Date: 2003-08-24
From: Glencliff, NH

To: Rt. 112, Kinsman Notch
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: clear sky

The hostel creatures started stirring at 5:45 this morning. My shuttle was leaving at 7am for Kinsman Notch and at the appointed time, 9 on us squeezed into Packrat's minivan and headed up the road.By 7:50 I was on the trail and climbing. The trail follows up along the side of a magnificent waterfall that drops for hundreds of feet. It's very steep and in places there are steps attached to rock faces and rebar hand-holds to assist in the climbing. The forest is dark green and lush, the trail only as wide as the human body in many places.For some reason I felt real shaky and pulled out a package of crackers and some M&Ms to eat while I climbed. In about 10 minutes it had passed. I'm a decaf person and attributed it to the cup of regular coffee that I had had earlier at the hostel.At one point Cornpatch, 2 other hikers and I were able to walk out onto the rocks and have the waterfall cascade down around us. It was a good picture opportunity and I didn't miss the chance.Because I was going south today, on the way up I passed lots of hikers coming down that I knew: Kodiak, Hepcat, Mellow Yellow, Pace and Skittles. They reminded me that everyone with time to spare is going to the Whale's Tail Water Park on Monday, but unfortunately, I don't fit into that catagory!My first stop was at the Beaver Brook Shelter after climbing from 1,812' to 3,650' in a mere 1.6 miles. I had a snack and spoke with 3 hikers from France. Cornpatch, Gray Jay, Right On (who had left Brown Dog back at the hostel for the day) and Kingslinger came into the shelter right before I left to continue my climb up Moosilauke.Twelve hundred more feet and I'd be at the top. Welcome to the White Mountains! I've looked forward to this for a long time; the gorgeous weather, the views, the clean fresh air, the rock climbing, have all made this trip so worthwhile. There was an urgency in my step and a smile on my face. I could see forever and a day as I looked out from the few teasing peeks we had at the horizon.When I neared the top, I could hear the wind howling above me and couldn't wait to be up there. I left the protection of the woods and started up a wide stone edged path that goes to the summit. Large rock cairns mark the way to the top. The wind was blowing so strongly that I fought to stay on the trail with every step. I would start on the right side of the path and within 10 steps forward, I was on the left side, working my way back, fighting the wind for my chance to get to the top.At the first cairn I stopped and pulled out my balaclava. I already had on my tights, wind/rain pants, Patagonia Flash 1 shirt, fleece, and gloves. Wow, was it cold up there!I was exposed for about 3 tenths of a mile before reaching the very top. There is a sign with the elevation printed on it but when I tried to get to it, the wind was so strong that I couldn't stand up. I made my way to a rock wall of sorts and sat in the sun, waiting for someone else to arrive so that I could have a picture of myself on the summit of Mt. Moosilauke on what was to be my best, most memorable day on the trail.I didn't have to wait long. A couple came up the Glencliff Trail and while the woman posed in front of the sign, hair whipping around her, her husband snapped a picture commemorating the moment. I offered to take a picture of both of them in exchange for them taking my picture and they readily agreed. They went first, then it was my turn. I made my way over the rocks to the sign, being pushed this way and that by the wind. The fellow snapped my pic, then asked me a question and even though we were only 10-12 feet apart, I couldn't hear him for the wind. I took my hand off the sign and took one step away from it when I was hit square on by the force of the wind and it sent me right onto my bottom. It was as if I had been hit by a car. We all laughed, I got up and made my way back to the camera and decided that between my body weight and the very light pack I was carrying, it just wasn't enough weight for the summit of Moosilauke.After enjoying one more long look around me, I started down the other side. For a quarter of a mile more I was still exposed. I was having difficulty walking, I was cold, but nothing could have wiped the goofy grin off my face at that moment. I'll remember forever what it looked like on the summit. I'll remember the way it smelled and how it felt when the wind whipped about me on it's way over the mountain.