Current Location: Bethel, ME
Miles Hiked: 1931.0
Miles to go: 267.4
Percent of trail completed: 88%
The last 200 miles or so have been a very physically challenging section. New Hampshire and southern Maine are full of gruelingly steep mountains, rugged trail, and technical terrain.
It has felt like walking through a hall of fame of AT superlatives. It’s almost comical, but just about every day there’s something that is “the ____est _______ on the AT.”
• Mile 1756.0 – Enter New Hampshire, the hardest state on the AT.
• Mile 1794.4 – Enter White Mountain National Forest, home of the most 4,000+ ft peaks on the AT.
• Mile 1860.0 – begin the longest section above tree line on the AT.
• Mile 1865.3 – Mt Washington, home of the worst weather on the AT (and the world). Also the second highest point on the AT.
• Mile 1879.8 – begin ascent of Wildcat D, the steepest mile on the AT.
• 1916.4 – enter Maine, the last state on the AT.
• 1922.9 – Mahoosuc Notch, the hardest mile on the AT.
• Upcoming: Mile 2083.7 – enter the 100-mile Wilderness, the most remote section on the AT.
Until recently, most of the challenges of this thru-hike journey have been internal ones: handling chronic foot pain; finding, and then being at peace with, my own pace; readjusting to the lifestyle after a long time away.
Now as I am approaching the home stretch, the trail seems to be throwing a last ditch effort to get me to break. A rapid fire of final trials and tests. Unlike the internal challenges of earlier in the hike, these challenges are merely physical hurdles to jump, and I feel pretty unphased by it all. It’s honestly nothing I can’t handle. After over 1900 miles, I’m probably in the best shape of my life and well-prepared for anything the trail throws at me.
Oh, the hike is going to be hard today? Shocking. Bring it.
Of course challenges still remain. I still have a solid 267 miles to go, including some difficult terrain, limited resupply and services, the 100-mile Wilderness, and the big climb up Katahdin. But there is nothing I am afraid of.
I’ve put the work in. I’ve already paid my blood, sweat, and tears. There are no more hardest states, steepest miles, or highest peaks ahead of me. Now I can relax and coast to Mama K.
Yay Kirby!!!! So well done each day. I an VERY impressed!! I love your photos, too. I can’t wait till the photo of you on Mt Katahdin!!
Wow! I am so proud of you! You are actually going to conquer this dream!
“Nothing I can’t handle” woooooohooooooooo!!!!! For the rest of your life you get to remember when/be the person for whom 267 miles was “no big deal” “the coast to the finish” and “in the bag.”