Date: 2007-09-12
From: Galehead Hut

To: Crawford Notch
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: fog

September 12, The Breaking of the PackIt seems I had a six month time limit to finish this trail. Today marks my sixth month and, as of today (and mostly in the last few weeks), my SteriPen broke, my water bladders broke, my right pole is bent, my watch is foggy with condensation, and now to top it all off my pack broke tonight!...We started the day with a rude awakening from the Galehead Hut Croo loudly playing guitar to wake folks up. Totally unnecessary.We had brealfast leftovers and Melk and I swept the hut for our work-for-stay. We started hiking at about quarter to 9 a.m. They were forecasting heavy winds and low wind chills for the day so were were all bundled up in preparation.We hiked up South Twin Mtn. on some pretty difficult terrain but were rewarded with some very nice views on top. The trail was a bit hilly until we got to Zealand Falls Hut but it was really quite nice. This was pretty much the first true experience I feel I've had in the Whites - the hard hiking leading to great views. The weather turned out to be much more bearable than we expected and the sun even came out!We stopped at Zealand Falls Hut for bottomless soup and then headed back out. The rest of the day was a complete dream. A dream, I tell you! Coming out of the hut, the trail took a sharp descent but then flattened out like a pancake for about five miles. Amazing! Then we just had to go downhill for a couple of miles to get to the road. The hiking was nice - lots of pine trees that smelled quite nice and lots of puncheons.Anyway, when we got to the road there was a parking lot and a guy in his car. He came out as soon as he saw us and introduced himself as a veteran of the trail. His name was Rock Dancer and he had thru-hiked in '97 and had just finished another completion of the trail in five sections. He said he was here to help. We were elated not to have to hitch to town since the sun had just gone down.Rock Dancer took us to a motel and, just as I was getting out of the car, my pack broke. The right shoulder strap tore out of it's place as if it'd been waiting for just the right moment. We checked in as I laughed and scoffed at my poor luck with gear lately. Then he drove us to dinner at a place called Fabyan's.We talked about what we needed to accomplish the next day and Rock Dancer offered to drive us around - everything is very spread out around here. I felt very lucky because it sounded like he knew a place that would fix my pack! So we made plans to meet at the motel at 8:30 a.m.This day had quite a turn of events. I can't even believe my pack just broke. And that we met someone who knew just where to take it to get fixed - and was willing to take me there. Thank you, Rock Dancer!I am totally beat.- Don't recall the sounds.Post Trail Thoughts:What a glorious day. This day lifted my spirits and made me warm for hiking again. And then my pack broke. I took the news fairly well in contrast to when my SteriPen broke a few nights prior. What a perfect example of the trail always providing what you need when you need it.I think we hopsccotched that day with GQ (from Australia, I think), Sunshine and Google.