Vancouver hiker swims Maine river on Appalachian Trail

ARATUNK, Maine — Vancouver hiker Jeff Garmire on Wednesday was working his way north on the Appalachian Trail through 100 Mile Wilderness, hoping to complete his 2,100-mile walk within a week.

Then the 25-year-old will head to Boston, fly to Southern California and start the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail in his quest to complete the Calendar Year Triple Crown of long-distance hiking — doing the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide trails in a calendar year.

Garmire has been “postholing’’ in 18 to 24 inches of soft snow, crossing several 4,000-foot elevation mountains and fording unbridged stream crossings, which keep him mostly wet from the knees down.

Perhaps his most risky moment on the trail came when he swam the Kennebec River despite warning signs to not attempt to ford.

“Once on land I was devoid of feeling,’’ Garmire wrote in his daily blog. “I wasn’t cold, wasn’t hungry, and wasn’t scared. The river crossing had so drained my body I just stood there, naked and afraid with my pack on just taking a few deep breaths before I returned to my normal state.’’

Garmire also has had days of little food as the tough, snowy terrain slowed his intended pace.

His blog is available online at http://freeoutside.com.