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she hikes mountains

she hikes mountains

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easy hike

Great Pond | Cape Elizabeth | ME

A Cape Elizabeth adventure... snacks optional.

July 13, 2022

The view from the summit of Bradbury Mt. in Bradbury State Park, Freeport, ME

Bradbury Mtn. | 485 ft | ME

Lessons in flexible thinking... and a broken down hike.

October 15, 2020

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She Hikes Mountains

shehikesmountains

100 Mile Wilderness: Day 6 9/18/22 . Rainbow Strea

100 Mile Wilderness: Day 6
9/18/22
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Rainbow Stream Lean-to -> Abol Bridge Campground = 15 miles
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The good news about pushing hard on Day 5 was I had a chill day ahead of me when I woke up in the rain on Day 6. Not feeling rushed on a soggy day was well worth the push. All my gear was dry (hooray!) thanks to the shelter, and I knew the 15 miles ahead were not hard. In fact, this is one of my favorite stretches of trail in the 100.
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The AT hugs Rainbow Lake for miles. There are some spots where roots and rocks need to be paid attention to, but the elevation is flat until you reach Rainbow Ledges. The ledges are beautiful with lots of interesting vegetation and contrasting colors. There are views on good weather days, too.
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After passing Hurd Lean-to, it’s pretty smooth sailing over 3 miles of forest trail to reach the Golden Road. Make a right to cross Abol Bridge and take in one of the best views of Katahdin, reflected in the Penobscot River.
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Abol Bridge Campground is private ($24/night for a tent, they also have little bunkhouses). Cost includes a hot shower (!!!), access to laundry, and a continental breakfast (nothing to write home about, but hey, I didn’t have to rehydrate it, so I was thrilled).
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Highlights on this day are pretty easy to guess: the feeling of accomplishment stepping out onto the Golden Road… and also being prepared to process the mixed emotions of finishing such a big hike. I was less prepared last year and seriously considered turning around and walking right back into the woods.
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#100milewilderness #hikerlife #hikemaine #hikeme #hikeat #appalachiantrail #abolbridgecampground #katahdin #backpacking #thruhike #sleepinthewoods #foresttherapy

100 Mile Wilderness: Day 5 9/17/22 . Antlers Camps

100 Mile Wilderness: Day 5
9/17/22
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Antlers Campsite -> Rainbow Stream Lean-to = 20 miles
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I woke up to a beautiful sunrise over Lower Jo Mary Lake. My goal for day 5 was to make it over Nesuntabunt Mtn, the last peak in the 100 Mile Wilderness. It’s another small mountain, but last year I crossed it in the pouring rain, and I wasn’t up for that again. The forecast called for rain overnight and the next day. I knew if I got over the mountain, there was a stealth camp site just before Pollywog Gorge (I collapsed there last year). My secret hope was to make it to Rainbow Stream Lean-to for a dry night, but I wasn’t sure if I had a 20 mile day in me.
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Turns out, I did. It was a push at the end, for sure. The first section of trail travels along Nahamakanta Stream and Lake, both beautiful, and Pollywog Gorge is an amazing geological feature that comes out of nowhere (don’t miss the small sign!) Nesuntabunt is a unique mountain with huge slabs of rock shooting up the sides, very cool to see. I hit the summit at 3:30, so I felt confident I could make the next 5 miles to the lean-to before dark. I was afraid the shelter would be full, so I moved fast, but it was empty when I arrived. At first I was relieved… but as it got dark I was less excited to stay there alone (lean-tos can be creepy). Luckily, I didn’t have to!
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Highlights: gifting extra food to 2 hikes who had underestimated the 100 and were rationing supplies (I was happy to help AND to unload the weight), seeing the view from Katahdin at the Nesuntabunt summit (last year all I saw was rain), and spending a dry night with Morgan and Bailey, sisters finishing the AT after 6 months on the trail.
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#100milewilderness #atmaine #thruhike #nesuntabuntmountain #hikemaine #leantolife #hikeintherain #appalachiantrail #hikehard #naturefix #hikewithfriends #girlhiker

100 Mile Wilderness: Day 4 9/16/22 . Logan Brook L

100 Mile Wilderness: Day 4
9/16/22
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Logan Brook Lean-to -> Antlers Campsite = 22 miles
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I started day four knowing it was going to be a long one. I had a resupply waiting at Jo Mary Rd (thanks to Phil at 100 Mile Wilderness Adventures), and I wanted to make it to Antlers Campsite where I knew there would be enough cell service to call family. I also knew 22 miles was doable because the terrain on this stretch is pretty flat, or at least forgiving. There is one mountain (Little Boardman) but it’s not big.
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For planning purposes, this stretch of trail is a great spot to make up time lost in the beginning of the 100. Ending the day at Antlers puts you over half way there!
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The big highlight of the day was a visit from @fitnessformountains and @thorlabradormaine. They drove in on Johnson Rd and started hiking south, intersecting me just after Little Boardman Mtn. They brought snacks and excitement!
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#100milewilderness #atmaine #appalachiantrail #hikingwithdogs #trailsnacks #hike #hikemaine #intothewoods #thruhike

100 Mile Wilderness: Day 3 9/15/22 . Chairback Gap

100 Mile Wilderness: Day 3
9/15/22
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Chairback Gap Lean-to -> Logan Brook Lean-to = 17 miles
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Day 3 started with a harrowing descent off Chairback Mtn. Somehow every massive rock in the pile is pointed on top, like an enormous set of jaws. There was a lot of butt scooting involved.
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Next up was the West Branch Pleasant River crossing (easy) and then a long, relatively flat stretch along Gulf Hagas Brook. If you’ve never been, it’s worth taking the side trail to Gulf Hagas, aka the Grand Canyon of Maine.
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Day 3 featured four more mountains: Gulf Hagas Mtn, West Peak, Hay Mtn, and White Cap Mtn. These are all taller than the peaks covered in Day 2, but somehow they are infinitely easier to manage. There is less up and down between them, and the MATC has done an outstanding job of building stone steps up the hardest sections (thank you @maineatc)!
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One of the challenges of this day was deciding whether or not to push over White Cap. My timing put me at the summit at 5pm and at the next shelter at 5:45, which, at this time of year, doesn’t leave a ton of daylight in the woods. Luckily there was plenty of tent space and I’d left the freezing, gusty wind behind me. There is cell service (limited) on White Cap, so I was able to check in, although the temps up there were not inviting.
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Highlights: crossing a river that didn’t require clinging to a rope (all others did), finding the Maine-shaped rock (found it last year too), and my first view of Katahdin from White Cap.
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#100milewilderness #atmaine #whitecapmountain #appalachiantrail #hikeme #hike #backpack #thruhike #gulfhagas #rocks

100 Mile Wilderness : Day 2 9-14-22 . Wilber Brook

100 Mile Wilderness : Day 2
9-14-22
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Wilber Brook -> Chairback Gap Lean-to = 12 miles
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Just like last year, day 2 was a killer. At least this time I knew it would be. This 12 mile stretch goes over three peaks: Barren Mtn, Fourth Mtn, and Third Mtn, then skirts the edge of Columbus Mtn and starts up Chairback Mtn. Oooophhh.
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Although none of these peaks are very high (2650 ft is the tallest), the terrain is unrelenting. Nothing is flat. Nothing is easy. If you’re not climbing a mountain, you’re climbing rocks and roots on the trail. It’s physically tough and mentally taxing. But once you get through it, things start looking up!
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Highlights are amazing views from Barren Ledges (and cell service!), wreckage from a plane crash on Fourth Mtn (kinda creepy), and Fourth Mtn Bog (a colorful, beautiful place containing rare and endangered plants).
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#100milewilderness #hikeme #barrenmountain #hike #at #appalachiantrail #atmaine #bog #thruhike #backpacking #mainewoods #mainemountains #mainetrails

100 Mile Wilderness : Day 1 9/13/22 . Rt 15 AT tra

100 Mile Wilderness : Day 1
9/13/22
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Rt 15 AT trailhead in Monson -> Wilber Brook = 14 miles
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The hardest thing about day 1 is adjusting to the pack weight! Mine was about 25 pounds (a little more with water).
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Monson is an old slate mining town, and the slate ledge on the trail can be very slick. I opted for shoes with more traction (Solomons) than what I normally hike in (Hokas), and they saved my butt more than once.
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Big Wilson Stream was much higher this year than last. I thought I could cross with one hand on the rope and the other using my poles. It was both hands hanging on tight by the end and poles dangling from my arm!
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Highlights on this day were Little Wilson Falls (day hikeable and so beautiful!), an amazing beaver dam area (trail had to be rerouted to accommodate their work), and the mysterious book burning fire.
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#100milewilderness #at #atmaine #appalachiantrail #thruhike #mainewoods #traillife #hikeme #gooutside #ultralight

Mt Jefferson via Caps Ridge…oooophhhh . This tra

Mt Jefferson via Caps Ridge…oooophhhh
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This trail is a beast. Our four-legged friend @thorlabradormaine 🐕‍🦺 decided we were all nuts about half way up the rock pile, but the rest of us climbed on to celebrate @rootsinme completing the NH48 🥂!!
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In classic Presidential fashion, we were in the clouds… which was kind of perfect.
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#nh48 #mtjeffersonnh #rockpile #4000footers #hikenh #flagsonthe48 #hikewithfriends

This trip to Baxter was *supposed* to happen at th

This trip to Baxter was *supposed* to happen at the end of the 100 Mile Wilderness. I pushed my hike back a few weeks for some bonus healing but kept the camping reservation.
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My two previous visits to the park have been to tackle 4000 footers. It was nice to be there without any agenda, just free to explore.
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Canoeing Kidney Pond was a highlight. Peaceful, beautiful, and wild. The Falls south of Daicey Pond were big and loud, and I got to practice my compass navigation skills during a bushwhack.
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And, I almost brought home a new pet.
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#baxterstatepark #hikeme #appalachiantrail #mainewoods #maine #canoe #waterfall #bushwhacking

I told my friends the Osceolas were two of the eas

I told my friends the Osceolas were two of the easier 4000 footers.
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😳😂😭
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Then I remembered I hiked them in the snow last time, thereby avoiding all the scrambling and climbing. They were steep, sure, but I was hiking up packed snow with microspikes and poles. This was… different.
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In the summer, these are two of the harder 4000 footers.
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The first 1.3 miles is a lovely woods walk. The next 1.5 is a straight-up-the-mountain rock climb. The first peak is meh, the second is outstanding, and the chimney in the middle is fun to ascend (for people and extra brave dogs). We took the side trail on the way down, which was challenging in its own right.
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Going forward, I’ll remember not to call a winter hike easy until I’ve tried it in the summer 😅
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#shehikesmountains #osceolas #4000footers #NE67 #hiking #hikethewhites #hikenh #whitemountains #womeninthewoods #gooutside #keepclimbing #67summits #hikingwithdogs #trainingfor100miles #takeahike #keepitwild #mountains #mountaintherapy #findyourtrail #takeahike #hyoh #intothewoods

Burnt Meadow Mtn 1575 ft & Stone Mtn 1621 ft . Ano

Burnt Meadow Mtn 1575 ft
& Stone Mtn 1621 ft
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Another great training hike an hour from Portland!
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4.8 miles if you add the spur out to Stone Mtn summit. Varied terrain (woods, rocks, lots of ups and downs) makes for a good conditioning workout.
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If you don’t like scrambling, beware. There’s a steep, vertical climb to reach the Burnt Meadow summit. It’s not long, and if you’re used to the Whites, it’s inconsequential. If you’re not expecting it, though, it could be scary.
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@thorlabradormaine had a blast too, especially cooling off in the lake a half mile down the road!
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#burntmeadowmountain #hikeme #hikemaine #traininghike #westernmaine #rockscramble #summerhike

Bradbury Mountain . A perfect afternoon for a qui

Bradbury Mountain
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A perfect afternoon for a quick hike up Bradbury 💙
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Switchback to Boundary Trail to Northern Loop & back down Switchback = 3 lovely miles in the woods 💚
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Very grateful for this local little mountain ❤️
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#bradburymountain #hikeme #hikemaine #hikelocal #smallpeaks #traininghike #forestshadows

Pleasant Mountain Bald Peak Trail 2006 ft . This

Pleasant Mountain
Bald Peak Trail
2006 ft
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This peak’s elevation may be on the lower end, but the climb is no slouch ⛰🥾
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Blueberry season is in full swing on the mountain, plenty for the bears and the hikers 🫐🐻
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This is a Maine favorite for me, only an hour from Portland, a beautiful view, and enough up to make you work for it!!
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#pleasantmountain #hikeme #wildblueberries #traininghike #summerhikes

Finding more places to explore on two feet, like t

Finding more places to explore on two feet, like this trail around Great Pond in Cape Elizabeth. A few ups and downs but mostly flat and forest boardwalk. It would be a great place to kayak or canoe if you’re feeling strong enough to carry your boat in.
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And, bonus, the trail is lined with wild blueberries 🫐 and ends at Kettle Cove Creamery and Shack🍦
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#mainetrails
#kettlecove
#forestwalk
#gooutside
#keepmoving

Being injured sucks. Some days it’s easy to fi

Being injured sucks.

Some days it’s easy to find the silver linings (trying new things, appreciating progress, learning to slow down)… other days it feels like I’ll never heal, physically or mentally, from the fall.

And some days, it’s both.

Like today.

After a rough start (thank you @fitnessformountains for noticing) the universe showed up with an adventure (thank you @thespoondriftkitchen for the perfectly timed invite).

First kayaking adventure in Casco Bay: Maine Yacht Center to Pomroy Rock and back again.

We fought the wind going out, almost lost our boats to the tide, found lots of sea glass, talked about the good stuff, and coasted home into the sunset with the breeze behind us.

Silver lining: finding new ways to move and enjoy summer in Maine with friends who see me.
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#injuriessuck
#dontstopmoving
#oceantherapy
#cascobay
#kayakmaine
#gooutside
#cantstopwontstop

First time walking on a trail and without a boot i

First time walking on a trail and without a boot in seven weeks.
🙌🏻
This 1-mile loop is wheelchair and stroller friendly, wide and level all the way.
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Views of the marsh and distant ocean.
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Dog friendly (on-leash).
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Benches for picnicking and resting.
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Good news all around!
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#healing #smallhikesarebetterthannohikes #rachelcarsontrail #slowpace
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@rootsinme

A year ago today, my right foot was covered in mud

A year ago today, my right foot was covered in mud on Mt. Isolation, and I was pointing definitively toward the trail.

Today my right foot is in a boot, and I’m holding this map with a lot of uncertainty.

Is 8 weeks enough time to train for 100 miles?

I’m about to find out.

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#hike #hikeME #100milewilderness #recovery #cantstopwontstop #appalachiantrail #hyoh #trainingfor100miles

And when it’s all over, I’ll be a speed climbe

And when it’s all over, I’ll be a speed climber 😂

It started with a pickle in a bag and ended with a $It started with a pickle in a bag and ended with a broken heel. It’s taken me awhile (almost exactly 4 weeks!) to be ready to post this. A lead climbing fall in Camden Hills resulted in a calcaneal fracture (aka a broken heel) and has me non-weight bearing for 6 weeks. It’s hiking season. And climbing season. And all active things outside all the time season. This injury sucks, that’s for sure. But it has forced me to find other ways to move. I’m swimming, bombing around the streets of Portland on my knee scooter, and climbing with one leg. In a few weeks, I’ll be trail walking. By August I’ll be hiking. This fall could have been so much worse. I was with amazing friends that day who carried me out of the woods and who, along with my family, have continued to support me by driving me around to doctor’s appointments, the Y, the climbing gym, and anywhere else I need to go. They check on my mental health, work out with me, cheer me on, and climb with one leg in solidarity. They will be with me when I go on my first slow, hobbling hike, in person or in spirit. It is ironic that I started hiking and climbing alone, very intentionally, and ended up finding my people out in the woods. It’s those people who understand how hard it is to have your active independence taken away and how much it hurts to miss the mountains. It’s not the summer I planned. But it’s going to be a great summer, thanks to friends and a fighting spirit. Much love, adventure crew ❤️$

The sun was shining at Jockey Cap! A perfect first

The sun was shining at Jockey Cap! A perfect first outing while I recover from the dreaded ‘vid.
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Highlights included resting in the hammock and making shadow portraits while @xbowjim set ropes, dogs living their best climbing lives, scoping out routes for when energy is 100%, and determining (once and for all) I need to purchase a stick clip.
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#jockeycaprock #climboutside #climbwithdogs #mainerockclimbing #rockclimbing

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