Date: 2015-08-10
From: Jeffers Brook Shelter

To: Carriage Motel, North Woodstock, NH
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up and packed early. I had a very long climb up Mt. Moosilauke ahead of me. I also had a resupply box waiting for me at the Carriage Motel in North Woodstock. Because I thought it would take me all day to get up and over the almost 5000 foot high mountain, I planned to stay one more night in the woods and made reservations for tomorrow night at the motel.I went down to the beautiful brook to take pictures and eat my breakfast before leaving the shelter area. The weather was absolutely perfect - clear, low humidity, and a little cool with a slight breeze.Then I started climbing. Hour after hour for about 4 hours I steadily climbed up and over, or around, the steep jumbled boulders that were the trail. A local guy out for a day hike suggested that once I reached the ridgeline I take the side trail to South Peak to check out the view before going on to the summit.After about 4 hours I reached the ridgeline and saw the sign for the South Peak side trail. I decided to check out the view. About half way there the trail grew rocky and steep, so I decided to drop my pack. I could not believe how light I felt. I went up the trail like a mountain goat! The local guy was right, the view was well worth the extra effort. It was the first time I have been above treeline on this thru hike. The peak was interesting and the views were spectacular. I took a few pictures, but I did not want to linger. I went back down the side trail, retrieved the Blue Beast, and headed up the AT to the summit. At close to 5000 feet and with perfect weather, I felt like I could see forever in every direction.I was surprised by the number of people at the summit. There was a large group of day hikers who came up a different trail. There was also a smaller group of stinky northbound and southbound thru hikers.   I joined the other stinky hikers.Then there was trail magic. A guy offered us beer! After we each took a beer, he explained that he wanted us to talk about our AT experiences while he video taped us. It seemed like a small price to pay for a beer on the summit (he also gave us small candy bars and carried out the trash). I took a few pictures and then started down the mountain. The local day hiker warned me that the descent would be very steep and rocky, but it really did not seem to be that bad. I thought I was making good time. In fact, I decided to try to make it to the motel.When I reached the turn off for the Beaver Brook Shelter I had cell reception and confirmed that a room was available. I was going to sleep in a bed and have a shower a night earlier than I planned!! I just had to get down off the mountain, reach the road crossing, and hitchhike into M. Woodstock. After I made that call, things got bad. They got REALLY REALLY bad. The trail got extremely steep and rocky. I am talking straight down vertical steep. It was difficult, but at least the rocks were dry. Then the rocks were wet from seeping springs. And the slick rock veins started to appear. Then the seeping turned into a full blown stream running down the steep trail. Just when I thought it could not get any worse I noticed the raging vertical brook right beside the trail. The water roared as it went rushing downward over the slick rock spillways and boulders right next to me, which only reinforced how steep and treacherous the AT actually was in this section. In about 1.5 miles the elevation dropped over 2000 feet. Obviously my pace slowed considerably. I very carefully picked my way over the steep, sometimes wet, rock veins and boulders using my hiking sticks, trees, roots, and anything else I could find to hang on to as I lowered myself and my heavy pack down that almost vertical trail.In some places the trail came dangerously close to the rushing vertical brook. I quickly realized that if I slipped and fell into the water I would immediately be swept downstream and over the rocks. Survival was extremely unlikely.In some areas rebar hand rails and weird 3 sided steps were installed to help get hikers over the slick wet rock veins. But the spacing of the steps was ridiculous unless you were the Jolly Green Giant. They were not spaced for a very tired middle aged woman with short legs and tight ham strings. And in almost every case the steps stopped short of traversing the entire slick wet rock areas.It was on one of the slick wet rock areas that I fell.   I was being extremely careful, but the steps just stopped. One minute I was upright, and the next I was smashed on the wet slick rock, my right arm struck one of the weird 3 sided steps. Fortunately there were no broken bones or blood. I had no choice but to pick myself up and keep going.This was another one of those times when I had no choice but to dig deep, put on my big girl granny panties, and keep going. There may be no crying on the AT, but I will admit I do PLENTY of swearing. Down, down, down I went. For 2 solid hours I picked my way down the trail and into Kinsman Notch. I kept track of the time but did not want to even think about the fact that it would soon be dark, and I still had to hitch hike when (if) I reached the road.Then I remembered a storm is supposed to come through tomorrow. I quickly realized that I was probably better off hiking down now rather than tomorrow in the pouring rain. I FINALLY reached the road a little after 7 p.m. I started to walk towards town while listening for cars behind me headed in the same direction. Clearly I need to work on my hitch hiking skills. 9 cars went by before I was picked up by a very kind man from Maine. He took me directly to the motel.Exhausted and shaken up from the treacherous steep descent, I was so happy to be able to take a hot shower and sleep in a bed. I bought some food at a little convenience store across the road, ate the food in my room, took a shower, and went straight to bed.The AT is calling. But first I need to washout my big girl granny panties. They got quite a work out today.