Date: 2007-07-13
From: Garfield Ridge Campsite

To: Crawford Notch Dry River Campground
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: light rain

Slept in this morning. Didn't start hiking until 8 AM. SHOCKING!! Still in the Whites, but only one big climb today, up South Twin. Along the way up this steep mountain, the white blazes disappeared. Not such a huge deal, but I started to worry a bit that I was exerting so much freaking energy on a trail that might not even be the AT. The more I thought about it, the more I second guessed myself and doubted where I was. Normally, when this happens, I just double-back a bit, see the last blaze, make sure I'm on the right path and keep going. But here, double-backing meant going back down a steep hill I had just climbed. yuck. Then, no doubt I would see I was on the right path and would have to haul my ass back up the same mountain. (yes----these are the silly thought processes of a person who has been in the woods a few too many months.)I see a dayhiker with legs like pistons motoring up behind me. An obvious athlete, he is sucking on the hose of his camelbak in between huge deliberate breaths. Definitely an athlete, not a clumsy hiker. I stop him and ask if this is the Appalachian Trail. He gives me a puzzled look, points to a tree 10 feet ahead and says, "That's a white blaze, ain't it?" "um, yes, I guess it is..sorry" I say, just noticing the first blaze I'd seen in a halfmile. "Alright then." and he cruises on past me, no doubt wishing the trail was free and clear of stupidass backpackers. After descending from South Twin, the trail flattened out for the 8 more miles until Crawford Notch. A nice easy walk to finish the day. At the road, it was 3 off-trail miles to the Campground and more importantly, the camp store. I really had to push it to make it to the store before it closed. I tried the "walk and hitch" game, but nobody stopped, so I stopped thumbing. Soon, after maybe 1/2 a mile, a car pulled over and the driver said, "Hey, are you Gopher?" "ummm yes," I said with a puzzled and perhaps frightened expression on my face. "yeah, Sundance and Pinky said to keep an eye out for you. I just gave them a ride." Oh sweet. Thanks Sundance and Pinky. (and I immediately forgave them and their mushy mushy kissy kissy trail romance that had me barfing the last couple of days.)   The driver's name was Rock Dancer and he was a previous thru-hiker who was sectioning through New Hampshire. Nice dude. The campstore was still open, and I had to make two trips. first for the obvious-B&J ice cream, a giant hersheys chocolate bar, and 2 liters of mountain dew. second for resupply. I was worried about this since this was more like a gift shop with junkfood and odds and ends stuff, but nothing at all that resembled a grocery. Then I found one section that looked like it was designed purely for the AT thru-hiker. Tuna packets, Lipton sides, Oatmeal packets, Mac & Cheese, little debbie snacks, deet, wet wipes, etc. Resupply complete. At the store, met Cottontop and Caterpillar, and of course, saw Sundance and Pinky again.I opted to be anti-social and buy my own campsite and spend the night alone in my tent rather than a smelly and crowed bunkroom that was set up just for hikers. My reasoning was that the price was the same and I wanted to get a good sleep free of hiker-snorers and such. Looking back, I regret not staying in the bunkhouse as I no doubt missed out on the joyful nighttime company of these other hiker/characters.I did sleep well though.