Each day is momentous at this point. I hiked much of the day with Chestnut, Rockhound and MoonPie. Chief and Jethro were with us at times as well as we forded out first real rivers of the trip. They were easy crossings—only mid-thigh with a slow current. But at least we had to get wet for the first time on the entire trip.

My shoes are starting to disintegrate. The hard plate at the bottom of my left shoe, it turns out, fractured like a mirror at some point. Think radiating cracks. The right shoe’s doing better, but still pretty rough. And the left shoe’s sole is starting to peel off. So, with just over 100 miles left, duct tape is coming to the rescue.

Chestnut’s an amazingly easy-going guy, a repeat thru-hiker living in Rhode Island. His advice and MoonPie’s flight scheduled for 8/12 just turned my plans upside down today. Instead of taking our time and summiting on the 12th, we and Rockhound are going to push 20-mile days through the 100-mile wilderness to enjoy each other’s company and move our intended summit date to the 10th. That’s just a week from now!

I’ve called Heather, my parents and brother since the next phone is on the other side of the 100-mile wilderness. Tomorrow we enter the final long stretch before entering Baxter State Park at the foot of Katahdin. I’ve got great company, 4-5 days food and one-and-a-half shoes. I’m ready!