Date: 2014-08-08
From: Lincoln/North Woodstock (NH)

To: Eliza Brook Shelter (NH)
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: moderate rain

7.5 miles hiked, Mile Marker 1803.0 (1804.0) I went for breakfast at 7:15am. It was included when I checked in last night at the Woodstock Inn. They have a restaurant with the Inn. I could have anything on the menu. I chose scrambled eggs, bacon, fried potatoes w/onions, blueberry pancakes, orange juice and coffee. The food was very good, and the pancakes were the best I've ever had. I asked my waitress about the $10 shuttle phone number. She came back and said when I was ready, one of the Inn's staff would give me a ride - much appreciated! After breakfast, Allen gave me a ride to the PO in Lincoln NH to get my mail drop from home and my overquilt from Hammock Gear. After packing my resupply, Allen gave me a ride to the trailhead by 11am. What great Trail Magic and nice people! The Inn was pricey, but I had a nice time there and a very comfortable room. Once on the trail, I started climbing Mount Wolf. It kept me busy, but nothing like Moosilauke. Things were still damp from the rain, and of course, the forest gnomes were busy with coating the roots with their soap. After a bit, I met a NoBo named Charlie T. He's 64 years, 5'10", on the thin side and from Florida. He said he had started the trail because he likes hiking, but said "this is rock climbing." I, too, have never been in mountains like this before. In our son's early scouting days we summited Pike's Peak and hiked several days at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM. Those treks were nothing close to what I am hiking now. Now that I know what to expect I'll feel better about the hiking. These mountains are going to be tough for awhile. I'll have to cut my miles back according to the terrain. Some of the rock I walk over or down I call turtle backs. In previous states, I called them elephant backs, but here they are smaller. Most of the rock from the start of the trail has had a rough surface, as do these turtle backs. They can be pretty steep and, wet or dry, you can walk up or down them. It's been a long time on this hike, that I haven't heard a gasoline engine droning somewhere in the distance. But today was different; I stopped and heard only the rustle of wind in the conifers, not even a bird. The forest at the top is like a temperate rain forest with moss everywhere. The conifers grow so thickly that even on sunny days it can be somewhat dark under the canopy. So I'm thinking there's no way a guy could camp here unless he had a saw to clear a spot. Then I meet a SoBo from VA, hiking with his dog. His name is Frog Fellow and I'm guessing he's about 56. We talked for awhile, and he said he sets his hammock in this stuff all the time. I prefer the shelter areas, as I can find a flat, clear area to camp on. Frog Fellow told me some details about the huts in the upcoming Whites. I arrived at the shelter about 4:20pm, set up and ate dinner. I then got into my hammock and began journaling. Tonight I will be "snug as a bug in a rug" in my new overquilt. No more waking up shivering. The overquilt is designed to be used with the hammock underquilt. It's mostly open in the back so you're not flattening out the goose down. The footbox has snaps, to be left open or closed. It has a snap at the rear of the neck and a drawstring in the front. We'll see how well this design works. Once again, my wonderful Pearl made sure I had my overquilt with this resupply. Several more hikers came in to camp as the day wore on. Then, as I'm journaling in my hammock at 6:45pm, I here someone calling "Hoyt, Hoyt." It was Running Nose; I was very surprised! He said he'd done Moosilauke that day and then hiked here. He said the going down was wet and dangerous, causing him to fall once and hurt his wrist. I was dumbfounded. This 64 year old German, without trekking poles, did all that in one day. I told him it was too much for one day, he agreed, and said he planned to slow down. He said he felt woozy, so I got dressed and helped him setup his tent. He is one tough German - I respect his hiking ability. He will sleep well tonight, being lulled to sleep by the stream next to the shelter. Life in a warm sleep. -Hoyt