Date: 2012-08-25
From: Wildcat Mt.Peak D - Ski Resort Gondolas

To: White Mountain Hostel
Miles today: 18.1

SOS WENT UNDER 300 MILES TODAY!!!!!!!SOS here:What was I thinking, an 18.1 mile day in the Whites? Oh yes that is exactly what I did. I started at 10:30 AM ¢ the late start was dictated by the fact that the Gondola rides up to the Wildcat Mountain Peak D do not start until 10:00 AM and by the time I buy my ticket and return to the car to pick up my headlight in case I have to hike after the sun goes down.   Remembering the headlight proved to be priceless since the 18.1 mile hike would require 14 hours. I completed my hike at 12:30 AM 4 hours and 37 minutes after the sunset. The headlight was great and made the trail in front of me easy to see and the blazes on the trees and rocks show up like daytime.I mistakenly believed, that I would be able to complete the 18.1 mile hike in 10 hours or less. This belief was based upon my ability to exceed my expectations on the other sections of the Whites I had already completed in this thru hike. I way under estimated the first 14.6 miles of today¢s hike. It was 14.6 miles of relentlessly steep ups and downs. The hike would complete my hike through the Whites. Trail Mama, in recognition of my successful completion of the Whites, gave me a White Mountains tee shirt. The Whites were my nemesis in 2009, but prepared me for my thru hike. Trail Mama here: Well...what a day! It started with Margo and I riding up in the gondola to the top of Wildcat Mountain with SOS. We got him on his way and then stayed up on Wildcat Mountain enjoying the views and hiking a short way on the trail. We finally decided to come down in the gondola and I drove on to Gorham intending to go to the library. However, 2 blocks from the library, there were two hikers by the road thumbing...Father Man and Medicine Man. So, of course, I picked them up and they wanted to go to Pinkham Notch. Back down the same road one more time. I dropped them off and headed back to our original destination only to find that when we got to the library it was 12:05 and the library closed at 12:00! The railroad museum was nearby so we went in there to look around and then out to the trains to see the displays there. One train car was filled the long way with a model train display...very nicely done although it was broken down and the trains didn't run. Lots of work goes into these displays which are fascinating to look at...all the tiny details! We also went into another train car with a guide who told us all kinds of stories about trains and what the various things displayed were used for. We went back to the hostel where we went down a trail to the stream. By the stream are two chairs where we sat and read until the bugs were seriously bugging us! There is also a hammock right next to the flowing stream...however, it looked difficult to get into and if you tipped over you would drop straight down onto very big rocks...we stayed in the chairs! When I got back to the hostel, I was delighted to find Tim (Headnout) sitting on the front steps! The lost was found! Margo drove us into town looking for dinner. We decided on the Bistro but since we didn't have reservations, they sent us into the Pub which is connected. We both made good food choices..I saved 1/2 of mine for SOS later. He called to say that he would be late...that was an understatement! He originally thought 11:30 so at 10:45 (I am an optimist) I walked down the driveway in the dark to look down the road I knew he would come hiking down. One hour later, I was still pacing up and down...getting colder....trying not to worry and talking to God about bringing him back safely no matter what the time was going to be. At one point, I went back into the house to make him some sandwiches since I knew he would be very hungry after a very long difficult hike. Everytime a car went by, I waited until it passed and then ran into the street to look farther down the road with the help of the passing cars headlights. I must have done that several dozen times before ...finally....at almost 12:30 here came a very bright light shining down the road. (SOS bought a new headlight and batteries yesterday!...and then almost forgot to take it today! Whew, so glad he remembered since he hiked in the dark for 4 hours!) It was a very tired guy behind the light so we quietly went into the garage where I helped him out of his pack and shoes. I read some more of my current book while he showered and settled in for the night...a very long day that turned out well with my love safely tucked into his bunk next to me...:-) Road Name of the Day: GREEN ACRES ROAD....another one for the younger set to ask someone older about...and see if they can still sing the song that went with the TV show...Margo Mainiak (her trail name comes from being born in Maine)....some people think it really fits her because she is fun to be around...but that is another story for another time...we all LOVE her...:-)