Date: 2006-08-07
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Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Had a great weekend. Went to Crawford Notch in the Whites with Rock Dancer ('97) and Stitches ('99) to do trail magic. Glad they invited me. It was just what I needed. I've been trying not to be sullen and mope around the house, but being off trail with my hike in jeopardy had been weighing heavily on me and therefore on Andrew. Andrew came out to the notch for a while on Saturday to meet my fellow trail angels and to share a little in my experience. I was so glad to have him there. He's still behind me all the way.I drove out on 302 and as soon as I hit North Conway I brightened. Andrew and I visit there and I go there with climbing friends. Even though the place is crammed with tourists right now and the sprawl is still sprawling, the place feels familiar and holds only good associations. I saw the climbing outfitter where I've hung out and purchased gear. I saw the restaurant where we ate last year after I did my first trad climbing. I saw the general store bought candy and little mementos. And I saw the White mountains for the first time since last summer. I didn't get the great view of Washington from Main St. because I was fighting traffic and trying not to run over wandering day-trippers, but the town is necessary passage to the trailhead.I drove into Crawford and the mountains rose on all sides. These mountains have inspired me since I was a kid and I wouldn't have imagine my hike without ever seeing them. I turned up the road to the trail and stopped in front of the white blaze where it comes out of the woods after Ripley Falls. I had a big cooler filled with ice, soda, fruit and cookies. I also brought all the leftover hiker food we've had sitting in the dining room for six months. When Arthur and Mara pulled in we clamed a spot and set up shop. Saturday was very busy. First off the trail was Dub, a Southerner just amazed at the White Mountains. I told him how amazed I'd been by the Smokies and views of Tennessee. After he hiked on a group of four came off the trail. I'd seen Andy Dufresne and Grinds last in Kent on the same day I broke my foot. I hadn't seen Rematch, known as Red when I first met him, since my last day at Standing Bear Farm. I hate to say it but I can't remember the fourth's name even though we know each other and he'd been reading my journal. They all knew I was off trail with an injury. Later in the afternoon Postcard showed up with Slim. Postcard I'd also seen the day i got hurt. I last saw slim at the church hostel in Vernon, NJ. Two Canadian hikers, Chemist and Magic Shoes, stopped. They're hiking Vermont to Maine. When Andrew arrived we threw a blanket down under a tree and he unwound after a frustrating drive. We came back to the circle in time to meet Stumpknocker, last seen at Kinkora, and Mrs. Gorp whom I know by reputation but had never met. She'd hiked northbound to Damascus and now they're headed back south to complete their hikes. The next morning Don Quixote was the first to show. Last time I saw him was also in Kent. Next came Da Bear. We'd been meeting on and off back in March. We were both at the spontaneous hiker party at Fontana Dam. I last saw him when I was laid up at Standing Bear. I saw he and Tortoise near the highway as the headed up trail. I didn't know him at first. He's lost eighty pounds since then. We talked about all the people we started out with and how few were left on trail. Of my original eight, we're all off trail now until I get back whenever.It was very quiet after Bear. We ate, read, relaxed and visited. As I was packing up some stuff Rain Maker came off trail. He'd started in mid-May, is doing huge days and flying up the trail. Like the others I asked about people I'd left behind. Last two of the day were Hui (Humuhumanukunakuapuoa) and Salt with her dog Pepper. I'd seen Hui last at the Doyle Hotel and said help to him in the dark later further up the trail. He's always been in good shape without an extra ounce of fat. Even though Rainmaker told us he was coming I still wasn't sure it was him when he came out of the woods. He's almost gaunt with a much thinner face, bony with angular shoulders. I hadn't met Salt before, but they both looked like stick figures. They were so happy to see us and the ate and ate. It wasn't hard to get them to have more of everything. Salt slathered the Fluff that Andrew contributed all over a banana and ate as it dripped. We left as they were setting up in the stealth site we'd used Saturday night.I was jealous and inspired at the same time every time some one tied shoes or boots and headed out. Washington and Madison are the next peaks up the trail. Every time I wished good luck it was heartfelt and sincere. I just with them all the best in the world for doing what they're about to do. Trail angeling ain't hiking, but it's incredibly satisfying.Most recent entries: 7/6, 7/7. Slow loading more pics into the gallery and linking to appropriate entries