Date: 2003-09-18
From: Zeta Pass

To: Gorham, N.H.
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: broken clouds

start Zeta Pass destination Gorham NHLast night we all decided to get on the trail early and hopefully make it into Gorham. I woke up at 6:00am and got dressed, putting my winter jacket on to keep me warm while I fixed breakfast. I have a bad habit of trying to hurry the water for my tea. I usually pour it befor it is hot and end up with lukewarm tea. This morning I decide to not hurry the process so I am going to take down my tent while the water is heating. I go untie my food bag and set up my little kitchen on the ground. I grab a bottle and fill my little soda can stove with fuel, put the pot stand over it, light it andset my pot of water on to heat. I go over and start taking down my tent and packing my pack. A few minutes later I check on the pot and the flame has gone out. This is the first time I have ever had a problem with my stove. But the wind is blowing pretty briskly so maybe it blew the flame out. I light it again and it sputters and burns a few seconds, then goes out. I stick my finger in the fuel and put it up to my nose. Hmmmm..it doesn't smell like fuel. I put my finger in my mouth...No taste whatsover. It does not take me long to figure out that I poured water into the stove instead of fuel. I start all over again and pretty soon have a pot of water hot. Bog Bridge Tester had taken what was left of the fresh bread from the lodge at dinner last night, and had gave me a slice of it. I toast it in my pot lid with a little bit of olive oil. I spread some strawberry jam on it and eat it with my oatmeal. I make a double cup of hot cocoa and sit enjoying the scenery around me. I can see my breath this morning and feel the cool crispness of fall in the air. We set off right at 7:30. I get my warm up by an immediate uphill climb for an hour. Then there is more bouldering along the trail. Numerous times we question whether this is the trail or a gully snaking it's way down the mountain. Each time Indiana Ben comes to a particulaly tough place, I find him leaning against a tree trunk or a rock wall, laughing at the condition of the trail. We stop for lunch and discuss whether or not this is hiking or rock climbing. As usual I have way too much food in my food bag, and I start sharing some of my goodies with the guys. Things like bagels and tahini with honey, chocolate covered expresso beans, and an assortment of black licorice. They are amazed at the selection of good stuff I have to eat. I am grateful to lighten my load! They stop to take a water the tree break. I decide to go on and hike ahead. It is at about this time that the trail levels off significantly and my adrenalin kicks in. I am heading down the last stretch of the White Mountains. I have survived, I have not broken anything (yet), I still have most of my sanity (well, that is debateable). My hike through the toughest part of the At is almost over. There is still the first 50 miles or so in southern Maine, but I am not sure when I will get to do that section. We all hike to the highway and Bog Bridge Tester calls his uncle for a ride for him and Indiana Ben. Before he gets off of his cell phone I snag a ride with a young man who was dropping off none other than Rick, the Lone Wolf. I say a very quick goodby to my friends and wish them well on this final leg of their journey. Another hiker, Rif Raf decides to ride into town with me. We get dropped off in town and find the Barn Hostel with minimum trouble. Just as I am getting settled on a bed, up drives Mudbutt. She has other plans for the night and they don't include staying in a hostel. I do not argue with her and within minutes I am finishing up a hot shower. A wonderful steak dinner finishes the day with us catching each other up on all the events of the past few days. Back at the motel, I sink my sore aching body into the hot tub that was there while Mudbutt watched her favorite Thursday night shows. I get run out of the hot tubat closing and crawl to my room, collapsing on the bed. We talk ninty to nothing still catching up on all of our adventures. Tomorrow we head down south a bit to a party given in our honor by some of Mudbutt's friends. We still have to plan our attack of Katahdin, but for now we will take advantage of the trail magic people want to bestow upon us. total miles 12.8