Nimblewill Nomad
Long Distance Hiker/Author
Journal 231-ODYSSEY 2021: Bama to Baxter-Hike On!
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Friday–October 8, 2021
Trail Day–231
Trail Mile–-7.5/2319.5
Remaining Miles–297.9
Location–Eliza Brook Shelter (381.9) southbound to NH-112 Kinsman Notch (389.4), then back to Hanover Adventure Tours Hostel, Norwich, Vermont, Kimberly Chambers, Proprietor, MaKensi Kastl, Hostel Mgr.
I’ve spent many-a-night in trail shelters, but I can’t recall ever sleeping in one anywhere as soundly as last night.
The femoral muscle is one of the strongest muscles in the body. It covers the anterior aspect of the femur. It functions in extending the leg at the knee and stabilizes the hip joint, aiding in the flexion of the thigh. A kind of important muscle as to hiking, especially climbing! It’s this leg muscle I injured in the hard fall sustained yesterday coming off South Kinsman. A pitiful sight I’m sure, Odie & Kitchen Sink, watching me hobble my way along. Ahh, but as my good fortune would have it, Odie so happens to have a tube of 5% Lidocaine Ointment in his pack. A few application of the ointment, plus some Vitamin I (ibuprofin) and I’m good. I’m suffering minimal pain and stiffness this morning. What a blessing!
From the shelter, we’ve a thousand-foot+ climb up and over Mt. Wolf. From there, down to Kinsman Notch, another thousand or so of vertical elevation change in the process. This difficult going makes for another nine-hour day to cover less than eight miles. Mercifully, I’ve suffered minimally from the leg injury sustained yesterday. Also, the steroid injection by Dr. Gregory is taking effect. So, all considered, a very good day on the trail!
And the good progress of this journey, Odyssey 2021 Bama to Baxter – Hike On, despite setbacks, continues amazingly well. I’ve now hiked 2,300 miles of this 2,600-mile journey with only 300 miles remaining. Of the 15 states I must cover, 12 have been completed: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maine, New Hampshire, and all but a few short miles in New York. I’m into Vermont now, that 150 miles. Then comes 90 in Massachusetts and 60 in Connecticut, and this trek will be successfully concluded! And these remaining miles? They’ll be easy going compared to the trail in Maine and New Hampshire. Barry will be supporting me now, until this odyssey is completed, likely the second week of November.
To conclude this day, another no-fun goodbye to Odie. He’ll be heading for Maine for a few days before returning to Alabama, where he’ll be preparing Hiker Yearbook 2021.
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
(Neale Donald Walsch)
3 Comments on “Journal 231-ODYSSEY 2021: Bama to Baxter-Hike On!”
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Nimblewill Nomad 
I’m so glad Barry is back to help you out! He’s a really good friend!
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During which days did you do the section from Galehead Hut to Route 93? You bailed from Galehead, I’m assuming via the Gale River Trail, during a stretch of bad weather.
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Such a beautiful yet treacherous journey. I pray for your safe passage and good weather. Calera Sunshine
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