Date: 2003-07-30
From: Kinsman Notch, NH112 (1815') 

To: Eliza Brook Shelter (2495') 
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Aloha! Check out that mileage. Pretty cool, huh. It was another excellent hiking day. Damn I love this stuff!   Much to the disappointment of Storm'n Norman and Fly By, Gutsy (formerly known as Elizabeth) and I decided to forego slacking the 16 miles from Franconia Notch south to Kinsman Notch. It was a hard decision not to but we've since realized it was a good one.   We would have been two dead GRITS (Girls Raised In The South) had we done it. Well, maybe not dead but dead-tired. The 7.5 miles to get here was sufficient.   I once again said aloha to Chilz and my dog Cypher. With my slack yesterday and Chilz's zero day, he was starting 9.5 miles behind me. I don't believe for a moment that I won't see them again. We seem to find each other at the strangest of places and times.   And I'm glad we do.   Before leaving Gutsy and I got gutsy. We both weighed our packs fully loaded. For myself I'm not totally disappointed but would like to cut out more weight. With 3.5 days of food, two liters of water, a half-liter of Gatorade, and the recently received winter clothing, my pack weighed in at 33.9 pounds. Not too bad.   Two years ago I started with four days of food, two liters of water and a 6.5-pound pack and weighed in at 33 pounds. Since I've changed to a lighter pack (but increased the sleeping pad weight) I'm not sure how I haven't changed weight but I haven't.   Still, 34 pounds is excellent in comparison to most.   Now poor Gutsy got a true surprise. This was her first time ever weighing her gear. She skipped weighing it at Springer in GA, Harpers Ferry in WV and Boiling Springs in PA. She just didn't want to hear the number. Ahh... but that changed today.   With two liters of water and I believe four days of food she weighed in at 44 pounds. Argh! That would probably kill me. Luckily she's 16 years my junior and can handle it. She did admit tonight though that that number played havoc with her hike and she had a hard day.   As for the hike itself, there's really not all that much to tell about it. The trail in NH is doing its normal by going steeply UP and down at points and then roller coastering it in between. Tiring. To add to it, the mud bogs are pretty messy and nasty.   The terrain is going to be what gets both of us. Literally I mean. It got me yesterday with the fall in the rocks and it got Gutsy today. Nothing hurt and no blood (a slight tree scrap on the back of the leg) but still a full fall.   One of the SOBOs I spoke to not long ago said the thing she was most excited about was being out of the White Mountains.   When asked why she responded that she was tired of falling. Don't you know that made me feel really great? Well, neither of us intends to do any more falling. We're just going to continue north with Chilz's mantra - "slow and steady". I'm even going to try going so slow that I don't sweat and the bugs will leave me alone.   Argh!!! The only other thing worth mentioning for today's portion of the trip is that we had lunch atop Mt Wolf's east peak. The view was lovely even with the haze. As we were enjoying lunch and the view two-day hikers (ATC conference attendees?) joined us and gave geography lessons.   They started pointing out all the various mountains we were about to climb. {gulp} Some of them looked down right monstrous. Make that Monstrous with a capital M. I'm sure we'll do fine crossing them but they were rather daunting-looking from where I sat.   We made it into camp way earlier than I normally do. I had had a brief thought of going on another 4 miles to the next campsite but ended up happily choosing to remain here. That upcoming hump of a mountain could wait until tomorrow. With limited campsites here Gutsy and I are set up in a tent area almost doorway to doorway.   Glad we got these spots though because we have lots of company.   About 1.5 hours after arriving we were joined by ten young boys (11 - 12 years) and their two counselors. Unlike my last experience with a camp group, this one is nice and extremely well mannered. We spent quite a bit of time chatting with them about the trail; trail habits and anything else they wanted to know.   It was fun and funny. They're a good bunch of boys. Particularly since they're all asleep now, and have been for the past hour, and it's only 9p!   Shortly after their arrival another NOBO, Drifter (met last night at the hostel) arrived and was followed shortly by the NOBO Genesis and his dog Codie. It wasn't very long after his arrival that a second camp of boys (14 - 15 years; uh oh) arrived also.   They're tucked away UP a hill past the privy and we haven't seen them since. Add in another NOBO, Home Run, and four SOBO weekenders and we have a pretty full house. Even with everyone here, there's not a flashlight showing anywhere but in my tent and the only noise heard is the roaring of the brook and the tapping of these keys.   These type campers I can live with.   Well, that's really about all for the day and I am rather tired. Though it wasn't a long day it was a tiring one. Tomorrow will be slightly longer but at least it will end in a town with an $18 room. Don't say it, I know I just got a shower but it was an outdoor one and I still slept in a tent.   Okay, really have to go now. Eyes are closing. It's time we said goodnight and went and brushed our teeth. Mine are fuzzy feeling, how about yours?BSandTs: let's just say from here on out that there is sweat unless I say otherwise. Sweaty job this hiking thing.AandPs: same-same, move onMandGs: watching someone in the process of falling and not being able to do a damn thing to help... waah!Critter count: too many frogs