Date: 2005-08-12
From: Trapper John Shelter

To: Ore Hill Shelter
Miles today: 19.3

One Hill Shelter 6:56pm - Lonesome DayI know I'm hiking in a lull, but today was ridiculous. I saw one couple out for the weekend. That's it. No day hikers, no nobos, no sobos, no hobos. It was a completely deserted trail. Did they close it down today and forget to tell me?I did see some evidence of some people passing through the shelters a few hours ahead of me, though. I also found a confusing entry in the Firewarden's cabin atop Smart Mountain. Yesterday I speculated that Sam-I-Am and Origami have phantom buttons. Today I almost believe it. They signed in at the cabin - 20 miles past Hanover - yesterday morning only a few hours after I saw them in Hanover. Either they really are phantoms or they got a ride a few miles out. Perhaps they had done a southbound slack the day before and were resuming where they left off?The trail may have had a shortage of people, but it certainly wasn't lacking in climbs or views. I had two big climbs today, both with spectacular payoffs at the top. Smart Mountain had a fire tower at the top and a cabin open to hikers. I took a rather long break in the tower and picked up a book from the cabin. Last night I went to bed really early because I had nothing else to do. This book - something about conning a con man - provides me with some insurance for tonight. The top of Cube Mountain allowed me to survey everything I had hiked today which is always a treat. I left its summit just in time reaching the nearby trees about five minutes before a brief, light rain shower. As a man who spends a majority of each day carrying two metal sticks I prefer to not be on an exposed ridge when there is a chance of lightning.The last bit of trail up to the Ore Hill Shelter was exciting if nothing else. Wait - did I say "exciting?" I meant "biting." The mosquitos were terrible, far worse than anything I've seen so far this whole trip. Normally, they more or less leave you alone as long as you keep moving, but I spent more time swatting the nasty little buggers off my arms than I did hiking. When I finally gave in and stopped to lather up in DEET they attacked in a swarm. One hand rummaged through my pack while the other kept busy, futilely trying to kill any winged creature landing on me. I've never applied bug repellant so quickly. Here's the amazing thing, though: it worked. May God reward the inventor of DEET with the fluffiest cloud in heaven. He deserves nothing less.Finally, I must give special recognition to the Dartmouth Outing Club, the local trail maintainers. Sure, your actual maintenance is average at best and your posted mileage is terribly far wrong far more often than it is right. But I like your attitude. There's always something to bring a smile to my face, whether it's a sign forbidding unicycles or a granite mile marker post. I also appreciate knowing the distance to Rome and, of course, your rather unique privy designs. One was a gazebo, another had a chair back and an "exit only" sign pointing down. Tonight's privy features a drawbridge, though it appears to be slightly less than functional. At least it's stuck in the lowered position... You'd have a lot of grumpy hikers on your hands otherwise.