Adirondack Sports March 2024

COMMUNITY continued from 45
er made it even harder. We hiked up the AT
Hunt Trail in cool rain and fog, and came
down the Abol Trail with sleet, adding a
super-steep descent to our already challenging
day. The next day I said goodbye
to Kathy, and headed into the 100-Mile
Wilderness, where I would be out of touch
for up to eight days.
The Trail – The AT is the best marked
trail I’ve ever been on. There are incredible
views and scary exposed places in all
14 states. My favorites were Clingmans
Dome in North Carolina, Mount Lafayette
in New Hampshire, and McAfee Knob on
Catawba Mountain in Virginia, and lots
of great lakes, rivers and streams. It’s got
miles and miles of fast smooth terrain,
and it also has some stuff that is crazy
steep, and needs to be climbed up and
down with care. I had some places where
I could run for five miles and others where
I was lucky to go one-mile per hour. It was
fantastic when I would climb for what
seemed like hours, and then find that the
top of the mountain had incredible views.
I also had times with snow and ice, no
view, and poor trail conditions. They did
not put the modern AT on easy terrain.
The People – The people were the best
part of the AT. We were on-trail for our
own reasons and we had different paths
in life that led us to the trail. We were all
moving with one goal in mind, to thruhike
the AT. We shared the dream of a
big physical and mental/emotional challenge,
and of seeing the legendary views of
the Appalachians. Real bonds form faster
on the trail than I anticipated. My trail
family, especially Pacer and Swiss, will be
part of me forever.
I met thousands of people, especially
when NOBO. There were retirees, high
school and college grads, people between
jobs, and those recovering from hard stuff.
I felt very safe and found that we were willing
to help each other with food, supplies,
phone charges and toilet paper. As they
say on the trail, the trail provides. “Trail
Angels” are those who do special acts of
kindness on the trail. It might be food at a
road crossing, a ride into town for resupply
or a cooler with beer, water and snacks
at a trailhead.
“Hiker hunger” is a term used for the
level of insane hunger hikers feel as they
push themselves day after day. I had to
take in 5,000+ calories daily just to maintain
my energy and not lose too much
weight. Water filtration and hydrating
with electrolyte drinks is also important.
I was usually going through three-to-six
liters a day, not including the water in my
breakfast and dinner.
The hostels were one of the best parts
■ DIVING SWAN AT THE SUMMIT
OF MOUNT KATAHDIN, MAINE.
of the trail. Trail towns usually have
a few hostels where you can rest,
shower, eat and resupply. They are
in sheds, old garages, nice lodges
and the homes of trail angels. Each
hostel has its own vibe and character.
I met folks who have been doing
it for decades and others who are just
starting out.
The Joys and Beauty – I loved the people!
When I started, I found that we were
all bonded by our anxiety and excitement.
The bonds formed during the first several
weeks would be lifelong.
My trail family formed quickly. We
would share our stories, dreams, fears and
histories, and we would laugh, joke and
rejoice as we climbed mountains, passed
our first 100 miles, and took care of each
other when we were injured, hungry and
cold. Even when we parted ways, we’d stay
connected and support each other. I was
also very lucky to have an old friend, Billy,
meet me at Harpers Ferry both times, and
celebrate the halfway and finish with me.
The Hard Parts and Unexpected – The
difficult parts are many and began before I
even got on the trail. I knew it would be difficult
to say goodbye to my wife, and it was.
We were celebrating our 29th anniversary
with friends just before starting and then
I got Covid. I had to isolate myself from
everyone until the night prior to starting
in Georgia. I have a better idea now what
it means that, “absence makes the heart
grow fonder,” as my grandfather said about
how he missed my grandmother when he
was away during WWII.
Hard and wonderful things happen
when you least expect them. I was lucky
enough to get a call from my daughter
when she matched for residency and
then again when she and her partner got
■ DIVING SWAN CELEBRATING
AT MCAFEE KNOB, VIRGINIA.
■ US VETERAN/ITCHY FEET AND
DIVING SWAN CELEBRATING
AFTER COMPLETING THE
DRAGONS TOOTH IN VIRGINIA.
engaged. Unexpectedly, I learned that
our Aunt Julie passed away. I got off trail
to be with family to mourn and celebrate
her life. While off-trail I was lucky enough
to surprise my middle daughter when she
arrived stateside from Army deployment.
At one low point I had to confess to my
daughter Ruby that I was not sure I would
be able to finish the thru-hike.
In terms of physical challenge, some
of the hardest hiking I did was in Maine.
After being off-trail for the summer, I started
my southbound (SOBO) flip at Mount
Katahdin. The weather was tough from the
start. We had rain and sleet on top, and the
Hundred Mile Wilderness and the rest of
Maine, would prove to be very challenging
and wet. The rain and muddy bogs kept my
feet wet for weeks and I struggled to dry
my socks, shoes and feet. Eventually I had
to get off-trail due to “trench foot,” which
is very painful and makes it hard to walk,
and can escalate into an infection that
can do permanent damage. I tried to take
two days off to heal, but then reluctantly
decided to get off-trail, and thought my
hike might be over. I had to admit to myself
that I might not finish my thru-hike. I was
so sad and dejected and now knew what
post-hike depression was about.
I spent the next week healing and
finally went for a trial overnight trip with
my daughter, Caroline. We had a great trip
with just a bit of rain. Thanks to Kathy for
driving me, I was back in Maine the following
weekend heading south again.
MARCH 2024 47
■ CAROLINE SLYER
BACKPACKING WITH
DIVING SWAN IN
MASSACHUSETTS.
■ MOUNT GREYLOCK,
MASSACHUSETTS TRAIL,
MAGIC, WITH SWISS AND
OTHER THRU-HIKERS
HEADING NORTH.
The rest of Maine was challenging, but
I had almost a full week without rain, and
my self-doubt was fading. I would continue
to be challenged by big mountains and
cold weather through New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts and beyond. I
met very few SOBOs and hiked alone for
the rest of the hike, which was tough. I
love people and this was my longest time
completely alone in my entire life. I got
so caught up being alone that I began to
count the white blaze trail markers. I’d
give myself prizes, call family, eat Sour
Patch Kids, look at my watch for each 10,
50, 100 blazes. I did this for days until I got
to 750 blazes in one day and I finally quit
playing my mental game of Pac-Man.
There were times when I wondered if
I was crazy, and it got really hard to stay
motivated when I was alone. Going up
mountains, racing the sun to get to shelters
to heat up water for dehydrated food, and
sleeping alone in the cold was difficult.
I am so glad that I made the hike about
something more than my own dream. A
few weeks before starting, I decided to
raise money for the SkyHigh Adventure
Center. The Sand Lake Kiwanis and Sand
Lake Seniors made the initial $6,000 in
pledges and donations before I even started.
As I hiked, the donations kept coming
in and we surpassed our goal of $22,000
before the end of 2023. Thank you to all
of the donors. I’m not sure I would have
finished if it had not been for them.
See COMMUNITY 49 ▶