Date: 2004-07-26
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.0

Hello everyone! Before I get into what I've been up to, I have to let you know how encouraging it has been to read my guest book. I love seeing that you all have been reading and following what I've been up to. It really has been encouraging.I'm in Hanover, NH. I just passed into NH as I crossed the Connecticut River an hour ago. This is a pretty cool looking town with the centerpiece being Dartmouth College. I'm at the public library now and have already hit the post office. My plans are to get some food and do some laundry before hiking another 12 miles or so. That'll put me at about 18-20 miles on the day.Last night I stayed at Happy Hill Shelter and had it all to myself. It's rare that I'm by myself. Last night was fun because the shelter was a good one. It got down to about 50 degrees last night and it was perfect sleeping weather. I think last night was my best sleep in the last month. I was out cold.I'm really looking forward to the next couple of weeks of hiking because I get to go thru the White Mountains and alot of it is abover the tree line. It's some of the most strenuous hiking that I'll have seen. I'm ready for the challenge.I still have plans on finishing August 20th or 21st. My goal is to be able to fly home on August 22nd, since it's my 6th year wedding anniversary. I'm hoping that being home at that time is a good enough anniversary present, but we'll see. I have to average about 17.5 miles per day the rest of the way and it's going to be tough. I hear that not only are the White's tough but Southern Maine is greuling. Some say that Southern Maine is the toughest section on the AT. We'll see!Yesterday I saw a HUGE coyote trotting thru the woods. I stayed still and watched it go by. I don't think it noticed me until it was already past. This morning I got a great video of a porcupine climbing a tree. It's nails were making a loud scratching sound as it went up. Hopefully the sound comes out in the video. Still haven't seen any moose yet. But I sure have seen alot of moose turds and tracks. I'm bound to see one soon.August 1st my Dad joins me for a week. I'm hoping that we'll still be able to keep up some big miles. There may be some slack-packing. I'm really looking forward to hiking with him thru some of the White's.I've heard from Litefoot, N-R-Chi, Over-Under, and Mt. Doo. They left a message from Bromley Mountain last Saturday night. At that point, I was 65 miles ahead of them. I really didn't think I was that far ahead but they most have been taking it pretty slow. On the trail, I only know who is in front of me since I can read the journals at the shelters. I am not able to know who is behind me. So, it's great to hear from other hikers (or hiker's Moms). Five days ago I jammed my ankle on a fallen tree in the path. It gave me some problems for 2 days and I was only able to make 11 miles each day. The next after that I hiked 18.5 and it was about 95%. The day after that (yesterday), I hiked 20.5 miles and think it's about 99%. Today I haven't had any problems with it but don't want to say that it's 100% yet. Glad it wasn't serious!Enough for now. Thanks again everyone for signing my guest book!!!