Date: 2014-08-21
From: Trapper Johns Shelter

To: Hiker Welcome Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Here's an update from the past 3 days...Tuesday - August 19th:Got up at 6:30 and was on the trail at 8. Today's hike took me down a mile to a road where, just off the trail, the ice cream man lives. I wasn't going to stop but just as I crossed the road he came by in his car and invited me to stop by. There were about 10 hikers there who had tented in his yard. I signed his guest book, had a nice cream bar and took off. Today's hike was a twelve miler and it was tough on me. The last mile up Smarts Mountain was very steep and I bonked part way. So I stopped, had a power bar and water and that really helped. I also had lunch at the top. Then there was a 4 mile easy downhill before the next climb up to the Hexacube Shelter. A beautiful weather day! Staying there were a pair of southbounders plus Omega. Also I was surprised to see Karen and her son John(the family from Canada) show up later. Her husband, John, stopped hiking because of a bad knee. They were exhausted! In my tent by 8.Wednesday - August 20:Got up at 6 - on the trail by 7. Breakfast the last two days has been Cliff Bars and Starbucks Iced coffee as I could not bring my Jetboil fuel on the plane. I UPS'd it to the Hikers Welcome Hostel where I planned on being today. So I made the steep climb up Mt. Cube. I got to what I assumed was the summit quite quickly.... Great view! I was reminded of the TV commercials where they say: "But wait - There's more!" When I realized there were several more "summits". All great views though. On the way down I met up with John (Karens husband) who was hiking up to meet his son and wife on top of Mt. Cube. He had slept in his car and had to have started hiking around 5:30! I'll bet they were surprised! Today's hike was 15 miles with a few 500 foot climb after the 1000 foot climb up Mt. Cube. Not to bad. I met up with Irish Mist along the way who I had met at the Ice Cream mans place the day before. Great guy from Maine. We hike together for a time and had a great conversation. He's doing a thru hike. Got to the Hostel around 3 PM set up my tent, took a shower and washed my clothes. This is quite an interesting place with all "kinds" of individuals. A real melting pot of humanity! Brian Pilz, you would live it! So several of it's got a "shuttle" to town for food at a convenience store. I was squeezed Into the back end of a small wagon. I ordered an Italian sub and bought a bunch of junk food to take back to the hostel to eat. Irish Mist and I had a couple of beers and had a good conversation. Also there was a lady, SAYBAK, who is thriving and writing her journal for the Charleston, SC newspaper. Her trail name is an acronym for See All You Bitches At Katahdin. So in my tent at 8:30. Tomorrow, Mount Moosilauke!Thursday - August 21I had the Hostel breakfast at 7. Very good! Pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon! Today I took the shuttle to the north side of Moosilauke to do a slack pack south. The reason for this is that the north side is VERY steep going down. So I hiked up the 2 miles next to the Beaver Brook water falls. Wow! This was the toughest climb I've ever done ! Glad I was slacking! It took about 3 hours to summit. Cool view at the top! Then there was a 6 mile descent which really killed my knees! The 9 mile hike took me 6 hours. So one more night at this hostel (tenting) and then I'll shuttle around tomorrow morning and off I go... I'm doing well, just need to keep my miles down thru the Whites. There are a ton of people out here! Different from '07... Oh! Also, today at the trailhead I talked with a couple I shuttled with and found out they were from Kewaskum,Wi.!!!are you kidding me? Funny!