Headed North

"Where the mind wants to go the body will follow."

The Adventure Begins

A Long Walk

If you ask "KC" Ross about her thru hikes she will tell you that "it's just a long walk."  KC's long walks have taken her over 7,000 miles in the United States and New Zealand.  KC is the inspiration for my "long walk" to Katahdin!  Thank you KC!
Tomorrow, I'll walk across the bridge that connects Vermont and New Hampshire and slowly make my way thru Hanover, NH."
I'm in no hurry and have no schedules to be at a certain town on a specific date.  I just want to see, hear and feel what most people never see, hear and feel.  Meet me right here and I'll ​share what I'm seeing, hearing and feeling!

June 10th!
It's 4:30 am and I can't sleep. I tried, but I just could not sleep.
This is no longer a dream!  This is the beginning of my long walk to Katahdin!
  
Katahdin!     
 
Eagles Soar
A loon’s echo greets the day
Water flows
And…The wind blows
A mountain rises
Katahdin!
Into the clouds
Summits wait and wait
Time passes slowly
Eagles keep no time
Soaring and watching
Over this land
Man visits
To climb where eagles soar
To sit, listen and more
Wind and water flow
Sunrise and sunset
How many times?
Only the eagles know
A timeless place –Katahdin!
Slowly time moves on
And so must I
 
    


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Katahdin...The Greatest Mountain

 

June 17th

A lot has happened over the past 7 days!  This "Long Walk" is way more amazing than I  ever imagined.  Most of the days on the trail are solo and I see very few people.  Which is ok...these solo days have been great to organize my gear and establish my trail rountines.  

The Trail

Headed North by trail
A trail etched on the land
A trail through forests, mountains and valleys
A trail calls step by step
A trail stands still
The sun marks time here
​A trail for you and me

Call me "Dreamer"

On the trail the first question everyone asks is: What's you name?  Not your real name but your trail name.  First few days were awkward answering this question.

 I usually would say, "My name is Larry and I don't have a trail name."  I spent a lot of time thinking about a trail name.  I talked with several thru hikers about the "rules" of acquiring a trail name.  "Thirsty Boots", completing his third AT thru hike, said there are no rules. 

I tell people all the time that "I'm living my dream."  Day 5 on the trail was a long day with 17 miles of rain, cold, wind and lots of mud.  I kept dreaming of approching the Eliza Brook Shelter.  It finally happened at 8:00 pm.

I approached the shelter and was greated by two hikers.  "Fair Caster" asked "What's your name?"  I quickly said, "Dreamer".   "Dreamer" it is!

Small World

South Kingsman

Climbing the final mile to the summit of South Kingsman was tough!  Burned a lot of calories gettig to the summit.  It was close to 12 and time for lunch.  
I was busy inhaling as many calories as humanly possible when I looked up and saw Whitney!  I said, "What are you doing here?"  Whitney and a few friends were out working on the NH 48.  Whitney I look forward to our paths crossing again!

On My Back

All I need
Is on my back
Two feet takes me
Where I want to go
On my back
Water, shelter and more
Two eyes facing forward
There to see where two feet goes
To discover 
What's not seen
Moving forward step by step
Each step takes me higher
Where the summit winds blow
Each step takes me forward
Summits are there
To see how far we've come
Summits are there
To see where we are going
All I need
Is on my back!

July 1st

Life on Trail

This is not hike!  Hiking the AT is a way of life and it is AWESOME!  Hard to beleive this is day 21 and so close to Maine.  Currently I'm in Gorham, NH resupplying and will be back on the trail in the morning.  Life on the trail is way more than I ever thought it would/could be.  There's something about getting up everyday and walking this trail and the people you meet on the AT.  We all have one common thread: The Trail. 

A Setting Sun

The Day is done
New friends made
Summits climbed
Sat quiet on top
So many views
Two dogs petted
Talked about the trail
Met three more thru hikers
Journaled about the day
More trail talk
Cooked dinner on a rock
More trail talk
Teethed brushed
Journaled some more
Read some more
I'm sleepy now
Awesome day
​The day is done!

Oh White Blaze
Oh white blaze
I love your sight
Always there 
Morning, noon and night
Oh white blaze
I love your sight
Leading me to
A distant land I cannot see
Oh white blaze 
Silently you stand
As feet pass by
Oh white blaze
Your work is never done
Oh white blaze
I love your sight
Through rain, sleet and snow
You stand guard for those that go slow
Oh white blaze 
I love your sight

Yes!

A long walk will make
you say 
Yes!
Do you want some food?
Yes!
Do you want to sing?
Yes!
Do you want to swim?
Yes!
Do you want to go slow?
Yes!
Do you want a new friend?
Yes!
Do you want a ride?
Yes!
Do you feel stronger?
Yes!
Do you want more out of life?
Yes!
A long walk will make 
you say
​Yes!
Friends
So many friends have come out to the trail.  You brought me food, chocolate and shared your time.  Thank you!

The Trail Gives So Much!

July 9th

Hard to believe the White Mountains are now behind me! 
I can just see the outline of
Mt. Washington the the distance.
The miles go by slowly step-by-step and I would not have it any other way!  Seeing the Maine State Line was so amazing and emotional too!  Not sure how I'll feel when I see Katahdin?!  More friends continue to spend time with me on the AT.  Thanks Dave for sharing the miles, sharp cheddar cheese and your time with me! 

Falling In Love

How Long does it take to
Fall in Love?
20 days
Every morning
The trail is waiting for me
Rocks, Roots and Mud
Up and down the trail goes
Step by step
Slowly mountains pass
Through sun, wind, rain and pain
Moutains climbed
Now a distant view
The trail is waiting
Will you walk another day?
YES!
The trail and me are now one
How long does it take to
Fall in Love?
20 days

Final 
Section

Epic Days Ahead

SOBO Sailor said, "You have some epic days ahead."  He was right!  This trail is beyond awesome and almost to hard to express the right words.  The people on the trail, the hostels and the trail have been the trip of a lifetime!  Everyone helps eachother get to the next step.  Steve at the Hiker Hut, Justin and Melanie at the Hostel of Maine and Poet and Hippi Chick at Shaw's in Monson all have done so much to help hikers keep moving forward! 

Change

This Trail
Flows over mountains
And through valleys
Each step 
Some easy most hard
The end close?
My mind wants change
This trail 
Not going to change
Wake up!
Who's going to change?
You are!
Slowly my mind
Changes with time
Long hard days
Now slow and steady
No worry and calm
This trail
Not going to change
Who changed?
​I did!



It's the Little Things

Morning coffee in your tent
Blue sky summit all alone
Walking all day alone and happy
Talenti container fits inside my cook pot
Cool breeze
The sound of water
Making trail friends
Filling your bottle with a little trickle of water
A stream bath
Nutella!
Dry socks and dry shoes
Hot shower
Dry rock
New Shoes
Trail talk
Walking without looking down
Sleep

Pulling Me

Step-by-step
Each step closer
I feel Katahdin's pull
Pulling me closer
Each step
Easier than before
Thoughts of
Katahdin 
Daily fill my mind
Views of 
Katahdin
Cause tears to flow
Katahdin
In the distance
Standing alone
Waiting for me!
Pulling me
Step-by-step

Final 
Miles

Slowing Down

I do not want this to end!  I'm so close to Katahdin and I can count the days I have left on the trail.  In the middle of the 100 mile wilderness I slowed down my pace and savored the miles.

I thought I was just going to walk from Hanover, NH to Katahdin and that would be the end.  Instead, I have fallen love with this trail, the people on the trail and the AT community!  I'm going to have to walk the entire trail.

Leaving the Trail

Katahdin’s in view
The end I see
Leaving the trail?
No!
I’m not leaving 
I belong on this trail!
Had months now weeks 
Had weeks now days
Had days now hours 
Had hours now minutes 
Had minutes now seconds 
A few more days
Savor the days
A few more nights
Savor the nights
A few more miles 
Savor the miles 
Leaving the trail?
No!
You take the trail 
With you 
Wherever you go!

New Hampshire
and 
Maine

I’ve walked across your lands
Walked through and along your 
streams and rivers
Viewed your sunrises and sunsets 
Walked over and through your roots, rocks and mud
Slipped on your roots, rocks and mud
Stood on top of your highest 
mountain peaks
Felt your gentle cool morning breezes
Been stung and bitten by your 
Mosquitos, black flies and
deer flies 
Watched bald eagles soar 
over your lands
Slept under your star-filled skies 
Sat on your rocks and ate breakfast, lunch and dinner 
Felt the pain of walking over your lands 
Met people from all over the world 
​
Would I do it again?
YES!
 I would do it all AGAIN

Before Me

A trail conceived 
Before me
Georgia thru Maine 
Before me
Steady hard labor
Before me
Bridges and walkways 
Before me 
Trails connected
Before me
Steps of stone laid 
Before me
Benton MacKaye
Before me 
Myron H. Avery 
Before me 
A "Dreamer" 
Before me
The Heart's Turn
I’m looking at Katahdin 
Katahdin is looking 
Right at me!
I feel my heart’s excitement 
No more guessing 
Deep in Maine’s trees
I see where 
I’m going now
Katahdin standing tall
Quietly approaching 
Katahdin’s presence 
You can feel it
The mind got you near
The heart has no fear
It’s the heart’s turn now 
Climb that mountain!
It’s the heart’s turn now
Climb that mountain!
It’s the heart’s turn now
Climb with your heart!
The prize on top
Only for those 
With heart!
"There are three things: to walk, to see and to see what you see."
Benton MacKaye

August 4th

ET and Spider

One Day More!

At "The Birches", we had our last campfire and thanks to 2Blade we had S'mores too!  An awesome group of thru hikers and we will all summit Katahdin tomorrow! 
I went to sleep with 2Blade singing "One Day More!"

It's 4:15 am and I can't sleep!  Today, is the day I summit Katahdin and I'm wide awake!

Hard to believe this is my last day on the trail.  Nobody is up yet and I quietly leave "The Birches" and walk to Katahdin Stream.  I needed water and made some breakfast.  I waited, for ET and Spider, but "the mountain is calling and I must go!"  Five miles to the summit on the Hunt Trail. 

So close now!  I can see the summit sign and a few of my friends standing on the summit.  Just  a few more steps!

What an awesome day to summit.  Blue skies and and awesome 360 views.  It's still early and the day hikers have not arrived on the summit.  We all take turns taking individual pictures and then the final group picture!  

Slowly everyone started back down the Hunt Trail.  Unicef said, "I'll never see them again."
You never know Unicef:  you just might cross paths again and oh what stories you will tell!

My friends ET and Spider arrived at the summit.  They started section hiking the AT in 2012.   This summit of Katahdin completes their AT section hike!  

Congradulations ET and Spider!
I look forward to the day our paths cross again!  We said our final good-byes and went our separate ways.  ET and Spider went down the Abol Trail and I went down the Knife Edge.  


  



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Giving Back!

Only those who have spent time on the AT will understand what a magical place the trail is to experience.  So many people, on and off the trail, were so good to me and the "trail magic" was awesome too!  It's hard to not think about the trail.  I just want to give back to the trail.  So, August 11th, we loaded up a bunch of awesome trail magic and headed to the Whites. 

Drove to Gorham, NH and selected a place just north of Route 2 where the AT comes out onto a dirt road.  Perfect location!

Within a few minutes 8 NOBOs approached our "trail magic" camp.  I asked them if they wanted some food and of course they said YES!

It felt so good giving back to a trail that gave so much to me!

What's Next?

I thought, I was going to walk to Katahdin and that would be enough of the AT.  I was wrong!  The trail, the people and AT community turned out to be amazing.  Now, I need to hike the entire trail!

Starting next March, in Georgia, with Victory, we'll start walking North! 

Yes, even New Hampshire and Maine too! 

"A new adventure is coming up and I'm sure it will be a good one."
​
--Siguard F. Olson