Date: 2017-07-15
From: Hexacuba Shelter, NH

To: Hiker's Welcome Hostel, Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 14.8

7/15/17, Hiker's Welcome Hostel, Glencliff, NHMiles hiked: 1474.2, Miles to Katahdin: 398.7, Miles to go: 716.6I awoke today to... wait for it... rain! In fact, I awoke at midnight to heavy rain drumming on the roof of my tent. It continued to rain the rest of the night. Dragging yourself out of your tent into the rain is a tough thing to do. I was on the trail by 6:30 AM, but Sitting Bull and Hoops actually beat me out of camp this morning. The day looked like every other day we've had lately - gray, overcast, misty, humid, wet, and drippy. I've actually given up on wearing my glasses when I hike because it is either raining or so humid that they immediately fog up. It continued to rain off and on all day. We did have a few teasing moments of sunshine as if the trail was saying, "See how beautiful the day could be!" But, alas, it would cloud back over and turn all gray again. Don't even talk to me about the views! Every time I'd come to a rock outcropping on top of a mountain, I'd see this great expanse of white clouds and know that there was a spectacular view hiding in there. The heavy rain left the trail a soggy, slippery mess. The mud was slippery. The rocks were slippery. The roots were slippery. And the logs were slippery. As a result, I took a couple of tumbles today. Most were controlled tumbles that didn't result in any damage. Once, however, I was going down a muddy slope and my left foot slipped. I went straight down, bending my right leg under my butt and really straining my right knee. The problem was that I had a similar fall two days ago. Now my knee feels a little tender on the uphills and occasionally has an ominous click. This, of course, is just before we enter the White Mountains. The White Mountains are the hardest part of the entire trip. The ascents and descents are very steep and rocky and several of the mountains are 5000+ feet in elevation and are above tree line. 1st Sgt's posts suggest that we are in for a tough week. Speaking of 1st Sgt, a few people have worried that we had some sort of falling out. Far from it. I've been working to close the gap from when I went off trail for a week; but, he appears to have really hit his stride now that his feet are feeling better. Sitting Bull, Hoops, and I hope to whittle away at his lead and still catch him before Mt Katahdin so we can all summit together. Just before noon, we came to VT 25A. The Green House restaurant sits 0.2 miles to the west of the trail crossing. So, of course, we had to stop for lunch. We arrived at the same time as two SOBO hikers. They joined us for lunch and we exchanged information about the trail ahead. After lunch, it was a quick 4.6 miles of hiking to VT Rt 25C and the Hiker's Welcome Hostel. During that short section, I did manage to take another tumble and break my right hiking pole. Bummer. When we arrived at the Hiker's Welcome, I was happy to see Tin Man and Ringer. I hadn't seen either of them since PA. It's funny how you never know who you will see from day to day. People who you think are miles ahead of you end up getting off trail for a few days and before you know it, you catch back up. We were able to shower, launder, and do all the important town things. We are spending the night in the bunk house. Tomorrow, the hostel staff will drive the majority of our stuff to the Notch Hostel in North Woodstock, NH. Sitting Bull, Hoops, and I will then hike up and over 4802 ft Mt Moosilauke carrying just the essentials we need for the day. Mt Moosilauke will be the first of the big, above treeline mountains. The 10 mile hike will take us most of the day since the ascent and descent are so steep. The weather forecast is looking pretty good for tomorrow. Let's hope it doesn't rain. I awoke today to... wait for it... rain! In fact, I awoke at midnight to heavy rain drumming on the roof of my tent. It continued to rain the rest of the night. Dragging yourself out of your tent into the rain is a tough thing to do. I was on the trail by 6:30 AM, but Sitting Bull and Hoops actually beat me out of camp this morning. The day looked like every other day we've had lately - gray, overcast, misty, humid, wet, and drippy. I've actually given up on wearing my glasses when I hike because it is either raining or so humid that they immediately fog up. It continued to rain off and on all day. We did have a few teasing moments of sunshine as if the trail was saying, "See how beautiful the day could be!" But, alas, it would cloud back over and turn all gray again. Don't even talk to me about the views! Every time I'd come to a rock outcropping on top of a mountain, I'd see this great expanse of white clouds and know that there was a spectacular view hiding in there. The heavy rain left the trail a soggy, slippery mess. The mud was slippery. The rocks were slippery. The roots were slippery. And the logs were slippery. As a result, I took a couple of tumbles today. Most were controlled tumbles that didn't result in any damage. Once, however, I was going down a muddy slope and my left foot slipped. I went straight down, bending my right leg under my butt and really straining my right knee. The problem was that I had a similar fall two days ago. Now my knee feels a little tender on the uphills and occasionally has an ominous click. This, of course, is just before we enter the White Mountains. The White Mountains are the hardest part of the entire trip. The ascents and descents are very steep and rocky and several of the mountains are 5000+ feet in elevation and are above tree line. 1st Sgt's posts suggest that we are in for a tough week. Speaking of 1st Sgt, a few people have worried that we had some sort of falling out. Far from it. I've been working to close the gap from when I went off trail for a week; but, he appears to have really hit his stride now that his feet are feeling better. Sitting Bull, Hoops, and I hope to whittle away at his lead and still catch him before Mt Katahdin so we can all summit together. Just before noon, we came to VT 25A. The Green House restaurant sits 0.2 miles to the west of the trail crossing. So, of course, we had to stop for lunch. We arrived at the same time as two SOBO hikers. They joined us for lunch and we exchanged information about the trail ahead. After lunch, it was a quick 4.6 miles of hiking to VT Rt 25C and the Hiker's Welcome Hostel. During that short section, I did manage to take another tumble and break my right hiking pole. Bummer. When we arrived at the Hiker's Welcome, I was happy to see Tin Man and Ringer. I hadn't seen either of them since PA. It's funny how you never know who you will see from day to day. People who you think are miles ahead of you end up getting off trail for a few days and before you know it, you catch back up. We were able to shower, launder, and do all the important town things. We are spending the night in the bunk house. Tomorrow, the hostel staff will drive the majority of our stuff to the Notch Hostel in North Woodstock, NH. Sitting Bull, Hoops, and I will then hike up and over 4802 ft Mt Moosilauke carrying just the essentials we need for the day. Mt Moosilauke will be the first of the big, above treeline mountains. The 10 mile hike will take us most of the day since the ascent and descent are so steep. The weather forecast is looking pretty good for tomorrow. Let's hope it doesn't rain.