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Publisher's Note: This is a trail journal by Dustin Jackson in his own words and thoughts. He is hiking the Appalachian Trail southbound from Maine to Georgia. The News & Neighbor will follow his adventure as he reports to us via internet cafes. He will also send photos from stopping points along the trail. The map included with his journals will mark his progress. You can also follow along via internet by viewing his trail journal at: www.trailjournals.com/Jackson Dustin's email address is: appalachian.jackson@gmail.com
Well, here I am at the Katahdin Cabins in Millinocket, northern Maine. I can walk out to the middle of the street and see Katahdin in the distance. I'll be hiking it in the morning. We drove up here from TN over the last 2 days. Good trip with my parents. Stopped by the beach near Portland on the way up. Bugs are swarming around me now, not really biting though. Everything is a blur with packing, preparing, saying goodbye to my wife (that was extra hard), the drive, strange new land, etc. The "day" always comes and mine is here. Surreal. Moose! is what the owner of the cabin said. He hasn't seen one in 15 months, and has seen 20 in the last month. Many ideas of what it'll be like out there run through my head, I know it'll all be different than what I expect.
Day 1 trail entry, June 20, 2007
I have to start out by saying that we all made it to the top of Katahdin, my mom, dad, and I. I am very proud of them. Beautiful sunny day. I’ve been told not to underestimate many mountains, I never found it true, but with Katahdin, this is definitely a mountain not to be underestimated. The trail goes over places that I wouldn't have thought imaginable. We took many breaks and took our time. I met a few other SOBO's, (south bounders) on the way up, Josh, Stan, a couple of others whose name I didn'headed down. I would say that it was just as hard down as up. I swam in Katahdin stream down from the falls. It was cold, cold, cold melt water. Felt great and made my muscles feel better. My mom told me this was the second biggest sacrifice she has made for me. The only other beating it out was giving birth. I can't express how happy I am to have my parents hike with me. It's great! I'll start heading south tomorrow. My mind is great, my body is great. I am ready!
I have to start out by saying that we all made it to the top of Katahdin, my mom, dad, and I. I am very proud of them. Beautiful sunny day. I’ve been told not to underestimate many mountains, I never found it true, but with Katahdin, this is definitely a mountain not to be underestimated. The trail goes over places that I wouldn't have thought imaginable. We took many breaks and took our time. I met a few other SOBO's, (south bounders) on the way up, Josh, Stan, a couple of others whose name I didn'headed down. I would say that it was just as hard down as up. I swam in Katahdin stream down from the falls. It was cold, cold, cold melt water. Felt great and made my muscles feel better. My mom told me this was the second biggest sacrifice she has made for me. The only other beating it out was giving birth. I can't express how happy I am to have my parents hike with me. It's great! I'll start heading south tomorrow. My mind is great, my body is great. I am ready!
Day 2
Today I hike for Mike Grindstaff. He is a good friend that died suddenly in August 2004. Today is his birthday. It's the first day of summer. It's hike naked day on the AT (Appalachian Trail), not today with all these bugs. It was a long 16 mile drive to Baxter state park. My sore parents walked with me about .5 mile. It was a great goodbye. We all hugged as one and cried together. I left the road and went off into the wilderness as they watched. I said loudly "I love you," and from both, "I love you," came back. Then I walked, cried for a moment, then excitement took over, flat and rolling terrain along the river. I broke my pole about 6 miles in. I tripped and fell on it. I could have fought it but I didn't want to injure myself. I can still use the pole, but just shorter. I hiked 13.4 miles in 4.5 hours, so quickly because I couldn't stop due to the mosquitoes. I passed two other hikers Nick and Josh. Josh was already wearing his bug net. I got to the shelter (Hurd Brook) and Tony from Florida was there with his Chihuahua named "Moo-Moo." He hitch hiked all the way up here and started today. Two guys from London showed up, section hiking the 100 mile. I feel great! I'm a little overwhelmed by everything. I just have to remember it's DAY BY DAY.
Today I hike for Mike Grindstaff. He is a good friend that died suddenly in August 2004. Today is his birthday. It's the first day of summer. It's hike naked day on the AT (Appalachian Trail), not today with all these bugs. It was a long 16 mile drive to Baxter state park. My sore parents walked with me about .5 mile. It was a great goodbye. We all hugged as one and cried together. I left the road and went off into the wilderness as they watched. I said loudly "I love you," and from both, "I love you," came back. Then I walked, cried for a moment, then excitement took over, flat and rolling terrain along the river. I broke my pole about 6 miles in. I tripped and fell on it. I could have fought it but I didn't want to injure myself. I can still use the pole, but just shorter. I hiked 13.4 miles in 4.5 hours, so quickly because I couldn't stop due to the mosquitoes. I passed two other hikers Nick and Josh. Josh was already wearing his bug net. I got to the shelter (Hurd Brook) and Tony from Florida was there with his Chihuahua named "Moo-Moo." He hitch hiked all the way up here and started today. Two guys from London showed up, section hiking the 100 mile. I feel great! I'm a little overwhelmed by everything. I just have to remember it's DAY BY DAY.
Day 3
Today I hike for Karl Konrad, a good friend. Started today thinking I may hike 19.2 miles skipping the next shelter at 11.5 miles. I've always said "Trust your gut." My gut told me hiking the longest distance that I have ever hiked on my second day out was foolish. I like my heavy leather hiking boots, good for the mud. I keep having thoughts of finishing in Georgia, those thoughts are interrupted by the thought of Georgia, now that's a dumb thing to be thinking about. Tony beat me out of the shelter this morning. We crossed a few times on the trail. I got to the lean-to at 11.5 and there is no way I could have made the 19.2. I have a small blister on my 3rd toe, left foot. I can’t figure out why. I rolled in about 2 pm, so I had 2 dinners. I'm living a dream.
Today I hike for Karl Konrad, a good friend. Started today thinking I may hike 19.2 miles skipping the next shelter at 11.5 miles. I've always said "Trust your gut." My gut told me hiking the longest distance that I have ever hiked on my second day out was foolish. I like my heavy leather hiking boots, good for the mud. I keep having thoughts of finishing in Georgia, those thoughts are interrupted by the thought of Georgia, now that's a dumb thing to be thinking about. Tony beat me out of the shelter this morning. We crossed a few times on the trail. I got to the lean-to at 11.5 and there is no way I could have made the 19.2. I have a small blister on my 3rd toe, left foot. I can’t figure out why. I rolled in about 2 pm, so I had 2 dinners. I'm living a dream.
Day 4
Today I hike for my Dad. He has given me the confidence to know that I can do anything I put my mind to. And today I want to hike 18.4 miles my 4th day out and that's what I'll do. I need some quietness away from the constant conversation. I left out and quickly climbed Nesuntabunt Mt. with beautiful views of the lake below. Very chilly this morning and rain threatened all day. Got to Wadleigh shelter after 8 miles. Tony was there fishing, I had lunch. His dog was stone asleep. I don’t think "Moo-Moo" will make it. I followed the river for the next 4 miles through dried up bogs. If they were wet, it would have been much harder. I was very tired with only 2.5 miles to go. I took a few breaks. That helped a lot. I pulled into Potaywadjo lean-to and met 3 fellers from Mississippi who are section hiking. I decided to set up my tent. It's now almost dark, but I had time to set up camp, eat, and write this entry. I like that better than sitting around waiting for night to come. I have a cold. I got it from a kid at the ranger station the day before hiking Katahdin. It started with a sore throat, and now I am stopped up. I’m running out of fuel for my stove, too. We’ll see if it'll last. more>>>
Today I hike for my Dad. He has given me the confidence to know that I can do anything I put my mind to. And today I want to hike 18.4 miles my 4th day out and that's what I'll do. I need some quietness away from the constant conversation. I left out and quickly climbed Nesuntabunt Mt. with beautiful views of the lake below. Very chilly this morning and rain threatened all day. Got to Wadleigh shelter after 8 miles. Tony was there fishing, I had lunch. His dog was stone asleep. I don’t think "Moo-Moo" will make it. I followed the river for the next 4 miles through dried up bogs. If they were wet, it would have been much harder. I was very tired with only 2.5 miles to go. I took a few breaks. That helped a lot. I pulled into Potaywadjo lean-to and met 3 fellers from Mississippi who are section hiking. I decided to set up my tent. It's now almost dark, but I had time to set up camp, eat, and write this entry. I like that better than sitting around waiting for night to come. I have a cold. I got it from a kid at the ranger station the day before hiking Katahdin. It started with a sore throat, and now I am stopped up. I’m running out of fuel for my stove, too. We’ll see if it'll last. more>>>
