Date: 2005-08-23
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Beaver Brook Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: broken clouds

It got cold last. Not cool, cold, a crisp cold morning that warmed quickly as the sun made its way down the mountain. Everyone woke at various times and the coffee pot was working overtime as people drank coffee and got packed for the day. Today was the day we were going to lose Linux. He has prior commitments and has to finish before us so today was going to be the day he broke away from the group. The rest of the group, except for myself, was going to hike over Moosilaukee and then get a ride back to the hostel. I didn't want to go back so my plan was to end the day at the shelter just after Moosilaukee. We would try to regroup the following day at the Kinsman Pond Campsite. Everyone left at various times. We were going to climb our first mountain in the Whites and the air was electric with the anticipation. I was one of the last to leave and as I did I looked at the top of the mountain.It did not look too promising, covered in clouds and fog. Hopefully it would clear somewhat before I hit the top. The climb was long. A long steady uphill, not one that one up a bit, leveled, and then went up again, but a steady one. I liked it and the sun was trying to burn through the clouds. As I climbed I would look back, and catch glimpses of the valley below. The sights were just fantastic! As I got closer to the summit the trees got smaller and smaller until there were no more. Only a ground cover of some sort was growing. That, and a lot of rocks. The fog was pretty heavy on the summit but would clear with the wind only to thicken again. I took a picture of the sign at the top and then I heard some voices. I couldn't see who it was but I assumed it was part of the group. Sure enough, in a semi-circle rock enclosure, sat Mouth, LB, Touk, Gypsy, and Wildcat. That sight alone made for a great picture especially with the fog swirling around. We waited to see if it would clear but it was very windy and cold. As the body cooled from the hike up it was wanting to move on to get warm again. The others moved out before I did. The had been there longer than I so they were colder. I waited with Wildcat but eventually we gave up and left. As it always is, ten minutes after we left we looked back and saw that it was clearer. We still had some good views but one from the top would have been really awesome. I made it to my destination around 2:30. What a great view this shelter has. Wildcat, who is familiar with the area, pointed out the ridgeline in the distance. It was the Franconia Ridge, along with Mt. Lincoln and Lafayette. The place we would be hiking in a couple of days. It was a mesmerizing sight and after he left I spent a lot of time just looking at it. Over the course of several hours I watched Franconia Ridge become cloud covered, clear, and then become cloud covered again. I decided that if it wasn't a rainy day when I got there and there was a cloud cover I would sit it out till it cleared, based on what I watched this afternoon. As evening approached Kokomo showed up. He is another NOBO I had not met before. He said he was ready to finish and go home so I doubt I will see him again. About an hour after he came in Mayfly showed up. I was surprised to see her. I thought she was a couple of days ahead of me. We talked and then it was time for bed. We are here, in the Whites, the place we would talk about, with a quiet reverence, way back in the early days of the journey. Words can't describe the scenery enough and we are just starting into them. This is what we have been waiting for, walking for, and sweating for. This and the next 390 miles of the trail before we hit Katahdin. Can it be any better!?