Date: 2015-08-28
From: Carter Notch Hut

To: Imp Campsite
Miles today: 7.2

We had to be up, packed, and off the floor by 6:30 a.m. I got to try out my new Western Mountaineering 20° sleeping bag. It was a bit warm for sleeping indoors, but with a full length zipper I was able to adjust the temperature just fine. It is a GREAT bag. It had better be. It is the most expensive piece of gear I now own.I packed, ate a bag of my granola for breakfast, listened to the weather report, and headed out. I did not want to wait around for breakfast leftovers. The weather report was still clear with little chance of rain. But it was a tad bit nippy.Like yesterday, I was starting the day with a long climb, this time to Carter Dome. There were several wonderful views along the trail. I could look down into the Notch and see the Hut and ponds far below. The Hut looked smaller than the houses in the monopoly game. It definitely drove home how remote and rugged the Whites really can be and how very small i am in comparison.The clouds came and went, but the day was mostly clear. At Mt. Hight I had a clear view of the Presidential Range, where I had been not so long ago. It was so clear that I could actually see the towers on Mt. Washington. I felt very fortunate to have such great weather and views - I know both are rare in the Whites. There were several section hikers and day hikers in addition to the thru hikers on the AT. One middle aged day hiker came up behind me, and as is my custom, as soon as possible, I stepped off the trail to let him pass me.As he went by, in a very condescending voice he said "you must be planning to spend the night in the woods." I told him I was an AT thru hiker. (It should have been obvious from the size of my pack and the AT medallion hanging from my pack.)Then he said "are you going all the way" again in the condescending tone. (That should have been obvious from my use of the term AT THRU hiker.) I said Yep.Then, again in the same tone, he asked if I started in Georgia. I said yep and stopped hiking so the jerk would get well ahead of me and his stupid questions would stop. He did not thank me for letting him pass, so I quietly said "you're welcome."The day hiker took a little lunch break just off the trail and I passed him. A while later he was behind me again. As before, I stepped off the trail to let him pass. This time he said absolutely nothing. So I said "you're welcome" loud enough for him to hear. He responded with "you must be having a terrible trip." I replied that I was having a great trip.The day hiker then told me "you are the nastiest thru hiker I have ever met, and there was no reason you should feel threatened by me." Threatened? Where did that come from? I have chased bears and starred down rattle snakes with my drawers half down. No jerk day hiker was going to threaten me! I laughed and let him know he was no threat, but I did not care for his total lack of trail etiquette! Off he went in a huff. Thankfully I never saw him again.I considered stealth camping on Mt. Moriah. With the clear sky and full, or almost full, moon it would have been a beautiful night. But I just did not have enough energy left for the climb so late in the day. The descents today were so MUCH more challenging than yesterday. There were a lot of slick wet rock veins and vertical drops with not much, if anything, to hold onto.My back was also starting to bother me. I twisted it during the rain and wind storm on top of Mt.Madison a few days ago. I slipped on a wet rock and wrenched my back trying to stay upright in the wind. It does not bother me in the morning, but after crawling up, over, and down rocks all day, the left side of my back began to spasm.So I hiked the .2 miles off the AT to the Imp shelter and called it a day. I was the first one there, so I had my pick of tent platforms. (The shelter looked dirty, there was no broom, and I did not want to deal with snoring, so I tented.)Other hikers trickled in as I was tending to my camp chores. The caretaker also stopped by to collect $8. I had a nice conversation with a section hiker, who offered me some of his soup. I had already eatten, so I politely declined his offer. But I thought it was funny that someone would offer me, earlier called "the nastiest thru hiker", some of his soup.I had cell coverage, and I would be able to charge my phone tomorrow, so I surprised my husband and called him from the trail. It was nice to hear his voice.It was a bit chilly, but I was warm and cozy in my little tent and new sleeping bag. Thankfully I did not have to share my tent platform. But there was too much tree cover to see the moon. I slept well.The AT is calling. Just a little more of the Whites to complete, and then I will be in MAINE!