7/20/22
White Mountains Guide Day Eighteen

I knew it would just be a matter of time before I almost cried (or did cry) while hiking and today was the day. To say that it was a hard hike would be an understatement, both physically and mentally. With humidity in the 1000% range (only a slight exaggeration) and the overall elevation being 4600+’ in 10 miles, I was spent by the time I got back to my car. I don’t do well in the heat so I intentionally slowed my pace all day, and then was forced to slow it even more trying to navigate the disaster that is the 1.3 miles of trail between Caps Ridge and Castle Trail. Then, right after I got onto Castle trail to make my final descent I fell and reopened the scar on my leg that just healed. I think the most frustrating part of the day was that I couldn’t go faster, not because I was too tired, but because the trails were a mess. You can’t go 3 mph, heck you can’t even go 2 mph when you’re trying to climb up and over entire root systems from fallen trees, or washed out trails and it’s frustrating. Regardless, I got the hike done and don’t have to do any of those trails again now. 

Daily Miles: 10.32
Overall Miles: 185.15
Daily Vert: 4674’
Overall Vert: 63,703’
Guide: 6.9% -> 7.3%
Summits: Jefferson

Trails:

Castle Trail
The Link
Caps Ridge