Date: 2018-08-09
From: IMP shelter

To: Gorham
Miles today: 8.0

The entire shelter slept in until 8am. This never happens! We were all so exhausted from that 13 miles. It was 9:20 when I left the shelter after packing up and having breakfast. Wearing my wet clothes from yesterday I set out in front of River. The rain was falling lightly as I began climbing Mt Moriah. A steep rocky ascent with giant rock slabs for scaling. After a few false summits and 1.5 miles of climbingI finally reached the top. Just me in the fog and drizzle, an anticlimactic summit. I was looking forward to some easier trail this morning because I'd heard it was, but so far I haven't found it. I descended a long 4 miles landing at the Rattle River Shelter where the gondola riding section skipping hiker was sitting. She'd passed us this morning before we'd even left the shelter. I dropped my pack and exchanged some quick and cordial conversation before making off to the privy as River passed by. The trail turned flat and smooth after the shelter, a literal bed of gravel and pine needles for about 3 miles to route 2 in Gorham. As River says I "floated" by her and the other hiker. I was ecstatic about being able to just hike, just walk without stones, boulders and routes. I averaged almost 3 MPH to the parking lot. Done! It was around 3pm. River had messaged our trail angel Janet on the tracker earlier to give her our pick up time because there was no cell service. When River popped out into the lot we waited about 15 minutes before she arrived. Enough time to get a little dryer now that the sun had appeared and to change into camp shoes so we wouldn't get Janet's vehicle all muddy. It's bad enough that we stink. Seriously, wet hiker stinks more than dry hiker and we've been wet for 2 days. A large SUV pulled in just before Janet and the 2 women came over to ask us if we were thru hikers. We had a nice conversation before posing for pictures and then loading our packs in Janet's truck. I was glad they were riding in the back so she wouldn't smell them! Janet is our trail angel arranged by my friend Beth R. I'm extremely grateful for all the support of friends and family who help with these things. Something as simple as a ride can make a difference that is indescribable. Janet drove us to Pinkam Notch to the AMC welcome center for our gear boxes. When we got out of the truck some folks we'd seen at the Carter hut yesterday when we stopped for soup stopped and talked to us about our thru hike. No paparazzi this time just chatting. Janet was super patient. We grabbed our gear and drank a Body Armor hydration drink and ate bags of chips before getting back in the truck. Just a little refreshment! Then Janet drove us to Gorham to our motel and made arrangements to pick us up in the morning and bring us back to the trailhead. We thanked her and headed into the lobby. It was so cold in the lobby that I left River in there alone and dashed back outside to pretend to watch our gear. I say pretend because seriously not many people would want a wet and stinky 35lb backpack! River got us checked in while I spied the ice cream shop right across the street. But 1st thing is first...a shower. I jumped at the shower ahead of River and while drying off I heard commotion in the room. I dressed in my husband's base layer leggings and my mid weight wool top and went out to see Sarah there! She'd come as a surprise and brought River her new boots and hiking kilt. Awesome! While River showered we grabbed some ice cream and once that was gone Sarah drove me to the laundromat and to Walmart where she waited outside both times, I'm certain because I was out in my husband's underwear! But I had nothing else clean to wear and I'd been to Walmart before. Just saying, I don't think people noticed. With clean clothes we dressed and headed to the wood fired pizza place where for the first time ever I ate an entire pizza and I'm not talking personal size. I washed it down with beer and water. It was late, after 8pm so Sarah is going to spend the night and bring us to the trailhead in the morning. I texted Janet to let her know she can sleep in. I know I just ate dinner, but I'm already thinking about 6am breakfast at Welsh's.