Date: 2005-08-22
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 14.7

I forgot to mention that when we were back in Hanover for lunch we also ran into Bag of Tricks. He is part of the Billville crew and the hiker feed in Duncannon. Anyway, he said he would met us on the road, five miles from the shelter, around 9:30 or so for anyone who wanted to slack into Glencliff. I was the first out this morning, though I have been getting better at leaving a little later. Even the group has mentioned the fact that I am not out at the crack of dawn. I figured why leave so early if we are only doing low mile days anyway. No use getting to the destination by noon. Like I said, I got out first but was soon passed by Linux. The first part of th day took us up and over Cube Mtn. which Gypsy and I had spotted from the firetower the night before. It offered some good views and a nice place to take a short break. After that it was pretty easy sailing to the road. Sure enough, Bag of Tricks was there with fruit, juice, milk and beer. The word was already out that today was my birthday so when Mouth, LB, and Squid Jerky (LB and Squid were also at the shelter last night but Gypsy and I didn't know it because we got in so late) got there it was time to start the day off right, which we did. Tricks said he would meet us again at the next road crossing, another 5 miles up the trail. By this time the whole crew was there and everyone took off again. Gypsy and I hiked together again and we picked up the conversation we left off with the night before. It made the five miles go by quickly and before we knew it we were at the next crossing. Here is where I almost faltered in my "always north, always with my pack on" mentality. Some of the others were just taking a water bottle for the last five miles into Glencliff. I was still packing my 32 pound pack and the thought did cross my mind. I held fas though, shouldered the pack and hiked on. I did make it to Glencliff, last but not least, even though the knee is giving me troubles on the downhills. It is mainly on the ones towards the end of a day. I walked into the hostel and settled in. This is a great hostel, called the "Hikers Welcome Hostel", with lots of space for hikers and their gear. I walked out back and found Hazy Sonic and Jax there. It was good to see the again. Blister Sister, Bag of Tricks, and Lion King were there, whipping up some hamburgers for everyone. Lion King hiked a few years ago and has a video out on it. If you get a chance to get your hands on a copy of "Walking with Freedom", it is a fun one to watch. The group for the night consisted of Hazy Sonic, LB, Gypsy, Touk, Tink, Mouth, Linux, Patch, Jax, Wildcat, and Squid Jerky. We all ate, got cleaned up and then sat down to watch a couple of movies. Packrat runs the place and he has got a huge DVD collection! Lots to choose from! After awhile I was surprised by a batch of brownies that Gypsy had made up for my birthday, complete with candles. Everyone got one and they were delicious. Gypsy, and the rest, thanks so much! You guys rock! As the evening progressed I also managed to finish "Eye of the World" (first from The Wheel of Time series) and I passed it on to Touk. I told her she would either like it or not after the first 50 pages or so. If she likes it she will be hooked enough to finish it and the rest of the series. I am now moving onto the second book, The Great Hunt. We are all excited about tomorrow. We climb our first mountain in The Whites, Mt. Moosilaukee, 4802 feet in elevation and the first time we go above treeline.