Date: 2017-08-19
From: Galehead Hut

To: Liberty Springs Campsite
Miles today: 10.3

Today was the last day of full hiking to complete the Appalachian Trail. I had asked a few friends to pray for good weather today. I would be hiking Franconia Ridge. Franconia Ridge was one of the favorite areas of AT hikers and the croo at the huts. In good weather, it is very beautiful with views of mountains for miles and miles. In bad weather, it is the last place you want to be. It is exposed rock ridge with no place for shelter from wind or rain. Praise God. I had nice weather today. Prayer works. As I left the hut, I turned right down the Frost Trail. I went down the steep rock. Before I went too much further, I checked my Guthook app. I was not on the AT. I went back up the steep rock, to the hut. I asked a weekend hiker directions to the AT. She suggested asking the AT hikers inside. Her son said there was a sign a little way up hill. I walked uphill. There was the sign I passed when I came to Galehead Hut yesterday.  Strange that I forgot this sign. Oh well. I took the Garfield Ridge Trail (AT) and continued south.  There was great water at the trail to Garfield Ridge Shelter. I rested here for a while. Three people turned off the AT and went to the shelter. When they returned, the girl slipped and fell. She said she was OK.  I continued on to Mt Garfield. There was some fog. I did not stay long. I had difficulty finding the AT to continue south. A trail runner asked me directions. I had gotten completely turned around and gave him wrong directions. He left down the trail. A minute later I met Rogue Bear coming toward me. I realized I was going the wrong direction. Rogue Bear went up Mt Garfield and I found my way to the AT going south.  The fog cleared. The rest of the day I was above tree line with beautiful 360 degrees views for miles. I climbed a few false summits before reaching the top of Mt Lafayette. I stopped for lunch at one of them, out of the wind.  I knew I was on the summit because there were many people there, some taking their picture. I waited in line to have mine taken. A couple had their picture taken before me. The photographer, who was on solid rock, suggested she take a fake scary shot. The suggestion was for the girl to step to the cliff side of the rock the couple was standing on and pretend she was falling. "No," came out of my mouth. I was not willing to watch someone fall off this mountain. Instead it was staged on the safe side of the rock.  They took my picture. I noticed a Forest Service Ranger sitting to the side. I headed down and met another Forest Service Ranger coming up with a group of people. Today was Saturday and beautiful day.  The rest of the hike, I saw people frequently.  I summited Mt Lincoln and Little Haystack Mountain with continued beautiful views. I turned on to Liberty Springs Trail. Just above tree line, I called my shuttle driver Bruce to confirm I wanted Bruce to meet me at 10 am tomorrow at the Liberty Springs Trailhead. I thought below tree line I might not have service.  I called my husband. I let him know I was alive and well.  He started talking about what we would have for dinner on Thursday. I got hungry and hung up. There were a few stealth campsites that were occupied. One of the people had just finished the AT a few weeks prior. He offered me peanut M&Ms in celebration, which I gladly took a handful.  I arrived at Liberty Springs Campsite at the same time a father/son team arrived. The father was worn out. The campers at the cook site said we needed to go down the hill to the caretaker. The three of us went down the hill to the caretaker. She greeted us and walked with us back to the original spot. I paid half price with the discount card I got at Imp Campsite.  I was assigned the first overflow site, beyond the cook site.  When planning this section, I thought it would be nice to spend my last night on the AT with my tribe of AT hikers. As I sat in the cook site, having dinner, I was surrounded by people new to backpacking. In hindsight, it was fitting. I had come full circle. Only a few years ago, I was a newbie. Now I was experienced.