It’s time to finalize preparations to hike Maine and New Hampshire in July-August. I fly east on July 7th and plan to summit Katahdin on July 9th. The ladies at the AT Hostel in Millinocket have been an amazing resource to plan the hike. I’ll be staying there before I start and also getting a food drop from them in the 100 mile wilderness. I’ve got a couple of blue blazes (i.e. short cuts) planned; follow along to see where.

My hikes this spring made me reflect on why I hike. To be honest, there isn’t a burning issue now that drives me to go on trail. What I did realize is that I’m a person who finishes what he starts. When I came home from Tennessee in early May I felt an undeniable need to go back and hike more. So now I realize why I hike. To finish and complete the trail is in fact a compelling reason to hike!

So here’s what is still left:

• Katahdin to Hanover – 442.2 mi
• Great Barrington to Port Clinton – 307.8 mi
• Standing Bear to Uncle Johnny’s – 103.3 mi

So that’s 853.3 miles to complete the trail. If all goes as planned I’ll have 411.1 miles to go at the end of the summer. That’s a big “if” but it is doable. Let the challenge begin.

That’s it for the spring. I’m back home now after connecting up two previously done areas on the trail. My two trips in April/May made a section from Carvers Gap to Boots Off Hostel (US 321) – 48.1 miles, done over 5 days (9.6 mile per day avg). I now have done Spriger to I-40 (Standing Bear) – 241 miles; Erwin, TN to Port Clinton, PA – 876 miles; and Hanover, NH to Great Barrington, MA – 227 miles. That’s 1,344 miles, leaving about 850 miles to complete the trail. Next up is the 442 miles from Baxter, ME to Hanover, NH.

The weather forecast looked Okay for the day, so even though it was raining when I got up, I shuttled up the trail to Dennis Cove Rd (Black Bear Resort) for a slack pack back to Boots Off with Mighty Blue.

The weather was supposed to move east and clear up as the cold front moved through. Liars!! It did get colder but it rained all day…

The hike was basically divided into 3 equal parts. Three miles along the Laurel River, down into the gorge with Laurel Falls, a 3 mile climb into the Pond Mtn Wilderness and then a 3 mile decent to Boots Off Hostel.

The climb was long and slow but I managed just fine. Lots of my new friends passed by during the ascent.

The descent to Boots Off was fast; the trail was well groomed with many switchbacks. It was a great day in spite of all the rain.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #3 (5/7/26)
Start - Black Bear Hostel (420.3)
End - Boots Off Hostel (429.0)
Today's mileage: 8.7
Total section miles: 33.4
Section Avg:  11.1
Total miles on AT: 1346.8

If the lessons of history teach us anything it is that nobody learns the lessons that history teaches us. 

The weather report for today was horrible, so I shuttled back to my car and drove to Boots Off Hostel. The weather wasn’t too bad here but the hikers coming off the mountain reported high winds, rain, thunder and lightning. I drove Mighty Blue (the Brit) here along with me. The plan is to get a shuttle back to Dennis Cove Rd for a 9 mile slackpack tomorrow past Laurel Falls and up over the mountain back here. We shall see. 🙄

In order to write about life first you must live it. — Ernest Hemingway

Day #2 was supposed to be an easy one. Eleven miles from FS 293 to Black Bear Hostel with a lighter pack. However, the nonstop ups and downs took their toll. I finished late in the day again.

I did continue to meet lots of other hikers and spent lots of time talking.

Rain ☔️ tomorrow; I’m taking a zero after getting my car.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #2 (5/5/26)
Start - FS Rd 293 (409.3)
End - Black Bear Hostel (420.3)
Today's mileage: 11.0
Total section miles: 24.7
Section Avg:  12.3
Total miles on AT: 1338.1

Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. ― Langston Hughes