I’ll attempt to keep this one short since it has been well over a month since I’ve updated the photo gallery and the pictures from these last few states have been amazing. This is not to my credit, but is all thanks to Sony, good weather, and some beautiful states! Now, I must say, all you see in the galleries are sunny days and blue skies…not so in the real world of hiking. Most of my time in New England has been very wet. But thankfully, while climbing some of the most difficult sections these past few days, I’ve had the most beautiful weather that can be expected. For example, Mount Washington is covered in fog well over 200 days a year. My climbs up the Franconia Notch, Mt Webster, and Mt Washington were all beautiful days.

Since I entered the White Mountain Range one week ago (8/12), I added the elevation gain of the major climbs. (It’s hard to account for the smaller ups and downs.) Within those seven days, I climbed well over 24,000 feet of elevation! I know, right? Not that the tough climbing is over…but yikes, it was not easy. Thanks to Phoenix for the slack-pack help from Mt. Washington all the way to Rt. 2! I’ve also been hiking with two fellow NoBos the past week, Snarky Snarkerson and Daddy Long Legs. It’s been great to have their company and I hope to keep it as long as possible!

Sometime tomorrow afternoon (8/19), Lord willing, I will be crossing into the final state! Maine! Granted, it’s a long one to complete at 280.9 miles to Katahdin. But the end is in sight! I even have a tentative summit/finish date, weather permitting: September 6th.

And, Lord willing, I have a job lined up for this fall! I will be out on tour again with the Casting Crowns. And boy do I need to get back to “work.” 🙂 So check out their touring schedule and come visit me at the World Vision sponsorship table!

Lastly, thanks to those new sponsors! We’re up to 11! THAT’S awesome. With only a few weeks of hiking left, I’m well aware we may reach 2,200 miles before we reach 2,200 sponsors. However, I’m hoping this blog will be passed around long after the hiking is over! Not only do I want it to be a great place for people to learn about the AT, I want to continue to tell new readers about the cause for which I am hiking. And so, if I’m able to complete the trail (barring injury/illness/unforseen circumstance), I will continue to need your help concerning how to spread the word! I’m planning for website version 2.0 after the hike is over, including my before and after pictures of physical transformation (embarrassing!), my beard time lapse video (I’ve only missed a few days, taking the same picture everyday to track the beard growth), as well as a few more blogs about average miles, number of zeros, some of the unforseen costs, total cost, as well as post-hike adventures I hope to plan in the years ahead. (I may buy 4400miles.com…) I would appreciate any suggestions you may have on what you’d like to see or know after the hike is over!

Thanks again for reading, I’m glad you’re hiking with me!

Trail Report
8/7 10 miles. There are 4 couples at this hut. Yikes.
8/8 21.5 miles. Very hilly day. Saw a snake.
8/9 20.5 miles. Good, fast day. Beautiful morning. NEW SHOES from EMS in Hanover, NH.
8/10 17.5 miles. Tough climb! Cool fire tower.
8/11 19.9 miles. Rained hard for a little while. Staying at Hiker’s Welcome Hostel. Lots of people here.
8/12 17 miles. Hard day. Entered the White Mountain range. Climbed Moosilauke. Made dinner in the rain. Tenting in the rain.
8/13 8.9 miles. Climbed Kinsman mountains. Clouded view.
8/14 12.9 miles. Beautiful views from Franconia Ridge. Staying at Galehead Hut!
8/15 21.1 miles. Super tired. Staying at Mizpah Hut.
8/16 19.4 miles Beautiful weather of Mt. Washington! Staying at a hostel in Gorham.
8/17 21.1 miles Another HARD day. Knees hurt badly. Staying at a different hostel in Gorham.
8/18 0 miles