Challenging Terrain and Unexpected Twists on the Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is known for its challenging terrain and unpredictable weather conditions. For two hikers, the journey has been a test of endurance and perseverance. They have been documenting their experiences on the trail, sharing the highs and lows of their adventure.

## Crossing the Carrabassett River One of the most significant challenges they faced was crossing the Carrabassett River. The river, which runs fast and can be practically impossible to ford with too much rain, had a board placed by trail volunteers to assist with crossing. However, the board had been lifted out of place due to the rain and swift currents, making the crossing even more treacherous. Thankfully, volunteers had managed to get the board back in place by the time the hikers arrived, but it was still a tricky crossing.

## Milestones and Monuments Despite the challenges, the hikers have been making good progress on the trail. They recently hit the 200-mile mark and came across a monument in the middle of nowhere. The trail is now approximately 2200 miles long, and the hikers are determined to complete it.

## Water and Trail Conditions The hikers have been encountering a lot of water on the trail, from streams and rain to flumes and water slides. While some of these water features are beautiful, they can also make for difficult trail conditions. The hikers have learned to navigate these challenges and even discovered a new word - flume - to describe one of the water features they encountered.

The hikers took a zero day at the Poplar Ridge Lean-to, where they met a fellow hiker named Goodwill. Goodwill is a carefree and awesome hiker who even packs out little cans of Coca-Cola when leaving town. He put together a toasty fire for the group to enjoy and even made himself a thru-hiker s'more with marshmallows, Nutella, and tortillas.

However, the zero day was not without its challenges. Lisa, one of the hikers, was feeling unwell and ended up puking in the middle of the night. The hikers had to decide what to do when they woke up to unpleasant and potentially life-threatening mountain weather. They ultimately decided to take a zero day and wait for the weather to improve.