Date: 2015-07-12
From: NH 25C - Warren NH 

To: North Woodstock NH 112 
Miles today: 13.9

This morning we bid farewell to Karl, Margaret, Jennifer and Tom. Karl is so passionate about the AT he even painted white blazes on a couple of his trees and large AT symbols on his work shed! He was so bummed he couldn't hike with us. He climbed Mt Washington to celebrate his 80th birthday 5 years ago. Lucky Laura drove us back to the trail in Warren. We saw a large fox cross the interstate ramp. Another wildlife sighting from a car! Lucky Laura volunteered to drop out packs off at a camp site in a North Woodstock a few miles from the trail. So we got to slack pack again! I used my food bag as my pack today which was a little awkward but not bad and much better than carrying a full pack! It was very warm and supposed to be 90 today. The first 4.9 miles were pleasant terrain. I said hello to a day hiker who asked me if I were carrying fish when he saw my orange sea to summit food bag. I chatted with a section hiker. We reached NH 25 and had a snack preparing for the next 5.5 mile climb up 3,747 ft to the summit of Mt Moosilauke, the second longest climb on the AT. The first couple miles weren't too bad. We passed GQ and Walking Man. As the climb steepened we passed a couple hikers we had seen before who were hiking this section southbound. They told us Scott Jurek had 15 miles to hike today before 5:15 pm to break the record. We passed another couple of hikers Flip and Meander who were also slacking but going southbound. The climb continued up and up over rocks for a couple more miles. We passed Robert, the fast German who got slowed down by Lyme Disease. He is back to his bigger miles but still hiking slower than he used to ... But still fast compared to many hikers. We finally reached the ridge which was relatively flat and crossed it. We saw people on the summit in the distance. It looked so far away but was probably about a 10 minute climb up. We reached the summit and took pictures. Cliffhanger and Robert also joined us. Ravenous we had lunch. GQ arrived. After a nice break, we started the descent which is the more challenging part of the hike because it is very steep and Rocky. I passed another NOBO Lighten Up who was exhausted and trying to get water from a trickle. He had made a wrong turn and had to climb up twice. I felt bad for him and asked if he needed anything. I stopped at Beaver Brooks Shelter halfway down because Karl had helped build the shelter in 1993-94. It had a nice view. Several hikers were there already setting up camp even though it was only 4 pm. Cliffhanger and Tropical and Robert were also there. Cliffhanger and I started the steepest part of the descent which was like hiking down a waterfall or stream. A waterfall did run down the mountain adjacent to the trail and it was a slow descent. I was glad the rocks were not any wetter than they were in spots as it was steep and slippery. Wooden steps had been installed into the steep face of the rock in many spots. Otherwise butt sliding would be the only way down. A half mile to go I ran into Andreas who was waiting for me and offered to take my food bag even to navigate the next descent even though he knew full well I would refuse assistance. It was a nice thoughtful gesture but i insisted I needed to practice because I would be hiking on my own in another day anyway. We finally made it unscathed to the trailhead parking lot. Andreas and met a mother and son, Ultimate and Eleven, who were section hiking and told them about our camp site destination. He hitched a ride with them. Cliffhanger and I got some water from Sherpa Shel and Jingles who were camping at true trailhead. They have everything in their van!! We then stood on the road trying to hitch. I finally got us a ride from John who thru hiked in 1988 as Megapod. He dropped us off at the Maple Haven Campground where we found our packs in the garage. There is a tented Pavillion with picnic tables where thru hikers can tent under for $10. We snacked on the cheese and crackers Karl and Margaret had given for us. The campsite had a pond for swimming and bathrooms with flushing toilets, soap, water and paper towels! Plus electric outlets and wifi. It was not a campsite you would rave about for vacation but it was luxury to a thru hiker. We chatted with Ultimate and Eleven while we set up camp and had dinner. They section hiked last year and plan to do it again next year. Eleven is 12 years old this year and wants to thru hike in two years. He is very knowledgable and a cool kid. We told him he could thru hike it if he really wanted to! Laura had also left us a Trader Joe's Berry Pie! It was another great day!!Thanks again Karl, Margaret and Lucky Laura!!