Final Letter: 6/30 and 7/1

24.8 muddy but SUNNY! miles today. The sun really lifted the spirits, despite the spongy feet all day. This shelter is sitting on the outskirts of a lake, and I was treated to a surreal sunset tonight. Good company as well!

The lake and sunset provided a perfect environment for contemplation and reflection over the trip, which will conclude in a very short week… bad pen!

7/1

22.0 forgetful miles today. After meeting Jarod last night, he told me he would hitch me into town if we arrived at the road simultaneously. I hadn’t hiked with anyone in some while, so I decided to hang out and walk with him and Ella, his dog. We awoke at 5:30ish, allowing me to eat Captain Crunch while watching the birth of the sun over the pond.

We set out pre-6 at a decent pace. Talking really helps the time pass faster. Jarod graduated from the Maine Maritime Academy with a maritime engineering degree, and works on a U.S. Defense radar ship around Hawaii. He works 8 weeks, then has 8 weeks off. Said that never seeing land for that long is hard on a man, and some guys have just snapped!

Anyway, after 2.1 miles we came to a river to ford, so I waded across the current, and when I reached the other side, I was inspired to snap a photo. I reached for my camera and found some nothingness where the camera should have been. Instantly I knew I had left it in the shelter, near where my dozing head laid all night. After little deliberation, I realized I had to go back for it. So I dropped my pack and hustled 2.1 miles there and back (an extra 4.2 miles total) in right an an hour’s time.

Having successfully retrieved the camera, I continued on and shortly reached another ford, but this river wasn’t quite as tame as the last. The waist deep rapids nearly pushed me downstream, but I maintained balance and made it across without incident. There were a couple more fords, but they weren’t as tricky.

I beat Jarod to the parking area, where his parents sat in his truck waiting for him. I introduced myself and explained about needing a ride, so they drove me to Monson (4 miles away) while Jarod made his way out.

The 100-mile wilderness is now all that lies between me and the Big K!