Date: 2016-08-25
From: Gorham, New Hampshire

To: Carter Notch Hut - Mile 1,875.6
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: broken clouds

Summiting Mt. Katahdin a couple days ago was like being allowed to receive my diploma with my graduating class but knowing I had to turn in a homework assignment to make that diploma legal. So my hike today was starting to work on that missing homework that consists of this mileage patch between New Hampshire Route 2 and Mt. Washington.Today's start felt a bit like I was being penalized today. Beth and my trail family were gone. I was by myself and really felt like I was by myself when it took over an hour to get a hitch from Libby House to the Rattle River trailhead. Starting to hike erased all aspects of being penalized, it felt good to be out here. An upside to hiking today was having the opportunity to reflect on the Mt. Katahdin climb and to savor this whole hike, my trail family, and Beth. I also knew that I had some tough miles to hike today so I hiked with determination knowing, as Stripe says, "The AT isn't going to hike itself."I hiked alone for a few miles and then caught up to a southbounder - Brother Raccoon. He is a thoughtful young man for being just 23 years old. He said he sometimes didn't speak with people so I thought that was his polite way of telling me to shut up. But when I asked if I should shut up, he said no and that he felt he was learning something. That came as a shock because I'm still learning out here myself.I managed to hike to his pace for a while. We passed several northbounders and that was really weird because I am a northbounder doing this southbound homework assignment. Brother Raccoon and I introduced ourselves to the first few hikers we met. They were happy for me and congratulated me but it felt kind of weird so I stopped telling hikers about myself and let them think I was a southbounder like Brother Raccoon.That worked and made the introductions easier. And that was a bit of a change I noticed today too. Hikers in New Hampshire are sometimes introducing ourselves to each other. Some of these northbounders are still taking the time to meet new people and haven't yet been bitten with "finish this hike fever" that seems to result in not bothering to speak with any new hikers anymore. So, Brother Raccoon and I hike along getting to know each other. It felt good and today's climbs came and went with little fanfare. I stopped to take pictures at certain spots and Brother Raccoon waited patiently. Then it got a bit strange.First part of strange was running into Flash 52. Flash was confused seeing me walk south so that took a few minutes of explanation in addition to catching up with him a bit since I last saw him many weeks ago. Then I was shocked when I came down to a couple guys Brother Raccoon was speaking with and one of them said my name. Chris and Nick are doing the 48 4,000 footers. Chris was finishing his 48th today while Nick was bagging his 44th. I think that's quite the achievement. Chris apparently has been reading my trailjournal posts and thought he might run into me today. To say I was honored is a big understatement. Chris sounds like he would love to hike the AT someday and I left him thinking that anyone that hikes all 48 4,000 footers sure seems like someone who does what they set out to do, so my bet is that I'll be reading Chris's trailjournal someday.We soon met a hiking family of four who were out bagging some 4,000 footers of their own. The elementary school-aged daughter proudly told me that she too bad just 4 more 4,000 footers to go. I lingered a bit too long talking with this family and lost Brother Raccoon at this point. I was about to begin climbing North Carter Mountain. My notes about North Carter Mountain are scary. Gangsta called this descent "totally insane" and Lucky said he "almost bought it here." Since I was going southbound, I was climbing it instead of descending it. As I climbed, I realized how difficult this descent would be. It was a tough climb that I can't imagine descending. Lunch at the top of North Carter Mountain was a real treat as I could see for many miles below and the view gave me plenty of mountains to see. I was monitoring how many miles were ahead to be hiked today and got comfortable that I would get to Carter Notch Hut before dinner was being served. This awareness let me hike and enjoy the last 7 miles of today's hike. It started to rain lightly and I thought this good day was going to be ruined but the rain stopped and I really wasn't very wet. The final descent down to Carter Notch Hut was steep. I fell once and stared at the rock that did me in. Yup, I bet I'd fall again if I stepped on it a second time. Guess I was daydreaming a bit and not paying enough attention. I had landed very softly and found myself somewhat amused by the fall instead of being concerned and having to check for aches and pains. There aren't many people here at Carter Notch Hut. The Croo here was able to spend more time talking with us and one member are with us which was nice. I had seconds on everything and it was food I'd never tried before. I was reminded of Beth's dad saying that he hoped I wouldn't eat everything in sight once this hike ends. Having to curb our eating habits was a topic of conversation yesterday in the car with Subman and Suds. Must admit that I miss them already.So Day 1 of this missing homework assignment is over. I still have another 19.4 miles to finish but it sure feels close to being done now. Slug said he was a bit envious of me having this hike to do after Katahdin. Today was different but it felt good and I'm pretty happy as this day comes to an end.