Date: 2014-08-20
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Franconia Notch
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Reboot, who had been at Glencliff yesterday morning, was also camped at Eliza Brook, and we left at the same time. He had done the whole hike from there yesterday, some 17 miles of very difficult terrain. He was hoping to get a motel room in W. Woodstock. We chatted for a little while, and then he took off. Today's trail was even more difficult than yesterday, with lots of sloping slabs and large rock formations to navigate -- plus mud. My walking time was eight hours. So slow, but others I met along the way agreed it was difficult terrain.I didn't see anyone else until nearly the top of South Kinsman. An orientation group from Harvard came down from the summit. There had been a Yale group at the campsite last night, and one young man told me they are not allowed to have phones or watches, and they were not told where they were going.The views were spectacular, first from a knob before the summit of South Kinsman that looked back toward Moosilauke, then a view toward Vermont, and then from the summit a view to the east of the rugged and beautiful Franconia Ridge. I could also see the Sandwich Range to the southeast, and just mountains everywhere. The day was still and pleasant, and I sat on the North Kinsman summit and ate my lunch. The hike down was just as hard as going up, particularly the Fishin' Jimmy Trail. I stopped at the Lonesome Lake Hut and got a snack. It is quite a place, and all power and hot water is from solar panels. Lots of people swimming in the lake.I met several SOBOs, including Dirty Girl and Spoonful (both guys), Swish and Hero, a couple from Indiana, Max Heap, and Birdie. I really enjoyed talking with Birdie and am sorry I won't see her again. She went to Daleville NOBO and then flipped to Katahdin to head south. Although she is no doubt faster than I, she seemed like a fun person with whom to hike.Talked to a man hiking with his daughter. He had lots of questions about gear, etc. he wants to hike the trail when she goes to college, and he said my story gives him hope.When I finally got to the place the Trail crosses a footbridge east of 93 and comes to a paved bike path, AWOL says to take the path east for a mile to a trailhead parking lot to find a ride to Lincoln. I messed up and went the wrong way, but I did get to a lot. Two young guys with a dog were about to get into a small Honda, and I asked if they were going south and could give me a ride to Lincoln. They agreed, but when we left the lot, we had to go north to the Old Man in the Mountains exit to be able to go south. Turns out Joey, the driver, had wanted to see where that had been, so it was not a bad detour. He lives in Manchester, NH, and wanted to see the mountains. He very kindly took me all the way to the other side of Lincoln to the Kancamangus Lodge. I thanked him, told him he was a real trail angel, and gave him a bit of gas money.Catfish was there (I had met him in Pennsylvania), and he invited me to have dinner with him at the restaurant that is part of the Lodge. He was waiting for someone who did not show up. After dinner, I did laundry and called Leigh. Turns out Mom has been in the hospital with high blood pressure and a UTI infection. Leigh said she had a few bad day but is now doing better, and her sense of humor is intact. I feel so bad for her having to go through such discomfort.