Date: 2004-09-04
From: Happy Hill Shelter 

To: Moose Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Enter New HampshireStart: Happy Hill Shelter @ 0733Finish: Moose Mountain Shelter (old) @ 1854Miles: 16.8Weather: Partly Cloudy/Sunny. Warm temps in high 70¢s. Cool nightBreakfast: Hostess DonettesLunch: Starcrunch, Coca-Cola, brownie, 2 pudding cups, trailmixDinner: Hamburger Helper Cheesy Baked Potato, fudgeround, CheesecakeTrail Conditions: Easy hikingAnimals: Squirrel, Chipmunk, HawkPeople: Reverend Yukon Jack, Swicks, Momma¢s Boy, Freebird, Dig Doug, Backdraft, Cliffdancer, Traildawg, Acorn, SOBO¢s, DOC Orientation group, day hikersLast night was much warmer then the previous nights. I slept very well and got an early start on the day. I quickly packed up and was on the trail headed for Hanover, New Hampshire.The hiking was easy going into town and was primarily all downhill. There was a long road walk through Norwich, Vermont and Hanover. At the beginning of the hike an alumnus thru hiker, Godiva, had left some trail magic, so I helped myself to a Coke and Little Debbie. Muchas gracias, Godiva!As I walked through Norwich the AT passed the historical marker noting the former location of Old South Barracks where my Fraternity, Theta Chi, was founded on April 10, 1856. It was cool to walk by it and I had my picture taken next to the monument. The Birthplace of Theta ChiThe Appalachian sidewalk finally took me into downtown Hanover and passed Dartmouth College. Hanover is a very nice town but definitely a classic New England yuppie breeding ground. I tooled on down to the post office and picked up my mail drop and brought my goodies back to Robinson Hall at Dartmouth, home of the renowned Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC). While loitering out front of the building with Rev. Yukon Jack a reporter from the New York Times approached us and asked to take our picture. He is doing an article on trail angels and took some pictures with a town local that helps hikers. Perhaps we¢ll be in the Times?I had mom send my cold weather gear to Hanover. The previous two nights were so dang cold I swore I would pick it up. But, the weather forecast shows high 50¢s at night which is plenty warm for my current sleeping setup. So I had the gear bounced up to Glenncliff and I¢ll get it on Tuesday. I¢ll have several more days to enjoy a lightweight pack.I spent late morning and early afternoon chilling at the DOC and talking with other thru-hikers. There was a slew of NOBOs that were all congregated in town. Some I have never met, others it had been several months since I had seen them. I finally packed up and rolled out of town around 1430.The afternoon was still quite hot, but the hiking was easy. I passed through more open fields blooming with autumn flowers. It was beautiful. As I summited Moose Mountain I came across three kids drunk and stoned throwing a machete and drinking around a campfire. After a quick assessment I determined the situation to be safe ¢ the kids were just morons that all. I chatted with them briefly, yogi¢d a free beer and made my way to the shelter for the night.There are two Moose Mountain shelters ¢ old and new. I am at the old one but it is actually quite nice. There is yet another freshman orientation group out, this one from Dartmouth. They are nice kids, but the leaders don¢t seem to have the competency of the other groups I have encountered. They hooked me up with some leftover no-bake cheesecake and offered to take out my trash in the morning. Thanks guys.The bad news as of late is that my Achilles tendon in my left heel as really been bothering me, as has my previously injured tendon in my right heel. Both have been achy for the past week or two, but today I had some pain in my left foot that indicated things are taking a turn for the worse. At the end of the day it was inflamed and swollen to the touch and my foot was somewhat stiff. Not good signs at all. I popped a double dose of Mobic and spent extra time stretching. I¢ll see how it feels in the morning.Where I¢m going with this is I hope I don¢t get injured and have to leave the trail after making it this far. I have pondered this notion many times during my hike ¢ what if I have to leave the trail. What will life be like going from hiking every day and then suddenly switching back to real world mode. Because I am not injured and have not had to make the decision to leave I have not had to confront whatever emotions would be aroused. What I do know right now is that I am pleased with my hike up to this point and every ounce of effort it has taken me to get here. My mind is still in the game and I want to go to Katahdin, but if I had to leave I, at least right now, (hypothetically) would be content as I know I have put all I¢ve got into hiking this trail. Blood, sweat and tears ¢ heart and soul are what have gotten me this far. Whenever this endeavor ends I will know I gave it everything I had ¢ and I will never be ashamed of that. But if I have to leave early will I be disappointed that I didn¢t make it to Katahdin in one attempt? The answer to that is yes. It is an interesting quandary¢¦. to be satisfied in one aspect of my hike and potentially not being in another.One Year Reflection