Today was the last major descent of my entire 18 year odyssey of hiking the Appalachian Trail.  Something like 2500 feet down from Mt Moriah.  On the last descent I tried something new: coming down without poles.  It worked.  My knees were less happy, but I think it was faster.  To the very end you keep looking for a better way.  That’s life.

We did 15 miles in 13: 40.  Carter notch hut to Rt 2/Gorham.  We skipped breakfast at the hut.  At the end we were pushing daylight, but the payoff is a full “zero” day with friends and family before the final ascent.  Snickers bites and adrenaline are your friends.

The end, literally, is in sight.