Date: 2008-07-04
From: speck pond lean-to

To: stealth campsite
Miles today: 15.9

Up at 5 and out at 6 today. The terrain has been brutal and we are once again trying for a bigger day. We were hoping the early start would help us out.Finished climbing up Old Spec. Seems almost every mountain we summit is above the treeline. This makes the steep climbs well worth it. Getting up and down isn't easy however. Steep and wet, a fantastic combination.A relatively easy downhill, and we actually made some speed for once. Got to our first road in three days and took a quick break before our next climb. We left the AMC section and started on the MATC section, our last maintenance group.Up a relatively well graded hill to a shelter where Stovie had a meeting with the privy, then up the steep last thousand feet to the first summit. Oh yeah, almost every mountain around here has multiple summits. We usually hit all of them, even if the trail has to make a U-turn. That's how the AT rolls here.First summit was alright, and then we saw the second one: a huge rock dome with a very small spattering of trees.Well, up it we went. The mountain was pretty much a single huge piece of rock. It was pretty steep, and of course it was routed along the only stream on the hill. The AT is attracted to wet steep rocks. Fun climb up and sweeping views from the top. Took an early lunch here since we were thinking of an early dinner in town. Can't beat it for a lunch spot.Steep wet downhill. Went skiing a few times. This is where you are doing baby steps down a wet slanted rock and you slip and slide down because there isn't enough friction. Happens a lot, and it can be ugly.Eventually the downhill evened out and it was fairly smooth sailing down to B Hill Road into Andover.In the hour and ten minutes we waited two cars passed, one went right by, and another stopped to say he would pick us up but he was full. This wasn't going to work so we called a hostel and had them pick us up.Resupplied and I had two half pound bacon cheeseburgers and a 2 liter of Brisk. That hit the spot.We decided not to stay at the hostel because it wasn't really worth it and we were already planning on staying in another town a few days up. The place was a little sketchy too.Got a shuttle back to the trail and hiked about a mile and set up camp. Shocking. Once again didn't hit our mileage goal, but we easily would have if we didn't lose so much time on town with the failed hitch. Oh well, that's how it goes sometimes.As a side note, I usually have tons of songs running through my head all day long while walking. The AT passes through lots of mud holes, crosses streams, and takes you to places that haven't been dry for a million years. My shoes and socks are quick drying, but it still sucks hiking in wet stuff so we try to rock hop and avoid getting wet if at all possible.One time when I missed and landed deep in a puddle, a song popped into my head that fit the situation perfectly. Don't like the band, but that's how my internal jukebox works.In the End by Linkin Park:"I tried so hardAnd got so farBut in the end it doesn't even matterI had to fallTo lose it allBut in the end it doesn't even matter"Pretty much perfect. I shared this with the group and we now all sing it when someone takes the plunge.Glad I'm back with Stovie and TBear, makes for a much more interesting day.