Date: 2008-07-23
From: Ore HIll Shelter

To: Hiker's Welcome Hostel, Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 7.4

Weird dreams last nite border lining on nightmares involving being stranded andafloat in an ocean of HUGE waves, swaying back and forth in a tiny life raftwith my father. We were looking for a small island so I could (of course) hangmy hammock! Ok, so that last part was comical, I'll admit. I think I dremptabout waves because the wind was insane and it sounded like the ocean.I woke to my alarm and really felt like sleeping more, but was anxious to getinto Glencliff. I knew the weather was supposed to be crappy, and wanted totry to beat the rain so I wouldn't come in totally soaked. Last nite I hung myclothes and shoes in the shelter, so they could continue getting air flow. Ihaven't worn dry clothes since leaving B.I.'s house. The human body isn'treally meant to be wet all of the time...as I've discovered.Salvage and Lizard left about 10 minutes before me, but they headed up someother trail...so I pointed them in the right direction, and we were alllaughing. By the way, we ALL do this at some point..and I'm no exception.It was very windy and overcast all day and the first thing up was finishing theclimb up this "hill" and then a downward slope before climbing over Ore Hill.The trail is just a muddy mess, with some boardwalks, but mainly if you want toeven try to keep your feet dry you end up hopping from rocks to roots to sticksto logs and hope you don't slip and fall into the very wet and deep mud.The hardest climb (which wasn't really that hard) was a gradual 1.5 mile ascentup Mt. Mist. There's a sign telling you that you're at the top and it's like2300 feet. I'm sure very soon, I'll be chuckling @ the notion that this wascalled a mountain. There was then a sign pointing to a lookout that said,"Scenic View, Beware of Tourists." I think that's hilarious. I went to thelookout to see a little bit of nothing. The clouds were socking in themountains so it was some trees and a pond below.I met 2 very cool sobo's today, Limonade (AZ) and her friend who is out for asection Camel (VT). Limonade had the attitude that I have, and I figured I'denjoy hiking with her, but alas, we're going opposite directions. She hurt herfoot in the 100 mile wilderness and had to take a few weeks off, so she skippedahead 200 miles so her friend could hike the Whites with her, so she'll begoing back up to Maine in a few weeks, so I'll probably see her again (did youcatch that? In a few weeks...Maine!!!!). Her hair was partially died green,really cool woman. Oh she said they Hut hopped and did like 6 miles a day inthe Whites and loved it. That's encouraging to me.I headed down from Mt. Mist and it started sprinkling. I got to Wachipauka Pondand celebrated having only 400 miles LEFT!!! I made my sign with sticks andcelebrated with a snack of girl scout cookies (thanks Persistent) and somecombos. While I was there, I saw a woman with her dog and they took a sidetrail down to the pond. I died laughing because I couldn't see them but couldhear them. I hear, "Reggie!! Reggie!!," then SPLAAAASH...swim swimswim...silence..SPLAAASH, and then "Reggie!!!". Apparently Reggi the dogdecided it was far more important to go swimming than to listen to his owner'scalls. They eventually made it up my way and she was out for a day hike whileher lawyer husband was trying some big case nearby. She knew about the AT, butthen asks me, "Does this keep going?" I'm sorry, but I can't help being asmartass, and I've been asked this a few times, and I HAVE to respond bysaying, "Yes...all the way to Georgia."I knew I was less than 2 miles away, so moved on. By the time I got to NH 25,it was raining, but not too hard. I walked the .4 east to the Hiker's WelcomeHostel where Salvage and Lizard were watching a movie with other people. Someknown trail names are here, The Dude, Baltimor Jack, and a girl Bear Paw whostarted hiking this year but had to get off, but came up here to help out soshe could be around hikers. Also, are 2 women from FL named Musher and PanamaSnail. Panama and I were sitting next to each other, and she heard someone saymy name and then goes, "Oh! You're Certain! I read your journal." She saidshe didn't recognize me because I've lost so much weight. Nice problem to havefor a change.I went upstairs and got a bunk. There's 3 sets of bunks, 2 couches, and a bigtable in the room. It's not the fanciest, but it definitely works. Downstairsis the hangout area with a fridge/freezer, tv, tons of movies, stereo, tons ofmusic and a huge table for gathering/sitting around. The shower/toilet/laundryare outside under a covered tarp, but it works fine. They supply towels andhave soap/shampoo too. Everything you need. The caretaker here is thisAWESOME man named Fat Chap. He's got a great sense of humor and is a very realperson.I got cleaned up, it was pouring by the way..whew..dodged that one for a change. I cleaned my camp dishes and checked my emails. I'm so excited, I found Ping!She was this great woman we met last year down at the Dutch House, and Iremembered she lives in Gorham. She told me to let her know when I get to acertain shelter and if she can, she's going to meet me and hike out of theWhites with me. Too cool..and she offered to let Karen and I stay with her fora few nites.I also had an email from Auntie Mame and V8. They're going to be here Fridaymorning at 8 to get me and GET THIS...they have cars, so we're going toslackpack from North to South (I hear this is the most "enjoyable" way) overMt. Moosilauke, and then we're going to spend the nite in a freakin motel!!!Oh man, I have a feeling I'm going to be really spoiled. I can't wait to meetthem.So Salvage, Lizard and I wanted to get a ride into Warren to resupply and weheard there was an AYCE pasta place on Wednesdays. Fat Chap took us in around4, and the town of Warren is an interesting place. First, it's totally tiny,consisting of an elementary school, post office, church, gas station/store,icecream shop and then the pinnacle...a freakin SPACE MISSILE from NASA!!! LOL I about died laughing. It's the same "model" that the first astronauts used togo into space. It's set up right in front of the church, because let's face it,every good church needs a GIANT TOWERING space missile in front of it right? Itook a picture..I just had to. Apparently some local guy got it delivered andset up here, hoping it would bring tourists in. Then he moved away and thelocals are like, "ok..now what."So we go to the gas station/store to resupply. Nitty gritty, but it made due.I solicited Salvage and Lizard to go in with me so we could avoid anothershuttle ride (it's like $3.00/ride) and have breakfast/lunch/dinner at thehostel tomorrow. We got milk, cereal, sandwiches, and burgers to cook outtomorrow night. I also HAD to get some Ben n Jerry's. While I was standingthere looking at the meat, I looked over and Baltimore Jack was standing nextto me. I didn't recognize him at first, but I said, "Hey..don't I know you?"He goes, "Probably." Then I was like, "oh yes...I met you at Ms. Janet's lastyear." He offered to give us a ride back to the hostel, but we were going fordinner first, so I said no thanks.So Fat Chap waited for us and said he'd put our food in the fridge and thendropped us off at Calamity Jane's for the AYCE pasta. Alright folks...I'vegotta be totally honest here and warn you all. I've made a living servingtables before...I know it's hard work, I know it can suck. However, NEVER EVEREVER in my life have I had a worse dining experience with worse food...EVER. Toall hikers, do NOT waste your time here. Fat Chap mentioned something about ittaking 4 hrs when it should only take 1, and we didn't get his hint. Well, ina tiny place, we were the only 3 there, and it took almost 45 minutes (NOT anexaggeration here) to just get our salads. Then the place filled up and weknew the AYCE was not going to happen, because in order to get your next plate,you actually had to have a server come to your table, which wasn't going tohappen.   It was sad..and apparently, because it's the ONLY place in town openin the evening, they never change their business practices, because they don'thave to. I hate giving bad news, but I'd be dishonest if I said it wasanything other than horrible. And this wasn't a one time encounter, it'salways this way. Too bad.So we called Fat Chap to pick us up and headed back. He was laughing at ourreport because he knew how bad it was. He's this hilarious guy that lovesbs'ing about the town of Warren by claiming it's a "good Republican town," andgiving a "tour" that is all fabricated. Of course he let's you know he's justhaving fun.We got back and the storms hit. Shortly there after..POOF...the power went out. Ok, so this is the second time I've been in a house and lost power. We all gotour headlamps out and sat around upstairs. It was probably 9:30 p.m. before thepower came back on. I called Karen and we had a nice chat. I'll admit, it'sreally hard when you want and actually have the time to talk for a long time,but can't because you're using someone's business line. I wouldn't feel righttying it up for several hours, so we always cut it shorter than we want..andthere's zero cell service here for everyone. I'm getting impatient with theseparation...really really impatient. Gorham is the goal now. She'll be therewaiting for me when I exit the Whites. What better incentive to make it throughthem in one piece huh?Oh, I forgot. I had a message on my cell phone (listened to it on a mountaintop yesterday) from Bad Influence. Here's how sweet he is. He goes, "HeyCertain, I've been thinking about you and know there are really bad stormsforecasted for tonight and tomorrow. If you want, I'll be happy to pick you upat a road crossing and bring you back here so you can wait them out." He didn'tknow I was heading into Glencliff early the next day, but I mean how sweet isthat? I need to email him from here and thank him and let him know I'm cool.Thanks for thinking of me B.I.So it was a cool day. All of my chores are done, and tomorrow will be a truezero day of just hanging out. I'd hoped the gas station would have earphones,but they didn't, so it's still back to listening with only the left earbud. Ohwell...that's life. We'll see how tonight goes on a bunk with 4 other people inthe same room. My light sleeping may be an issue. Hopefully not though.~Certain