Date: 2004-08-04
From: Kinsman Pond, NH

To: Day 110: US 3 at Franconia Notch, NH
Miles today: 4.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Given the grueling 1-mile/hour pace I managed to accomplish during my second day in the Whites, I was worried that I would not be able to reach my designated pick-up spot at the Franconia Notch by 9:00 a.m. even though it was only 4.8 miles away. With these considerations in mind, I made sure that I was up at 4:00 a.m. on AT Day 110 and on the trail by 6:15 a.m. Good thing as even though the rain had stopped, the steeply descending Fishin Jimmy (AT) Trail was still very slippery in places, and I was forced to use a carefully slow and deliberate pace. As I was climbing down the slick rock surfaces, embedded wooden steps, and twisted root tangles of this challenging trail, I came across several sets of trail maintenance tools (shovels, pry bars, pre-cut logs and lumber, helmets, etc.) and soon thereafter I met four impressively fit young men and one women as they bounded UP the trail to start their day¢s work on the trail. I thanked each one of them for helping to make the trail a little easier for an ¢old fart¢ to successfully ¢ safely ¢ negotiate. Meeting these youngsters also reinforced the depressing fact that I was now 60 and despite the fact that I pride myself on my fitness, there is nothing quite like being in your mid-20¢s¢¦After barely two-miles the trail begins to level off as it comes to the unbelievably impressive Lonesome Lake Hut. This was my first exposure to one of the famous AMC huts, and this one at least appeared to be more like a fancy resort hotel than a back-woods shelter for hikers. As I was not one of the paying guests, and since I was in a hurry, I didn¢t stop to investigate this lavish facility, but instead quickly descended to Lonesome Lake itself where there was a beach and sunbathing platform. The AT followed along the shoreline for a half-mile or so before it split off to follow the Cascade Creek and Trail as the former drains the lake toward the north.I was pleased that I was making relatively good time in this comparatively gentle descent when I reached the spot where I needed to ford Cascade Brook and quickly discovered that the day¢s challenges were far from over. True there were lots of rocks in the brook, but the water was fairly deep and fast moving so I spent quite a bit of time investigating various optional crossing points before trying my luck. Unfortunately, my luck had apparently run out this time as I twisted my left knee causing a painful re-injury of the same joint that had been plaguing me off-and-on since I originally ripped it during a slip down a snowy slope back in NC months earlier. This time I easily heard my knee pop over the sounds of the rushing water ¢ ouch!Since I was still out in the middle of the brook when this injury occurred I had little choice but to continue the painful crossing and then load up on vitamin I. To be honest, what bothered me most about this accident was that it occurred with less two-miles to go for the day and that I had already covered 10-times that distance over much more dangerous terrain without an injury ¢ another lesson about not ever letting your guard down while hiking with a heavy pack. Since I have now had lots of ¢experience¢ with this frequently injured knee, I knew that it would get better with walking so I pushed on and luckily I managed to ford the Whitehouse Brook and the rest of morning¢s hike without further incident. Even with the injury, I was still trying to cover ground as quickly as possible since it was clear that I was going to be at least 90-minutes late to my 9:00 a.m. pick-up spot where the AT crosses US 3 in the Franconia Notch.In retrospect it appears that the hiking gods must have taken pity on me since I had barely had enough time to look up and down the road for Hot Chocolate and then put down my pack before she drove up. As I later learned, there are lots of posted trailheads within the Franconia Notch and my wife had been driving around for some time looking for where I was to come out. With this unintented ¢husband-abuse¢ in mind, after our usual affectionate greeting, I quickly loaded my pack into the truck, consumed a couple of soft drinks and eagerly agreed to join her in a visit to the Franconia Notch¢s Flume Park.Despite the fact that there are lots of signs warning the park¢s guests of the numerous steps and steep climbing during the two-mile hike through this truly remarkable natural wonder, my wife and I found this to a very easy, and for me relatively non-painful, trek. In addition to the nature walk, we also explored the park¢s educational exhibits and then quickly departed so we could get some lunch (BK once again!) in route to our new campsite, the Timberland Camping Area in Sherburne, NH. near the border with ME.To help heal and hopefully protect my gimpy knee my wife used this break to go out and buy me an elastic knee brace. I have to be honest here as this purchase was against my bull-headed wishes, but I have been wearing the brace for a day and half now while typing this journal and restocking my pack and it feels wonderful. Since the forecast is for relatively good weather for the next several days, the plan now is for me to take an extra day off to let my knee rest and then begin the ascent and crossing of the famous Franconia Ridge ¢ time will tell if this strategy works, but I¢m going to give it my best shot.