Date: 2004-08-21
From: Stealth tenting near Franconia Notch

To: Near Eliza Brook Shelter, NH
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: light rain

8.7 miles todayTentingNear Eliza Brook Shelter, NHI woke up at 5:50am and just layed in my sleeping bag for over an hour listening to the rain. That's one of the joys of sleeping in a tent. I love to hear it raining out and I'm nice and snug in my sleeping bag.It started raining about 3am and hasn't let up at all.I walked the mile down the road to Indian Head Resort and sent in two journal entries and was at the breakfast buffet when they opened at 8am. I sat there and ate and drank coffee for about an hour. It was worth waiting for, but now I have to climb a mountain on a full stomach. I checked my email one more time and then walked the mile back to the parking area and went back into the woods where I tented last night and found my bandana. Usually I check everything after I put my pack on, but I guess I was in a hurry to get to breakfast this morning. I found my bandana and then walked about 3/4 of a mile back to the trailhead. I started walking south at 10am and it hadn't stopped raining yet.I climbed the 1500 feet to Lonesome Lake Hut and went inside and got some hot water and made some spiced apple cider. It was so good that I made somemore after I finished the first one. I ran into the Hobbit's just before the hut. I had seen them several times down south this year. We talked about 5 minutes and then I hiked on.Party Girl was at the hut and I think that she might stay because she's dry and says she doesn't want to get wet. It got too crowded at the hut with all the hikers coming in to get out of the rain, so I hiked on at 12:40. It was still raining hard.I met a few more hikers that were going to the hut.I made the steep climb the rest of the way up to the North Peak of Kinsman Mountain. I was just walking slowly {probably LWOP's pace} and enjoying the day. I ran into a nobo by the name of April Showers. She said that she didn't like her name today.Anyone who has hiked the A.T. in heavy rains knows that it should be called The Appalachian River because the trail is like a river in most spots. At least your shoes get washed good.I got to the summit and enjoyed the view of the cloud I was in. Actually, I really do enjoy those times because they are beautiful too.I hiked down and then up to the summit of the South Peak of Kinsman Mountain. The wind was blowing about 25 mph and it was still raining and in the low 50s, so it felt cool on the exposed mountain top. I hiked on down a very steep decline and in about half an hour, I ran into two more nobos. The girl had the best female trail name I've heard out here this year....I Needa Hug. I wish we weren't so wet because I need a hug too. The guys name was Scare Crow.It finally stopped raining about half way down, but the trees were still making it seem like it was still raining. I got to Eliza Brook, but it didn't seem like a tranquil brook. It was more like a roaring river. I hiked along beside it for a mile and had to ford it to get to the shelter.I found a tent site close by that wasn't in a mud puddle and set my tent up. I ate an early dinner and crawled into my sleeping bag at 5:30pm. I plan on staying in this warm sleeping bag until tomorrow, so good night.Another great day on the A.T.