Date: 2008-06-27
From: Moose Mountain Shelter

To: Firetower Shelter
Miles today: 13.0

Day two started off as the night ended, with more freaking rain than Hurricane Katrina dumped on New Orleans. Thank the hiking gods I was on top a bump on a hump because I would have drowned for sure, as can be seen by the view from the shelter. So once the three thru-hikers departed leaving me a little room to move around I decided to have a little breakfast and await a break in the downpour and decide what was next. Well, that part was easy¢¦with 2 weeks to go, I had to hike! So, breakfast and coffee done, I packed up and voila, the sky¢s stopped drooling and I was ready to go. Then came word from my new pal Brian; there was a third member of the party awaiting his arrival at a shelter 6 miles downstream and would I stop in to tell him either to wait for him there or he¢s meet him at Fire Tower Shelter a mere 13 miles down the trail. His name was Glen and he was a ¢studly 50 year old college/army buddy¢. No problemo, I¢ll certainly hit him before the first shelter if Brian¢s shape was any indicator¢¦I was outa there!Three hours later I approach the shelter I am supposed to check. Well wouldn¢t you know, the freaking thing is .75 miles off the trail. Like I was going to walk an extra mile and a half when my boots are soaked through and weight 25 pounds each! So, hoping it doesn¢t come back to bite me I¢m off.Needless to say, as is always the case, I walked. I walked many a mile, over hill, over dale, don¢t ask what a ¢dale¢ is¢¦until I hit the first bump on the hump. A bump on a hump is my term of endearment for a false summit. You know, when you¢re hauling ass uphill for many a mile only to discover as you seemingly approach ¢THE¢ summit that your actually not even close. Very demoralizing¢¦like the poor donkey getting led around by some dude riding his back all day long with a carrot on a stick. You hike, hike, and never seem to get there. As you can see below, my bump on the hump left me many miles short¢¦So after a little lunch on the bump on a hump with two day hikers and their three dogs I¢m off for more drudgery. All I can call it was boring hiking, until I hit the final climb to the top. Guess who was there¢¦the third hiker Glen! As I stroll uphill in my usual meandering manner I see this ¢studly 50+ guy¢ sitting on a rock chilling. After seeing him I¢m pretty positive it¢s the guy. He looks at me and asks if I¢ve seen an older guy hiking with his son. YES¢¦¢Your Glen right? I crashed with him last night!¢ So after telling him the little white lie about stopping at the last shelter I relay the message and we climb the rest of the day together. At the top we set up tents because the shelter/hut, an old firewatcher¢s hut, stunk of urine and had mouse holes chewed everywhere. I was definitely tenting tonight despite the oncoming rain clouds and set up with Glen on a cliff face and hung out waiting for Brian. The spot would have been ¢THE¢ spot of the week if I could see more than 100 feet in front of me through the clouds but hey¢¦sleep where you can! So, we waited from 4pm till 9:30 and no sign of Brian and son. At this point the wind and rain drove me in the tent and Glen into his. I was done for the night.Morning brought a surprise¢¦the two amigos had arrived around 10:30pm in the rain. What a long day for them. Brian was toast, ¢J¢ was smiling. Talked over breakfast about everyone¢s targets. I told them I was heading to Ore Hill 15 miles away. Brian puffy-chested he would meet me there. Hmmmm¢¦.