Date: 2016-06-21
From: The Notch Hostel via Kinsman Notch

To: The Notch Hostel via Franconia Notch
Miles today: 16.4

I woke up decently early at the hostel, and was feeling good: today was another day of slackpacking, this one from Kinsman notch all the way to interstate 93 at franconia notch, where I would then find my way back to the hostel. i made myself some pancakes in the kitchen before picking out the little gear that I wanted to come with me for the day. I was the only hiker shuttling out this morning, and serena brought me right back to where I'd left at the parking lot yesterday.The norm has really become serious climbing now in New Hampshire; whereas before, the steep sections were tempered with moderate ones, there just seems to be never ending sections of tough climbing. This morning was no exception, up and over Wolf Mtn. and onto the Kinsmans. I stopped in at Eliza Brook Shelter, which is brand spanking new, and in an incredibly picturesque little valley, before bracing for the assault on south kinsman mountain. The trail followed the brook for a good while, then broke away and crossed a bog with a great view of some granite cliffs above. The climbing was reasonable, and then unreasonable. Their were multiple walls of rock to be clambered up that made me thankful I did not have my pack on. I had one scary moment of nearly falling backwards. But mostly, the views were just incredible, back to moosilauke and to the surrounding Whites, which are just breathtaking. I passed Teresa, a german woman staying at the Notch but slacking the opposite way.At the top of south kinsman mountain, the close-up view of Franconia Ridge is just spectacular, a perfect set of peaks a rockslides and cliffs. I continued on to North Kinsman, and took a break on a buggy ledge there. I descended off the peak and then ambled my way through different trails (none of which are named the AT, but all of which have scrawled on the sign "AT THIS WAY") to Lonesome Lake Hut, the first of the White Mountain Huts that I will reach. I went inside, and recalled the sort of stainless steel fixtures that I remember from Lakes of the Clouds. This one is much smaller, though, and the main room is octagonal. I ate some of the baked goods that they had for sale; unfortunately, they did not have any leftovers on offer, as they sometimes do. I saw a guitar hanging up on the wall and took it down and played for a while. In the meantime, Booty arrived, whom I hadn't seen in about a week. He has been planning some crazy mile days, trying to Get to Katahdin very very early, and wanted to head up most of the climb up Franconia Ridge tonight. Power to ya, Booty. I headed out just after him. The descent down to the Notch was aboslutely lovely, one of the few forgiving sections in the whites. I did see one strange sight: about a mile from the Hut, two men in speedos, carrying their clothes and shoes in their arms, asked me, in thick German accents "How fah to ze lake?" I guess it is Hike Naked day (which I did not participate in, given that I am on one of the most populated parts of the trail)I came out into Franconia Notch, and relished passing the FINAL INTERSTATE OF THE ENTIRE TRIP! As I came to the side of a brook, I turned down a side trail: unfortunately, there is no state route for a little while, and you cannot hitch on the highway. So I did about a .7 mile roadwalk down to the parking lot of the Flume Visitors Center. i stood at the entrance. No cars. As usual here in new hampshire. Then I saw a car pulling out of the lot, with a license plate that said "3HIKERS." I put out my thumb, thinking my chances were pretty good. I was right. The man who picked me up brought me to Wayne's, the store where I'd bought food last night. i bought some more food and did a little resupply. Considering I believe I have meals coming my way in the form of leftovers and bowls of soup at huts, I did not pick up much. As I walked out of Wayne's, a man pumping his gas asked me if I was headed back to the Notch Hostel, and when I said I was, offered me a ride there! He has done extensive trail work, and indeed said he replaced the steps heading down the beaver brook trail off of Moosilauke. When I pulled up to the hostel, I was surprised to see Booty there! He had blown out a shoe and decided that hiking up Franconia Ridge would be inadvisable. Also there were two southbounders, Dr. John and Story, the first thru hiking southbounders I've seen. Tomorrow looks very ugly in the weather forecast. I'm considering taking a zero day here. I haven't taken one in a long long time, and there's no reason to be hiking up on the franconia ridge, the jewel of the AT, in the rain. All of us piled into a truck and Serena drove us to the Common Man restaurant for some food and drinks later on. It's fun palling around with all these hikers. Fun night.