Up at 6am, on the trail by 7 with Preston (no trail name yet). He’s a recent college grad who is hiking the trail to raise money for a mental health program in high schools back in Cincinnati. He’s raised $12k of $20k so far, courageously sharing the story of his own struggles in order to raise awareness.
We set out and had a flat, sunny day, running into most of the people who started their Sobo (southbound) hike yesterday. We saw a beautiful little waterfall, did some more flat hiking, and then came to a road and the trailhead for the Hundred Mile Wilderness. This is the most remote section of the entire AT – a 100-mile stretch of no towns, few roads, and almost no cell service. It’s rugged, wet, and somewhat mountainous.
The 100MW is one of several reasons that only about 10% of thru hikers attempt a Southbound thru hike. Most go Northbound starting in the spring, but I couldn’t due to the timing of my job.
Here’s what the AT website says about Southbound hikes.
Oh well. Too late now!
Anyway, we finished up a fairly flat day at our campsite, where a group of us went swimming in impossibly warm water in a nearby stream. Day 2 down, and as I lay in my tent typing this, Preston just shouted over that my sunburned head gave him an idea for my trail name – Carrot Top! He was (is?) a red headed comedian, and while his head looked like it was on fire, mine actually feels like it right now.
Carrot Top. I think I like it.
Trails And Travels 