Day 128: Time for Time Off ("Sprint" Day #3)

Relaxing morning, but very damp. It was like we were in a cloud. A few hikers passed our camp site before we were up and at em. Late start, but a short day. We planned only to do Moosilauke today, then to meet Boss' friend, Amy, for a night of camping before heading to the airport. It just would've been too much of a stretch to try to make it over to I-93.

We hiked past the next shelter, crossed a road, then up to a sign that told us we were 3.7 miles from the summit. Here we go. Boss took off and was soon out of site. I'd planned to go the distance without stopping. It was pretty steep - like a stair-climber on the hardest setting with a 30 pound pack on. I climbed and climbed, and the legs were burning. It wasn't too warm, but I was sweating like a pig. A passed a few other hikers and kept my stride. I knew I'd made it at least halfway before I got a little light-headed and unbalanced. So, considering I had probably already burned off my entire breakfast, I stopped briefly to have a few bites of a protein bar. I charged on. I felt good. My legs were still burning but the view was getting better. I even teared up for a few seconds when I turned around to see how high I was. It was magnificent.

Finally, I got to a sign that told me I was .8 miles from the summit... and then it was flat-ish for about a half mile. The last remaining trees soon were out of site and the trail opened up to exposed rocks. There was a moose (!) on a distant hill. I snapped a quick photo and marched up to meet Boss, HD Mama and Twigzy at the top. Woo hoo! Moosilauke!










We took a well-deserved lunch break up there in the sun with a cool breeze forcing jackets to be put on. The Canadian Geese made it up, and then Thunder and Day Tripper arrived, too. I hadn't met any of them yet. Funk and Trooper had slacked-packed from the opposite direction and got there while we were up there. Good times. It was beautiful.











After a good hour at top, Boss and I began to make our way down. Lots of giggles and a few stumbles (and a waterfall that followed us almost the entire way down), but we made it all the way to NH 112 before 3pm.











HD mama and Rick were down there with his truck and offered us a quick ride up the road where we'd meet Amy. A soda AND a ride! Thanks guys. A few minutes later, we were saying hi to Amy and her adorable lab puppy, Izzy. And she brought ice cream! (Amy knows what's up.)













Since it was a magical, beautiful, gorgeous day, Amy drove us around to a few view spots, and I loved it. It's so pretty around here! We ended up at the Passaconaway camp site and set up before heading to dinner in North Conway. Ohmygoodness dinner was GOOD! She took us to The Moat. Good beer, nachos, a pulled pork burrito, sandwiches, and sweet potato fries. I highly recommended this restaurant. (Again... Amy knows what's up.)













After dinner, we took a growler of pale ale back to the campsite and hung out by the fire. A little music and conversation before hitting the hay. Hard to believe I'll be boarding a plane tomorrow afternoon!?
(9.5mi 5st)


-- Posted from the trail...

Location:Passaconaway Camp site

Day 127: Not So Fast (Sprint Day #2)

Everyone awoke at the same time and pulled it all together. We were all a bit more sore than usual, but I was certain I'd be even more sore later this afternoon. It was a bit cloudy, so the morning view wasn't as nice as the evening one, but still good. Oatmeal and cereal for breakfast. HD Mama took off first, then On The Loose, Boss, Bird and I left about the same time.

Downhill! And it wasn't too steep. Would've been nice to come up this way, actually. A good, quick four miles before we came to water, and we ran into Funk and Trooper. Today would be a collection of ups and downs, but nothing too grand. We climbed up to the highest point of the day at the summit of Cube Mountain and had a nice break. A bit chilly with the breeze on our sweaty shirts, but I keep my jacket easily accessible these days.



Down Cube mountain and onwards until we found a good spot for lunch. A salami sandwich followed by a pbj sandwich, and then cookies and trail mix would do me well. A few swigs of Gatorade and we were off. A quick stop at a shelter where we met a few sobo's and HD Mama was there. I left a note for the pack I left in Hanover and took off to summit Mount Mist.



Not too bad of a climb and a very anti-climactic summit. No view. Just a small sign. Pretty flat. We took a last snack break and Boss called his friend, Amy, who said she'd help us out with getting to the airport on Friday. We flattened out the details with her then began to hike downhill, looking for a camp site. We came to the bottom at NH 25, having found nothing flat enough or big enough for both our tents, so we crossed the road and kept looking. Then we found our spot. Fairly close to the road, but right by a stream.



We set up, Boss made a fire, we cooked dinner and chatted till it was time for bed. We're both feeling a bit exhausted, but with our new plan with Amy, we only have to go 9 miles tomorrow. It would've been too hard to get over Moosilauke this afternoon at the end of the day, and it will be too hard to do Moosilauke and the Kinsman peaks tomorrow, so our sprinting ahead plan may not work out as predicted. We have gained at least a day, though, I think. Hopefully it will all work out when we get back to the trail on Tuesday.

Tomorrow = Moosilauke. We climb from about a thousand feet up to 4800. It will be tough and steep, and it's only a taste of what's to come in the Whites...

Fewer than 400 miles left as of right now.

Congrats to Jess and Cyrus!!!
(20mi 8st)


-- Posted from the trail...

Location:Camp site right past NH 25

Day 126: Fresh Legs (Sprint Day #1)

After an afternoon off in Hanover, it was time to sprint ahead. I woke up at 5:50am and got my things together to leave. The first bus to head back into Hanover was at 6:25, and I was going to be on it. And so was Boss. He's got a few friends back in DC and was looking for a little time off the trail, so he's gonna sprint with me and then come back to DC. With his speed and conversation capabilities, he should be a perfect sprinting partner in crime...

We met up in the parking lot after I said a groggy see-you-later to Scatters in the dark of the hotel room (miss you already, Scats!), and boss and I walked towards the bus stop 200 yards away. Then the bus rounded the bend. We ran in the street and flagged the driver down and continued to run to get on the bus which had [thankfully] pulled over - 50 yards past the bus stop. We made it, but I didn't think the sprinting would start so early.




Boss got breakfast at Dunkin Donuts and then we were off - out of Hanover by 7:30. Solid start to what would be a big day. Nice hiking in the cool morning. We walked by the Dartmouth sports field I played lacrosse on so many years ago... We took a few breaks when we caught up to Bird, who had camped in the woods [and claims to have been surrounded by barking cats last night...?]. Then a break atop Moose Mountain where we saw Tripper and Wizard. Red Hat and On The Loose were hiking along, and HD Mama was in the mix, too. She was slack-packing with her husband (Rick) as support. At one of the roads, we got trail magic sodas from them. Thanks!




Today was full of climbing, as you can tell from the elevation profile picture. QUITE a leg work-out. After hopping up and over the Hoits Ledge mountain, we had already gone over 18 miles. We wanted to get over Smarts Mountain though! We made a last stop to get a free ice cream from Bill, a super nice guy with a house 30 yards from the trail. We said hello, signed the register and enjoyed a fudge pop. Thanks, Bill!





Onwards to the mountain... So THIS is what real mountains are like! The first third was brutal. After so many miles already today, my legs were feeling it. I hardly stopped at all during the entire incline since I was scared it would be too hard to get going again. Boss was ahead, feeling kinda beat, too. There was a nice flat break in between two rigorous climbs, and the last mile and a half was really hard. My legs felt like jelly, but we made it up!!!


The view was incredible. Hello, New Hampshire!! We went up in the fire tower and took a few photos before deciding not to push on any further. It was 6:15pm. We both knew we could go a few more miles downhill, but the tent site was pretty sweet, and we didn't want to damage ourselves too much. Lots more to do.

HD Mama showed up, then On The Loose, then Bird. Boss made a fire and we all made dinner as the sun set. We had a nice, tranquil view over the valley. It'll be an early bed for all of us. All that climbing = very tired hikers.

More tomorrow!
(23.3mi 8st)



-- Posted from the trail...

Location:Smarts Mountain Tentsite

Day 125: Oh Hanover

An early morning in the rain. It poured all night, but by 6am, it was reduced to drippy trees and occasional sprinkles. Most of my things were damp, but we were moving shortly after 7am. It was a quick five miles to the Connecticut river where we crossed into NEW HAMPSHIRE! The second-to-last state!!?! Deetz, Scatters and I took a break on the bridge for a few photos, and then we all headed through Dartmouth town to Lou's diner and bakery for breakfast.





Excellent breakfast and great company. We wandered around town to the post office, CVS, the outfitters. We decided to splurge on a hotel tonight since we were all a bit wet, so we rode the free bus a few miles out to the Sunset Motor Inn. We got a boys room with Miles, Boss and Rorshach, and a girls room with me, Scatters, Deetz and Power Pack. Showers!! Laundry!! Then a trip back into town to get a slice of pizza and resupply.

Ramunto's Pizzaria offers thru hikers a free slice of cheese pizza, so we HAD to go get it. Then we ended up grabbing a few more slices and a beer as well. Then onto the grocery store. Is this boring?? Blah blah blah, we ran into Tater Chip who had flip-flopped after the Shenny's and then Rock n Roll who we hadn't seen for a while. After a donut break with Wallflower, the Deetz, Power Pack, Boss and Miles crew headed back to the hotel while Rorshach, Scatters and I went back to the pizza place. Rorshach ordered a pizza to be delivered to the Sunset Motor Inn, and we managed to get delivered with the pizza. It worked out nicely. Brilliant.







After a glorious sunset out the back of the hotel, we all hung out with the tv back at the hotel while we packed up and planned the next few days. Poor Deetz had a fall/roll in a field of poison ivy a few days ago, and it has exploded all over her body. Don't scratch!!






Tomorrow begins my "sprint" ahead before I go home for Adam and Kayanne's wedding on Friday! I'll be taking four whole days off. Too bad the mountains are just starting to get really big now... It may make sprinting more like a slow jog.
(5.7mi 3st)


-- Posted from the trail...

Location:Hanover, NH

Day 124: Berry Distracted

Nothing like an enormous climb to start the morning off right! Woke up after a great night's sleep, ate breakfast and then walked uphill for an hour or so. I feel like I burned up my pop tart and oatmeal within the first 8 minutes. Scatters and I stopped on top of a hill where Hitch offered us raspberries. Then we picked a bunch until Rorshach and Boss caught up. Fruit out here is such a treat, and when it's free for the picking, even better.




Scatters and I walked on and talked a bunch. We played the "name your favorite meal" game for at least a mile, describing every course in detail. We took a short break by the Thistle Hill shelter with Butter, Six Toes, Hitch and Buttons. Then it was on to the deli five miles away ON the trail! We couldn't wait to get there, but the hundreds of blackberry bushes distracted us quite a bit. Some of them were HUGE and so good. Scatters and I stopped to talk with two sobo's (One Pace and Guiermo) who warned us about a few things to come.




We rolled into the deli and ordered sandwiches. Miles, Power Pack and Deetz were there, digesting, and about 30 minutes later, so were we. Great food. Really nice people. And almost too much air conditioning. Chocolate milk, chips, ice cream, Gatorade, soda, a bathroom, power outlets - everything a hiker could want! We stayed there for over two hours. It would be a short day today - only four more miles to the shelter, so we relaxed and hung out until about 5pm. Then it was almost all uphill. We got to the shelter, and the stream was dry. Miles and Boss volunteered to walk back a bit to the stream that had water and fill everyone's bottles. Thanks guys!

We set up. Deetz made an awesome fire. We ate and chatted and drank the TWO [glass] bottles of wine Boss packed out for everyone. It was such a nice treat to drink wine by the fire. Slowly everyone dropped out and headed back to their tents/hammocks. We are going to try to hit up Hanover for breakfast in the morning. It's about nine miles away, so it could be an early one. It's just begun to rain, so we'll see...
(12.9mi 3st)




-- Posted from the trail...

Location:Happy Hill Shelter

Day 123: Four Months Gone By...

Early wake-up after a nice sleep. Hikers from the shelter started passing by our tents around 6am. We didn't get going till 9am. No worries - it was going to be a beautiful day!









It was a beautiful day. We saw Deetz, Power Pack and Miles as they left the shelter in the morning, and we spent the day trying to catch them. Short break at four miles in, by a road. Then onto hike up and down steep roller coaster hills. Longer break at three-ish miles later at an old cabin with an observation deck on top. Great view and very relaxing. Three more miles, and it was lunch time at a shelter. (I had been thinking recently that we must be out of snake country since I hadn't seen any in a while. Today I saw three small ones.) Three miles after that (more roller coasters) we got to VT 12 and the small store .2 down the road that sold ice cream and sodas. And we finally caught up with Deetz, etc! We caught up and ate pints of frozen heaven.







We'd all planned to go to a river, but a sobo said there was no camping there. Deetz, Miles and Power Pack went on in search of a large campsite by water. We four left a bit later and climbed away from VT-12. Eventually, we came to a road with an elevated clearing that would fit all four of us. Not knowing what was ahead and not wanting to night hike again, we set up here and planned to catch the others in the morning (again).







We had enough water to make it through the night, so we made dinner and listened to Jim Gaffigan stand-up comedy on Boss' iPod. Funny stuff. Off to bed now with giggles rattling around in my head...

Side note: today may be the first day in Vermont that Scatters did NOT fall.
(17.4mi 4st)


-- Posted from the trail...

Location:Just above South Pomfret Road

Day 122: Hiking the 13th

Woke up nice and late at 8am. Miss Pinky, Scatters and I were the only ones in the girls' dormitory, and we were all late-sleepers. Breakfast was served down in the cafe at 8:30, and it was muesli and fresh fruit. Beautiful start to the day.

Scatters needed to get to the mall in town to stop by EMS to get new shoes. We found our way to a bus that was only 50 cents, and it took us directly there. She got new shoes. I got new shorts. We made it back in the bus and back to the hostel. I think the entire trip was under and hour.

Rorshach was finishing up a few things on his computer before sending it back home. Scatters was waiting for the mailman to deliver her mail drop package that hadn't arrived yet. Boss made his way to the bookstore nearby and landed in the cafe soon after Scatters' mail drop box did. We snacked on lunch, mulled around, and they had coffee. After a few trips to the post office (and dealing with a mean post officer), Rorshach finally sent all his stuff. It was 2pm, and we hadn't even gotten out of town yet.




We said goodbye to the lovely people of the Back Home Again Cafe, and walked up to the main street to hitch. Wendy's was up there, too. Soooo, since we were already off to a slow start, why not throw in a quick stop at Wendy's and have a Frosty?!

After the icecreamerygoodness, we got serious about the hitch we needed. The four of us found our corner and stuck out our thumbs. After lots of waves and silent "I'm sorry" motions, a nice guy named Mike picked us up in his truck and took us the nine miles back to the trail head. Thanks Mike!




3:20pm and we were going to try to make it ten miles to the next shelter. Lots of climbing and a snack break where we caught up to On The Loose at a campground. A few moments later, we passed by a beautiful lake/pond and sat in the grass to admire it. We couldn't camp there for free since there was a lodge that charged for tenting, but it would've been perfect. There were canoes and kayaks and nice water and poofy clouds. We stayed far to long to make it to the shelter before dark. It was just too nice to leave though!




Finally, what must've been an hour later, we got up and went. We hiked down to Thundering Waterfall for a few photos, then up up uphill. Very uphill. We were all hoping there would be a spring and a campsite on top of this mountain, but there was neither. We trudged on as the sun set. Poor Rorshach was hurting on his first day back on the trail after five days off, but he kept on trooping. We charged on to find the next water source, but ended up pulling our headlamps on and night hiking all the way to the shelter. The shelter grounds were full of tents (Deetz, Power Pack and Miles were up there), but we found a spot near the stream and set up in the dark. Scatters and I made dinner down by the water, but Boss and Rorshach went right to bed. I bet they'll be hungry in the morning!

Should be great hiking weather the next few days. We missed seeing any of the meteor shower that went on Wed, Thurs, today. If we weren't under the canopy of the forest, I wonder if we would see anything up there from where we are here. Hopefully I'll be up on top of a mountain for the next one.
(10mi 3st)


-- Posted from the trail...

Location:Stony Brook Shelter