I started out solo june 13th 2024 at Carlo co TH off of Success pond RD in Berlin NH hiking up to the NH/ME border sig. It was somewhat cool still in the early morning and I was in the honeymoon faze which didn’t last long. The morning heated up quickly to 85ish degrees with humidity. My wife, Sarita and the kids met me at the first road crossing (rt 2) about 20 miles into my effort with supplies and shoes. There was some running but I kept the pace at a fast hike for most of the day in the heat hoping to “make up time” in the night, on a cool above tree line presidential traverse section. Pinkham Pat intercepted me for a few miles coming off Wildcat ridge trail and we ran a few miles to the Osgood trail where we split and I headed up into the darkness. This is my first night and my stomach started to turn, I puked the first time as I broke tree line on Madison where I was met with strong winds blowing me off the rocks. I got to the Madison hut and already wanted to call it quits about 45 miles in. I met an AT through hiker and she encouraged me to keep going and it will eventually turn around. Slowly worked my way up to Washington with a very sick stomach. Laying down for 30 minutes by the lakes seemed to help things and darkness was starting to show signs of dawn. Again wanting to bail I kept going until I got a text from my first pacers Clark & Connor. They brought me a ginger ale and intercepted me at Mt Webster where we descended down to my wife again in the morning hours who restocked me and brought soup. Sick stomach still we went into the Zealand Pemi range and pushed forward into another hot day. At the summit of Lafayette, Tyler intercepted us and we ran together to 93 for another soup and seltzer stock from Sarita. Connor & Tyler accompanied me into the night up to the Kinsman’s, I took a 20 min dirt nap that night it felt amazing. We got to Beaver brook trailhead to be greeted by Mike, Mariah, and Sarita who joined me next. This is where Kamryn and Riley started crewing me & Jason, Harrison, joined Mike and I. My stomach was finally feeling better after 50 miles of puking, as my right knee strangely started to flare up at about mile 110 and caused me extreme pain the rest of the journey. I hoped to run this section more but was forced to power hike 20 minute miles into the 3rd unplanned night. I had attempted this once before and was happy to get to the bridge in Hanover where Sarita, Kamryn and the kids were there for the finish.
I had wanted to finish 10 hours sooner but I am proud I pushed through the puking and knee injury to complete the goal. I’m thankful for those that came out, and also excited to have snuck another WM100 & Dartmouth 50 in the books on this.
Pacers: Sarita, Patrick, Clark, Connor ,Tyler, Mike, Mariah, Harrison, Jason, Brady.
Crew: Sarita, Kamryn, Riley.
Started watch on the climb up to border, Total AT time: 72hr 37 min.