Date: 2003-07-25
From: Hanover, NH (425') 

To: Moose Mountain Shelter (1850') 
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

Aloha! As I sit here, I contemplate my, formerly believed excellent, decision to stop early and just chill out. What was I ever thinking! Not 15 minutes ago I was joined by 13 way too happy (read noisy) campers - 10x 14/15 and one each 18, 19 and 20 year olds. Camp America has come to Moose Mountain Shelter. Joy! And it was such a nice, quiet and peaceful day. {sigh}    The "gang" has hiked 2.5 miles to get here and you would have thought it was a hundred. I'm sure I was but I don't remember being quite so melodramatic. They're so funny. Now that we've asked and answered all the normal "you've hiked from where?" questions they're deeply engrossed in several games of Spades awaiting "someone else" to get water and set up the tent. Life is good as a hiker... and teenager. Humm... I should probably get us here before I continue regaling you with teenage whatever¢s. The Panarchy was interesting to say the least. Remember what I said the other day about The Barn? Well, I take it back. In comparison to the Panarchy it's a ten. I know that free is a good thing but even dirty smelly backpackers have their limits. At least this dirty smelly hiker does anyway. Well now wait; I say that but I did stay. So I guess it wasn't horrible but I was up and out early. As were three others.   After a tasty breakfast with Gouda, No Stress, TLM (The Little Mermaid, a guy) and Storm'n Norman, I was off. But not before I realized that Storm'n is the same Storm'n from 2001! We can't quite penpoint where we met in 2001 but both remember meeting. I'm not sure what his story is but it looks like another wounded soldier back in the battle. Neat!   (Ahhh... it's tent-putting-up time. This is entertaining. It doesn't seem that the counselors have ever done it either.) I was out of town by about 8a and happily hiking in the woods shortly thereafter. Like yesterday's ending of major road walking, today's started out with about a mile of it. Hanover sure likes their pavement. It was pleasant though since it went through the middle of town.   My first full day of NH hiking was quite pleasant also. It presented a little taste of a variety of things it has to offer. There were the mid-size rocks, the mud, the pine forests, the preparatory huffer/puffer UP, the slick rock downs, and the so-called beaver ponds (no beaver houses, critters or even water to be seen, just a picturesque marsh). All in the minor version.   (Ok, tent number one is up on the hilliest ground around. That was fun(ny).)   One thing I did notice different about NH is the ground. Since I spend an inordinate amount of time looking at the ground all day, when there's a change in it I'm one of the first to notice. Go figure. The change took a moment for me to even realize. NH's ground sparkles. Yep, it has a nice silvery sparkle to it. I don't have the foggiest what the rock composition is in this neck of the woods but I'm guessing quartz. It's pretty neat. The sun hits it and it literally sparkles. I'm taking this as an omen of the many wonderful things to come. What that's saying? "All that glitters is..." (Still working on tent two.) Not long after I left the so-called beaver pond I had a pleasant surprise. Cypher came to greet me! If Cypher is present then Chilz won't be far away. With a grin on his face and a toothbrush protruding from his mouth he seemed as pleased to see me as I was him. I had thought he was far ahead after last seeing him at Killington. It turns out he had gotten stuck in Hanover for several days and had finally made it out yesterday to the first shelter. This was his first full day back on the trail. We spent the next several hours meandering along and UP to here. We had both decided to spend the hotter part of the day relaxing here with him probably staying and me possibly moving on. As you can tell, I stayed and so did he. We spent a lovely hour playing "if I do this then I can do _____ tomorrow". One of Chilz's suggestions was the Firetower Shelter and Campsites at the top of a mountain tomorrow. Done. Sounds like a breathtaking plan. I will have to get UP and out early if I want to climb the vertical mountains before it but what the heck. Gotta go that way anyway. With the decision made I set up my tent and sat down ready to write to you. Silly me.   (Okay, tents two is almost up. Wait, what's that? An ATV! Coming down the side trail. Great!)   That's when the "gang" arrived. Boy, are they energetic. Had I come up on the group I would have certainly turned around and gone back up the .3 miles to the trail and looked for another place to camp. Teenage energy... way too much for me.   (Tent three is up and now the debate about who's going to walk all that 150 yards to the water source.)   While the "gang" has been going, two SOBOs have arrived. You could tell by the look on Walk Man's face that he was ready to turn and go. It was his partner Tenderfeet that made the decision to stay. Sure glad they did because it was nice to have adult conversation amid the cahos. Tenderfeet and Walk Man are an enjoyable newlywed couple from Alaska. They originally started this venture in Georgia, hiked to Pearisburg, VA, took some time off the trail and jumped to Katahdin. They're now heading south. Tomorrow they'll be getting off in Hanover to turn around and drive back to the White Mountains to do them using the huts. (I'll explain all that when I get there soon.) From there they need to get back to Alaska to lead a canoe trip and then who knows what will happen then. One day Walk Man hopes to do his own thru-hike. Tenderfeet would like to be the mobile support system... with a shower. (Each happy camper has filled one Nalgene bottle and the counselor is now responsible for inputting iodine tablets. No cooking water? Ahh... here comes the ATV again!) I've sat and chatted with the SOBOs while Chilz has worked diligently at getting these kids a decent fire. The "gang" is now on their third course for dinner (mac and cheese, I'm not sure, and mashed potatoes). I hear smores are also on the menu. I'd stick around and yogi one or two but there's just way too much noise for me. Think I'll call it quits and turn in. Tents are safe. Not sound proof but safe. So, off I go. While I head off to sleep why don't you go out and find a group of teenagers and spend a couple of hours watching them. You'll be entertained I assure you. Good night.BSandTs: always assume I sweat.AandPs: left arch, improving but still there and right little toe is teeth grinding.MandGs: heat, humidity and UPs combined...waah!Critter count: 1x Red Eft, 1x small frog, 1x small mouse (just ran behind me)