Date: 2004-05-11
From: Congdon Shelter

To: Kid Gore Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: clear sky

Log entry: 101 (Being my 101st day on my hike I would like to thank the 101st Airborne for all you have done in the past, are doing now, and will do in the future. Thank a paratrooper today.)Start time: 0900End time: 1730Morning weather: Cloudy but warm. Hard rain overnight and at least 2 loud claps of thunder (those were the 2 that woke me up)Afternoon weather: Mostly cloudy with a few peeks at the sunEvening weather: Clearing right now, should be a clear nightBreakfast: Some kind of nut cluster and dried fruit cereal from Dave and Sally. I planned on only eating half but it was so good I ate the whole box! Thanks, Dave and Sally. Also strawbery CIBLunch: Mesquite BBQ Pringles and various candy barsDinner: chicken tetrazini, tea, and instant oatmeal(peaches and cream)Trail description: More of the beautiful northeast. Some great views and the forests are simply splendid. Besides the steep down and up across VT9 the climbs were gradual and friendly. Lots of scat in the trail. I originally thought it was from porcupine but I think it is too big. These are about the size or grapes. I think I know what they are from but you will have to wait until the "animals" part.People: The weird old guy, then just after Hell Hollow Brook 2 guys out on a 21 day fast. They are doing like 2-3 miles a day. The sad part is that at that pace they won't have water for 3 days. The section between Hell Hollow Brook and Goddard shelter is bone dry.Animals: I was thinking that the large quantities of pooh are from moose. This was reiterated when I saw moose prints. None of the prints good enough for a picture but they looked to be about as wide as my boot. Unless they have elk up here, I think all the sign is moose related.Money spent: NoneComplaints: I noticed today that the left "stay" on my pack broke through the fabric and is sticking up like an antennae. I slid it back down every few miles but it saddened me a bit to think my pack is wearing out. They aren't cheap you know. It would be nice if I was going to Trail Days I could probably get it replaced. Oh well.Thoughts: The hard rain overnight was relaxing to listen to and by morning all that was left was wet, mossy rocks and wet, slimy roots. The only thing sticky was the mud. While in the privy in the morning I counted 5 different types of spiders. That wasn't even looking very hard. Should I be scared of the brown recluse? Having such a short day was welcomed relief, mentally and physically. Physically because for first time since I left Smiley I could amble and not feel like 2.5 mph was a crime. Mentally was the biggest break because when I stopped at Melville-Nauheim shelter at 1130 I only had just over 12 miles to go. The last few weeks it has seemed I don't reach the 12 miles to go mark until 1600 when I have to maintain 3 mph to make it to the shelter by dark. Low and slow is the way to hike, that's for sure. Speaking of slow if I keep with my planned itinerary I only have 3 twenty plus mile days left. And two of them are tomorrow and the day after. The next one isn't until the 100-mile wildernes in Maine. So even though the terrain is about 10 days away from turning "nasty", it's nice to know I have small days ahead. Also I have 6 more Sundays left! Recall that Sundays are the most mentally taxing for me. The good news is that one of those hopefully my sister Bess is coming to see me (Gorham) and then another one will be spent with my other sister Gina who will be hiking with me. And the sixth Sunday, Father's day will be SUMMIT DAY!!! And the whole family is going to be there for that one. I don't think I am going to sleep tonight.