Date: 2003-07-26
From: Moose Mountain Shelter (1850') ) 

To: Fire WardenÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Cabin (3240') 
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Aloha! So how are you tonight? Good? That's good to hear. Me? Why I'm excellent as a matter of fact. I'm sitting here in an old fire warden¢s cabin 3200' UP in NH. That's a pretty cool place to be in more ways than one. It was a lovely, long huffer of a day getting here but well worth the effort. Let me tell you about it.   When I left you last night I was headed off to sleep to the sounds of a bunch of 14 and 15 year olds discussing various parts of their anatomy. This incessant echoing chatter continued for hours. Each of the four long distance hikers said something individually to the counselors at one time or another to no avail. I slept through it but I understand from Chilz that it all came to an end at 2am when Tenderfeet went forth to battle. The story has it that she opened the loudest of tent flaps and proceeded to ream out the occupants. This would be somewhat like your mother blowing her lid. It worked though. There was not another peep out of them for the rest of the night. Pity I missed it. I can sleep through a nuclear attack.   I was not up and out as early as I had hoped but 7a wasn't too bad. I believe I've mentioned that I've accepted the fact that I'm not a mid-day hiker and getting the miles in earlier works better for me. With a couple of major huffers to face today I wanted an early out. It still wasn't too bad. The huffers were going to hurt me no matter what time I hit them.   Not long after starting out I ran into a day hiker named Denise. We ended up chatting about a variety of different topics but mostly the trail in summer and winter. Denise has kindly invited me back for a winter snowshoe hike over the same mountain I was about to hike. Tempting, very tempting. I may just have to look her up somewhere down the line. Nice lady.   While we were chatting Chilz and Cypher (I'm going to steal that dog before this trip is out) joined us trailside. I ended up hiking a large part of my day with the two of them. I can always count on our conversations being wide and varied when we're hiking together. Chilz's mind seems to be much like mine - always running and normally in every different direction. He's just more philosophical than I am. A good guy.   Our first huffer was UP and over Holts Ledge. A steep climb of 1350' in 1.5 miles. I huffed and I puffed and I crawled my way to the top. Only to stand briefly at the vista in hopes of seeing a peregrine falcon or two since this is a falcon rookery. No such luck. Not a one to be seen so back down the other side I went.   Upon arriving at the trail cutoff to the next shelter I got to feel like a movie star. Awaiting me were ten girls (about 8 - 10 years old) and all yelling aloha as I walked up. I immediately thought that Chilz, who had already made it there, had told them my name. That wasn't the case though. As it turned out all the girls were from a camp in Vermont called The Aloha Camp. How funny! When one little girl asked me my trail name and I said Aloha I was practically attacked with questions. By names alone we had bonded. They were so cute! All asking a million questions and actually wanting to know the answers. I felt like a celebrity! After about 30 minutes of the questioning (to include how much it costs to fly to Hawaii and will $600 get her a trip before she gets to high school?) they were off to spend lunch at Holts Ledge. They were so cute! Reminded me of my early Girl Scout Days and camp. Such fun.   While relaxing and enjoying a snack we met up with two SOBOs - Breeze and Rooster. We then spent the next 45 minutes taking notes and comparing stories on the accommodations awaiting us for the remaining portion of the trip and we did the same for them. Another relaxing break with good company; and we learned lots on top of it.   And that's when the hiking fun began. Up, UP, UP and away. First a relatively gradual climb and then a much steeper one. This time I started at something like 900' and went to the current 3250'. {pufff...} It was UP. A definite mild introduction for what's to come. New Hampshire is going to be anything but easy. Yesterday and today have been the easy stuff. I can't wait for the White Mountains. They're going to be exhausting but gorgeous. Or so I heard.   I had hoped to camp up here tonight but day hikers had taken all the level campsites. Sometimes you actually forget what day of the week it is and it's the presence of the day hikers that remind you. That's okay; the cabin was built and subsequently closed by the N.H. Forest Service. It's now used only as another shelter along the trail. With its panoramic views from the abandoned fire tower on the summit you know that it's at least a popular stopping point. Since I missed the sunset while having dinner I plan on climbing the tower tomorrow for the birds-eye view of what's to come. I'll take pictures if it's clear so you can see too. It really is okay that I'm in here though... because it's about 40 degrees out there right now! Getting my winter gear back for the big mountains to come isn't a bad idea after all!   My cabin mates tonight are Chilz and Cypher and a new-to-me NOBO named Fly By. Fly By has skipped forward and started back on the trail just today after having suffered through a twisted ankle and stress fracture around his shin. This is his third attempt to come back to the trail after not quite enough time healing. My fingers are crossed for him that his pain will be minimum but he's not holding out any hope. If you'd like to know more about Fly By he also has a journal going on Trail Journals. Check it out.   Okay, this place is turning into Granddaddy Long Legs Capital so I think it's time to shut off the light. My cabin mates are already snoozing away and I admit that I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes open. Time to close them. A girl does need her beauty rest you know. Particularly those that are hoping to climb a couple of mountains tomorrow. You sleep well and don't let the Granddaddy Long Legs crawl all over you.BSandTs: yepper on the sweat but not nearly has bad as I had expected. Low humidity.AandPs: same as always. Motrin is helping as is padding the toe and changing the tying structure on my left boot.MandGs: straight/vertical UPs!... waah!Critter count: 1x teeny tiny toad, 2x chipmunks, that's it.