Date: 2003-08-17
From: North Conway, NH

To: Gentian Pond Campsite 
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

Man, is it hard to leave a town! And a house! And real food! But, I did. Suz and her daughter were wonderful hosts. I cannot say enough, how much people like them mean to me, and to my hike. I appreciate them opening their house to me to give me a break. I appreciate that SO much.Debbie gave Hotdog and I a ride back to the trailhead and we were hiking just before 9am. Not a bad time, leaving town. I think we were both anxious to get to Maine. I know I was. Am. I'm not in Maine yet. From here, it's just under 5 miles. I can't wait.I've heard that southern Maine is one of the more difficult sections on the AT, but the way I look at it, many, many other hikers have survived it, so can I. I hear things about part of the trail, and imagine what it's like, or how hard it will be, but when I come to those sections, I find it's just the trail. It's not more than I can handle. I might not go as fast as in other parts of the trail, but I can still take steps in the right direction, north. And that is what matters.The weather is supposed to be rain-free for the next 3 or 4 days, but it was hazy today, making the view from Mt Hayes just okay. The mountains are still beautiful. Each mountain has character, whether it's covered in trees, or has rock ledges and cliffs. They are all beautiful.It seems that as soon as I crossed US2, the trail changed. I kept thinking I was in Maine already, and talking to others who have hiked this section before, they consider the AT north of US2 as part of Maine trail. Hotdog and I met Thirsty Boots, a guy who has completed the AT in sections and started hiking the section from Gorham to Katahdin today. He says this is his favorite section. We also met Maineac (not sure of spelling, but pronounced like maniac), a 2001 thruhiker, and his fiance, out for a dayhike. He says Gorham to Katahdin is his favorite section too. So, it sounds like I'm going to enjoy these last several weeks.Surprisingly, a thunderstorm rolled past us this afternoon, after Hotdog, Thirsty Boots and I had gotten to the shelter. It just sprinkled here, but looks like it rained not far away. I didn't think rain was in the forecast for a few days, and was looking forward to that. Oh well. I'll take whatever I get. A father with his two sons and on son's friend are here at the shelter too. It's the boys' first time backpacking. I like to see that, and they seem to be having a good time. Timber and her husband are tenting nearby. Timber is a NOBO, but hiking south with her husband while he has time off work. Before they left the shelter to set up their tent, she said to me "You look familiar. Are you on Trailjournals?" Wow! Someone recognized my FACE from trailjournals??? I said 'yes' and told her my trail name. "Yes! I've read your journal." Hmmm... I'm not sure how she has been reading my journal, although she said she has taken a lot of time off. That's cool thoug! h. I recognized her name from shelter registers a while back, so it's good to finally meet her. Unfortunately, she is currently going south, and I may never see her again.Today was a pretty good day. I got to talk to a lot of people on the trail. I met 2 dayhikers from Maine, plus Snooze, a NOBO who flipped to just south of Katahdin and is hiking south, plus Muktuk, Weaver, and Family Man, who were all NOBOs that flipped from Harpers Ferry, WV to Katahdin, and are now hiking south to finish their thruhikes at Harpers Ferry. I guess I'll be seeing more flip-floppers as the days wear on, and their chances of completing a true northbound hike become smaller. (Baxter State Park usually closes on Oct.15, and Katahdin is in Baxter. So, NOBOs should try to be done by then. If they realize they won't make it, many of them flip to Katahdin and hike south, or jump farther north, hike to Katahdin, then do the section they skipped.) I'm glad I started early enough to continue north without having to worry about park closings and logistics of a flip-flop.I'm ready to be in the last state, and tomorrow, barring freak accident, I will enter it. A dayhiker was at the shelter when I arrived, and he thruhiked the AT several years ago. He said he is jealous of us, heading to Katahdin. I was jealous of him, already completing a thruhike. He said "When you get done, you'll wish you were back on the trail." He is probably right. As anxious as I am to finish, I know I will miss the trail and the simplicity of living on the trail. That's just something I will have to work through. For now, I can only go by what I feel, and I am anxious to get to Katahdin. I'm also just excited to be getting to Maine. Aaahhh.... tomorrow!