Date: 2014-07-11
From: Eliza Brook Shelter

To: Chets in Lincoln
Miles today: 8.8

Up nice and early today. It's going to be an odd day. Good hike uphill then long downhill, a hitch into town for resupply, then hitch back to the notch to hike up an insanely steep hill to a campsite that looks like it's up on a cliff. Saw that Chef showed up overnight. And that practically everyone had already left and it's only 5:45! So much for beating the crowd. The only ones left were a couple of section hikers, Chef and I. The trail went for it immediately. Right uphill. And so uphill that I had to put my poles away and go with the hands too. You'd be at the bottom of a climb and look up at this impossible stretch of rock. When you'd get to the end and turn the corner and there's another one equally as long. It was intimidating but FUN. I actually had a blast doing it and didn't mind the work. Uphill really is so much better then downhill which requires so much concentration and is hard on the knees. The top of this mountain, Kinsman, is another gorgeous view. Trees about as high as your knees that are very old but grow so little each year. Up there was Inflammable, Chef, and Twizzler. We all had a few bites then began a little race downhill. There's a little bonus today which happen again each day - the famous White Mountain AMC huts. These are developed areas that you must hike to but are very expensive to stay at. They're built more for day or weekend hikers. Each hut has a work for stay program for two hikers or if you get there at an off hour they'll feed you the left over food or let you buy snacks. Looking forward to a feast. It's a beautiful day again. Sunshine, a light breeze, and no bugs! Trek was not bad to the hut. Now the hut - wow! This is not what I expected. It's very modern and flashy. But sadly the only leftover food is oatmeal. They have cookie bars to buy so I did but a little disappointed. All left and the rest of the downhill wasn't too bad. Nice descent, nice fording of rushing streams and then a great FLAT trail for once. So this took us down to a visitors center. Inflammable, Chef and I then have to find a hitch which is never fun. But so awesome, we get picked up in, get this, a Jag. The nicest cleanest car ever and they crammed three dirty smelly hikers in the backseat with their packs. It was funny to see the wife quietly reach over and roll down the windows. They were very nice and dropped us off in town. Chef needed the post office. Inflammable and I needed McDonalds. Say what you will but you can get a nice huge calorie bomb there. Double quarter pound supersized meal with an additional strawberry milkshake. Here's a funny but embarrassing vignette: it's very crowded there and we're sitting at a counter kind of near the middle. At one moment I heard a little girl say "momma what smells so bad?" Ha! I even put deodorant on! But really our packs stink if it's not us. Oh well. I've done tough miles, I earned it. Afterwards we went to resupply and then headed down to a place everyone has recommended. It's a guy named Chet who has a hostel in town but does not advertise. We had the address and walked down. Passed Survivorman on a bike coming from Chet's so we knew we were in the right place. Rang the doorbell and there's Chet. He's very protective of his place and gives you a shakedown of questions only a thru-hiker would know before he lets you in. It was nerve wracking! But we passed the test and here I am. It's awesome. Quiet little place. Everyone in town knows him. Very nice. All donation based. I've got a good bunk and will sleep well in anticipation of tomorrow's new onslaught. If you've got the book look for Liberty Campsite about mile 1800. Sh*t gets real tomorrow.