Leisel Bailey aka Gilmore
@lnbailey89
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October 8, 2020 - Long Trail - Day 18 - Part 1
The Long Trail : Day 18 : Part 1 : 10/8/20 . What a hell of a day! We had big plans and ended up with way fewer miles than expected. The morning started by waking up in the cabin full of strangers. Dave and I were on the top bunk/platform/shelf, whatever you’d like to call it. I was doing my best to quietly get out my pot and stove to make breakfast when the pot slipped out of my hands and loudly fell to the ground. I was officially the person I hate in communal living spaces. The early start didn’t matter because soon enough our new friends were awake and we are enjoying the company of other hikers once again. . It’s surprising how easy it is to lose your flow of routine when the rules are slightly changed. In our tent, I’m efficient, I know where my things are and just how long I needed to go through my various tasks. All bets were off in the shelter and we got a much later start than intended. We finally said our goodbyes and headed into the Devil’s Gulch followed by a climb up Belvidere. . The climb skirts the summit of Belvidere but we decided to take the blue blaze trail to check out the view from the fire tower. In good conditions, fire towers are scary to me. Something about how they sway in the wind and have super steep stairs unnerves me. Today, this one, was also encrusted with ice. I made it up the first set of stairs then told Dave I was coming down as I had zero intentions of sliding to my death on a Vermont fire tower. My plan was to deter him from going up as well. It didn’t work. He was going to go up with or without me. I hate being left out of a good view so I swallowed my fear and went for it. . I breathed steadily and took slow focused movements up each stair while tightly gripping the ice covered railing with my gloved hands like my life depended on it, because it did! I emerged on the top and had a beautiful view of the frosty landscape. Sometimes I just need a little push out of my comfort zone. After the fire tower adventure we were feeling confident and set our sights on finishing the next day, a day early. What could go wrong, we asked ourselves?
October 5, 2020 - Long Trail - Day 15 - Part 1
The Long Trail : Day 15 : Part 1 : 10/5/20 . Today was a day full of surprises. I assumed the hike would be much like the day before. Steep, rocky, slabby, slow. There were rough moments but overall the terrain was much faster and it was a very welcomed surprise. We busted up and over Bolton hoping to get in some decent miles before starting up Vermont’s high point, Mount Mansfield. . We took a quick break at a shelter that was perched on the edge of the mountainside with a gorgeous view of our next challenge. Mansfield looked so far in the distance it was hard to fathom we’d be standing on the top of Vermont that afternoon. . After a quick descent we were on our way up. I was pleasantly surprised that the climb wa easier than expected. Soon enough we were entering “the forehead”. Now, supposedly, from a distance, Mount Mansfield looks like the profile of a face lying down. Hence, we were now on “the forehead”. Many hikers find this area a bit harrowing or spooky at the very least. But, the rock was solid and I was in a great mood so I was really enjoying the challenge. There were good scrambles with big holds, ladders, and best of all, dry rock! . We finished the crux of the area and spent the next several miles gawking at the beauty of the mountains around us. The sun, the clouds, hills, leaves, and lakes, all came together to make one heck of a canvas! . The last stretch to the top we found the day hikers and started picking them off one by one until we were on the top of VT! We’d plan to stay at the lodge only a 1/2 mile off the summit but we’d made such good time we decided to press on. We bounded down the mountain as fast as possible to see how far we could get. We pulled up 2.5 miles short of the next shelter and found a sufficient (only by thru hiker standards) stealth spot a little of the trail. What a heck of a day it had been. I need to bottle up these days and moments to remind myself just how strong I am and how incredibly proud I should be of what I’m capable of!
October 4, 2020 - Long Trail - Day 14 - Part 1
The Long Trail : Day 14 : Part 1 : 10/4/20 . We woke up early knowing it would be a tough day and we needed to cover some decent miles. We started hiking at 7:20 am and I was wholly unprepared for how “exciting” the day would be. . The first 2 miles consisted of a 2 hour scramble to the summit of Camel’s Hump. The scramble was actually fun and the views were spectacular! The best of the trip so far. My goal was to embrace the slow speed and enjoy the trail and sights around me. That was easy enough until the descent. . It was tedious and long and started to get real old real fast. I was doing my best to see things as a fun adult jungle gym instead of a ridiculous trail. My forced positive attitude ran out well before the end of the descent. After 4 hours we had only gone 5.4 miles and my hopes of making it to the shelter 17 miles away we’re starting to feel a little far fetched. . Here’s the thing. I knew this trail was going to be slow and hard but watching the miles go by SO slowly is incredibly frustrating. Since thru hiking each day sort of feels like a work day, imagine it’s like going in for an 8 hour day and realizing at lunch you’re going to need to put in a 12 hour day instead. It’s all about managing expectations but this time my hopes didn’t match up with my reality. . Thankfully the end of the day cut us a few breaks and an afternoon coffee gifted me with extra energy. We gained some time back on a 3 miles road walk then we found ourselves pleasantly surprised by the steep but smooth terrain of the following 5 miles. Making our way quickly and easily through the last miles of the day, we arrived at our destination with an hour of daylight remaining! 16.9 miles were behind us and I was dang proud of what I’d accomplished. I went from defeated unmet expectations to wholly exceeding my expectations within a matter of hours. My hiking abilities never changed but my perspective did. Choose the perspective that serves you well each day. That’s real easy to say but much harder to practice.
October 2, 2020 - Long Trail - Day 12 - Part 1
The Long Trail : Day 12 : Part 1 : 10/2/20 . The sunlight was just starting to peek into our room affectionately named “The Log Cabin”. But it was wet, dreary, and rain was falling. The thought of heading back to trail took all the joy out of a cozy moment. Tucked under a mountain of blankets, we discussed staying one more night to relax and let the rain pass. Making the decision in bed while watching it rain really wasn’t a fair fight. Within seconds, it was decided, we would take a zero day! . I was instantly giddy as Dave quietly popped downstairs to retrieve a tray with French press coffee. Sitting in bed drinking good coffee out of a mug might be what hiker dreams are made of. A little later we made our way downstairs where we were served more coffee, blueberry muffins, strawberry and yogurt parfaits, frittata, home fries, and homemade salsa. I can’t even. I was tempted to move into this place and had zero regret about staying an additional night. . The remainder of the day was spent relaxing. Think feet up, reading books, watching TV on our phone, and even creeping downstairs to watch the rain from a cozy chair in the living area. As the rain cleared, the sun started to peek out of the clouds and light up the drops of water falling from the colorful leaves. The foliage glistened in all the best ways. I found myself in a moment of overwhelming contentment. . It’s easy for me to feel guilty about a zero day or spending money on what I feel is lavish extras. But, every time I look back and remember a thru hike it’s these moments that stick out, that give the hike depth and substance. They usually mark the end of a difficult time. Whether bad weather, weary minds, or injured bodies, these places are where I find respite, healing, kindness, and the will to push on. So in case you need to hear this, don’t you dare feel guilty about rest. It’s necessary and good. I’d say it’s a prerequisite to finishing well.
September 30, 2020 - Long Trail - Day 10 - Part 3
The Long Trail : Day 10 : Part 3 : 9/30/20 . After the long, eventful journey to the privy and back there was zero chance my soggy self was getting back in the tent. Instead, I grabbed my things, rallied Dave, and took all my gear to the empty shelter. Here we could spread out, eat, watch it rain and stay mostly dry. . For the next 3 hours we enjoyed coffee, hot breakfast, tea and more snacks. Our plan was the wait out the rain and start hiking once the rain stopped to keep ourselves and our gear mostly dry. By early afternoon we were ready to hike. This is a very late start for us but it was a welcomed way to spend a nasty day. . We spent the next several miles battling a trail turned stream. Water issues and dry sources were no longer a concern. I didn’t even check any upcoming water sources as we were walking in a constant supply. Other than soaked feet the day went by fairly uneventfully. We walked, talked, looked for the ever elusive cell phone service, and climbed up and down precarious, wet rocks. . A little before dark we found our home for the evening. We fed ourselves creamy mac n’ cheese and drifted off to sleep dreaming of town food, showers, and clean clothes that would be ours (hopefully) the following day. It had been a very unusual day, one of little routine and frustrating elements. But at the end of it I was full in all the best ways. It had been just what I needed to slow down, hike less and enjoy watching the rain with a shelter roof over my head.
September 30, 2020 - Long Trail - Day 10 - Part 1
The Long Trail : Day 10 : Part 1 : 9/30/20 . I spent the night tossing and turning as I listened to the torrential rain batter the tent. This was our first real storm in the Gossamer Gear Two and I wasn’t sure how it would weather the storm. For starters, we were on a slope, which meant if I was laying on my back gravity would slowly and uncomfortably pull me down. That meant I would risk getting the foot box of my quilt wet due to the condensation built up on the inner wall of our single walled tent. . Instead I would lay on my right side until my right arm and shoulder hurt then flip to my left side in a fetal position until my hips couldn’t take it anymore AND THEN on my back with my knees up so my planted feet could stop the pull of gravity. Toss, toss, turn. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Try to get some sleep between acrobatic movements. . The morning did come and the restless night ended but the rain did not. I waited as long as I could but the need to pee and take care of other business forced me out into the downpour. I suited up for my trip to the privy only to find my rain jacket’s right sleeve was totally soaked as was my left shoe that had somehow fallen sideways into a puddle during the night. . The rest of this story is ridiculous and will be posted later today in its own post. If you like poop stories and dilapidated privies you’re going to want to keep a close eye out for the next one. If that’s not you’re thing, feel free to skip the next post. Those of you who are childish enough to love my toilet story, you’re my people. Well, you’re all my people but I hold a special place in my heart for adults who appreciate a good poop story.
September 29, 2020 - Long Trail - Day 9 - Part 1
The Long Trail : Day 9 : Part 1 : 9/29/20 . You know it’s a rough start to the day when your first thought is “I don’t want to be here”. A little melodramatic but it felt true at the time. The rain had stopped but I knew it was temporary. The pending doom and the dread associated with more rain was almost worse than just simply walking in it. In true “mood follows action” spirit” I willed myself to deflate my pad and sat up to face the day. . Hot tea and instant jalapeño grits lifted my spirits just enough to take on the terrible deed of leaving my warm, dry sleeping clothes and putting on my wet and crusty hiking dress. Dave’s socks smelled so bad it burned my eyes in the tiny confines of our tent. Note to self: 9 days without a shower in the damp, humid Eastern US may be a couple days too many. . From the moment I opened my eyes I was looking for a way to avoid hiking and camping in the rain. Just over 4 miles down trail was a road that could whisk us away from our soggy problems and deliver us to a quaint B&B. As the clouds grew thick and gray and the wind turned the colorful leaves into ominous confetti I started dreaming of hot coffee. It wouldn’t be served in silicon bowl with remnants of grits. Oh no, I was dreaming of that perfect mug, the one that feels good in your hand. And maybe a fireplace. And a blanket. And a good book. Walls made of more substance than a thin layer of water resistant material sounded nice too! Clearly, I was in a great mental space. . After detailing the luxuries that could be ours, Dave was on board. Soon we were scheming and hunting for LTE on the ridge line to solidify our plans. It seemed our dream of a dry evening with non-inflatable pillows would cost around $200. It was a steep price to pay for a little comfort. We considered 3 or 4 ideas and decided to take a mid-morning break at Lake Pleiad, before the road, to mull over our options. . We found a cozy spot on the edge of the lake, took off our shoes, made a cold coffee, and stared at the dancing water lined by trees boldly wearing the most vibrant hues of red, orange, and yellow. It was stunning and peaceful, a perfect place to have a snack and think. You know how the saying goes “don’t miss the forest for the trees”? I think, the opposite can be true sometimes too. Don’t miss the trees for the forest. I was learning that very lesson as I sipped cold coffee by the lake with my back propped up on a log. Sometimes it’s the close up moments, the individual days, that are worth our attention.
September 28, 2020 - Long Trail - Day 8 - Part 1
The Long Trail : Day 8 : Part 1 : 9/28/20 . It was a mind over matter kind of a day. I hate going from perfectly dry to soaking down to your underwear wet when backpacking. Today was going to be one of those days. Dread filled my mind as I packed my bag extra carefully to keep everything inside dry. . It was slow at first, mostly spitting light rain. I was damp but not dripping wet. Even still my mood was sorely lacking. Trying my best to reason with myself, I remembered that I couldn’t change that it was raining but that I could change my outlook on my circumstances. I started trying to convince myself of the beauty around me and the positive outcomes of my situation. . I felt disgusting since my last shower was over a week ago so this rain was a gift. A free shower and laundry combo! I continued by thinking the classic it could be worse. At least it wasn’t blowing snow and I didn’t have diarrhea. Fair enough. The rain also made the air nice and cool. I was really trying but none of my mental tricks could fix my sour mood. . Plan B: I needed a minute out of the rain. This isn’t always an option but today it was. The elaborate shelter system on the LT provides primitive shelter and today I was going to take full advantage of it! Soon we made it. This particular shelter was dingy but it was a roof over my head in an otherwise unrelenting rain. . Watching the rain while eating lunch proved to be far better than standing in it! I had a Veranda blend Starbucks via and a piece of dark chocolate to round out my lunch. Within minutes I felt like a new person. I was laughing, joking, and ready to skip down the trail. The rain even let up slightly and we cruised along. The moral of this story is that happiness is clearly found in coffee and chocolate. That seems accurate, right?!?
September 27, 2020 - Long Trail - Day 7 - Part 1
The Long Trail : Day 7 : Part 1 : 9/27/20 . It was a short mileage day but a good day, one that ran the full gamut of emotions. We were able to wake up slow knowing we had just under two miles to the road and The Inn at The Long Trail. In short order we were at our first “town” stop of the trip and it felt good to view our progress. . We made it to our box, restaurant food awaited, and a place to charge our electronics was readily available. It was all I needed to recharge my mental batteries as well. While waiting on the restaurant to open, we unloaded and repacked our resupply for the next section and called our friends and family. Then I quietly sat in the grass, staring up at the sky and trees with my head resting on my pack. Did I look like a vagrant sitting in the grass at the Inn, totally unwashed? Maybe, probably. But in that very moment I didn’t care, I simply felt relaxed. . Relaxed isn’t the norm for me in town. Usually I feel a little on edge when we arrive at any establishment. Will they welcome hikers? Will they let us recharge our things? Is there a special, out of the way, place they want “us” to be? It feels a little like navigating a new school or new job with each new place. . The rules change at each establishment and you feel a little indebted to these perfect strangers. They hold our packages, let us loiter, and sometimes even offer us rides or food. The only way to attempted and even the scales is to patron their businesses. Sometimes you can and sometimes you can’t, it just depends on the circumstances. . Maybe it’s not about balancing the scales. Because, to be honest, hikers just can’t. The kindnesses we experience are a gift not a barter system. I’m learning to enjoy them as such regardless of how uncomfortable it makes me feel. . You may not agree with my beliefs and that’s fine but I always do my best to be my whole, real self for y’all in this space. And I would be skipping over a huge part of my life if I didn’t talk about how these kindnesses give me a tangible picture of the grace of God. I have done absolutely nothing to deserve the gift of saving grace but God gave it to me anyway. He loved me in my ugliest state and made a way, through his son, Jesus, for me to have abundant eternal life. That is certainly over simplified but I’m thankful thru hiking puts me in vulnerable situations that allow me to see and even feel the weight of God’s kindness, even in the simplest of way.
September 26, 2020 - Long Trail - Day 6 -Part 2
The Long Trail : Day 6 : Part 2 : 9/26/20 . The miles came fairly easy after the bear sighting. After a break or two at pristine mountain streams we were on our way up Killington Peak. . We hiked up the .2 mile side trail, or blue blaze as it is affectionately known on the AT, to the top of the Peak. We’d skipped this blue blaze on the AT because .2 is way too far to walk unless it’s a direct route to a hamburger. And I don’t regret skipping it back in 2016 because that .2 is STEEP! Like hand over foot, leaning your body weight forward kind of steep! At the top was access to water, trash cans, sinks and flushable toilets so it made it worth the arduous trip. . Our time up top was short lived because their were massive amounts of people and I was uncomfortable. It was for sure the largest group I had been around since Covid started. We left in a hurry, dodging people on our way. I was undoubtedly frustrated by the cavalier attitude of so many people gathered together. I tried to remind myself we’re all doing the best we can. . But for some reason I couldn’t get the frustrated thoughts out of my mind. I’m not responsible to bear the torch for every person on every issues! Why is that so hard for me to believe? Why can’t I just relax a little bit? This is one reason I find the woods so soothing, it’s peaceful, calm and simple. The problems I “need” to fix are far from my mind and I can simply enjoy being in the present moment. . Modern life is hard and full of complex issues. Can I get an “Amen”? But I am not the savior of the world, we can all collectively be thankful for that. The sooner I truly embrace that the better. I believe their is a savior, Jesus. He is loving, kind, understanding, gracious, merciful, and justice driven. He is the best listener and a soft place to land for the broken, marginalized, overlooked, and beat up. I know this is true because He’s been that for me. My version of savior comes with a lot more judgment, rage and cynicism. We all know we don’t need any more of that! . I worked to let go of my frustration on our way to camp. We tucked our giant @gossamergear Two into a tiny space. I’ll admit, I’ve been a little skeptical of this tent but it’s growing on me day by day thanks to its adaptable spirit in a less than ideal spot! It was time to sleep off the day, all the highs and lows, and look forward to a fresh day on the horizon.