Date: 2003-10-27
From: hermit lake shelters

To: hermit lake shelters
Miles today: 0.0

it is kind of funny how things don't always work out like you plan. when i was living in new mexico this summer and i first had the thought of hitting the trail, i always imagined things going certain ways. i figured that this whole long distance hiking thing would be a breeze. why shouldn't it be? i've done plenty of long distance hiking and plenty of backpacking before now. heck, i've already hiked 1300 miles of the AT. i'm in pretty good shape. when i was daydreamning about and planning this hike i figured i would wake up in the morning and hike 15 to 20 miles and it would be as simple as that. i would do that day in and day out and i would never grow tired and i'd never get hurt and every day would be a great day.this trip has been far from what i imagined it would be. i've been hurt, i've been tired, i've thought of quitting, i've skipped sections, i've been miserable. but, it has all been part of the adventure. part of the journey. definitely not the journey i thought i would be having, but that is okay. this has been quite a learning experience for me. i wouldn't trade any of it. sure, some days have been good, some days have been bad, some days have been great, some days have absolutely sucked; but, i'm a better person because of all of these days. i have already grown in so many ways and learned so much about myself and about God.if i weren't injured right now and i was on schedule, i would be traversing the presidential range today. today i would be walking through pouring rain (and probably snow and ice, as well), howling winds, and have a visibility of about ten feet. i am glad that i'mnot on schedule and not hiking today. instead, i am layed up at the hermit lakes shelters relaxing and letting my ankle heal. that seems so much better than getting the crap beat out of me on mount washington.i woke up this morning to the sound of rain on the tin roof. i rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, but it was no use. i just laid there and listened to the rain for hours. when there was finally a break in the storm i walked up to the caretaker's cabin to see what kind of work gregg wanted me to do.i opened the door and gregg came stumbling out of the back. it was obvious that he had been snoozing. he said that because of the weather we would hold off on the work. i told him that sounded like a good idea. i went outside and sat on the covered porch and watched the pouring rain. the wind was blowing pretty fierce and seemed like it was blowing in every direction at the same time. it was neat to watch the clouds come rushing through the little valley where i was. they would just come zipping right by and it almost seemed like i could reach out and touch them. when there was another break in the storm i made a dash back down to the shelter where i have taken up residence.i spent much of the afternoon reading and napping, mostly napping. around four o'clock i walked back up towards the caretaker cabin so that i could filter some water from the stream. the rain came in full force so i once again took shelter on the porch. i went into the caretaker cabin to check the weather report. gregg came stumbling out of the back. it was obvious that he had been snoozing, again. i told him not to get up. he invited me to come in the back for some hot tea or hot chocolate. that sounded like a great idea. i opened the door leading to the back area where the caretaker stays and almost felt somewhat naughty that i was getting to go in the back. hikers aren't supposed to be back there. that is only for caretakers. it is kind of like the man behind the curtain. it isn't nearly as mysterious once you've seen on the other side.the caretakers have a nice living area- bedroom, kitchen, and living room.   i made a cup of hot chocolate and took a seat in the living room. i finished my hot chocolate in no time and gregg told me to help myself to as much as i wanted. then, he offered me a bowl of chili from the batch that he'd made that day. i asked him if he knew what he was getting himself into, since i've got the hiker appetite going full force. he said i could have as much chili as i wanted because he had plenty.it was sometime during my second bowl of chili that i realized my new plan. even if the sun is shining tomorrow (it is supposed to be) and my ankle is feeling better, it probably wouldn't be a great idea for me to attempt the rough and rugged white mountains. i would love to hike them, but i don't want to take any chances with this ankle. so, tomorrow i will hike back down to pinkham notch and hitch back into gorham and find mahoosuc at his office and see if he can help me figure out a way around the whites. i'm thinking that i'll pick up the trail down around glincliff, where the terrain is a little more forgiving.gregg and i hung out until well after eight o'clock, during which time i consumed 5 cups of hot chocolate and 3 1/2 bowls of chili. gregg makes a pretty mean chili. it hit the spot. it was nice having a long conversation with someone. that is something that i don't get too often out here. gregg is a cool kid. (i can call him a kid because he is only 24 and i'm 25).this day of rest did me some good. i think i have made the right decision about not hiking the whites right now. they are definitely a section that i will come back and do, though. maybe i will wait until the dead of winter and then do them. that sounds like a great idea.