Let's play!!

After an entire day INDOORS working on apps I literally went CRAZY. I started by opening the window, then propped the door open. " I am trying to bring the outdoors in ." I then moved everything outside, and let the tailgate down to make a desk! An entire year of exploring the outdoors makes any extended amount of time in doors or sitting still a mega CHALLENGE. I have had my fair share of culture shock.... Not sure what we call this!

After a day of indoor work, we set out to play! We kicked off the morning with some sick rock climbing. We climbed Otter cliff which had some great routes  and was right in Acadia! #gnarpoints

We then took a hike and explored Acadia National Park! I was actually here two summers ago with my family and absolutely love the scenery.

 After exploring downtown Bar Harbor it was time for Bryson to get his first lobster!!!! And boy was it a biggie. 

A fun day of adventure and exploring! Back to the trail tomorrow with only one week left!

Otter cliffs

Between a rock and a hard place

Add another park to our list!

The beehive 

Cadillac mountain 

Bryson's first lobster 

Adventuring in Acadia

Acadia, relatively speaking is quite close to the AT. As Bryson and I have embarked upon a quest to visit all US National Parks we took a detour. Taking some time off the trail was needed, as I had a few job Skype interviews to prep for and complete. Shout out to Bryson for all of his tech help and support! (Keep your fingers crossed)

For those following me closely, you may be wondering how I will finish by the projected July 2nd date. This date was selected so that we can drive to Michigan in time to attend Bryson's family reunion. I have decided to skip a section of trail from Andover to Caratunk. This is approximately a 4 or 5 day stretch of roughly 100 miles. I keep telling myself the trail will always be there and I will still me a member of the 2,000 mile club! I will soon be entering the 100 mile wilderness section. Since no cars can access this section, I will carry in my pack and food supply for five days. I will meet up with Bryson on the fifth day before summiting Mt. Katahdin the following the day. Ahhhhh It's getting surreal and REAL!

Stay tuned for posts on the last leg

Acadia, relatively speaking is quite close to the AT. As Bryson and I have embarked upon a quest to visit all US National Parks we took a detour. Taking some time off the trail was needed, as I had a few job Skype interviews to prep for and complete. Shout out to Bryson for all of his tech help and support! (Keep your fingers crossed)

For those following me closely, you may be wondering how I will finish by the projected July 2nd date. This date was selected so that we can drive to Michigan in time to attend Bryson's family reunion. I have decided to skip a section of trail from Andover to Caratunk. This is approximately a 4 or 5 day stretch of roughly 100 miles. I keep telling myself the trail will always be there and I will still me a member of the 2,000 mile club! I will soon be entering the 100 mile wilderness section. Since no cars can access this section, I will carry in my pack and food supply for five days. I will meet up with Bryson on the fifth day before summiting Mt. Katahdin the following the day. Ahhhhh It's getting surreal and REAL!

Mr. Tech helping me with interviews

Stay tuned for posts on the last leg

Crossing into Maine

I convinced Bryson to get the true AT experience and sleep for a night in one of the shelters on trail. He dropped me off at Grafton Notch and I hiked twenty miles to the closest shelter. Bryson was able to take a side trail to meet me five miles from the shelter. His feat was in actually finding the Success trailhead! With the sun setting we made it to camp just before dark. I hadn't realized how much hiker etiquette is in place on the trail until Bryson had joined. (When to blow up your sleeping pad-the correct way to position your pad- bear hangs- sleeping bag time- red lights on the headlamp- cooking outside of the shelter- where to wash your pot out.. etc) I walked him through my normal  routine upon arriving and setting up. I forgot how strange it can be for one to fall so peacefully asleep in the wilderness. The total darkness and unknown wooded sounds can take some getting used to. I enjoyed reminiscing upon my first week of sleep out on the trail. The best way to get a good nights sleep= hike more miles! (Bryson didn't like that solution) I must admit it was fun for me to be able to share this experience with him. It certainly gave him a better perspective on how I have been living for the past few months. AND in proper trail fashion he got the good old rain experience!

We were able to meet up with Aunt Kate and Uncle Craig just outside of Andover, ME! Can't believe the last time I saw my Uncle was in southern VA... Oh the miles and the memories since our last encounter. We enjoyed great convo in the small town restaurant of Dicks in the town of Mexico. Thanks so much for making the drive north to meet us- it was wonderful to catch up:)

It was certainly bittersweet to cross into the last and final state. I have started to run into the early Southbound crowd. I get so excited thinking of the amazing places and people that lie before them. They have no idea the trail magic they will encounter. I know I didn't! To all SouthBound hikers with many miles ahead, I wish you the best of luck. Stay true to yourself and your hike. To my fellow NoBos enjoy the last leg WE ARE IN MAINE!!!

Happy trails - New Found

That is the trail! Maine really embraces keeping the trail "wild"

Thankful for all of my NOLS stream crossings!

Let's Boulder 

Crossing into the last state wahoo

Wih Aunt Kate and Uncle Craig 

The Proposal

As many of you readers are now aware I experienced THE best Trail Magic. On Wednesday June 17th I summited Mt Washington...And I was in for quite the surprise!

I think the White mountains have truly been one of my favorite sections of the trail. I find the 360degree panoramas to be awe inspiring. Walking the ridge line with such incredible views is truly a unique and humbling experience. I had beautiful weather and such clear visibility. At the top I met Bryson who had enjoyed the exhilarating ride along the auto road to the summit. We explored the visitor center, and cooked dinner out of the back of the car. We then set up the bed in anticipation of spending the night on the summit.

Around 7pm all autos are required to drive back down. We were the only car left in the parking lot and had packed the car back up and closed the hatch just as a park ranger approached us. He informed us that we needed to drive back down. Bryson told the man that we were hiking down to the 'Hut in the Clouds' and that we were just leaving the car parked overnight. (Actually, quite believable for many hikers sleep at the hut for it is only two miles from the summit) 

"Oh you're staying at the hut, did ya clear that down below?"

"No, didn't know we needed to do that."

After some more convo and a radio  call down below we got the "okay". Success!

We grabbed a jacket, headlamp, and obviously a jar of Nutella, and headed out to watch the sunset. The sky began to change colors, and I thought wow now this is AWESOME! We  were the ONLY ones atop the tallest mountain in the Northeast.

We hadn't been sitting for more than ten minutes when Bryson asked if he could read me something he wrote. He truly is quite the romantic and I am fortunate to say it is not the first time he has written me something:) (Thus, at this point I still had NO CLUE) At the close of a heartfelt poem, Bryson got on his knee and asked me to marry him!!!!!! YES- Absolutely yes!

We caught an amazing sunrise and drove down in the morning to share our news with loved ones.

Here's to many blessed years of happiness and joy together.

We spent the night at the Mt Washington- a truly beautiful resort that looked out at the Presidentials. We were on cloud nine! There was even fancy champagne in our room:) JR you are the man! Many many thanks! You will certainly always be apart of our engagement story. (How's that for making the blog;)

Bryson put so much thought into this beautiful ring. It is not only hand designed but made from family heirlooms. (The gold comes from Grandpa Wade and the diamond from Grandpa Boyer.) Many thanks to Aunt Christy for helping Bryson with the design. It is truly one of a kind! And to Bryson... I think it is so truly special. 

A night to remember...

Sunset and sunrise atop Mt Washington

Ascending from Crawford Notch, I was so happy that I took a zero (during the rain) for today's summit was gorgeous. The climb really was not as challenging as I had anticipated. I took a lunch break on Mt Eisenhower, and met a lovely couple that had spent ten years in Alaska! The entire hike you could see the observation tower of Mt Washington off in the distance. I enjoyed breathtaking views and snapped many pictures. Bryson met me at the summit and got the "This car climbed Mt.Washington" sticker. He said the ride up was exhilarating but sketchy. At the summit I saw two hiker friends-Bo and Dude whom I met at the highest pt along the AT - Clingmans Dome in the Smokies. I hadn't seen them since Damascus, VA. (mile 500) Fun to catch up with them at the second highest peak. They informed me that they had skipped a 350 mile section. (HYOH) 

Excited to hit a few more of the big peaks in the Presidential Range!!! I hope the weather stays nice.

Carpe diem - New Found

Mt Eisenhower and Washington in the far distance

Walking the ridge line

Snow!!!!

(Would love to ski this!!)

Car camping- making dinner

The oldest hiking trail

Sunset

Sunrise