Date: 2016-07-30
From: Hexacuba Shelter

To: Foot bridge stealth tenting site north of Hanover
Miles today: 22.0

I didn't sleep well. My sleeping bag is too warm for this stretch of trail and I need to swap it out. Up at 5 am, ate two oatmeal breakfast packets that I prepared for my mail drops, Starbucks Via French Roast, and was hiking by 6:30. We learned from the Nobos that water was scarce going south but there was a good water source 22 miles south at the foot bridge which also had a good tenting site. The only two water sources in between Hexacuba Abe's the foot bridge was at Lyme-Dorchester Rd, 10 miles from Hexacuba and 12 from the footbridge. The day started with an immediate 500' climb up and over Eastman Ledges followed by a 4 mile climb up a gradual slope to the summit of Smarts Mtn. The slope of the climb was gradual and was using my calf muscles and hamstrings instead of my quads. 4 miles felt like 6 or 8. At the top of Smarts, there was no view except from the fire tower (which I climbed). There was a shelter up their which I stopped at for 2nd breakfast. Top3 and GoldieLox caught me at the top as I was starting down the other side. The initial descent takes you partly down Smarts before a climb up and over Lambert Ridge before the final descent to Lyme -Dorchester Rd and the last good water source (well there was another 3/4 of a mile past Lyme-Dorchester but not quite as good as the cold clear stream that I stopped at to camel up and eat another small meal. On the way down just after passing through the first oak and sycamore tree forest, I met White Top and Braids, a couple that is in there late 60's. They are world travelers, had sailed around the globe and had stopped in Port Townsand WA along the way. I noticed that they carried recorders, a flute like instrument and asked if they played them at camp. They said that they normally play them in less populated places, like mountain tops. I bet it would be lovely to hear them play. Down at the road, I pulled 3 1/2 quarts and ate some beef jerky, dried papaya, apricots and washed it down with Nuun. Just when I was ready to leave again, Top3 and GoldieLox came by again. I left them at the stream and started up a forested Winslow Ledge passing a few Nobos at a stream 3/4 of a mile from the stream I just stopped at. This would be the last water source for the next 12 miles. It was a warm day and I needed to meter my water usage. It was a three mile climb up and over Holt's Ledge, a nice rocky ledge which did have a few good lookouts. On the way down I passed a number of Nobos who told me that there was trail magic at Goose Pond Rd, just a mile away. I started chanting to myself "Pick a pack of firecrackers sis-boom-ba, trail magic trail magic, ra-ra-ra" over and over again until I got to the road and met a generous New Hampshire couple in there early fifties roasting hotdogs in a grill with cokes in a cooler. When you are walking hungry like most thru hikers, coming to something like this is like finding an oasis in a desert. I talked to them for a few minutes and then scarfed down two dogs with mustard, and washed it down with a cold coke. Just when I was ready to leave, yes, Top3 and GoldieLox showed up hungry for a few dogs themselves. I was ready for the last six miles of the day and the 1500' climb up and over the North and South Peak of Moose Mtn. For some reason this climb seemed to take forever. I think I was getting tired. From the South Peak it was 2 1/2 miles to the footbridge and the end of the day. I got there 20-30 minutes before Top3 and GoldieLox and started to set up my tent. Putting together the main tent pole, I realize that the metal sleeve that I glued into each pole segment had not been glued properly by MSR and had pushed into the pole at the middle of the pole. I wasn't able to connect the pole together to make a continuous pole. Top3 had some gorilla tape which I used to jimmy rig the pole for the night. It made for a wired looking tent, but worked for the evening. GoldieLox started a fire to chase the bugs away and we had a nice evening. In bed at 9, didn't sleep well because it was too hot and was up at 4 to pee. It was Saturday, and I suspected that I would have to wait until Monday to talk to MSR customer service.