A Sisu Day

Post date: Mar 22, 2016 1:42:1 AM

Today was a 21 mile hike or no hike at all. The first few weeks I'm "slack packing", which means I'm carrying only what I need that day plus things needed in case of an unexpected turn of the weather or injury, and Ann picks me up at the end of the hike. So I have to be at a road that a Prius can manage. Pretty cushy, huh? We stay in a hostel or hotel, then drive back to the same point on the trail for the next day's hike. So my pack is way lighter than it will be when I'm on my own and camping. Today there were no good roads for 21 trail miles, so it was do it or do nothing. The day was also lousy weather with temperatures in the mid twenties and windy with gusts up to 30 mph and a fresh layer of snow from the night before. On the way in we saw a hiker named Digger walking out from Deep Gap where he had camped and which was my starting point of the day. He looked bad. He said he was so cold the whole night that he forced himself to stay awake all night fearing he might not wake up if he fell asleep. He advised me to take an off day. I considered it, but decided to go as planned. Ann left me at the trailhead, then gave Digger a ride to a hotel in Franklin. I knew it would be cold, but thought I was dressed for it- as my biking friends say, there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. The temperature felt a lot colder than the mid 20's because of the wind. What I didn't realize was how a gusting wind in a valley can become a howling wind on the ridges. A few miles in, on top of a ridge being pushed by the wind was the first time I muttered Sisu to myself. For those who don't know what Sisu is, just ask your friendly neighborhood Finn. About 11 miles in, I also felt unexpectedly tired and my ankles hurt maybe because of the snow on the trail and slippery footing. Not good when you're in the middle of nowhere 10 miles from the nearest road in cold windy weather. It was the second time I summoned my inner Finn by saying Sisu to myself. As the miles passed slowly, my inner Sisu motivation became a dialogue- " so, you think you have Sisu? Prove it." And "come on you wimp, show me some Sisu." And many other variations. After a great struggle I finally made it to Rock Gap and was never so happy to see Ann waiting in our little red Prius!

Today went from Deep Gap to Rock Gap, 20.6 miles, now at mile 106.2