Date: 2008-09-10
From: Kinsman Notch, North Woodstock, NH

To: N of Franconia Notch, NH
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: few clouds

I woke up at 5:30am, took a shower and finished packing up my stuff.I walked down to Peg's for breakfast. I took my pack with plans of hitching a ride to Kinsman Notch right after breakfast. I was hoping Peg's was open at 6am...and they were. :-) I sat down at the counter and had the Hungry Man's Special again and lots of coffee. I started hitching a ride at 6:45am and was picked up by Dutch. She pulled over and I hoped in the back of the truck. There were already a bunch of hikers that stayed at Chet's that she was taking back to the Notch....Pipps, Dirty Girl, Pilot, Truckin', and Sanford. Robert was in the front of the truck. I got dropped off and started walking north on the Appalachian Trail at 7:15am. It was a nice morning...overcast and cool, with no chance of rain. All of those hikers were slacking today to Franconia Notch so they can go back to Chet's tonight. They were all ahead of me. I was walking with Sanford and talking when he yelled; ¢Watch out!" I looked in front of him and saw a cow moose running towards us. The others had scared it. It ran off to our left and was about 10 yards away from us when she ran by. My animal count is now 17 bear, 7 moose, 1 beaver and 1 porcupine. It's been a good year already and there's still lots to go. :-) It was in the upper 40's and kind of misty out at this elevation, but it's supposed to be a beautiful day. Sanford asked me if it was true that I got my trail name from breaking a leg and finishing the Trail on crutches...boy how rumors get started! I've never broke my leg and the only time I ever need crutches are when I drink three beers at one time. ;-) The sun tried shining through the clouds about 8:30am, but then it got overcast again. I was walking along and saw some bear prints in the mud just after 10am. The sun finally came out for good at about 10:30am, then I passed by Eliza Brook Shelter at 11am without stopping. I had about a 2,000 foot climb left to finish climbing Kinsman Mtn. I was walking along Eliza Brook and watching a bunch of waterfalls cascading down the mountain as I was climbing it. Eliza Brook I finished the very steep climb to the South Peak Kinsman Mtn. It seemed cool up there, so I checked my thermometer and it was still in the upper 40's at 12:40pm...and the sun was shining. :-) South Kinsman PeakI stopped on North Peak Kinsman Mtn at an overlook and dried out my socks and aired out my feet while I ate lunch. I was looking across the mountains to what I'll be walking over tomorrow...Mt Lincoln and Lafayette. I walked on and passed by Kinsman Pond Campsite without stopping, but I did stop long enough at Lonesome Lake Hut to fill up my water bottles. I wasn't sure how far I would be walking today. Lonesome LakeI ate a Skor Bar, then walked on. It was only three more miles to Franconia Notch. I got there and decided to start climbing up towards Liberty Spring Tentsite. I set my packdown and walked off in the woods looking for a flat spot. I found one about 100 yards off the Trail, came back and walked my pack back in and ate dinner there. I set up my tent and got ready for what is supposed to be a night with near freezing temperatures. I love the cooler weather! :-) I saw no sobos today, but I did see Rain, Barley and Hell On Bad Wheels walking south with their packs. They started at Franconia Notch for some reason today, so I probably won't see them again for a while. I had a good dinner...a Spam single on pumpernickel with crunchy peanut butter. It might sound bad, but it was very tasty! :-) Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)