Date: 2004-05-19
From: Velvet Rocks Shelter

To: Smart Mt Firetower
Miles today: 21.9

og entry: 109Start time: 0715End time: 1600Morning weather: Cool but sunny. Damp after a night of drizzleAfternoon weather: Sunny and mild, slight breeze, about 60 deg.Evening weather: Clear and a slight breeze up in the firetowerBreakfast: Chocolate cake snacks, vanilla CIBLunch: Honey roasted peanutsDinner: Honey bunches of oatesTrail description: A marvelous day of hiking. Great views and easy walking for the most part. The climb up Moose Mt was so long and gradual it surprised me when I reached the top. The next climb was up Holts Ledges which was shorter and not near as dramatic as it looks on the profile map. The cliffs on the ledges were great but you couldn't get a very good look at them since you were on them. The real climb was up Smart Mt which could have been harder due to the fact that it was the last thing I did, after 19 miles already. This climb is actually worse than the map suggests.People: The Granite Grannies (9 of them) and a dayhiker.People: A couple garter snakes and 4 ticks.Money spent: NoneComplaints: I bumped my head hardcore on a support of the firetower and that hurts a bit but the day went great and I felt great.Thoughts: I woke up at 0615 and had to go to the bathroom. I figured that if I just went and crawled back in my bag I would sleep for at least another hour. So I went but then ate breakfast and packed up. It was nice to be on the trail early again.Nothing of interest happened until my climb up Moose mtn when I met the GraniteGrannies who were out on their normal Wednesday walk. It was nice chatting withthem, they had more nice and admirable things to say.I ate lunch at Trapper John shelter. Note that Wingfoot's guide says that it is.2 of a mile off the trail, the sign on the AT says .3, and after walking thereI say .4. But the walk was worth it because the privy was cool. The seat wasfrom an old rocking chair, adapted to suit the needs of a toilet seat. Verycomfy and no smell.While I ate I picked ticks off me. The trail winds through some meadows andthats where I figure they hitched on. All were big wood ticks, so nothing to bealarmed at.As I moved on and eventually up Smart mtn I met a young man about my age comingdown the mt. We smalled talked for a bit and I asked if the cabin up top wasnice. He said, "It has a nice firepit". It didn't sink in until I finallyreached the top and found that the cabin is pretty ghetto. I then planned onhanging my hammock but after climbing the firetower I decided to call that homefor the evening. Spectacular views. I am trying to figure out where I am headed tomorrow and then Friday into the Whites. I am pretty sure I located Mt Moosilauke which is just before the Whites. I am excited and to think that by lunch time on Saturday I will be in the Whites. This is my itinerary for the next 11 days or so:Date Day Ending loc            Miles5/20 Thu-Glencliff-            205/21 Fri-Eliza Brook Shelter   175/22 Sat-Liberty Springs Camp   11.45/23 Sun-Zealand Falls hut      17.45/24 Mon-Crawford Notch         7.75/25 Tue-Lake of the Clouds Hut 11.25/26 Wed-Osgood Tentsite      105/27 Thu-Carter Notch Hut      10.75/28 Fri-Gorham,NH            15.25/29 Sat-Gorham,NH            zeroThose are some pretty weak miles but EVERYONE tells me both how tough and howbeautiful the Whites are. So I am going to do my best to go slow. Most likely I will end up doing a lot of side trails to fill time. But we will see. Maybe 11 mile days will be all I can handle (before lunch that is).