Date: 2004-06-30
From: N. Woodstock (Franconia Notch) Zero Day

To: Garfield Ridge Campsite
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: broken clouds

Weather: Not a lot different from the past week. Increasing clouds during the day and decreasing clouds into the evening. Cold and windy on the mountain peaks...enough that most hikers bundled up. I wore my stretch top at the high elevations. Sun felt good when it came out.Hike-O-Meter: 10.2 We were slowed down even more by the White Mountains, its views and some rocks. We hit the Trail at 8 am after having breakfast and packing up. The climb up and out of the Notch was not unlike the other day at Moosilauke...long and gradual. I would say it was one of the easiest long climbs on the Trail...like a staircase...one average step up at a time.The views from the Trail today were incredible starting with Little Haystack (4760') then Mt. Lincoln (5089') then Mt. Lafayette (5249') North Peak of Lafayette (5080') and last Mt. Garfield (4488'). For 2 miles or so the Trail followed the ridge connecting these peaks. A fantastic 360 degree panoramic wonderland. On my thru-hike last year, I saw nothing but mist and clouds along this section. Today alone made the rehike worthwhile. We took some pictures, but like they say, you have to be there.We got into camp around six and set up our tents and I went for water. The bugs are out so we ate right away so we could get in our tents. Adam, the caretaker collected the $8 fee and its now after 7.There were a lot of rocks in the last couple of miles. Wounded Knee said he would never complain about the PA rocks again...I guess he thinks these were worse.People Met: Before I forget I have to mention the group of 75 or more young men (in their 20's) we passed the other day hiking into Franconia Notch. They were all so cleancut, had on white knit sports shirts and dockers. They were running the Trail SOBO. A couple were out of breath and stopped to talk. They are all in training to be Catholic priests. I didn't ask them how they ended up running up the mountain.Today we met two more SOBO thrus, Gnome Sherpa and Flare. I had a nice chat with Gnome about his stay in Monson. Seems he spent one night at Shaw's and the other at The Pie Lady's...and Keith Shaw dropped him off at PL's...this has to be a first.Just as we were approaching Liberty Springs this guy coming towards me yells, "Skeemer!" It turns out to be Hamlet who I met the 2nd day of my thru-hike last year. We also saw each other at The Gathering last fall. I believe he said he was here hiking with his grandsons. Last night I met Leap Frog in the parking lot (he had given me a lift to the Trail in NY) and today Hamlet...the hiking world is small.There were a lot of vacation and day hikers in this section today, but I have to tell you about these two nice ladies I met...Valerie & Lori. We stopped and chatted for a few minutes and they seemed intrigued with our hiking. They looked like two individuals that could hike the AT and enjoy doing it. I told them to look up trailjournals to learn more...nice people.Food: Blueberry pancakes, OJ and coffee for breakfast. Two candy bars, a brownie and half a bag of trail mix for lunch. A packed out ham & cheese sub, a plum and bing cherries for supper.Well, it's starting to cool down and I'm tired...hope didn't miss much.