Date: 2016-08-26
From: Carter Notch Hut - Mile 1,875.6

To: Pinkham Notch - NH 16 - Mile 1,869.7
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: light rain

A light sprinkle began literally minutes after I began hiking this morning. Today's hike had lots of ups and downs. The rain wasn't a problem when I was climbing but the rocks were really slippery on the descents. The descents made me think of Suds throughout this hike. Suds and I hiked a lot together on countless descents these last few weeks. We take them slow. We often hold on to trees to control our speed as we figure out where we'll place our feet. All morning long, every time I grabbed a tree resulted in a fresh shower of raindrops falling all over me and my feet. It made for a lot of smiles.Thinking of Suds naturally made me think of Subman. Subman was my beacon throughout this hike. His experience and confidence as we hiked provided immense value from the beginning to the end. His leadership inspired me. He often said "hike your own hike" and I feel I embraced that relatively early when I decided to leave Gatlinburg, Tennessee even though they were staying to take a zero day there. I felt so supported and welcomed by Subman and Suds to rejoin them in Gorham, New Hampshire. Reuniting with Subman and Suds was such a joy as we hiked through Maine together. I realized early today that I was remembering so many of those who I had hiked with. Spirit of 76. The memories poured in. When at the summit of Wildcat Mountain A, I turned my phone on and had access. A message came from Spirit that reinforced the memories I'd already recalled. It's not that we hiked hundreds of miles together. It was the impact she had on my hike - from the beginning and in the end. Those good vibes that took root when we walked to see a blue-blaze waterfall were important building blocks for my hike. Spirit embodied the beauty of the AT. Her trail name fits her perfectly. Blues Brother, who hiked more miles with me than anyone else, was present in my thoughts too. It was all I could do not to stop and call him today. Roy, the fictitious creator of the trail and all the mischievous twists and turns before us, was really at it today. There were virtually no white blazes while hiking the Wildcat mountains. How many times did Blues say he was going to write a letter and enclosing some money with the recommendation that a white can of paint be purchased. The absence of white blazes was such that I asked a hiker passing the other way whether I was still in the AT. He quickly responded with a forceful "I hope so. I haven't seen a blaze in miles." We laughed and I knew Blues and I had another hiker who would be happy to affix his name to Blues' letter. Later, when hiking the fiendish steep descent to Pinkham Notch, it seemed that I came to virtually the same open ledge view spot multiple times. I remember the day Blues Brother and I told each other how we separately felt that aliens were playing games with us and periodically beaming us up and dropping us so that we had to hike the same section a second or third time. We hadn't lost our minds or believe in aliens but the sense that we'd hiked similar trail made for some funny moments as we hiked.What memories. What people. Rambo - with his kilt and him being the best rock hopper I saw out here, Fresh Ground - a truly inspirational friend who will forever be my Forrest Gump because of his effortless ability to say meaningful sayings again and again and again - "last climb of the day" being said at 7:00 a.m. - how many hikers who knew and loved him and how we enjoyed and joked about his fame on the trail, Bubbles & Sprout - two of the sweetest people I'll ever know and love for their genuine love of each other and their embrace meant of me, Mountain Man & Karma - my Swiss adventurer's with stories from India and plans to go to Australia after the AT, Candlemaker - how we ran into each other several times with him saying "It can't be." when it happened again - I so wished it had happened one more time - as Fresh Ground said "Fly my friend, Fly!", Swamp Angel & Captain Kirk - Wow! How I so enjoyed talking with them as we passed each other, Papa Wolf and Halmi - who dreamed that we'd finish the AT together and how Halmi made shelter fires night after night - including the one when I roasted my wet socks over the fire, Who-Dat - as strong a man mentally as he was physically and that's saying a lot, Booty - who popped up so often that we became friends and was the hiker who I had to turn around on when I felt so badly and later learned I had Lyme disease, Teach & Steady - who I met that first day and how Spirit of 76 teased me for letting them summit before us, Jennifer & Jeff - our friends from Washington, Two Peas - we met in Hiawassee at dinner when I had my broken finger and how Moonbeam's hike ended with a broken femur. There was Slug - such a strong hiker and always having an interest in others - I so appreciated the attention he gave others as he listened to them and how he embraced Beth as one of "us", Patches - my "shooting star" that I would spend just a fleeting moment with but loved that moment so much. I replayed the laughter Fresh Ground and Blues Brother had as I couldn't understand who, according to Fresh Ground, this speedy phenom named "Medic" was while I spoke highly of Morgan, the first person I met on the Amilacola Approach Trail. They let it go for a few days before revealing and laughing that Medic and Morgan were the same person. Big Critter came to mind as we watched the NCAA b-ball championship with Fresh Ground.I realized at some point that I was playing back early memories and that quickly made me aware of the most recent ones. Stripe - how I wish we'd have met hundreds of miles earlier. He is, without a doubt, the most positive person I met out here. He was a joy to hike with - every time. Arachne - she came into view with Spirit of 76. She told it like it was and I could tell right away that she and Spirit had a blast, but that she'd always talk straight, a trait I value and respect. At the very end came Squrrel, Bald Whistler & Cruise Director, Forrest, and Hooshr. I'm happy we made time for each other and invested in each other when it would've been easy to succumb to the "finish fever" that seems to have spread to many out here. Brother Raccoon - meeting him just a couple days before this hike will end was an eye-opener. There are so many great people out here to meet and get to know. How can we be open to meet them and how can we be open to others long after we leave this trail. Brother Raccoon and I talked about this and I was happy to be able to say goodbye and good luck to him at Pinkham Notch after today's hike ended.Today's hike went on and on. It didn't seem to end. As I passed the Wildcat gondola, I wanted to ask why such a ride down like this isn't available at Mt. Katahdin's summit. I would've paid big bucks for such a ride down from there. And that me return to thinking about Spirit and how Beth, Spirit, and I talked about how much money or something of value would be needed to get us to hike Katahdin again. So the memories kept coming. I wish my mind could be good enough to remember them all as they came. Maybe I'll remember some of them tomorrow. Now there's less than 14 miles to hike. Today's hike was a hard one. I fell late and it wasn't a controlled fall. Fortunately, I wasn't hurt. So close and yet so far.