Date: 2018-08-17
From: Imp Shelter

To: US 2/Gorham, NH
Miles today: 8.3

The threat of rain had us a little nervous given that we had a 700 ft ascent then a 3300 ft descent for the day. The first thing we did, when we woke at a little before 6am, was check the weather forecast. It had changed from "a chance of rain beginning at 2pm" to "a chance of rain beginning at 7am". We hate to pack our packs in the rain or to carry a wet tent, so we quickly jumped out of the tent and packed up. We hit the trail at 6:50 am under clear skies.First was the climb of 700 ft. up Mt. Moriah. The trail was at a fairly good angle so we made good time until we reached the rock slabs, which is today's picture. We probably had 1/2 mile of easy slab walking. The nice thing was we had great views (still no sign of rain..Wahoo!). We finally reached the top and began our 3300ft descent. The ascent had only a couple of short areas where we had to use our hands instead of our poles and the descent was the same way. The descent was a steep trail, but it was a trail! Given the threat of rain in the forecast we were only taking breaks every 2 hours; and given that the trail was actually a TRAIL, we were making some good distance between breaks. With about 3.5 miles to go, the trail crossed the Rattle River and began to follow an old road. With a more gentle slope and a generally smoother surface we were able to pick up our speed. That was good because the sky was now overcast and a freshening wind said that rain was on the way.We made it to US 2, our destination, by 2:45pm. We hiked up the highway a 1/4 mile to the Rattle River Hostel and Lodge. It had been our intent to stay there, so we had our resupply box sent there. Fortunately, when Spider had called yesterday to confirm the box was there and to reserve a room, he found out the box was there (Thanks, Ginny for mailing the box!), but unfortunately, no bunks or rooms were available. Spider phoned a couple other hostels only to find they were also full. With the impending rain, hikers bail off the trail like rats abandoning a sinking ship! So in desperation Spider phoned the same motel we had stayed at a week ago, the Royalty Inn. Being about the most expensive motel in town means its rooms are the last to go. Sure enough, they had a room available. Wahoo!We stopped by the Rattle River Hostel to pick up our resupply box and to ask about transportation for the 3+ miles to Gorham. The hostel provided a shuttle service to Gorham but only at 2pm and 6pm. We didn't want to we sit around for 3 hrs waiting for their shuttle. The proprietress said most hikers hitchhike to town, that locals are pretty good about giving rides. So with darkening skies, we grabbed our box and headed back to US 2. We decided to walk toward Gorham and have ET stick her thumb out any time a vehicle approached. After a 1/4 mile of walking down the road and about 40 vehicles passing us by, we were beginning to think we might be walking all the way to Gorham. Fortunately, just as we were thinking this, a pickup pulled over and offered us a ride...Whew! We put our packs in back and just as we crawled into the cab, it began to rain. How is that for timing?The driver was a local who split his time between New Hampshire and Montana. He said he often picked up hikers and took them to Gorham. Through conversation it turned out he knew of our hometown, Orinda, because he had friends who live there..small world! Thanks to this Trail Angel for saving our feet from having an added 3 mile walk and for letting us stay dry.We arrived at our motel at 3:30pm. After checking in, the first order of business was a SHOWER! Next was the first load of laundry. Then we got horizontal. At 6pm we headed to a local pizza place for food and libations. We were back in our room by 7:30pm. We watched TV and killed time until 9pm, when we had arranged a phone call with our oldest son. Once the called was over, it was bedtime. It was way past hiker's midnight!Animal sighting: We saw our first grouse as we were going over Mt. Moriah. We had heard other hikers talk about them but we had yet to see one. They are noted for jumping onto the trail in front of you with a flutter of wings (scaring you half to death!) then running down the trail. What they are doing is protecting their chicks through distraction. The chicks were somewhere near where the grouse jumped on the trail. By running down the trail the grouse is expecting the threat (us!) to follow her...away from the chicks!Milestone: We passed the mile marker for 300 miles to go to the end of the AT