Date: 2008-07-27
From: Eliza Brook Shelter, NH

To: Kinsman Notch, NH
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Man, did it storm last nite. It was crazy though. Usually you have somewarning as the rain drops start slowly coming down...then harder and harderright? Not this time. It was like someone hit an "instant rain" button and itwas dry and in a micro second down pouring. I've also not heard thunder echoand roll off the mountains like this before. I totally enjoyed this though, itdidn't freak me out. I knew I was as safe as I could be. The storms started at8:30 p.m. and lasted probably 40 minutes. Another round didn't quite hit usaround 11:00 p.m., but you could enjoy the thunder.Birds as usual woke me up early. I layed there an enjoyed relaxing. I got up,got my food out of the bear box and looked forward to this milk and cerealbreakfast. I'd never tried powdered milk before, and was totally surprised athow good it tasted. The Kashi was a bit like Sugar Smacks, but I think I'llget different cereal and try this out for something new.   I was wearing mycrocks and when I took my left foot out I wondered why I had this slimey brownstuff on my foot. I looked inside and a slug was in there and I'd been walkingaround with it in there! GROSS!!!We were off a bit after 8:00 a.m. and I knew it "should" be easier thanyesterday. Actually, it was significantely easier to me, and today's 7.5 milesreminded me of parts of Vermont, nothing like yesterday. The topos showed aflat 1 mile to the base of Mt. Wolf, but they topos lied. It was puds all dayactually. Today was humid and a bit overcast, but the weather cooperated so Iwas happy.We started the climb up Mt. Wolf, which was slow going. It was sort of awatered down version of the past 2 days. No extreme verticle stuff, but therewas some rock scrambling and holding onto tree roots, etc. at times. There wasalso plenty of butt scooting, which I have to do a lot more than A.M. and V8,because they both have longer legs than me. Today's hike was just sort ofmonotonous really. Up...down...up...down...up...down...with no views. Wenever got above 3,478 feet, so no above treeline stuff either. In my mind, itwas all about getting to town for real food again and celebrating that I amfinished with 25% of the Whites.It was thick pine forests too, with green moss everywhere. Very muddy trailwith a lot of rock hopping, trying to walk along large sticks and hope youdon't roll them or fall into the deep thick stinky mud. Today my hiking polewent 3/4 of the way down in one spot where I tested the depth of the mud.Crazy....So I have to say...V8 and A.M. are adorable women. It's just cool being aroundidentical twins, which I never really have. You can see this connectionbetween the two of them that I'm envious of, because I know I'd never be ableto have it since I'm not a twin. They do this hilarious thing..when the trailactually gets "easy" or "nice," one of them always goes, "La la la." I don'tknow the story behind it yet, but it makes me laugh every time. They are justfun women to be around.On the East Peak of Mt. Wolf, there's a sign that states, "Overlook," but we alldecided to forgo the view and keep hiking. We were still moving at slightlymore than 2 mph. I like their hiking style, because they take short andfrequent standing breaks at the tops of climbs and they take more snack breaksthan I do. I'm learning a lot from them actually, especially about somedifferent food options.I noticed in places where I had to butt scoot, they were wedging theirboots/shoes into the crevace. I finally asked what size shoe they wore. Wellman...they have size 10.5 feet! I'm dealing with a size 8, and my feet justslide into these cracks. They aren't that much taller than me either, but Ialways figured I had very small feet for my body.We got to the sign that said we had 2.4 to go and decided to stop for lunch. Iwas starving. As we sat there, a lot of hikers came through and some of themremembered A.M. and V8. I feel like I'm amongst celebrity here...which isreally fun. There was also this very brave chipmunk that seemed to totally notcare that I was standing there. She was scurrying all over, looking for crumbsand I started snapping pics. She got within 10" of me and was just standingthere. It was really cool.We moved on, and I had taken my feet out to dry for lunch, which always feels sogood, so I felt a bit fresher, and much more energetic than yesterday.Up...down..up...down...climb...descend...over and over and over today. That'sexhausting too..so I guess I'm saying I'm never freakin happy huh? LOLWe came to a brook and I was hoping it was Olesons Brook, which meant we had 1more climb, but the V8 mentioned there was supposed to be a brook before thattoo. Her and I are very similar in that we like to have a visual in our mindsof where we're headed, so we like to look at the maps. A.M. doesn't likeknowing and likes to take it as it comes. It is SO interesting seeing thesetwo interact.I started hearing traffic, so I was counting on this last climb being the onethat would take us to the Dilly Trail junction, and if I saw that I'd know itwas the last one. Well...a few minutes later..there it was!! YIPPY!!!!We met 2 guys there who asked how hard/long to the Eliza Brook Shelter. It wasalready very late in the day and we told them we left at 8 a.m., and now it was3:30 p.m. They were a little clueless I think, but they seemed to be ok witharriving at the shetler around 11 p.m. Hope they have fun nite hiking.Up and over this hill and then down..down and down. The traffic started gettinglouder so I was getting stoked. It's totally different when you know you'rehiking to a car and not to a campsite where more energy is required to set upcamp and survive.Finally, by 4:30 p.m., we were back at the car in Kinsman Notch. I felt SOPROUD of ALL of us. We had just hiked some tough stuff and A.M. and V8 aresuch total troopers. I just can't get over how they are hiking with all ofthat time off.We put our packs in the car and drove over to get the other car @ FranconianNotch. I stayed with V8 and she picked up 2 hikers that needed a ride to acampsite. These men are section hikers and meet up every year to hike anothersection. One of the guys has been doing this for 12 years and next year he'llactually complete the AT. WOW!! That's always so exciting to me.We got back to the Autumn Breeze, which by the way is a fantastic motel. It'sright across the street from the Carriage House, which is about $5-$10 a nitecheaper, but this place is actually much cleaner and nicer. Fridge, microwave,coffee maker, sink, dishes, small table in the room and everything. It'sperfect.We decided to order pizza and all got cleaned up. I called Karen and you allwon't believe this...SHE'S DRIVING UP THIS WEEK!!! We've decided it's futileto wait till I get to Gorham. She can still do her work on the road via laptopand we're just pretty much done with the distance and separation, so after A.M.,V8, and I work out the logistics of our next leg, I can tell Karen where to meetus. You all have no idea how that feels. She'll be with me till the endnow..and hiking with me from Monson on...so I am so totally relieved andecstatic. I'm also excited for everyone to meet everyone. Us gals are gonnahave some FUN!!I went over to their room, pizza came, and V8 had walked next door and picked meup some Dr. Pepper. So seriously, I'm like the most spoiled rotten hiker IN THEHISTORY of AT hikers. I ordered a large for myself and ate 6 PIECES..andprobably could have eaten all 8! We all had a really great conversation aboutthe differences in how men/women grow up and discover sexuality, etc. Man, I'mEATING UP this great conversation with these totally intelligent women. It'sawesome.After pizza, we had already decided we needed icecream, but decided to walk downto the stand on this beautiful wonderful evening. I got a double dip...MooseTracks and Deer Tracks. I called it the "Bovine Special." We walked aroundand looked at the menus of all the different restaurants. Yup...3 hikersalways with food on our minds. While we were walking down the sidewalk, I heara man's voice, "Hey...is that Certain?" It was Fat Chap (from the hostel)driving by after dropping some hikers off! Good to see him again.Then we got back and decided to tackle logistics of our next leg in the morningover breakfast. I got to my room and enjoyed a long conversation with Karenagain and finally went to sleep.I am amazed...simply amazed at how the company of 2 wonderful people, (and ofcourse 2 cars) has changed the experience for me. I've been hiking solo sincemile #500 and I'm up to (drum roll please) 1801.3 miles! WOW!!! That's a longways to hike by yourself.So tomorrow, we zero and figure out stuff. It's so fun doing this with otherpeople again, and by the way, North Woodstock is an AWESOME town. I love thistown too. Cool shops, plenty of restaurants, everything within walkingdistance, 24 hr laundry right next door.So anyway...another small chunk behind me. Life is so good right now.~Certain