Date: 2009-08-01
From: Happy Hiker Hostel

To: Moosilauke
Miles today: 4.6

This morning was for lingering, since Tmax would not be the mile down the trail until well into the afternoon. Nothing could keep me from my darling, but the smell of the sixteen hour cooked pulled pork (there was a massive hiker feed there this evening) gave her a run for the money! Unfortunately I was not quick enough when the brownie bowl was offered up for licking. As I packed and readied, I wondered at all the others who decided to walk the roads around instead of fording the now swollen Jeffers Brook. Still priding myself on being a real trooper, I removed my boots at the road and in bare feet slowly crossed the thigh-high water. From the opposite bank it was now an easy walk to the shelter where before long a couple came up with a two-wheeler in tow carrying an stove and coolers along with instruments in hopes of presenting some trail magic to any who might pass by tonight. After an hour of waiting I strolled down the short walk north to the nearby parking area when spotted two beautiful women coming my way. Snickers (who had diverted on her trip to Maine to shuttle TMax from Pinkham Notch to me) and Terri were avoiding the worst of the mud as they made their way. The huge hug I received banished all thoughts of pork from my querying stomach. Two weeks with my girl. As Tinman mentioned earlier, 'I would trade all the pulled pork there is to be with a woman.'Tmax here... Topofgothics and I started out from the shelter very late in the afternoon on a trail that goes UP for over 3000 feet. This was a quick break-in for developing my trail legs! By the time we got to the summit we were able to watch a nice sunset. This makes the first of many 4000 footers we hope to summit on this trip. Topofgothics had 3 of the New Hampshire 4000 footers prior to this trip and now plans to grab as many as he can on his quest to do the NE115. Thanks SOOOO much to Snickers for the car spot and the great conversation.****Sent my tent to Pinkham Notch this morning as I await my girl! We¢ll share hers for the next part of the journey. Solo left early, and along with most others who did so also he decided to take a slightly longer, but official high water route along the local roads. Topo and I plunged right in to Jeffers Brook (or maybe took our shoes off an waded), not wanting to miss all that the AT has to offer! Shortly, we were at the shelter and waiting for Snickers to drop off TMax. I knew there was a road nearby, but that did not diminish my surprise when a couple came into the shelter along with a two-wheeler and many supplies. The second trip had me baffled. It turned out that they were setting up for a little TM of their own tonight. Hopefully there were some who skipped the hostel and joined them there, and hopefully they do not know that they just missed out on pulled pork and brownie surprise. After a while I decided to go down to the road myself, and before I could walk the um-tenths of a mile, there they were. Hugs all around were warranted. Snickers was awesome to get my girl to me. Since it was almost four, we had to decide whether to hike or not. This was the last of the grasslands on the journey, and there was little hope for any place to pitch a tent for some time. Of course, off we went. Terri was not in the same mode as those of us who have been hiking with a full pack for a season, and we made slower, though steady progress up the hill. There was almost four thousand feet between road and summit, the first big climb in some time and TMax was thrown right into the fire. We made the summit in time for sunset, and decided to stay the night. Terri, no rain, gorgeous view, spectacular sunset. I am a lucky man. The only drawback was a small tear in her very expensive tent.