Date: 2014-08-17
From: Ore Hill Campsite

To: Hikers' Welcome Hostel, Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: scattered clouds

The rain began sometime after ten and lasted much of the night. I set a later alarm, since I had planned a short day. Got up about 6:30 and got my food bag from the tree so I could prepare a cold breakfast in the tent vestibule. Finally ate the peach I bought in Hanover -- what a treat. Also did a half package of Carnation Instant Breakfast with some whey powder in the 8 oz. bottle I got at the Coop, plus oatmeal with powdered milk, dried bananas, raisins and granola. The shelter at this site burned to the ground in 2011, and there is an ongoing investigation to find who was responsible. The Dartmouth Outing Club maintains the site, and they have constructed one of the best privys on the trail. The sign over he door says, "Castellum Excrementi," and the backrest to the seat looks like a throne. As Gia said, "Worth a visit even if you don't have to go."The sun came out for a little bit, but it wasn't enough to dry the rain fly, so I packed it up wet. Finally left at 9:10 and made the two miles to the top of Ore Hill by 10:30. The rain began about halfway up, and I put on rain gear, with the pants at my hips rather than waist so they would cover the tops of the shoes. I think it worked to keep the insides drier, but I can't tell yet whether they are dry from Monday's soaking. There is a view spot .4 down from the top where I stopped for lunch. The rain had stopped, and there was even a hint of sunshine. I could see the southeast ridge of Moosilauke, mostly covered in clouds, though they lifted a bit above he ridge while I sat there.The rain picked up again as I began the hike down, but I decided not to put on the rain jacket. Too hot, and I get just as wet inside it from sweat. The rain had made the trail messy, and it was clear that Wednesday's storm had included high winds in this area. The trail was littered with green leaves and branches, and several large branches and even trees had come down across it. The leaves made the already slippery rocks even slipperier.I got to the Hikers Welcome Hostel in Glencliff about 2:45. It is an addition to a house, with a downstairs common room, an upstairs bunk room and space for tents in the back. I chose to stay in my tent. The shower, toilet, a kitchen sink and washer and dryer are in a shed out back. I ate an ice cream sandwich, set up my tent, took a shower and put in my laundry. The Fairy Queen is here. He slack packed Moosilauke today and will go back to Kinsman Notch tomorrow. I am signed up to slack pack tomorrow, hiking south from Kinsman to here. It's a shorter ascent, but a long descent. Legion (trail name of one of the people running things) took four of us to the deli in Warren, and I got a big turkey sandwich, a beer, and some other goodies. I ate at the picnic table in back of the hostel while my clothes dried. Then organized my food bag with the things I had sent from home, as well as my pack for tomorrow. Legion is serving breakfast for those interested at 7 and will then take us to Kinsman. A bunch of people showed up late in the afternoon, some staying here and some moving on. The bubble seems to have caught me, though Legion says the biggest bunch is in Hanover. Wing It and Jeff came in, and Jeff has decided not to do Moosilauke. He has a new respect, he said, for those of us who keep at it day after day. He will go to the Ravine Lodge (owned by the DOC) with his and Wing It's packs. Wing It will slack pack up Moosilauke and down the Gorge Brook Trail to the lodge for the night. Tuesday, he will go back Up Gorge Brook and down the AT to Kinsman.The downside of this place is the lack of cell service, and an iMessage I tried sending Lee through the wifi would not send. I'll try sending her an email tomorrow and hope I can text from the mountain.