Date: 2013-08-25
From: Stealth camp @ Brackett Brook

To: Hikers Welcome Hostel, NH 25
Miles today: 11.5

I slept fantastically last night. At one point I'd swear I heard growling outside my tent, but in retrospect, I think it was just a dream. I awoke at one point to see the moon shining like a spotlight through the treetops. It cast a leafy shadow canopy against the top of my tent. I happily went back to sleep, tucked snugly in my sleeping bag. I wonder if I'll ever sleep so well again. When I got up, I boiled up some water to make coffee and hot chocolate/granola. I was feeling good and ready to hike. The ground is scatter with bright red and burgundy colored leaves. I don't see those same colors in the trees yet, but I think it's only a matter of time. I crossed 25A, and I saw a SOBO-er coming towards me. As he got closer, I realized that I recognized him. It was Emperor! I We shared a warm enthusiastic embrace. I had thought about him yesterday, and here he was! He gave me the low-down of the trail to come, and he told me about some of the NOBOs far ahead of me that he'd passed in the weeks before. It was such a happy reunion. I tried to imagine any situation outside of the AT that you'd experience such a genuine delight in seeing someone you barely knew and would probably never see again. We must have stood in the middle of the trail and talked a good half hour before one last hug and "good luck!" A few minutes later, I was moseying along with a smile still on my face. I was thinking about the trail but not necessarily paying close attention to the moment. Yet something caught my attention. I'm not sure if it was the cracking of a breaking stick or the rustling of some branches, but whatever it was, there was an alteration to the "soundtrack" of the woods. I stopped in my tracks. I looked towards the direction of the sound. The trees were pretty thick, but you could see a decent distance into the woods. My gaze followed the vertical lines of the tree trunks, but then it caught on a blob that broke the pattern. Could it be? The blob moved slightly, and I could make out an outline of a moose. A moose! She turned her head towards me, and her ears flicked catching the sunlight. She was standing maybe 100 ft into the woods. I took out my camera and starting taking pictures. None of them came out very well, and I had to fight the overwhelming urge to rush into the woods to get a better shot. All I needed was to be trampled by an angry moose cow trying to get a close-up shot. She walked slowly through the woods, stopping occasionally to snack on a leaf. She'd look lazily towards me, aware of my presence, but not overly concerned. I was surprised by how much she reminded me of a big horse or cow. She seemed much more domesticated than I expected a moose to act. All too soon, she moseyed her way out of my sight. I made it a point to enjoy my last "easy" day. Starting tomorrow, New Hampshire is about to get really tough. I did my best to hike slowly, savor the gentle terrain and the lovely smooth, flat, soft trail. I kept leap-frogging two other hikers- Pap-paw and Bazinga. As it turns out, both of them have kids in the military. Bazinga said his wife has been following my journal (Hi, Mrs Bazinga! Thank you for reading!)I stopped at Mt Mist vista to sneak a peek at Moosilauke. Thunderfoot arrived soon after me. We figured out that we started in Georgia about the same time, but this was the first time that crossed paths. It still surprises me how that can happen. We hiked down the mountain together, him slowing his speed, me struggling to keep up. He's a tall guy with a giant stride. I think I took three steps to each one of his. I had planned to stop at Wachipanka Pond for a swim, but we were barreling along and passed the turn off before I realized it. When we got down to NH 25, we turned east and walked the .5 miles to the hostel. It looked more like a private house, but it was full of hikers. Hipsy Gypsy & Oak, Walking Stick (who I haven't seen since Woods Hole in VA), Dr Who, Bazinga & Pap-paw and several others were there. Legion gave us the tour. I dropped my pack on a bed in the large tent outback. Pressure-D & Kathy, the Flying J's, and Tangy showed up a bit later. I took a shower and threw my clothes in the washing machine. Then I grabbed my book and headed for the hammock. I laid in the afternoon sunshine and disappeared into the book I'd picked up in Hanover. Steinbeck's Cannery Row. I think I have a new favorite book.Legion was going to run a shuttle into town so that everyone could resupply. While we were waiting, Hobo drove up with Barefoot. Hobo's sister, Becca, was doing trail magic, so he had her wheels (and white pants on). He offered us a shuttle, which turned into dinner plans. Soon Pressure-D, Kathy and I found ourselves back at he and Becca's cabin. We drove to a local pizza place and bar. Two other hikers were there attempting the "Pizza Challenge". If you can eat an 8 lb pizza in an hour and a half, you get it for free. They were doubled over in pain with half a pizza and half an hour to go. We just settled for some pizza to go with a beer while we waited. It seemed the more comfortable option. Hobo and I also decided to become hiking partners through the Whites and southern Maine. I've been nervous to go through it alone. I'd like to have an extra set of eyes and whits in case I need to be rescued.It was late when we got back to the hostel. We expected everyone to be asleep, but it seemed that most people were still awake. Pressure-D distributed the leftover pizza which was snarfed down almost immediately. I sat outside and talked with the Flying J's, Tangy, Prism, Jayhawk, and One Fish. Good times.When I headed towards the large sleeping tent, I got within 20 ft, I knew there was going to be a problem. Even from this distance I could hear the snoring. Ugh. I grabbed my sleeping bag and took it outside to one of the hammocks. I crawled in started to doze off. The stars were packed like sardines in the night sky. Twenty minutes later, I thought I was being sprayed with a garden hose. I opened my eyes. The stars were gone; clouds glowed in their place. And rain was coming down. Damn. I tried to get out of my sleeping back, but instead tumped the hammock over and I poured out onto the ground. I took my bag back into the sleeping tent and crawled on my mattress. I stuffed earplugs in my ears and hoped I could fall asleep. It started to rain harder, and that seemed to sooth the snorer into silence. Ahhh... A little while later, I turned over and realized that the top of my bag and pillow were soaked. I felt the mattress. It, too, was wet. The tent was leaking and dripping down directly on the head of my mattress. Come. On. I turned my head towards the foot of my bed and tried to aim my feet away from the wet spot, but I resigned myself to a lousy night's sleep.