Date: 2003-08-10
From: Gordon Pond north of Glencliff,NH

To: Lonesome Lake Hut, White Mtns, NH
Miles today: 10.1

Although our tent site was on dry land when we went to sleep last night, it became part of a creek bed during the night. Specifically, the creek ran through Ned¢s side of the tent and out the bottom where it formed Little Gordon Pond. Most of our stuff got soaked. Lucky me had the high ground, so my sleeping bag stayed dry, at least relative to Ned¢s, which was soaked. Out of all the campers at Gordon Pond, only Cobra and Splash stayed dry. Amble and Nick also had creeks through their shelters and the section boys had a leak that dumped 2 cups of water on them every hour or so all night long.I got a head start and followed a roaring creek from the pond back to the AT. The roaring creek, of course, HAD been the path yesterday, so I soon gave up on keeping my feet dry. Ned caught up to me as I was attempting to cross a trail ¢ pond without getting my knees wet. He said, ¢Given up yet?¢ and before I could answer, he barged through a very deep mud bog that I had managed to avoid. Then he helped me cross (I was stuck in a pine tree) and then barged through the pond saying, ¢and now for the rinse!¢ I about fell in laughing at him. Then, a little later, we came to a wet spot where we could see that several inches under the surface were puncheaons (logs set up to aid bog crossings, but usually ABOVE water). ¢Underwater puncheons!¢ I exclaimed, gleeful that my feet would not be sinking at least through this section. About halfway across the puncheon, I stopped being able to see it for the mud was getting thicker, but I kept walking on it just fine. And then, all of a sudden, there was no more puncheon. Just me, up to my knees in thick, nasty, muck. Ned made me stay while he took my picture and then I nearly lost my shoe as I pulled my leg out. The whole scene reminded me of The Never Ending Story.The rest of the morning went similarly ¢ climbing up and down wet rocks, slogging through bogs, etc. We were going very slowly ¢ we did only 4.2 miles in 3 hours. At Eliza Brook Shelter we ate no-bake cheesecake. Eliza Brook was HUGE and had no bridge. Ned carried my pack across and then helped me across by standing slightly downstream so as to catch me each time I lifted a foot and started to wash away. The water was up past our knees and flowing fast over a very rocky creek bed. I was so scared I burst into tears in the middle. For the first time I learned the meaning of ¢scared to tears.¢ And this day would bring a few more repeat lessons, just to be sure I didn¢t forget. After crossing Eliza Brook, we followed her up a steep incline. What amazing waterfalls she made! Standing in front of them in some places was incredible. The power and volume of the water was simply breathtaking. It was hard to believe looking at the falls that we¢d waded across the same ¢Brook¢ at the bottom of the mountain. We were climbing Kinsman, and once we stepped away from the falls the climb became very difficult. It was a steep rock scramble and everything was wet and slippery. I thought we would never reach the top, and we were both getting worried we wouldn¢t make it to the hut in time to get work-for-stay.When we finally reached the first peak it was too foggy and cloudy to see much, but we did get a nice view of the north peak and the valley as the wind cleared the fog momentarily. The climb down Kinsman was horrible. Sheer, steep, wet rock reminded me what is was like to be scared to tears ¢ like I could forget! I fell a couple times, and at one point broke my trekking pole in half. Ned swapped me, so now he¢s using only one pole. We finally reached the hut at 4:30 ¢ 9 hours to do 10 miles! Luckily, the croo let us do work for stay. They said we¢d have to do our work in the morning, though, so we went and sat by the lake. Nick was already there and Amble arrived shortly after. Amble stuck his feet in the water and one came out with a 5 inch leech attached to his heel. I had seen one swimming but we thought it was some kind of mini eel until it showed its affinity for blood sucking. Amble said he was a soft biter. I washed socks and we made a new slower plan for making it through the Whites. My left knee (the braced one) is starting to hurt on the outside, which is new and worrisome. We will have to go to town tomorrow for food so that we can take more time. We were starving when the paying guests finished eating and it was our turn. Dinner was delicious, but our bedroom was a roaring party of guests until 9:15 ¢ way past our bed time on such a hard day! Chicken Feet