Date: 2008-07-28
From: North Woodstock, NH

To: North Woodstock, NH
Miles today: 0.0

Well, awake @ 6 as usual. I got up and exploded my pack, dried out my tarp, letmy hammock and sleeping bag get some air. Then I decided to look at the nextleg and see what I could come up with. I wanted to be able to offer a fewoptions and see what we could all come up with. I'm telling you all rightnow...10 miles a day is pushing it for me with a full pack, and it's definitelynot fun for them.We decided last nite that the signal it was ok to knock on the door was if theblind in the window was up. I was up before them I think. I did see V8outside around 7, and she was getting her tent out to dry. She said A.M. wasstill soundly sleeping.Around 8, V8 knocked on my door and said everyone was awake, so I was like"Peg's for breakfast again?" She was like, "Yup!" We all walked down there,and V8 (I'm renaming her the Logistics Genius) said something that almost mademe fall on the ground. I told them I had come up with a few plans to get fromFranconian Notch to Crawford Notch and then V8 goes, "Well, I think I figuredout a way...maybe you'll think it's complicated...but a way to slackpack almostall of the section from Franconian Notch to Crawford Notch." My jaw dropped andI couldn't wipe the smile off my face. A.M. I think was speechless too.We got to Peg's and I ordered the Hungary Man's breakfast (I actually saidHungary Woman's..but the server was not amused). 3 eggs, 2 pancakes, 3 bacon,2 toast, homefries, coffee, and I ordered OJ. I actually was STILL hungryafter eating all of this...oink oink oink again.So V8 has this huge thick book of info about hiking just the WhiteMountains..all of its side trails, lists hiking times, distances, EVERYTHING.Her proposition is to use multiple side trails, which yes, are "non-counting"miles towards the AT, but we'd be able to do day hikes, light packs, enjoyourselves, not worry about the weather, and still hike every inch of thissection over the course of 4 days, with a 2-day hike where we spend the nite ina hut. I mean REALLY? Can this woman be any more of a freakin genius? Theydidn't know if I'd be unwilling to break it up, have to hike several "extra"side trail miles, etc. My response was, "Um...if you are offering a way to beable to hike these mountains with a day pack, where it will significantlyINCREASE my enjoyment, where stress levels are lowered...then I'd be stupid notto agree to it." See, I want to hike every inch of the AT. I'm not a purist..Idon't care if I go north or south, I don't care if I have a full pack or daypack, I don't care if I sleep in a cushy motel or in my hammock (as long asit's not a tent though). So she figured out a way to prevent us from having tohut hop...prevent them from paying out the wazoo for huts stays (they didn'tfeel right claiming to be thru-hikers, so they are going the reservation/bunkroute, and I'm going to try to pay $8.00 to sleep on a table...and try not totake work for stay so thru's can have that). Oh my gosh...I can't believe thiswoman. I think A.M. was equally stunned. I did try calling the AMC Hutsmanager, Eric to ask about this $7.00 option of sleeping on a table, and I hadto leave a message. I'm waiting for a call back. I told them I'd take thechance that it would work out. $85.00 for a bunkspace is a little steep.We were at Peg's with maps and books spread all over the table listening to V8'sideas. We started working through car logistics, lodging logistics, etc. Imight actually get to ENJOY these beautiful mountains! LOLWe went back to the motel and decided on the plan of the day. They needed toplace the other car in its location. I needed to find a library with acomputer, because I have been SO tired, I've fallen behind on journaling, soI've just been writing out the points I wanted to talk about, without actuallytyping it all out. And I said I'd do all of our laundry, and then we need tohit the store for some supplies.V8 found the library and dropped me off. They have 2 computers with 30 min.time limits, but they don't kick you off if nobody is waiting...thankfully. Italked to Karen and she's definitely going to be here on Thursday evening, andmight even do 1 of the day hikes WITH us!! Honestly, people...my world can notbe more perfect than it is at this moment.V8 told me to call her when I'm finished and she'd pick me up. Oh, they botheven offered to let me take their car if I just felt like I needed to go drivearound by myself! Where did these 2 come from!!!?It's 1:30 p.m. and I'm FINALLY caught up with journaling. Man..I can't let thathappen again. So much to talk about with these ladies and these mountains.Anyone who has hiked is probably wondering how I manage these lengthy entries.Honestly...I sometimes give up sleep, sometimes take a zero. It's just thatimportant to me to journal, and I know I'll be so glad I did it like this whenI'm finished.So, more may happen today, but I'll fill it in tomorrow. I need to go dolaundry now and get my pack ready for a day hike tomorrow. Folks...I'm stillin a state of disbelief at how this all worked out. I have no words....I'M SPOILED....I'M SPOILED...I'M SPOILED.....~Certain