Date: 2014-08-24
From: stealth camp - cemetery

To: Chet's Hostel
Miles today: 8.1

Climbing Moosilauke was no problem. It was actually great wen you look at it as testing your trail legs for these last 2 states which happen to be the most difficult. Ended up giving a sectioner some emotional support when I caught up to him halfway up. He was 2 hours into his hike and not having any fun. Said he just didn't have it in him. He didn't even look out of shape either. Glad I forgot to take a dress out of a hiker box because that probably would have been quite the insult. One of the older AT traditions is wearing a dress on this mountain because supposedly someone once boasted Moosilauke is so easy that an old grandma could do it (satire of course minus the few very badass grandmas out there). Thus people started wearing dresses up the mountain as a goof. This guy really wanting to quit but understanding the hike down is also not going to keep a walk in the park probably would have felt particularly bad if I blew past him in a dress. Taking in the view at the summit got me amped. Looking at the trail ahead was like getting a high. The kind of high that comes with taking in the moment right before you indulge in something you can't wait to start. In the sense that this moment of anticipation is better than the actual moment itself. It's the moment where you're about to start the ignition on your very first time driving a car. Or the first time you line of the sights of a loaded gun. Not quite the same as right before you're about to have sex but what's going to top that? All the hype about going down the other side Moosilauke was true. That really sucked. Would be absolutely treacherous to do that in bad weather. Parts of it was wet and slippery anyway because it goes along a cascade and some streams. These parts are nearly straight down which makes slipping a real possibility unless you're real careful. Actually lost a hiking stick while trying to find some handholds. I caught a tough hitch to Lincoln, NH for a resupply and also because there was no denying I needed a new pack. I was done with trying to make it all the way with this busted up pack that was now obviously way too big for me after loosing weight. Not sure if I already mentioned the problems I've been having but what really did it for me was some of the vital stitching holding key parts together totally ripped apart. While going up Moosilauke I had to improvise and cut a few holes so I could loop straps through, tie some knots, shove sticks in to keep it from slipping, and taping it in place just to keep it all together. When I found a pack I liked and strapped it on I was shocked by how good it felt to actually have a pack that fits. Because of that, I loaded up on even more heavy foods than usual. But I didn't want to just throw away my old busted pack. That's when I realized its Sunday and I'd have to wait until tomorrow morning for the post office. Motels were $144/night at cheapest in this touristy town though. I was ready to keep on hiking and hitching out was probably going to be tough. Luckily the guys at the outfitter informed me of Chet who doesn't have his info listed in the guidebook. I've heard nothing but good things about Chet from other hikers but assumed I'd miss his hostel since it's like a not so secret big secret.