AT Day 110-112 -Gorham, the Wildcat Mountains and a day of rest

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3rd-5th August 

Bushcamp to Gorham and Wildcat Mountains (1891.5)

The gentle sound of the stream nearby my tent was so relaxing I slept in till near 7am. My hiking buddy Thumper was packed up as I stuck my head out of the tent. At least the weather was clear.

The first steps in the morning were a painful effort. Stiff ankles, knees and hip joints were only half the story. My legs muscles were fatigued to the point of having little strength on anything but a flat trail. It was time for a rest. By body is tired and this trail is so much harder than people give it credit. Definitely, the hardest of the three long trails.

Only a couple of hours hiking and we arrived at Pinkham Notch. An error on our part meant we missed the All You Can Eat Buffet Breakfast at the cafe attached to the visitors centre. Another hiker rolled out of there complaining of eating too much, a common issue among long distance hikers. It’s always hard, if not impossible to carry enough food to be satisfied while on the trail.

We called a hostel in the nearby town of Gorham to ask about rooms. They were fully booked up but could fit us in on the couch or we could pitch our tents in the garden. 15 minutes later, Paul from The Barn came to pick us up in a super sized 1986 Cadillac. They don’t make cars like this anymore.

I set up my tent, showered, did laundry and ate a large lunch then rested for the afternoon. My body is in need of several days rest.

The following day Thumper, myself and 3 other hikers organised to slackpack the Wildcat Mountains. Paul from the barn dropped us off at Pinkham Notch at 8am. We had a 21 mile hike. Paul would pick us up at highway 2 and shuttle us back to the hostel later in the day. This is called slackpacking, it’s common to hike in this way on the Appalachian Trail. It’s my first time doing such a thing.

Carrying only my pack, rain gear, first aid, toilet paper, water bottle, filter, camera and snacks meant I had a light pack for the day. The first climb of the day confirmed it was a good idea. At times it was rock climbing, not hiking. Added to this was the slippery rocks which added to the slow but careful pace.

By lunchtime we had covered less than 1/3 of the distance. It was going to be a long day. Luckily, the trail got easier the further we went. By late afternoon the trail became more like the PCT, nicely maintained and with a gentle grade. With only a mile or so to go a huge storm passed overhead. Within seconds we were all drenched. Paul to the rescue with the Cadillac.

The following morning Thumper and I were exhausted and unable to find the motivation to get out on trail. Our bodies were just too beaten up and tired. The Wildcat Mountains had beaten us up. We took the day off. An extended breakfast, lunch and dinner with just enough time for an afternoon siesta was everything the mind and body needed. Besides, there was heavy rain for most of the day. It was just enough rest to hopefully get us to the end of the trail, less than 300 miles to go.


Next : Day 113 – Hello Maine

All the best information on the Appalachian Trail:
Complete Guide to the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail Gear List
Appalachian Trail Gear Review

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About the Author:
Brad is an Australian who has completed the hiking Triple Crown after he hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail and Appalachian Trail. He has hiked on every continent (except Antarctica) and has cycled from Alaska to Ecuador. He is an expert on outdoor gear currently living in Chile.

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4 thoughts on “AT Day 110-112 -Gorham, the Wildcat Mountains and a day of rest”

  1. Hey Shepherd, very curious what makes the AT the hardest of the 3 in your opinion. Value your opinion as you’ve done them all recently. Well almost. Good luck on final 300 miles!

    Reply
    • The grade of the PCT and CDT is very gradual and therefore easy to hike big miles. The AT is rarely flat and filled with ankle breaking tree roots and knee destroying steep rocky climbs and descents. The body gets no rest. Overall it has more elevation gain than the other two trails despite its shorter length. In Maine, I’ll climb the equivalent of MT Everest 3.5 times. It’s just tougher on the body but can be made easier on the body with a light pack and stopping often to resupply and there’s loads more water.

      Reply
  2. Happy to hear you are still walking etc. Maybe you have finished by now. With all of the shelters and little towns and food along the way it is hard to believe the AT is the hardest of the 3. That rock climbing did look difficult. Hike on………

    Reply
    • I’m behind with the blog, not done yet. Maine is tough as you might see when I get round to posting on the blog. With no AT&T cell service and very remote.

      Reply

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