Ohio... the state, not the girl!

On the trail most people go by nicknames.  Usually they are given to them by other hikers... my trail name is Ohio... which is totally lame, but it was given to me on day 2, so I get to keep it.  =)

I would like to kick off this post with a shout out to my feet.  Here they are on the summit of Katahdin.  That's Ben/Info and Harmony behind them.  They thought I was ridiculou for saying "Thank you" to my feet... but seriously... did any part of me work harder or take more abuse on its way to Maine?  And look... I thanked them by making them walk in these shoes that were falling apart.  Thanks feet, you rock! 

(Yes, I am weird!)

Onward...

Current Location:  Vandalia, OH

I returned to Ohio on Monday afternoon.  I'm not sure what to say about that.  So I'll say this...I love being in Ohio and seeing my family and friends, but I miss the journey north and my trail friends.  I love the busyness of my life here, but I miss the peace and tranquility of days on the trail.  I love the convenience of civilization, but I miss the simplicity of life in the woods. 

I am so thankful for the journey that took me from Georgia to Maine.  It was unexpected and ridiculous, beautiful and simple, challenging and painful, inspiring and amazing.  It almost seems like a dream sometimes, the 5 months I spent in the woods, so far removed from here, so difficult to put into words and impossible to capture in pictures.

Its going to take me a while... to think through all the things that I learned, all the weirdness, all the details.  I will put more here... give you my thoughts, tell you the stats, answer some lingering questions.  But for now, I can't get my brain around all that has happened.  What seems in my brain like a really long walk in the woods is in reality something that will be with me forever.  I am blessed.

Here I am on the summit of Katahdin.  For a long, long time I saw these pictures people took at the end of their journey.  I never really though that I would have one of my own... and I do... because I walked to stinkin Maine!  Badda Bing...



It was crazy...

Many more adventures to come... stay tuned!!

Shennies

Current location: Waynesboro, VA

Accumulated miles: 1800ish

After a cold, windy, rainy, but BEAUTIFUL 5 1/2 days I have made it out of Shenandoah National Park and into Waynesboro, VA. Whew!

The "Shennies" surprised me in a lot of ways. The park was PACKED with people every time I got near a wayside or Skyline Drive (multiple times a day) but the backcountry was pretty much deserted... its amazing how many people visit such a beautiful place and never leave the pavement. It was also BEAUTIFUL with the leaves changing colors. It surprised me to hit peak leaf season, having just been in peak season so far north in Maine. It also surprised me how easy the terrain was and how quickly the miles went by... or maybe my feet are moving faster than they used to... =)

Of course, the weather was tough... I was cold and wet and COLD a lot... one afternoon I spent 4 hours in a campground laundry room with some great people who are riding bikes to promote peace and awareness (ARTTE) while the rain poured and the wind blew outside... my life is so odd sometimes!

But it was a good, if tough, week... and what did I learn? HMMMM... I learned I am tougher than I thought... and that sometimes the best place to "sit and figure it out" is when my feet are following a trail through the woods.

I'm gettin there... slowly but surely... and its still a crazy good journey. =)

NOBO no more, SOBO for now

Current location: Front Royal, VA

Accumulated miles: 1660ish

Up until this time last week, I was a NOBO, or a north bound thru-hiker. Starting Tuesday though I became a SOBO, or south bounder. I left Harpers Ferry on Tuesday afternoon and headed south. It is still a bit odd and I sometimes get really confused, but its an intersting journey for sure!

Being south bound this time of year means a lot fewer people, still amazing fall colors, and (lucky me) 3 straight days of rain. YAY!

Really though, becoming a southbounder, getting on the bus out of Bangor, Maine and traveling down here meant leaving behind a life and people that I had grown so content with. I was a happy hiker and I admit I wasnt ready to see it end. AT ALL. Now I'm here, in the south again, without my the support system I had built, and its a lot harder than I thought it would be. I'm still hiking along, still keeping pace, and still loving the journey... but now my journey looks really different and I am learning to live differently. I'm not always ok with that... but I am learning to embrace this time, the things I am finding out about who I am, and to be stronger than I usually let myself be.

I usually tell you what a blessed journey this is and that is still true. Yet in the sake of honesty, it's also a journey that is tough right now, but God is teaching me much in it... and I will continue to walk this path, however far it leads.

Tomorrow, into Shenandoah National Park. YAY!

----------
Sent from the Verizon network using Mobile Email

mountains

Current location: near Boston, MA

Accumulated miles: 1600ish

On Friday morning I left Katahdin Stream Campground and climbed up to Katahdin's Baxter Peak. It towers almost 4000 ft above the campground and is the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. I still have some miles to make up.. but it was a big day even for me.

The climb was 5.2 miles of rocks and boulders... and luckily enough ICE...since its been so cold lately in Maine. BUT after a week in the 100 mile wilderness with distant glimpses of the mountain it was an amazing climb, capped by time at the summit with great friends. I can't put it into good words.. the beauty of the cold, clear day... the goodness of sharing it with friends who walked the same hard days and good ones... the overwhelming sense of accomplishment. It was good... very very good.

Since I can't say things eloquently I will tell you what I wrote in the book at the ranger station...
'This journey didn't end on the mountain top... it only matters if we let it... make this day count.'

As I head for Virginia and some skipped miles I keep that thought close. My journey started long ago and its not over... life is just as much about the hard days in muddy, cold valleys as beautiful mountaintops... and I am learning much about grace and peace and forgiveness in all of the places I find myself.

I lived a dream Friday... I did something I long dreamed about... and that matters. What happens next matters more....

----------
Sent from the Verizon network using Mobile Email