Day 13:  8/23/17

What a long day. Thumbsucker is having knee problems. I feel good, but we’re both having trouble enjoying this trail. I love the climbs, I hate the descents, I love the rock scrambles, I love the people (but there are none), I hate the mud (which there’s an over abundance of), and she has to be back at work by Sept. 2. We’re thinking there’s no way we can finish by then and from the few people we’ve met going southbound, the green tunnel syndrome doesn’t get any better further north. Supposedly, between here and Canada we get 2 more views. Is it worth the mud slogging and bushwacking? We’re not sure. I keep thinking about all the beautiful views and scenery I would be getting on the JMT. I love backpacking! I love the woods. I love turning a corner in the woods and getting a different view. I love standing on top of a mountain and getting an awe-inspiring view of miles of scenery. I’m getting the backpacking experience. I’m getting the woods. What I’m not getting on this trail is the backpacking community or the views.

Caitlin has decided she isn’t enjoying this trail at all and she’s having trouble with her knee and she doesn’t think we’ll be able to finish before her return date. She would like to hike to Stowe and call it quits. Because of the remoteness and solitude of this trail, I’m not fully comfortable going it alone. If there were a few more hikers out there, I might be. We’re both enjoying our time together; however, we’re not really enjoying the 9-10 hour days of slogging thru the Vermont wilderness and mud. So, we’ve decided to take a zero day in Waitsfield tomorrow and decide whether to continue or discontinue this trek.

Today was an 11.5 mile hike that took us 9 hours. Steep, wet boulders, mud and thick forest. Tidious.