With just 67.5 miles remaining of our journey, it is hard to fully make sense of how dramatically our lives will change within the next week. We are looking forward to consistent heat, the absence of mice in our sleeping space, and rest for our weary bodies. We simultaneously know we will miss what has become our life out here, the sense of purpose each day brings, and the company we share with other hikers. During the past full week of miles, we tried to soak in these remaining days (an easy task when the sun returned) as thoughts of summitting Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the trail, whirled in our heads.
We are consistently hiking with four other hikers, all of whom we met in the first 1,000 miles of our hike, but only bumped into several weeks ago. Their company has added humor and comraderie to our experience and sharing the excitement of completing the trail has been a valued part of our hike. Additionally, being with others in lousy weather makes the craziness a bit easier to bear. We woke up at 5am this morning to get an early start with knowledge of the approaching winter storm. By 6am we were hiking in steady snow, which transitioned to rain and freezing rain and back for the remainder of the morning. The weather kept us moving and somehow we pulled out 16.7 miles by noon! Unfortunately, I spent the next 30 minutes standing in the pouring rain trying to hitch a ride into town. Thankfully, Chomp (always the negotiator) talked his way into a ride for half of the group as a second driver pulled up. Before long, we were warm and dry at the local Holiday Inn.
The excitement grows as Tuesday, our summit day, approaches. We talk about our first days on the trail, when we had 67 miles down, rather than 67 to go. We discuss the poses we will strike on Springer and prepare for the festivities (a fellow hiker has been carrying fireworks for the past 40 miles). Amidst it all we try to remember how far we've come and feel pretty darn proud of ourselves. The next time you hear from us, we will be thru-hikers!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
We are sooooo proud of both of you. It seems like just yesterday we dropped you off in Newport with Liz and Steve to begin this fantastic adventure. Thank you for these entries in your blog which have allowed us to share a little bit of your life in these last 5 months. We miss you and look forward to seeing you on Christmas Day.
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS!!! A JOB WELL DONE.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and Happy New Year!
How appropriate that your last evening on the trail is winter solstice. Tomorrow brings "new light" and the culmination of your five month journey.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all "fellow followers" of Half Full and Chomp's AT hike... to Carol and Clayton, the caretakers of Sophie and Boston; to Bluebearee for the insight of a thru hiker (and for naming Half Full - yes, only Emily could manage to see a brief, blue crack in an overcast sky and proclaim the weather was clearing); and to everyone who called, emailed, and sent high caloric treats to sustain the hikers. The mother of Half Full thanks you.
And thanks to you Liz for letting her come back to the trail in 02 so that I could meet her and become her biggest fan. (and for choking me up just now)
ReplyDelete