Date: 2006-07-27
From: Beaver Brook Shelter, NH

To: Eliza Brook Shelter, NH
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: 0

Cell none.I got up a little later than normal, and didn't get going until 7:30 am. There was a method to my madness in that I wanted to stop at a snack bar at the Lost River Reservation in Kinsman Notch, and it didn't open until 9:00 am.The fisrt mile and a half was straight downhill. The trail follows the Beaver Brook, and at times I was next to the water. At one point the trail had wooden blocks attached to the rocks to make stairs. There was also a few rebar handles to hold on to in tricky parts. Rebar is the name of the metal rods that are used to strengthen concrete. There are many other uses for it, and, in this case, they made handrails.I did have one time when I had neither rebar handrails nor wooden steps, and I fell. My foot slipped on a wet slippery rock, and I went down so fast I couldn't recover. I ended up scraping the side of my head on a small pine tree. That little tree kept me from falling into the brook. I'm not really hurt from it, and I am okay. That was my only incident on the trail all day, so all in all I had a good day.The shelter log (where hikers sign in) here at this shelter has numerous postings of people slipping and falling due to wet rocks or mud. After reading them, I consider myself lucky, and I'm not complaining.Today was another short milage day, partly due to the late start and the hour spent getting to and eating at the Reservation. Once I leave here, the trail goes straight up Kinsman Mtn. The guide book says it is a fun beautiful climb on a sunny day, and down right miserable in the rain. I'll let you know which card I drew tomorrow. I didn't attempt it tonight, as it was too much for me to tackle this late in the day.Oh yea, last night Sue told me she hopes I don't lose any more weight out here. I weighed 165 lbs last weekend, and that is down a few pounds from the last time we read it. This [165] weight is right about in line with my Weight Watchers goal weight. I don't want to go below that, or I'll be too thin. To combat the problem, I ate two Sausage, egg, and cheese bagels, one chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwich, and a bottle of coke at the snack bar. I also took a cheeseburger and three 3/4 ounce single servings of chedder cheese for lunch. I think I'm okay, and I'll try to get good food in as many towns as I can.The shelter I'm at tonight is right next to a flowing brook with clear cold water. I filtered enough water for dinner, breakfast, and to hike with tomorrow. I've gotten to like the spring water out here so much I find town water doesn't taste good to me. I'll probably need to filter my drinking water for a while after I'm home. We have a Britta filer pitcher, so I hope that works. At the shelter with me tonight is "Katie Did," and "Shagbark." They were also at the same shelter as me last night. They are doing the AT in sections, and they are not doing big miles each day. I seemed to be on the same course as them for a few days. I don't know how long we'll hke together, but it is interseting talking with them. We hopscothed each other today while hiking. They said my tent was still quiet when they left the shelter this morning. I passed them on the way down the mountain. They passed my location when I was having breakfast, and I then re-passed them on the way here. It's funny, I've had younger faster hikers pass me like that, now I had a chance to do it.Well, I have a hard day ahead of me tomorrow, time to say goodnight. Old Goat