Date: 2008-07-18
From: Long Pond Stream Lean-To

To: Carl A. Newhall Lean-To
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: overcast clouds

My mind is still trying to rationalize how I should be reacting with the end of the trip so close. I'm excited I'm going to finish, yet I'm not looking forward to the grand adventure being over. Just another conundrum to settle out while I walk north.The summit of Barren Mountain was wind swept and afforded a nice view of some of the surrounding ridges.On my descent of Fourth Mountain I bumped into Time Traveler and Warpaint, Whom I ended up spending the rest of the day hiking with them.As we were traversing the Barren-Chairback range we talked about what we we're looking forward to at home and what we'll miss about the trail. It's something I need to think about at this point. It's something all NOBO's think about at this point.By the time we rolled into Chairback Gap lean-To for lunch it was raining, it's always nice to have a dry spot to eat lunch. Mid way through Cookie rolled on it. We all agreed it was a cruddy day on the AT. Cookie noted that on the uneven footing of todays trail it's hard to maintain any sort of rhythm, and he's 100% right. On the summit of Chairback I took some photos and enjoyed the silence of the summit. None of us were talking, we just simply looked around at each other and at the cloud we were in. I realized I may never have a moment like that again on this trip. I may never share an open mountain summit with Warpaint or Time Traveler ever again. After a persistent descent I rolled into the West Branch of the Pleasant River, a ford was in order. As Cookie rolled through I essentially asked him if he was going to go into crocs, he responded by saying "Let's take a look", and proceeded to charge right through the river, not even thinking twice about the question at hand. Since Time Traveler already charged through, Warpaint and I were left to decide. Seeing as we did not want to be left behind, and we did not want to be shown up by a female(not intended in any way, shape or form to be sexist) and a 55 year old(who shows me up on the trail everyday anyway), we charged right through and met them on the other side. The funny thing is that on the other side Cookie proceeded to take off his shoes to remove a pebble. Warpaint and I simply chuckled at the irony of the situation.On this side of the river I met Pop Tart once more, who I also met on the Chairback summit last year. He is the caretaker for the Gulf Hagus area.The five mile climb to the shelter was treacherous due to all the slippery rocks. It also did not help that it was pouring out, but this rain came in bursts. It would poor, I would start to dry out, then it would pour on me again. Over and over and over and over again all the way to the shelter. About 100 yards before the shelter, I partially fell into a stream, which made me a very angry person when I rolled into the shelter.At the shelter I was completely soaked, my shirt stuck to my chest and back. I was moving as fast as I could all afternoon in hopes of staying in the shelter, but it was not to be. This shelter was over taken by SOBO shelter hoppers. As I was setting up my tent I made it very clear to Time Traveler that I was not happy with the situation, and I was doing in a very loud and sarcastically angry voice. I should also note that the zipper on my rain jacket is now dead, along with the zipper to the bug netting on my tent. Everything seems to be falling apart with less than 80 miles to go.Cooper Brook Falls Lean-To tomorrow. It's looking like I'll summit on the 23rd if the weather is good.And that's the way it was.Kirby