Date: 2014-08-19
From: Kinsman Notch

To: Eliza brook Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: broken clouds

I missed out on the first shuttle to Kinsman Notch, because I thought it would not go until after breakfast. The other car was full, so I wound up going solo, which cost $30 vs. $6 yesterday. But the driver showed me a beautiful waterfall off Route 112 I had not known was there. Amazing shapes where the water has been wearing at the rocks for thousands of years. I'll have to bring Lee and explore it. A group from the Lincoln School -- The Girls of Summer -- was set up in the trailhead parking lot with trail magic. They did it one day last year, and today was this year's outing. I was full from breakfast -- had made my own but ate two leftover pancakes while waiting for my shuttle -- so I just took two chocolate chip cookies, chatted a bit, signed their guest book, and headed to the trail at 9:40, late for getting to the shelter I hoped to make, but I knew I could stay at Eliza Brook and still make Lincoln tomorrow.The weather was dramatically different at the Notch from that in Glencliff. I woke to what seemed like rain, and the tent was wet, but we were in a valley fog. Not far from the hostel, we drove out of it into a clear and beautiful day. The trail went steeply uphill and was very rocky. It continued to be slow going for most of the day, and I felt like a tortoise, managing not much better than 1 mph. I took a break after 3.3 miles, which had taken me three hours. St. Rick came by, and we talked about his new pack (a GoLite), the PCT, which he has done, and the difference he is feeling between his first AT thru-hike ten years ago and this one. Then, he said he was one of the guys, closer in age to the younger ones. Now the younger ones treat him as someone older (he is 45). He also said there seem to be fewer older people on the trail this year than before. He finished the first hike in five months, and he will take the same amount of time for this one.My Queen of False Summits alternate trail name was apt for today. I stopped and sat on a rock I thought was the top of Mt. Wolf to check for a cell signal and try to make a reservation for tomorrow night. Wound up spending an hour, but I do have a place to stay, and I was able to text Lee. After leaving, I discovered I had another 15 minutes of climbing to reach the top. I did not go out to the overlook, because of the time spent on my false summit. About a mile and a half later, Princess Northstar came along. He had spent the night in W. Woodstock. We laughed about my having told him yesterday that we would probably not meet again. In fact, we are both camped by the Eliza Brook Shelter. Since the long climb up South Kinsman is ahead, I toyed with the idea of finding a stealth site, but it was 6:15 when I got here, and it seemed wise to stay and try for an early start in the morning. I know the trail will be difficult, but I hope there are at least a few parts where I can manage a good pace.Met four SOBOs today: Vulture and Cactus, a young couple from Indiana who are looking forward to some less rigorous trails, Hydro (not the Hydro from several days ago) from North Carolina, and Freight Train. Could be that I will see one or more in the south on my flip flop.Ate a whole Knorrs pasta side with a bunch of additives -- dried carrots and tomatoes, TVP, and beef jerky. Would never be able to eat that at home, but it filled the empty space in my stomach. Looking forward to some town food tomorrow! Incentive to move faster, since I have about 8.8 miles to go, beginning with a climb of nearly 2000 feet.