11/23/22
Day Seventy-Two 

Another really long and cold day today. First I traversed Carr Mountain and then I did a loop on Mt. Kineo Trail, Donkey Hill Cutoff, and Three Ponds. The loop was really pretty and I bet in the summer that area is gorgeous. I was tired by the time I finished the first 6 miles and still had another 5 to go so I wasn’t entirely thrilled with the trail conditions on the smaller loop. I’ve never done any of these trails before either so I didn’t know what I was getting myself into (minus what I had read in the guidebook and gleaned from discussions with fellow hikers). I am not a fan of winter. I know a lot of hikers think it’s so pretty and amazing - and I agree it is really pretty - but it’s also really challenging. My feet hurt a lot because my hiking shoes for winter are different from my usual shoes and with chronic foot problems my shoes aggravate the underlying issues. Wearing thick wool socks on top of thick leggings feels constricting and I’m having to stop more to take off my jackets and then put them back on to try to not sweat the whole day. I genuinely don’t understand why people love winter. I wish I could but I don’t.

Daily Miles: 11.72

Daily Vert: 3484’

Overall Mileage: 803.82

Overall Vert: 238,575’

Trace: 34.8% -> 35.6%

Trails:

Carr Mtn. Trail

Waternomee Spur

Three Ponds Trail

Donkey Hill Cutoff

Mt. Kineo Trail