An Attempt to Sum it All Up

The trip is over and the only thing I can think is that it will take me a long time before I can completely process this journey.  The peaceful days of hiking, the stillness of the woods, and the fresh smells of the wilderness will always be calling me back into the mountains.  I feel that I have learned a lot of lessons that will stick with me and give me the endurance to get through challenges I face in the future.  After days and days of hiking with Dr. Bundy, 3 Stoves, and Renaissance, I’m sure that the friendships formed will last a lifetime.  I have learned much of God’s faithfulness and was blessed to have grown so much over this trip.  I have learned to be more disciplined and to stay in the Word daily (Psalm 119:105).  The amazing views and the beautiful sections of woods I saw pointed to how glorious our God is to create such beauty.  It will take me time to digest all that happened on the journey and I am afraid many of you will have to let me know you are tired of hearing my stories about the trail in the future.  If any of you has the opportunity to hike this trail, I would strongly encourage you to do so as it was the most unique, spontaneous, and challenging adventures that I have ever had.  I look forward to the days, months, and years that lie ahead to reflect on this odyssey.  The end of this trek has left me craving for more and I believe will always lead me to ask, “What adventure is next?”

Final Update

Ben posted the information below on his facebook page. Given that some of you readers don't have facebook, I decided to post it here. Enjoy his final post before the end of his epic journey!

"I made it through the Whites and southern Maine which were definitely some challenging sections of trail, but also some of the most beautiful. I am headed into the 100 mile wilderness tomorrow and will be camping at the foot of Katahdin on Saturday! It's bitter sweet to see the end of this adventure but i miss family and friends and my body is pretty exhausted so I can't wait to come home. The SOBOS (Southbounders) we have been passing are covered in bug bites so i know some challenges lie ahead with the mosquitos and the black flies. Lord willing I will have the endurance to make it the rest of the way. The final 114.5 miles of my journey starts tomorrow which will include some pretty remote wilderness so i am very excited. My family will be coming up to pick me up and to hike the last 5 miles up Katahdin with me in just one week! Thanks everybody again for your continued prayers and support, I pray and think about you often and can't wait to see you when I'm home."

Mom's update

Ben has not had computer time so I hope I can give you some sort of update.

Ben and Nicholas have finished New Hampshire’s White Mountains gladly. Ben said it “kicked their butts”. This was very difficult hiking with huge elevation change. In addition, much of the trail is above tree line and the weather can change quickly. They did get caught in a storm but were thankfully below tree line and were able to take cover under some evergreens dodging the hail and lightening. It passed over in about 30 minutes then it became cold and windy. The temperature dropped 30 degrees. They had been hiking in shorts and t-shirts.

Thank goodness they were past Mount Washington before the weather became too wicked. Mount Washington is the site of the highest recorded wind speed, ever-231 mph! Snow falls on this mountain during every month of the year. Through the crackle of a cell phone, I understood Ben to tell me that some hikers apparently were stranded there.

Along the trail in New Hampshire are found “huts”. Huts offer hostel quality accommodations, but at hotel prices! But the first couple of hikers can “work for stay”. Ben and Nicholas were fortunate to make the cut off, and traded some free labor for a place to stay and food.

They crossed over the Maine state line on June 3. At this point they only had 280.9 miles to go! The end is in sight. Especially now that they made it over Mahoosuc Notch . This part of the trail is famous for ice found in deep crevices throughout the year. It’s a scramble under, around, over and between the boulders. It is known as the most difficult mile on the trail. When I talked to Ben he confirmed this. According to Paul “Ole Man” Renaud the owner of the Appalachian Trail Lodge and Cafe where we will be staying in Maine when we pick up Ben, this part can take from 1-3 hours, dependent on conditions. Ben and Nicholas covered it in about an hour. Ben said “it’s like caving on top of the ground”. He sounded more exhausted than I’ve heard him so far. He’s heard that it’s “downhill” from there but he still has the 100 mile wilderness to tackle.

They are scheduled to resupply in Rangeley, Maine on Tuesday, June 7. Rangeley is about 220 miles from the summit of Mount Katahdin. They are tired and I hope they can focus so there are no injuries. The end is close and the target date is still in sight.

Prayers are still much appreciated and needed.