We left Stratton after our 4th zero day. When we arrived in Stratton Jess was having some knee issues (more muscle related than anything) and we decided to take another day off to allow her knee to heal up. Our spirits were high as Sue dropped us off at the trailhead and we prepared for the five mile climb to the top of Crocker Mountain.
Remember that shirt I was super stoked on? The one I thought would be a lot tougher and last a lot longer? Yeah, big holes. Didn’t make it 5 miles.
The top of Crocker Mountain was unfortunately just as dissappointing. It was the first mountain we had climbed with an altitude over 4000 feet that didn’t have a view. Wasn’t above treeline. We decided to push down to our next stream fording and camp by the bank. It started to rain that day. We climbed up and down super slippery rocks and slogged through some more mud. Kind of a bummer.
That next day we climbed again in the wet and the cold, trying to get past that next lean-to. The hiking that morning was pretty incredible though, it wasn’t raining and we were dipping in and out of the clouds along a ridge, so most of the walk was through the misty forest. Definitely a neat experience.
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Shortly after leaving Biscuit (we named the little fella), we hit our 200 mile mark at the plaque that commemorated the completion of the last section of the Appalachian Trail!
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2,054 miles long!? That would’ve been nice. It’s 2,186 now! |
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From Left: Left Hand, Rayo, and Aves 😉 |
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Jess descending Saddleback Mountain |
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To be fair, we did send two of these boxes to ourselves from earlier on the trail. Still an impressive haul! OH and my newest shirt! |
It's the mouse kharma!!! See, one good turn begets others. We would have fed the mouse too.
Pokie Okie &, of course, Trail Blazer
I was so excited when Rayo told me he met up with you two & now I check your blog & I see his "skinny" face smiling!! How awesome is that!!
Thanks for passing on the message & the pic!!!
Happy Hiking
Ps He hopes to summit a week from today!!!