Date: 2007-08-24
To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

mi. 14.6sleep hammockdest. Beaver Brook Shelter day 43 Today was a long day. I didn't get started until almost 8am. Which funny enough is an early start for Firework and another hiker. I enjoyed and had a good time hiking with them today. It also rained a lot last night. I stayed dry. Everyone else did too, but they were commenting about putting away the wet tent. can't say I mind putting away a damp tarp. Most of the water shacks out of my sil nylon tarp. Funny thing too. After all of my rants about snoring Firework said I snored some. Not very loud, but noticeable. If it keeps up or gets worse I'll take my own adivce and stay away from other people. We hiked semi together. They hike way faster than I could sustain for the 3rd day. They got ahead of me just before the Eliza Brook shelter. I fell back into my solo grove. I think I really enjoy hiking alone, I just like people at the end of the day. When I'm alone I think about things more and look around more. Partly because I was walking at more my pace. I did take a great swim today. The brooke just south of the shelter had a great spot. Right in the pool of a waterfall. Another great cold swim. I'm only in for a second. But I feel really clean when I'm done. I got to the shelter to see them eating lunch. They figured I stopped to swim. Funny how fast people get to know you. We sat there for an hour eating. Roy is loving the coffee I keep making. I think my trail name is really fitting. At the shelter was a group of people taking their yearly hike. They said it was their 30th year for doing it. Every year the same group plans a hike and whoever can make it goes. I think that is pretty cool. Best of all they gave me some great trail magic. Someone couldn't make it, so they gave me his lunch. A ham sub with lettice and chz, and an apple. I added it to the outside pocket of my pack and said thinks. After the shelter I fell back again. It was an hour or so after the lunch stop. I was getting really hungry and kept thinking about the sandwich. I also thought about how much weight it was adding to my pack. It didn't take long before I was stopped and eating it. It tasted fantastic. I really need to start packing out town food for my first meal. I keep saying it, but never end up doing it. I caught up with the other 2 when they were taking a break. They figured I stopped and eat it. We got down to the road and time to part ways. He needed to go back into town to the hostel we stayed at to pick up some gear he left there. I told him that I may leave some food for him at the hostel in Glencliff. I think I had my mom send too much too me. But I'm not sure yet. The climb up Mt Mosaloc was pretty tough. A steep climb with lots of rocks. The good part was lots of waterfalls next to the trail. I                                    The worst part was the climb was at the end of the day. Neither of us hd the gas in the tanks. I ended up stopping and having a quick snack. At the shelter was the biggest group of northbounders I seen in awhile. They are towards the back of the pack. Pretty soon any northbounder I see will either be hiking really fast or flirting with the closing date of Katadin. I did exchange email addresses with firework. He is pushing on to hanover and skipping Glencliff. He is hiking fast enough that I may see him in Hanover if he takes a day there. If not I might not for the rest of the hike. He wants to be done by Thanks Giving. A full month before me. So he is probibly going to pull away. I am feeling a short day soon anyways. The terrain is going to lighten out a lot after tomorrow. This is my last big mountain and tough climb for awhile, or so I'm told. The guide book seems to back that up. I think I may end up turning up the miles a little. I'm feeling a 20 before Hanover. The plan tomorrow is to get up around 5 am. Unfortunatly I had to set an alarm. It is about 8 miles to town. I wasn't planning the days right and tomorrow is saturday. The PO probibly closes around noon. I'm thnking that I can get in before then The shelter where I'm is most of the way up the mountain, and I heard the climb down isn't bad. I also want to get ahold of Jonathon at Moonbow. The company and guy who makes my pack. He said to look him up when I'm here. He is local to the area. I also want to reinforce some of the seams in my pack. A couple look overly stressed. The plan is also not to stay in town. The town is only .4 off the trail. So hopefully my first in and out might happen. I want to spend a day in Hanover, so I want to save my money for that. I have a line on some cheap and free places to stay. We'll see. Hopefully I'll run into Baltimore Jack. He said me might be in town. That might get crazy, but it would be fun. Roy keeps talking up the Dartmoth Library. It is supost to have a bunch of old rare books. I want to hit that up too. No one should be on campus, which is good and bad. Sorry for the short entry. I had been a day behind for awhile and wanted to catch up and it's getting late. The next few days are going to be busy too. I am really feeling a nero in the woods at a good spot after Hanover. I might have to pick up a good book to read. Yep my pack is just going to keep getting heavier.