Date: 2004-08-17
From: 10 miles south of Gorham, NH

To: Osgood Tentsite, NH
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: broken clouds

15.9 miles todayTentingOsgood Tentsite, NHIt rained almost all night last night. I don't know exactly when it ended, but it must have been just before dawn because the trees were still dripping alot. I woke up at 5:30am and I made two bowls of cereal for breakfast, but decided to wait on the coffee.I slept nice and warm in my 10 degree bag. It got cold enough last night that my 45 degree bag would have left me cold.I packed up my wet tent and started hiking at 6am. The trail was an obstacle course trying to avoid all the water and mud. I got started early because I had the lunch buffet on my mind that they have at Pinkham Notch. I've had their breakfast and their dinner before, but this will be the first time for lunch there. I hiked over Middle Carter Mountain and South Carter Mountain, then hiked down to Zeta Pass. The overgrown trail just kept me soaking wet all morning. It wasn't too bad until I hiked up to Mount Hight. The winds were blowing about 30 mph and it was 50 degrees. I was soaked, so it felt pretty cold up there. I was walking in clouds all morning.I hiked on down to Carter Notch Hut. I wasn't going to stop, but I'm glad I did. I ran into a sobo by the name of Bigfoot. He had hiked some of the trail in '02. There was also a section hiker by the name of Cleaning Lady. She said that after picking up my pack, she may keep on hiking in the future. I think she was tired of carrying a too heavy pack through these mountains and thought that was the only way. Her pack weighed more than twice what mine does.I hiked on up the mountain from there at 9am. I had 6 miles to go to Pinkham Notch and 3 hours until lunch, but I knew I had some steep ups and downs. On my way slipping and sliding down Wildcat Mountain, I ran into a nobo by the name of Willy Wonka...at least I think that was his name...he had a British accent and was hard to understand. A little while later, I was about half way down the mountain and I ran into "Just Do It." I hadn't seen him since CheapShoe had honored him with her special trail magic down in Tn....a Snickers bar. Yeah, yeah, I knew that CheapShoe remark would cost me, so go ahead and put your link here----->(313K Transcriber's comment - One has one's pride! The intelleigent reader already knows where to click.)I hiked on down the rest of the way to Pinkham Notch and got there just after noon. It took me 3 hours to go 6 miles from Carter Notch Hut to Pinkham Notch. I'm just glad I didn't fall going down Wildcat. I slipped a few times, but was able to catch myself.I went in to the visitors center and bought a buffet. It was soup, sandwiches and salad. I filled up with two sandwiches, a bowl of soup, a salad and carrot cake loaded with blueberries and whipped cream on top. I also had my coffee there.After lunch, I went out on the porch and emptied my pack out to let everything dry off in the sunshine. That's right, the sun came out while I was going down Wildcat and it turned into a beautiful day.I may be in trouble with my socks. I only have one spare sock {that's all I usually carry} and I noticed my one sock is getting a hole in the toe. Both socks have big holes in the sides, but that doesn't bother me. When they get a hole in the toe, I usually have to get rid of them. I'm not getting the mileage out of these socks that I have gotten in the past.This will be the 3rd sock I've worn out and I've only gone about 1000 miles.I spent 2 1/2 hours at Pinkham Notch before I hiked another 5 miles up to Osgood Tentsite. I ran into a nobo by the name of Pipesmoke on the way. When I got to the turn off to go into the tentsite, there was three nobos sitting there that I had met down south. Slim, Biscuit and Wicked Lobstah. I met Wicked Lobstah on the next to my last day of my southbound thru hike back in February.I set my tent up on a tent platform and ate a few snacks. I was still pretty full from that large lunch I had.I feel like I need to mention Goosebump The Snow Princess here. I got a sorrowful email from her today. She doesn't think anyone loves her anymore. {She is big and fat...pregnant with Rainbow Slipped}I love you Goosebump The Snow Princess and I'll bet your other friend does too. I probably wouldn't even notice that shelf for your beer cans.Another great day on the A.T.