Date: 2015-08-31
From: White Mountain Lodge and Hostel, Gorham

To: Trident Col Campsite
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I was getting back on the AT directly from the hostel (the AT runs right in front of the hostel), so I did not have to worry about catching a shuttle or hitch hiking back to the trail. But I did have another problem, I needed to replace the tips on my hiking poles. A few days ago I saw Leki tips for sale at the AMC lodge in Pinkham Notch. At that time I checked my poles and the tips seemed fine. Apparently the 21 miles up and over Wildcat and Mt. Moriah were very rough on my poles and tips. One tip was completely gone, and the other tip was almost gone.The hostel was shuttling hikers to Pinkham Notch, so I rode along. I bought the tips, but I had no idea how to replace them. Fortunately a great guy named Derek, who works at the Lodge and is responsible for maintaining loaner hiking gear, replaced the tips for me - at no charge.Derek was impressed at how roughed up my poles were, and called them "vintage." VINTAGE??!! If he thought my poles were old, how old did he think I was? I asked, but he never answered.I rode back to the hostel and got busy. I had food I had to eat, packages to get ready to mail, journal entries to finish, and stuff I had to get into my pack. After earlier having a full breakfast provided by the hostel, I had a "brunch" consisting of an orange, banana, ice cream, and jerky.I sent a box to my husband containing my lighter sleeping bag, liner, and other things. I also bounced a box forward to Andover to the Pine Ellis hostel. Anything I would not absolutely need for the next few days was bounced forward. I wanted my pack as light as possible for the dreaded Mahoosuc Notch and Mahoosuc Arm.For those keeping track, I have the same hiking poles, I have just replaced the tips for the first time. I am still using the blue beast, a Gregory Diva 70 pack, but she is definitely showing signs of wear and tear - and she smells TERRIBLE!! I am on my second set of socks and liners. I am on my third pair of boots (my 1st pair were more than broken in and I really should not have started the AT with them). I have the same sleeping pad, a Thermarest Neoair which I love. I am on my fourth sleeping bag. I started with a Kelty down 20, temporarily switched to a synthetic Mountain Hardware 32, used a down Mountain Hardware 45 most of the summer, and now I have the down Western Mountaineering 20 which I LOVE.I am back to wearing light weight Smart Wool tops. During the summer i wore Patagonia synthetic tops. And I am still wearing Columbia Sportswear zip off pants, but I have gone down in size TWICE, and I am getting ready to go to a smaller size again soon. I have ripped holes in my current pants going over the rocks in NH and ME. So I am trying to wait until I summit Katahdin before switching out my pants again.I finally got all my chores done and was ready to hit the trail by about 1 p.m. I started with a road walk, which always makes me a little nervous. I worry about getting hit by a car or missing the point where the trail goes back into the woods. Plus walking along a hard dusty road with a heavy pack and hiking boots is not comfortable at all.The trail finally went into the woods and the climbing started. Fortunately it was a fairly easy climb, it was a beautiful clear day, and there was a slight breeze. And there were blackberries and blue berries - so I ate yet again. I climbed up Mt. Hayes, a climb of roughly 2,000 feet, with no problems. But the descent was a little steep. Then I went up and over Cascade Mountain. This time the descent was a lot steeper.I got a late start and, therefore, I did not expect to get very far. Although it was .2 off the AT, I decided to call it a day at the Trident Col Campsite. The AT is calling. I am looking forward to finishing NH and starting ME.