Date: 2005-09-03
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Ore Hill Shelter
Miles today: 7.3

Today was a great day ¢ wonderful hiking.   There was quiet a crowd at the shelter last night. First to arrive were a group of 17 Dartmouth freshman students out on their ¢moderate difficulty¢ freshman mixer hike. They were on their first night of their three-day, two nights, hike and they all decided to sleep out under their tarp. Then came a group of seven NOBO thru-hikers ¢ Lefty, Stretch, Nightcrawler, and Monkey were the names that I remember. They have been hiking more or less together, in a more or less group, for some time and had a regular to-and-fro of wit and repartee going.   I slept very well, and awoke to the sounds of the thru-hikers stirring. All were up and about quickly, no wasting of daylight hours with these guys. I got back on the trail by 8:00AM and only two of them were behind me, and they quickly passed me by.   It was a beautiful day. A little overcast and cool for the early morning climb up to the South Summit of Mount Cube, but with spectacular views from the rocky and exposed ledges of the summit. Got a good cell signal and spoke to KT.   On the summit I also met two couples out for a day hike and got my picture taken. Then it was a long slow and steady descent off of the summit down to NH25A road. There were lots of people coming up as I made my way down, a popular hike on a warm and sunny Saturday of the Labor Day weekend. I met with several thru-hikers, many of whom had flip-flopped, and lots of day hikers, and yet another group of Dartmouth freshmen on their way up.   Then it was a slow and steady climb up here to the shelter. The trail work on this section is exceptional. Great stone steps and meticulous water bars give eloquent testimony to the hard work and skill of the DOC maintainers.   Got here to the shelter in mid-afternoon and got water from a sluggish spring. Was joined by Hermit, returning from a time off the trail with his girl friend. We spent a very pleasant afternoon chatting and philosophizing on the general nature of things and of the world. A great afternoon to compliment a perfect hike. Hermit ¢ so called because he took shelter in a cave to get out of the rain ¢ is a carpenter from California, and is hoping to finish the trail this month.   I realy felt in balance with the trail today, good weather, nice hiking, and lots of other hikers. You can¢t beat this!   Why is it that we feel a need to impress people? Why do we want people to think well of us? Why do other people¢s opinions of our behavior bother us so much? Perhaps it is because we are not sure that our own intrinsic behavior is the correct behavior. If we were convinced that our ¢natural¢ behavior ¢ i.e. personality ¢ were the one that realy and truly reflects who and what we are, and if we are realy comfortable in being that person ¢ then it realy should not matter a hoot what other people say, or what other people think. If that were so then we would not try so hard to impress. To try to fit-in with the group implies that our natural behavior is not in keeping with the group and that we do not think that our natural behavior is right.   Thought for today ¢       First learn to be happy with yourself as you are ¢ then you will never need to impress others.