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.