Thats All Folks!

Well, I guess that's it. Last Saturday, I finally reached the legendary "Big K" on a classic october day (cold, windy, in a cloud, etc). Unfortunately, within hours of finishing the trail, I came down with a sinus cold and have spent much of my time at home sleeping and eating. Thanks to all for being so supportive of this journey and for all your hospitality and encouragement.

Next step, organize all my crap that is piled in my parents basement and figure out how to fit it all in a car headed to utah!

Yahoo!

Rusty

p.s. the summit picture will be posted as soon as it is uploaded to the virtual world.

Apocalypse is Near

Ahhh, the 100 Mile Wilderness...sort of. Currently, I'm sitting at the AMC Gorman Chairback Camps where I've spent the last 3 nights with the luxury of a nice bed, shower, good friends and great food, not the traditional 100 mile wilderness experience. I'm heading out into the rain in a few minutes laden with fresh food galore for my last 4 days/3 nights till I arrive at Baxter on Friday night! Hard to believe that the trail is almost over, its really quite crazy. Hope to see you all soon (either at Baxter or before/on the way to UTAH!).

Hurrah!

Apocalypse/Rusty

"MAINE: Its Better Than Apple Pie"

This update's heading has been blatantly plagiarized from some bumper-sticker/graffiti found in a southern Virginia shelter but boy is it true. After a wonderful welcome homecoming which included Mahoosic Notch (the hardest mile of the entire trail), Mahoosic Arm (a waterfall marked with white blazes) the Baldpates and Old Speck....all in the rain...it finally feels good to be here. Resting up in Andover for the night so I can get some clean and dry socks, even if they only last for a day.

Also, since the last "Hike with Apoc" day was such a success, we are now planning a "Summit with Apoc" weekend on the weekend of October 2nd. However, we need to know who's interested. Please contact me or my folks if you'd like to come up and stay at Baxter on Friday, hike to the summit with me on Saturday and either drive home or stay over saturday as well. Cool? I think so.

Hope life is going well out there in the real world, I'll be back before I know it.

Rusty

Announcing: The First "Hike With Apoc" Day

When: Next Weekend (either both days or just Sunday, depending on interest)

Where: Somewhere in the White Mountains of NH

Who: You

What: Get your lame legs destroyed trying to keep up with the monstrous and masochistic Apocalypse

Why: Its fun, and you all said you wanted to

Sound enticing? Shoot me a text sometime, I'm gonna try to figure out some details over the next few days.

Cool beans.

Burr....cold!

After "the hottest summer since they started keeping records", the temps here have plummeted to an absurdly normal fall level. As a result, my time here in Vermont has be spent lounging around in camp drinking cocoa, and crancking through beautiful hills and mountains without breaking too much of a sweat.

As for neat things, add another bear to the list (15 so far I believe) as well as a coyote this afternoon and a nicely groomed looking chicken about 3 days ago. Did a bit of a double take with the chicken as it was in the middle of the woods, not even near any sign of a farm...bet it won't last long.

Also, I had my first whoopie pie on trail today (I guess I had one in Lewiston 2 weekends ago, but it was still exciting). At the same farm stand I also purchased a good apple, but it didn't hold a candle to two I picked off a wild tree on top of a mountain later that day, 99 cents wasted I suppose.

Currently, I am playing the role of "surragate child" for the Millers here in Woodstock (as in Liz Miller), who found themselves with an empty nest and graciously opened their doors to my wandering soul.

Hope all is well. Its looking like I may spend the winter out west making snow in Utah (aka just sitting around watching it fall from the sky).

Be well.

Rusty

Vermont

Well, I really feel at home...I guess because I am at home. After reaching the border between Massachusetts and Vermont, I decided to take a break for the weekend and head back to the 207 the short way (on the bus) for a little R&R and a couple showers. Entering Vermont will mark the 1600 mile mark and leave only 600 miles left till Katahdin. I'm starting to think a little about life after the trail, though I've still got a solid 4.5-5 weeks of woods/bum living left.

I guess this bit of trail has a few more bumps. Bring it on!

Apocalypse

NEW FREAKIN' ENGLAND!!!!

Well, I made it back to good old New England where the mosquitoes black-flys and ticks rule is the woods! I've been amazed that I haven't gotten any cell service in the last week, but I've come to find out that my poor phone was discontinued. Guess I'll be sticking around in Kent at least overnight while I attempt to figure this one out (its hard to contact people without the phone).

New Jersey and New York were much more beautiful and rugged than I initially expected, though I had an interesting night last night tented next to the Appalachian Trail Station of the Metro North RR, ask me about it sometime.

Time to go out on the town to see if I can find a pay phone to talk to home....

Hope you're all doing well!

Apocalypse