July 31 – The Wall

Post date: Aug 3, 2012 11:06:45 PM

In athletic events involving endurance, athletes speak of a point in the event where the body and mind approaches a mental and physical place that hurts and they physically and mental cannot get over, around, or through this road block; it literally feel as though they have run straight into "The Wall."

With the stress of the prior day still weighing on her, "Five Pair" set off on the first ascent of the day and immediately fell several times onto the rocks. The combination of the physical strains faced in recent days, accumulated fatigue, hiking alone for an extended period and the stresses on and off the trail of the past week came to a head.

Through the wall "Five Pair" hiked and early in the afternoon she emerged from the Whites bruised, sore but successful in having completed the acknowledged most difficult part of the AT. Having exited the Whites, she headed for the White Mountain Hostel, a new hiker hostel which had quickly gained reputation for being one of the best hiker stops on the trail.

Just after 2:00p, "Five Pair" had made it to the hostel and and advised that she had enjoyed an Epsom salt soak. She was happy to see "T" at the hostel and she commenced to do her best to duplicate a Michael Phelps type meal by ingesting a Whopper Junior, onion rings, Cinabon, Coke float, Ben & Jerrys ice cream and a Mango smoothie for a late lunch. After lunch, she and "T" enjoyed a snack of strawberry short cake.

"T" shared her stories of falls, pain and stress related to her hike through the Whites that had ended at Pinkham Notch. Unfortunately for "Five Pair", "T’s" time on the trail had come to an end as her employment beckoned for her return. "Ground Control" advised that communications had been exchanged and "Dos" was also on the way to the hostel.

Shortly thereafter, "Dos" arrived with her own stories of pain and suffering related to the Whites with her Whites experience also ending at Pinkham Notch. The hikers exchanged thoughts and it was decided that they would hike through Maine and summit together.

The day ended with a renewed sense of determination and sense of accomplishment having hiked inside of less than 300 miles to go.

1885.9 miles complete/298.5 miles to go