Date: 2014-07-08
From: Hanover, NH

To: Kinsman Pond Shelter
Miles today: 64.3
Weather: broken clouds

Day 118: Tuesday, 8 July 2014 Now I'm in the Whites!"I got your message and there must be a Buffalo impersonator! I did not sign my own Guest Book!" (On Sunday, July 6, there was an entry 'Buffalo enters the Whites!!!' The Mum presumed that Buffalo was broadcasting a message. I called and left a congratulatory message on his phone as well as a response in the Guest Book. Oh well, another mystery of the Trail through Trail Journals!) "I made it into the Whites yesterday, climbed Moosilauke. It's the first mountain heading north. Unfortunately, it was very windy and cloudy. We hung around a bit to see if the wind would take the clouds away but it just brought in more! I'm on Mt. Kinsman now. It's really pretty with an alpine meadow at the top."I told him to watch for Padre, a SOBO. I happened on his journal and found out he lives in a yurt and works in the forests of Maine. Thought that might be of interest to Buffalo. Padre was in Gorham yesterday so they ought to be passing each other this week sometime. This is Padre's 3rd AT thru-hike but first SOBO. (That's South Bound, in Trailese!)"I'm still with Boot Burner and Thirsty. I may not make it to Gorham by closing on Saturday to get my box, so I may get in, do some resupply shopping, head back to the trail and come into Gorham further along the trail. There are two ways to get into Gorham. I'll just have to see how it all works out. Will what you sent me be OK until then?" (I'm sending him a surprise baked item, hoping he'd get it Friday or Saturday.)"Well, it will be rather obvious if it's moldy! The second part will be fine; I suppose you'd probably eat it without the main part if you HAD to!""Like I told you, Jenna's brownies were fine even though I got them a week after she sent them."FAHthur and Buffalo talked more about the route for the Scout Troop's upcoming 50-miler, which may be a stretch along the PCT near Mt. Adams."Are you planning the route, Dad?""Well, with Dave (the Scoutmaster) gone for 2 weeks, I thought I'd get the process started, along with Clint (the hike master). If we do this route, we'll skip the Goat Rocks area and start south of there.""I'm feeling better and better every day, and feeling good about getting to Katahdin on the 1st of August to meet Uncle Dave and Aunt Barb. The only thing that could slow me would be the weather in the Whites, but I may be able to make it up on the flat stretches of Maine. My body's feeling better, and "hiker food" is tasting better than it did. I may not have to carry so much fresh fruit and veggies." (Be prepared with fresh stuff in Maine, Aunt Barb!)"I have a little neck pain, but it's because I head-butted a tree branch that I didn't see through the hat! Had a little headache after that, but it's mostly gone now." (Those overhanging tree limbs come up fast, especially for those of us who watch the trail and our feet more than what's ahead!)"We're planning to do a few more miles to get to Franconia Notch tonight.""Well, we better let you go, and besides, we're getting ready to head to California with Connor.""When are you leaving to do that?""Oh, hopefully within an hour!""You're leaving TODAY?""Yeah, we're going as far as Salem, then to Red Bluff, CA tomorrow, and into Sierra City early Thursday afternoon. Hoping to do Trail Magic Thursday afternoon. We'll head back on Friday after breakfast.""Cool. I'll have to give Connor a call tomorrow, maybe around 9am?""Nine or 10am. Hopefully we'll be on the road by then.""Have fun doing Trail Magic!""You too! Be safe and have fun!""Love you both!""Love you too, son!"The Mum and....