Date: 2003-09-03
From: Galehead Hut

To: Route 302
Miles today: 4.6

4.6 miles in three hours....now THAT is more like it!! I feel sooo much better! But I am getting ahead of myself......This morning I woke up very early and laid in bed thinking about my day. I am getting off of this ridge, and I am mightedly relieved. I have explained my position to Bumpkin a thousand different ways, but she is still reluctant about my decision. However, being the friend that she is, she supports me despite her misgivings. Jerry says that I am doing the right thing, and my gut tells me that he is right.One of the croo members sneaks into our room to open the door at 6:30 am. After opening the other rooms, he begins to play his guitar softly. In the middle of this hard, bolder-strewn land, this is the softest, most magical thing imaginable. The clouds are blowing by our window, but we lay warmly, listening to the music. I wish I could wake up every morning like this.We all gather for a big breakfast, and I get some last minute advice on the trail down the mountain. Rumor has it that after half a mile of downhill rock scrambles, it smooths out and becomes quite nice. It feels so weird to make these plans without Bumpkin, but she and Jerry are looking forward to going on ahead, and I will see them tomorrow.As I start down the trail, my pack feels light, and my spirit feels even lighter. I float down the rocks....(ok, maybe that is an exaggeration :).....and before I know it, the trail has leveled off and I am actually walking for the first time in days. This feels so good, to be able to put one foot in front of the other in a normal rhythm. Don't get me wrong....there are still lots of rocks, but you can actually see soil between the rocks, so I am happy!!The sun was warm and the trail jogged back and forth over the Galehead River and its tributaries. It sounds cliche to say that the sunlight glistened on the water as it danced through the rocks, but that is exactly what it was like. Sweat driped down my back as I enjoyed getting back to what I love....hiking.While trekking down, two of the croo members from our hut passed me hauling down recyclables. They have these big back boards that they lash things to, making the trip twice a week down the mountain and back up for supplying the hut. These young people are not only smart and fun....they are strong! When I got to the parking area, one of the guys offered me a ride back to Bumpkins car. Knowing that they have very limited time off of the mountain, I was really touched! As I jumped in, we started talking and the next half hour flew by as we discussed incorporating our passions into our careers. He talked about the pressure he faced to get a "real job", while feeling so fulfilled by what he does. Between running a hut in the White Mountains, and taking groups of young people into the back country, I can see where he feels so much fulfillment. I think his job is about as "real" as you can get.My day took a distinctly downhill turn when I got to the car and saw a huge rock in the passenger seat. Hmmm....that wasn't there when we left! Yep, somebody had broken into the car. As far as we know, the only thing they took was a bag of mine with my sleeping bag and a few other things in it. I am bummed. That bag kept me somewhat warm for 600 miles! But, I had just replaced it with a warmer one, so at least I am not stranded.The rest of the afternoon was taken up with getting a police report and driving all over the place trying to get the window replaced. Bumpkin LOVES her car and I want to take care of as much of this as I can before I see her! Unfortunately, the window has to be ordered, so after a few hours of driving around, I decided it was time to find a place to stay. Then, the weirdest thing happened...I spent the next two hours driving through New Hamsphire, and I couldn't stop! Between the lights, and colors, and tourists, and traffic, and B&Bs, and....and....and.....I got totally discombobulated! The sensory input was just too much! Everything was in slow motion and literally two hours went by with me unable to make a simple decision and pull into a motel! When I finally whipped into a Holiday Inn, I was shaking. Man, I need to get back to the woods!Several hours later, I had done my laundry, showered and was crying on the phone to my parents. This has been a hard week. Being as wonderful as they are, they calmed me down and agreed that I had done the right thing by coming down out of the Whites. I finally fell asleep to the sound of a thunderstorm rolling in. I sure hope that Bumpkin and Jerry are ok..... Love, Anna aka Mud Butt