Date: 2004-08-14
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Kinsman Notch
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Today the weather looked promising, though the next hurricane is due Sunday.Pilot and Polar hiked out. Three more slacked north to Kinsman Notch, where they would pick up their packs and continue north. Okie, Lonesome Dove and I would go in the van with their packs and slack south from Kinsman Notch back to the hostel.The climb up from the notch was not what I had expected. I had a mental image of the trail snaking precariously up a sheer face. Actually it runs up a ravine near a picturesque brook cascading down. It was certainly steep and slippery but there were no dizzy heights or really serious drops. There were rock slabs at a 45 degree or so angle with wooden steps bolted to them where there were no footholds and with rebar handrails to pull oneself up the taller steps and ledges. It takes some care but was not too difficult. The weather was sunny with scattered clouds, nice and dry climbing.The terrain gradually got that high altitude Christmas Tree look like on the peaks in Vermont. Then the trees got even shorter, scattered with old dead trees, indicating that I was nearing the tree line. I got one good view to the south from an overlook before I found myself ascending through the base of a cloud.Up a rise and the trees abruptly ended. Before me was the North Peak of Mooselauke blanketed with grass and other low ground cover. A line of tall rock cairns marched spookily up into the mist with the rock-covered Trail following them. A chill wind blew the mist across the ground with a whispering sound and the air turned damp and cold, making me put on my nylon windbreaker. I saw what at first looked rather like Stonehenge in a thick fog. Coming closer, it was people gathered at the summit. Here and there were makeshift windbreaks, circular walls of piled rocks. In one I found Palm Tree, Boonie, Tree Frog and several other hikers I knew including Lonesome Dove. I joined them and had Poptarts for lunch while we talked. The thick drifting mist gave a closed-in feeling, like we were in a Hollywood soundstage set with fog machines instead of an open mountain peak. Sort of like movies' scenes of heaven, where everyone walks about in fog.Now and then a patch of blue sky would become visible. A moment later there would be a momentary view of the landscape downwind before the mist closed in again. I tried to get a picture but it would turn foggy before I got in a good spot for a shot.Finally we started down, the three men heading north and Lonesome Dove and I going south to the hostel. She and I talked for half an hour or so before I dropped behind and hiked the rest of the way alone.The trees reappeared. At first a carpet of tiny ground-hugging ones, then dwarves and Christmas Tree sized and then finally tall pine forest. Before we parted we saw beautiful views of the valley to the northwest. Alone, I reached broadleaf forest and the Trail evolved from mountain path to regular looking trail. It grew warm and sunny again so I removed my jacket and put it away.I began to despair of finding any berries today but finally where the Trail skirted the edge of fields at the foot of the mountain I found a thicket of bog ripe sweet juicy raspberries. I had two large handfuls. Yummy!Jeffers Brook just before the road was twenty feet wide with no bridge. Fortunately the water had gone down just enough that I got across on stepping stones without having to ford the cold water. The first time the path of partly submerged rocks led to a gap too wide to get over. I turned back but found another line of stones just downstream that got me across.Back at the hostel, Lonesome Dove's sister came to visit her and they drove off for dinner. Okie got back and drove me and two southbounders to Warren at the same place as before. The five of us were the only ones staying at the hostel tonight, a surprise since yesterday it had been packed. We spent the evening watching "The Fellowship of The Ring" and then "Spaceballs".I checked the forecast from time to time and as the evening went on the predicted effects of Tropical Storm Charley on our area grew less and less. I might be able to hike out tomorrow!