Temperatures pushed a bit higher today. Uphill, downhill, or flat: all lead to profuse sweating. Luckily, there are still plenty of swimming opportunities. I took a dip in a lake around lunchtime. Then, trail magic! A guy named Phil was parked with his truck on a gravel road with coolers of beer, soda, and Gatorade. … Continue reading Wednesday, August 29 “A Humid Vermont Day” (Kreg) →

After an hour of trying to shut out the sound of snoring in the bunk room, I slept on the porch of the hostel last night. To my surprise, a gorgeous full moon lit the sky at 3 AM - a nice conciliation for leaving the comfort of my mattress. In the morning, finally able … Continue reading Tuesday, August 28 “(Mostly) Recovered, and Back on the Trail” (Kreg) →

Puebla has been very good to me so far! I arrived on Saturday morning and made it from Mexico City without any trouble. Maru, one of the women who lead Yo'on Ixim, picked me up from the bus station and took me to breakfast where I ordered my favorite, chilaquiles. After running errands with her … Continue reading Monday, August 27 “First Days in Puebla” (Rocío) →

I’m at LAX waiting for my flight to Mexico, and I am so excited for the adventure ahead! I expect to arrive in Mexico City tomorrow at 4:55am, and then I’ll take a 2.5-hour bus ride to Puebla. I’m a little nervous about navigating public transportation in a new environment, but I’m looking forward to … Continue reading Friday, August 24 “Here I go!” (Rocío) →

It was hot day! The climb to the summit was no joke, but I met a few Nobos and had lunch with them at the restaurant on the summit. Killington is a huge ski mountain, so it was quite crowded at the peak, which is easily accessible from a number of trails and a gondola. … Continue reading Friday, August 24 “Killington, a FOP Group, and 500 Miles!” (Kreg) →

It rained all night, and I stayed in a shelter with about 5 other people to keep from packing out a wet tent. I have a pretty hard time sleeping near others, mostly because people tend to snore and I am a very light sleeper. But risking a poor night’s sleep vs tenting in heavy … Continue reading Wednesday, August 22 “Cold Rain, Then Heat” (Kreg) →

Familiar faces lift the spirits when you’re on the trail. Weeks in the woods, all people and places unknown, leave you with a profound sense of gratitude for everything and everyone in your life that otherwise might go unappreciated. This is perhaps the single biggest lesson it has taught me. My aunt and uncle live … Continue reading Saturday, August 18 “Family” (Kreg) →

I hiked down from Moosilauke this morning - goodbye White Mountains! Then, I stopped at a hostel. I wasn’t particularly interested in staying there because I felt pretty good and could resupply enough to get to Hanover. Also,I’d only walked 6 miles, it was early, and there wasn’t much to do in that town. I … Continue reading Friday, August 17 “Goodbye to the Whites!” (Kreg) →

Today started with a dreary morning hike through muddy trail into Kinsman Notch. I ran out of fuel the night before and had about a day of food left, so my pack was very light. Water is frequent, so I am carrying less than a liter at a time, making it even lighter - less … Continue reading Thursday, August 16 “Moosilauke and a Starry Night” (Kreg) →

Woohoo! Despite hiking up North Kinsman in fog, the clouds cleared out when I got to the peak. I could see Franconia behind me, and even Washington far off in the distance. Ahead loomed Moosilauke, the 3000 foot climb coming up the day after tomorrow. Coming down was steeeeeep again, and nursing my knee, I … Continue reading Wednesday, August 15 “An Ice Bath after the Kinsmen” (Kreg) →