Day 146
Start: Consultation Peak Stealth Site
End: Goddard Shelter
Miles Hiked: 17.7
Miles on AT: 1628.1
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Today was one of those days in which I didn’t really want to hike. Sometimes, I’m tired of walking and just want to sit somewhere in the sun and enjoy the scenery. Instead of moving, I wanted to be stationary.
But, if I stayed still, I wouldn’t get anywhere, so I decided to put one foot in front of the other and see how far I could get.
Right as I started my day, I ran into the group of Long Trail hikers I had seen at the shelter earlier. The group was comprised of 3 guys who had grown up together and still managed to find time to reconnect every year or so into their fifties. I passed them after saying my hellos and continued on. The trail was still muddy but manageable.
Eventually, the trail snaked alongside a rocky stream; the music made by the flowing water was calming and the change in scenery was welcome. The picture doesn’t do it justice, but the stream lined with moss-covered trees was so charming.
After a brief snack break at the shelter, I continued on. On days that I don’t really want to hike, I rely heavily on podcasts and audiobooks to get me moving. I was still trying to make it through Stalin, but the conflict between him and his Leninist counterparts just wasn’t that compelling.
At a break in the green tunnel, I took my pack off and enjoyed a moment in the sun. Below me was Bennington, VT. I had no intention of stopping in the town, but it looked nice from a distance. What I really loved about this spot, though, was the sea of yellow wildflowers. The deep, vibrant color brought the field to life, making the blue of the sky seem even bluer. I could’ve sat on that rock for hours, soaking in the sun and summer colors.
But, alas, I had mountains to climb. Down I went, to the highway road crossing, and back up I went, mountains beckoning me from a distance. The initial climb up was pretty steep, and, given my lack of strong hiking motivation, I took a lot of breaks. On one of them, an older gentleman passed by. He had planned to do a section with some friends, but his knee gave out, so it was back to his car for him.
We chatted about shelters and he sounded uncertain as to whether I would be able to make it to my destination by nightfall, but I assured him I could. Future AT hikers, take note. Many people will comment on whether they think it is reasonable or possible for you to reach your goals on the AT, whether that’s going a certain number of miles or completing the whole thing. But, only you know your abilities and can determine whether or not it’s possible. Most people project their abilities onto you and fail to account for the fact that people may be stronger hikers than they appear. Don’t let the negativity get to you. I just smile and know within myself what I am capable of. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone or convince them of my abilities. My results speak for themselves. And that goes for anything in life. Don’t let the naysayers and non-believers discourage you.
Okay, that’s enough of a TED Talk for today.
Back on trail, I stopped at the next shelter for lunch and realized I had lost my phone charging cable. I had a full battery bank and a phone at 10%, but no way to transfer the energy. Darn, I must’ve left it at the motel. As I turned off my phone to save energy, I hoped that there would be at least one other person in the shelter who could lend me their cord for the evening.
Because of my battery situation, I didn’t have any photos from the rest of the hike. But, there weren’t that many views along the way anyway. I mostly traveled a set of rolling mountains, going up and down, up and down, too many times to count. I passed a few more LT hikers and finally made it to Goddard Shelter around 6 pm.
And, luckily, the trail provided! There were two older women, Mountain Momma and Jingles, who were out hiking a section. They had actually been hiking with the man I had met earlier. Their story was so interesting. They had met the year before on the AT and had become fast friends. Mountain Momma had raised 8 kids and homeschooled them all and had already section hiked the trail once and was working on her second go ’round. Jingles was finishing up her first AT home and had called Mountain Momma on a whim to see if she wanted to join, and here they were!
I had a great time talking with them, not just about trail, but about their lives. Mountain Momma told me all about homeschooling and how she made it work. Her kids are really successful, too. I was very inspired. Jingles got a call from their hiking partner who wasn’t able to complete the leg and told him I had made it to the shelter. Also, Jingles had the exact cord that I needed to charge my phone. Score!
With my phone more charged than before, I set up my tent and crawled in. It wasn’t too chilly even though we were nearly at the top of a mountain. Today was a good day. I made good miles even though my mind was a little reluctant to get my body moving. And, I got to meet some awesome hikers who could help me out. All was good in my world.
And that’s day 146.
A version of this post originally appeared on TheTrek.co.