Date: 2007-09-29
From: Gentian Pond Shelter, NH

To: Carlo Col Shelter, Maine
Miles today: 5.5

I woke up when Greg and Ken woke up. I really like these two cats. They both have done extensive winter hiking in the Whites and New York. I have alot to say about them. I guess I will organize them by person. Greg "Bearman" : He is 57 and looks like he is 35. Cut like Terrel Owens. Very down to earth. Atempted the AT twice in the 70's. Once hitch hiked to avoid the regulations of The Smokies and ended up in Camp LeJune, SC. I dont know how that happened. His second attempt in 1976 was with two other guys and they carried several body building and body sculpting apparatuses. Like me, they knew the importance of a full body workout. This year he got to Hot Springs, NC. He says that he no longer has a desire to finish the entire trail. He had some great stories about climbing Mt Marcy, NY(the highest peak in NY) below Zero degrees with 30 mph winds for 16 plus hours; but, never giving up until he got to safety. He heard my story from The Windy Presidentials and said, "that is how you learn. You get singed here and there; you learn; then maybe once you get a 1st degree burn; you learn; not a third degree burn." I was thinking: "how in the hell can I have a controlled burn and not let it get out of control and die!" Ken "*& you" : 55, Possible Golf Club politics in his future and another winter camping enthusiast. I dont think his wife will read this; so, I will tell the story he told me about climbing The Wildcats(A thru D) in 10-15 feet of snow(Ken, e-mail me if you want me to delete this). Well, he was climbing up in snowshoes and got caught in a bowl where the spruces closed in on him and he got stuck. His snowshoes were pointing down and could not move them and the snow was pressing his pack against him; so that he could not move. He said he paniced for about ten minutes. He tried forcefully and wildly to get out of his pack to free himself; but could not, all he was doing was getting dangerously sweaty. Then he got emotional and irratonal, wondering if he would see his family again. Then he did some sort of self inflicted Hiemlich Maneuver and freed his waistband. He then hiked up to the Ski lodge where the Ski Patrol told him he had to ski down right then. Where this is where his trail name comes in. He told them "*& you", I did not by a lift ticket; you are not responsible for me. He also told me some great hate stories about the AMC(Appalachian Mountain Club). The best was how the club pays these dedicated, minimum wage earning hut folks, trail maintainers, and caretakers hardly nothing; why the leadership flies of to Zurich, Switzerland on hiking trips with donation money. OK, what I really liked about these guys was that they lifted the burden of "Kathadin Syndrome" off of me by telling me that they need a fourth for a winter climb of the mountain. Now, if I get there and it is closed. I can go up with these guys. Im holding you to it fellas. Ok back to my hike. I got going and noticed my right knee was killing me. It has never really hurt. It does now. Oh man, just what I need. The day consisted of a very cold and windy climb over Mt Success(yep) with me occasionally trying to get cell phone reception. It nearly froze me to death. I then decended down to a Col(Gap) and took a picture at the MAINE sign! That's what I said, Maine, Man(like mane). My last state: Ga to Me! I then did some more merciless up and downs and went down to the Carlo Col Shelter. It was very chilly for me; my knee hurt; and to be honest, good company; so, I stayed and ate some more sleep aid and went into a dream.....