Date: 2008-08-23
From: Hogan Road, Gorham, NH 

To: Gentian Pond campsite
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Well, then. Today's hike took us almost 10 hours to do 11 miles. The profile showed a 3 mile uphill hitch to Mt Hayes, another 2 miles down then up to Cascade Mtn., a mile dip down to Trident Col, almost 2 miles up Wockett Ledge, and over 3 miles over and down to Gentian Pond Campsite. We started out at 8 a.m., packed for a four night, five day section. My pack was heavy, but still under 28#. I do well with about 25#, and figured that I would be eating down the extra 3# fairly quickly. I felt the added weight, however, and told myself it was good for enhancing my conditioning.   The day was warm and sunny, another utterly delightful experience after the dark, cool raininess recently.    We stopped for lunch at Trident Col, after fetching water at the stream below the site. There is a tiny meadow-like spot before descending into the campsite proper, which is where we spread out for a restful break. We met Chowdah, a Boston and Denver area distance hiker doing half the trail this year. She hikes with her dog, Buddy, and seems to be both strong and realistic about what kind of mileage works in this terrain. I took off my boots and peeled off my socks during this break, as the heat had really built up, and rested my soles on the cold stones. I put together a salami and cheddar sandwich with a packet of mayo, on a smushed bulky roll, and munched down half of a cherry pie Lara bar for dessert.    Next we labored up Wockett Ledge, lots of slabbing across rock faces and dodging tree roots and muddy spots. By 3:30 we stopped for a snack and a break in the still-brilliant sun, spreading ourselves across the mica flecked boulders atop the ledges. Breezes moderated the heat, and I reflected on how precious the good weather was during NE hiking. It was positively amazing to actually lounge around on the ledges in that warmth and brightness before heading on towards Gentian Pond.    At that point Certain took the lead, and her steady example pulled us all along on what turned out to be quite a long afternoon. There were countless swampy areas with the requisite rock hopping, which slowed us down, balanced by lots of bog bridges which allowed us to move a bit faster.Once again, we had the experience of the incredible expanding mile, as we finally got to camp around 6 pm. It was growing darker, and all the sites but one were filled.   Tufts University had a group of orientation students out on a backpacking trip, and they were clustered around the largest platform. Their animated voices were a positive tone in the background, all except for when I went to bed and wished it were a bit quieter. Soon I heard Certain slide out of her hammock, get up and quietly walk over there, and whatever she said, they were perfectly quiet afterwards.   I have more than that to thank Certain for, as she immediately set about helping me set up my hammock when we got to camp. We were all wiped out, so this was going beyond and above... It was my second attempt to sleep out in the hanging bed, and this time I made it all the way through the night. I used a borrowed Hennessy UL Backpacker A-sym, MacCat fly, with a Shenandoah quilt used as an underquilt. It will take some getting used to, as the Hennessy bottom entry arrangement is awkward for me. I love the concept, but will need more practice organizing my gear in camp, and learning how to rig the thing for greatest comfort getting in and out. With my Double Rainbow Tarptent, I have room to put everything inside. I could hang gear from the hammock guy lines, but will need to bring carabiners for that purpose.   As we discussed which trees would work best for our hammocks, I noticed several old mounds of bear scat right next to the place I was going to sleep. Mama and a cub or two had clearly passed by this grove of spruce after a blackberry feed somewhere. As long as they hadn't fed on the last hiker's food bag, I was OK with the week-old signs.   Tomorrow we plan a shorter day, over to Carlo Col, thus a later start. I look forward to sleeping in a bit, and enjoying this amazing summer weather while it lasts. I have felt some sadness creeping in as the hiking with Jan and Michele comes to a close. It surprises me and then I remember that its almost fall, and time to begin the re-entry process soon. Auntie Mame------------------------------Allow us to help those in need, sell back your spare PocketMail and make some extra pocket money.