Date: 2003-09-02
From: Garfield Shelter Campsite

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 2.7
Weather: overcast clouds

start Garfield Campsitedestination Galehead HutFor once we did not have to jump up and get in a hurry. We are only going 2.7 miles to the hut. When I got up this morning, my head was literally in the clouds. You could see the clouds as they blew in and out through the woods. Like a ghost walking in and out among the trees. Texas Jack had stayed here last night, the four of us enjoyed eating together and talking. At one point Texas Jack and Mudbutt broke into a song, harmonizing together in a tune that left Papermaker and I in stitches. There is no sign of the sun this morning, we hike along in a greyish white mist. Right at the start there was a steep descent, that had us scooting down the rock face on our butts. The trail basically stayed that way for the rest of the day. While we were taking a break at mid morning we were passed by two young guys hiking north. We looked at one another, trying to figure out where we had seen each other before. It was Burger and Pertinax whom we had spent some time with back at Four Pines Hostel!! We caught up on the news of everyone we knew. They are headed for the same hut as us tonight, so we will see them again. I suppose I will begin to see lots of other hikers that I have hiked with by skipping forward. I am somewhat dismayed that I have not come as far as they, but then I remember the fun things Mudbutt and I have done and all the different things we have seen and the people we have met. It has been a good trade off, less miles equal more smiles. Another northbounder came by me, T-Bird! I haven't seen her since Damascus!! Before we know it Papermaker and I are at the Galehead Hut. We pig out on the best split pea soup I have ever tasted, along with some coffee cake and plenty of hot chocolate, and all the water we care to drink. We think we have hiked into heaven! We intend to spend the night here and try to decide what to do about hiking the rest of the Whites. Mudbutt is having a really hard struggle. Some of the climbs are too high for her to even begin to step up to and the trail at times is nothing but boulders, pitched at wild angles that challenge even the most agile hiker.. That is hard enough for a hiker, but a hiker with a broken foot and a recently healed broken foot makes things very, very difficult. I admired her more than anyone I have ever met. She does not let anything stand in her way. She will try whatever she wants to and some thing she doesn't want to and do the best she can. Even if this involves sliding up or down on her buns to make a climb or descent. However, she is just beginning to think that this section of the trail is way over her capability level. So we need to back up and regroup, and make some new plans for the best of the hike. By mid afternoon, Mudbutt joins us at the hut. She wolfs down the soup and glass after glass of water. The rest of the afternoon we spent laughing and cutting up. Pouring over maps and data books. Wonderful smells waft out of the kitchen, making our mouths water. The hut crew here is a fantastic group of young men. They do all of the cooking and house keeping. The crew here is John, Cris, and Gregg. Several of us jump up at the chance to set the table. We think that this will hurry dinner along. There are eleven hikers here for dinner. The menu board says honey glazed ham, vegetables, french bread and a suprise dessert for dinner. We pace around the dining area, like hungry caged animals, waiting for their meals. Finally the table is set and we sit down. The first course is more of that fantastic split pea soup, followed by a tossed salad. Thick slices of homemade French bread, slathered in real creamy butter accompanies each course. The main course is honey glazed ham, thickly sliced decorated with chunks of pineapple, mixed vegetables finished off the main course. Then it was time for dessert. Homemade banana nut bread made with applesauce to make it more moist, and chocolate chips sprinlked liberally through out it. An assortment of hot teas and coffee brought the meal to a great ending. Almost dark brought a gentleman stumbling into the dinig room. Wild eyed and soaked in sweat, he staggered through the door announcing that he was finally here. He brought his two small girls inside, then went back down the trail to meet his wife. Evidently, their hike of the day was a bit more than they thought, and they almost ran out of daylight. I am telling you, they were glad to be here tonight. total miles 2.7