Trail Magic, Slack Packing and a hiking partner

This morning I woke up around 5 in the morning, knowing that I could stay forever! But the land is lately very slow. I need all the time on the day I can get. I packed and then Mike came to pick me up and bring me back to the path. But not before we stop for a fast breakfast. After having coffee and a breakfast sandwich, I was ready to go.

They left me around 6:30 am and I started a 13 mile slack pack. What basically only means that I left my food bag with Mike, and I will gather it with him this afternoon. Apparently, this section of the path is one of the easiest of the entire state of Maine! So I was eager to win a decent time during time. That sounded lovely. However, I was very tight starting this morning. Last night I had a fairly important revelation when it comes to my recent injury. In the last 4 days I made «big» miles and felt fantastic. Even at the end of the day and in the morning I felt really solid and quite lazy. Then I arrived in the city last night and immediately felt so tight and uncomfortable. I told my PT and she thinks it is super standard for a piriform problem. The sitting only makes me take basically. But once I move again, relax quickly.

It may not seem like something positive, but it really made me feel much better. When I am walking I feel incredible. But when I stop and I feel in a car or a restaurant, I feel quite hard. My limp returns very fast. The positive thing is that at least it disappears just as fast. And my PT believes that it is very hopeful that I feel better during the movement and while walking. And I would have to agree.

He took one or two miles this morning, but finally I felt as good as yesterday. Maybe it’s not exactly so good, but quite well. And the land was really very pleasant. I didn’t move exactly 3 mph, but I was definitely doing it better than 2 mph. Which meant that it would go to the road quite early. I hope to go to about 26 miles today. So, as soon as possible, the better when it comes to reaching the next road.

It was a beautiful beginning for the day!

In the course of the day, the path brought me through a pine forest that smelled delicious. There were some sections with a lot of mud, rocks and roots. So I still had to take my time as you usually do. But he was rolling a little better than the last days. I ended up with 3 hikers when I was about 8 miles a day. A guy was going north and the other two also went south. After speaking briefly, one of the boys realized who he was and was asking me some questions. They were all super nice and it was a good talk for a moment. The north hiker also said that the land would be a little better to Grafton Notch. That’s where hikers can get hooked in Betel. And when you go south, the next section of the path is the Mahosuk area. A very slow and technical technical segment of Trail.

The path went through this beautiful lake. In fact, I went to a hiker who was fishing.

After talking to those guys for a moment, I continued. I was flying time and I could actually use voice to send a text message to write a little. Lately I have been so tired at the end of the day! In general, I can walk 30 miles in approximately 10 hours on standard terrain. Right now I am walking for about 13 hours a day in order to make 25 miles. Which is quite exhausting and is definitely not sustainable. But this path will end soon enough. I just have to endure a little more.

Just before arriving on the road, I met a hiker I recognized. We had met at Shaw’s and he had shared a wild story about his very dangerous experience in Mount Katahdin. Today, when I passed it, I was marking a piece of steak for dinner tonight. I don’t know if I have ever seen something like that while in the middle of the forest!

I love this big fungus, flat.

I went to the road around noon and walked to see Mike, also known as «no thousands.» His registration actually says «without miles», which I think is great. He came to bring me my food bag and also brought me to lunch! So we sat in the parking lot and enjoyed the sandwiches while we talked. I drank a dir pepper and packed my food bag. The last 24 hours have been so delicious thanks to Mike. It has helped me in many ways and really goes and beyond.

This part of the forest was tremendously uniform.

My body and mind needed that little rest and relaxation yesterday. And Mike knows through hikers like the back of his hand. He brought everything he might need, even the detergent and laundry rooms. After lunch together, I placed myself and ready to continue moving. It was still early, but I had 13 miles for the day. And depending on the terrain, that could take time.

Heading along the way to meet Mike for lunch.

While I was still in the parking lot, I noticed a familiar face! Taco was being left by an angel of paths. Taco and I met the other day in the desert of the hundred miles. We stayed together in the same refuge while I went to the north and he went to the south. While we talked, we also realized that we actually met briefly at the CDT last year while we perform alternative routes in the Tetons. What a small world. Now time aligned perfectly to leave it just when I was preparing to start walking again. The idea of ​​having a hiking companion for the day sounded like an absolute delight.

Mike gets everyone who follows Los Angeles signs his legendary hat. He has supported many hikers doing FKT and things of the type.

Then I had to say goodbye to Mike and thank him for everything. He is the true definition of an angel of trails, and his actions made so much difference for me mentally. The land has been hard and mentally so ready to end this path. I really needed the impulse it provided. And he helped feed my body in the long term with incredible meal. It’s really a blessing!

Mike (without miles) and me!

After that, Taco and I left the parking lot together and started walking. I was a bit slow to get back after sitting for so long. But once again, my body quickly loosen up. The path initially began to descend after we left the parking area. Then I knew that we would eventually have a climb.

While we walk taco and spend time talking. It was very nice to get my mind out of the miles for once. We talked without stopping and sharing many stories. It was such a pleasant rhythm change! Then we start the steep and prolonged climb. However, I felt really solid and simply sailed to the top. These rocky climbs are something that my body manages well, fortunately.

This beautiful lake is better visible from the turn next to the road. That’s where I had lunch with Mike.

And once we climb, the path was mainly leveled. During the rest of the day, we gradually go up and go down. There were a couple of more steep climbs. But they ended quite quickly. Taco and I stopped for the water and grabbed a snack. Then we kept rolling it. Even with the land we were doing quite well. Getting to the camp before dusk would definitely not be a problem tonight!

Views from one of the following high points after crossing the road.

The day of the climb ended once we arrived at the Old Blue Mountain. The upper part of which was mostly covered with trees. From there, the only thing that was filled between the camp and the night camp was a long descent. What began quite casually, but proved to be anything but. As we approached the bottom, where the next road was the path went crazy. I had to use my hands to get off in many places. It really wasn’t so bad, but it just took much longer than I expected.

Wad!

However, we eventually went down to South Arm Road, where we would be camping at night. I remembered to be sitting by the road in 2023 and wait for Boosted and Sweet Pea to reach me. While I sat there, my friends of friends also arrived! First we walked together on the Pinhoti path in 2023. Then, later I saw him here in Maine when he was gathering his miles of trails of the Apalaches. Today, when we walked along the way, I was calm, with just a parked car near.

There was a rock jump through a river after crossing the road. Then, there were some pleasant, flat and tent spots by the river. The mosquitoes were quite bad. But there was no other camp for a couple of miles. That would take time with the current land. In addition, this store site actually had a privilege! And the spots were really great.

After climbing one last time, we finally fall for our camp to spend the night.

I could rain tonight, so I set up my store better than ever. The field was absolutely perfect. It was very close to the typhoon test. Then I grabbed the water and put everything else. And Taco and I sat down and talked for one or two hours before calling him one night. I did my dinner after that and retired to my store. Then, within the next half hour, the rain began!

I am so happy to have warned Taco, because he was not going to configure his canvas on his hammock. And at 30 minutes of him placing the canvas, he began to see himself. I would continue raining throughout the rest of the night too. Sometimes it was quite light, and sometimes Dumping was. But my tone was fair and kept perfectly dry.

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