Date: 2004-08-14
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Kinsman Notch, NH112
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: scattered clouds

While I was hiking today I came across a flock of quail. They scurried away from me as I got closer. The first thought that entered my mind is with a little garlic and butter, they would all make a great rottisserie. I kid you not.I made a promise to myself that on my zero day I will eat constantly and curb this thru-hiker appetite.The weather improved substantially. Mouse, who has been here for a few days, spoke of slackpacking over Moosilauke. Ffej, the caretaker here, said the hike from Kinsman Notch to Glencliff (southbound) is better because you are facing the cascading waterfalls.Still partly cloudy, it looked like everything would clear up. I needed a day off so I figured I'd take Sunday to relax while Hurricane Charlie passes through. For now, I'd hike ten miles.I was dropped at Kinsman Notch with Okie and Mouse but eventually pulled ahead of them up this incredibly fun trail. It is steep, with bar assists and rock steps.After the trail pulls away from the cascading falls, the grade tapers a bit. It got very cold and foggy--ah, feels like the Whites. I passed Polar and Pilot and some other hikers from the hostel. When I reached the top, Palmtree, Boonie, and some section hikers were all hiding behind a rock wall eating their lunch and waiting for the view to clear. Everyone was slackpacking it seemed. We hung out there for almost an hour. Tree Frog showed up, along with Mouse, and Octane (returning from the dead), Austin, and Catepiller Everyone practiced their Katahdin summit pose at the Moosilauke sign. More hikers showed up and it was a huge gathering in the clouds of Moosilauke.Shortly after the view cleared for five seconds, I headed south down the laborous Glencliff Trail. I have done this trail before but don't remember it being so long. The contrast between the top and the base in weather was amazing. You could see that Moosilauke was in the clouds, but the town of Glencliff was sunny and hot.I'm glad I got out that day. I could feel good about taking a day off.I saw Doc as I walked into the hostel. We hadn't seen each other since before VA. He said he was already thinking of doing a second thru-hike. He has caught the bug. He, Bilbo, and Rainy Jay were all heading up Moosilauke that afternoon. I thought it was crazy but then again, it is only eight miles that they claim you can hike in five hours.I arrived at the hostel around 3 pm to find it quiet. I met Fat Chap, a John Goodman look-alike who does the shuttling for the hostel, and got more aquainted with Ffej. Ffej mentioned that Snail came by to say hello. Remember her? I met her down in Fontana Dam.My sister, Maria, showed up. I had called her that morning and suggested we go to dinner. We went to The Common Man in Ashland, NH. It is almost a taste of home to go there since I have visited this restaurant after many AMC Hikes. Despite it being Saturday, I did not see a familiar face in the place.Maria had no plans to stay the night, so after dinner she headed home. However, she got a chance to see the fantastic fuscia sunset--a sure sign that a storm is coming. Then I hung out and watched Lord of the Rings I and Spaceballs. Forecast calls for heavy rain. Good time to relax.