Date: 2015-08-02
From: Lincoln

To: Galehead Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

Yay!! I got work-for-stay! But first things first...This morning was sad. Always sad. I waved goodbye to my mom as Dan and I sped away on the bike towards the trail.Of course I cried as I clambered onto the back of that Harley. I EMBRACE MY BABY EMOTIONS NOW. I didn't want to hike. I wanted to go home. I wanted the comfort of mom hugs and warm beds and good meals.As I strapped on Gertrude, mom said, "See you soon!""See you at Katahdin!" I replied pathetically.Now it feels like this is the end. There is still a LONG way to go, but it is so close, now. So close. Scarily close. Wonderfully close. I am as conflicted as always.Dan drove towards the mountains, my abs straining as I struggled to hold Gertrude up behind me. I looked up at those monsters looming above us, wondering, "Do I have to climb that?!"Of course I did.But I corrected myself. It wasn't the right thought. I should have been asking, "Do I want to climb that? Do I GET to climb that?"The beginning of the Whites wrecked me. They were beautiful but so difficult and discouraging. I didn't want to endure more of that. Another Kinsman Mountain would make me cry in frustration (wasn't one impossibly steep mountain enough?!).And it is always hard to readjust after a day off, ESPECIALLY after spending time in the company of loved ones. Even though my legs weren't as horribly painful as the time I left Bland, or even Hanover, they were still stiff and cramped and seizing up. But after a few miles, I felt okay, despite the fact that it was uphill. Steep, long uphill.It was a long, long day even though I didn't cover many miles. The Whites are hard and slow. I wanted to do a longer day even though I started late, but ended up here instead. 13 miles is still respectable after a late start and two days off.My new Merrells are working out well so far. They are high tops this time (that's just what they must have had in stock, so that's what they sent). Merrell customer service was amazing! Yay! New shoes are definitely something to be thankful for today. The new ones arrived just in time. I am not sure if the old ones would have lasted another day. I am pretty doubtful. The nice, clean, not-muddy new pair didn't even get really trashed today!Last week I had a lot of trouble. But things are looking good so far this week. My Sunday start has been amazing. I was still grumpy at the uphill as I ascended up to Mt Lafayette.However, as I got to the view at Little Haystack, life changed. I turned around and was in awe. I was so high up! It was terrifying. And it was AMAZING, AMAZING breaking out above the treeline today. My heart soared as I migrated through flocks of day hikers, many kindly moving out of the way as I sped past.Chat Cat caught up to me as I climbed, and chatted. His name is very appropriate. I was relieved when he stopped to chat with Pippa and Kodak instead. I wanted to GO. I was in the mood, in the groove, and just wanted to keep going.I did talk to a weekend hiker for a while, though. He was very nice, and pleasant, telling me about Maine and the 100 mile wilderness. I don't know why I was able to bear his conversation more than that of Cat's. I am a horrible picky person when I am itching for the hike, and today's late start and slow progress were impossible to scratch.I wanted to put in a decently long day. I was aiming for 16 miles or so, until I stopped for water at Garfield Campsite. Who was there?!Funk! And Monk! And Hitch! They were planning to try for Galehead Hut, so I readjusted my plan. I wanted to talk to Funk. He is one of my favorite hikers, and I was psyched to see him.I arrived early enough to secure a work-for-stay position. Hooray! I get to save $8 and eat leftovers. This is my first hut. It is extremely nice, nicer than I expected. It has multiple bunkrooms where shorter-distance (usually) hikers stay (it's about $100 for a bunk, I believe... I am lucky to be a thru-hiker so I can enjoy this amazing awesome place for FREE. Only one hour of work to pay my way). It also has running water (I am almost clean!). And books. And board games. Yippee! I don't even care that dinner will be late and that I won't be able to roll out my Thermarest until 9:30 (way past my bedtime).There aren't as many other thru-hikers here as I expected. Many decided to walk on after learning they had missed out on work-for-stay. Baby Girl, GD, Diesel, and Powerhouse will be staying in the hut. Chat Cat stopped but was one of those who moved on.I will be sleeping on the dining room floor. In a hut. On a mountain. In the middle of nowhere. IT IS LIKE SUMMER CAMP. They even have board games!SO AWESOME. THE WHITES ARE REDEEMING THEMSELVES. I hope that most of the suck is over. Although the next mountain looks pretty steep. Hooray for more vertical climbs!Since there wasn't any bunkroom space available, Funk and Hitch decided to move on, which was a little disappointing. But I will see them up the trail in the morning, I'm sure.I am ready to eat. My tummy is CRYING despite my disgustingly gluttonous snacking today. How can I be so chubby yet so hungry?! I hope there are leftovers. I think the guests are going to interrogate us as part of our "work". Also I think that I am supposed to help chisel ice out of the freezer. I have had many jobs that were much more horrible.It is amazing out here.A short day (miles) but a long one (hours and happenings). And it ended with a beautiful view and a beautiful sky and a beautiful sleeping spot on the floor.I am on my way to Mt Washington in a couple of days. Another landmark. So many mountains... A few days ago I just wanted to be done with the trail, but the magic is coming back again.I will write more after dinner and work if I have time and anything is worth sharing. But I might just socialize and work and go to bed. I really want to go to bed.OKAY, dinner was excellent. Stuffed shells, SALAD, BROCCOLI, bread, brownies! Hooray! I spent time talking to some Israelis who now live in New Jersey, and a female dentist with dyed hair who seems to have hiked in wine AND a wine glass (is it worth that effort?! Also, she gave me purple floss...). all sorts of people out here...I am thankful for another adventure, people to talk to (kind of...the guests will hopefully be more fun than the hikers rehashing obvious comments and opinions over the day's hike) and a bit of time to relax. I am thankful that I got work-for-stay, and veggies and amazing dinner. I am thankful that I will be inside because it might be cold tonight...I am SO thankful I got to spend so much time with mom and Dan. They gave me a good boost before heading back into the Whites.