Date: 2008-08-20
From: Imp Campsite, NH

To: Rt 2, Gorham NH
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: few clouds

Woke up rested and so happy to see the sun - cold but clear this morning, sun slanting through the spruces, promising some warmth eventually. It was in the low 40's. I had not brought my micropuff jacket this time, deciding in favor of a lighter and tidier pack, using the reasoning that ultralighters use: "If you're THAT cold, just get in your sleeping bag!!" Well, I WAS that cold, but chores needed doing, like getting the food down from the tree - jacket would've come in handy here. As it was, I just hopped back in the tent and ate cold cereal while sitting up in the sleeping bag, Then, pulled stuff together the best I could and set it up so that when I got out of the tent I could keep in motion with stuffing my pack, taking down the tent and getting on the trail. Usually this is a gentle, peaceful process of leisurely stopping, starting, thinking and packing - today it was brisk and purposeful.Today's hike was a pleasure. Good trail, amazing rockwork - stairs of all designs on any steepish area - evidence of years of maintainers' attentions. Maybe because this section is more accessible it has gotten more of the trail work.At any rate, the weather was exquisitely beautiful: warm sun, dry cool air, and we sailed up Mt. Moriah with shocking ease. The views from various points were stunning. The summit was still cloudy much of the time but there was lots of sun in the valleys, which you could see from up high. Odd effect. As we made our way down the Rattle River Trail it got sunnier and sunnier. We made it down to the road by 3 or so, having had several leisurely breaks. One was for coffee (!) which AM brought and fixed for us all, in a little moss and baby spruce-ringed resting place on the way up Moriah. The other was by the side of the Rattle River at an extremely scenic rushing, waterfalling, pooling area with nice rocks to sit on and eat lunch while enjoying the ambiance. Here Certain stuck her feet in the icy water - seemed to like it, but I wasn't quite there yet. Would have to be a lot warmer day for me to be in the water. Karen came to pick us up, such a great luxury for which I am so grateful. So often these hikes require long car drives at the end to pick up the first vehicle, and you have to save energy for this activity. Since we were getting picked up, we could start unwinding at the trailhead - nice feeling. And it was so fun to watch Certain's joy and relief at having completed "The Whites", and to be part of the project.The Town & Country Motor Inn is just a few miles west of the AT crossing on Rt. 2, so we were "home" in a few minutes, taking showers and changing into dry COTTON clothing. It feels so great to wear a cotton T-shirt after spending days in polyester. And, luxury upon luxury, we decided to have dinner at the restaurant attached to this motel, and treated ourselves to serious steak dinners all around. I am beyond pleased to have completed the Wildcats/Carter section of the AT, and very grateful to have had such good companions on the way. This section scared me so much that I had put it off until now, and I am very glad I waited til I was in prime hiking shape to tackle it. It was hard enough as it was!