Ready To Go (fingers crossed)

Well, everything* is packed and ready to go. I made a trip to the grocery store this morning and spent $70+ on food for 8 days. That's 4 days in my pack, and another 4 days of food in a box I mailed to Pine Ellis Lodging in Andover, ME.

When I think about it I think I have about a 50/50 chance that my knees are up to the hike. Until today I haven't felt a lot of confidence or anticipation about getting back on the trail, but now that my backpack is packed and I've been finalizing the logistics for the rest of the trip, I've started feeling and talking about it all much more positively. Instead of saying "If I get to Monson," I've been saying "When I get to Monson."

The weather for southern Maine looks great for the next week (see below). I think if I get through the next week or so I should be all set. That will get me through the toughest terrain, then things will start to ease up.

My plan is to get up at 0400 tomorrow, and be on the road by 0500. With a stop somewhere for breakfast that should get me on the trail by 1000 at the latest. Ideally I would like to make 12 miles tomorrow, but there is a shorter option. I've given up trying to estimate how many miles I can hike in a day anymore.

I will not be picking up exactly where I left off. I am going to start at US 2 near Gorham. This works out better logistically as far as getting to the trailhead, and it also allows me to avoid hiking up and over Carter Dome on my first day back, which is ridiculously steep and difficult. I do have a pretty good sized chunk of guilt in my stomach over missing the few miles from Carter Notch to US 2, but it might be the difference between completing my hike and not, so I think it's a fair trade-off.
--
Monkeywrench


* I just realized I am short one pair of socks. Looks like I need to do some laundry this afternoon.

Forecast for Northern Oxford

Updated: 10:14 am EDT on September 3, 2009
No Active Advisories (US Severe Weather)
	This Afternoon Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds around 10 mph. » ZIP Code Detail
	Tonight Mostly clear. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the upper 40s. Light and variable winds.
	Friday Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Light and variable winds...becoming northwest around 10 mph in the afternoon. » ZIP Code Detail
	Friday Night Partly cloudy in the evening...then becoming mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Light and variable winds.
	Saturday Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. Light and variable winds...becoming northwest around 10 mph in the afternoon. » ZIP Code Detail
	Saturday Night Clear. Lows in the lower 40s.
	Sunday through Labor Day Mostly clear. Highs in the lower 70s. Lows in the lower 40s.
	Monday Night through Tuesday Night Partly cloudy. Lows around 50. Highs in the mid 70s.
	Wednesday Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.