Date: 2003-08-20
From: White House Landing

To: Sidney Tappan Campsite
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I was awake at first light. I got up and walked to the summit and watched the sun rise over the mountains. It was nothing less than stunning. For a few moments the entire eastern sky turned a blood red and then quickly faded as the sun crested a far peak. It was a terrific way to start the day even though I was very sleepy and tired.I packed quickly, making sure I didn't pack up any mice in the process and was on the trail shortly after 7. I only had one climb up Chairback Mountain and then the rest of the day was making my way down to the Pleasant River. On the far side of Chairback there was a major rockslide that you had to tackle. I had passed Carol a little earlier but Phyllis was three quarters of the way down. As I hiked downward I noticed Phyllis heading over to the right but I saw a white blaze over to my left. I yelled out asking her if she saw any blazes. I will not repeat what she let fly when she realized that she had gone the wrong way. I got down and she bushwhacked her way across towards the trail. I kept talking so that she could have a point of reference. A few moments later she pops out of the heavy forest with a major cut on her arm and twigs hanging all over her pack and hair. I should have had the camera ready. I headed on for a relaxing hike through the forest and across plenty of small streams. I kept trying to be super quiet while hiking and kept my eyes open for moose. I didn't see a single live moose but they were around. I had to step over moose poop plenty of times during the day.As I approached the Pleasant River there was a sign up saying that there was a tailgate party for thru-hikers in the parking lot. I checked my watch and it was the correct date so I did the .2 mile detour. Hiker Mom and her son had a van full of food and drinks. Her husband was out hiking the trail and she had just decided to do something nice for the other hikers. She had made blueberry muffins so I only gobbed butter on three of them and washed them down with two bottles of PowerAde. I then figured I should put some fruit in my system since I had not had any in a couple of weeks. I had two bananas and a granny smith apple. This was very sweet of her and her son to do and I highly appreciated it.The wilderness was not all that wild at this point on the trail. From what I found out there is a very good logging road that is open to the public. The road leads to a place called "Gulf Hagas". "Gulf Hagas" has been billed as the "Grand Canyon of the East". It is a 500 foot deep gorge with a bunch of scenic waterfalls. To get to the start of the gorge you follow the AT for about a mile. There were families up and down the trail. A couple of young guys spotted my pack as I was munching on a muffin and started asking questions. The normal stuff like if I had a tent and what type of food I ate. A few minutes later their mom and dad come over looking like they had stepped out of a L.L. Bean catalog. Everything was new and crisp right down to their matching socks and boots. I could tell that neither of the parents was overly comfortable with their children talking to me. I have to admit that I have probably looked more presentable than I did at that moment. I had not showered in 4 days, I was unshaven for the past month and I was sitting with my legs kicked out in one of those Wal-mart camping chairs sucking down a Power-Aid while butter dripped off of my blueberry muffin. For some reason they didn't hang out with me for very long and ushered their kids on down the trail. I had actually thought about exploring a small part of "Gulf Hagas" when I thought it was way out in the wilderness but some of the luster had come off when I saw all the people heading for it. I figure if I really want to see it I can drive back and explore it then.I reached the Carl Newhall Lean-To before two o'clock. Since the day was sunny and bright with low humidity I decided to hike on and get one of the mountains out of the way. There are four major peaks that have to be climbed so I hiked two extra miles so that I could go over one peak and get above 2500 feet. Tomorrow the end of this small chain of mountains will be finished after I climb White Cap at 3650 feet.I am camping at this small site on top of Gulf Hagas Mountain. The wind is blowing and there is a distinct chill in the air. Great sleeping weather as I am curled up in the sleeping bag while writing this.One day closer to making it through this area and one day closer to seeing Penny. Take care,Pasta & Crockett(Maine in 2003)