Dalton, Mass.

Hi all...James & I are currently in Dalton, MA around mile 1560. Wow...I can't believe we have made it this far! :) It has been an incredible journey. One of my friends commented to ask a few questions about what an average day on the trail is like, what I have learned or how have I changed. So here is my attempt to answer them.



We usually wake up to when the sun rises around 6:00 or so. We deflate our mats, put our sleeping bags in our stuff sacks, & get dressed.. all inside our tent. We pack our bags & take down the tent. James or I will go untie our "bear-bag"- (you have to hang your bag high in a tree to keep it away from possible bears) and cook breakfast. We then have to clean our dishes, get water for the day from a stream & treat it...and finally we are ready to get the pack on and start hiking. All of this takes about 1 hour or so. I am usually the first one ready and the person that stays out in front. Most of the day we hike alone (within a half mile or so of each other) and I stop every hour or so to wait and take a break with James. It works out good...we are able to have time to ourselves but still see each other a good portion of the day.

Hiking all day you have a lot of time to "daydream". I spend a lot of time thinking of things I would like to cook & eat :) and also time recalling memories from my past. There is so much time to think without any obstructions...it is quite a sweet experience. I often think of family & friends (time spent with them) and many hours are spent dreaming of what life holds.

The trail has taught me I can do without many things & has given me an appreciation for the small things. I am becoming more "flexible" with different people and ideas. Learning to appreciate & understand many perspectives. The trail has done away with many pre-conceived notions of certain types of people..basically I am learning to accept and love people a little bit better :) There are many other things I am learning but I don't have a lot of time to articulate them all...but hopefully that provides a little insight on how this experience is shaping who I am.

Whew...maybe more than you cared to know...Until next time : Share