Date: 2005-08-31
From: Fire Warden's Cabin

To: New Hampshire 25
Miles today: 10.3

What else can I say about the weather except that it is wet. We packed up and went to the shelter to fix breakfast.It was the home of the firewarden in years past. It is much nicer than a shelter in that it has windows and a door that closes. We chose to tent last night though rather than spend the night in the cabin with six noisy obnoxious teenage boys who were out on an Outward Bound program. I was amazed this morning as I listened to the interaction between the counselors and boys. I have never heard so many filthy mouths in one place in my life. They all had an additude about being out here yet to listen to them it was someone else's fault that contributed to them being here. The two counselors had their hands full no doubt. From what little I know the program is a good one,but I question how beneficial it is to put a twenty/thirty year old counselor here. It seems to me that a fifty year old retired drill sargent would be a better choice.That or a fifty year old grandmother whose knows how to box ears with a passion, to make children show respect. Then there is the question of the proper equipment for these juveniles. I certainly understand not making it easy for them but climbing these mountains are tough enough without having to do it with 20 extra pounds from having bad equipment. This certainly does not seem to produce any kind of positive thoughts about the great outdoors. My pack weighed 34 pounds when I started,and the past five days have been tough. Had I had to carry 50 pounds because I had improper equipment and I was being punished,I would have been pretty resentful. Maybe that is where some of the problems lie. There is a difference between disipline and punishment. Oh well,so much for that soap box today. The rest of the day we spent hiking in overcast,windy conditions. Just about the time our clothes were almost semi dry,a down pour would come. At least we were not too hot. The worse part for me is to be wet and have these little pieces of twigs or leaves sticking to me all over,especially my hands. We talked to a southbound hiker who told us Mobile,Al. got the worst of the hurricane. Now we are back to being concerned about friends and family in N.W .Florida. It will be late Thursday night before we get a chance to call home. It was after 6:00 when we reached the road. We had hoped to get here earlier,possibly hitch hike a ride two miles up the road to a fruit stand where hikers could sleep in the hay barn or free. We decided to pitch the tent here rather than chance not catching a ride and have to set up after dark. We sat just inside the tent and cooked supper,then rinsed out our clothes in the stream and hung them across tree limbs to dry,well maybe that is too strong of language,we hung them up to let some of the water drip out. We went to sleep watching bolts of lightning light up the sky,and listening to the rain hit the tent. Again ,later in the night we were awakened by the sound of an owl. Even later we were awakened by an unfamilar sound,laying there for a few minutes and trying to sort it out,we finally decided it was the sound of a loon.   Bumpkin                           5 Million Steps for Polio Appalachian Trail GA-MA Bumpkin More in 2004