June 22, 2016
Norwich, VT to stelth camp near Etna-Hanover Rd
Total Milage 7,2
Miles from Springer
Features
Elevation
1745.4
U.S. 5 (537') Norwich, Vt. 05055
537
1746
I-91; Vt. 10A (450')?A.T. on sidewalk
450
1746.4
Connecticut River (380') Vermont?New Hampshire State Line
380
1746.9
N.H. 10, Dartmouth College (520')Hanover, N.H. 03755
520
1747.6
N.H. 120 (490')
490
1748.4
Velvet Rocks Shelter (1,040')?7.6mS; 9.7mN
1040
1748.9
Ledyard Spring (1,200')?water for Velvet Rocks Shelter
1200
1749.7
Velvet Rocks (1,243')
1243
1751.4
Trescott Road (915')
915
1752.8
Etna?Hanover Center Road (845') Etna, N.H.
845
6:30
forgot the effect electric lights have on a hiker, didnt go to sleep until 11m since the "sun" didnt go down (ie I didnt turn off the stupid lights). planned the next section of the hike so I know aprox how many meals I need to buy today, did laundry in the sink also cleaned cook gear and water filter. getting ready to shower, eat breakfast, go shopping, pack the food, pack the pack and be out by the 11am checkout time.
7:20
breakfast was cofee, french toast and bacon (could have done a second order. but I figure I will be eating my way though Hanover). Forcast says rain today, sky agrees. Just hope I am indoors when it hits. Time to get food.
9:10
almost all packed. spent $100 at the store. pack now weighs a ton with the resupply. was going to call osprey about the pack but would have to wait another hour and I just want to get moving.
10:45
got to the state line and got hero shot. one more state down! got to Dartmoth campus made a wrong turn but quickly discovered it. walked though center of town...definitly high class. forgot dartmouth was the insparation for animal house untill I saw a John Balushi poster in a shop. started to drizzel. stoped at the high school to put on pack cover, got to co-op started to pour just as I passed it. ran back and am now sitting on the padio waiting for it to stop or at least slow down a bit before I move on. might go in for a cofee and 2nd breakfast.
15 mim later: yep.......coffee and a blueberry muffin. rain slowing down but radar shows the worst is yet to come over the next hour or two. dont know if I can lounge around that long.
4pm
was still at the co-op at noon. a couple of hikers came out and started to eat lunch so I went in and bought some lasagna and joind them. they were a couple from denmark just starting a south bound section hike. skies cleared a bit so I decided to start moving. Got to the velvet rocks shelter in no time, but it was a pretty small, unatractive shelter and I had energy so I decided to move on since it was still cloudy and relatively cool (as compared to the last few days). Got to the stream right before Etna-Hanover Rd and decided I had enough so I set up camp. Misquitos out in force so in my tent right now, not hungry yet, since I had all that food in town and had some lemon cake during my last break. Milage for the day 7.2.
4:50
oh forgot I was in the right place at the right time to perform some trail magic.two people were heading south and missed as switchback and were walking off trail. I came around and yelled to them "if you are hiking the A.T. you missed a switchback". daved them getting too far off. I will admit this section was not well marked. A couple of times i got woried after not seeing a blaze in a while myself.
7:15
dinner done and back in the refuge from the misquitos. just asked myself "I wonder if I have done 50 miles yet?" pulled out the trail guide and what do you know EXACLTY 50 miles!
June 23, 2016
camp near Etna-Hanover Rd to camp near south fork of Hewes Brook
Total Milage ~7.9
Miles from Springer
Features
Elevation
1752.8
Etna?Hanover Center Road (845') Etna, N.H.
845
1755.3
Three Mile Road (1,350')
1350
1755.5
Mink Brook (1,320')
1320
1757.1
Moose Mountain (South Peak) (2,290')
2290
1757.9
Moose Mountain Shelter (1,850')?9.7mS; 5.9mN
1850
1759.1
Moose Mountain (North Peak) (2,300')
2300
1759.8
South Fork, Hewes Brook (1,100')
1100
6:50 cool night, my guess into the mid 40's. all packed, heading out to warm up.
10:40
hiking most of the morning was slighty uphill, but getting up to South Moose mountain was worth the view. also scared up three snakes while there (got pic of two of them). took a long break in the sun, since the morning was so cool and damp. then hiked on to Moose Mountain shelter, where I am now. it is an older shelter but has two neat cooking platforms in front of the shelter and also has a vew. taking a boots off break here then moving on to the next shelter.
11:50
the couple I met at the top were here when I arrived. they are going to a road crossing and getting off the trail for a few days. they hiked on after a bit. then Nascar showed up. He zeroed yesterday and caught up to me at lunch. rest of his crew started later but I am sure to see them today. It sounds like they are all aiming for the next shelter like I am. I am heading out after maybe another 10 min.
addendium @5:50
10 min tured into 30 when more hikers showed up. a realy talkative day hiker and then a flip flopper who started Harppers Ferry.
2:55
set up camp at small stream (hewes brook) at mile 1760.7. just dead tire with a headach. going to try to take a nap.
5:55
nap worked or was it the ibuprophen, either way I felt much better. got water, took a camp bath and made dinner of mac&cheese with summer sauaage. back in the bug free zone of my tent now. misquetos terrible for 2nd night in a row.
Fire Warden's Cabin (3,230') ?6.9mS; 5.6mN...fire tower
3230
9:00
woke up once or twice last night, but other than that slept ok. eariely quiet though, very little sound. did see two deer while doing morning routine but to quick for pic. started hiking around 7:15 right after a thru hiker passed by. did catch up to her and we chatted while we walked through the beaver pond area, but she soon was out of sight when we hit the up hill. got to the top and then decended to Holt's ledge, which is where I am now. too bad they had to fence it off, but still good views. taking a food break then on to the shelter.
11:10
arrived at Grant Brook. will break here for the heat of the day then move on. Looks like I might be able to take a dunk in the brook while I am here...part looks deep enough to sit in.
11:45
Took my dip...boy the water was cold, but it felt so good! put my wet things in the sun to dry and had lunch. BOY I NEEDED THIS! what a break spot.
the most interesting butterflies around here. Black with a strip of white near the ends of thier wings. got a pic.
4:45
got to the fire wardens cabin. told there is water! taking a break before going down.
7:15
here with 4 others, good conversation. good info on trail. definitly have to stay at the "welcome center hostal" they do slackpack the moosatonic.
proud of the hiking I did tiday two big hills including the first over 3000' in some time (trail wise). that break at the stream made it poasible. I am ao glad I did that.
annother difference on the trail this time. talk about world events. the discussion right now is the UK's vote to pull out of the E.U.
probably skip the next shelter and steth camp at Bracket Brook or the next stream. see how I feel tomarrow.
June 25, 2016
fire wardens cabin (Smarts Mountain) to NH 25a
Total Milage 10.2
Miles from Springer
Features
Elevation
1770.3
Fire Warden's Cabin (3,230') ?6.9mS; 5.6mN...fire tower
3230
1774.2
South Jacob's Brook (1,450')
1450
1774.6
Eastman Ledges (2,010')
2010
1775.3
North Jacobs Brook (1,900')?water for Hexacuba Shelter
1900
1775.6
Hexacuba Shelter (1,980') ?5.6mS; 16mN
1980
1777
Mt. Cube (south summit) (2,909') Cross Rivendell Trail Junction
2909
1777.2
Mt. Cube, side trail to north summit (2,911')
2911
1778.7
Brackett Brook (1,400')?ford
1400
1780.5
N.H. 25A (900') Wentworth, N.H. 03282
900
in camp last night with 50+, santa. mother goose and (i think) Walter.
8:10
got out of camp about an hour ago. took a minor fall (slipped on a muddy rock) no damage. found I had a data connection here so uploaded log to server. time to hike on.
8:36 saw a rabbit (first time on trail)
9:00 break at road right after first crossung of jacobs brook. refuel for uphill.
10:30
here at the hexacuba shelter. quite unique shelter. the name says it all. big boots off break here then the climb up and down mt cube. quite tired. dont think I got a good sleep last night, might take a nap here as well.
2:00
here at bracket's brook. didnt take a nap, but still damn hot on mt cube. great views but afraid of heat exahustion so moved on quick. got here with littlr water and even less energy. rehydrating, refueling cooling off then moving on.
9:45
survived the hike to the road. at the crossing there was a sign for trail angles, so instead of going to sugarland, I took a chance and went there. toni and jerry were our host. great couple of farmfolks and also sugarers (ie male maple syrup). toni did a book about sugaring . she even had the indian legend of how maple syrup was discoverd...loved it. great dinner as well. would type more but it is way past my bedtime.
June 26, 2016
NH 25a to happy hiker hostal
Total Milage 9.8
Miles from Springer
Features
Elevation
1780.5
N.H. 25A (900') Wentworth, N.H. 03282
900
1782.1
Cape Moonshine Road (1,400')
1400
1782.7
Ore Hill Campsite (1,720')
1720
1785
Ore Hill (1,850')
1850
1785.3
N.H. 25C, Ore Hill Brook (1,550') Warren, N.H. 03279
1550
1787.8
Mt. Mist (2,200')
2200
1788.2
Hairy Root Spring, Webster Slide Trail (1,600')
1600
1788.3
Wachipauka Pond (1,493')
1493
1790.2
N.H. 25, Oliverian Brook (1,000')? ford, road bypass if high water Glencliff, N.H. 03238
1000
7:44
here at the happy hiker hostal. it is a party atmospher here. beer pizza crazy talk. right now the topic is privies. glad to make it here. showered washed cloths etc. doing slack tomarrow for moosalake south bound. takes a big load of my mimd, and my back.
today started with pancakes, eggs, bacon and coffee. then into a car for a ride to Kinsman Notch 9.3 miles north on the trail the I slackpacked back to the hostal with 50+. what a great hike. a major uphill along a cascading brook (or should I say cascading waterfalls). then up above tree level to the top of Mnt Moosilauke at 4802'. first time I have sumitted an open view mountain in years
Reminded me of Mnt Phillips at philmont. fantastic with the wind blowing and all. going down the south side was easy although I did pick up my pace due to a threat of rain and a mail drop to pick up. did miss a turn off high street back to the AT, but it took us into town anyway.
unfortunatly I missed the maildrop. this post office is only opened from 12 to 2. I knew I should have asked the hostel caretaker if he could pick it up for me, but I didnt, now have to figure what to do.
