodge.
He was surprised to find this section of the trail his favorite. As you can see from the stunning views the White Mountains do take your breath away.
The huts have also proven to be great. He has worked for stay three times now and his work involved some help with meal preparation or washing up dishes in exchange for dinner and breakfast and a room.
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| Eliza Brook Shelter |
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| Eliza Brook |
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| Fishing Jimmy Sign |
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| Fishing Jimmy trail |
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| Great view while hiking the White Mountains |
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| White Mountain views |
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| White Mountain Views |
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| White Mountain Views |
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| More great views |
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| Warning posted for Mt Washington |
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| Outside Lake of the Clouds |
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| Cog Train for Mt Washington |
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| Tom at the summit of Mt Eisenhower |
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| Hiker Hermes finding a cell signal on the way to Mizpah |
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| The sun pops through on Twin Mountain |
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| Tom on Mt Washington summit |
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| The view down Mt Washington toward Madison Springs Hut |
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| After dinner at Madison Springs hut. |
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| Morning dawn from Madison Springs hut. |
Mt Lafayette behind Mt Washington ahead Saturday September 13, 2014
I spoke to Tom this noon. he is finding that wireless signals are few and far between in the White Mountains. He sounds energized and loving every day. His first day back hiking was cool and sunny. He passed Eliza Brook Shelter and Fishing Jimmy Trail as planned. He tells me he wrote an Ode to Eliza ( our new granddaughter ) when he was there. The photos and story will be passed along when he will reach the White Moutains Lodge in 3 or 4 days.
New Hampshire has a number of huts in the White Mountains that have meals provided and rooms for rent. They are a big step above the shelters that he has come across so far along the trail. Sept. 10 he passed by the Lonesome Lake Hut mid morning and was able to refill his water but also enjoy a hearty breakfast of eggs and pancakes.
After hiking Mt. Lafayette yesterday and finding 70 mph winds at the summit he was able to work for stay at Zealand Falls Hut last night.
He tells me that the last 2 miles of the hike was above tree line and reminded him a great deal of the summit area of Pikes Peak in Colorado. All you Camp Pike folks from Coppell will know exactly what he means. The staff along with some hiker volunteers at Zealand Falls Hut provided a meal including chicken, rice and homemade bread. After staying in a warm room for the night he had enjoyed a great breakfast this morning. The normal fee to stay in one of these huts in Maine runs about $100.00 average so if a work for stay slot is available that is a great find.
Tomorrow he will tackle Mt Washington...that summit is known for having the highest wind speeds ever recorded. I see today they are posting wind speeds between 69 and 28 mph. When you add in a temperature of 41 degrees and that makes for a big adventure.
I spoke to Kevin today and he is beginning to gather the items that he will be bringing for his part of the hike. Hiking poles, a warm fleece and a good Gortex jacket are at the top of the list.
Anne
New Hampshire has a number of huts in the White Mountains that have meals provided and rooms for rent. They are a big step above the shelters that he has come across so far along the trail. Sept. 10 he passed by the Lonesome Lake Hut mid morning and was able to refill his water but also enjoy a hearty breakfast of eggs and pancakes.
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| Trail near Lonesome Lake |
After hiking Mt. Lafayette yesterday and finding 70 mph winds at the summit he was able to work for stay at Zealand Falls Hut last night.
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| Mt Lafayette, New Hampshire |
He tells me that the last 2 miles of the hike was above tree line and reminded him a great deal of the summit area of Pikes Peak in Colorado. All you Camp Pike folks from Coppell will know exactly what he means. The staff along with some hiker volunteers at Zealand Falls Hut provided a meal including chicken, rice and homemade bread. After staying in a warm room for the night he had enjoyed a great breakfast this morning. The normal fee to stay in one of these huts in Maine runs about $100.00 average so if a work for stay slot is available that is a great find.
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| Zealand Hut Exterior |
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| Zealand Hut Interior |
Tomorrow he will tackle Mt Washington...that summit is known for having the highest wind speeds ever recorded. I see today they are posting wind speeds between 69 and 28 mph. When you add in a temperature of 41 degrees and that makes for a big adventure.
I spoke to Kevin today and he is beginning to gather the items that he will be bringing for his part of the hike. Hiking poles, a warm fleece and a good Gortex jacket are at the top of the list.
Anne
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Off he goes...September 10, 2014
Tom has started back to the trail this morning after spending some time with Mary and George McGoldrick who graciously picked Tom up from Boston-Logan Airport and then delivered him to the trailhead in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This was the spot that Tom had just completed in August. I am more sure than ever that these hikes succeed because of all the trail angels that the hiker meets along the way. Here is a photo of Tom as he is about to go back into the woods...
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Time to Get this Thing Done
Our visit with son Phil and his family has been great. We celebrated granddaughter Eliza's one month birthday (a low key celebration) yesterday. Getting a chance to hold her has been very special. I also had some special time with grandson Austin, bicycling up to the Seven Eleven for some treats, having him spend the night with us at the hotel several nights, and doing a little hiking. Phil and Andrea are great parents. Andrea is truly a supermom in handling an active four year old while caring for a newborn. Phil has taken weeks of time off to be there and pitch in.
Phil and I spent some quality project time building a front deck on their home. It turned out very nicely, if I may say so.
It is hard to believe that it is time to leave tomorrow. Anne and I will leave on a noonish flight to Portland and from there we will take red-eye flights in separate directions - she back home and me to Boston. My sister- and brother-in-law George and Mary will meet me in Boston and shuttle me to New Hampshire to resume the hike where I had left off.
On many occasions during the hike I have had the feeling that things are just as they are meant to be, and that all I have to do is keep on walking. Here are three things about my resuming the hike that have struck me as "just meant to be". When I told George yesterday that the place I needed to get to in New Hampshire was Lincoln, he said his sister has a house up there. We are planning to drive up there and spend a night in her home before I resume the hike. The first shelter I will come to when I resume hiking is called the Eliza Brook shelter. One of the first cross trails I will see is called the Fishing Jimmy trail. You may remember that in an early post I had said I was dedicating this hike to my dear friend Jimmy Bray, with whom I spent many enjoyable hours participating in one of our shared activities... fishing.
While we were out in Oregon, we had the chance to rent a couple of cabins in the mountains southwest of Ashland with Phil's family. The cabins were very near the Pacific Crest Trail, and Phil, Austin and I hiked briefly on the trail. Getting back on the trail got me excited about getting back and finishing the AT.
We have finalized the arrangements for son Kevin to join me for the last miles of the hike. He will get himself to a hostel in Millinocket, ME and spend one night there before being shuttled back into the 100-mile wilderness to join me. I think we are both excited about that. He has been out shopping for the last of the supplies he will need.
I had said in my last post that I was trying to strike a balance between giving my body the rest it needed to heal and getting enough exercise to stay in hiking shape. I have to confess that I leaned heavily toward the rest side. Phil and I were very active anaerobically building the deck, but I have done close to zero aerobic exercise. We'll see what price is to be paid for that in a few days.
Phil and I spent some quality project time building a front deck on their home. It turned out very nicely, if I may say so.
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| The Grandparents enjoying Eliza on the new deck |
It is hard to believe that it is time to leave tomorrow. Anne and I will leave on a noonish flight to Portland and from there we will take red-eye flights in separate directions - she back home and me to Boston. My sister- and brother-in-law George and Mary will meet me in Boston and shuttle me to New Hampshire to resume the hike where I had left off.
On many occasions during the hike I have had the feeling that things are just as they are meant to be, and that all I have to do is keep on walking. Here are three things about my resuming the hike that have struck me as "just meant to be". When I told George yesterday that the place I needed to get to in New Hampshire was Lincoln, he said his sister has a house up there. We are planning to drive up there and spend a night in her home before I resume the hike. The first shelter I will come to when I resume hiking is called the Eliza Brook shelter. One of the first cross trails I will see is called the Fishing Jimmy trail. You may remember that in an early post I had said I was dedicating this hike to my dear friend Jimmy Bray, with whom I spent many enjoyable hours participating in one of our shared activities... fishing.
While we were out in Oregon, we had the chance to rent a couple of cabins in the mountains southwest of Ashland with Phil's family. The cabins were very near the Pacific Crest Trail, and Phil, Austin and I hiked briefly on the trail. Getting back on the trail got me excited about getting back and finishing the AT.
We have finalized the arrangements for son Kevin to join me for the last miles of the hike. He will get himself to a hostel in Millinocket, ME and spend one night there before being shuttled back into the 100-mile wilderness to join me. I think we are both excited about that. He has been out shopping for the last of the supplies he will need.
I had said in my last post that I was trying to strike a balance between giving my body the rest it needed to heal and getting enough exercise to stay in hiking shape. I have to confess that I leaned heavily toward the rest side. Phil and I were very active anaerobically building the deck, but I have done close to zero aerobic exercise. We'll see what price is to be paid for that in a few days.
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