Saturday, July 17, 2010
July 8th
Although the Presidentials get most of the hype, the trail along Wildcat Ridge was really rugged. The climb out of the notch was really steep (plus it was really humid and hot day—I woke up at 5:30am sweating already!). Stopped in to visit Carter Notch Hut—the hut croo (college-aged kids who staff the huts each season) were really friendly and gave me some free baked goods. They also showed me their Ice Cave. About 2 minutes from the hut is a big cleft in the rock, which holds ice for most of the summer. It was probably used a fridge at the hut before they got power. It was very refreshing to stand inside the “air conditioned” cave for a little while. I was impressed with Mt. Moriah—very nice views from its rocky top. Ran into Moonpie and Doozy—I hadn't seen them since the Delaware Water Gap! I also saw Roaring Lion and Rocker.
July 5th
After a lovely wedding in Bethel and TWO zero days with my parents at Dolly Copp Campground, I hit the trail in Crawford Notch with Jerry (chemistry prof at UNE). We headed into the Presidentials with a wonderful weather forecast. Unfortunately on the second day we woke up to summits in the fog...with winds gusting up to around 60mph. That's enough to knock you sideways, and off your feet if you stumble. We had an ambitious 12 mile day planned, hitting all the mountain peaks along the ridgeline (Clinton, Eisenhower, Washington, Clay, Jefferson, Adams). We had lunch on Washington, and luckily as we descended the clouds started to lift. By the time we reached Jefferson we had clear views. The timing worked out well, as I had never hiked on the northern half of the Presies before, so that's where the views mattered most. Jerry got off at Pinkham Notch to head home, and I finished out the Whites through the Carter-Moriah Range.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
In the Future
On to the higher summits of the Presidentials on Monday with Dr. Jerry Mullin (my hiking chemistry professor). Hope for good weather, as I'll be on an exposed alpine ridgeline (5,000 feet above sea level) for about 25 miles!! Once I enter Maine my folks will be meeting me at select road crossings to resupply me, starting at Grafton Notch, so I won't be stopping at many more post offices. If you really want to send me one last care packaged, mail it to Caratunk, ME 04925. I should be there by July 22. Posts may be few and far between from here on out, as I will be in the wild woods of Maine. Thanks for all your support!
Emily Writes Again
Great stay at a frat house in Hanover--cheers Dan. I appreciated the real bed. Easy couple days out of Hanover. New Hampshire did a nice job getting us ready for the whites...first a couple 1000 foot mountains, then a couple 2000 footers, a couple 3000 footers, and then MOOSILAUKE (a 4000 footer). Unfortunately I had no views from the top (the cloud ceiling was around 2000 feet that morning), but the summit was still amazing. The first real alpine zone of the trip. I'll definitely come back to day hike it in nice weather.
The first half of the White Mountains treated me fairly well. A few cloudy summits on the Kinsmans, but views late in the afternoon across to the impressive Franconia Ridge. The trail up the Kinsmans was RUGGED!! I had hiked North Kinsman last February, but the 3 or 4 feet of snow we hiked on made the trail seem smooth. I wasn't expecting the steep, wet rock ledges. Moosilauke and N. Kinsman both had rebar, wooden steps attached to rock faces, and lots of places you had to kind of jump and hope you landed on a flat, non-slippery surface. But it was a fun challenge. I love this kind of hiking. I spent a night at Liberty Spring campsite, just below the crest of Franconia Ridge. That afternoon I slack-packed up Mt. Liberty and Flume and got some awesome views. I'm glad I did, because the next day's "slight chance of rain, summits in the fog" actually meant that Franconia Ridge was cloudy, rainy, and winds gusting to 40mph. Nasty weather. I crossed the ridge without getting hypothermia, and ended up working to stay at Galehead Hut.
The Hut System
The AMC runs huts in the White Mountains, catering to weekend hikers with lots of money ($100 a night!!). Luckily, the college-aged hut croos have pity for thru-hikers who can't afford this price, and can't make reservations months in advance. If there is space, thru-hikers can work for about an hour (cleaning bunks, bathrooms, kitchen, etc.), then eat the leftover food from dinner and breakfast, and sleep on the floor in the dining room. It's kind of a strange system, makes the thru-hikers feel inferior to the paying guests, but I was glad for the option Thursday night. The weather cleared over night, and I had perfect weather (it felt like fall—40 degrees with a windchill) for the hike down to Crawford Notch, where my parents picked me up for a weekend off trail (to attend a wedding in Maine).
Sobos
I've finally met my first southbound hikers who started in Maine. Most have started around May 30 (taking a month to cross Maine and get into New Hampshire). Hit and Miss cruised past Rob and me when we were in Vermont, but I stopped to chat with Whoopie Pie (a girl from Ellsworth, ME), Hickory, Easy, and Bird. Bird spent the night at Galehead with me and another Nobo named Alpine (different from the guy who works at Neels Gap).
The first half of the White Mountains treated me fairly well. A few cloudy summits on the Kinsmans, but views late in the afternoon across to the impressive Franconia Ridge. The trail up the Kinsmans was RUGGED!! I had hiked North Kinsman last February, but the 3 or 4 feet of snow we hiked on made the trail seem smooth. I wasn't expecting the steep, wet rock ledges. Moosilauke and N. Kinsman both had rebar, wooden steps attached to rock faces, and lots of places you had to kind of jump and hope you landed on a flat, non-slippery surface. But it was a fun challenge. I love this kind of hiking. I spent a night at Liberty Spring campsite, just below the crest of Franconia Ridge. That afternoon I slack-packed up Mt. Liberty and Flume and got some awesome views. I'm glad I did, because the next day's "slight chance of rain, summits in the fog" actually meant that Franconia Ridge was cloudy, rainy, and winds gusting to 40mph. Nasty weather. I crossed the ridge without getting hypothermia, and ended up working to stay at Galehead Hut.
The Hut System
The AMC runs huts in the White Mountains, catering to weekend hikers with lots of money ($100 a night!!). Luckily, the college-aged hut croos have pity for thru-hikers who can't afford this price, and can't make reservations months in advance. If there is space, thru-hikers can work for about an hour (cleaning bunks, bathrooms, kitchen, etc.), then eat the leftover food from dinner and breakfast, and sleep on the floor in the dining room. It's kind of a strange system, makes the thru-hikers feel inferior to the paying guests, but I was glad for the option Thursday night. The weather cleared over night, and I had perfect weather (it felt like fall—40 degrees with a windchill) for the hike down to Crawford Notch, where my parents picked me up for a weekend off trail (to attend a wedding in Maine).
Sobos
I've finally met my first southbound hikers who started in Maine. Most have started around May 30 (taking a month to cross Maine and get into New Hampshire). Hit and Miss cruised past Rob and me when we were in Vermont, but I stopped to chat with Whoopie Pie (a girl from Ellsworth, ME), Hickory, Easy, and Bird. Bird spent the night at Galehead with me and another Nobo named Alpine (different from the guy who works at Neels Gap).
AT HIKER GLOSSARY
For those of you interested in such things...
Thru-hiker = one who hikes from Georgia to Maine (or the reverse) in one year
Section hiker = one who hikes large sections of the trail over several years
Day hiker = one who hikes on the AT on day trips (often the best bet for getting trail magic)
NOBO = a northbound hiker
SOBO = a southbound hiker
Flip-flop = thru-hiking the trail in sections, not in geographical order
GAME = Georgia to Maine
MEGA = Maine to Georgia
Zero = a day of zero mileage, for rest, relaxation, and resupply
Nero = a short day of hiking (nearly zero miles), with R&R
Yogi-ing = the act of looking starving to trick picnic-ers into giving you some food
Trail magic = unexpected acts of kindness encountered along the trail, such as a cooler of cold sodas, snack food at a trail junction, a ride into town, a free place to spend the night, etc.
Trail angel (or trail magician) = one who provides trail magic
Shelter or Lean-to = generally a 3-sided building with a sleeping platform, free for all hikers to spend a night in
Campsite = flat area, pad or wooden platform for tenting
Huts = fully enclosed, full service AMC resorts, $100 a night, or work for a free floor space
Bridge = foot bridge or road bridge over large rivers
Bog bridge = wood plank or split log bridging small trickles or mud holes
Ford = river crossing with no bridge or convenient stepping rocks, boot removal is necessary
Trail town = towns which the AT passes thru or near, providing key hiker services such as shuttles, laundry, grocery, internet, hostel
Shuttle = cheap or free rides to and from town
Hostel = cheap bunk room
Maintainer = volunteer who keeps the trail corridor free of obstacles (branches, blowdowns, etc.)
Ridgerunner = person paid to patrol a high-use section of trail and to offer advice and assistance as needed
Caretaker = person paid to live at a shelter/campsite for the summer, to maintain and care for the site
Privy = aka outhouse, may be a simple hole in the ground or solar composting
Thru-hiker = one who hikes from Georgia to Maine (or the reverse) in one year
Section hiker = one who hikes large sections of the trail over several years
Day hiker = one who hikes on the AT on day trips (often the best bet for getting trail magic)
NOBO = a northbound hiker
SOBO = a southbound hiker
Flip-flop = thru-hiking the trail in sections, not in geographical order
GAME = Georgia to Maine
MEGA = Maine to Georgia
Zero = a day of zero mileage, for rest, relaxation, and resupply
Nero = a short day of hiking (nearly zero miles), with R&R
Yogi-ing = the act of looking starving to trick picnic-ers into giving you some food
Trail magic = unexpected acts of kindness encountered along the trail, such as a cooler of cold sodas, snack food at a trail junction, a ride into town, a free place to spend the night, etc.
Trail angel (or trail magician) = one who provides trail magic
Shelter or Lean-to = generally a 3-sided building with a sleeping platform, free for all hikers to spend a night in
Campsite = flat area, pad or wooden platform for tenting
Huts = fully enclosed, full service AMC resorts, $100 a night, or work for a free floor space
Bridge = foot bridge or road bridge over large rivers
Bog bridge = wood plank or split log bridging small trickles or mud holes
Ford = river crossing with no bridge or convenient stepping rocks, boot removal is necessary
Trail town = towns which the AT passes thru or near, providing key hiker services such as shuttles, laundry, grocery, internet, hostel
Shuttle = cheap or free rides to and from town
Hostel = cheap bunk room
Maintainer = volunteer who keeps the trail corridor free of obstacles (branches, blowdowns, etc.)
Ridgerunner = person paid to patrol a high-use section of trail and to offer advice and assistance as needed
Caretaker = person paid to live at a shelter/campsite for the summer, to maintain and care for the site
Privy = aka outhouse, may be a simple hole in the ground or solar composting
Saturday, June 26, 2010
New Hampshire!!! (state #13)
Finally out of the mud hole that was Vermont. There were actually some really nice peaks (Glastenbury, Stratton, Bromley, Killington), but a lot of muddy tread way in between. Rob and I got a lot of trail magic in Vermont, starting of course with Uncle Don. The next day New York Minute ('08 thru-hiker) and Val had a grill set up at a road crossing, with hot dogs, hamburgers, fruit, and cold soda. On the 23rd we met Leo and Ana from Boston--they were really excited to meet a thru-hiker, and gave me a little bottle of Irish Whiskey. I redeemed my "Get out of trail jail free" coupon that Rob gave me for Christmas by getting a shower, laundry, and a bed a their house in Richmond for the night on Thursday. Very nice after getting drenched in a downpour earlier that day. Rob ended his trip 10 miles short of NH, to match Rosemary's schedule for picking him up.
June 24
Rob dropped me off in West Hartford, VT and I walked into New Hampshire. The last stretch was really easy, through a pine forest. I found a cooler of watermelon and sweet bread by the road in Norwich, VT. It was very much appreciated because it was a long hot road walk into Hanover, where I was met by Dan Mott. We spent the afternoon eating Ben and Jerry's and playing cribbage. Rachael joined us in the evening for dinner and Toy Story 3 (in 3D). It was very funny. I enjoyed it.
While in Vermont we met Kite and Sandpiper, Beans, Wazi, Tommy (PA to ME), Freedumb and Redtail (PA to ME), Cookie Monster, Olaf, Cool Tool, Yukon and Litterbox, Turtleback, The Roaming Gnomes (POW and TLC, finishing their thru hike from 08 and 09), Roaring Lion, Cakon, and Camp Chair. Most of them are now ahead of me.
I'm looking forward to Moosilauke and the White Mountains!!! Updates may be few and far between for the rest of my hike, as I don't have many town stays planned, but I will do my best.
June 24
Rob dropped me off in West Hartford, VT and I walked into New Hampshire. The last stretch was really easy, through a pine forest. I found a cooler of watermelon and sweet bread by the road in Norwich, VT. It was very much appreciated because it was a long hot road walk into Hanover, where I was met by Dan Mott. We spent the afternoon eating Ben and Jerry's and playing cribbage. Rachael joined us in the evening for dinner and Toy Story 3 (in 3D). It was very funny. I enjoyed it.
While in Vermont we met Kite and Sandpiper, Beans, Wazi, Tommy (PA to ME), Freedumb and Redtail (PA to ME), Cookie Monster, Olaf, Cool Tool, Yukon and Litterbox, Turtleback, The Roaming Gnomes (POW and TLC, finishing their thru hike from 08 and 09), Roaring Lion, Cakon, and Camp Chair. Most of them are now ahead of me.
I'm looking forward to Moosilauke and the White Mountains!!! Updates may be few and far between for the rest of my hike, as I don't have many town stays planned, but I will do my best.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Radical Rob Joins the Hike
It's hard to believe June is almost over already. The New England states are going by much more quickly than the Southern states. We have a very brief update for now, hopefully more later.
On June 8 Emily made it into Massachusetts. She hiked 20 mile days to meet up with Rob in North Adams. The mountains were getting bigger, which was exciting.
On June 12, Rachael met her in North Adams, MA for breakfast, before Rob and Emily hit the trail to Vermont.
On June 13, she met up with Radical Rob (his trail name) and they began hiking Vermont on the combination AT/Long Trail.
On June 19, Trail Angel Uncle Don showed up at VT. Rt. 104, with bags of fruits and vegetables and other trail magic. He had walked down the trail for a couple of miles hoping to meet them as they hiked northward, didn't see them but did meet Snow White and Rooster. Eventually Switchback and Radical Rob appeared and they had a good ol' lunch and filled their packs with provisions. Uncle Don Burchard was officially dubbed as a "Trail Angel" by Switchback.
On June 21, they got slowed down because Radical Rob re-injured a bad knee, so they are only doing about 7 miles a day. Weather has been hot & humid at the lower elevations but quite nice and comfortable up high.
Expected arrival dates in the future:
Glencliff, NH June 28
Crawford Notch July 3
Pinkham Notch July 8
Rt. 2 in New Hampshire July 10
Maine July 14
On June 8 Emily made it into Massachusetts. She hiked 20 mile days to meet up with Rob in North Adams. The mountains were getting bigger, which was exciting.
On June 12, Rachael met her in North Adams, MA for breakfast, before Rob and Emily hit the trail to Vermont.
On June 13, she met up with Radical Rob (his trail name) and they began hiking Vermont on the combination AT/Long Trail.
On June 19, Trail Angel Uncle Don showed up at VT. Rt. 104, with bags of fruits and vegetables and other trail magic. He had walked down the trail for a couple of miles hoping to meet them as they hiked northward, didn't see them but did meet Snow White and Rooster. Eventually Switchback and Radical Rob appeared and they had a good ol' lunch and filled their packs with provisions. Uncle Don Burchard was officially dubbed as a "Trail Angel" by Switchback.
On June 21, they got slowed down because Radical Rob re-injured a bad knee, so they are only doing about 7 miles a day. Weather has been hot & humid at the lower elevations but quite nice and comfortable up high.
Expected arrival dates in the future:
Glencliff, NH June 28
Crawford Notch July 3
Pinkham Notch July 8
Rt. 2 in New Hampshire July 10
Maine July 14
Monday, June 7, 2010
Emily Meets a Celebrity
June 1-6
It's been hot and humid, making hiking a lot of work. A lot of swamp walks too, with mosquitoes of course. I hiked a marathon on June 1--26.7 miles...in some massive thunderstorms. It was a long day, but not too tough (I didn't want to do just a 12mile day). I crossed into New York on that day and climbed over the Lemon Squeezer. It was a narrow crack in the rocks, followed by a 7 foot rock wall. Challenging because it was so wet.
June 2 I climbed Bear Mtn...it was pretty crowded. On the way down I got interviewed by a local newspaper reporter about the new trail on Bear Mtn. Grand opening on June 5...so I was a couple days too early. The trail-side zoo was small but neat. The lowest point on the AT is right in front of the bear pen. New York is a deli walk--you can stop at a store almost every day for food. I actually started skipping some because I wasn't really craving anything store-bought.
June 3 the Cambridge Boys (Walleye, No Point, Nap Time) and I were at RPH shelter eating supper, and David Miller (Awol) showed up to take photos of the shelter. Nap Time recognized him (he's the author to our guide books!), and he gave us some trail magic--apples, hohos, water. An AT celebrity. Too bad we didn't think to get his autograph. I heard that Nature Boy and Toeman have summited Katahdin already!!!
June 5 NEW ENGLAND!!! Crossed into Connecticut, and passed the largest oak on the AT.
June 6, Lauren (a college roommate) came to pick me up and I'm spending the night at her place for a nice relaxing evening.
Editor's Note: New England already!? Time for another round of superlatives! Get your submissions in now, via comment or email.
Also, two new verses have been added to Emily's song... go back and check it out
It's been hot and humid, making hiking a lot of work. A lot of swamp walks too, with mosquitoes of course. I hiked a marathon on June 1--26.7 miles...in some massive thunderstorms. It was a long day, but not too tough (I didn't want to do just a 12mile day). I crossed into New York on that day and climbed over the Lemon Squeezer. It was a narrow crack in the rocks, followed by a 7 foot rock wall. Challenging because it was so wet.
June 2 I climbed Bear Mtn...it was pretty crowded. On the way down I got interviewed by a local newspaper reporter about the new trail on Bear Mtn. Grand opening on June 5...so I was a couple days too early. The trail-side zoo was small but neat. The lowest point on the AT is right in front of the bear pen. New York is a deli walk--you can stop at a store almost every day for food. I actually started skipping some because I wasn't really craving anything store-bought.
June 3 the Cambridge Boys (Walleye, No Point, Nap Time) and I were at RPH shelter eating supper, and David Miller (Awol) showed up to take photos of the shelter. Nap Time recognized him (he's the author to our guide books!), and he gave us some trail magic--apples, hohos, water. An AT celebrity. Too bad we didn't think to get his autograph. I heard that Nature Boy and Toeman have summited Katahdin already!!!
June 5 NEW ENGLAND!!! Crossed into Connecticut, and passed the largest oak on the AT.
June 6, Lauren (a college roommate) came to pick me up and I'm spending the night at her place for a nice relaxing evening.
Editor's Note: New England already!? Time for another round of superlatives! Get your submissions in now, via comment or email.
Also, two new verses have been added to Emily's song... go back and check it out
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
