8/25/22
White Mountains Guide Day Thirty-Four

Today I killed it. My elapsed time mph was over 2 and I hiked 16 miles with over 3100’ of elevation. What I was most impressed about, though, was how easy it was to do that elevation gain. I distinctly recall hiking this loop two other times in the past and the ascent to the Willey Range being a bit cumbersome. I remember feeling more winded and tired by the various ups and downs along the ridge, and the ladders descending being much longer and harder. That was not at all the case today. Today felt easy with the exception of the miles. I am not used to 16 mile days. By the end I was definitely ready to be done. But not because of the elevation for perhaps the first time in my life. In 2020 I only made it to day 34. Everything after today is new. I made it past 34 days and I am just so happy about that. I was convinced that I wouldn’t make it past 34 days, that as stupid as it sounds I would get cancer again at day 34 like last time. But I didn’t and facing the last 34 days knowing what the result was back in 2020 was hard. It was harder than not attempting this feat for a third time. I know that I will continue to face scans every six months (one coming up in September) but I made it. I made it past the first hurdle and it feels like I might actually get to finish this third attempt. 

Daily Miles: 16.19
Daily Vert: 3163’
Overall Miles: 351.02
Overall Vert: 115,061’
Guide: 13.6% -> 14.3% 

Trails:

Zealand Trail
A-Z Trail
Willey Range Trail 
Ethan Pond Trail
Ethan Pond Spur