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David Gilbarte

@david.plays.outside

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AT NOBO Mar 29, 2026
I enjoy playing outside

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“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬ by @david.plays.outside

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2 months ago

Fun walk by @david.plays.outside

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2 months ago

8/7/26 - from the base of Katahdin
There ended up only being 6 of us at the birches campsite despite all of the silly logistics this morning. I did about 13 miles frequently stopping to swim and take breaks, and I still got to camp extremely early.
My alarm is set for 5 am. The summit of Katahdin is 5.7 miles from me. It’s surreal that tomorrow I will become someone who has thru hiked. For a long time it was an idea, then a goal, then for the past months it’s been a job and an obsession, but tomorrow it will abruptly be over.
I had a funny moment earlier this week where I called a hostel in the nearest town which I plan to stay at tomorrow night. My question was regarding their shuttles from the trailhead. They said they have one scheduled every day around 3:45. “That seems a little early” was my response. I never stop hiking with that much daylight left so it seemed silly to go the hostel at that time. It hadn’t hit me - there’s no more hiking left to do. The trail ends. I don’t need to walk until the sun goes down. Tomorrow I’ll hike 10 and the next day I’ll hike 0. The goal will be accomplished. I will have hiked every step of the Appalachian trail.
Neo (the goat) summited a few days ago and left something thought-provoking in the log book. For a while I’ve considered the trail as being allegorical to life - there’s ups and downs, an ambitious youthful beginning followed by a more comfortable and routine middle section… the comparisons go on and on. What Neo brought up is that on trail no one gives much thought to the end until it hits you. Most people just push through every day until one day you’re just here at the end like I am right now and many wish they would’ve better enjoyed the time leading up to it in various different ways. On trail I’m left to wonder what it would have been like if I had taken more time to enjoy what was around me instead of rushing to achieve the next task. I hope I don’t think the same when I get to the end of the metaphorical trail. Even more hauntingly - when that trail comes to an end, I hope I don’t feel like the shuttle is coming too early and there’s more work to be done. by @david.plays.outside

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2 months ago

8/6/26 Nahmakanta Lean-to (2154.0) to Hurd Brook Lean-to (2179.3)

Didn’t write a caption for today because once again I hiked close to a marathon. In contrast to yesterday, though, I think I did a better job in the first few slides of this post capturing the essence and beauty of the 100MW. Frequent stream crossings and creeks with clear water. Dozens of ponds and lakes that offer beautiful views, and it’s very cool to get a view or two of Katahdin each day and see it jump closer and closer as I hike these big days. In the middle of this post are 4 selfie video ramblings that I wouldn’t suggest my worst enemy watch. If you have the attention span to watch me yap about state park boundary logistics in the big year of 2026 I applaud you. I think I was just trying to figure it out myself and wanted to say it out loud. The short of it is things open at weird, illogical times of the day and you have to encounter rangers at these places in order to get the permits to summit and camp within the park boundaries. If you get unlucky or don’t get to the right places at the right times you can end up having to do a lot of funny business to camp outside the park boundaries. by @david.plays.outside

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2 months ago

8/5/26 Logan Brook Lean-to (2126.5) to Nahmakanta Lean-to (2154.0)

Kept up an average over 2 MPH for over 12 hours and rolled into camp with a high score 27.5 miles. Also swam in a lake and had an epic view of Katahdin. The rest of the day was relatively boring flat trail which is why I was able to go so far.

Previous paragraph was jotted on the night of the 5th. David from the future writing this. A weird switch flipped in my head on this day where I started to get the idea of doing the whole 100MW in just over 4 days despite doing only 19miles on the first day. I was extremely focused on maintaining pace. I even set a timer to ensure I didn’t stop too long for lunch. 27.5 beautiful miles through remote central Maine and I only took a few pictures and videos because I was so focused. Kinda weird but in retrospect I’m glad it worked out the way it did. by @david.plays.outside

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2 months ago

8/3/26 Shaw’s Hiker Hostel (2083.3) to Cloud Pond Lean-to (2102.3)

Writing this after the fact because on this day I rolled into camp after dark after being rained on all day and found myself in no mood to write down a silly little Instagram caption. Before I chronicle walking outside while it was raining, I’ll briefly give an extra shout out to Shaw’s. Potentially my favorite hostel on the trail. It’s a funky blend of cozy and comfortable with awareness of the fact that everyone staying there intends to walk the 100 mile wilderness as soon as they leave. There’s a full gear outfitter and hiker food resupply on site.

After what is consistently voted the best breakfast on trail I was dropped off in the pouring rain with no intention of encountering civilization as much as a paved road for almost a week. Radar, Duck, Stu, and others took a zero because of post-trail travel logistics and to wait out the weather. But I got a move on and tromped 19 soaking wet miles.

Anyone who read Bill Bryson’s book may recall that the 100MW has famous unbridged water crossings that can get pretty gnarly in bad conditions. Since the rain had only started this morning it didn’t go too badly, but I did encounter one white water crossing where I opted to yell across the river to some SOBOs who were camped there waiting until morning for the water to go down. They helped me spot the best place to cross and I made my way past. Realistically, the fear here isn’t drowning, but one bad step and you can trip and have all your gear submerged in water. Wet sleeping bag, wet clothes etc. I escaped the day with a bit of frustration and some blisters but nothing too destructive. by @david.plays.outside

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2 months ago

8/2/26 Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to (2074.2) to Shaw’s Hiker Hostel (2083.3)

This morning I did 9 miles faster than you can say sausages because I was eager to make it to the legendary Shaw’s Hiker Hostel. At the beginning of the trail I remember being very concerned with the planning and logistics it took to book hostel stays. I have since relaxed and didn’t say a word to this hostel until I was at the nearest road crossing where I called them and asked to be picked up. I was picked up by Poet, a legend of the AT, who runs the place along with hippie chick. After my tour of the rad place I was approached by a fellow named Grandalf who asked me if I was Thaddeus because he and Thaddeus had been invited to visit with some leaders of the local church. Im not Thaddeus but I was stoked to join them and was able to meet and pray with fellow believers for the second day in a row. The town of Monson, Maine has about 600 people and this guy who hosted us today preached a sermon to 6 people who showed up to the Sunday service at the one church in town. In other words, one percent of this town seem to care about the Bible, and within an hour of being here I was eating ice cream with them. God is good.

After that side quest, I put on the wildest shirt in the loaner clothes closet and took the town by storm. The general store, the convenience store, and the art gallery were the first victims who had to tolerate my handsome get up. Then, I went to the ATC office in town where Wendy, armed with a plethora of maps and informational pamphlets, told me unlimited information about the 100 mile wilderness and Baxter State Park. Then I loaded up 5 days of food and headed across the street for dinner. Leapin Lena’s is a house with a flag outside it that says pizza. We went inside and yelled “hello?” a couple times to no avail. Then we went around back and startled some old guy sitting on a recliner. Thaddeus and Duck were ready to give up but I’m no quitter. I called the number on the sign and Smokin Annie picked up. She explained she had left to feed her dogs but would be right there. After telling us all about fishing and real estate she whipped up a fantastic pie. by @david.plays.outside

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3 months ago

8/1/26 Pleasant Pond Lean-to (2052.2) to Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to (2074.2)

We got a weird episode of the show for you today folks. I didn’t write a caption this day so I’m writing this as I lay in bed at Shaws Hiker Hostel. For some reason I didn’t take a single picture today. I began by speaking very gently for reasons I cannot remember. Then I confused myself to no end by having to walk up the same mountain twice. I cannot describe how utterly flabbergasted I felt when I got to the sign that indicated I was at the shelter I thought I’d walked 3 miles away from. My initial reaction was to think the sign was wrong. Throughout the day I developed a theory I think makes sense on how this happened. It will aid in explanation if you turn in your textbooks to the final slide of this post. The shelter in the bottom of the screenshot is where I started and the green mountain symbol is where I thought I filmed the first video today. I now believe I missed the switchback in the middle of the screen. Bush whacked off trail to the top of the switchback and then took a left proceeding southbound. That would explain how I ended up going the wrong direction without ever doing a 180. Here’s another weird part. I passed a group of ladies hiking with a dog on my first ascent. On my accidental descent I didn’t pass them heading the other direction or else I would’ve known I got turned around. On my second ascent of the mountain I passed them from behind a second time and they were as confused as I. If the switchback theory is correct, they must have gotten all the way around the curve of the backwards letter P before I did the distance from the stem to the top.

Anyway, after all that nonsense there was a group of Christian campers studying the continuation of a passage I had just recently barged in on a group of campers studying a couple weeks prior. Ive learned a lot about God’s providence on this trip and have realized there’s no reason to chalk up these “coincidences” as such when there’s a God who has the power to orchestrate details in our lives. Walking up the same mountain twice was frustrating, but studying the Bible with a bunch of strangers at the top was worth it. by @david.plays.outside

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3 months ago

7/31/26 West Carry Pond Lean-to (2032.5) to Pleasant Pond Lean-to (2052.2)

Also didn’t write anything on this day. Woke up and did a half marathon to the Kennebec River because some dude in a canoe gets off work at 2:00. Got picked up by the sterling inn which was a very cozy place for an afternoon break and chores then pushed until almost dark to round out almost a 20 mile day. It feels good to have a chores day and big miles. The kennebec River crossing is also an iconic moment on trail that is usually included in the documentaries and books about the trail so it’s always cool to get to one of those moments. by @david.plays.outside

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3 months ago

7/30/26 Horns Pond Lean-tos (2014.6) to West Carry Pond Lean-to (2032.5)

Didn’t write anything down today. Started late, ended late, climbed a couple mountains, saw a couple remote lakes. Chilled in the shelter with a very cold squirrel. Good times by @david.plays.outside

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3 months ago

7/29/26 Spaulding Mountain Lean-to (1996.0) to Horns Pond Lean-tos (2014.6)

Hiked 18.6 miles, climbed 4 mountains over 6000 ft of elevation, and bought a very large sandwich. Pretty epic day. The size of this goal is rather crazy. I’ve hiked for exactly 4 months, over 2,000 miles, and through 14 states and I still have over a week to go and 183.3 miles left. It feels so close but also like it will never end. To do exactly 500 miles a month is a very satisfactory pace. by @david.plays.outside

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3 months ago

7/28/26 Piazza Rock Lean-to (1979.1) to Spaulding Mountain Lean-to (1996.0)

Mo came up to my tent this morning before I had gotten up and gave me a breakfast sandwich he had taken a few bites out of. Then I walked 16.9 miles and summited 4 mountains. There’s only one more main Maine mountain range range and a couple of small ones before the 100 mile wilderness which is relatively flat. Today was cool because the terrain was like a mini version of the whites but there was hardly anyone around. I saw one other NOBO the whole day and then radar and duck at camp. Yesterday’s campsite had a large privy complete with two seats and in-flight entertainment. The privy at this campsite doesn’t even have walls and it’s probably 10 feet from the trail in plain view. Neither of these particularly phased me so perhaps it’s a good thing I’ll emerge from the woods soon. It’s been interesting to be conflicted between the fact that as a matter of percentage the trail is almost done, yet I still need to hike absolutely all day for almost another two weeks to complete it. There’s also the tug-of-war of being ready to have it accomplished but not wanting it to be over. I guess the moral of the story is that as usual I don’t know anything about anything and walking in the woods all day doesn’t cure that. I do know that I want to see a moose and it evaded me once again. Onward. by @david.plays.outside

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3 months ago