Date: 2012-08-24
From: Crawford Notch

To: Wildcat Mt.Peak D - Ski Resort Gondolas
Miles today: 5.0

We packed up our cabin and drove back to Mt. Washington so SOS could finish the 2.0 miles of the mountain down to Pinkham Notch and then go up Wildcat Mountain to Peak D. I drove him up the auto road (for the last time, I hope!) to Old Jackson Road and then back down the road and over to the visitor's center where Margo was waiting for me. We decided to relax there for a little while. While relaxing, SOS called and said the Dakota Dan was at Pinkham Notch and needed a ride to Gorham...so Trail Mama said, "I will be right there!" Back at Pinkham, Margo and I picked up Dakota Dan and I got an extra hug in for SOS. He hiked on and we headed for Gorham...about 10 miles down the road. We made a stop at the post office so DD could get his new shoes and then to Save a Lot so he could resupply. I resupplied at Dollar Tree and then drove DD back to Pinkham. Margo and I decided to "live" at Joe Dodge Lodge until time to pick up SOS. There is a very comfortable lounge there. I worked on a little doll sweater and Margo worked on her new journal. She got restless and went out for a walk. Soon back she came all excited and wanted me to come with her into the woods. Since I love the woods, I stopped knitting and went with her. We hiked into the woods, over two streams, and finally turned around so that we could go and get SOS. We drove 1/2 mile down the road to Wildcat Ski Resort and he was already there. The hike, which he did with Brownie/Snake Girl, took much less time than he thought it would. There is a zip line there and Margo decided to do this crazy thing...I climbed up as high as I could to get a picture of her flying by...and flying by she did! Her hair was whipping around in the wind and she was loving the whole thing! After she got to the ground, we both drove off to Gorham to the White Mountain Hostel. We checked in and got our room...two sets of bunk beds and a built in bed in a former closet. We drove into town to get picnic food and ate by the Rattle River. Driving back we found a walk way over the river and climbed up stairs and over the bridge and back. On to McDonald's to use their internet since we can't use our computer at the hostel. We finally met Miss Janet of hiker shuttle fame who was also at McDonald's using her computer. She recognized us and started the conversation which was interesting. It was good to finally meet her after hearing about her from lots of hikers. Back to the hostel to sleep.SOS here:Today was a short day because I knew I did not want to do 23.1 miles in the Whites in one day. Serendipity was just around the corner for me, because when I arrived at Pinkham Notch, I met three friends whom I had not seen for months. First I met Dakota Dan and then I met Krispy Kreme / Broad Sword and Brownie / Snake Girl both had new trail names. Krispy Kreme was done and Brownie was making up a section she had missed earlier when her dog Diesel became unable to hike because of sore paws. It is always great to unexpectedly meet your hiking friends on the trail.The best part about meeting Brownie was she had not hiked up Wildcat Mountain yet and agreed to join me in climbing the Mountain and we would take a Gondola down the mountain. It is always good to have a hiking partner - it makes the hike easier because you have someone to talk to. The first mile of the trail from Pinkham Notch to Lost Pond Trail was level, but the next 1.7 miles was a steep climb of 2,038 feet. That is the the equivalent of climbing 203.8 step ladders. Think about looking up 203.8 step ladders one stacked upon the other and willingly starting to climb. Now make the steps on the step ladders uneven and have the steps be at a funny angle. Now think about the energy that it would take to climb those step ladders. Oh yes, by the time you reach the top step you will be dripping with sweat. The last .3 of a mile was a pointless up and down but fairly level from Wildcat Mountain Peak E to Peak D. The hike together took 2 hours - much faster then I anticipated, but the sense of accomplishment was priceless. At the Peak D we took a Gondola lift down the mountain - it took 12 minutes that is 10 times faster riding down the mountain than hiking up the mountain.We passed many hikers going the opposite direction. Would you rather climb, like Brownie and I did, up a steep mountain or climb down like the people we passed? Falling against rock going up a mountain is always preferable to falling head first towards the rocks going down a steep mountain. Oh, by the way, you have a 50% chance of going up or down.One of the hikers going down was with a big group. They were with him because he was a section hiker who was completing the entire Appalachian Trail with this section when he reached Pinkham Notch. It is incredible sense of accomplishment to complete the AT whether it be in sections or a thru hike. Section hikers can take years if not decades to hike the length of the AT and must be a beginning hiker many times. Any section hiker should stand proud for there willingness to subject themselves to the physical challenge year after year and the hardships of the trail. They are tenacious and doggedly add the miles year after year until they reach their goal of hiking the entire AT. I ask this hiker what he was going to do to celebrate. He was not quite sure but I am sure his friends had some plans.Brownie and I had our own mini celebration when we reached the Wildcat Mountain Restaurant at the bottom of the ski slope. We each had a pint of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. I had Cherry Garcia - uhm good. I topped it off with a cheese burger and piece of pepperoni pizza and two sodas while I waited for Trail Mama and Margo to pick me up.It was a short day but a memorable day on the AT.