White Mountains and Western Maine *Quick UPDATE*

Hey!  I jumped into the library really quickly here in Rangely, Maine but don't have time to stay.  I'll just do a really quick update:

-BC got sick (Giardia?) right before the White Mountains and took about 4 days off, 3 of which happened to coincided with Hurricane Irene.  If you hadn't heard, the White Mountains were closed during the Hurricane.  Boo... :(  He is now better and has been walking with the group for the past couple weeks.

-Once the forest was opened to us hikers again, I found the Whites were 100 miles of AMAZING scenery and INTENSE trail-hiking.  Subsequently, they were my favorite miles on the Trail so far.  It was wet and dangerous and our miles slipped- averaging about 10 per day.  That's going to be normal for a while, even now that I'm out of the Whites and into Maine.  This is some tough stuff...

-Summiting Mt. Washington was my favorite single event on the Trail so far.  It was cold, wet, and windy, with a visibility of maybe 20 feet.  The wind absolutely HOWLED through the metal rigging and towers at the top. My bandana blew off my head as soon as I summited.  It was powerful and amazing and exactly what climbing the mountain with the "world's worst weather" should feel like.

-I'm still hiking with Bumblebee, Biscuit, Velvet and BC.  Velvet has been feeling sick lately and might not continue hiking.  BC and I hitched into town with him yesterday (after hiking 4 measly miles in chilly weather) and are going to head back out on the Trail this afternoon after resupplying and showering here in Rangely.

-Still haven't seen that elusive porcupine... the last critter on my list of animals to see.  I'm hoping the rest of Maine will provide.

-Will be summiting Saddleback mountain tomorrow, where on a clear day I can see both Mt. Washington AND (AND!) Katahdin!!!!!!  At least that's what the guide book says.  We'll see...

-Hopefully I'll be picking up the miles soon and I'll be done with the Trail before you know it.  We're all in a state now where we know the end is near... and we both DON'T and DO want it to arrive.  It will be disorienting and sad to return to a life where there's no longer unexplored forest to walk everyday, where you're sure of where you'll be sleeping each night and of where you'll find your food.  All my friends will be gone.  But it will hopefully also be rewarding and relaxing.  I'm looking forward to not walking for a week straight and someone at home (nudge-nudge) spoon-feeding me Haagen-Dazs Pineapple Coconut ice cream. 
:)

My next update could be after I summit Katahdin!  Who knows?  I'm having fun and enjoying the beauty of Maine and the approach of autumn.