Date: 2004-08-19
From: South of Mizpah Hut, NH

To: Stealth tenting about 14 miles south of Crawford N
Miles today: 16.0

16 miles todayStealth tentingAbout 14 miles south of Crawford NotchI woke up at 5am and started walking at 5:25am. I decided to wait on breakfast and coffee until I got to The Willey House at Crawford Notch.It was a long steep walk down to the notch.There was a stream just before the notch, so I got out my washing machine/bath tub and washed my clothes and took a bandana bath. After all, I had to smell good for breakfast. I got to the highway and walked a mile to The Willey House and sent in my journal entry and answered some emails. I had an hour to wait on them to open, but I stayed busy reorganizing my stuff and reading my map.When they opened, I got a cup of coffee and a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit. When I was done with that, I got a chocolate chip ice cream cone. I also picked up my box of food that I had there waiting on me.There was a bunch of bicyclists going by and a couple stopped for a snack. I got to talk to one of them and found out that it was an organized ride. They had started in Seattle and are ending up somewhere in Massachusets.The riders were spread out for miles and when the last rider came by I thought to myself...I could beat that guy, but I think the rest of those riders would leave me in their dust. At least I wouldn't be last.I left there at 10:25am. I had to walk the mile back to the trail.I had only been climbing about 20 minutes and I ran into a friend of mine by the name of Ponderer. The last time I saw him was in NC at the top of Wesser Bald Tower. We talked about 15 minutes and then I hiked on.Just as I got to the top of the first 1500 foot climb, I ran into Mouse. She said she saw Liteshoe and I while we were on a section hike earlier in the year near Hot Springs, NC. That was when I did a 100 mile section and Liteshoe did an 85 mile section because it rained one day.The next 5 miles are the easiest to walk in all of the Whites. They are basically flat. Later in the day, I ran into a nobo by the name of Smack. After talking to her for a while, I found out she was on Springer with a bunch of us on New Years Eve.I didn't remember seeing her up there, but there was quite a crowd.Just before that I ran into four nobos... Caterpillar, Critter, Octane and Jeremia.I've been running into alot of nobos today. The next two were DragonSlayer and Goose. Then about 5 minutes later, I ran into a friend of mine by the name of K-Dog. We sat down and talked about 25 minutes. He said he's been having a pretty good hike, but that he may have gotten giardia in NY.I'm starting to see more and more signs of the leaves starting to change. They are still in the very early stages, but some trees are changing fast.I ran into another friend of mine by the name of Yoga Monkey. We stopped and talked about 20 minutes. She is a yoga instructor and she said that backpacking doesn't do a whole lot for your flexability...like I didn't already know that. The last two nobos I ran intp today was just before I got to Zealand Falls Hut. Their names are The Roman Noodles. I got to Zealand Falls Hut at 2:30pm and took an early dinner. I spent about an hour there. I could easily spent more time eating because I have way too much food with me. I only need food for tomorrow to get close to Rt 3 at N. Woodstock, NH and I'm planning on eating the breakfast buffet that I accidentally came across last year when I couldn't get a ride. I walked a mile down the road and saw a sign that read; The areas best breakfast buffet. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.I left the hut and climbed Zealand Mountain. It had been sprinkling on and off this afternoon, but not enough to make me put on a pack cover. I found this nice stealth tent spot about 2 1/2 hours after I left the hut. I only have 40 miles left to Glencliff, where I'll take time off to go hike the John Muir Trail and I've got 4 days left before Lew picks me up. I wonder how I'm going to do 10 miles a day.Another great day on the A.T.