Date: 2009-08-22
From: Ethan Pond Campsite

To: Crawford Notch Campground
Miles today: 2.9
Weather: light intensity shower rain

August 22 --The Caretaker was around early for registration, a polite way of asking for the $8 fee for sleeping in the old shelter, purchased many times by now. Knickers was still snoozing as I paid for her, but she quickly gave me cash when she learned of it. There were clothes hanging every where belonging to 2 girls, sisters, 20s from Canada who were headed south until their money ran out and who's parents were "upset with them right now", and another SoBo guy who, during chat, asked me if I stopped at the Standing Bear Hostel, I did, and told him how I arrived at dusk and set up my tent on the horseshoe pit, his response was, "Do you remember me, Rockhound?" Of course, I had paid him for my stay and store food. Later, Knickers, not there for this, said she couldn't place him, but recognized him from somewhere, thanked me for closing that one. Mommallama and Juice, tenting, had snuck out at early light and Hobbit, Yukon and Jumar said so long as I left them, with hopes of contacting Marty at Crawford Notch. Coming down the mountain was easy and I found Bronco and Nature sitting in lounge chairs in the parking lot, next to 2 coolers of trail magic, left by Rock Dancer, they were saving his parking spot while he shuttled Wingo back to walk the trail he had missed, taking a side trail, an easy and common error. I had 2 Barg's Root Beers and a hunk of boiled ham, soon Knickers showed up, then Rock Dancer, whom I thanked, he said a thru-hiker from FL sent $100 for the trail magic and we signed a thank you card, before I set off with Bronco, I was hitching to the Wiley Store for phone and food, he was hitching to NH112 for his car. I couldn't reach Marty all day in the on/off rain while I ate hot dogs and ice cream. Finally, around 17:00 I hitched/walked down US302 to the Crawford Notch Campground where most of the local gang was headed for the night. I arrived as Bronco, driving his Jeep, it may have been a Bronco, Nature, Grits and Yak! were headed for dinner and told me that there was a cot in the bunk house, not to worry. When I inquired about accomodations, I was told sold out so I talked to Richard, the chief, about the cot, he said, "Oh yeah, if the others wouldn't mind, " I said, "They told me about the cot," and mattress, and I was in for $24. I bought beer, etc, and while at the counter, a very distraught young lady was inquiring about buying a phone card because she didn't have change for the pay phone. I said, "Here, use mine," after I heard her say that she locked her keys in the car, car running with the dog inside. After nearly an hour, the tow truck showed and "broke in" after about 10 minutes, fogged windows impeding, in the steady rain, by lowering the passenger window, the young chocolate lab was saved, and we on the porch cheered. In the excitement the boyfriend raised the window to keep out the rain, shut off the car and slammed the door, locking the keys inside, to his good luck before the tow truck guy had made his getaway, so it was an instant replay, taking no more than 15 seconds. Even Steven, she did it, he did it. I checked into the bunkhouse where I found Mommallama and Juice, and began my laundry while sipping a few Harpoon IPA and later BSed late into the night with Yak, who left the trail to flip-flop in NY and was now heading south, 2section hikers named Captain Leo and another guy, and Grits, while Bronco, Nature, Mammallama and Juice slept, joined by me when I realized how late it was, past 22:00.