Date: 2019-07-30
From: Hikers Welcome Hostel

To: Inn 32
Miles today: 9.5

9.5 miles3978 ft up3123 ft downChecked out of the hostel around 9am and started the big ascent up Mt Mousilauke. Today was dedicated entirely to this ascent, and I was thinking of staying at the shelter that was just down the other side if I was too tired, so I didn¢t yet make hotel reservations for North Woodstock, where I needed to stop to pick up some packages.Wow, what a mistake in judgement! The ascent was maybe medium level difficulty. Got to the top which was super bare. Reminded me of Mt Greyback in Southern California. There was even a similar ground tundra (?). The trail to the top was very rocky, with flora on a thin topsoil surrounding both sides of the trail. Doubtlessly erosion caused by hikers like me on this popular trail.The view was ok. But the folks gathered at the top was the big disappointment... folks taking off their shirts to pose for photos, being loud and annoying and such. I think I have a natural aversion to day hikers like these because they represent reverse culture shock... they are representatives of the world I have tried to escape temporarily. And yet they are similar - I am sure some of those folks were up there to escape society if even for just a day, on this Tuesday.I took a few photos but wanted to get off the peak as soon as possible. I found that I needed to hike just a few hundred feet north, passing a few giant rock cairns, before getting out of earshot and eyesight. I set down my pack on one of those giant rock cairns and took a nice relaxing break, and a few more photos, including a selfie at a bad angle... but a selfie nonetheless, a rarity with me.I was feeling bold, I knew I could reach the hotel today, so I called and had them put down my name.Little did I know that the most challenging part of the hiker was about to begin...The descent started ok enough, all the way to the shelter. After the shelter, the trail was flooded over with a stream. Ok, I have seen this before a few times... just needed to be careful with the slick rocks.Continuing on, cascades paralleled the trail on the left side. This was the most slow and challenging 1.5 miles of my hike so far. Giant rock steps, wooden stairs drilled right into the rocks for support, and in some places some rebar handles. If it was icy or rainy I would fall for sure... As it was, parts of the trail were wet anyhow, due to the river and probably some humidity.I have to say that since resuming my hike about a month ago, I have slipped a few times but haven¢t fallen yet. But on this stretch I managed to do a slow-motion fall backwards, where I caught myself perfectly and didn¢t fall much at all... so maybe some sort of a half-fall.The wooden steps were there for help but they somehow ended up being the scariest part. A few times on those steps I felt a sense of fear I didn¢t often feel on the trail luckily... the sort of fear of heights, of standing on one of those fire towers I couldn¢t quite ascend fully...Took it slow and safe, and it was a tedious effort but I finally made it down. That descent made the whole of Mt Mousilauke pretty much an all-day affair... I ended up passing up two other groups despite going slow - maybe I was too sure of myself. One group was an older lady that was intent on watching me as I descended towards them through a tricky section. I felt like she was just waiting for a spectacle waiting me for me to slip and fail somehow. Too much pressure.Called up the hotel and they picked me up - nice service!Wayne¢s has station and deli had a great beer and food selection, and it was right across from the hotel, so I was happy to veg out the rest of the night!