Date: 2005-08-26
From: Osgood tent site

To: Wildcat Peak E
Miles today: 0.0

When we wake up we're still tired and sore from the day before. This is why we're not very motivated to get up. Again.This morning Pirate starts his day by doing several sets of push-ups and sit-ups. I once told myself I would do crunches everyday, but I find it much more invigorating to watch someone else do them; especially Pirate, his muscles are so defined. His legs would ripple with strength as he did his multiple leg lifts. Once we got going a little bit, we both became sweaty (from the hiking)and decided to bathe in a river. As beautiful as the crystal cascade we were bathing in was, it was not nearly as beautiful as Pirate'sperfectly sculpted body. He stood in the stream like a Michaelangelo masterpiece of manhood; perfect in every way. I couldn't help but pay more attention to him stretching down and scrubbing his feet and thighs than I did my own scrubbbing. I lost myself in the drops of water dripping from his wet matted hair onto his squared chest and then finally as they cascaded down each solid ridge of his perfect stomach.Whoa!!! This is what happens whensomeone steals your Pocketmail! They start writing out their own delusional fantasies. This is what really happened:After showing off by doing several (he says 30) push ups and crunches Pirate is finally ready to go. I once thought about doing crunches but find it a lot easier to watch someone else do them (yes, that part is true). Anyway we leave around 9:30am. Since we are both stinky and sweaty from several days of hiking and not showering (Pirate's stink is definitely up there with the rest of us) we decide to pollute a beautiful stream. I try to get the grease out of my hair by wetting and rubbing my head. I barely notice Pirate but out of the corner of my eye I see him doing some ridiculous manoeuver to dip his head in the stream. It reminds me of the push up he did this morning. Does he really think that anyone is interested in that? Refreshed but not less stinky we continue our way to Pinkham Notch. We've only done five miles but feel like we don't want to go any further. Another climb awaits us and it's a steep one. We stuff our faces at the cafeteria, hang out, and meet up with the Trolls, Socks, and Many Names (who treats us to an excellent piano concierto).The Trolls are going to take the gondola up Wildcat mountain. It sounds extremely tempting to go with them but we are hiking! I do try to pass on my food bag to Anchor but finally decide that I should carry it myself. There is a scale at the Notch and we all weigh our packs. I haven't eaten quite as much food as I had planned and am still at 32lbs. Pirate's is much better at 26lbs. Finally it is time to start the climb. First it's fairly level along a stinky river and pond then the fun starts! Since neither of us cares how far we get today we are being extremely silly and move at about a half a mile an hour. We try out a range of American accents. Pirate is trying to imitate Skywalker's entertaining Georgian accent and it sounds hilarious. We als have a German period and I don't know what else. My accents are all over the place. There's Yeehaws, Sweets & Dudes and of course the 'Like, you knows'. We were possibly the most obnoxious hikers on the trail today but boy did we have fun!We made it a whopping 7.5 miles and are sleeping out on the platform of the Wilcat chairlift. We are enjoying a gorgeous starry sky and can even see the milky way.