Date: 2014-08-12
From: pine grove @ mile 1750

To: Smarts Mtn mile1766.4
Miles today: 16.4

Mile 1750- mile 1766.4 (Smart Mtn Campsite)16.4A bright, comfortable, 7 am start out of the silent pine grove. The plan- re supply H20 at Mink Brook, unfortunately at the bottom of a climb. Climb Moose Mtn, enjoy the views, play croquet w/ trail angel Bill Ackerly, enjoy the views at Lambert's Ridge, then continue into camp, catching up to the original plan to camp on Smart Mtn. Sounds simple enough? The audio book of the day - The Hunger Games. Hope I don't get scared, even though it is classified as a kids book. The plan's difficulty- somewhere around 4200 feet of elevation gain. Well, that doesn't sound like much but w/ extra water carried & relatively steep grades, I admit, I had plenty of rest breaks to take in my surroundings! Interestingly, the creek beds in NH are stained kind of a black color, making one question the palatability - so far it has not been a problem, just not as pristine as those in VT. The 1st climb was over 2.5 miles & I would have to say I wasn't expecting it to take me the time it did. Along the way, I met a local w/ his new puppy & chatted for a bit. He hopes to thru-hike the trail w/ his daughter & currently day hikes @350 days of the year. The climb's reward, Holts Ledge, a precipitous cliff opening w/ vast views to the East & a taste of the winds of NH. See pics. Just afterward, I met I Believe, hiking south to Hanover, then will shuttle back up to Moosilauke Mtn to continue her journey north. Many people have quite well thought out strategies in hiking these regions to optimize safety given the weather compared to my continued simple march North. Hope I don't regret my simple mindedness Later, 2 SoBos & I saw a mother bear & 2 cubs. Pics didn't turn out.!At the bottom of Moose Mtn, there is a trail icon- Mr. Bill Ackerly. See pics. This an Angel giving hikers a respite of time on the porch, dreamsicle ice cream bars, good tasting water, a trash bin to leave your trash and an opportunity to get beat at the game of croquet. Unfortunately, he wasn't home so I couldn't relearn the rules of the game & get beat. He did have pink flamingo statues, suggestive that he is aware of the Queen's game in Alice in Wonderland, but I didn't see any hedge hogs.The next climb to beautiful Lambert's Ridge was much easier and the view fabulous. See pics. From there, it was fun to see where I was headed up Smart Mtn to near the fire tower. See pic. Those 2 miles took me 2 hrs. See pics. Not that I was pushing, as I was engrossed in the book and surroundings, but surprising what a bit of steepness can do to your speed. Along the way, I met Bypass & Songbird, doing a flip flop hike (Springer Mtn to Harpers Ferry, then Katahdin to Harpers Ferry) to avoid not completing before Katahdin closes mid October. The camping area allotted was a wind blown area on the wrong side of the mountain (I forget the terminology) given the howling wind for a hammock, so I tucked into a grove of spruce that felt the most protected and was in the cocoon by 7 to keep warm, the cocoon bouncing w/ the trees' sway in the wind. Given the howling wind, I would have suspected I was already on Mt. Washington - I must be in for a real treat these next several days!!!Til later,Red Robin