Date: 2013-08-09
From: glenncliff hiker hostel

To: north woodstock, nh. 
Miles today: 9.3

I'm back again. I woke at 5:10am on saturday morning and as soon as my mind started the thought process, i was completely consumed and excited to accomplish my goal of reaching north Woodstock. I left the hostel at 6:50 and climbed over mount moosilauke at 4810ft. The assent was a nice gradual grade with about3200 feet of elevation in a four mile stretch. The temperature was nice at the base but, as I climbed, the temps dropped and the wind picked up. As I approached the 3500 ft mark I was hiking in he clouds and the wind was gusting by now. The tree heights started at 65 tin70 feet and shrunk to 15 to 20 feet by then so their was less wind block and more wind. By 10:00 the wind was blowing about 35 to 40 mph sustained with big gusts I figure about 65 mph. This wind dropped the temps down pretty cold and it was a good thing I brought layers and my rain coat to use as a wind breaker with me or I would have had to hike right over without stopping as I was not going to risk hypothermia again. By the time I reached the summit the wind was gusting over 75 mph with about 50 mph sustained winds. The clouds were diminishing and the views were stunning. At one point I got blown right over and almost crashed also stood at almost a 45degree angle with the wind holding me up. Someone constructed wind blocks using stones to build a wall and I enjoyed lunch with the hikers I was with. After a half hour or so it was time to move as the temps were starting to get to me. The wind chill was around upper 30s to low 40s where as, when I started the temperature was 68degrees. Coming down was an even bigger challenge as the trail became so steep in places, you could reach straight out and touch the ground in front of you without bending down. I'm very thankful it wasn't raining as it was hard enough with a dry condition. The last 1.6 miles were treacherous and in some spots if you stumbled, well, lets just be thankful! So picture this, I'm coming down a man made stair constructed from 6/6 lumber and have to accommodate a hiker coming up the trail with a full pack. As I approach this person, I see a lady who I found out later was 82 years old, hiking up the steepest trail you could imagine with a full pack. She must have seen me descending but didn't realize I created space and was actually right next to her on the left. She's looking up and you can see the confusion in her face as she lost track of where I was so with a soft voice I said," I'm over here". She became startled and I was fearful she was about to have an accident an do a Indiana Jones type slide down the most dangerous part of the mountain. She looked at me and said with a relieved voice," can you tell me how far it is to the Beaver Brook Shelter?" I told her she had a little over a mile to get there and she thanked me and slowly climbed away. After seeing this beautiful lady out here living this adventure at her age, I will not let anyone make up excuses why they can't get out here and get some of this challenging yet rewarding adventure. I told her about the wind and temps on top and she said she was ready for anything and couldn't wait to summit. I hope when I'm eighty that I can still do this type of thing. I finally reached the parking lot I kinsman notch and was picked up a short while later by Alison. God she looks stunning! I managed to maintain my composure and gave her a long hug, just so happy and excited to see her and also proud I was able to meet my objective, 207 miles in 13 days. Alison and I celebrated my birthday by staying at the Woodstock inn in O'tools Roost which is a cozy romantic nook with hot tub and sitting room located right across from the inn. We had two days of excellent dining and relaxation. We went to the spa at loon mountain Resort with a complimentary pass and fully enjoyed the steam room and sauna, hot tubs and indoor and outdoor pools as well as food and drink. The breakfast at the inn is included with the stay and was in itself a dining experience. Thanks to Alison, I have my cold weather gear back and although my pack weighs more, I don't have to worry about the impending weather and associated cold temperatures that are to come. She also helped me do laundry and get my resupply for the next four days. I should be on top of mt. Washington by then and will stay at the hiker hostel on the summit. Tomorrow I will take another zero day as mother Teresa is catching up and, along with Peaches, we'll hike the white mountains and onto Maine and Katahdin. I saw Mother Teresa today for the first time since I went off trail in Damascus and she is in good health and spirits and looking forward to hiking with me to Katahdin along with Peaches and countless others thru hikers. Right now I'm at the hikers welcome hostel again in glenncliff and after having a nice meal with banana splits for desert, I am chilling out and getting much needed rest as the hardest part of the trail lies ahead. This should get real interesting! :-D