For the first time since my fall, I was able to sleep on my side. Overall I slept well, except for having to reinflate my mattress every hour or so. I had patched a leak at home, but either that leak is still not fully sealed, or there’s a second leak I haven’t found.
Hiking didn’t hurt much today, at least for my ribs. The main issue is my knees. Definitely going to see my PT when I get home. The pain feels muscular and comes and goes but it doesn’t feel like something I can keep hiking through for weeks. Luckily I only have five or six days left.
I was a bit down yesterday because I seemed to have such low energy. Today on the other hand I made excellent progress. Nearly ten miles by lunchtime, including lots of climbing. The sunshine probably helped.
There was 4100 feet of ascent today but I think it gets easier from here to the foot of Katahdin. I got a look at Katahdin from a peak (the only one with views today) and it looked pretty flat in between. Let’s hope. That will give my knees a break.
One thing I noticed today was how incredibly fragrant the forest is, especially where there are lots of conifers. It’s almost overpowering, but it delights me because it means my sense of smell is coming back. I don’t remember a forest ever smelling that good.
I was out of camp before Vermont or Fresh and Trillian, and didn’t see Vermont all day. Fresh and Trillian arrived at the lean-to shortly after me, and they hadn’t seen him either, which is odd because he’s faster than any of us.
A German couple passed me at lunch. A little later on the peak they had spread all their wet clothes and gear out to dry. People who were hiking yesterday morning apparently got drenched, but I missed it with my late start. The German couple arrived at the lean-to a little later. I talked to the guy while his partner was getting water; his name is Ratman and hers is Joker! They started March 10 and lived through those super cold nights that sent me scurrying back to Toronto. They made out okay, hotel for two nights them wearing all their clothes in their sleeping bags, which they zipped together to share warmth.
I passed half a dozen SOBOs but they were all either doing a flip flop or finishing a hike from a previous year. There were lots of day hikers out because the trail crosses dirt roads north and south of the one mountain with a view. It was nice to see so many people enjoying the fine weather and views.
Time for my muscle relaxant then off to sleep!
Mile 2112.0 to mile 2130.1 =18.1 miles.
Sounds like a great restart.