Progress

I'm now in Pennsylvania which is the state with the halfway point in it! excited about that and about making to Virginia to see all the fall colors! Just to let everyone know my mail drops are all different now and at different times so I will post new ones as I get them. The next two are going to be Port Clinton PA, 19549. I should be there the 19th and Boiling Springs PA, 17007. I should be there the 24th. The last few weeks have been tough weather-wise and homesick-wise but things are getting better and I am excited to be getting one state away from home! Till then hike on!

Colby Summers

Milestones

It has been a long time since I posted last and I apologize. Since last checking in I have reached quite a few milestones along the trail. To name a few: first state down, completed the White Mountains, one month on the trail, and crossed the 500 mile mark. Since I am doing the trail south the terrain becomes smoother once past New Hampshire's White Mountains. This means the miles and states will start to come faster and I'll be closer and closer to home! Having to out run hurricane Irene to town has made for an exciting last few days but after hiking 35 miles in a day 8 of which were in the dark and spending a night out in the rain I am out of the woods and in town for the worst of it. Even got a hitch into town in the back of a police cruiser! Thanks to every one for the prayers and support. They were needed. I'll write again as soon as I can but getting an Internet connection in some of these towns can be difficult sometimes. I'll post pictures as soon as I get my camera cord so I can upload them.

Until next time,
Colby

Southern Maine

A word of advice for any would be or current South-bounders. Take everything a No-Bo (north bounder) says with a grain of salt. For instance if a No-Bo tells you the next 7 miles are flat that really means that there are no elevation gains that exceed 1000 feet and that the terrain might have a couple of flat places at the minor peaks that make for nice walking. And if a No-Bo says he made the before mentions 7 mile trek in 4 hours then that means it will really take you 8 hours. Now while it is really not that bad North-bounders are in so much better shape by the time they hit southern Maine that it can be discouraging some times watching with what ease they cover some of this terrain. Southern Maine is just one Mountain right after the other which is real tiring but makes for the most majestic views and makes for a rewarding days. The trail legs are kicking as of late and we have been doing our fair share cruising, including a string of four eighteen mile days one of which included both of the Bigelows. No-Bo's look out the So-Bo's are coming in! . In the next few weeks we will be hitting the bubble which is what they call the big pack of north-bounders as they head to Katahdin. Shelters will be crowded but once we get past them we should have reign of the trail till we get home!

Happy Trails!
Colby Summers
(Framework)

100 Mile Wilderness

This is without a doubt the hardest thing i have ever done physically. This is not what I expected at all and has been way more of a challenge already and I am only 100 miles into it. That being said it has been one of the most beautiful and thrilling things I have done and I can not wait to see what is coming up in the days ahead.

                                                                   Summit of Katahdin

The first day I woke up at 5am and climbed Katahdin with a north bounder I met on the way up. My first mistake! he was in way better shape than I was I was hurting by the time I reached the top. It started to storm once we made it to the top so we had to hurry down the mountain which was the start of my problems. I strained my knee coming down the mountain which requires the use of steel pegs and bars embedded in the rock the climb is so steep. I didn't think much of it then but since I had not made reservations for two nights in the park I had to hike all the way to the first shelter which was 18 miles away. I did not get there till 9pm and was so tired I just pitched my tent and collapsed. I woke up the next morning with a fever and could not keep down food. I was going to hike out and call it quits but I met some other hikers who talked me in to continuing and helped me till I felt better. The main wilderness is beautiful so I am glad I kept going. It is full of little lakes where you can swim and river made for laying beside and eating lunch and taking a nap. I would love to come back here some day and do this section of the trail again. The wilderness was hard but I'm glad I stuck it out. There are a million and one spiritual analogies running around  my head which I will have to write down one I get them thought through all the way. Here are some pics from the wilderness.

                                         View of Kahatadin from half way through the wilderness

                                      Exploring one of the lakes from a boat we found on the shore
Till next time
Happy Trails
Framework
(Colby Summers)

Preparations

Food For the Trail

Food for the Stove

Seam Sealing the Tent!!

Mail Drops

Ok. Along the trail I'm going to be stopping by in some towns to resupply and pick up my mail drops. Several of you have expressed a desire to mail things to me along the way which is more than O.K. and much appreciated! To send me stuff along the way that I can pick up in town all you have to do is address the package a special way. 

Colby Summers

c/o General Delivery 

City/State/ZIP

Please hold for Thru-hiker

Estimated time of arrival

This just lets the post office know to hang on to the package till I arrive so I can claim it. Now for the towns I plan to stop in and the estimated times of arrival:

1. Monson, Maine 04464

    ETA July, 26

2. Stratton, Maine 04982

    ETA July, 30

3. Gorham, NH 03581

   ETA August, 4

4. Hanover, NH 03755

    ETA August, 11

5. Manchester Center, VT 05255

    ETA August, 16

6. Sheffield, MA 01257

    ETA August, 22

7. Peekskill, NY 10566

    ETA August, 27

8. Wind Gap, PA 18091

    ETA September, 3

9. Pine Grove, PA 17963

   ETA September, 7

10. Cascade, MD 21719

      ETA September, 14

11. Linden, VA 22642

      ETA September, 18

12. Waynesboro, VA 22980

     ETA September, 24

13. Troutville, VA 24175

      ETA October, 1

14. Pearisberg, VA 24134

      ETA October, 6

15. Damascus, VA 24236

     ETA October, 13

16. Erwin, TN 37650

      ETA October, 19

17. Fontana Dam, NC 28733

      ETA October, 27

18. Helen, GA 30545

      ETA November, 1

This is a lot of mail drops and assumes no rest days and 20 miles a day of hiking. This will obviously change as I will most likely some days do fewer miles and some days do more and may spend a day in a location if I like the place so I will try to update this with accurate info as I go along. Either way though I will be behind this schedule if anything and so the package will still get there before me. No one has to send anything but anything you do send will be appreciated and will be an added bonus! Using the assumptions above I will walk off the trail on November 4, 2011 in Springer Mountain Georgia. Can't WAIT!!! Thanks in advance to all of you who will be a part of the "trail magic"!

The Goal

My name is Colby and I am going to be hiking the Appalachian Trail this fall. I'll keep updating along the way so y'all can follow along and share in my adventure of a lifetime. Before I take off I would like to give a big shout out to Don and Joe for getting me set up some of my gear for the trail. I'm going to be way more comfortable because of you guys. Thanks! I'm looking forward to the months ahead and hope you all will follow along and be a part!