I refuse to call them “rocks” anymore. In my vocabulary, they will always be known as the “gray demons” who grab your heels, stub your toes, and try to drag you into the Devil’s underworld. The smaller versions that hide under leaves or in the grass are his “minions” and are just as evil. So far I’ve sprained my ankle four times and fallen seven times. After the last fall, I wiped my face in my tent with a Dude Wipe and noticed red and green streaks. I expected blood, but there were grass stains all over his face. A real face plant.
Actually…?
Some hikers on the trail have said, «Oh, this is my favorite part! I love the rocks!» I really worry about his sanity. Then again, I may be losing mine after spending day after day among these gray demons.
stop scaring me
Others have said, «The rocks don’t stop until they reach Katahdin.» I also heard, «Wait until New Hampshire, where you’ll have to put away your trekking poles and climb the rocks by hand.» Is this scaremongering? Are people trying to scare me into coming home? Because I can tell you right now that I will not continue if this continues into New England. I came here to hike, not to rock climb, rappel, or spend every mile rock hopping. My feet and my sanity will not survive.
The ouchis
Last September I had hip surgery. For unknown reasons, my body develops bone spurs: sharp bony protrusions that gnaw at the soft tissue around my joints. I have already had surgery three times because of them. My hip surgery involved shaving bone spurs, repairing the labrum, and removing a joint cyst. Nine months ago I used a walker. My hip feels so much better when I can keep my foot aligned with it without constantly twisting and turning, but these demons make that impossible.
And yes, I know the rocks continue all the way to New Jersey. Was Pennsylvania beautiful? I honestly couldn’t tell you. I’ve spent the last few weeks looking at my feet.
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