Date: 2007-08-14
From: Zealand Halls Hut

To: Mispah Hut
Miles today: 14.5

The landed gear on a C-130 Hercules can withstand a landing at a rate of descent of 750 feet per minute - so long as the aircraft is aligned straight ahead. If, however, there are as few as four degrees of ¢crab¢ (i.e., the plane is caught a few degrees to one side or the other of its directional flight), then a disaster will result. The landing gear will collapse, and you can imagine the outcome. The reason I bring this to your attention is because I sprained my left foot, and it is now operating exactly in the same fashion as the landing gear on a C-130. I figured out quickly (though painfully) that as long as I keep my left foot pointed exactly straight ahead it would function perfectly. No pain. But if I land on it with just a little bit of an inward point in direction - ouch! - shooting pain up my left leg. And what is worse, if I land on it with my toes pointing slightly inward, it not only hurts like hell, but, like the C-130 landing gear, it collapses and dumps me in a big heap. You can imagine the outcome. Needless to say, like any good C-130 pilot of any age, I found myself highly motivated to make sure my landing apparatus was, at all times, aligned straight ahead with my direction of travel (not always an easy task when scrambling up and down 50-foot rock faces, as I found myself confronted with). In spite of this minor point of intrigue, today was one of the best days I have had in a long time on the AT. The first 7.5 miles were built on an old railroad bed, which made it flat, smooth, and wide. For once it was possible to establish a pace and really hike. And hike it I did. I completed that portion in just less than four hours, at which time I was at the base of the Webster Cliffs in Crawford Notch, New Hampshire, and it was only 10:30am in the morning. At 12:00 noon sharp I stopped for lunch exactly 2,000 feet above the spot where I had started, and I was now sitting on the top of Webster Cliffs enjoying a sardine and cheese burrito (thank you for that culinary treat, Tom Rogers!). That taste treat was followed by a ¢Natty Bumpo¢ version of a plain pepperoni pizza - four-day old pepperonis with equally old sliced cheese on a tostada with no tomato sauce and no oven - consider that very plain! Nevertheless, these treats are quite edible when you are as hungry as I was. After a 30-minute nap in the sunshine, I headed up over Webster Mountain and onto my eighth 4,000 footer, Mount Jackson (Mount Jackson is the name of the town next to where my sister lives in Virginia, and I thought I should perhaps stop over to say hello while I was crossing it, but I was on a mission to get to the hut early enough to snag one of the lowest level bunks while there were still available. Sleeping on the lower level I have found makes it a heck of a lot easier to get up in the night when nature calls). Maintaining a very solid pace throughout the afternoon, I made it to Mispah Springs Hut in good shape and, as I replayed the day, I realized that all the concerns I expressed earlier in this segment were no longer relevant. I hiked all day and did not stop once because of exhaustion or for being out of breath. I hiked my own hike today, but it was efficient and relatively effortless. I enjoyed the surroundings; the magnificent views (include my first glimpse of Mount Washington from atop Mount Jackson - spectacular view when seen without its crown of clouds!). I could easily see the Cobb Hills chugging up and down its left face. I arrived at the hut and cleaned up. Then was I in for surprise - also staying at the hut is an old friend of mine from Elmira - G. P. ¢Jeep¢ Zurenda, whom I knew several years ago. He and his partner, Terri, and I had dinner together along with a nice young couple from Chicago and a family from Boston. Terri is a Physical Therapist (truly my ¢Trail Angel,¢). She wrapped my ankle for me with an Ace bandage contributed by Jeep. It was nice to catch up with them and share some of our experiences. Now, lights out time, and I am ready for shuteye.